The objective of this study was to develop emission factors (EF) for methane (CH 4 ) emissions from enteric fermentation in cattle native to Benin. Information on livestock characteristics and diet practices specific to the Benin cattle population were gathered from a variety of sources and used to estimate EF according to Tier 2 methodology of the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Most cattle from Benin are Bos taurus represented by Borgou, Somba and Lagune breeds. They are mainly multi-purpose, being used for production of meat, milk, hides and draft power and grazed in open pastures and crop lands comprising tropical forages and crops. Estimated enteric CH 4 EFs varied among cattle breeds and subcategory owing to differences in proportions of gross energy intake expended to meet maintenance, production and activity. EFs ranged from 15.0 to 43.6, 16.9 to 46.3 and 24.7 to 64.9 kg CH 4 /head per year for subcategories of Lagune, Somba and Borgou cattle, respectively. Average EFs for cattle breeds were 24.8, 29.5 and 40.2 kg CH 4 /head per year for Lagune, Somba and Borgou cattle, respectively. The national EF for cattle from Benin was 39.5 kg CH 4 /head per year. This estimated EF was 27.4% higher than the default EF suggested by IPCC for African cattle with the exception of dairy cattle. The outcome of the study underscores the importance of obtaining country-specific EF to estimate global enteric CH 4 emissions.
This study assessed the level of bark damage on baobab trees (Adansonia digitata) as caused by elephants (Loxodonta africana), and the possibility of finding refuges where baobab could escape bark damage within the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (PBR). Distributions of elephants and baobab trees within the PBR were compared using presence records of both species taken along transect lines. Two sites (National Park vs. hunting zone) that differ in elephant density were compared for intensity of bark damage and correlations between the intensity of bark damage and stem size of the baobab trees and population structure of the baobab trees. Elephants and baobabs showed co‐occurrence in PBR suggesting that there is nowhere to hide for baobabs. The intensity of bark damage was positively correlated with elephant density and baobab girth. Baobab population girth classes were not significantly different in areas with and without bark damage. Future studies should test whether there are certain baobab genotypes that can resist elephant damage. It could also be tested whether effective conservation of elephants in the PBR has resulted in a bull‐biased population over its carrying capacity.
Cette étude sur les pâturages naturels envahis par Hyptis suaveolens a été réalisée dans la zone de transition guinéo-congolaise/soudanaise du Bénin. L'objectif de l'étude est d'analyser les connaissances endogènes, les paramètres biologiques et agronomiques pouvant permettre de déterminer l'effet de l'invasion de H. suaveolens sur le potentiel pastoral. Les résultats indiquent que le stade d'invasion de H. suaveolens est atteint au niveau des pâturages du plateau. Le spectre des types biologiques varie en fonction du niveau d'invasion et de l'écologie. La phytomasse des graminées varie de 0,37 à 5,62 t MS / ha. Elle est plus élevée dans les pâturages de dépression que dans ceux du plateau. La valeur pastorale est élevée au stade de contamination de pâturage par H. suaveolens. La qualité et la quantité fourragère diminuent avec l'intensité d'invasion. Les éleveurs disposent des connaissances sur la biologie de H. suaveolens et des critères d'évaluation de la qualité des fourrages. Ces connaissances sont valorisées dans la conduite de l'élevage du bétail. L'indice de qualité et le niveau d'invasion peuvent servir d'indicateurs essentiels de la qualité fourragère des parcours envahis en l'absence de toute analyse bromatologique.
Objectives: A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of the inclusion levels of sun dried pineapple peel (PP) in the diets, on the digestibility and growth performance of rabbits. Methodology and Results: Diets R0 (control), R20, R30 and R40 were formulated by including 0, 20, 30 and 40% of PP. Panicum maximum C1 fodder supplemented the diet of each rabbit. Twenty-four growing rabbits, of 40 to 55 days old, with initial weight 765 ± 128g were used for 70-day trial. Faecal apparent digestibility of dry matter was measured in 12 rabbits during 7 days. The intakeof the diets based on PP was similar (p>0.05) to that in the control diet. Total feed intake ranged from 66 to 72 g DM/kg. The average dry matter digestibility (67.5%) was similar (p>0.05) in rabbits fed diet containing 20% PP and control diet. Average daily weight gain (15.5 to 16.7 g) and feed conversion ratio (5.48 to 6.08) were better in rabbits fed R0, R20 and R30 diets. Conclusions and application of findings: Results from this study show that weaned rabbits are good consumers of dried PP. This study demonstrated that, the dried PP is a suitable feedstuff for rabbits. It can be included in rabbits' diets up to 20% without a significant adverse effect on feed intake, dry matter digestibility and growth performance.The PP meal is biologically efficient and environmentally sustainable. It successfully enhanced the rabbit's growth performance. To get optimum performance of rabbit, famers may not exceed 20% inclusion level in dietary. However, the present technologies do not take into account other equal practices or more important, in farm conditions. Therefore, it is important to include the economical viability aspect in the technologies during on farm research before starting its dissemination.
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