Agricultural Research Knowledge
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- Effects of Replacing Concentrate Feed with Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) Pods on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, and Rumen Fermentation in Assaf LambsAuthor(s): Ghzayel, Soha; Kholif, Ahmed; Díaz-Reyes, Alexey; Abu Aziz, Bassam; Zoabi, Halimeh; Ben Rhouma, Raouia; Hassan, Sawsan; López Puente, Secundino; Kholif, Adel; Parrini, Silvia; Confessore, Andrea; Ammar, Hajer (MDPI, 2026-08-10)Date: 2026-08-10Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessThis study examined the effects of replacing 25% (P25) or 50% (P50) of concentrate dry matter (DM) with sun-dried carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pods on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality, serum biochemistry, and rumen microbiology in growing Assaf lambs. Twenty-four weaned male Assaf lambs (initial body weight [BW] 27.0 ± 0.5 kg; 2.5 months of age) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 8 per group) in a completely randomized design and fed for 16 weeks. P50 achieved the highest ANCOVA-adjusted least squares mean final BW (53.0 kg) and average daily gain (ADG) (220.8 g/d), followed by P25 (51.1 kg; 203.3 g/d) and the control (46.2 kg; 160.2 g/d) (p < 0.001). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved from 8.99 in the control to 6.16 and 6.11 in P25 and P50, respectively, with no significant difference between the two carob-supplemented groups (p < 0.001). Apparent DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility increased with carob inclusion at both 3 and 6 months of age (p ≤ 0.0001). Cold carcass weight (CCW) was higher in carob-supplemented lambs (p < 0.001), whereas carcass muscle proportion did not differ among treatments (p = 0.688), and carcass fat proportion was higher in P25 than in the control (p = 0.039). Warner–Bratzler shear force declined progressively with carob inclusion (p < 0.001), indicating improved meat tenderness. Serum total protein was highest in P25, whereas blood urea nitrogen (BUN), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) decreased with carob inclusion (p < 0.001). Rumen pH was highest in P25 (6.40), total bacterial and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts increased, and protozoa counts declined (p < 0.001). Because carob pods replaced concentrate, rather than being added to an isonitrogenous diet, the combined effects of pods per se, reduced crude protein supply, and altered energy density must all be considered when interpreting the results. These findings support carob pods as a practical, locally available partial substitute for concentrate feed in Assaf lamb production under Mediterranean and Near Eastern conditions.
- Scaling agroforestry land suitability analysis in Odisha, India: a machine learning approachAuthor(s): Singh, Rajkumar; Gakhar, Shalini; Das, Pulakesh; Prakash, A.Jaya; Behera, Mukunda; Biradar, Chandrashekhar; Mudi, Sujoy; Kolluru, Venkatesh; Dogra, Atul; Agrawal, Shiv Kumar; Dhyani, Shiv Kumar (Frontiers, 2026-06-01)Date: 2026-05-31Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessAgroforestry practices are one of the major pillars of Natural Resources Management (NRM), offering substantial benefits by improving environmental conditions, socio-economy, soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Despite multi-dimensional benefits, robust data for regional planning and effective implementation are lacking, particularly in combined with existing land management practices. Further, analyses are often conducted using a set of reference datasets without validating the scalability. This study aimed to address this gap by leveraging a pre-trained machine learning (ML)-based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) model to assess agroforestry land suitability in Odisha, India, and validating the outcome with reference data from an independent region. Multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data were used to generate Land Use Land Cover (LULC) and cropping intensity maps, where Random Forest (RF) achieved above 94% classification accuracy, outperforming Support Vector Machine (SVM; above 93%). In comparison to traditional expert-defined weights, RF model-derived variable importance was integrated with fuzzy-MCE approach for agroforestry site suitability analysis. A diverse data array, such as topography, soil parameters, climate conditions, and socioeconomic factors, were employed, wherein the proximity variables contributed ∼70% of total weight. Independent validation using field data from another region with similar agricultural practices and socio-economic characteristics showed high mean suitability (>0.87; range 0.71–0.95). Moreover, the generated Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.89, exhibits strong model performance and high capability to site suitable agroforestry sites. Intervention-specific analysis indicated that >94% of double- and single-cropped lands, ∼96% of settlement areas, and >90% of permanent fallow and wastelands were found highly suitable for (i) bund and boundary plantations and intercropping, (ii) home gardens, and (iii) block/bulk plantation agroforestry practices, respectively. Further, we deployed the site suitability layer through a web platform. The developed WebGIS portal enables open data access, spatial querying and intervention planning, providing a practical decision-support tool for state-level agroforestry planning and implementation.
- Rhizosphere Microbiome Engineering for Climate-Smart Agriculture: From Synthetic Consortia to Precision Decision SupportAuthor(s): Mahmoud, Nourhan Fouad; Elzayat, Emad M.; Amr, Dina; A. El-Khishin, Dina; Radwan, Khaled Hashem; Youssef, Alaa; Khalaf, Abeer A.; Ahmed, Hoda; Radwan, Eman H.; Tawkaz, Sawsan; Baum, Michael (MDPI, 2026-05-17)Date: 2026-05-17Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessRhizosphere microbiome engineering is a promising approach that can enhance crop resilience and input use efficiency by redirecting plant–microbe–soil interactions toward predictable functions. Here, we review the mechanistic bases underlying rhizosphere assembly and stability, including root exudate-mediated selection, priority effects, keystone taxa, and metabolite-driven signaling, and connect these principles to proposed design rules for microbial inoculants. We present a generalizable Design–Build–Test–Learn (DBTL) framework for engineering synthetic microbial consortia, covering trait-to-module mapping (nutrient acquisition, phytohormone modulation, ACC deaminase activity, stress-protective metabolites, and biocontrol), compatibility screening, minimal yet robust community architectures, and iterative optimization driven by multi-omics and high-throughput phenotyping. Translation to field settings is framed as an engineering challenge defined by formulation and administration limitations, including carrier type, seed coating and encapsulation methods, shelf life, strain invasiveness, and permanence of colonization amid environmental diversity. We also summarize how integrative measurement pipelines (amplicon and shotgun sequencing, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and network or causal analyses) can advance microbiome studies from correlation to actionability. We describe how precision agriculture (sensors, remote sensing, and variable-rate inputs) and AI/ML (split-sample comparisons, transfer learning, and active learning) approaches can accelerate strain discovery, mixture optimization, and adaptive experimentation, driven by the need for stringent controls, metadata-rich reporting, and cross-site comparability. Use cases focus on stress conditions (drought, salinity, thermal extremes, and biotic stress) to demonstrate how microbial functions translate to agronomic outcomes and to highlight critical bottlenecks for reproducible, scalable microbiome products.
- Virulence spectrum of Moroccan Zymoseptoria tritici isolates and efficacy of Septoria tritici blotch resistance genesAuthor(s): Louriki, Sara; Bouhouch, Yassine; Al-Jaboobi, Muamar; Amri, Ahmed; Douira, Allal; Rehman, Sajid (NRC Research Press (Canadian Science Publishing))Date: 2026-05-28Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Timeless limited accessSeptoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by Zymoseptoria tritici is a major biotic stress in temperate wheat-growing regions of Morocco with yield losses reaching up to 40% under favourable conditions. Owing to the development of fungicide resistance, the use of resistant cultivars seems to be the best option for managing this disease. Therefore, knowledge of the pathogen population structure is indispensable for deploying an efficient and effective resistance breeding approach to combat STB. In this study, the response of 33 bread wheat genotypes (representing 16 resistance genes and QTL) was evaluated against 21 Z. tritici isolates under controlled conditions. Among 693 genotype-isolate interactions, 163 isolate-specific resistances (24%) were observed by comparing the means of disease severity data using LSD0.01 and LSD0.05. In addition to resistant cultivar Murga (G25), two cultivars, Cs synthetic (G4) and KK 4500 (G9), exhibited resistance response to almost all isolates with mean disease severity of 4% and 14–15 isolate-specific resistances. This suggests that these genotypes can be utilized in STB resistance breeding programs for Morocco and durable resistance can be achieved by pyramiding identified R genes against Moroccan Z. tritici isolates.
- Diagnosis of yellow rust disease resistance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using SSR markersAuthor(s): Shokirova, D. Sh.; Turakulov, Kh. S.; Kholliyev, O. E.; Fayzullaev, Abdulla; Sultonova, D. F.; Ochilov, B. O.; Hudoyberdieva, M. O.; Islomova, SH. A. (SOC ADVANCEMENT BREEDING RESEARCHES ASIA & OCEANIA, 2026-06-01)Date: 2026-06-01Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessYellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) is the primary disease affecting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop productivity worldwide. The latest study aimed to evaluate the 68 wheat cultivars and advanced lines for resistance to yellow rust under field conditions using both morphological assessment and SSR molecular markers. The results revealed eight wheat genotypes (Yr15/6 Avocet S, Xisorak, Yr5/6 Avocet S, Triticum spelta, Yr10/6* Avocet S, Yr SP/6* Avocet S, Spaldings Prolific, and Andijon-2**) were distinctly highly resistant. The two SSR markers Barc008 and Gwm140 proved to be the most reliable for detecting resistance, whereas four other markers (Gwm340, Gwm111, Xgwm131, and Gwm251) showed variable results across the genotypes. The integration of morphological and molecular data highlighted the genetic diversity in yellow rust resistance and demonstrated their potential to efficiently screen the wheat germplasm. The results provide a valuable base for selection of resistant parental lines and employment of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in wheat breeding programs aimed at improving the resistance to yellow rust disease.
- Aligning private incentives with societal goals in smallholder agricultureAuthor(s): Abate, Gashaw; Baye, Kaleab; Bernard, Tanguy; Chamberlin, Jordan; Hill, Ruth; Moussadek, Rachid; Senghor, Lamine (National Academy of Sciences (NAS))Date: 2026-08-31Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessSmall-scale farmers in low-income countries are often encouraged to adopt new inputs and practices that generate significant societal benefits, such as improved nutrition, food safety, and environmental sustainability. The limited observability of these attributes, combined with small production scale and misaligned private incentives, leads to adoption levels below the social optimum. Addressing this issue often requires combining instruments identified by different scientific disciplines, spanning across multiple policy sectors, an exercise that is rarely articulated jointly. This paper aims to clarify this, through a simple conceptual framework that explains how farmers decide whether to adopt socially desirable inputs and practices, given the returns and costs they face, their access to financial instruments, and the information and preferences that shape their decisions. It identifies the relevant policy channels, and asks whether the social returns justify the public cost of delivering them. We apply it to three case studies: aflatoxin mitigation, biofortified crop varieties, and conservation agriculture. For each, we identify which parameters bind, which instruments can move them, and how emerging technologies may further contribute. The agenda that follows moves from seeking single-instrument fixes toward identifying the right combination of existing and emerging policy-actionable tools.
- The Haematological and Biochemical Responses of Goat Bucks to Range Grazing and Indoor Concentrate‐Based Feeding SystemsDate: 2026-09-10Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessBackground Range grazing remains the principal feed resource for goats in smallholder production systems, particularly in regions where range grazing and intensive concentrate‐based systems coexist. However, expanding cropland has reduced the availability of grazing lands and shifted production toward concentrate‐based feeding systems. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the haematological and biochemical responses of goat bucks managed under range grazing and indoor concentrate‐based feeding systems. Methods Forty yearling bucks (10 bucks/treatment) were randomly allocated to one of four 90‐day feeding groups: range grazing (T1) or three treatments with roughage‐to‐concentrate ratios of: 60:40 (T2), 50:50 (T3) and 40:60 (T4) on a DM basis. Blood samples (10 mL/animal) were collected every fortnight via jugular vein from all bucks and were subjected to haematological and biochemical analysis. Results Bucks in T3 and T4 had significantly (p < 0.05) greater haemoglobin, red blood cell and packed cell volume compared to T1; nevertheless, the difference between T1 and T2 was not significant. Serum protein, albumin, glucose and testosterone concentrations were also higher in bucks fed concentrate diets (p < 0.05). White blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, the red blood cell distribution widths, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine remained unaffected (p > 0.05). Calcium level was significantly higher in T4 than T1 (p < 0.05), while K, Na, Cl and P remained unchanged (p > 0.05). Conclusion Bucks kept indoors on concentrate‐based diets showed better oxygen‐carrying capacity, iron status, nitrogen balance and body protein reserves than bucks reared under range grazing.
- From Suitability to Invasion Risk: Integrating Correlative and Mechanistic Models for Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Red Palm WeevilAuthor(s): Gesmalla Ahmed Azrag, Abdelmutalab; Agboka, Komi Mensah; Abdel-Rahman, Elfatih M.; Gwokyalya, Rehemah; Kemal, Seid Ahmed; ElShafie, Hamadttu; Ali Bob, Mohamed; Faris, Samira; Ekesi, Sunday; Tenkouano, Abdou (Wiley Open Access, 2026-09-26)Date: 2026-09-24Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessThe red Palm Weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is the most devastating pest of palm trees and is responsible for significant economic and biodiversity losses worldwide. The larvae bore deep into the trunk or crown for feeding, resulting in extensive tunneling and mortality of the trees. In this study, we developed a hybrid modeling framework for RPW that integrates ecological niche modeling (ENMs) with a temperature-driven risk index (RI). The ENM was developed from the RPW occurrence data, while the RI was driven from temperature-dependent life history traits of RPW. The two approaches were combined through a weighted additive method to enhance predictive performance and biological realism. The correlative SDM achieved the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.984 ± 0.002; TSS = 0.891 ± 0.009), whereas the mechanistic RI performed substantially lower (AUC = 0.755 ± 0.009 and TSS of 0.457 ± 0.017). Hybrid performance increased with greater SDM contribution, with the 90% SDM–10% RI hybrid (Hybrid90) achieving performance comparable to the SDM (AUC≈0.983 ± 0.002; TSS≈0.893 ± 0.009). Bootstrap analyses showed overlapping 95% confidence intervals between the SDM and Hybrid90 across all evaluation metrics, while the RI remained consistently inferior. Model rankings were also robust across suitability thresholds. Spatial projections revealed high suitability across Southeast Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean Basin, and coastal Brazil, consistent with known invasion patterns. Additionally, large areas of coastal Africa, Europe, and the Americas were identified as climatically suitable but remain partially uninvaded, indicating substantial invasion risk under the current scenario. Future climate scenarios suggest persistence of current hotspots alongside increased stability and expansion potential, particularly in East and West Africa. Our results demonstrate that integrating correlative and mechanistic information enhances the ecological interpretability of species distribution models without compromising predictive performance. Although the correlative SDM remained the most accurate predictor, the optimal hybrid model achieved comparable performance while incorporating biologically meaningful constraints on species persistence. This transferable framework supports biologically informed invasion-risk assessment, climate-change adaptation, and proactive surveillance and management of invasive pests, including the red palm weevil in regions that remain uninvaded.
- Evaluating polyphenol profile and antioxidant activity in relation to seed morphology in a collection of red lentilsAuthor(s): Giudice, Gaetano; Palombi, Lorenzo; Pavan, Stefano; Guerriero, Marzia; Visioni, Andrea; Laddomada, Barbara (Elsevier (12 months), 2026-04-01)Date: 2026-02-09Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessRed lentils may have either a reddish-brown or grey seed coat with different pigmentation patterns, and cotyledons varying from yellow to orange-red depending on the genotype. This class of lentils is widely consumed for their nutritional and functional properties the latter being largely attributed to antioxidant polyphenols. However, the relationship between seed morphology and polyphenol composition remains poorly characterized. In this study, 59 red lentil genotypes were analyzed to investigate associations among seed color, polyphenol profiles, and antioxidant capacity. Total phenolic content and individual flavonoids were quantified, and antioxidant activity was assessed both in extracts and directly on whole-meal flour. ANOVA revealed significant variability among genotypes for all traits. Three-way ANOVA highlighted that different tegument pigmentation patterns were strongly associated with individual flavonoids and antioxidant capacity, while cotyledon color was influenced by total polyphenol content and gallic acid levels. Multivariate analyses (PCA, OPLS-DA) confirmed these relationships by achieving high classification accuracy for color classes based on combined biochemical and physical data. Overall, the results showed that morphological features of red lentils can be valuable tools for accelerating breeding programs for selecting and developing varieties rich in functional compounds.
- Development and screening of large-scale simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for genetic diversity analysis in date palm (Phoenix dactylifra L.)Author(s): Al-Jabri, Abdullah; Al-Hinai, Marwa; Al-Mamari, Al-Ghaliya; Mattat, Imene; Al-Malki, Ameena; Hamwieh, Aladdin; Baum, Michael (Springer (part of Springer Nature) (Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals), 2026-05-21)Date: 2026-05-21Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Timeless limited accessSimple sequence repeat (SSR) markers remain highly useful for cultivar identification, germplasm characterization and genetic diversity analysis in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). The primary objective of this study was to develop a validated panel of informative SSR markers from a larger candidate pool for routine germplasm characterization, diversity analysis and molecular fingerprinting of date palm cultivars. A large SSR marker panel derived mainly from the genomic resource developed by Hamwieh et al. (Acta Hort 882: 269–277, 2011), together with previously published mPdCIR and PDCAT loci, was screened across 17 date palm accessions representing Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 868 primer pairs were screened, including 580 evaluated in Oman and 288 evaluated in Qatar. The Oman-screened markers were assessed by fragment analysis, whereas the Qatar-screened markers were evaluated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis only. Of the Oman-screened primers, 367 amplified successfully, while 213 failed to amplify; among the amplified loci, 274 were polymorphic and 93 were monomorphic. In the Qatar-screened set, 196 primers amplified successfully, of which 67 were polymorphic and 129 were monomorphic. The final allele-based dataset used for diversity analysis comprised 367 SSR loci. Marker informativeness analysis showed a mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.412, with 172 loci exceeding 0.50, and the most informative loci included DPALM295, DPALM413, DPALM986, DPALM483 and DPALM341. Population-level analysis revealed that Oman possessed the highest genetic diversity and the greatest number of private alleles. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 80% of the total variation occurred within populations and 20% among populations, indicating moderate genetic differentiation. Pairwise Fst, Nei’s genetic distance, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), and cluster analysis consistently supported genetic structuring among the four Gulf groups. These findings confirm the usefulness of large-scale SSR screening for identifying robust and informative loci and provide a valuable basis for developing a reduced core SSR set for date palm fingerprinting, germplasm management and future breeding applications.
- Green Water Harvesting in Jordan’s Um Naa’am Watershed: Assessing Suitability for Climate Change ResilienceAuthor(s): Hamoor, Doaa Ismail Abu; Al-Mahasneh, Lubna; Ziadat, Feras M.; Mudabber, Mohammad; Haddad, Mira; Sweity, Amer (Computational Hydraulics International (CHI))Date: 2026-04-15Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessWater scarcity is a critical challenge in Jordan, intensified by its arid climate, limited water resources, and growing demand across different sectors. The Um Naa’am watershed, located in a water-stressed area, requires sustainable solutions to enhance water availability and address climate change. This study aims to assess the suitability of Green Water Harvesting (GWH) interventions—including contour ridges, runoff strips, and marabs—in the Um Naa’am watershed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. GWH has shown promise in supplementing water resources, increasing soil moisture, improving vegetation cover, boosting crop productivity, and enhancing groundwater recharge. Spatial analysis, data reclassification, and multi-criteria evaluation were used in ArcGIS, taking into consideration topography and soil characteristics to analyze the suitability for GWH. In the present study, it was found that 42.46% of the watershed is suitable for runoff strips, 29.30% for contour ridges, and 1.64% for Marabs. The results may indicate that techniques for GWH can effectively act at deeper levels regarding water scarcity management, increasing resilience for more sustainable agriculture in this region. The integration of GWH and GIS thus provides a data-driven approach toward solving water-related problems, which is very important in terms of food security and sustainable development in semi-arid regions.
- Whole Genome Re-sequencing Based GWAS Identifies Candidate Genes Leading to Development of KASP Marker for Seed Size Traits in Lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik.)Author(s): Kumar Singh, Chandan; Bhaskar, Yogendra; Tripathi, Kuldeep; Singh, Ankur; Sahu, Tanmaya; Chaudhary, Shashi; Mishra, Gyan; Agrawal, Shiv Kumar; Singh, Rakesh; Singh, Gyanendra Pratap; Singh, Amit (Springer Nature, 2026-07-01)Date: 2026-06-22Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Timeless limited accessLentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) has emerged as a protein-rich, abiotic stress-resilient, cool-season legume grown in arid and semi-arid areas of Asia, Middle-East, Asian countries, and Canada. Seed size plays a crucial role in deciding its monetary value and classification in the international market, along with key attributes such as cooking time and post-harvest milling quality. Therefore, the present study performs whole genome re-sequencing (WGRS) based genome-wide association study (GWAS) to narrow down genomic regions/candidate genes associated with seed size traits i.e. seed weight, seed diameter and seed thickness, using 170 lentil core set accessions from the National Genebank of India. Sequencing of these accessions on Illumina seq platform followed by stringent filtering, revealed 23,593 SNPs having genome-wide distribution with a linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay of 59,604 bp. In parallel, the accessions were phenotyped for seed size traits at three different locations for two consecutive years. GWAS integrating genotypic and phenotypic data using different multi-locus GWAS models identified 9 SNPs significantly associated with seed size traits. Among these, a SNP (CHR6_174959614) was anchored to a gene encoding the Photosystem II D2 protein, known to have a role in regulating seed size in other plant species. Further, the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR marker developed from associated SNP CHR6_174959614 showed significant allelic association with seed size traits in an independent lentil germplasm panel of 91 accessions. The results of this study could potentially accelerate the marker-assisted breeding programs to enhance seed size and in turn yield of lentil.
- Mobilizing climate finance for livestock transformation in the Global SouthAuthor(s): Florez, Fernando; Burkart, Stefan; Costa Junior, Ciniro; Notenbaert, An; Cramer, Laura; Yigezu, Yigezu; Dhehibi, Boubaker; Doldt, Julia; Arango, Jacobo; Wamukoya, George; Awolala, David; Denje, Telvin; Mbole-Kariuki, Mary (International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT (Alliance)), 2026-03-01)Date: 2026-03-01Type: Internal ReportStatus: Open accessLivestock systems sustain more than one billion people worldwide, most of them in low- and middle-income countries, making the sector central to food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods across the Global South. At the same time, livestock accounts for roughly one fifth of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane. With global demand for animal sourced foods projected to double by 2050, countries face a dual imperative to raise productivity and resilience while substantially reducing emissions. Climate finance provides a practical pathway to address this challenge. By mobilizing public, blended, and private capital, governments can reduce the risk of investments in improved forages, enhanced grazing management, and low emission feed and manure systems. Such investments can simultaneously increase productivity, strengthen adaptive capacity, and generate measurable mitigation outcomes. Evidence from CGIAR and partners shows that sustainable intensification can reduce emission intensity by up to half while increasing yields and farm incomes. Proven technologies are already available, but financial mechanisms and institutional capacity to scale them remain insufficient. Transforming livestock systems therefore requires: A. Policy alignment, integrating livestock into national climate strategies, Nationally Determined Contributions, and investment plans. B. Robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems that produce credible and transparent data to confirm results and attract investment. C. Blended finance instruments that strategically combine concessional, private, and results-based funding to mobilize capital at scale. For African member states, the key policy task is to integrate livestock into national climate and investment frameworks, build credible MRV systems, and develop bankable livestock programs that can access concessional, blended, and results-based finance. Donors and research institutions play a complementary role by providing the data, standards, and tools that make livestock projects auditable, investable, and scalable. When governance, data, and finance converge, livestock can shift from being perceived mainly as a source of emissions to becoming a driver of low carbon, climate resilient growth and a strategic development opportunity for the Global South.
- Unscrambling the history of African indicine cattle genomesAuthor(s): Kassa Bitew, Mulusew; Woldekiros, Helina S.; Persichilli, Christian; Di Civita, Marika; Ben-Jemaa, Slim; Mastrangelo, Salvatore; Mwacharo, Joram; Hanotte, Olivier; Pilla, Fabio; Senczuk, Gabriele (Elsevier (Cell Press) (12 month embargo), 2026-04-17)Date: 2026-03-10Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessAfrican cattle’s genetic heritage reflects millennia of relationships between African and Asian human societies and civilizations. By analyzing genome-wide SNP data from 1,043 individuals representing 38 breeds, including 36 from Africa, in an approximate Bayesian computation framework, coupled with random forest classification, we show that this history is characterized by at least two independent arrivals of zebu (indicine) cattle from the Indian subcontinent. Time estimates coincide with major cultural transitions across Africa, including state formation, iron technology spread, and pastoral intensification, exemplified by developments such as the Aksumite Empire and Swahili civilization. Moreover, we show that sanga cattle are the result of admixture between native African taurine and zebu cattle from the first arrival. These findings provide a refined chronology of cattle movements and pastoralism into Africa, reveal how human cultural transitions structured livestock genomes, and highlight Africa’s central role in shaping global cattle diversity.
- Comparative evaluation of growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality attributes of crossbred Dorper and Awassi, and indigenous Menz sheep supplemented with brewery spent grainAuthor(s): Bisrat, Asfaw; Bekele, Mekete; Hassen, Ahmed; Alemayehu, Liulseged; Wamatu, Jane; Ekule, Muluken; Abebe, Aschalew; Belayneh, Tesfa; Zewudie, Firdawok Ayele; Aydefruhim, Derib; Abebe, Ayele; Alemnew, Enyiew; Kebede, Ashenafi; Eshete, Mesfin; Mekonen, Tefera; Tefera, Beneberu; Bezabih, Aemiro; Belew, Adebabay; Lakew, Admassu; Getachew, Tesfaye; Haile, Aynalem (Springer (part of Springer Nature) (Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals), 2026-03-05)Date: 2026-03-05Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Timeless limited accessThis study evaluated growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of pure Menz sheep, and 50% Dorper × Menz (D×M) and 50% Awassi × Menz (A×M) crosses under two feeding regimes: brewery spent grain plus concentrate (F1) or concentrate-only (F2) used as supplement with natural pasture hay as basal diet. The supplemental feeds were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Forty-eight castrated yearling rams (16 per genotype) were assigned to the dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial design and the experiment lasted for a period of 90 days. Data on nutrient intake, body weight changes, carcass measurements, and sensory scores were taken and analyzed using the standard procedures. Breed significantly (p < 0.05) influenced final body weight, average daily gain, and carcass traits, with DxM and AxM outperforming Menz sheep. F2 yielded greater feed conversion efficiency than F1 (p < 0.05), while digestibility coefficients did not differ among the treatments (p > 0.05). DxM sheep had higher cold carcass weight, loin cut weight, and fat thickness (p < 0.01), and dressing percentage was greater in F2. Sensory evaluation showed that meat from Menz sheep was preferred from tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall acceptability (p < 0.01) compared to other sheep breeds. Significant breed × feed interactions for sensory attributes indicated genotype-specific dietary response. Strong positive correlations (r = 0.72–0.95, p < 0.01) between growth and carcass yield highlight the predictive value of performance traits for meat output. Based on marginal rate of return and superior carcass yield, A×M sheep are strongly recommended under both brewery spent grain plus concentrate (F1) and concentrate-only (F2) feeding regimes, while D×M sheep are recommended under the F1 feeding regime.
- Genetic evaluation of early growth in horro sheep under smallholder farm management, Oromia Regional State, EthiopiaAuthor(s): Kibebew, Tamiru; Getachew, Tesfaye; Bekana Kitila, Kassahun; Duguma Jaleta, Gemeda (Public Library of Science (PLOS ONE), 2026-05-08)Date: 2026-05-08Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessThe study was conducted under on-farm management conditions in the Horro district of the Horro Guduru Wallaga zone in Oromia region. Flocks from the Community-Based Breeding Program (CBBP) were used for this study, which aimed to estimate genetic parameters for early growth traits. A total of 2,480 birth weight records, 2,441 three-month weight records, and 770 six-month weight records were analyzed. Least-squares means (LSM) analysis was performed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to determine the effects of fixed factors. To estimate the (co) variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits, Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedures were implemented in the VCE 4.2.5 package. Multivariate genetic analysis was employed to estimate genetic correlations among traits. The least-squares means for birth weight (BWt), three-month weight (3MWt), and six-month weight (6MWt) were 2.72 ± 0.01, 12.33 ± 0.03, and 16.57 ± 0.07, respectively. The estimates of direct heritability obtained from the animal model were 0.16 ± 0.01, 0.19 ± 0.02, and 0.28 ± 0.35 for BWt, 3MWt, and 6MWt, respectively. The genetic correlations between BWt and 3MWt, BWt and 6MWt, and 3MWt and 6MWt were 0.30, 0.03, and 0.11, respectively. The moderate heritability estimates obtained for the growth traits indicate that genetic improvement through selection could lead to meaningful genetic change.
- Determinants of participation in collective actions: empirical evidence from irrigation schemes in the Amhara Region, EthiopiaAuthor(s): Tegegne Haile, Berhan; Ketema Aredo, Mengistu; Beyene Kenee, Fekadu; Kassie, Girma (IWA Publishing, 2026-05-01)Date: 2026-04-17Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessThis study examines the institutional framework for water governance and identifies key factors influencing participation in collective action in irrigation schemes in Ethiopia. Although irrigation institutions, particularly in Raya Kobo schemes, have long existed as informal systems, there is no specific legal framework governing them. Instead, they operate under the broader structure of agricultural cooperatives, such as water users' associations and irrigation beneficiaries' cooperatives. Qualitative findings reveal major institutional challenges, including weak rule enforcement, lack of credit services, absence of committed leadership and membership, inadequate legal backing for sanctions, excessive political interference, and ineffective institutional arrangements. The study also identifies significant determinants of participation in collective irrigation activities. Results show that family size (adult equivalent), membership in water users' associations and agricultural cooperatives, age of the irrigation scheme, extension contact, access to training, total land size, land fragmentation, and social capital strongly influence participation decisions. The findings suggest the need for clearly defined roles and responsibilities of irrigation service providers in delivering rural public goods. Strengthening institutional arrangements and legal support is essential to improve water use, maintenance, and overall management of irrigation systems.
- Effects of Summer Heat Stress on Physiological Parameters and Reproductive Efficiency of Barbarine Ewes Under Natural Outdoor or Indoor ConditionsAuthor(s): Khnissi, S.; Aouadi, Dorra; Chalouati, Hela; Rekik, Mourad; Ben Salem, Imene (John Wiley & Sons, 2026-08-02)Date: 2026-06-02Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Open accessClimate change and rising ambient temperatures increasingly challenge sheep production systems in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly during the summer breeding season. This study evaluated the effects of heat stress and direct solar exposure on physiological responses, metabolic profile, and reproductive performance of Barbarine ewes, a fat-tailed breed adapted to harsh environments. A total of 112 non-lactating multiparous ewes were allocated to two groups during summer mating: an indoor group protected from solar radiation (IDGp; n = 58) and an outdoor group exposed to direct sunlight (ODGp; n = 54). Both groups experienced severe to extreme heat stress for more than 65% of the experimental period. Sun exposure significantly increased rectal temperature (+0.2 to +0.6°C), respiratory rate (up to 130 vs 61 breaths/min), and heart rate (up to 95 vs 87 beats/min) in outdoor ewes (ODGp) compared to indoor ewes (IDGp), indicating a higher physiological heat load in sun-exposed animals. The temperature–humidity index (THI) remained comparable between groups (≈24.7), suggesting comparable THI values. Metabolic responses were characterized by increased plasma concentrations of triglycerides (+36%), total proteins (+7.5%), urea (+13%), creatinine (+34%), and potassium (+5%), along with a decrease in cholesterol levels (−15%) in ODGp compared to IDGp. Despite these physiological and metabolic adjustments, body condition score and live weight were maintained in both groups. Reproductive performance was not affected by solar exposure, with estrus occurrence exceeding 94%, an ovulation rate of 1.17, and no significant differences in fertility (79.3% vs 77.8%), prolificacy, or fecundity between groups. These findings indicate that, although direct solar radiation increases physiological strain, it does not impair reproductive function under comparable ambient thermal conditions. Barbarine ewes thus exhibit strong functional resilience to heat stress, highlighting their suitability for extensive production systems in hot and dry environments.
- Characterization of Washera sheep husbandry practices under smallholder production systems in north-west EthiopiaAuthor(s): Getaneh, Mezgebu; Haile, Aynalem; Alemayehu, Kefyalew; Getachew, Tesfaye; Beyero, Netsanet; Adimasu, Esubalew; Tsehayneh, Bizuneh; Nigussie, Zerihun; Hailecherkos, Shewaye; Birhan, Zemenu; Taye, Mengistie (Springer (part of Springer Nature), 2026-06-17)Date: 2026-06-17Type: Journal ArticleStatus: Timeless limited accessA comprehensive understanding of sheep husbandry practices in a given production environment provides essential baseline information for designing sheep breeding and development plans. This study characterized the Washera sheep husbandry practices of farmers under the smallholder production systems in north-west Ethiopia. Data were collected from a total of 480 randomly selected farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire survey. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using Frequency Procedures in the Statistical Package for Social Science version 22 and the General Linear Model Procedure in the Statistical Analysis System version 9.0, respectively. Sheep constituted the largest proportion (38.42%) of livestock species owned by farmers. Natural pasture (index = 0.445) was the primary feed source for sheep. Most (97.1%) farmers graze their sheep freely (84.6%) on natural pasture. The majority of farmers (84.6%) face seasonal feed shortages mainly in the dry season (74.1%). About 52.2% of the farmers conserve feed to cope with seasonal feed shortages. Rivers were the main water source for sheep in both the dry (65.4%) and wet (63.3%) seasons. Most farmers (59.2%) house their sheep in separate pens with stilted floors (72.3%). Sheep sale decisions were made jointly by male and female household heads. The main opportunities for enhancing sheep production in the area include favorable agroecology, an adaptive breed, and market access. However, production and productivity are greatly affected by feed shortages and disease occurrences, mainly linked to poor sheep husbandry practices. Therefore, the potentials and challenges of sheep production in this study need to be considered in designing future sheep breeding and improvement programs in the area.
- Socioeconomic Impact and Policy Assessments of the Red Palm Weevil in UAE, Egypt, and Morocco: Informed Consent Information Sheet: Key Informants Interviews (KII’s) InstrumentDate: 2025-12-31Type: Working PaperStatus: Open accessDeveloped under C4RPWC Work Package 1 (Socioeconomics and Policy), this document is an informed-consent sheet and Key Informant Interview (KII) instrument for assessing RPW’s socioeconomic and policy impacts in the UAE and Egypt. It targets experts and policymakers, capturing data on infestation trends, production losses, control costs, and the effectiveness of policies and quarantine measures. The tool supports evidence-based recommendations to strengthen RPW management.