ISSN 2756-3650
Research Article
International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 3 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Identifying factors affecting agroforestry system in Swat, Pakistan
Muhammad Irshad1*, Asadullah Khan2, Mitsuhiro Inoue3, Muhammad Ashraf4 and Hassan Sher5
1Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad-Pakistan.
2Department of Environmental Sciences, Hazara University, Haripur Pakistan.
3Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori city, Hamasaka cho Japan.
4Department of Civil Engineering, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar-Pakistan.
5Department of Botany, University of Swat, Saidu Sharif Pakistan.
Accepted 19 September, 2013
Abstract
This study has identified factors that affect the adoption of agroforestry practices; these include farmers' perceptions towards agroforestry, socio-economic characters of farmers and constraints for the development of agroforestry. The analysis of data demonstrates that the factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices have been varied depending on the type of factor. Growing of trees was observed as a function of social and economical characteristics of the farming community. On- farm trees were grown for fuel-wood, timber, fodder, income generation, environmental purpose and for controlling erosion. Poor crop-stand, lack of markets, lack of nurseries, damage by animals and humans and lack of incentives were the obvious constraints expressed by the farmers. Bigger size of the family positively influenced tree cultivation. Farmer’s income has supported agroforestry. Education level encouraged trees. Farm trees species were distributed in the order of poplar > persimmon > peach > pear > walnut > apple > acacia > willow > plum. Further studies are suggested for the contribution of agroforestry to the household income, food security and sustainability of agriculture.
Key words: Agroforestry, farmers’ perceptions, constraints, socioeconomic factors, dry area.
Muhammad Irshad*, Asadullah Khan, Muhammad Ashraf and Hassan Sher, Mitsuhiro Inoue
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJABG/1015Research Article
International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 2 (6), pp. 001-015, June, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Can markets deliver the dual objectives of income generation and sustainability of natural resources in Uganda?
P. N. Pali1*, S. K. Kaaria2, R. J. Delve3 and B. Freyer4
1International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 30709 -00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
2The Ford Foundation, Rahimtullah Tower, 12th Floor, Upper Hill Road, P. O. Box 41081 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
3Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Riverside Lane, P.O. Box 49675-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
4The University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Organic Farming, Gregor Mendel Strasse 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria.
Accepted 13 March, 2013
Abstract
In this study, we set out to determine whether strategies used to link farmers to markets resulted in household level livelihood and NRM impacts measured by the participation in the market and the value of sales from the markets. Farmer to market linkages have improved livelihoods in developing countries due to policy, institutional and implementation strategies, however, equal emphasis has not been placed on investments in Natural Resource Management (NRM). Areas with high market access have often been cited as the highest in soil nutrient depletion, while input markets and labour required for land management are scarce at community level. We established a higher human capacity through formal education and technical skills built through extension and training services provided by the institutional affiliation which enabled support to specific enterprise production. We also observed increased commercialization through increased number of crops sold to the market through more than one marketing channel, including food and cash crops which compete with one another. Investment in NRM was low despite increased income.
Key words: Linking farmers to markets, natural resource re-investment, sample selection model, impacts, rural livelihoods.
S. K. Kaaria, R. J. Delve and B. Freyer, P. N. Pali*
Page: 1 - 15
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJABG/1014Research Article
International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 2 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Roughage to concentrate ratio on milk secretion rate in goats
O. O. Shittu1, O. F. Smith2* and O. A. Osinowo1
1Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
2Department of Animal Physiology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Accepted 07 April, 2013
Abstract
An experiment to evaluate the effect of concentration ratio (R:C) on milk secretion rate (g/h) in goats was carried out using a cross-over design in which each goat passed sequentially through all the treatments in random order. The treatments (R:C) were: A = 70:30; B = 50:50 and C = 30:70. In this experiment, 13 goats were fed at 5% body weight (DM basis) using fresh-cut elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and a 16.44% crude protein concentrate ratio. The goats were milked from the 6th to 9th week of lactation once a day for one week per each treatment. Data was analyzed by using the treatments as main effect with live weight and week of lactation as covariates. The overall milk secretion rate was 6.86 g/h. It was found that the treatment had a high significant effect (P < 0.001) on milk secretion rate. Treatment C gave the highest mean value followed by Treatment B. Treatment A gave the least mean value. The week of lactation and live weight of doe at time of milking had a high significant effect (P < 0.001). Milk secretion data was adjusted to 5th week of lactation and 20 kg live weight of doe, and a predictive model based on quadratic function was developed. Y = 2.27836 + 0.16588X – 0.00135X2; R2 = 0.94 where Y = milk secretion rate (g/h) and X = percent concentrate in feed ration. From the curve, the optimum roughage to concentrate ratio (R/C) was 40:60, which should yield a milk secretion rate of 7.37 g/h.
Key words: Pennisetum pupureum, concentrate, goats.
O. O. Shittu, O. F. Smith* and O. A. Osinowo
Page: 1 - 6
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJABG/1013Research Article
International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 2 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Growth performance and haematological characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep fed graded levels of dietary pigeon pea seed meal
U. Okah* and J. A. Ibeawuchi
College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Accepted 21 January, 2013
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary pigeon pea seed meal on the growth performance and haematological characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep. Four diets were formulated to contain pigeon pea seed meal (PSM) at 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels, representing diets A, B, C, and D, respectively. Twelve weaned rams averaging 8.57 kg body weight and aged 7-8 months were used in the study. The rams were divided into 4 groups of 3 rams housed singly in pens, and each group assigned to one of the four diets for 8 weeks in a completely randomized design experiment. Data collected included, average daily weight gain (g), daily dry matter intake (g) and feed conversation ratio (g feed /g grain) calculated. Haematological and biochemical characteristics were also evaluated. Average daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) better in diet A and C than diet D, but diets A, B and C were similar (P>0.05). Feed conservation ratio differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups, with diet C recording better conversion ratio than diets A and D, respectively. The PSM diets generally promoted lower PCV and higher WBC values in sheep. Neutrophil and lymphocytes were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the PSM. While neutrophil increased with increasing level of PSM, the converse was true about lymphocytesood glucose, and urea in the animals were also significantly (P<0.05) influenced by PSM, which followed the same pattern as the nuetrophil and lymphocytes respectively. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (SGGTP) and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (SGGT) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in sheep fed on control diet A than in those fed on either diet C or D. Serum creatinine was significantly (P<0.05) higher in sheep fed on control diet than in those on the PSM diets. The results of this study indicated that processed pigeon pea seed could be used as a plant protein resource for sheep, but may not be included beyond 20% for optimum performance and physiological welfare of the animal.
Key words: Pigeon pea, West African Dwarf, sheep, weaner rams diet.
J. A. Ibeawuchi, U. Okah*
Page: 1 - 5
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJABG/1012Research Article
International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 2 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The mature wheat cut and uncut edge detection method based on wavelet image rotation and projection
Youchun Ding1*, Du Chen2 and Shumao Wang2
1College of Engineering and Technology, Hazhong Agricultural University, No.1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430070, P. R. China.
2College of Engineering and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 17# Qinhua east road, Beijin 100083, P. R. China, China.
Accepted 08 November, 2012
Abstract
For combine harvester, automatically and promptly recognizing the cut and uncut edge of guideline is the key technology to realize autonomous navigation based on vision machine. One novel method termed wavelet image rotation and projection algorithm has been established. It includes the following essential steps. Firstly, 23 scale of wavelet transforming was selected because of intrinsic characteristics of multiscale and multiresolution of wavelet transforming, and the low frequency wavelet image was obtained which was used to rotate transform to computer column average values. To achieve the best match of rough-division and elaborate-division, and to reduce processing time, the initial given rotation angle was 5°, and the final rotation angle was 1° based on former rotating transform. Then the rotation and projection matrix R including the column average values and the enumeration angles was achieved. Finally, the difference in rotation and projection matrix came from R ’s row vectors’ difference operation to locate extremum values, the heading angle and lateral position can be found out. The method result shows the accuracy of recognizing cut and uncut line, achieve the effect with 95.6%, the average processing time is 109.3 ms per frame, and the algorithm owns the characteristics of anti-color-disturbance, independent on the whole brightness and high robustness. The method can also be applied to detect the field end line.
Key words: Autonomous guidance, wavelet transform, rotation and projection matrix, mature wheat image, combine harvester.
Youchun Ding*, Du Chen and Shumao Wang
Page: 1 - 8
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJABG/1010Research Article
International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 2 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The dietary importance of maize in Katumba ward, Rungwe district, Tanzania, and its contribution to household food security
Rose Mboya1*, P. Tongoona2, J. Derera2, M. Mudhara3 and A. Langyintuo4
1Food security, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
2African Centre for Crop Improvement, (ACCI), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
3Farmer support group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
4Alliance for a green Revolution in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
Accepted 31 January, 2013
Abstract
Maize is one of the main staple food crops in Katumba ward. The dietary importance of maize in Katumba ward was investigated through studying the importance of maize as a source of food, nutrients and energy in using secondary data and face to face structured and semi- structured interviews that were administered using a questionnaire to 260 farm households that were randomly selected for the study. The aim of the study was to provide empirical data that show how maize contributes to household food security in Katumba ward. In turn, the data can be used to advocate for agricultural policy that promotes maize quality through using efficient storage methods in the ward and other places that have the same climatic conditions as Katumba ward. It was found that farm households in Katumba ward prefer maize meals, and that they may be able to obtain 66.8 to 69.5% of the total energy and 83 to 90% of the total protein required per day through maize meals consumption. Therefore it was concluded that maize is a very important food crop in Katumba ward, and it was recommended that storage mechanisms in this ward be given adequate attention in order to maximize the quality of stored maize for the enhancement of healthy diets and food security of the consumers.
Key words: Maize, food security, Katumba ward.
P. Tongoona, J. Derera, Rose Mboya*, M. Mudhara and A. Langyintuo
Page: 1 - 10
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJABG/1009