This study aims and documents the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of bovine dermatophilosis, caused by Dermatophiluscongolensis that causes exudation and matting of hairs and wools with the formation of crusts and scab. An adult local breed bullwith a history of reduced appetite, pruritus, dirty scabs and crusts as initial lesion coalesce on its different body parts was presentedto Debre Markos multipurpose veterinary clinic. The rectal temperature and other vital parameters were within the normalrange. The clinical signs observed were exudative dermatitis forming crusts and scabs, pruritus, matted hair like a paintbrushand keratinized material creating wart-like lesions that were widely distributed in different body parts. Few ticks were observedon the skin of the bull suspected as vector of the disease. Culture of skin scraps on blood agar showed small, grayish-white raisedgranular and hemolytic colonies. Staining of skin scraps by Giemsa and Gram’s stain and cultured colony by Gram’s stain indicatedthe characteristics of Dermatophilus congolensis, etiology of dermatophilosis. Other laboratory tests also showed the characteristicsof D. congolensis. The case was treated by penstrep and ivermectin parentally and iodine tincture topically, and the bull showedprogressive clinical improvement and complete recovery within 2 months. In conclusion, dermatophilosis is an economicallyimportant skin disease, highly prevalent in Ethiopia, and needs early detection and treatment by penstrep intramuscularly andivermectine subcutaneously with iodine tincture topically in line with proper husbandry practices to control the losses.
Keywords:  Dermatophilus congolensis; bull; clinical diagnosis; dermatophilosis; skin.

Knowledge of domestic dog ecology and demography has been recognized as central to the designof an effective rabies control program. The study was conducted to assess owned dogs’ ecologyand demography and to identify predictors associated with dog ownership and rabies occurrencein the Amhara region, Ethiopia.Method: ology: The study employed dog census and questionnaire surveys of 907 householdsselected using a multistage sampling technique from six rural and six urban districts of theAmhara region, Ethiopia. The ecology and demography of owned dogs in the selected areas wererecorded and described using descriptive statistics. Mixed-effect logistic regression models wereused to identify factors associated with dog ownership and rabies occurrence.Results: A total of 6609 dogs were estimated from 42 kebeles in the 12 study districts. The male-to-female ratio of dogs was 1.7:1.0, and the mean age of dogs was 3.2 years. The proportion ofhouseholds who owned at least one dog was 5.9 %. The average number of dogs per dog-ownedhousehold was 1.3. Dog to household ratio was 1.0:13.0, and dog to human ratio was 1.0:48.5.The majority of the dog owners (97 %) keep dogs for home guard and livestock herding. Only 57% of the dogs were confined, and 16 % of them were vaccinated. Ninety-one percent of the dogowners did not practice neutering and spaying for dog population control. Religion, livestockownership pattern, and occupation were associated with dog ownership (p < 0.05). Communityresidence and age of respondents were associated with rabies occurrence (p < 0.05), while zonewas associated with both dog ownership and rabies occurrence at p-value

Eucalyptus camaldulensis is commonly planted on farmland in highland Ethiopia because of its high economic proftability.However, the expansion of woodlot plantations has led to a decline in crop growth and yield, which negatively afects foodsecurity. To address this issue, this study aimed to examine the efects of Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodlot expansion on cropproduction and food security in South Achefer. Data were collected from 180 respondents using a three-stage sampling techniquefor the four kebeles in the district. Te survey data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and a binary logitregression model using SPSS software version 24. Tis study found that most households (87%) perceived a rapid increase inEucalyptus woodlot expansion. Te allocation of more land for Eucalyptus woodlot expansion was positively and signifcantlyafected by family size, landholding size, total annual income, and availability of unproductive land. Additionally, the studyrevealed that Eucalyptus woodlots highly compete with nearly all grown crops for nutrients and moisture. Tis causes a reductionin yield from one to four quintals compared to the normal crop grown far from the Eucalyptus tree. Approximately three-fourths(71%) of the sampled farmers did not obtain stable food annually and were considered food insecure. To alleviate food insecurity,this study suggests that stakeholders should focus on improving livelihood alternatives rather than expanding Eucalyptuswoodlots.Keywords: access; availability; binary logistic regression; stability; utilization; woodlot

Intercropping is an essential farming system that combines multiple crop speciessimultaneously. in ethiopia, pepper and Black cumin are interplanted with various crops,influenced by diverse environmental and agronomic factors. this review examines the impactof intercropping pepper and Black cumin on the performance of component crops andsystem productivity in ethiopia. Farmers in tropical regions practice intercropping widely toreduce dependence on monoculture, manage risks from pests, diseases, and climate variability,and enhance resilience. By integrating pepper and Black cumin with other crops, small‑scalefarmers in developing countries like ethiopia diversify crop production and improve yields.Most smallholder farmers in ethiopia cultivate plots smaller than one hectare. the landequivalent ratio is a key measure for evaluating intercropping efficiency. However, indicessuch as relative Yield total, Staple land equivalency ratio, Area time equivalency ratio, andArea Harvest equivalency ratio are also applied globally. these indices help assess the benefitsof intercropping in terms of land use and time management. to maximize productivity,farmers must carefully select crops that balance resource competition, resist pests anddiseases, and ensure yields with superior quality. promoting sustainable intercropping practicescan boost agricultural output and contribute to food security in ethiopia and similar regions.
KEYWORDS: indices; multiple cropping; sole cropping; spatial arrangement

Multimetric assessment is one of the important tools for diagnosing, detecting and measuring impairment inecosystem function in lentic ecosystems. It enhances detection capabilities across a broader variety of stressorsand offers a more complete picture of ecological conditions than single metrics or biological indicators. In thiscontext, a diatom-based multimetric index (MMI-D) has been developed to evaluate the ecological health ofLake Hawassa. Physicochemical and benthic diatom sampling was conducted at nine sites along the lakeshore,representing varying levels of human disturbance, from February to November in2015 and 2016. The sampling siteswere classified a priori into three categories: minimally disturbed (three sites), moderately disturbed (three sites) andhighly disturbed (three sites). This classification, was based on a clustering analysis using the percent disturbancescore (PDS). Of the 24-diatom candidate metrics, only ten were chosen as core metrics for the development ofMMI-D, based on redundancy analysis, reaction to environmental conditions, percent discriminatory efficiency (%DE)and box plots. The newly established MMI-D clearly distinguished between reference and non-reference sites, andbetween the lake’s three clusters. The MMI-D’s performance was validated using independent data sets from lakesHawassa and Ziway and it demonstrated the best capability for discrimination between different disturbance levels.MMI-D 2-stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression analysis revealed an inverse but robust connection with the PDS,indicating its responsiveness to Lake Hawassa habitat quality degradation (n = 9, R2 = 0.921, p < 0.001). The MMI-Drevealed a high %DE (95.1%) and a negative but significant connection with nutrients, total suspended solids (TSS),and turbidity (R2 > 0.6; p < 0.05). Generally, it can be concluded that this index is a powerful tool that could assistendusers by providing a practical method for measuring the ecological quality of Lake Hawassa.Keywords: benthic diatoms, ecological quality, Lake Ziway, redundancy analysis, validation

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an important cereal crop grown in arid and semiarid regions where water and otherresources are limited. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns have resulted in frequent droughts, which caused significantyield loss in sorghum. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in sorghum cultivation due to its resilience to climatechange and potential source of food and income. The symbiotic interaction of sorghum with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)has been found to induce several physiological and molecular changes that improve the ability of sorghum to withstand droughtstress. This symbiotic relationship enhances water and nutrient uptake, osmotic adjustment, activation of stress-responsive genes,stomatal regulation, and antioxidant defense, leading to improved drought tolerance in sorghum. Agricultural practices such asreduced tillage, cover cropping, intercropping, crop rotation, and the use of organic amendments promote the diversity andeffectiveness of AM fungal symbiosis. Such agricultural practices create more favorable conditions for AM fungal establishmentand growth while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. In this review, we highlight AM fungal symbiosis on sorghumgrowth, physiology, and molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of AM fungal symbiosis under moisture deficitconditions. Overall, the present review elucidates sorghum production and breeding success in Ethiopia, the symbiotic mechanismsbetween plants and AM fungi, the prospects of biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture, the potential of AM fungal symbiosis as asustainable approach to improve sorghum production and its synergistic effect with other crop management practices.Keywords: Arbuscular Mycorrhizae; biofertilizer; drought tolerance; sorghum; sustainability; synergistic

Abstract: Peanut production plays a crucial role in global food security, particularly in developingcountries, where it provides essential nutrition and income. This paper examines the optimizationof peanut production through genetic advancements, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainablepractices. The primary objective is to increase yields by addressing challenges related to climatechange, pests, and resource constraints. Globally, peanut production is hindered by rising temper-atures, irregular rainfall, and declining soil quality, impacting both yield and quality. Developingcountries, especially in Africa and Asia, face additional challenges, such as limited access to advancedagricultural technologies, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient support for smallholder farmers.The vital issues include genetic vulnerabilities to pests, climate stress, and inefficient water use.Recent genetic research has provided insights into breeding more resilient, drought-resistant varieties,offering hope for improving yields, despite environmental challenges. The adoption of climateadaptation strategies, precision farming, and integrated pest management is essential for boostingproductivity. These, along with optimized irrigation and nutrient management, have significantlyimpacted peanut production in resource-limited settings. Additionally, drought-resistant varietieshave proven crucial, enabling farmers to increase resilience and yields in areas facing climate stress.In conclusion, optimizing peanut production requires continued investment in genetic advancements,infrastructure, and sustainable practices. Future efforts should focus on improving climate adaptationand sustainable farming techniques for long-term success.Keywords: climate adaptation; drought-resistant varieties; genetic advancements; integrated pestmanagement; precision farming; sustainable practices

In many regions of Ethiopia, particularly in the study area, high-quality livestock feed is scarce, particularly during the dry season.Indigenous browse species could potentially ofer alternative sources of feed, but their potential has not been fully exploited, owingto a lack of detailed information. Without detailed information on the nutritional value of indigenous browse species, it is difcultto assess their suitability as feed sources. Tis knowledge gap indicates that even if these plants are abundant, they may not be usedefectively because their nutritional benefts are not well understood. Te objective of the present study was to fll this gap bysystematically evaluating the biomass yield and nutritional content of indigenous browse species. Te mean biomass yields forvarious indigenous browse species varied signifcantly (p < 0.05) among species, with Ficus thonningii producing the highest,whereas the biomass yields of Vernonia amygdalina were the lowest. Arundinaria species exhibited the highest NDF content(68.5%), whereas V. amygdalina had the lowest NDF content (46.8%). Te crude protein content varied signifcantly (p < 0.05)among the species, with Acacia albida having the highest (20.3%), whereas the crude protein content of Carissa edulis was thelowest (13.3%). Hence, the crude protein content of all indigenous browse species is sufcient to meet the maintenance needs ofcattle, sheep, and goats because, as stated by Kearl and NRC, the crude protein levels required for maintenance in these animalsrange from 7% to 10%. Te crude protein content of indigenous browse species is sufcient to meet the milk production re-quirements of sheep and goats because the crude protein levels required for milk production for these animals range from 12% to16%. For lactating dairy cows and growing beef cattle, Kearl recommended CP values of 14%–18% and 12%–16% required,respectively. Terefore, indigenous livestock producers should incorporate these species into their production systems to enhanceproductivity. Tis approach can also help mitigate the high costs associated with concentrate feeds, which are typically expensive.Keywords: biomass; browse species; nutritional composition; species composition

Precision agriculture technologies (PATs) transform crop production by enabling more sustainable and efcient agriculturalpractices. Tese technologies utilize data-driven approaches to optimize the management of crops, soil, and resources, thusenhancing both productivity and environmental sustainability. Tis article reviewed the application of PATs for sustainable cropproduction and environmental sustainability around the globe. Key components of PAT include remote sensing, GPS-guidedequipment, variable rate technology (VRT), and Internet of Tings (IoT) devices. Remote sensing and drones deliver high-resolution imagery and data, enabling precise monitoring of crop health, soil conditions, and pest activity. GPS-guided machineryensures accurate planting, fertilizing, and harvesting, which reduces waste and enhances efciency. VRToptimizes resource use byallowing farmers to apply inputs such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides at varying rates across a feld based on real-time data andspecifc crop requirements. Tis reduces over-application and minimizes environmental impact, such as nutrient runof andgreenhouse gas emissions. IoT devices and sensors provide continuous monitoring of environmental conditions and crop status,enabling timely and informed decision-making. Te application of PAT contributes signifcantly to environmental sustainabilityby promoting practices that conserve water, reduce chemical usage, and enhance soil health. By enhancing the precision ofagricultural operations, these technologies reduce the environmental impact of farming, while simultaneously boosting cropyields and proftability. As the global demand for food increases, precision agriculture ofers a promising pathway to achievingsustainable crop production and ensuring long-term environmental health.Keywords: environmental sustainability; precision agriculture technologies; precision farming; sustainable crop production

Heavy metals pose a significant threat to public health and economic stability in Ethiopia,contaminating various environmental media, including water, soil, and air. This paper aimed toprovide an overview of the public health and economic burden of heavy metals in Ethiopia.Exposure to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic has been linked tonumerous adverse health effects, including neurological disorders, renal failure, cardiovasculardiseases, and cancer. In Ethiopia, populations are particularly vulnerable to heavy metal exposuredue to various factors, such as artisanal mining, industrial activities, agricultural practices, andinadequate waste management systems. The economic burden of heavy metal contaminationmanifests through increased healthcare costs, loss of productivity, and environmental remedia-tion expenses. Furthermore, the impact extends to sectors such as agriculture and tourism,affecting national development goals and exacerbating poverty levels. Efforts to mitigate thepublic health and economic burdens of heavy metals in Ethiopia require multidisciplinary ap-proaches, including policy interventions, regulatory enforcement, public awareness campaigns,and investment in sustainable development practices. Strengthening monitoring systems,implementing pollution control measures, and promoting research on alternative technologies forwaste management are essential steps toward addressing this pressing issue. In conclusion,addressing the public health and economic challenges posed by heavy metal contamination inEthiopia necessitates concerted efforts from the government, industry, academia, and civil societyto safeguard human health, preserve the environment, and promote sustainable development.
Keywords: Economic burden, Heavy metals, Lead, Public health, Strategies