Small ruminants, such as sheep (Ovisaries) and goats (Capra hircus), contribute to approximately 475 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 6.5% of the global emissions in the agriculture sector. Crop residues, silage, grasses, hay, browse, plant leaves, shrubs, agro-industrial by-products, poultry litter, and other alternative feed sources are frequently utilized for small ruminant production. The use of these valuable alternative feeds can significantly improve animal productivity and reduce carbon footprints and GHG fluxes, making it both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Additionally, these alternative feeds possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties that can enhance the quality of the meat and milk produced. By impacting the bacteria involved in ruminal biohydrogenation, alternative feeds can reduce methane emissions and contribute to a decrease in the carbon footprint. Overall, the use of alternative feed sources for small ruminants generally improves their apparent nutrient digestibility and productivity, and has an impact on the production of greenhouse gases, especially methane. Finally, this review recommends evaluating the economic analysis of reducing methane emissions in small ruminants by utilizing different feed sources and feeding techniques.

This study evaluated the different traits from day-old to age at first eggs of Fayoumi and White leghorn (WLH) F1 chickens and their reciprocal crossbreeds. In this study, 1,000 eggs were used to obtain experimental chicks. However, only 150 chicks were selected from each genotype for subsequent trial evaluation and reared on the same diet in a completely randomized design. The effects of genotype on each considered trait were analyzed by the statistical analysis system, and Duncan’s multiple range test made a significant difference. Comparative evaluations made on all parameters illustrated significant differences (p < 0.05) throughout the study period. F1 acquired from WLH cocks and Fayoumi hens maximized weights almost at all ages during brooding, whereas pure line Fayoumi showed lower importance for the trait stages of growth. Offspring from the crossbreed of WLH cocks and Fayoumi hens had the highest weight gain than any other crossbreeds from 4 to 8 and 12 to 16 weeks of age. Pure line WLH and Fayoumi lay larger eggs and smaller eggs (41.67 and 34.00 g), respectively. The highest and smallest body weight at the age of first egg was 1,364.89 and 1,178.36 g in the main crossbreed and Fayoumi line. The main WLH cock and Fayoumi hens and reciprocal crossbreds advanced in age at first egg by 4 and 11 days, respectively. The leghorn hen and Fayoumi cock crosses could be used to develop potential egg-laying lines than their reciprocal crossbreeds.

To improve the reproductive performance; several scholars conducted research in different parts of Ethiopia on indigenous, crosses and exotic chickens. However, there were inconsistencies among the various studies. This review was, therefore, conducted to assess the reproductive characteristics of indigenous, exotic and their crosses. Under scavenging system, the indigenous chickens are characterized by less clutch size (2.7-4.2 per year), good hatchability rate (59.6-93.2%), higher mortality rates (25.3-61.15), and reach sexual maturity at advanced age (19.6-26.8 weeks for male; 19.7-34.05 weeks for female). The age at first mating and laying recorded for exotic and their crossbreeds were nearly similar to those of indigenous chickens. The hatchability rate of crossbreed chickens are varying from 54.7-78.7% and it is by far lower for exotic breeds. The exotic (18.83-53%) and crossbreed (9-40%) chickens are relatively better in survival rate than local chickens. Overall, the local chickens are better for their hatchability and have reproduction performance than exotic and crossbreed chickens. From this review, it is concluded that there is variation in chicken reproductive performance of the same breed in different parts of the country.

The study was conducted to determine effect of egg-weight on hatchability and subsequent growth performance of Fayoumi breeds. A total of 576 eggs were purposively selected and arranged into three groups of small, medium and large sizes each with 192 eggs. Each egg group was randomly sub-divided into three replicates of 64 eggs in a CRD. Eggs were incubated for 21 days and chicks hatched on the same day were counted and individually weighed. Chicks were intensively raised on deep litter system for eight weeks on same diet, but kept separately according to their initial treatment of eggs. Data was analyzed by GLM of SAS and separated for means by Duncan’s multiple-range test. The study result revealed that egg size had effect on hatchability and strongly influenced all parameters measured during the brooding periods. It has significant effect on day-old weight, body weight, final weight gain, final feed conversion and mortality. Chicken producers may opt for medium-sized eggs principally for the purpose of better hatchability and feed conversion ratio whereas large sized eggs for better hatchling weight, weight gain and survivability. It is also recommended that future work may also address the effect of egg size on the same parameters at grower or pullet stage performance and specific diseases which cause paramount chick mortality should be identified.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Khat leave as a natural feed additive on egg quality, fertility, embryonic mortality, hatchability, and chick quality of White Leghorn (WL) layers. One hundred fifty-six hens and twenty-four cocks of WL at twenty-four weeks of age were randomly dis-tributed to four treatments, each replicated three times with thirteen layers and two cocks per replication and kept on a deep litter system. Treatment rations were formulated by the addition of Khat leave on layers ration with the proportion of 0% (T1), 0.2% (T2), 0.4% (T3), and 0.6% (T4). All data were subjected to analysis of variance. The egg weight of layers in T3 (54.1) was higher (P 0.05) among treatments in yolk height, yolk index, yolk diameter, albumen height, Haugh unit, fertility, hatchability, chick weight, and visual score. Embryonic mortality percentage was significantly (P<0.05) higher for T1 than for other treatments. Chick length was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T2, T4, and T3 than in T1. Finally, this study can be concluded that the use of dried Khat leaves as an additive up to 0.6% in ration of White Leghorn layers increased eggshell weight and yolk coulor and reduced embryonic mortality.