Beekeeping is one of the most important sectors that contribute to the improvement of the livelihoods of people in many countries. A cross-sectional study was carried out in southwestern Ethiopia to determine the adoption rate, determinate factors, and community perception of improved beekeeping technologies. A multistage random sampling method was conducted to select study districts. A total of 180 beekeepers were interviewed for this study with a proportional random sampling method from adopters and non-adopters of technologies. From a total of 180 beekeepers, 61 (33.9%) and 119 (66.1%) were adopters and nonadopters, respectively. The majority of respondents stated that high yield, ease for inspection, and quality of honey are the main advantages, while high cost, the need for high skill, and access to technology are the major detriments to the adoption of Dereje Tulu ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dereje Tulu is a researcher at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Tepi Agricultural Research Center. His research work focuses on veterinary sciences. He has published various papers in several scientific journals. Melkam Aleme is a researcher at EIAR, Tepi Agricultural Research Center. He has been conducting different research on animal production and apiculture. Gezahegn Mengistu is a researcher at EIAR, Tepi Agricultural Research Center. He has been carried out different research on animal production and apiculture. Ararsa Bogale is a researcher at EIAR, Tepi Agricultural Research Center. He has carried out various researches on animal production and honeybee. His key interest is in honey bee disease and modern hive improvement. Amsalu Bezabeh is senior researcher at Holeta Bee Research Center. He is a national honey bee research program coordinator. His research interest is mainly on the improvement of honeybee production in Ethiopia. Esayas Mendesil is Associate Professor of Entomology at Jimma University. His research areas include beneficial insects, insect ecology and integrated pest management.

There is a distinct seasonality in the availability of feeds in the highlands of Ethiopia, reaching a peak and low levels towards the end of the rainy and dry season, respectively. Consequently, this trial was conducted to assess the yield performance and nutritive value of nine perennial grasses accessions from seven grass species under supplementary irrigation to produce feed year-round. The evaluated grasses species were two Urochloa (U. decumbens cv. ILRI-10871 and ILRI-13205), two Setaria (S. sphacelata cv. ILRI-143 and ILRI-6543), one Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirrosa), coloured Guinea (Panicum coloratum cv. Coloratum), Desho (Pennisetum glaucifolium cv. Kindu kosha), Napier (Pennisetum purpureum cv, ILRI-16791), and Rhodes (Chloris gayana cv. Massaba) variety. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design. The chemical compositions of the grasses were scanned by, the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Results indicated that the plant height, dry matter, and crude protein yield were significantly affected by year, species ( P < 0.001 ), and their interaction ( P < 0.05 ). Moreover, species were significantly influenced in vitro dry matter digestible yield, relative feed value, and nutrient content (DM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, and IVDMD). Napier grass had superior in dry matter, crude protein, and in vitro dry matter digestible yield than the other perennial grasses species tested together. Thus, among the tested grasses species, Napier grass showed outstanding potential as a forage plant followed by Phalaris and Desho grass under supplementary irrigation in the central highland of Ethiopia.

This study was conducted to evaluate noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake substituted with dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves’ meal on feed intake, body weight change, and digestibility of Bonga sheep fed on Rhodes grass hay at Teppi Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted using 25 yearling lambs with an average initial body weight of 20.83 ± 1.66 kg. Five lambs were allotted per treatment in randomized complete block design. Treatments were isonitrogenous supplements of 100% concentrate (49.5% NSC, 49.5% ground maize grain, and 1% salt) offered at 400 g DM/head/day (T1), 25, 50, 75, and 100 of NSC CP substituted by dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves’ meal in T2 = 429.8 g/day, T3 = 459.5 g/day, T4 = 489.3 g/day, and T5 = 519 g/day, respectively. The sheep were fed Rhodes grass hay adlibitum and had free access to water and salt block. Intake and growth trail lasted for 90 days followed by 10 days of digestibility trial. The CP, NDF, and ADF contents of Rhodes grass hay were 7.9, 74.8, and 46.8 percent. The CP content of NSC, ground maize grain, dried mulberry, and Vernonia leaves was 32.4, 8.3, 18.5, and 22.5%, respectively. Total DM intake (g/day) was significantly higher for lambs in T3 (771.4) than in T1 (722.8) and T5 (642.8) but similar to T2 (754.9) and T4 (759.7). The CP intake was highest (P < 0.001) for sheep in T2 and T3, but lowest in T5. The apparent DM digestibility for T1 (70.8%), T2 (68.8%), and T3 (69.1%) was significantly higher than for T5 (64.4%), while T4 (67.9%) and T5 were not significantly different. The attained average daily gain (g/day) of sheep in T1 (87.7), T2 (82.0), T3 (83.4), and T4 (75.2) was higher (P < 0.01) than in T5 (56.0). The result of this study indicated that dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves’ meal can substitute NSC as a protein supplement up to 75% inclusion level resulting in optimum DM and nutrient intakes and body weight gain of yearling Bonga sheep. This study also highlights the positive potential of dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves’ meal as a supplement to ruminants on a basal diet of fibrous feeds.

The need to evaluate and identify the adaptability of these improved forage crops on station had been to identify the promising forage species to the particular agro-ecology. On farm evaluation and demonstration of Rhodes grass and Stylosanthus guanensis was carried out on 20 farmers' fields in Yeki and Sheko districts of Sheka and Bench-Maji zones during 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. The study was to evaluate and demonstrate Rhodes grass and stylosanthus gaunensis at farmers' level and to assess farmers' opinion. The forages were planted on 10×10 plot size on each farmer's farm land. Dry matter yield, seed yield data and farmers perceptions were evaluated. The result indicated that there was variability in performance of the improved forage species between the districts and among the farmers within the districts. The dry matter yield and seed yield for Rhodes grass obtained range from 6-10t/ha and 190.3-315.4 kg/ha respectively. For Stylosanthus guanensis, the highest dry matter was obtained in sheko district (5.1t/ha) and the lowest mean dry matter yield recorded in yeki district (3.5t/ha). Similarly, highest seed yield (269.5 kg ha -1 /year) was obtained in sheko district whereas the lowest seed yield (179.2 kg ha -1 /year) was obtained in yeki district. Most of the farmers were select Rhodes grass than stylosanthus on majority of selection criteria. Further demonstration of improved forage crops allows farmers to improve their knowledge and understanding on cultivation and utilization of forages crops for their animals.

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