Despite the availability of genomic methods for determining the origin and divergence of domestic cattle in East Africa, particularly Ethiopia, knowledge regarding their genetic adaptability and divergence remain limited. To investigate signatures of selection and linkage disequilibrium Ethiopian cattle populations were genotyped with an 80K SNP array. European beef cattle breeds were also used for comparison purposes. Across Ethiopian cattle populations, the mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.403 and 0.400, respectively. Similarly, for European cattle, observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.25 and 0.26 respectively. PCA and NJ-tree revealed a separation of Ethiopian cattle breeds from European beef breeds. Similarly, NJ-tree grouped the study cattle according to their breed group with close clustering of Ethiopian cattle populations. The average r2 values were 0.22 ± 0.25, 0.23 ± 0.25, and 0.22 ± 0.25 in Boran, Begait, and Fogera, respectively. For Angus, Herford and Charolais it was 0.17 ± 0.28, 0.17 ± 0.28 and 0.18 ± 0.29, respectively. The top 1% FST values were considered to delimit genomic regions under positive selection. Some of the candidate genes are involved in biological processes and pathways linked to meat quality attributes. Furthermore, some of the candidate genes are associated with tropical adaptation to heat tolerance and resistance to disease. Significant SNP variation found in this study suggests that these markers could be useful for genetic research in Ethiopian cattle breeds.

A study was conducted to identify adaptability, high biomass and dry matter and grain yielder of vetch varieties/genotypes at Bore Agricultural Research Center Adola sub-site. The three vetch varieties/genotypes tested were Vicia dasycarpa, Lalisa and 5187. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was employed to evaluate the variety. The result revealed that date of 50% flowering, date of maturity, pod length per plant and plant height was significantly different (at p<0.05) between treatments. The early flowered genotype was 5187 (62 days) and late flowered variety was recorded from Vicia dasycarpa (79.9 days). The highest value of plant height was measured from Lalisa variety, while the shortest plant height was recorded from 5187 genotypes (67.7 cm). Date of 50% emergency, pod per plant, fresh biomass yield and grain yield and chemical composition dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), acid detergent fiber (ADF), total ash content (TASH) and organic matter (OM) did not show significant difference between treatments at (P>0.05). Numerically had different values. Both the highest fresh biomass yield and grain yield was obtained from Lalisa variety (2.9 t/ha) and 22.7 qt/ha respectively. The lowest value of biomass and grain yielder was produced from 5187 accessions (1.9 t/ha) and Vicia dasycarpa 11.3 qt/ha. Lalisa variety was highest in organic matter (OM), total ash content (TASH), crude protein (CP) and less in neutral detergent (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content while, Vicia dayscarpa was highest in crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent (NDF) and less in organic matter (OM), content total ash content (TASH) and crude protein (CP) content, 5187 genotype had the highest in dry matter (DM) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and less in crude protein (CP) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content than the rest accessions. The result of this study implied that Lalisa variety was well adapted and being productive regarding the plant height, biomass yield and seed yield. Lalisa variety, which is hopeful to fill the gap of low quantity ruminant feed supply of the community in the study area. Based on its adaptable, high biomass, high plant height, high grain yield, good CP and OM Lalisa is recommended for further promotion in the midland of East Guji zone.

A study was conducted with the objective to identify adaptable and chemical composition of Lablab varieties.Three Lablab Beresa-17, Gabis-55 and Local variety +were tested in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The result revealed that date of maturity was significantly (p<0.05) differ between the tested treatments. Among the tested varieties Gabis-55 was took longer day (144 days) while, the local varieties required the short (129.2 days) to reach for seed maturity. Fresh biomass yield, seed yield, plant height, pod per plant and pod length were not significantly (p>0.05) differ among the tested varieties. The analyzed chemical compositions indicated, Beresa-17 variety had the highest in Organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dry matter (DM) and less in acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and total ash content (TASH) content while, Gabis-55 was highest in acid detergent lignin (ADL) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and less in crude protein (CP) content. The local variety had the highest in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total ash content (TASH) and less in dry matter (DM) content than the rest varieties. The result of this study implied that Gabis-55 variety was adapted and being productive regarding the plant height, biomass yield and seed yield of each variety, which is hopeful to fill the gap of low quantity feed. In addition to the nutritional values were promising particularly the crude protein (CP), Dry matter (DM) and Organic Matter (OM) content in Beresa-17 variety. Based on its adaptability, high biomass yield, high seed yield, good CP, DM and OM of Gais -55 is recommended for further promotion in the midland of East Guji zone.

The study was conducted to identify adaptable, high biomass and seed yield of Cowpea genotypes. Three Cowpea genotypes Bole, 6786 and 2351 were tested in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The result revealed that days to 50% flowering, days to seed maturity, plant height and seed yield was significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments. Among the tested genotypes late matured was obtained from genotype 6786 (131) days while late genotype was obtained from 2351 (113 days). The highest value of plant height was measured from genotype 6786 (132.8 cm), whereas the short plant height was obtained from genotype 2351 (64.8 cm). The highest seed yield was produced from Bole genotype (24.18 qt/ha), whereas the lowest seed yield was obtained from genotype 6786 (6.8 qt/ha). Chemical composition indicated genotype 2351 was the highest in total ash (TASH) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) whereas less in crude protein (CP) genotype 6786 was the highest in crude protein (CP) while Bole variety had the highest in dry matter (DM), acid detergent lignin (ADL), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and organic matter (OM). This study implied that 6786 genotypes were well adapted and productive regarding the plant height (131.8 cm) and biomass yield (4.4 t/ha), which is hopeful to fill the low quantity ruminant feed gap. Besides, the nutritional values were promising, particularly the crude protein (CP) in 6786 genotypes. Thus it could be possible to conclude that cowpea genotype, especially 6786 used as a protein supplement. Based on its adaptability, high biomass, plant height, good CP content 6786 genotype is recommended for further promotion in the midland of East Guji zone and similar agro-ecologies.

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