Milk production performance of Ankole crossbreds and Holstein Friesian cattle in different production environments of Rwanda.

The aim of the study was to assess the productive performance of dairy cattle in three different agro-ecological zones of Rwanda: Congo-Nile/Western (WAZ), Central plateau/Central (CAZ), and Eastern plateau/East Agro-ecological Zones (EAZ). A single-visit multi-subject survey was conducted to obtain information on the dairy cattle performance from 51 farms. The breed groups were classified as Ankole x Holstein Friesian (AF), other Ankole crossbreds (AX), and pure Holstein Friesian (F).

Challenges and opportunities of smallholder pig production systems in Rwanda.

To decipher the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities of smallholder pig farming in Rwanda, a household survey was conducted in ten districts of the country. A total of 900 households selected randomly across four provinces and one city, 12 districts, 28 sectors, and villages were interviewed using a pretested printed questionnaire. Most of the respondents were heads of household: 70.

The effect of high temperature and humidity on milk yield in Ankole and crossbred cows.

Tropical regions are characterized by high temperature and humidity across the year. At high values of temperature humidity index (THI), there is a risk of heat stress leading to lower milk yield. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of season and the effect of maximum daily THI on milk yield of that day in purebred Ankole and Ankole-Friesian, Ankole-Jersey and Ankole-Sahiwal crosses in a tropical climate.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Growth Performance and Immune Response to Newcastle Disease Virus of Indigenous Chicken in Rwanda.

A chicken genome has several regions with quantitative trait loci (QTLs). However, replication and confirmation of QTL effects are required particularly in African chicken populations. This study identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and putative genes responsible for body weight (BW) and antibody response (AbR) to Newcastle disease (ND) in Rwanda indigenous chicken (IC) using genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Risk factors associated with endometritis in zero-grazed dairy cows on smallholder farms in Rwanda.

Clinical endometritis (CLE) and subclinical endometritis (SCLE) manifesting at the cow- and herd-levels has been associated with multiple risk factors (RFs), but hardly are RFs with direct influences separated from those with mediated indirect influences. This study identified and quantified the direct and indirect associations of cow- and herd-levels RFs with CLE and SCLE cases observed among 466 zero-grazed dairy cows that were in their 21-60 days postpartum (dpp). The cases were observed in a cross-sectional survey of smallholder farms (n = 370) in Rwanda.

Influence of endometritis on milk yield of zero-grazed dairy cows on smallholder farms in Rwanda.

Endometritis being a post-partum uterine infection in dairy cows is likely with substantial production loss through reduction in milk yield (MY), discarded milk during treatment and withdrawal period, and increased cost of veterinary treatment. This study quantified the influence of endometritis on MY of zero-grazed dairy cows managed on smallholder farms in Rwanda. The study enrolled a total of 461 cows within their 21 to 60 days in milk to examine for clinical endometritis (CLE) and subclinical endometritis (SCLE).

Effects of endometritis on reproductive performance of zero-grazed dairy cows on smallholder farms in Rwanda.

Endometritis is a prevalent post-partum uterine infection in dairy cows resulting in suboptimal reproductive performance. The hypothesis was that endometritis status is associated with suboptimal reproductive performance of postpartum dairy cows managed under zero-grazing feeding practice on smallholder farms. In this study, there was evaluation of effects of endometritis diagnosed at 38.

Estimating prevalence of endometritis in smallholder zero-grazed dairy cows in Rwanda.

Endometritis is a postpartum uterine disease of cows that interrupts reproductive cycles resulting in suboptimal fertility, reduced performance and profitability of the dairy herd. The objective of the study was to estimate the perceived and observed prevalence of endometritis among zero-grazed dairy cows in smallholder farms in Rwanda. A snowball sampling method was applied in cross-sectional survey to obtain data from 370 farms on 466 cows within their 21-60 days postpartum (dpp).

Milk production and lactation length in Ankole cattle and Ankole crossbreds in Rwanda.

This study assessed daily milk yield (DMY), 100-day (MY100), and 305-day (MY305) milk yield, and lactation length (LL) in purebred Ankole cattle and Ankole crossbreds, and the influence of environmental factors on these traits. Milk yield data were obtained for 865 cows and 1234 lactations and analyzed using a mixed linear model. The overall least squares mean of DMY, MY100, and MY305 across breed groups was 2.

Perception of farmers about endometritis prevention and control measures for zero-grazed dairy cows on smallholder farms in Rwanda.

Background: Endometritis is a prevalent uterine disease in postpartum cows. The disease reduces fertility performance and milk yield, and subsequently, productivity and profitability of dairy farms. The reduction in performance is associated with considerable economic losses on dairy farms.

Identification and characterization of genes that control fat deposition in chickens.

Background: Fat deposits in chickens contribute significantly to meat quality attributes such as juiciness, flavor, taste and other organoleptic properties. The quantity of fat deposited increases faster and earlier in the fast-growing chickens than in slow-growing chickens. In this study, Affymetrix Genechip® Chicken Genome Arrays 32773 transcripts were used to compare gene expression profiles in liver and hypothalamus tissues of fast-growing and slow-growing chicken at 8 wk of age.