Tag: animal production
Analysis of Ethiopian Coffee Value Chain for Compliance with European Union Deforestation Regulation
The coffee sector is of crucial importance to Ethiopia, directly impacting about one-fifth to one-quarter of the population and contributing around one-third of the country’s export revenue. Notably, nearly one-third of these export earnings are from European countries. However, this trade is increasingly challenged by the enforcement of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which seeks to curb deforestation and forest degradation associated with the consumption of certain commodities, including coffee. A core requirement of the EUDR is traceability of coffee to ensure it is produced and marketed free from deforestation. Despite its growing relevance, there remains a paucity of studies examining the implications of the EUDR, particularly with regard to its potential impact on Ethiopia’s coffee export value chain and the country’s level of preparedness. This study was undertaken to assess the compliance of the Ethiopian coffee value chain with the EUDR by collecting data from both primary and supporting value chain actors and stakeholders. The analysis employed the Structure-Conduct-Performance framework. The findings reveal that forest and semi-forest coffee production systems, as well as coffee value chain channels involving investors, cooperatives/unions, and processor-exporters, demonstrate greater alignment with EUDR requirements, owing to their product uniformity and traceability. Four categories of incompliance were identified: “Information,” “Product,” “Market,” and “Procedural”. To address this, Ethiopia should consider adopting a phase-based compliance approach, expanding cooperative membership and outgrower schemes, enhancing oversight of product aggregation, developing technological support systems for EU operators, strengthening the national taskforce, and providing incentives to smallholder producers. By implementing these measures and reinforcing collaboration with the EU, Ethiopia can maintain access to EU markets. Furthermore, the insights from this study may inform the compliance strategies of other commodities within Ethiopia and offer lessons for other countries with similar regulatory contexts.
Productivity of Sumatran sheep in a system integrated with rubber plantation
Productivity of Sumatran sheep, in a project integrating sheep and rubber plantations, was analyzed from 1985 to 1988. Ewes that had more than three lambings and managed under continuous exposure to rams had a nonseasonal distribution of lambings. Ewe weights averaged 22 kg at lambing and weaning, and were influenced (P < 0.01) by parity, nutrition and litter size. Repeatability of ewe weight at birth and weaning was 0.73 and 0.70, respectively. Lamb birth weights (1.8 kg) and weaning weights (9.3 kg), were heavier in male offspring (P < 0.01) and in small litters (P < 0.01). Litter size averaged 1.54 and its repeatability 0.32. Survival of singles (92%) and multiples (74%) were different by years (P < 0.01). Litter size and survival of multiples were affected by nutrition and ewe weight (P < 0.01). Weights of lambs born (2.74 kg) and weaned (11.45 kg) were significantly related to litter size and ewe weight. Weaned lamb output by ewes raising singles was 34–61% of those raising multiples. Repeatability of weights of lambs born and weaned was 0.38 and 0.36, respectively. Lambing interval averaged 201 days and repeatability 0.06. Parity, season, year and treatment had significant effects on lambing intervals. With a production rate of 1.82 lambings and some ewes weaning 3.6 lambs weighing 31.9 kg per 22 kg ewe per production year, Sumatran sheep have exceptional potential for accelerated lambing in integrated sheep and rubber plantation systems and humid tropical conditions.
Green Pinus radiata needles as a feed for sheep
Various combinations of cereal chaff and Pinus radiata needles were fed to penned sheep in three experiments. The in vivo digestibility of green needles was estimated to be 36%. Intakes of needles were variable and increased to more than 50% of the total dry matter intake if the chaff component of the diet was restricted to 25% of normal intake. Under these conditions, the needles made a useful contribution to the diet and reduced rates of liveweight loss.The feeding value of pine needles may decrease by about 30% as they age but that of fresh young needles can be greater than those of late summer pasture residues. Therefore, if kept ungrazed for in situ consumption in summer or during drought, when pasture residues are not able to maintain sheep, green pine needles can be valuable either as a substitute for pasture or as a partial supplement.
Calliandra for cows in Kenya
The effects of forest conversion on annual crops and pastures: Estimates of carbon emissions and plant species loss in a Brazilian Amazon colony
The municipality of Theobroma in Rondonia, Brazil, covers 2165 km2, of which 43% was deforested by 1993. Between 1973 and 1993, the national government continued to improve highway BR364 connecting the area to Brazil’s south-central region and established a colony in Theobroma. During this period, 98% of the deforestation occurred. Some 1800 settler families continue to convert forest into pasture in a system based on the slash-and-burn agriculture and dual-purpose cattle production. Trends in carbon emissions and plant species losses during the 20-year history of Theobroma were analyzed by combining observed shifts in land-use types with estimates for the carbon stocks and plant species richness of each of these types. Carbon stocks declined from about 200 t ha1 in the forest to 28 t ha1 in the pasture and of 326 plant species encountered in the forest, only 20 remained in pastures (along with 66 species not found in forests). The effects of converting more than 93000 ha of forest into other uses over 20 years include approximate losses of 14 million tons of C to the atmosphere and substantial losses of plant species. Land use alternatives that would store more C include agroforestry and – given the strong incentives for settlers to convert lands into pasture –improving pasture management or developing silvopastoral systems. Plant species conservation may be improved with proposed ways to add private value to the forest.
Community conversations on synergies of animal welfare and agroforestry systems: A guide to facilitators
Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
This study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele were randomly chosen for the purpose of individual interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and Excel. The topmost livestock production constraint was feed shortage where a larger proportion of farmers (75.6%) suffered from the problem with higher ( ≤ 0.01) severity in nonproject intervention areas. Of these, 38.6% were challenged for a period of three months while another 61.4% suffered for about four months. Purchasing grass (31.4%) and concentrate (33.5%) and feeding enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf (21.49%) were the most commonly adopted coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages during the dry season, while using purchased grass and enset leaf was the main coping strategy in nonproject intervention ( ≤ 0.01) areas. The majority of households (90.75%) participate in improved forage production regardless of farm size. Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) (71.38%) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (42.63%) are the most common improved forages in both study areas. These forages are produced for the purpose of two or more functions (feed, cash, and preventing erosion) that vary ( ≤ 0.01) among intervention status. Major niche locations adopted for improved forage production include farm land, soil and water conservation structures, and perimeter fencing. Greatest constraints on improved forage production were seed/material shortage followed by land shortage and lack of awareness. Project intervention ( ≤ 0.01), tropical livestock unit (TLU) holding ( ≤ 0.01), and forage seed/planting material access ( < 0.05) were identified as factors (among others) having significant relationship with improved forage development. Strong extension services and efficient input delivery for farmers are vital to support profitable livestock production and resource utilization.