Rationalising development of classification systems describing livestock production systems for disease burden analysis within the Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme

The heterogeneity that exists across the global spectrum of livestock production means that livestock productivity, efficiency, health expenditure and health outcomes vary across production systems. To ensure that burden of disease estimates are specific to the represented livestock population and people reliant upon them, livestock populations need to be systematically classified into different types of production system, reflective of the heterogeneity across production systems. This paper explores the data currently available of livestock production system classifications and animal health through a scoping review as a foundation for the development of a framework that facilitates more specific estimates of livestock disease burdens. A top-down framework to classification is outlined based on a systematic review of existing classification methods and provides a basis for simple grouping of livestock at global scale. The proposed top-down classification framework, which is dominated by commodity focus of production along with intensity of resource use, may have less relevance at the sub-national level in some jurisdictions and will need to be informed and adapted with information on how countries themselves categorize livestock and their production systems. The findings in this study provide a foundation for analysing animal health burdens across a broad level of production systems. The developed framework will fill a major gap in how livestock production and health are currently approached and analysed.

Reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crossbred dairy cows in Ethiopia's subhumid tropical environments

Estrus detection, timing of insemination, feeding, and health care practices are all factors that can significantly affect cattle breeding efficiency and lifetime production. In Ethiopia's subhumid environment, the age at first calving, number of days open, duration from calving to first heat, and number of services per conception are economic traits that affect reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crossbred dairy cows. Data collected at Ethiopia's Bako Agricultural Research Center between 1980-2019 was used to study the reproductive performance of Horro and Horro-crosses with Holstein Friesian and Jersey dairy cows. We identified overall mean ± standard error values of factors that affect reproductive performance, including age at first service (AFS) (29.2 ± 0.2 months), age at first calving (AFC) (39.8 ± 0.2 months), number of services per conception (NSC) (1.76 ± 0.4 months), calving interval (CI) (13.2 ± 0.3 months), days open (DO) (94.3 ± 4.3 days), conception rate (CR) (75.0 ± 1.3%), and replacement rate (RR) (28.4 ± 0.3%). The odds ratios of the 60-day and 90-day nonreturn rates (NRR) were 0.22 and 0.96, respectively. Sire and dam breed and birth period had significant (P < 0.001) effects on AFS and AFC, while season and dam parity had significant effects on CI and DO. Inconsistencies regarding feeding, heat detection, inseminator skills, insemination timing, animal health, and other husbandry practices may extend periods of AFS, AFC, CI, and DO. To optimize reproductive performance in Horro cows and Horro crossbreeds in Ethiopia's subhumid environments, improving management practices should be a priority.

Constraints and opportunities of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) silage production and utilisation by smallholder milk production sector in Zimbabwe

The objective of the scoping research was to evaluate the current situation, constraints and opportunities of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) silage production and utilisation by the smallholder dairy farmers in Zimbabwe. Cross sectional surveys were conducted from 61 households of six milk producers' associations (MPAs) in Chipinge, Gokwe, Mutasa, Seke, and Umzingwane districts, which were in different agro-ecological regions of Zimbabwe. Purposive and stratified random sampling was done to select households to administer structured questionnaires so as to collect data on socio-economic characteristics and dairy production. Key informant' interviews, case studies, and focus group discussions were the other data collection tools used. Total MPA dairy herd size mean differed (P < 0.05) in all MPAs averaging 16, ranging from 1 to 41 herd. Mafumise MPA had the least (P < 0.05) dairy herd size (7), whilst Gokwe, Tsonzo, Marirangwe, Claremont, and Umzingwane MPAs, had similar herd sizes (P > 0.05). There were positive (P < 0.001) relations between MPAs by seasonal milk yields, lactation days, calving intervals, dry days for different dairy breeds. Milk yields across MPAs and breeds were seasonally sensitive, being high in the wet season than dry season. All farmers (100%) had access to formal milk markets such as Milk Collection Centres, large dairy processors, and parallel markets. Farmers indicated non preference of sweet sorghum silage by their cattle as well as recurring drought affected their maize silage production. Farmers lacked knowledge on how to improve utilisation of sweet sorghum silage by using yeast, and bacteria and this justifies the need to use these probiotics in mitigating utilisation challenges for sustainable milk production.