Abstract: This PhD dissertation is based on three studies. The first was a survey work aiming to describe and compare the current pig production practices in and around Bishoftu and Holeta towns, central Ethiopia. A total of 20 and 23 pig farms from Bishoftu and Holeta towns respectively were visited. The second study was aimed at establishing the effects of inclusion of sun dried bovine rumen content (SDRC) as ingredients in diets of pigs during post weaning growth phase for 90 days. A tota...
Abstract: Bread wheat is a major cereal crop in Ethiopia and in the study area, but its yield is limited due to minimum use of improved varieties, diseases, weeds, low soil fertility and lack of location specific fertilizer recommendation. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during the 2016 main cropping season at Bore Agricultural Research Center to evaluate the effect of blended NPS and N fertilizer rates on yield components, yield and grain protein content; and to determine econom...
Abstract: The study was aimed at evaluating improved Horro, Koekoek, Kuroiler and Sasso-RIR chicken strains for productive and reproductive traits under semi-scavenging conditions and characterizing the poultry production system in Kolfe and Nifassilk districts of Addis Ababa administration. Random samplings were employed to select sample kebeles, households and respondents. For characterization of chicken production systems, a pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 121 households in s...
Abstract: Ethiopia is endowed with cattle population which plays vital role in enhancing smallholder income, food security of households and foreign earnings of the country. But, the productivity per animal is low. To solve the cattle productivity problem, crossbreeding through AI is one of the solutions under operation in Ethiopia. However, the adoption of AI is constrained and determined by several factors. This research was intended to assess the perception of farmers towards the AI techn...
Abstract: The study was conducted at Haramaya University goat farm using 24 intact Hararghe Highland sheep with a mean initial body weight of 16.02±2.5 (mean±SD) to investigate the effect of feeding dried Atella with concentrate mixture on feed intake, apparent digestibility, body weight change, feed conversion efficiency, carcass and meat quality evaluations as well as the economic feasibility of feeding regime of sheep fed a basal diet of grass hay. The experiment consisted of 90 days of...
Abstract: As elsewhere in the country, in Tigray Region, community-based seed production has a potential for improving farmers' access to quality seed of locally adapted and preferred varieties. Besides, Seed Producing Cooperatives (SPCs) are also fully engaged in formal seed production as contract out-growers to public enterprises that benefits members economically. Though the agro ecology of the study area is suitable for seed production, many of the smallholder farmers in Southern Zone of...
Abstract: A study was carried out at Haramaya University ‘Rare’ site to Evaluate the agronomic performance, forage yields, and chemical composition of three Cultivars of Brachiaria (Xaraes, Piata, and Basilisks) at three harvesting stages (60, 90 and 120 days). The experiment was conducted by 3*3 factorial arrangements in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The plot size was 4 m * 3 m (12 m2 ) with a total land area of 44 m * 15 m (660 m2 ). Data were analy...
Abstract: Dairy production is an integral part of rural livelihoods in Ethiopia in general and in Ada’a woreda in particular. Farming households in the study area produce milk for both generating income and own production. But lack of information related to dairy production and marketing is one of the major challenges for this smallholder farmers. Understanding the reasons behind such problem and dairy farmers’ current information accessibility is paramount importance. This study was con...
Abstract: Three interrelated studies were conducted. The first was a survey to assess farmers’ perception, production and utilization of improved forages (IF) under rural and peri-urban production systems of the selected districts of central highlands of Ethiopia. The other studies were conducted to evaluate the comparative nutritive value of vetch hay (VH), and 3 oil seed cakes (noug seed cake (NSC), cotton seed cake (CSC) and linseed cake (LSC), natural pasture hay (NPH) and a ration for...
Abstract: The shortage of arable land and shortage of livestock feed are major constraints in East Hararghe Zone. Thus, a field study was conducted to evaluate early maturing sorghum varieties and cowpea varieties intercropping for both food and feed production at Fedis Agricultural Research Center, eastern Ethiopia in 2018 cropping season. With a total of 11 treatments; Two cowpea varieties (9333 and 9334) and three varieties of early maturing sorghum (Teshale, Birhan and Melkam) and their ...
Abstract: This study set out to assess factors affecting adoption of improved agronomic practices and its effect on income and nutrition of groundnut producing farmers in Babile district. The study focused particularly on identifying improved agronomic practices used by groundnut farmers, identifying factors affecting adoption of improved agronomic practices, and investigating the effect of adoption of improved agronomic practices on income and nutrition of farm households. The study employe...
Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of feeding neem (Azadirachta indica) and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seed as natural feed additive for broiler chicks on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, mortality, chemical composition and sensory of meat, partial budget analysis and blood parameters of broiler chicks. Unsexed one hundred ninety two day-old Cobb 500 broiler chick with initial weight of 42.57 ± 0.67 (mean± SD) grams were ...
Abstract: The study set out to assess determinants of information seeking behavior of vegetable farmers and to identify the source of information for vegetable farmers in Haramaya Woreda, East Harargh zone of Oromia Regional State. The study employed multi-stage sampling procedures to select four Kebele administrations and 150 sample respondents. Primary data for this study were collected using interview schedule. Simple descriptive statistical analyses and an econometric model (Ordered Logi...
Abstract: Climate change is already having an impact on agriculture as a result of increased prevalence of extreme events, increase of mean temperature, changes in water availability, and perturbations in ecosystems and increased unpredictability of weather patterns. This can lead to reduction in agricultural production and lower income in vulnerable areas. Developing countries and smallholder farmers in particular are being especially hard-hit by these changes. Adoption of climate smart agr...
Abstract: A study was conducted in Adola Reedde district of Guji zone, to asses and identify the major grass species, evaluate their chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and estimate the biomass yield of the major grass species. A total of 60 key informants taken from the sample kebeles of three agro- ecologies were interviewed to asses and identify common grasses in their vernacular name. Sample collection was done in the mid of September for three consecutive days. A total of 6 ru...