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The formulation of multi-nutrient blocks based on low-cost and locally available browse feed resources can be a valid feeding strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa, where inadequate feed supply, both in quality and quantity, is a major constraint. We evaluated the four different inclusion percentages (M-0%, M-25%, M-35% and M-45%) of Moringa stenopetala leaf powder to multi-nutrient blocks on their change on blood metabolite of dairy cows under practical, ranging conditions. Multi-nutrient blocks with four inclusion rates of M. stenopetala leaves were applied as complementary feed for free ranging dairy cows. The study was performed on 24 free ranging dairy cows reared around Arba Minch town in the Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of dairy cows both before and after supplementation. Plasma glucose, beta hydroxy butyrate (BHB), urea, creatinine, triglycerides and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration was quantified spectrophotometrically. Dried serum spots were subject to quantitative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to estimate changes in nutrient metabolism based on selected carnitines. Based on these measurements, the milk yield and body condition score were increased during the period of multi-nutrient block supplementation. During the supplementation period, the cows got higher plasma glucose, triglyceride and urea concentrations and lower concentrations of BHB, NEFA and creatinine. From the metabolite profiles, a more efficient nutrient use could be concluded. Although no clear dose-response relationship was observed, the highest inclusion of the M. stenopetala leaves in the multi-nutrient blocks gave the best performance. This outcome supports the idea of implementing M. stenopetala based multi-nutrient blocks on tropical smallholder farms that are not easily accessible to conventional extension services., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The present research work was carried out on 36 genotypes based on morphological and biochemical characterization collected from different regions of District Dir Lower. A total of 12 morphological parameters were recorded, of which 3 of them were qualitative characters: leaf colors, seed coat color, and seed shape. For quantitative trait, the maximum coefficient of variance (0.95%) was found in petiole length, biomass per plant (0.49%), and pod per plant (0.41%), whereas the minimum coefficient of variance showed by leaf width (0.25%), followed by leaf length (0.27%) and internode length (0.29%). Coefficient correlation analysis was computed for all the quantitative traits, where a positive correlation was recorded for plant height (0.37), leaf length (0.18), and seed per plant (0.127). Biomass per plant shows a positive correlation with leaf length (0.118), leaf width (0.27), and seed per plant (0.22) whereas a negative correlation was found in petiole length (-0.044), plant height (-0.002), pod length (-0.59) and pod per plant (-0.99). Principal component analysis (PCA) based on 9 quantitative traits showed significant divergence among the 36 genotypes of R. capitata. It was determined that the 4principal component with an Eigenvalue of above 0.99 accounted for 61.4% of the total variation, where the 1st PC shows a total variation of 19%, the 2nd PC showed 34.87%, 3rd PC had 49.38% while the 4th PC showing a total variation of 61.4%. Based on cluster analysis all the genotypes were divided into 2 main lineages and further subdivided into 6 clusters where the genotypes A1 and A9 were found the most diverse and were found at the extreme of the Dendrogram. For total seed, storage proteins all the genotypes were subjected to SDS-PAGE analysis using 12.5% acrylamide gel, where a total of 14 polymorphic bands were observed. In Band 1 the highest degree of variation (0.83%), followed by Band 2 and Band 3 with a value of 0.75% variation, whereas the lowest (0.17%) was found in Band 12, followed by Band 14 with a value of 0.25% respectively. Based on two-way cluster analysis all the genotypes were divided into 2 main groups and further subdivided into 6 groups where the genotypes RC01 and RC16 were found the most variant genotypes and were placed at the extreme of the cluster Dendogram. The entire bands loci show polymorphism, report addressing genetic variability in Rhynchosia capitata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]