Browsing by Author "Msalya, George Mutani"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8

Assessment of growth and population structure revealed sufficient genetic diversity among lambs of Mecheri sheep in Tamil Nadu, India
(Elsevier) Thiruvenkadan, Aranganoor Kannan; Muralidharan, Jaganathan; Ramanujam, Rajendran; Msalya, George Mutani
Assessment of growth and population structure revealed sufficient genetic diversity among lambs of Mecheri sheep in Tamil Nadu, India
(Elsevier, 2022-07) Thiruvenkadan, Aranganoor Kannan; Muralidharan, Jaganathan; Ramanujam, Rajendran; Msalya, George Mutani
This study was designed to evaluate various genetic parameters for growth characteristics, genetic progression, and to find out the genetic constitution of a population of Mecheri sheep, a tropical breed native to Tamil Nadu, southern India. Data for this study were various records from 2768 lambs, which were a result of mating of 110 sires and 748 dams during a period of 10 years, between 2010 and 2019. Among the evaluated traits included body weights at various stages of growth such as birth weight (BWT), as well as weight at weaning (WWT), at 6- months (6WT), at 9-months (9WT), and at one-year-old (12WT). Estimated genetic parameters included additive direct and maternal heritabilities and genetic correlations, genetic changes, inbreeding, and generation interval. Among the software required for various analyses were the ENDOG (version 4.8) and Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML). Mean ( ± SE) values of weight at birth and at 12 months were 2.37 ± 0.02 and 21.34 ± 0.34 kg respectively. Direct heritability values estimated at birth, six months, as well as 12 months were respectively 0.14 ± 0.05, 0.07 ± 0.03, and 0.08 ± 0.03. Maternal heritability value for BWT was 0.28 and whereas low and varied values between 0.03 and 0.05 were obtained for both weaning and post-weaning traits. Overall, genetic improvement was low at birth (− 0.0025 kg) and highest (0.1314 kg) around weaning age. Average inbreeding coefficient value was 0.16 % and the effective population size of founders was 100.35, while mean generation interval ( ± SE) was 3.44 ± 1.15 years. Effective number of founders was 18.01 % and indicates that Mecheri sheep have their origin from a moderate genetic base. The observed f e /f a ratio was 1.00 and is linked to presence of sufficient founding ancestors, less bottlenecks, and possibly implementation of rotational mating scheme at the farms. In summary, our study revealed that there are high correlations between WWT and post-weaning weights. Based on heritability values, the WWT could be used as an important trait which can facilitate improvement in body weight of Mecheri lambs. Further, the present genetic parameter values for different variables advocates that the genetic progress for body weight at various stages of growth is feasible in Mecheri sheep thorough genetic selection strategies. We conclude that sufficient genetic diversity is maintained within Mecheri sheep.
Evolutionary Divergence and Rates of Base Substitutions Across Four Populations of Nigerian Zebu Cattle at Heat Shock Protein 90 Locus
(Academic Letter) Onasanya, Gbolabo O.; Msalya, George Mutani; Thiruvenkadan, Aranganoor K.; Murali, Nagarajan; Ikeobi, Christian O.
Feedlot performance and profitability of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu finished on local feed resources in Kongwa District, Tanzania
(Science Publishing Group, 2022-10-11) Kimirei, Saning’o Gabriel; Chenyambuga, Sebastian Wilson; Mushi, Daniel Elia; Msalya, George Mutani; Mpenda, Zena
An experiment was conducted for 90 days to assess the effects of diets formulated based on locally available feed ingredients on growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross margin of cattle under feedlot condition in Kogwa district, Tanzania. Fifty bulls belonging to Tanzania shorthorn zebu breed, with the age of three to four years and average initial weight of 130 kg were used. The bulls were allotted to five treatments (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 ) in a completely randomized design. Animals on treatments T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 were kept under confinement, fed Cenchrus ciliaris hay and supplemented with concentrate diets formulated based on locally available ingredients while those on T 5 were grazed in natural pastures without being supplemented. The diet on T 1 contained maize bran as the sole energy source while T 2 comprised maize bran and rice polishing as energy sources, T 3 comprised maize bran and molasses as energy sources and T 4 had maize bran, rice polishing and molasses as energy sources. All diets contained sunflower seed cake and mineral pre-mixes as protein and mineral sources, respectively. The bulls subjected to concentrate supplementation (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ) had higher (P < 0.0001) weight gain and growth rate than those on T 5 . Among the bulls supplemented with concentrate diets, those on T 3 had the highest weight gain (107 kg) and growth rate (1.28 kg/d) and lower FCR (6.48), followed by those on T 1 (weight gain = 96.70 kg, growth rate = 1.07 kg/d, FCR = 6.509). Moreover, the bulls on T 3 had the highest gross margin (TZS 235,471). In conclusion, the diet on T 3 was found to be better than the other diets. Therefore, it can be used by farmers for fattening of indigenous cattle at an affordable cost and obtain large profit.
Morphological Characterization of Selected Ecotypes of African Foxtail Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) from Selected Areas of Tanzania
(Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences) Lutatenekwa, Dorice L.; Mtengeti, Ephraim Joseph; Msalya, George Mutani
Quality of Milk from Norwegian Dairy Goats Bred and raised in Mgeta Division, Morogoro Region, Tanzania
(TAJAS) Msalya, George Mutani; Urassa, F.E.; Kifaro, G.C.
Vegetation Composition, Forage Biomass and Soil Seed Bank of a Continuously Grazed Rangeland Site in Tropical Sub-Humid Environment, Tanzania
(SET Publisher (Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences)) Mdegela, Tito Eleutery; Maleko, David Dawson; Msalya, George Mutani; Mtengeti, Ephraim Joseph
Vegetation Composition, Forage Biomass and Soil Seed Bank of a Continuously Grazed Rangeland Site in Tropical Sub-Humid Environment, Tanzania
(SET Publisher (Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences), 2022-06) Mdegela, Tito Eleutery; Maleko, David Dawson; Msalya, George Mutani; Mtengeti, Ephraim Joseph
Most rangelands along the agro-pastoral villages of Tanzania are yearlong grazed and at various states of degradation. These rangelands contribute to over 60% of the meat and milk production in the country. An inventory was conducted to assess the status of grazing resources in a typical agro-pastoral village of Tanzania having communal rangelands. Systematic random sampling techniques were employed whereby line transects and quadrat frame were used following standard procedures to collect samples and undertake field measurements for both vegetation and soil parameters. The vegetation cover for desirable pasture species, undesirable pasture species and litter were 67.7%, 10.5% and 9.4%, respectively. The soil bare patches covered 12.3 % of the surveyed rangeland site. The most dominant grass species were Enteropogon macrostachyus, Bothriochloa insculpta and Heteropogon contortus. Forage dry matter (DM) yield was 806.8 kg DM/ha. Tree density was 1500 trees/ha and the total canopy cover was 63.49%. Combretum collinum was the most dominant tree species. Soil bulk density, pH, 3 organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were 1.4 g/cm , 6.3%, 1.14%, 0.09%, 0.89 mg/kg and 0.33 g/kg, respectively. A total of 11 dicotyledonous species mainly forbs and 9 monocotyledonous species including two perennial grasses were revealed from the incubated soil samples. The findings of this study demonstrate that the communal grazing areas have low pasture productivity, poor soil seed-bank and high cover of woody plants mainly bushes. In order, to improve forage biomass at the study site and elsewhere with similar environments selective bush clearing and re-seeding should be considered.