Journal of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Animal Sciences

The Socio-Demographic Structure of Cattle Farming in Kars Province

Nihat ATİLLA, Nurinisa ESENBUĞA — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

This study aimed to identify the socio-demographic structure, producer profiles, reasons for animal husbandry, and the main problems faced by cattle farming enterprises in Kars province. Data were collected through a face-to-face survey conducted with 244 cattle breeders and analyzed using SPSS frequency and chi-square analyses. The findings indicate that the vast majority of cattle breeders are middle-aged, with a primary education level predominantly high school. The participation of the young population in the sector is quite low. It was determined that 66% of the producers continue animal husbandry as their father's profession, while 29.5% engage in it to earn additional income. 99.6% of the participants perceive milk prices as low, and 95.1% consider themselves inadequate in animal husbandry and breeding. Participation in training programs is quite low, and information sources are largely limited to neighboring breeders. Furthermore, statistically significant relationships were found between the age groups of the producers and both the livestock population and the reasons for animal husbandry. In conclusion, while cattle farming in Kars province maintains its traditional structure, a lack of knowledge and training in the sector is noteworthy. Encouraging young people, producer training, and economic support mechanisms are crucial for the sustainability of the sector.

Silage Characteristics and Nutritive Value of Differently Ensiled Napier Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum)

Abakura John HYELDA, Joseph Vandi TUWANGA, Abubakar AHMED — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300

The study was conducted to evaluate the silage characteristics and nutritive value (chemical and mineral compositions) of differently ensiled Napier grass. Napier grass harvested at 16 weeks after planting was wilted for a day and ensiled in black polythene sheets for two months. Four treatments were investigated thus; T₁=untreated/plain, T₂=treated with 4% urea, T₃=treated with 4% molasses and T₄=treated with 2% molasses and 2% urea. All the treatments produced well-fermented silage with pH values ranging from 4.03 to 4.31. The most favorable qualities were observed in T₃, which had a drier texture, light brown colour and plesantly ethanolic smell. Crude protein content was highest in T₂ (10.35%), followed by T₄ (10.24%), indicating improved nitrogen retention from urea addition. T₃ exibited the highest dry matter (48.11%), ether extract (3.32%) and ash (10.24%) contents. Mineral analysis revealed that the contents varied marginally across the treatments but the concenrations were all within acceptable ranges. Sodium and calcium were highest in T₂ (0.71 g/kg) and T₄(2.25 g/kg) respectively, while phosphorus was slightly elevated in T₃ (1.93 g/kg). In conclusion, the inclusion of additives (molasses and/or urea) enhanced the silage quality and nutritional quality better than ensiling without additives. Ensiling Napier grass with 4% molasses is highly recommended as it has shown to have a superior fermentation quality and nutrient availability.

Effect of Foliar Spraying with Wood Vinegar on the Growth and Productivity of Potatoes under Different Levels of Mineral Fertilization

Rawaa AL-BABILIE, Fouad WASSOUF, Osama AL-ABDULLAH, Bassam BOSTANI — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0300