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Recent Submissions
Climate change and agronomic management: Addressing wheat yield gaps and sustainability challenges in the Mediterranean and MENA regions
Author(s): Tita, Davide; Mahdi, Karrar; Devkota, Krishna; Devkota Wasti, Mina (Elsevier Masson)
Date: 2025-01-15
Type: Journal Article
Status: Open access
Wheat is a crucial crop for food and nutritional security in Mediterranean and MENA regions, yet it faces significant challenges due to high yield variability, low average productivity, and substantial yield gaps. This highlights the urgent need for improved agricultural practices to enhance its productivity and resilience. The region's climate climate change, soil degradation, and water supply variability significantly impact wheat production, requiring innovative and integrated solutions to minimize yield gaps and improve sustainability.
Evaluation of Dorper Sheep under Village and On Station Management Systems in Ethiopia
Author(s): Abebe, Ayele (Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center (ARARI-DBARC), 2024-08-01)
Date: 2024-08-01
Type: Other (Thesis)
Status: Timeless limited access
The study evaluated the performance of Dorper sheep and their crossbreds under both farmermanaged
and semi-intensive systems across diverse regions of Ethiopia. On-farm flock monitoring of
farmers’ flock and extensive assessments of productive and reproductive traits were conducted on
flocks managed semi-intensively at research centers and universities. Additionally, a survey of 248
households assessed the performance of distributed Dorper sires, Dorper crossbred lambs, ewes and
farmers' perceptions of the breed’s productive and adaptive traits. The data was analyzed using SAS
and SPSS statistical software. The study found that sheep were the dominant livestock, accounting
for 59% of holdings, with breeding ewes having the highest proportion (46%). Farmers kept sheep
primarily for income, meat consumption, and savings. Farmers perceived Dorper crossbreds as
superior to locals in conformation, growth, meat yield/quality (red meat), good mothering ability,
and market readiness, but noted higher feed requirements. Both local and Dorper ewes lambed yearround,
with peaks in Sep-Oct-Dec (35% of births), and more births (39%) in the dry season vs. 33%
in the rainy season. Under semi-intensive system, conception and lambing rates were higher when
using Dorper crossbred rams (90.5 and 98.5%) and local ewes (90.8 and 98.2%). Under both
farmers’ and semi-intensive management, local and Dorper crossbred ewes had similar litter sizes at
birth (LSB) and weaning (LSW), though affected by environment. In semi-intensive systems, local
and crossbred ewes had better litter sizes than Dorper purebreds. However, Dorper crossbred and
Dorper purebred ewes had higher litter weights at birth (LWB), and weaning (LWW). Ewes sired by
local sires had the lowest values for LWB and LWW. Under farmers’ management, local ewes had
lower age at first lambing (AFL) (14.7 vs 16.2 months) than Dorper crossbreds, but no differences in
lambing interval (LI) (9.0 vs 9.6 months) or annual reproductive rate (ARR) (1.55 vs 1.42). Under
semi-intensive management, AFL, LI, and ARR were affected by both genotype and environment.
Ewes sired by pure bred Dorper and Dorper crossbred sires produced higher annual lamb weight
per ewe (27.6 kg and 26.6 kg) in 90 days than local sires (23.4 kg) (p < 0.0001). Dorper crossbred
ewes had the highest annual lamb weight (26.8 kg) compared to local (25.9 kg) and purebred Dorper
(25.0 kg) ewes (p = 0.0013). No difference in annual lamb weight between local and Dorper
crossbred ewes under farmers’ management, indicating effects of management. Under farmers’
management, Dorper crossbred lambs showed 39%, 31%, 34%, and 27% higher birth, 3-month, 6-
month, and yearling weights, respectively, compared to local lambs. Dorper crossbreds also had
32% and 23% higher pre- and post-weaning gains. Under semi-intensive management, lamb-traits
were influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, with lambs in low-mid to highland areas
having higher values than those in cool-sub alpine areas. Lambs with 75% Dorper genes showed
higher post-weaning trait-values. Under semi-intensive management, using 50% Dorper-F1 and 75%
Dorper inheritance improved lamb birth weights by 41-64%, weaning weights by 38-52%, and preweaning
growth rates by 39-50%, six-month and yearling weights were improved by 36-56% and 55-
64%, respectively. While lamb genotype did not influence survival under farmers' management, it
affected survival at 3 and 6 months under semi-intensive systems due to genetic and environmental
factors. In semi-intensive systems, lamb-traits were influenced by both genetics and environment,
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with higher Dorper inheritance (75%) improving post-weaning performance. Using 50-75% Dorper
crossbreds significantly boosted lamb birth, weaning, and yearling weights compared to local sheep.
Dorper purebred sheep (under a semi-intensive system) and their crossbreds under both systems
demonstrated adaptability and productivity across low and high agro-ecologies. The study
highlighted farmers' acceptance of Dorper sheep, but noted constraints around access to Dorper
rams and improving production environments through feed development and healthcare. It
emphasized the need for stakeholder coordination to ensure the success and sustainability of Dorper
crossbreeding programs in Ethiopia. Indicators of Dorper crossbreed acceptance included ram
distribution, rams’ adaptation, lamb Dorper inheritance, and farmer interest. However, aspects of
the breeding scheme, like upgrading units and farmer linkages, were still in early stages.
Incorporating up to 25% Dorper genetics into indigenous sheep for traditional, farmer-managed
systems (following the CBBP practice), use 50-75% Dorper genetics for semi-intensive production to
maximize productivity, promote private commercial farmers and transform breeding centers, develop
an Ethiopian synthetic Dorper crossbred population, and establishment of a consolidated national
Dorper coordination body are recommended.
Reproductive Management Tools for Small Ruminants' Flocks in Tunisia: First Steps Towards a Widespread Adoption of Transabdominal Ultrasonography for Pregnancy Diagnosis
Author(s): Tebourbi, Ons; Rekik, Mourad (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2024-12-01)
Date: 2024-12-01
Type: Internal Report
Status: Open access
Mass transabdominal ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis is an ethical, low-cost, practical, and accurate reproductive tool for detecting pregnant females among small ruminants’ flocks. It is now being introduced to Tunisian small ruminants’ breeders’ communities within ICARDA’s Integrated Herd Health Package (I2HP) under CGIAR’s initiative for an agroecological transition in small ruminant farming systems. This document summarizes the outputs of the first step and outlines the next steps for widespread adoption of the tool across the country.
UNCCD COP 16: Global actions for sustainable rangelands and pastoralism to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality
Author(s): Louhaichi, Mounir
Date: 2024-12-07
Type: Presentation
Status: Open access
The presentation by Mounir Louhaichi, on behalf of the IYRP Rangelands & Land Degradation Neutrality Working Group, was delivered during the Road to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026 session at COP 16 in KSA. It outlined critical recommendations for enhancing rangeland management and promoting pastoralism within the framework of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The presentation emphasized the urgent need to halt the indiscriminate conversion of rangelands, recognized pastoral mobility as essential for ecosystem health, and advocated for the implementation of innovative economic policies that benefit both rangelands and pastoralists. Additionally, it called for integrated land-use approaches, stronger governance, and increased funding for rangeland projects. The presentation also urged for the inclusion of rangeland restoration in global LDN targets and the establishment of participatory knowledge-sharing practices.
Applying the AWIN Protocol for Animal Welfare Assessment for Sheep in Kef and Siliana, Tunisia
Author(s): Tebourbi, Ons; Atallah, Elie; Abbassi, Takwa; Ben Salem, Imene; Dalla Costa, Emanuela; Rekik, Mourad (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2024-10-01)
Date: 2024-10-01
Type: Internal Report
Status: Open access
Under CGIAR’s Agroecology initiative, this work constitutes a first attempt to evaluate the sheep welfare status in the Tunisian Agroecological Living Landscape (ALL), El Kef and Siliana, with the aim of providing farmers with low cost and low-input targeted solutions to improve their sheep flocks’ management practices at first place and initiating the elaboration of an animal welfare guideline for sheep farming in Tunisia at second place. This document provides a description of the different activities conducted to assess sheep welfare conditions in Tunisian ALL, a summary of their main results, and suggests several propositions for improving sheep welfare in Tunisia.