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

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

Abstract: The egg quality measurements were undertaken as egg weight loss (%), shell thickness,Haugh unit, yolk height, yolk width, yolk index and albumen height. The non-sprayed chickeneggs showed a higher weight loss percentage of 3.07% within 15 days of storage. However, itwas shown to be lower the weight loss of 0.48% when sprayed. Even though a progressivedecrease in yolk height, albumen height, yolk index and Haugh unit values were shown as thestorage period advances, sprayed eggs which resulted to be greater within each storage periodthan non-sprayed eggs. Non- sprayed eggs stored for 15, 10, 5, and 0 day had a Haugh unit valueof 52.42±2.66, 73.29±6.44, 77.51±3.88 and 85.72 ± 2.85, respectively. Whereas, Haugh unitvalues were shown as 82.43±4.31, 82.90 ±4.43, 84.73 ±3.25 and 85.52±6.37 respectively whichrecorded after spraying. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in moisture percentage, fatand protein content among non-sprayed eggs kept for different storage period. But percentage ofash and carbohydrate were unaffected. There was gradually decreased in the percentage ofmoisture, fat and protein content as the storage period advances.Keywords: Haugh unit, Albumen height, Fat, Protein, Ash, Carbohydrate

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the agronomic performance and dry matter yield of thePennisetum pedicellatum varieties (areka, kulmsa, and kindonkosha-591) at Debre Markos University,Ethiopia, during 2023 in a RCBD with three replications. The agronomic performance of all varieties wasmeasured from the six plants that were selected randomly from the middle rows of each plot at 105, 119,and 133 days after planting, and dry matter yield was measured at 135 days after planting. The studyshowed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in plant height, number of tillers and leaves,leaf length, and dry matter yield, but the number of nodes and leaf width were not significantly different(p > 0.05) among varieties. The highest values of plant height, number of tillers and leaves per plant, andleaf length and width were measured from the areka variety, followed by the kulmsa variety, while theleast was recorded from the kindonkosha-591 variety. The plant height, number of tillers per plant,number of leaves per plant, and dry matter yield of the areka variety were significantly higher (p < 0.05)than the kulmsa and kindonkosha-591 varieties. The highest dry matter yield was also produced fromareka (11.55 t/ha), followed by kulmsa (8.52) and kindonkosha −591 (7.99 t/ha). The areka grass varietyshowed superior agronomic performance and dry matter yield, suggesting its potential for improvingfeed shortage constraints in the study areas.
KEYWORDS: Agronomy; Desho grass; dry matter; Pennisetum pedicellatum; varieties

This study aimed to determine the seasonality, feed balance, and copying mechanisms oflivestock feed in the east Gojjam Zone of northwestern ethiopia. to collect the data, the zonedivided into three agroecologies (lowland, midland, and highland) and randomly selected twodistricts from each agroecology to represent appropriate agroecologies. the study involved540 respondents – 45 from each peasant association – and utilized key informant interviews,focus groups, questionnaires, and direct observations for data collection. According to thefindings, the study reveals that feed availability in all agroecologies fluctuates seasonally. thetotal dry matter and crude protein supplies per household per year in highland, midland, andlowland agroecologies were 8.69, 15.49, and 14.94 tons, and 0.05, 0.91, and 0.90 tons,respectively. the yearly dry matter and crude protein requirements for livestock in highland,midland, and lowland agroecologies were 11.9, 22.2, and 19.5 t/hh/yr, and 1.4, 2.6, and 2.5 t/hh/yr, respectively. the total amounts of dry matter and crude protein produced in the studyareas satisfied only 73.3, 69.7, and 76.6%, and 32.1, 35.5, and 36.3% of the livestockrequirements in the highland, midland, and lowland agroecologies, respectively. Producers inthe study areas employ strategies such as purchasing feed, preserving crop residue, andreducing herd sizes to address livestock shortages of dry matter and crude protein. to addressthe issue, a new strategy should be employed, including managing natural pastures, increasingforage crop cultivation, providing protein-rich feed, and improving crop residue quality usingeffective microorganisms.