Effects of Replacing Grass with Foliage on Growth Rate and Feed Intake in Goats-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A review of coxiellosis (Q fever) and brucellosis in goats and humans: Implications for disease control in smallholder farming systems in Southeast Asia

Coxiella burnetii and Brucella spp. are pathogenic bacteria that can cause large-scale outbreaks in livestock. Furthermore, these infectious agents are capable of causing zoonotic infections and therefore pose a risk to the close relationship between farm households and their livestock, especially goats. A review of seroprevalence studies of Coxiella burnetii and Brucella spp. in domestic goats demonstrated large differences in the total number of samples tested in different regions and countries. This review aims to provide information on coxiellosis (Q fever in humans) and brucellosis in goats concerning the characteristics of the causative agent, surveillance, and available prevention and control measures at a global level. Implications for Coxiella burnetii and Brucella spp. infections in domesticated goats in Southeast Asia are discussed.

In vitro fermentation and production of methane and carbon dioxide from rations containing Moringa oleifera leave silage as a replacement of soybean meal: in vitro assessment

Plant leaf meal of some forage trees such as Moringa oleifera has attracted an increasing interest as a good and cheap source of protein. The present in vitro experiment employed the in vitro wireless gas production (GP) technique to evaluate the inclusion of M. oleifera leaves ensiled for 45 days as a replacement for soybean meal in rations. A control basal ration was formulated to contain 17.5% soybean meal as a source of protein. Soybean meal in the control ration was replaced with silage (MOS) at increasing levels of 0 to 100%. Replacing soybean meal with MOS gradually increased (P < 0.001) GP kinetics (asymptotic GP, rate of GP, and lag time of GP). However, soybean meal replacement decreased (P < 0.001) asymptotic methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions, and rate of CH4 production and increased the lag time of CH4 and CO2 production. Gradual increases (P < 0.001) in the digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, ruminal bacteria count, fermentation pH, and the concentrations of ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and propionate were observed with rations containing MOS. Decreases in the digestibility of crude protein, ruminal protozoal count, and the concentrations of ruminal ammonia-N were observed with MOS rations. It is concluded soybean meal can be completely replaced by MOS with desirable effects on ruminal fermentation.