The present study investigated the significance of apical transport proteins for ruminal acetate absorption and their interaction with different anions. In anion competition experiments in the washed reticulorumen, chloride disappearance rate (initial concentration, 28 mM) was inhibited by the presence of a short-chain fatty acid mixture (15 or 30 mM of each acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Disappearance rates of acetate and propionate, but not butyrate (initial concentration, 25 mM each) were diminished by 40 or 80 mM chloride. In isolated ovine ruminal epithelia mounted in Ussing chambers, an increase in chloride concentration from 4.5 to 90 mM led to a decrease of apical acetate uptake at a concentration of 0.5 mM. Mucosal nitrate inhibited acetate uptake most potently whereas sulfate had no effect. Decreasing mucosal pH from 7.4 to 6.1 approximately doubled uptake of acetate both at 0.5 and 10 mM, but this doubling was almost abolished when HCO(3)(-) was absent. The stimulated uptake at mucosal pH 6.1 consisted of a bicarbonate-dependent, nitrate-inhibitable part (K(m) = 54 mM) and a bicarbonate-independent component (K(m) = 12 mM) that was also sensitive to nitrate inhibition. Maximal uptake was three times larger for bicarbonate-dependent vs. bicarbonate-independent uptake. Mucosal addition of 200 microM DIDS, 400 microM p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid, 800 microM p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid, or 100 microM phloretin had no effects on acetate uptake although the latter two inhibited l-lactate uptake. Our data conclusively show a dominant involvement of proteins in apical acetate uptake. Previously described pH effects on acetate absorption originate mainly from modulation of acetate/bicarbonate exchange. Additionally, there is bicarbonate-independent uptake of acetate anions that is protein coupled but not via monocarboxylate cotransporter.

Twenty-five yearling growing intact sheep were arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and five replications. The experimental animals were supplied teff straw as basal ration. Different levels of sesame cake were supplemented in various treatment groups i.e. T 1 (150 gm wheat bran, 0 gm sesame seed cake DM/day) being control group, T 2 (150 gm wheat bran, 150 gm sesame seed cake DM/day), T 3 (150 gm wheat bran, 200 gm sesame seed cake DM/day), T 4 (150 gm wheat bran, 250 gm sesame seed cake DM/day) and T 5 (150 gm wheat bran, 300 gm sesame seed cake DM/day). The experiment was conducted for 90 day of feeding trial and 7 days of digestibility trial. There was significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in total dry matter intake (TDMI), total organic matter intake (Total OMI) and total crude protein intake (Total CPI) with increase in level of supplementation. There was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) crude protein (CP) content in the feces of the control group as compared to the different of level sesame seed cake supplemented groups. There was significant difference in DM, OM and CP (p ≤ 0.05) digestibility between supplemented and control groups. The control treatment had significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) feed conversion ratio than the supplemented treatments and lower (p ≤ 0.05) feed conversion efficiency as compared to the highest level sesame seed cake supplemented group (T 5). Higher (p ≤ 0.05) average daily body weight was gained in sheep supplemented with highest level (T 5) of sesame seed cake group than the other supplemented groups and the control treatment. There was increasing trend of body weight gain from control to higher level of supplementation i.e. T 1 (7.8), T 2 (60.0), T 3 (63.2), T 4 (72.8) and T 5 (77.8). There was increasing trend of slaughter weight (SW), empty body weight (EBW), hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage on slaughter weight base and empty body weight base and rib-eye area with increase in supplementation of sesame seed cake being higher (p≤0.05) value for T 5 followed by T 4 , T 3 , T 2 and T 1. The size of heart, liver with gallbladder, reticulo-rumen, small intestine, total fat, tail, kidney and total edible organic component (TEOC) were significantly (p≤0.05) affected by supplementation. Sheep supplemented with sesame seed cake had significantly higher (p≤0.05) visceral fat, and tail than the control treatments. There was a significant difference (p≤0.05) due to supplementation on blood, spleen and pancreas, skin, testicle and penis, feet, head without tongue and total non-edible offal component (TNEOC%).The results of the present study showed that supplementation of 300gDM level of sesame seed cake (T 5) increased body weight gain and enhanced carcass parameters which is potentially more beneficial and economically feasible than the other levels of supplements and the control group. Strategic feeding with locally available feed resources will improve efficient use of nutrients by sheep.

Bovine cysticercosis is an infection of cattle caused by Cysticercus bovis, the larval stage of Taenia saginata. It is an infection of public health significance as eating of raw or undercooked beef results taeniasis in human population and an important cause of economic loss mainly due to condemnation, refrigeration and downgrading of infected carcasses. Bovine cysticercosis is prevalent in cattle population of various regions of Ethiopia in a range of 2.2% to 26.25%. The reported rates of prevalence may be an underestimate because employment of the latest diagnostic methods is uncommon and the routine meat inspection is the only method in use. Habit of eating raw beef dishes, low level of toilet use by human population, backyard slaughter, low availability of taenicides, free access of cattle to surface water, and proximity of wastewater are important causes for transmission of bovine cysticercosis to a herd of cattle and taeniasis in human population and such practices are not uncommon in Ethiopia. Competent meat inspection procedure supported by immunodiagnostics, chemotherapy and vaccination are the recommended approaches to prevent bovine cysticercosis and therefore such approaches along with the current status of bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia are highlighted in the present review.

Sixteen female sheep of Degua breed were assigned to receive either the full dose of norgestomet ear implant and injectable solution containing norgestomet and estradiol valerate (n = 8) or half the dose (n = 8). The ear implants were removed in both groups on day 12. All ewes received an intramuscular administration of 500 IU PMSG at implant withdrawal. Synchronized ewes were individually hand mated twice at 48 and 60 hours after implant removal. One ewe in each group however refused mating on both occasions. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted by bimanual external palpation 90 to 100 days post mating. The conception rates (3/7, 42.85%) and (5/7, 71.42%) were recorded in the two treatment groups, respectively. All eight ewes lambed between 145 to 153 days post mating. In group I ewes carried only singletons (prolificity rate 1.0) whereas in group II two ewes delivered twins, producing 7 lambs with prolificity rate of 1.4 (N.S). From this preliminary investigation it appears that the lower dose of norgestomet ear implants offers better option for estrus synchronization accompanied by higher fertility.

Feed resources are inadequate both in quality and quantity in most developing countries, like Ethiopia. Natural pasture, crop residues and agro-industrial by-products constitute the major proportions of feeds available to most ruminants under smallholder production systems. The rumen has been recognized as an essential fermentation 'Chamber'. Up to 12% of gross energy, however, is lost in the form of methane from ruminants. Methane is also one of the major green house gasses. Methane is produced by bacteria species, collectively called methanogens. Reduction in methane production increases the efficiency of feed utilization in ruminant animals. Manipulation of ruminal fermentation processes for reducing methane production by ruminants to improve the production performance of ruminants is the current major target of many animal nutritionists. The methods to effectively reduce methane production in the reticulo-rumen include processing of feeds, altering the ration, supplementation of unsaturated fatty acids, defaunation, supplementation of organic acids, halogenated compounds, ionophores, microbial feed additives (probiotics), plant extracts and their secondary metabolites. All these have to be validated in vivo studies in specific dose(s) to make it economically viable.