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For private circulation onlyTRANSFORMING GENETIC RESOURCES INTO VALUE
Feed Block Technology: A Cost Effective Feed Option for Farmers
Under the Microscope: Dr. Mohammed Al Abri
Oman Genetic Resources Hero: Mohammed Al Shanfari
The Arabian Leopard
Science Café News & More
Q4 2017
OAPGRCNewsletter
Content
Edition 7
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4 Editorial
The Critically Endangered Arabian Leopard(Panthera pardus nimr): A Brief Review
Development of Feed Block Technology as Cost-effective Alternative Feed for Small Ruminants in the Sultanate of Oman
Under the Microscope
Oman Genetic Resources Hero
OAPGRC News
Arabian Oryx
Editorial
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Dr. Nadiya Al Saady Executive Director
Oman Animal & Plant Genetic Resources Center
As 2017 draws to a close, OAPGRC celebrates a highly productive and successful year, one in which we have proudly driven the conservation and custodianship of Oman’s incredible genetic resources and promoted the commercial potential of their development to the business community and aspiring entrepreneurs. In doing so, we have pursed our vision of preserving these precious resources for the benefit of future generations as well as ensuring that the knowledge derived from their study is communicated, shared and developed for the good and well-being of humankind.
This year, OAPGRC takes pride, in particular, in the immense progress we have made with our databases - essential tools in broadening access to genetic resources and a major step in biodiversity conservation. This includes work on our Genetic Resources Information Platform (GRIP), which already contains 13,000+ data sets on over 1,400 Omani plant species. Built in partnership with Bioversity International and key stakeholders, GRIP is already recognized as one of the most ambitious and comprehensive genetic databases in the Middle East. It is available free of charge to anyone in the world through the OAPGRC website.
To further support the work of scientists, specialists and research organisations across the globe, 2017 has seen OAPGRC build the Oman Biodversity Platform (OBIP), which currently offers data on more than 2,600 animal species and 2,500 marine species. We have also developed a Microbial Database, which contains 803 species of fungi and bacteria. And, in addition, we have brought together a library of 13,098 digital images of dried plants from the National Natural history Museum, the Oman Herbarium Collection, to provide a visual record of the sultanate’s 1,200 plus plant species.
Of tremendous importance this year has been the setting up of a state-of-the-art gene bank with the University of Nizwa. Conserving the genetic diversity of our plants, animals and marine life for generations to come, this gene bank will help tackle the challenges of climate change, enhance food security, plant the seeds of sustainable agriculture, and protect local livestock.
Research and capacity building are core activities for OAPGRC and work on the collection and characterization of whales and wild animals has provided tremendous opportunities for this over the last year, giving our researchers and scientists the chance to gain hands-on experience and develop valuable professional skills. The repatriation of Omani seeds from international gene banks has also opened up significant areas in which our various specialist teams can expand their expertise. Indeed, this is something featured in the news section of this OAPGRC Newsletter.
Raising awareness of the importance and potential of sultanate’s treasure chest of genetic resources, the highly successful OAPGRC Science Café series has tackled topical scientific issues and explored commercial opportunities for Oman’s unique genetic assets in a relaxed and informal setting all through the year and covered topics ranging from Oman’s medicinal plants and growing flowers for profit to careers in agriculture and the treasures of our coral reefs. You can read more about the latest OAPGRC Science Café on page 24.
Throughout the year we have keenly encouraged the exploration of opportunities and prospects for our wealth of genetic resources – from frankincense and fish scales to whale ambergris, algae and much, much more. Amongst OAPGRC’s efforts to harvest commercial value from Oman’s rich biodiversity is our collaboration with ORIGO Integrated projects company, which has led to the development a set of unique and luxurious beauty products from date oil . Mainly natural, these exciting products are now set for introduction to the market.
In addition to the news items I have already highlighted, this edition of the OAPGRC Newsletter also has an informative report on the beautiful and critically endangered Arabian leopard by Dr. Senan Baqir who is assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Sultan Qaboos University’s College of Science. It is also our pleasure to share the encouraging report of Dr. Alaa Salman and his team from the Directorate General of Agriculture & Livestock Research at the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries on the exciting possibilities of feed block technology as a cost-effective alternative foodstuff for farm livestock. In our regular ‘Under the Microscope’ feature Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Abri from the Department of Animal & Veterinary Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University gives insights into his research and its applications as well as his academic journey to date. The Oman Genetic Resources Hero of this edition is entrepreneur Mohamed Al Shanfari, founder of
the popular and extremely successful National Natural Honey Company, who shares his passion for honey, thoughts on the protection of bees and his plans to grow his company in international markets.
In 2018, OAPGRC eagerly looks forward to extending its efforts and activities. Indeed, we are especially excited about the Genobusiness Forum in which we will explore the commercial potential of Oman’s wealth of biodiversity. You will certainly hear further details about this event in coming issues of this newsletter.
Dr. Nadiya Al SaadyExecutive DirectorOAPGRC
Senan Baqir*Assistant ProfessorBiology Department, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
*Author: [email protected]
KeywordsArabian leopard, Panthera pardus nimr; critically endangered species
The Critically Endangered Arabian Leopard(Panthera pardus nimr): A Brief Review
Review and OutlookNative to the arid mountainous region of the Arabian Peninsula [3, 4], the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr; Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833) [1] is the largest living felid in the Peninsula and the smallest leopard subspecies [2]. One of nine genetically proven Panthera pardus subspecies [5] in the taxonomical hierarchy list of the Panthera genus, the Arabian leopard is notably indexed on the IUCN red list as critically endangered (CR) [6]. The world population of the Arabian leopard has substantially declined over the past 30 years [7, 8]. Alarmingly, although declared extinct in the north of the Arabian peninsula, namely Jordan and Iraq [9, 10], no recent population census has been carried out in the rest of the peninsula. In fact, the last published Arabian leopard studbook was released in 2009 [11] with an updated version of the animal count at the end of 2014 [12]. While the latest studbook library archive (2014) reveals a total of 132 animals (53 in the wild and 79 captive), a number of scientific articles describe the total number as being as low as 100 [13], at 200 [14] or less than 250 acording to the IUCN [15, 16]. There is an urgent need to conduct an up-to-date recount. A downward trend is anticipated given the following fundamentals:
• The expected decrease in the number of Arabian leopards in captivity (Omani Wildlife Animal Breeding Center; N23.70 E58.09 A5.80 m), given that these are reaching a terminally aged phase (19 years) with a life expectancy of 20 years in captivity.
• The long-held notion that the only remaining wild population, confined to a tiny area in Dhofar Governorate of Oman, stands at 50 animals. This highly theoretical number is based solely on camera traps and range estimates [17, 18, 19], a method with increasing risk of dramatic data biases and misrepresantation of abundance and distribtuion of animals [20].
• Environmental stress on the habitat of the Arabian leopard [21] from climate change and global warming.
• The ongoing military conflict in Yemen means Taiz Zoo is struggling to feed, and maintain veterinary services to, the few captive Arabian leopards (26 only) it has. The number of reported dead is six adults due to malnutrition and three due to infanticide [22, 23]
• Lack of timely published data about birth and mortality rates from the Arabian leopard captive breeding enclosures.
• Absence of scientific data documenting the diseases that target the Arabian leopard and addressing proper veterinary treatment.
It should be noted that big felids, including the Panthera genus, exist under tremendously stressful conditions that threaten the very existence of wild populations around the world. Survivability is commonly linked to numerous factors such as poaching, habitat fragmentation, aging, inbreeding, depression and lack of prey, all of which has not been addressed adequately in the Arabian leopard.
Moreover, while the first case of skin lipoma (neoplasm) in the Arabian leopard [24] has been reported, a plethora of neoplasm cases are being published in captive big cats such as benign gastric tumors in the snow leopard [25], mast cell tumors in the Sumatran tiger [26], meningioma in the Bengal tiger [27], and in the case of African lion: dermal melanoma
[28], squamous carcinoma [29], ocular melanoma and mammary carcinoma [30], mesothelioma [31], malignant lymphoma [32], lung cholangiocellular carcinoma [33] and oligodendroglioma [34]. Alarmingly, new emerging diseases in the Panthera genus have been reported recently. Included in this is: spontaneous systemic arterial hypertension (SHT) leading to
chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a captive aged male North-Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) and a female snow leopard (Panthera uncia) [35]; the first report of avian influenza virus (H5N1) in a lion in captivity [36], causing four deaths from respiratory distress in China tigers (Panthera tigris) [37]; the identification of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in a Wild Far Eastern Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) [38] and in a captive Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) [39]. This has prompted some zoos to vaccinate against CDV for the first time to combat unexpected mortalities in tigers (Panthera tigris) [40].
On another front, the latest (2014) registered population of the Arabian leopard in captivity is only 79 (47.32.0) [12], or possibly much lower given the challenges listed above. This is significantly less than the recommended 100 animals required to prevent the inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity that occurs in captive populations [41]. Depletion of heterozygosity in the captive Arabian leopard is inevitable if the current population and mating trends continue [42]. The unprecedented deleterious consequences of homozygosity in carnivores are manifested by the reduction of reproductive potential [43], a phenomenon that is highly evident in several large felids such as cheetahs [44], lions [45] and the Florida panther [46].
It should be noted however, that big cats in general appear to exhibit reproduction deficiency that is characterized by abnormal sperm morphology [47], mating selectivity, undetectable ovulation cycle, and poor understanding of the artificial insemination procedure. On the other hand, genome resource banking (GRC) of reproductive cells and tissues is a current and promising tool that can be applied in reproductive biotechnology. While the challenges facing the survivability of large felids are numerous, it is prudent to deploy highly effective assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in combination with GRC to mitigate endangerment risk, inbreeding constraints and a growing aging population of the Arabian leopard.
ReferencesHemprich F.W., Ehrenberg C.G.: Symbolae physicae seu icones et descriptiones corporum naturalium novorum aut minus cognitorum, quae ex itinerbus per Arabiam. Pars zoological, 1833Hellyer P., Aspinall S.: The emirates - A natural history. Trident Press Ltd, London, UK, 2005 307-344Breitenmoser U., Breitenmoser C., Mallon D., Edmonds J.A.: Status and Conservation of the Leopard on the Arabian Peninsula. 2006 (1) 1-48Harrison D.L., Bates P.: The mammals of Arabia. In: The mammals of Arabia. Harrison Zoological Museum, Kent, UK, 1991 167-170Integrated Taxonomic Information System-ITIS. Panthera pardus, http://www.itis.govIUCN. Regional red list status of Carnivores in the Arabian Peninsula. The IUCN/SSC Red List of Threatened Species, 2011 13-15Comizzoli P., Crosier A., Songsasen N., Gunther M. S., Howard J.,Wildt D.: Advances in reproductive science for wild carnivore conservation. Reprod. Domest. Anim., 2009 (44) 47-52Harrison D.L., Bates P. The mammals of Arabia. 354, 2ed, Harrison Zoological Museum, Kent 1991Amr Z., Hamidan N.,Qualtrameez M.: Nature conservation in Jordan. Neue Serie, 2004 (2) 467-477Qumsiyeh M., Amr Z.,Shafei D.: Status and conservation of carnivores in Jordan. Mammalia, 1993 (57) 55-62Budd J.: Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr). International Studbook, 2009 1-48International Studbooks for Rare Species of Wild Animals in Captivity. Int. Zoo Yb. , 2016 (50) 407–437Hellyer P.: A summary of recent lynx and leopard sightings in the northern UAE and Musandam. Tribulus, 1993 (3) 11–12Lagrot I., Lagrot J.F.: Leopard in the Arabian Peninsula. Cat News, 1999 (30) 21–22IUCN: The IUCN/SSC Red List of Threatened Species. 2008IUCN: Regional red list status of Carnivores in the Arabian Peninsula. 2011.AL Hikmani H.,AL Hikmani K.: First photographic record of twin Arabian leopards in the wild. CAT News, 2014 (60) 15
Dr. Senan BaqirAssistant Professor
Biology Department, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University
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AL Hikmani H. Z. N., Zaabanoot A.: Camera trapping of Arabian leopard in the Nejd region of Dhofar Mountains. CAT News 2015 (62) 32Spalton J. A., AL Hikmani H. M., Willis D.,Said A. S. B.: Critically Endangered Arabian leopards Panthera pardus nimr persist in the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve, Oman. Oryx, 2006 (40) 287-294Kolowski JM and Forrester TD. Camera trap placement and the potential for bias due to trails and other features; PLoS One, 2017, 12 (10) 1-20Warren P. Aston. Arabia’s hidden valley Wildlife Middle East, 2013, (4) 2-4.Nasser Al Sakkaf, Yemen: The Abandoned Animals of Taiz. Newsweek Middle east March 2016May Bulman, Yemeni zoo animals are starving due to ongoing civil war. The Independent December 2016Baqir S., AL Azri H., AL Rasbi K., Mastromonaco G.,Gartley C.: Skin lipoma in an Arabian leopard (Panthera paradus nimr); Acta. Sc.i Vet., 2014 (42) 1-6Dobson E.C., Naydan D.K., Raphael B.L. & McAloose D. Benign gastric neuroendocrine tumors in three snow leopards (Panthera unica). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 2013 44 (2) 441-446Liao J.C., Gregor P., Wolchok J.D., Orlandi F., Craft D., Leung C., Houghton A.N. & Bergman P.J. Vaccination with human tyrosinase DNA induces antibody responses in dogs with advanced melanoma. Cancer Immunology; 2006 6 (8) 1-18Akin E.Y., Baumgartner W.A., Lee J.K. & Beasley M.J. Meningioma in a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine; 2013 44 (3) 761-764Steeil J.C., Schumacher J., Baine K., Ramsay E.C., Sura P., Hodshon R., Donnell R.L. & Lee N.D. Diagnosis and treatment of a dermal malignant melanoma in an African lion (Panthera leo). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine; 2013 44 (3) 721-727Mwase M., Mumba C., Square D., Kawarai S. & Madarame H. Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma presenting as a Wound with Discharging Sinus Tracts in a Wild African Lion (Panthera leo). Journal of Comparative Pathology; 2013 149 (4) 520-523Cagnini D.Q., Salgado B.S, Linardi J.L., Grandi F., Rocha R.M., Rocha N.S., Teixeira C.R., Del Piero F. & Sequeira J.L. Ocular melanoma and mammary mucinous carcinoma in an African lion. BMC Veterinary Research; 2012 8 (176) 1-5Bollo E., Scaglione F.E., Tursi M., Schröder C., Degiorgi G., Belluso E., Capella S. & Bellis D. Malignant pleural mesothelioma in a female Lion (Panthera leo). Research in Veterinary Science; 2011 91(1) 116-118Harrison T.M., McKnight C.A., Sikarskie J.G., Kitchell B.E., Garner M.M., Raymond J.T., Fitzgerald S.D., Valli V.E., Agnew D. & Kiupel M. Malignant lymphoma in African lions (Panthera leo). Veterinary Pathology; 2010 47 (5): 952-957Hedau M., Raut S.S., Bhandarkar A.G., Ganorkar A.G. & Ingle K.S. Cholangiocellular carcinoma in a leopard (Panthera pardus). Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology; 2008 32 (1): 84-85Tucker A.R., Ramsay E.C. & Donnell R.L. Oligodendroglioma in an African lion (Panthera leo). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine; 2008, 39 (4) 650-654Leclerc A, Trehiou-Sechi E, Greunz EM, Damoiseaux C, Bouvard J, Chetboul V. Systemic arterial hypertension secondary to chronic kidney disease in two captive-born large felids. J Vet Cardiol; 2017 (3) 308-316Quanjiao Chen, Hanzhong Wang, Lihua Zhao, Liping Ma, Runkun Wang, Yongsong Lei, Yong Li, Guoxiang Yang, Jing Chen, Guang Chen, Liqiang Li, Tao Jin, Jiandong Li, Xin Liu, Xun Xu, Gary Wong, Lei Liu, Yingxia Liu, Weifeng Shi, Yuhai Bi and George F Gao. First documented case of avian influenza (H5N1) virus infection in a lion Emerging Microbes & Infections; 2016 (5) e125Hu T, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Kong Q, Zhang Z, Cui Q, Qiu W, Deng B, Fan Q, Zhang F. Fatal influenza A (H5N1) virus Infection in zoo-housed Tigers in Yunnan Province, China. Sci Rep; 2016 (6) 25845 Sulikhan NS, Gilbert M, Blidchenko EY, Naidenko SV, Ivanchuk GV, Gorpenchenko TY, Alshinetskiy MV, Shevtsova EI, Goodrich JM, Lewis JCM, Goncharuk MS, Uphyrkina OV, Rozhnov VV, Shedko SV, McAloose D, Miquelle DG. Canine Distemper Virus in a Wild Far Eastern Leopard Panthera pardus orientalis. J Wildl Dis. 2017 (20)He Zhang, Fen Shan, Xia Zhou, Bing Li, Jun-Qiong Zhai1, Shu-Zhan Zou1, Meng-Fan Wu, Wu Chen, Shao-Lun Zhai & Man-Lin Luo. Outbreak and genotyping of canine distemper virus in captive Siberian tigers and red pandas Nature, Scientific reports 2017 (7) 8132Sadler RA, Ramsay E, McAloose D, Rush R, Wilkes RP. Evaluation of two canine distemper virus vaccines in captive tigers (Panthera tigris). J Zoo Wildl Med.; 2016 47 (2) 558-563Witzenberger K.A., Hochkirch A.: Ex situ conservation genetics: a review of molecular studies on the genetic consequences of captive breeding programmes for endangered animal species. Biodivers. Conserv.; 2011 (20) 1843-1861Budd J., Leus K.: The Arabian Leopard Panthera pardus nimr conservation breeding programme. Zool. Middle East; 2011 (54) 141–150Howard J.G., Wildt D.E.: Approaches and efficacy of artificial insemination in felids and mustelids. Theriogenology, 2009 (71) 130-148Wildt D.E., O’Brien S.J., Howard J.G., Caro T.M., Roelke M.E., Brown J.L., Bush M.: Similarity in ejaculate-endocrine characteristics in captive versus free-ranging cheetahs of two subspecies. Biol. Reprod., 1987 (36) 351-360Wildt D.E., Bush M., Goodrowe K.L., Packer C., Pusey A.E., Brown J.L., Joslin P., O’Brien S.J.: Reproductive and genetic consequences of founding isolated lion populations. Nature, 1987 (329) 328-331Roelke M.E., Martenson J.S., O’Brien S.J.: The consequences of demographic reduction and genetic depletion in the endangered Florida panther. Curr. 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Alaa D. Salman, Khalfan M. El Shargi, Rashid S. Al Habsi, Talal Al Sadairi
Directorate General of Agriculture & Livestock ResearchMinistry of Agriculture & FisheriesSultanate of Oman
Development of Feed Block Technology as Cost-effective Alternative Feed for SmallRuminants in the Sultanate of Oman
IntroductionOne of the main factors limiting ruminant productivity in Oman is the shortage of feed resources able to meet their nutrient requirements. This shortage is mainly due to the decline of natural pasture as a contributor to the total feed resources of ruminants and the high cost of concentrate feeds limits their wide scale use by animal owners, especially small farmers. However, considerable amounts of agro-industrial by-products are available in commercial quantities in Oman. These include inferior quality dates, date frond leaves, dates pulp, date stone, low quality dibis (dates syrup) and sun-dried sardines. The efficient use of these currently under-utilised by-products presents an opportunity to fill part of the gap between the supply of, and the demand for, feed resources in Oman.
Previous experience, such as that of ICARDA Mashreq/Maghreb project, indicates that ‘feed blocks’ is the most appropriate technical option to optimise the use of conventional feed resources and the efficient deployment of agro-industrial by-products as an alternative feed supplement. Building on this experience and taking into consideration the important opportunities that feed block production opened up for small and medium sized enterprises in Iraq, new methodology for producing feed blocks has been developed in Oman. This study was, therefore, conducted to develop new feed block making methodology, including equipment, formula, and manufacturing procedure. It also had the goal of sharing results with local small and medium scale agribusinesses and of evaluating the feed blocks developed as alternative feed supplement for small ruminants in Oman.
Omani Methodology in Manufacturing Feed BlocksIn order to promote feed block technology in Oman, new methodology in feed block making, from equipment and formula through to the manufacturing procedure and the evaluation of the produced feed blocks as alternative feed supplement was implemented.
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Dr. AlaaDirectorate General of Agriculture & Livestock Research
Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
Manufacturing EquipmentA feed block manufacturing unit was set up at Rumis Research Station, Animal Production Research Center, Directorate General of Agriculture and Livestock Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Al Batinah South Governorate, Sultanate of Oman. The feed block manufacturing equipment was manufactured by local tradesmen under supervision. This equipment included a Pan Mixer with a capacity of 100 kg per batch (Photo 1) and a Heavy Duty Hydraulic Press with four moulds (Photo 2). The production capacity of this feed block manufacturing unit is approximately one to two tons per day.
Feed Block FormulaBased on the inventory of local agro-industrial by-products in Oman, a variety of ingredients were available for inclusion in the feed blocks and, as a result, different formulae were produced. These formulae were mainly composed of the by-products of local date palm trees such as inferior quality dates, sun dried sardines, dibis (date syrup), ground date frond leaves, and local wheat bran with urea added as source of nitrogen. The main binders used were bentonite clay, quick lime and calcium sulfate (CaSO4). To improve the palatability of the feed blocks, whole barley grain was included (5 %) in the formulae. The feed blocks produced were characterized by excellent compactness and medium to soft firmness. The superior standard of the compactness was a result of the high pressure applied by the heavy-duty hydraulic press, while the firmness is a result of the low level of binders (gelling agents) included. This quality of feed block can be considered a major breakthrough in feed block production in the region
Ingredients 1 2 3 4 5 6
Inferior dates 27 27 25 25 25 25Sun dried sardines 5 5 5 7 8 8Wheat bran 40 35 32 37 34 34Ground date frond 5 5 5 0 0 0Whole barley grain 5 5 5 5 5 5Inferior dates syrup (dibis) 0 0 5 5 5 0Molasses 0 0 0 0 0 5Urea 3 4 4 4 4 4Plaster of Paris (CaSO4.2H20) 2 2 2 5 2 2Bentonite clay 8 12 12 7 6 4Quick lime 0 0 0 0 6 8Salt 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8Minerals + vitamins 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Physical Assessment**
Compactness G G G G G GHardness S S S S M M
Table 1: Feed Blocks Formulae Produced and Tested for Hardness and Compactness
* G= Good, M= Medium, S= Soft
Evaluation of Using Feed Blocks as Supplementary Feed for Local Omani GoatsThis study was conducted as part of several applied and adaptive on-station and on-farm experiments and was implemented to evaluate the potential of the feed blocks manufactured with this new methodology as supplementary feed for small ruminants. The nutritive value of the feed block supplements used in feeding trials is presented in Table 2. The feed blocks are very rich in CP (23.4 %) and energy content (9.7 MJ), also they are a good source of minerals. Rich in sugars, date fruit and date byproducts are excellent sources of energy while also containing a good supply of macro and micro minerals (Mg, Ca, P, Na, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn). The enrichment of the feed blocks provided by sun-dried sardines, available in commercial quantity in Oman, has the potential to upgrade their nutritive value considerably.
Table 2: The Nutritive Value of Feed Blocks
Nutrient, % Feed Blocks
Dry matter 87
Crude protein 23.4
Crude fiber 9.04
Ether extract 1.85
Ash 12
NFE 53.71
ME, MJ/kg DM* 9.7
Calcium 1.32
Phosphor 0.62
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The results of the deployment of feed blocks manufactured from date palm tree byproducts and sun-dried sardines as supplementary feed in animals feed blocks intake, on goat weight gain and on reproductive performance are presented in Table 3. These results showed the very high palatability of the feed blocks by Omani goats with the average daily intake approximately 293g/d/ animal. Goats were easily attracted to the feed blocks due to the presence of whole barley grains and also due to the sweet aroma of dibis and whole dates in the formula. Using feed blocks as supplementary feed resulted in a highly significant improvement in goat weight gain (73%) as compared with the non-supplemented group (NFB). The results also showed that the goats’ reproductive performance improved considerably due to feed block supplementation. The Jabali goats given feed blocks as supplementary feed during mating season had a higher conception rate (23%) and kidding rate (24%) than the non-supplemented group (NFB). This new development in feed block manufacture for small ruminants in Oman can be promoted to small and medium scale agribusinesses.
ConclusionThere is great potential, along with good prospects, for manufacturing and using feed blocks as alternative feed supplement for small ruminants in Oman. The feed blocks produced by this methodology are characterized by excellent compactness and medium to soft firmness with the inclusion of inferior whole dates as a source of energy and sun dried sardines as a source of bypass protein upgrading their nutritive value. This type of feed block can be used as a replacement for costly imported concentrated feed. Adopting the new methodology in feed block manufacturing will stimulate the uptake of feed block production by small and medium scale agribusinesses in feed industries in Oman.
Table 3: Effect of Using Feed Blocks as Supplementary Feed on the Performance of Local Omani Goat
Groups NFB FBExperiment Period (day) 60 60Number of Goats 13 13Average Initial wt. (kg/doe) 32.06 31.85Average Mating BCS 2.33 2.32Average Final wt. (kg/doe) 34.51 36.09Average Weight Gain (kg/doe) 2.45 4.24Feed Blocks Consumption (g / doe /d) - 293Concentrate Consumption (g/ doe /d) 315 315Rhodes Grass Hay intake (g DM/ doe /d) 508 236Total Intake (g DM/ doe /d) ** 823 844Fertility rate a (%) 69 92Kidding rate b (%) 85 108
Under theMicroscope
Julodis euphratica
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Dr.Mohammed Ali Al AbriAssistant Professor
Department of Animal and Veterinary SciencesCollege of Agricultural & Marine Sciences
Sultan Qaboos University
What first drew you to animal science?What drew me to animal science was my passion to work with and on animals. As an undergraduate in the College of Agriculture, I always enjoyed field work and a direct interaction with what I worked on, and animal science offered that direct interaction which was lacking in many other majors in the college. Today, as an academic, even though I spend most of my time in the office I still enjoy field trips and try to maintain a direct link with animals and their owners. What is interesting about animals is that they are more interactive than say plants or fish, so you can communicate with them while working with them. They can also show emotions of joy and sadness much like humans. Additionally, animals’ products are part of our everyday life and we seldom think of a day that goes by without using one of their products either directly or indirectly.
When you embarked on your first degree, did you think that, in the long-run, your focus would be genetics and genomics? How did that focus come about?Following my BSc I embarked on a Master’s degree in Dairy Cattle Quantitative Genetics. At the time I was doing my MSc, genomics was still in its infancy as a field and we did not know much about the genome of livestock as we do today. Most quantitative geneticists did not believe in its premise. Quantitative geneticists deal more with pedigrees and predict animal performance based on their relationships with other animals in a population. Hence, they deal with the genetics of an animal as a black box that is revealed partly by the phenotype of the animal and its relatives. Genomics as a field came to offer answers to many of the quantitative genetic questions and offered to open the black box. They started discovering the alleles animals share that make them have the phenotype they carry and the proportion of the genome they share. It was during that time that I was applying for my PhD and I chose to take the challenge of studying something new and hence moved to genomics. Today, genomics still excites us with discoveries in various species.
Jabbali (North of Oman) (Capra hircus)
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One of your research interests is animal productivity. Why is this important?Animal productivity is directly linked to their economic value. Geneticists have always been drawn to the genetics bases between animals showing different performance for the same trait and what makes them different. Productivity of animals is also important from a food security perspective. Animal derived products such as milk, eggs and meat are present at our table on daily basis and is key to understand how to improve these traits in farm animals. A geneticist’s role is to improve those traits by selecting animals that produce more with less, for example, choosing animals that are more efficient in converting food into the desirable products of interest. During their journey of doing this they might stumble across genes responsible of these traits in different livestock and realize how those genes influence those traits.
What are the practical applications of your research into animal productivity here in Oman?In the long-run, my research should help characterize the various breeds of livestock species in Oman genetically and to understand the genetic basis of inheriting some of their production and health traits. I also look into the genetic diversity in various livestock species in the country. I am also aiming to map the location of genes affecting production and health traits in various livestock. In addition, my research looks into the heritability of some of the most important production traits in livestock in Oman. Our lab is relatively new to this idea but we have so far achieved a lot in a relatively short period of time.
What interest does Oman’s animal stock have for international breeders? Is this something with commercial value? How?In a world threatened continuously with drought and extreme temperatures, animals from Oman and the surrounding region are of utmost importance for research and have adapted for millennia to high ambient temperatures and limited water intake. For instance, our livestock can survive the lack of fodder, dry pastures and temperatures reaching over 50 degrees Celsius. They could potentially become the global animals of choice in places affected by such conditions. They are also a valuable genetic resource in that they can help scientists figure out the different biological adaptation mechanisms that help them cope with such extreme conditions. Discovering these pathways can help scientists develop more resilient livestock in their respective countries.
How is climate change affecting Oman’s animal stock? What are the implications of this?So far, climate change has not affected Omani livestock directly as they have adapted to its effects as I mentioned earlier. However, their adaptation has limitations. Climate change can indirectly affect the habitat in which Omani livestock graze and browse for food through prolonged dry periods, deterioration of pastures and unavailability of fodder. The Omani environment is already vulnerable to such conditions and is very prone to its effects. On the other hand, Omani fisheries could be affected by extreme weather events such El Niños and cyclones.
What are your other areas of research interest?In addition to livestock genetics and genomics, I am also involved in studying the genetic diversity of wild animals such as the Gazelle and the Oryx. I am currently involved in a national project that is studying the genetic diversity and inbreeding levels in Omani Gazelles through non-invasive sampling techniques using microsatellite markers. In addition, I am part of a team studying the genetics structure of the Oryx in the Arabian Peninsula. I also worked within a team looking at deciphering the genetic variability and population structure of the Omani Spiny Lobsters in order to better understand the levels of inbreeding in them and better manage their stocks across Oman.
As a researcher, what does your typical day involve?A major part of my day is spent on teaching as that is my main focus as an academic at Sultan Qaboos University. The typical day for me involves meeting up with my undergraduate students and delivering lectures. However, I do usually make time during the day to read up and update myself on different research areas that I am interested in. I also usually do in silico analysis of the results I find using various bioinformatics tools. In addition, I work on either writing or editing manuscripts and sometimes even reviewing other researchers work. Whenever necessary, I also go out on sampling field trips. Often times I also meet up with graduate students and discuss their progress in their respective projects.
What advice would you give to aspiring researchers - to students interested in a career in your research area?The main advice I would give to any student wanting to study genetics and genomics is to strengthen their background in statistics. Genetics and especially quantitative genetics is founded on statistical foundations and the engine behind it is statistical theory. The other field that they need to be strong in is bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is the study of programing languages and tools used to analyze and interpret genetic and genomic data. It is therefore an indispensable tool for geneticists. The final piece of advice I would give them is to practice open mindedness to work in any field in genetics. Genetic data can vary from single genes to single nucleotide polymorphisms to whole genome sequencing data, epigenome, and transcriptome or metabolome data. All these types of data are interesting and have their own merit, each telling us a part of the bigger puzzle of how the genome and its related machinery work.
In a world threatened continuously with drought and extreme temperatures, animals from Oman and the surrounding region are of utmost importance for research and have adapted for millennia
to high ambient temperatures and limited water intake.
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Sahrawi (North of Oman) (Capra hircus)
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Oman Genetic Resources Hero
Mohammed Al ShanfariNational Natural Honey Co. SAE.
Mohammed founded the National Natural Honey Company in 2014, the sultanate’s pioneer in honey production and marketing.
You founded your company just three years ago in 2014, how did the idea come about? Was beekeeping a hobby of yours?I have been interested in bees for as long as I can remember, always wanting to learn more about them. I was particularly intrigued by the whole process of producing honey and started reading everything I could to find out as much as I could. It was fascinating to discover how bees make honey and the more I read about it, the more exciting I found it. Then in 2014, I decided to take my hobby to the next level and started my business, the National Natural Honey Company.
What exactly are the National Natural Honey Company’s products? And which is most popular?The National Natural Honey Company is the first company in the sultanate to specialize in the production and distribution of natural and raw Omani honey. In fact, we are the only company in Oman to process huge volumes of honey, adhering assiduously to optimum standards of hygiene and quality as we meet the demands of the domestic, and international, market.
Our products include pure Omani honey such as Al Sidr, Al Somer, Mountain Blossom Honey, Gum Arabic Honey and Al Luban Honey.
We also offer a full range of beekeeping equipment, brought in from all over the world, to ensure that Omani beekeepers have access to everything they need to produce honey.
Where are you based and how many people work in your company?Our head office is in Musannah and we have a branch in Salalah though we have plans in place to expand our operations to all Oman’s major cities. At present, we have around 25 employees, including our beekeepers.
Do you have your own beehives or do you work with other beekeepers?Both. We have our own beehives and we work with other beekeepers across Oman.
How much honey do you produce a year?The National Natural Honey Company is responsible for around 150,000 kilos of Oman’s total annual honey production of 500,000 kilos – that’s a significant proportion!
Is your honey organic? I am proud to say that our honey is free from antibiotics and all its vital components such as vitamins, enzymes and minerals are preserved during our state-of-the-art production and packaging process.
Not all honey looks and tastes the same? Why is that?Well, one reason is that here in Oman, there are more than 300 varieties of flowers and blooms that honeybees can visit, which means the taste, colour and smell will vary from one honey to another.
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Can you tell us something about how honey is produced and how you ensure quality?After the bees have done their part, our beekeepers carefully take the honeycomb frames and transport the hive boxes to our facility. Our team then put the hive boxes in the uncapping machine and remove the bees wax seal. A honey extractor spins the frames at a high speed, using centrifugal force to get out every drop of honey possible.
Next, the honey is pumped into a storage tank where it is minimally strained to remove any foreign matter. Once that is done, especially imported drums are filled with the honey, sealed and assigned a lot code.
Quality is a priority for us at National Natural Honey Company and we do everything possible to ensure it is always absolutely the best. Part of our quality assurance is making sure our bees are provided with adequate vitamins! And, of course, we scrutinize every step the process of extracting honey including adhering to the highest international standards in our storage facility.
You are already very active in markets outside of Oman. How important is this for your business? Could you share with us how you have achieved this?There is certainly demand for National Natural Honey Company products in markets outside Oman. In fact, you might be surprised to know that its popularity outside the sultanate is even greater than at home. So, responding to this demand we are currently in talks with all the major distribution companies in the Middle East. My dream though is to make National Natural Honey Company products available all over the world. However, making this dream a reality is a tricky process as every country has different criteria for importing food products. But we have a team dedicated to this and it is something we are actively focused on.
Your honey has also been recognized from distinguished awarding bodies. Could you tell us more about this?National Natural Honey Company was awarded the bronze medal for its pure honey in the commercial category at the recent 45th Apimondia Conference held in Istanbul, Turkey. It was a real honour to receive this prestigious accolade, especially as it is the first time an Omani company has been recognized for pure honey. I’m also pleased to say that the quality of Omani honey is now certified by the International Association of Beekeepers Association as one of the best honeys in the world.
What ambitions do you have for National Natural Honey Company in the short and long term?Alongside the expansion plans I have already mentioned, we also intend to develop a research and development centre in collaboration with national and international organizations. At the same time, we hope to implement educational programs and studies that will make significant scientific contributions to our industry.
The aim of the research centre is to comprehensively evaluate Oman’s full potential in terms of bee products and to enhance the competitive power of Omani apiculture and our honey industry at the international level.
What do you think makes Omani honey stand out?For me there is no doubt that Omani honey is far superior to any other type. Pure, fresh and raw, it has a distinct flavor profile and is the least allergenic honey produced. On top of this, its very slow crystallization feature makes it stand out in comparison to other honeys.
One of National Natural Honey Company’s most sought after products is our Al Sidr honey. Truly unique and exceptional, this is gathered from bees who feed only on nectar from the flowers of the sidr tree.
Bees are obviously vital to the production of honey. How many different types of bees are there in Oman? Are bees the only pollinating insect?There are two types of bees in Oman Apis Mellifera (Common Bee) and Apis Florea (Dwarf Bee). Apis Mellifera are mostly used for commercial production while Apis Florea are very difficult to keep as they make their nests in open spaces. However, both these type of bees are vital parts of the honey production eco-system.
Along with bees, Oman has many types of pollinating insects. Butterflies, hoverflies, spiders, beetles, moths, wasps, midges, ants, flies and even bats can play their part in the process.
It is well known that the bee population around the world is dwindling. What do you think we in Oman can do to protect them?In our changing world, environmental factors and climate changes are impacting on beekeeping. Pollution and pesticides in particular are serious threats to the bees with recent studies linking nenicotinoid pesticide exposure to severe bee health decline. These studies add to a growing body of scientific literature that strengthens the case for removing pesticides toxic to bees from the market.
These days, it is more important than ever for Oman’s beekeepers to share knowledge and experience so we can increase field efficiency and healthy production.
There is growing interest at home and overseas in the medicinal properties of honey. What’s your opinion on this? Does Omani honey have anything special in this regard?Honey has a long medicinal history, used as an embalming fluid and as a dressing for wounds from time immemorial. Today, holistic practitioners consider it one of nature’s best all-around remedies.
It is believed pure Omani honey helps enhance the immune system of the body with its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties helping control blood pressure and reduce the symptoms of rheumatism.
To give an example, Al Somer honey is often used to help with throat problems and to prevent coughs. It is used too for upper respiratory tract infections.
What’s your favourite way of eating honey?Personally, I like to have honey from the National Natural Honey Company on its own. For me that’s the best way to enjoy its 100 per cent pure Omani goodness.
Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs interested in building a business from another of Oman’s wealth of genetic resources?I believe Oman is a land of opportunities and we are fortunate with the amount of resources available here. I feel that any Omani entrepreneur determined to build a business can succeed. With their heart in the right place, nothing is impossible.
Mohammed Al Shanfari was honored with the bronze award
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OAPGRC News
Scientific CommitteesIn 2017, OAPGRC held one session for each of the Center’s Scientific Committees.
• Marine genetic resources committee: September 2017• Microbial genetic resources committee: October 2017• Animal genetic resources committee: October 2017• Plant genetic resources committee: October 2017
Milestones and Outputs
• The committees were briefly updated about successful agreements, collaborations and memorandums of understanding with the other institutions, governmental sectors and private sectors.
• The committees were updated about the establishment of gene bank facility at University of Nizwa.
• A barcoding system that needed for the OAPGRC gene bank was highlighted and feedback was got from the different committees.
• The committees were informed about the new collaboration between the OAPGRC and ORIGO company to produce some cosmetic products from the date oil “NAWA”.
• OAPGRC, briefly updated the members about OAPGRC next upcoming event, titled: Monetizing Genetic Resources Forum that is is an annual two-day event providing participants with access to local and international scientists, entrepreneurs, agribusiness experts, agricultural producers, policymakers, marketing, packaging, branding and technology professionals, investors and industry thought leaders.
• It was discussed about the phone application: Oman Biodiversity Data Collection and Information System development. The main aim of this application is to compile “live” data related to genetic resources (animals, plants, marine and microbes) from the public.
Arabian Gazelle (Gazella gazella)
An OAPGRC Scienti c Committee meeting
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Science Café Helping Cultivate Home-Grown Businesses
Helping Oman’s farmers and entrepreneurs grow their businesses along with their produce, the next Arabic language OAPGRC Science Café will focus on marketing local food as well as plant and animal based products. The informal and informative free of charge event will take place at the Moka & More Café in Al Azaiba on 25th October with discussions beginning at 7.30pm. Sponsored by Oman LNG and supported by Al Wisal FM and Merge104.8FM, the Science Café warmly welcomes members of the general public, entrepreneurs, students and specialists. Noting the soaring demand for produce and food grown and raised in Oman, Dr. Nadiya Al Saady, OAPGRC Executive Director and organizer of the monthly Science Café series said: “Opportunities abound for small farms and local food entrepreneurs. But competition is fierce and a fantastic product is, sadly, not always enough these days. To harvest the possibilities of the growing interest in Omani produce, and particularly in healthy organic fruit, vegetables, grain and meat, local businesses need to be sure they know how to brand, package and market in ways that appeal to customers and consumers. So, with the aim of planting the seeds of success for blossoming and existing home-grown enterprises, we have devised this very practical Science Café session, full of advice, sensible business tools and down-to-earth information.”
Dr. Al Saady went on to explain that businesses involving local produce have a significant contribution to make to the communities in which they operate and to Oman’s continued economic growth, adding: “The potential in Oman’s soil and environment, in its unique plant and livestock genetic resources, to support our nation’s long-term development and prosperity is tremendous. For this reason, OAPGRC actively supports the entrepreneurs who aim to leverage the possibilities of local plant and animal species through initiatives such as the Science Café. And as we do so, OAPGRC works diligently to make sure these precious natural assets are protected and properly managed so future generations can also reap their benefits.”
With Mutasim Al Maamari once again lending his skills as moderator, this month’s OAPGRC Science Café panel will include the popular Souq es Sabt’s Sara Al Asfoor.
Genetic Resources & Beauty Industry
OAPGRC hosted a lively gathering of members of the general public, scientists, specialists and entrepreneurs at its most recent Science Café, which explored the lucrative opportunities and prospects for Oman’s wealth of genetic resources in the multi-billion dollar international perfume, cosmetics and personal care industry. The informal informative event was sponsored by Oman LNG and supported by Al Wisal FM and Merge104.8FM.
“This particularly enjoyable and illuminating edition of the OAPGRC Science Café Series opened the eyes of participants to Oman’s treasure chest of natural resources and their potential for profitable commercial application in the multi-faceted booming beauty business,” noted Dr. Nadiya Al Saady, OAPGRC Executive Director and organizer of the monthly Science Café initiative.
“Let me give you some examples. When we talk about the use of genetic resources in perfume, cosmetics and personal care, beyond Frankincense people immediately think of natural oils from say the roses or pomegranates of Jebel Akhdar but there are so many other possibilities. These range from fish scales that can be used in shampoo and nail polish to whale ambergris, one of the most sought after ingredients in the perfume industry. Algae, abundant in our oceans, is an essential component of many skin and hairdressing products, including sun block, moisturizing creams and hair conditioners while microbes are used in Botox,” explained Dr. Al Saady.
She continued: “And the cosmetics and beauty business is undoubtedly lucrative. KPMG studies indicate that the global market for personal care products is expected to reach a total market value of US$500 billion by 2020 with the market for product ingredients likely to grow even faster over most of the same period. Valued at US$7.46 billion in 2014, this segment is expected to reach US11.76 billion by 2023. KPMG also notes that the market for organic personal care products made from plant-based ingredients is growing at an annual rate of almost ten per cent with expectations of a market valued at US$15.98 by 2020.”
Pointing out that a major trend in the beauty industry is for halal products, Dr. Al Saady concluded: “Taking all this into consideration, I have no doubt that that this is an ideal time for Oman to unleash the potential of its genetic resources in this exciting sector”.
Held at the Moka & More Café in Al Atheiba and conducted this month in Arabic, discussions were led panelists Dr. Salim Al Rawahi from ORIGO and Dr. Salim Al Wahibi from Oliban and moderated by Dr. Al Mutasim Al Mamari
The Science Café in action
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OAPGRC Science Café Cultivates Blooming Businesses
Showing how genetic resource based business can be accessible to everyone, November’s Oman Animal, Plant & Genetic Resource Centre (OAPGRC) Science Café will looked at the blossoming commercial possibilities of horticulture and flower based enterprises.
Held this month in Arabic, the informal and practical free-of-charge event took place at Bastah Majan Coffee Shop in Al Azaiba, Wednesday 26th November with discussions beginning at 7.30pm. Sponsored by Oman LNG and supported by Al Wisal FM and Merge104.8FM, the OAPGRC Science Café not only welcomed aspiring floral entrepreneurs and gardeners but also members of the general public interested in the topic, students and specialists.
Speaking about of the event, Dr. Nadya Al Saady, OAPGRC Executive Director and organizer of the monthly Science Café series explained: “This Science Café session had a very important aim - that’s to show you don’t have to be a scientist to start a genetic resource based business and that Oman’s biodiversity offers commercial opportunities for everyone.”
The Executive Director added: “Today, the GCC horticultural industry is valued at US$151.3mn. Artisan growers and florists are enjoying a renaissance and there’s a sizeable market in particular for well-grown Omani flowers and plants. Dried flowers too offer lucrative possibilities. In fact, flowers produce one of the highest returns of any specialty crop and with the sultanate’s 1,200 plus plant species there are plenty of options to bring new and unique products to the market.”
Dr. Al Saady continued: “For me, the beauty of most horticultural businesses is that you don’t need a big investment to get started and whether you live in Muscat, Salalah or anywhere in between growing flowers and floristry can provide a good income for anyone who enjoys gardening, has a passion for flowers or is enthusiastic about floral design. That is, of course, providing you combine your dedication to your venture with the deployment of sound business skills.”
Exploring topics such as designing, planning and managing your own cut flower garden from a small patch, floristry, running your own retail business from home or a shop, and catering to market demand, this OAPGRC Science Café was led by Dr. Almutasem Al Maamari with Muralee Manohar, Assistant General Manager from Themar Group and Eng. Mubarak Al Shukaili from Muscat Municipality sharing practical and down to earth advice.
Mrs. Wahida Al Amry participate at the Science Café
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In studies of prey-predator relationships, population dynamics and ichthyo-archaeology, the fish otoliths are commonly used to decide taxon, age and size of the teleost fishes. They can also be used to calculate the size of the prey. The relationships between otolith measurements (length and width) and fish body proportions (head, total and standard lengths) were estimated for blackspot snapper Lutjanus ehrenbergii collected from the Omani waters, at Muscat City. Otolith length and width was shown to be good indicators for the length of fish. Linear function offered the best fit for relations between otolith and fish body proportions. Sizes of the left and right otoliths were found not be significantly different.
Relationships between Fish and Otolith Size of the Blackspot Snapper Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters, 1869) Collected from the Coast of Muscat City, Sea of Oman
OAPGRC Publications
Science Cafés are held in many towns and cities across the world for the promotion of scientific culture and the understanding of our daily lives, which we live in. They provide a platform for interaction and dialogue between scientists, researchers, businesses and the community on trends towards current scientific issues the extent of their impact on culture and society.
The OAPGRC Science Cafe is a forum for the discussion of important and interesting scientific topics and issues. Since May 2013 to December 2017, OAPGRC has held a series of science café sessions on topics related to biodiversity, food security, climate change, pollution and sustainable use. The OAPGRC science café is the first in Oman to be put on the international map of scientific cafes around the world. Reviewing the data on the outcomes and performance of these sessions indicates that the session attendance and active participation was 51% by men and 49% women. This is an exceptional case where the interest is almost equal between the genders. As for the age group, the highest percentage 49% was of a class of young people aged between 18-25 years. Followed by the age group (26-35 years) which was 30%. The lowest percentage was 21% for the age group above 35. The experience of the science café in Oman has proved to be a major success.
The Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center’s (OAPGRC) Science Café: A Success Story
Otolith weight difference on both sides of the fish head, was estimated. Sagittae otolith mass asymmetry was investigated in the littoral lutjanid species Lutjanus ehrenbergii. The absolute value of |x| in Lutjanus ehrenbergii does correlate with the fish length and otolith development. Such case is similar to that in the symmetrical fish species, the absolute. An increase in the absolute value of otolith asymmetry in relation to the fish size was observed. The range of x magnitude was between -0.2 and +0.2.
Otolith Mass Asymmetry in Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters, 1869) Collected from the Sea of Oman
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OAPGRC Staff Workshops & Training
OAPGRC Videos
SPSS Workshop (TRC main building)17-21 September
Geographic Information System (GIS) Course (SQU)
29 October-2 November
Ion S5 Next Generation Sequencer Training (University of Nizwa)
6-8 November
Bioinformatics Workshop (SQU)12-23 November
OAPGRC visited a model farm owned by Themar group in Barka on 26 November
International Symposium and Workshop on Native Seeds in Restoration of Dryland
Ecosystems 20-23November
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