A cluster-randomised controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of different knowledge-transfer interventions for rural working equid users in Ethiopia     

Stringer AP  Bell CE  Christley RM  Gebreab F  Tefera G  Reed K  Trawford A  Pinchbeck GL 《Preventive veterinary medicine》2011,100(2):90-99

There have been few studies evaluating the efficacy of knowledge-transfer methods for livestock owners in developing countries, and to the authors' knowledge no published work is available that evaluates the effect of knowledge-transfer interventions on the education of working equid users. A cluster-randomised controlled trial (c-RCT) was used to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three knowledge-transfer interventions on knowledge-change about equid health amongst rural Ethiopian working equid users. Groups were exposed to either; an audio programme, a village meeting or a diagrammatic handout, all of which addressed identical learning objectives, and were compared to a control group which received no intervention. Thirty-two villages were randomly selected and interventions randomly assigned. All participants in a village received the same intervention. Knowledge levels were assessed by questionnaire administration. Data analysis included comparison of baseline data between intervention groups followed by multilevel linear regression models (allowing for clustering of individuals within village) to evaluate the change in knowledge between the different knowledge-transfer interventions. A total of 516 randomly selected participants completed the pre-intervention questionnaire, 504 of whom undertook the post-dissemination questionnaire, a follow up response rate of 98%. All interventions significantly improved the overall 'change in knowledge' score on the questionnaire compared to the control, with the diagrammatic handout (coefficient (coef) 9.5, S.E.=0.6) and the village meeting (coef 9.7, S.E.=0.6) having a significantly greater impact than the audio programme (coef 4.8, S.E.=0.6). Covariates that were different at baseline, and which were also significant in the final model, were age and pre-intervention score. Although they had a minimal effect on the intervention coefficients there was a significant interaction between age and intervention. This study should aid the design of education materials for adult learning for working equid users and other groups in developing countries.  相似文献   

Small ruminant brucellosis and community perception in Jijiga District,Somali Regional State,Eastern Ethiopia     

Bekele M  Mohammed H  Tefera M  Tolosa T 《Tropical animal health and production》2011,43(4):893-898

A cross-sectional study of brucellosis in small ruminants was carried out from October 2008 to March 2009 in Jijiga District, Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. Seven hundred thirty sera samples (421 of sheep and 309 of goats) were randomly collected from purposively selected villages of the study area. Structured questionnaire format was developed, pre-tested and administered to assess the perception of the community pertaining to brucellosis in sheep and goats. Sera samples were screened by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), and all samples tested positive by the RBPT were subjected to Complement Fixation Test (CFT) for confirmation. Of 12 serum samples that were positive by RBPT, 11 were positive by CFT. Statistically significant differences were not observed between the species as well as the sex groups (P > 0.05); however, the variation between the age groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Analysis of the questionnaire survey suggests that improper handling of aborted materials, consumption of raw milk, and lack of awareness about the disease, among others, might greatly contribute to further spread of brucellosis in their livestock and exposes the community to a public health hazard. In general, the sero-prevalence in the study area was not so high; nevertheless, appropriate brucellosis control and prevention methods should be implemented to circumvent future potential for economic losses and the public health hazard of the disease.  相似文献   

The rice genome and the minor grains     

Goodman RM  Naylor R  Tefera H  Nelson R  Falcon W 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2002,296(5574):1801

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Pregnancy-specific protein B (bPSPB) and progesterone monitoring of post-partum dairy cows with placental retention     

Tefera N  Jeanguyot N  Thibier M  Humblot P 《Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine》2001,48(6):331-336

The relationship between placental retention, progesterone and pregnancy-specific protein B (bPSPB) was determined in 60 calving Holstein cows. The cows were divided into two groups with placental retention (WPR, n = 16) and no placental retention (NPR, n = 44). Every 4 days, until 60 days post-partum, blood samples were taken and the uteri were checked using ultrasonographv. The puerperal characteristics of NPR and WPR were as follows: mean days of abnormal vaginal discharge: 20.2+/-5 versus 35.6+/-7 (P < 0.01); mean intervals to uterine involution: 21.4+/-3.7 versus 27.6+/-7.6 days (P < 0.01); rate of endometritis: 25 versus 100% (P < 0.01). The mean numbers of oestrus cycles per cow were 1.75+/-0.5 versus 0.85-/+0.9 (P < 0.05) and the mean durations of the first oestrus cycle were 18+/-3.5 versus 16+/-2.1 days (P > 0.05). The mean intervals to first ovulation were 21.5+/-8.4 versus 35+/-19 days (P < 0.01). bPSPB blood concentrations were higher in the WPR group at calving with 955+/-170 versus 750+/-205 ng/ml (P < 0.01) and also during the first 32 days post-partum with 173.68+/-47.3 versus 131.0+/-29.2 ng/ml (P < 0.01). The mean bPSPB half-life was similar in the two groups: 6.9+/-2.5 versus 6.5+/-2.1 days (P > 0.05). In conclusion, it was found that placental retention was associated with a higher rate of endometritis, a lower number of cycles, longer interval to first post-partum ovulation and higher concentration of bPSPB at calving and during the post-partum period. The positive relationship between bPSPB concentrations and calf birth weight and their association with post-partum pathological events may be useful in monitoring animals presenting high concentrations at calving.  相似文献   

Quantitative trait diversity in tef [ Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] germplasm from Central and Northern Ethiopia     

Kebebew Assefa  Hailu Tefera  Arnulf Merker  Tiruneh Kefyalew  Fufa Hundera 《Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution》2001,48(1):53-61

One thousand and eighty tef, Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter, entries representing 36 populations collected from six central and northern regions of Ethiopia were evaluated at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center during the 1995 main season to assess the quantitative trait diversity in the germplasm with respect to collection regions and altitude zones. Hierarchical analysis of variance showed large (p 0.01) variations within populations, and among populations within regions and altitude zones in all the 14 traits studied. The variations among regions were significant (p 0.05) for number of main shoot culm nodes, and panicle branches and spikelets. But only days to maturity, number of culm nodes, diameters of the two basal culm internodes, and harvest index depicted discernible (p 0.05) clinal variability. The 36 populations clustered into six major (75% similarity level) groups consisting of two up to 15 populations. Five principal components (PCs) explained about 81% of the entire phenotypic diversity among the populations. Of these, the first three PCs accounted for about 65% of the gross variance. About 31% of the total variance explained by the first PC alone originated chiefly from variability in main shoot panicle grain yield and length, culm length and diameter of the two basal culm internodes. Likewise, about 23% the variance accounted for by the second PC was due mainly to variations in grain and shoot phytomass yield/plant, and harvest index. Overall, the study demonstrated that tef is a highly versatile crop species and the enormous wealth of quantitative trait diversity in the germplasm indicates immense potential for the genetic improvement of the crop through breeding.  相似文献   

Phenotypic diversity for qualitative and phenologic characters in germplasm collections of tef (Eragrostis tef)     

Tiruneh Kefyalew  Hailu Tefera  Kebebew Assefa  Mulu Ayele 《Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution》2000,47(1):73-80

A total of 3600 entries of tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] germplasm collections representing 36 populations from six regions of Ethiopia were evaluated for phenotypic diversity in six qualitative and phenologic characters. High values of Shannon–Weaver diversity index ( ) were recorded for most characters in each population. Monomorphism was high for anther color (purple) and panicle form (loose). Larger variances for were obtained among regions than among populations within a region from hierarchical analysis of variance. Significant (P<0.05) to highly significant (P<0.01) t-values were observed among values of some regions for seed color, panicle form and days to maturity. A substantial level of variance (P<0.05) was obtained for populations within altitudinal zones only for days to maturity. Altitudinal zones exhibited similar levels of diversity across characters for these collections. Generally, considerable variations important for tef improvement work have been observed and regions with highest diversity for some traits have been suggested for future in situ or ex situ germplasm conservation works. Although similar mean diversity indices were obtained among regions, they were non overlapping.  相似文献   

Establishment and effectiveness of added pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) rhizobia in different soils of narrow abiotic variability     

B. S. Sidhu  R. Baruah  V. Beri 《Biology and Fertility of Soils》1988,6(1):84-88

Summary Pot and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the establishment and effectiveness of a streptomycin-sulphate-resistant (1 mg/ml of medium) pigeonpea rhizobia strain (RM₇) in sterile sand and non-sterile soils. Strain RM₇ increased the drymatter yield of pigeonpea plants (Cajanus cajan) by 106% over control plants under sterile conditions. However, when the rhizobia strain was introduced into 14 different non-sterile soils with a narrow abiotic variability, the comparable beneficial effect was observed only in one soil inoculated with log 6.70 cells/pot. At this inoculum rate, the percentage increase in yield over control plants varied from –1 to 140 in different soils. Rhizobium (RM₇), applied at log 3.70 cells/pot (3 kg soil), showed less than 5% establishment in four soils. However, establishment varied from 8% to 72% at a higher level of inoculation (log 6.70 cells/pot). Displacement of native rhizobia and creation of new sites for nodulation by the introduced rhizobia were also affected by soil properties. The increase in shoot dry-matter yield compared with control plants was positively correlated with the percent establishment of RM₇ (r = 0.60^*) in these soils. Experiments showed that some biotic stresses led to poor survival, proliferation and establishment of the added alien in the soil. Therefore, any culture that is efficient in one soil may not produce similar results under all situations.  相似文献   

Agronomic Performance of Sorghum and Groundnut Cultivars in Sole and Intercrop Cultivation under Semiarid Conditions   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

T. Tefera  & T. Tana 《Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science》2002,188(3):212-218

The performance of sorghum and groundnut cultivars was studied in sole cropping and intercropping systems at Babile in the semiarid area of eastern Ethiopia in 1996, 1997 and 1999. On average, late-maturing cultivars of groundnut and sorghum gave higher dry pod yield and grain yield, respectively, when intercropped with early-maturing cultivars of the associated crops. The significant variation among groundnut cultivars in yield and yield components under intercropping with sorghum cultivars revealed that sole cropping may not provide the appropriate environment for selecting varieties intended for use in intercropping. The productivity of intercropped groundnut and sorghum cultivars, as determined by total land equivalent ratios (LER), was higher than sole cropping, indicating the presence of temporal complementarity in the use of growth resources. A mean yield advantage of 32 % was obtained under intercropping.  相似文献   

Allelopathic Effects of Parthenium hysterophorus Extracts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Eragrostis tef   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

T. Tefera 《Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science》2002,188(5):306-310

The present study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus weed on seed germination and seedling growth of tef. Flower, stem, root and leaf aqueous extracts of Parthenium at 0, 1, 5, and 10 % concentrations were applied to determine their effect on tef seed germination and seedling growth under laboratory conditions. Increasing concentrations of aqueous extracts of Parthenium from leaf and flower inhibited seed germination and complete failure of seed germination was recorded when the extract concentration from the leaf part was 10 %. In contrast, aqueous extracts from stem and root had no effect on tef seed germination. Roots appeared more sensitive to allelopathic effect than shoots. Extracts from flower, root and stem had a stimulatory effect on shoot length at all concentration levels, as against an inhibitory effect of leaf extracts. Root extracts at low concentration (1 %) greatly promoted root length but aqueous extracts from leaf and flower inhibited root length.  相似文献   

Genetics of grain yield and other agronomic characters in t'ef (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter). I. Generation means and variances analysis     

Hailu Tefera  W.E. Peat 《Euphytica》1997,96(2):185-191

Quantitative genetics of grain yield and other agronomic characters of t'ef (Eragrostis tef) were studied using the F₁, F₂, BC₁, and BC₂ of the cross Fesho × Kay Murri. The study was carried out to estimate gene effects controlling the inheritance of grain yield and related agronomic characters. Significant additive [d] and dominance × dominance [l] interaction effects were detected for grain yield. The variations of yield per panicle and panicle weight were explained in terms of [d], dominance [h], and additive × additive [i] interactions. Non-allelic gene interactions were also detected for kernel weight, harvest index, tiller number, plant height, days to heading and days to maturity. The simple additive-dominance model explained the variation for panicle length, culm diameter and plant weight, allowing unbiased estimates of additive (D) and dominance (H) variance components. Large dominance variances (H) were estimated for grain yield, yield per panicle, and panicle weight. The additive variances for plant height, panicle length, days to heading and days to maturity were higher than the respective dominance variances. High narrow-sense heritability (h²) values (> 0.50) were estimated for plant height, panicle length, days to heading and days to maturity. The lowest h² (0.09) was obtained for kernel weight for which there was little variability. Since grain yield and several important agronomic characters of t'ef are influenced by non-allelic gene interaction, it is advisable to delay selection for yield to later generations with increased homozygosity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献