A5003700307- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Energy and Environment Impacts
- Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Phosphorus and nutrient management
International Livestock Research Institute
2016-2025
The University of Melbourne
2020-2023
Maseno University
2023
University of Nairobi
2016
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission measurements from livestock excreta in Africa are limited. We measured CH and NO emissions of six Boran () Friesian steers near Nairobi, Kenya. The were fed one three diets (T1 [chaffed wheat straw], T2 [T1 + Meissner - 0.2% live weight per day], T3 calliandra 0.4% every 2 d]). T1 diet is similar quality to typical the region. Calliandra a leguminous fodder tree promoted as feed supplement. Fresh feces urine applied grasslands using static chambers. Cumulative...
The Boran (Bos indicus), indigenous Zebu cattle breed from sub-Saharan Africa, is remarkably well adapted to harsh tropical environments. Due financial constraints and low-quality forage, African livestock are rarely fed at 100% maintenance energy requirements (MER) the effect of sub-optimal restricted feeding on rumen microbiome remains largely unexplored. We collected 24 fluid samples six optimal MER levels characterised their microbial composition by performing shotgun metagenomics de...
Abstract The relationship between feed intake at production levels and enteric CH 4 in ruminants consuming forage-based diets is well described considered to be strongly linear. Unlike temperate grazing systems, the of rain-fed tropical systems typically below maintenance requirements for part year (dry seasons). animals fed unexplored, but changes key digestive parameters low suggest that this may altered. We conducted a study using Boran yearling steers ( n 12; live weight: 162·3 kg) ×...
Livestock are an important source of livelihoods in agricultural systems sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), while also being the largest national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions most African countries. As a consequence, there is critical need for data on livestock GHG sources and sinks to develop inventories, as well conduct baseline measurements intervention testing mitigate meet ambitious climate goals. Our objective was review studies from SSA, soil carbon storage livestock-dominated ( i.e .,...
Given their high nitrogen (N) concentration and low costs, sweet potato vine silage (SPVS) urea-molasses blocks (UMB) are recommended supplements for tropical regions; therefore, they were investigated in this study. Six heifers allocated to three diets: the roughage diet (R) consisted of wheat straw (0.61) Rhodes grass hay (0.39; on dry matter (DM) basis); R + SPVS combined (0.81) (0.19); with UMB animals had access UMB. During two experimental periods, feed intake, feces urine excretion,...
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) rely on IPCC emission factors (EF) for GHG reporting. However, these were derived industrialized livestock farms and do not represent conditions of smallholder (small, low-producing breeds, poor feed quality, scarcity). Here, we present the first measurements CH4 N2O emissions from cattle-manure heaps representing feeding practices typical highlands East Africa: 1) cattle fed below maintenance energy requirements to scarcity, 2) tropical forage grasses...
This study aimed at evaluating the effects of feed intake level on efficiency rumen microbial protein synthesis (EMPS), nitrogen (N) excretion, and N balance in twelve 18-months old Boran (Bos indicus) steers with initial average liveweight 183 kg (standard deviation (SD) 15.2). The experiment followed a 4 × complete Latin Square design four dietary treatments tested periods. Each period ran for 5 weeks 3 adaptation 2 sample collection; separated by re-feeding. Steers were fed 100%, 80%,...
Ruminant productivity in the tropical Africa has remained low despite decades of research on animal nutrition and introduction new breeds animals mainly because low-quality feeds available, especially during dry season that is inefficiently utilised. This results prolonged time for to mature increased nutrient excretion environment. We conducted a study using yearling steers (n = 12, liveweight (LW) 161.8 ± 10.89 kg) 3 × Latin square evaluate effect protein supplementation frequency intake,...
Abstract The present study evaluated the effects of energetic undernutrition on liquid and solid digesta passage nutrient digestibility as well their interdependencies. Using a 4 x Latin square design, 12 growing Boran steers (183 ± 15.2 kg live weight) were allocated to four levels metabolizable energy (ME) supply fixed at 100, 80, 60 40% individual maintenance requirements (MER) during experimental periods. Each period comprised three weeks adaptation, two data collection recovery. Diets...
In Africa, cattle are often fed low quality tropical roughages resulting in low-yielding animals with high methane (CH 4 ) emission intensity (EI, g CH /per unit of product). Supplementation protein is known to improve the nutritive value otherwise low-quality diets. However, animal nutrition studies East Africa that accompanied by measurements lacking. Thus, an experiment was conducted quantify effect supplementing mainly on Urochloa brizantha hay (control diet; CON; crude (CP) = 7.4%) or...
Context Planted grasses are becoming an increasingly important feed resource for tropical smallholder ruminant production; yet, limited research has been conducted to quantify productivity or enteric methane (CH4) production of animals consuming these grasses. Aim An experiment was assess yields and nutritional attributes the following three grasses: Cenchrus purpureus var. Kakamega 1 (Napier), Chloris gayana Boma (Rhodes) Urochloa brizantha Xaeres (Brachiaria), CH4 cattle fed on them....
Effects of feeding levels below maintenance requirements metabolizable energy (MER) and feed supplementation on fecal nutrient microbial C concentrations were evaluated. In experiment 1, Rhodes grass hay only was offered to Boran steers at 80%, 60%, 40% individual MER, while 100% MER additionally received a concentrated mixture. This reduction in decreased N, increased fungal but did not affect bacterial feces. 2, Holstein × heifers poor-quality roughage diet without supplement, with sweet...
Cattle farmers are developing adaptation strategies to deal with the effects of climate change. Understanding how affects livestock productivity is, therefore, essential in order identify and prioritize optimal strategies. Yet, few studies have addressed this issue. This study aims fill gap, by assessing developed cattle Benin affect productivity. We conducted surveys 360 monitored 30 farms Benin’s dry sub humid tropical zones. collected data on socio demographic characteristics farmers,...
<p>Agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Africa contribute 15 % to the global total agricultural emissions, which is same range as from Europe. The majority of these GHG attributed livestock farming (up 80 at national scale), 10-25 originate manure. At time, production essential for livelihoods millions people Sub-Saharan (SSA), where 45-80 occurs smallholder systems. With growing population SSA, demand products expected increase, and – without...
Abstract Most Sub-Saharan countries still rely on the basic Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change's (IPCC) Tier 1 methodology for reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their livestock sector. This approach is, however, associated with high uncertainty and cannot detect changes in GHG resulting mitigation interventions. The present study aimed to quantify effect of replacing IPCC 2 approaches assessing total farmgate products' emission intensities (EIs) smallholder cattle production...
Highlights• Use of Tier 2 resulted in 19-25% lower total GHG emissions compared to 1.• Using locally measured methane yield instead the defaults emission estimates.• Energy allocation method results milk EI using protein output.