Curriculum Vitae
Merga Bayssa Becho (Ph.D.)
Assistant Professor of Animal feeds and Dairy nutrition
School of Animal and Range Sciences,
College of Agriculture,
Hawassa University
P.O. Box 5, Hawassa,
Ethiopia
Email: mergabayssa@yahoo.com
Tel: +251-916158546/+251- 967212175
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3820-5453
Scopus Author ID: 57193001148
Head of Ethio-alliance Professional Consultants
https://ethioallianceprofessional.me/
Personal Particulars:
Date of Birth:
Nationality:
Gender
Marital status:
Language:
Profession:
April 09,1973
Ethiopian
Male
Married
English, Amharic and Afaan Oromo (reading, writing,
listening and speaking)
Ph.D. in Animal feeds and Dairy nutrition
1. Educational Background
1.1.University Education
Apr. 2019 – June 2021: Post-doctoral Research Fellow –Hohenheim University,
Germany
Subject: Livestock Production, Climate change and Food security
Dec. 2012 – Nov. 2016:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) –Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
Subject: Animal Nutrition
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August. 2004 – August. 2006: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Division of Dairy Cattle Nutrition
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
Subjects: Dairying (Dairy Animal Nutrition)
Sep. 1998‐Sep. 2002: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Distinction)
Department of Animal production and Rangeland management
Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
Subject: Animal production and Rangeland management
Sep. 1991 – August. 1993: Advanced diploma in Veterinary medicine
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Subject: Veterinary medicine (Animal health Assistant)
1.2. Professional and short-term courses
Sep. 2020 – Nov. 2020:
Professional Accreditation certificate
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Texas A&M University, USA
Subject: Laboratory Quality Management systems
Sep. 2020 – Nov. 2020:
Professional Course certificate
College of Agricultural Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University, USA
Subject: Dairy Production and Management
Oct. 2020 – Nov. 2020:
Advanced Laboratory Course certificate
Centre for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition
Nanjing Agricultural University, China
Subject: A n a l y s i s of In vitro fermentation by GC and HPLC
and Molecular analysis of gut microbiomes (Real-time PCR)
Dec.2. 2016 – Dec. 12. 2016: Advanced Laboratory Course certificate
Kansas State University, USA
Subject: Analysis of Mycotoxins in animal feeds and food
2
Feb.3. 2016 – Feb. 28. 2009: Advanced Laboratory Techniques certificate
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Subject: Advanced Laboratory Analysis of Animal feeds
Sep.2. 2016 – Sep.15. 2016: Advanced laboratory Course certificate
Kansas State University, USA
Subject: Advanced animal feed formulation, feed analysis and quality control
Apr.1. 2001 – Jun.22. 2001: Professional Course certificate
Department of Food Science
Agricultural University of Norway, Norway
Subject: Theoretical and Practical food technology technician
Nov.19. 2019 – Nov. 22. 2019: Professional Course certificate
CLIFOOD Project,
Hawassa University, Ethiopia
Subject: R programming language for Statistics and Graphics
2. Work Experience
November 2016 – present: Assistant Professor and lecturer of Animal Nutrition at the
School of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture,
Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
August 2006 – Nov. 2016:
Lecturer of Animal Nutrition at the School of Animal and
Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University,
Ethiopia.
.
September 2002 – June 2004: A s s i s t a n t lecturer of Animal Nutrition and Animal
production at the School of Animal and Range Sciences,
College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
.
Sep. 1998 – Sep.2002 Teaching assistant in Animal health and production, School of Animal
and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University
3
Sep. 1993 – Sep. 1998:
Supervisor of regional Animal health office for National Dairy Goat
Development Project, FARM Africa, Ethiopia
2.Teaching, Research and student supervision experiences
2.1.Undergraduate courses
Priciples of Animal Animal nutrition
Applied animal nutrition
Small ruminant production and management
Animal products processing
Laboratory techniques in veterinary parasitology and Microbiology
Laboratory skills in animal feed analysis
2.2.Postgraduate courses
Ruminant nutrition and Feeding systems
Dairy animal Nutrition
Advanced animal Nutrition
Pastoralism and Climate change
Advanced instrumental and laboratory techniques
2.3 International and National Research Projects grants
1. Evaluation of the effect of production systems and nutrient supplementation from
non-human edible feed resources on GHG emission and productivity of cattle herds
using compound specific stable isotopes in southern and central Ethiopia: under the
main topic of Nuclear and related techniques to measure the impact of type of feeding and
production system on greenhouse (GHG) emissions and livestock productivity supported
by IAEA, Vienna, Austria (on-going): Subtheme coordinator
2. Exploratory Studies on Azolla Biomass (Azolla pinnata) as a Novel Resource for Enhancing
Agricultural Productivity, Food Security and Rural Development at the Expense of
Climate Change Impacts in Ethiopia (On-going): Main theme coordinator
3. Integrated Management Strategies of Water Hyacinth Invasion in the Rift Valley Lakes
Region: Exploring Potential Uses through Agro-Ecological and Socio-Economic approaches
(On-going): Subtheme coordinator
4. Evaluation of Biomass production and Nutritional qualities of root crops (Sweet potatoes
and Anchote) by-products for Livestock feeds in Selected Districts of Southern Ethiopia(on‐going): Subtheme coordinator
4
5. Production, Reproduction and Adaptation characteristics of Ethiopian Boran Cattle breed
under climate change, CLIFOOD project of the University of Hohenheim, Germany–
(Completed): Post-doctoral researcher
6. Feeding and management practices influencing productive and reproductive performance of
dairy cows in urban/peri-urban dairy farms in Southern Ethiopia (Completed): subtheme
coordinator
7. Evaluation of Nutritional Qualities of Urea and Lime treated Major crop residues in three
Districts of Southern Ethiopia: Alternative option for promotion of Climate Smart
Agricultural Technologies funded by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
(Completed): Main theme coordinator
8. Nutritional Evaluation of Major Browse Species from Afar and Borana Rangelands and
Supplementary Values of Acacia tortilis leaves to Arsi-Bale Goats. DELPH Project of The
Government of Canada (Completed): Subtheme coordinator
9. Enhancing food production and income generation of farm families and environmental
protection, Ecofarm project in Adami Tullu-Jiddo Kombolcha district in Central Rift Valley
of Ethiopia funded by Dry land Coordination Group, Norway (completed): Main theme
coordinator
10. Enhancing crop-livestock synergy for food and nutrition security in Sidama Zone of
Southern Ethiopia, funded by the Federal Government of Ethiopia (Completed): Main
theme coordinator
11. Enhanced climate adaptive food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers, with a
particular focus on women and girls, in Ethiopia funded by Canadian development fund,
Government of Canada (ongoing), Subtheme coordinator
2.4. Postgraduate students supervision
Supervised of 30 MSc student research projects and currently supervising 5 MSc and
3 Ph.D student projects.
5
3. Awards and Scholarships
Sept. 2004
Postgraduate scholarship award by the Government of Ethiopia for M.Sc.
study at NDRI, India.
2012 – 2016
Awarded research project support from the Government of Canada
(Delphe project) for D o c t o r a l study at Hawassa University.
2019 – 2021
Awarded post-doctoral research scholarship from the German
Government (DAAD -CLIFOOD Project).
4. PUBLICATIONS
4.1. Papers in Refereed Journals and symposia
1. Nanko Bali, Merga Bayssa and Ajebu Nurfeta. 2022. Assessment Of Livestock Feed Resources
and Utilization Practices in Melka Soda District, Southern Ethiopia, International Journal of
Multidisciplinary Educational research, Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal: Volume:11,
Issue:9(4), ISSN:2277-7881, Scopus Review ID: A2B96D3ACF3FEA2A
2. Andualem D, Gelgele M and Bayssa M. 2021. In vitro gas production kinetics of selected
multipurpose tree browses in Gelana rangelands. Livestock Research for Rural Development.
Volume 33, Article #2. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd33/2/a.dere3318.html
3. Merga Bayssa, Sintayehu Yigrem, Simret Betsa, and Adugna Tolera (2021). Production,
reproduction and some adaptation characteristics of Boran cattle breed under changing climate: A
systematic
review
and
meta-analysis,
PLOS
ONE,
BMC
journal
16(5),
https://
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.02448363
4 Hassanuur Hassan, Netsanet Beyero and Merga Bayssa. 2020. Estimation of major livestock
feed resources and feed balance in Moyale district of Boran Zone, Southern Ethiopia, International
Journal of Livestock Production: 11(1): 43-51, https://academicjournals.org/journal/IJLP/articlefull-text/4DB93ED63187
5. Muluye Frkade, Merga Bayssa and Ajebu Nurfeta. 2021. Nutritive Value of Major Browse
Species in East Dembia District, Central Gondar, Ethiopia. Agricultural Science Digest.2021.
(41):76-80 https://arccjournals.com/journal/agricultural-science-digest/D-192
6. Tegene Negesse, Merga Baysssa and Sandip Banerjee. 2018. An in vitro assessment of
nutritive value of nine roughages supplemented with concentrates containing graded levels of
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ground linseed (Linum usitatissimum), J Dairy Vet Anim Res. 2018;7(6):304‒312.
https://medcraveonline.com/JDVAR/JDVAR-07-00231.pdf,
https://medcraveonline.com/JDVAR/volume_issues?issueId=2551&volumeId=567
7. Merga Bayssa, Tegene Negesse and Adugna Tolera. 2016. Leaf biomass yield, Chemical
composition, In vitro gas and Methane production and Rumen degradation characteristics of
some woody plant species in Afar rangeland of north eastern Ethiopia. Middle-East Journal
of
Scientific
Research
24(4):1236-1251,2016,
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2016.24.04.23361, https://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr24(4)16.htm or
https://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr24(4)16/35.pdf
8. Tegene Negesse, Merga Bayssa and Sandip Banerje.
2016. An in vitro assessment of
supplementary effect of concentrates containing graded levels of ground linseed (Linum
usitatissimum) to household wastes on organic matter degradability, short chain fatty acids,
microbial protein, metabolizable energy and relative feed values. Tropical and Subtropical
ecosystems, volume 19, No 2(2016).
https://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/ojs/index.php/TSA/article/view/2194
or http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v19i2.2194
9.
Merga Bayssa, Tegene Negesse and Adugna Tolera. 2016. Forage quality and Methane
reduction potentials of selected Browse species from Borana rangeland, Southern Ethiopia.
American-Eurasian
Journal
of
Scientific
Research
11
(3):
209-223.
https://www.idosi.org/aejsr/aejsr11(3)16.html 0r https://www.idosi.org/aejsr/11(3)16/9.pdf
10. Merga Bayssa, Tegene Negesse and Adugna Tolera. 2016. Effect of Chemical and Biological
treatments on Nutrient and Phenolic composition, In sacco degradability, In vitro gas and Methane
production kinetics of Acacia tortilis and Prosopis juliflora leaves and pods. Middle- East
Journal
2016.
of
Scientific
Research
24(4):1252-1265, 2016, Volume 24 Number (4),
https://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr24(4)16.htm
or
https://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr24(4)16/35.pdf
11. Merga Bayssa, Tegene Negesse and Adugna Tolera. 2016. Effect of supplementation with
different proportion of concentrate mixture and untreated or calcium hydroxide treated Acacia
7
tortilis leaves on feed intake, digestibility, nutrient retention and rumen fermentation parameters
of Arsi-Bale goats fed Rhodes grass hay basal diet. Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Sciences
6(3), 599-612. http://ijas.iaurasht.ac.ir/issue_112215_112790.html?lang=en
12. Merga Bayssa, Tegene Negesse and Adugna Tolera .2016 Effect of Chemical and Biological
Treatments on Nutrient and Phenolic Composition in sacco Degradability, in vitro Gas and
Methane Production Kinetics of Acacia tortilis and Prosopis juliflora Leaves and Pods, MiddleEast
Journal
of
Scientific
Research, Volume 24 Number (4), 2016.
https://www.idosi.org/mejsr/mejsr24(4)16.htm
13. Fikre Hassena, Merga Bayssa and Dereje Andualem 2018. Traditional Feeding practices and
evaluation of selected forage legumes on Methane emission in mixed crop-livestock system:
Implication for promotion of CSA technologies in Southern Ethiopia, Book of Abstracts volume 1,
Research and capacity building in Climate Smart Agriculture in the Horn of Africa, Hawassa
University pp 37
14. Samuel Solomon, Ayana Angassa and Mega Bayssa. 2018. Impacts of Climate change on
livestock–crop mixed system and farmers’ responses in Loka Abaya District, Southern Ethiopia,
Book of Abstracts Volume 1, Research and capacity building in Climate Smart Agriculture
in the Horn of Africa, Hawassa University pp 43
15. Sunkurta Digesa, Ayana Angassa and Merga Bayssa. 2018. Assessment of climate change
impacts on livestock production: Role of climate smart technologies to mitigate and adapt to
climate change in mixed crop-livestock production system, Loka Abaya, Southern Ethiopia. Book
of Abstracts volume 1, Research and capacity building in Climate Smart Agriculture in the
Horn of Africa, Hawassa University pp 45.
16. Girma Abera and Merga Bayssa. 2017. Effect of climate smart conservation tillage practices
on crop productivity and food security in Loka Abaya District, Sidama Zone, Ethiopia. Journal
of natural resources and Environmental studies, University of Kordofan, Sudan special issue,
ISSN 1858-6686.
17. Girma
Abera
and
Merga
Bayssa.
2016.
Climate R e s i l i e n t C o n s e r v a t i o n
F a r m i n g Enhanced Crop Productivity and Food Security: the Case from Loka Abaya District,
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Sidama Zone. Proceedings of International workshop of Bahar Dar U n i v e r s i t y on Climate
change, Ethiopia
18. Girma Abera and Merga Bayssa. 2015. Climate Resilient Conservation Farming
Enhanced Crop Productivity and Food Security: the Case from Loka Abaya District, Sidama Zone.
Proceedings of International workshop of Mekele University on Climate Smart agriculture,
Ethiopia
19. Wondimu Bayu, Merga Bayissa, Kebede Manjur, Asmamaw Yeshanew, Enyew Agdo,
Getachew Sime, Adugna Tolera, Tesfay Belay, Kiros Meles, Jens B. Aune and Abiye Alemu.
2010. Results of Ecofarm Action Research Activities in Three Project Areas in Ethiopia. DCG
report no. 59. Dry land coordination group, Norway.
20. Merga, B, Adugna, T. and Getachew, S.
2010. Ecofarm-low input agricultural
technologies for scaling up: action research with farmers in dry lands of the central rift valley
of Ethiopia, Technical Fact sheet by Dry land coordination Group and Hawassa University,
Hawassa, Ethiopia.
21. Merga, B. 2009. Final report of Ecofarm project at Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha
,Ziway (2006-2008) on Proceedings of the Ecofarm project of Hawassa University regional
workshop held at Batu city, Adami Tulu Jiddo Kombolcha District, Oromiya national regional sate
by DCG ,Ethiopia, 17-18 October,2009, pp5-21.
22. Merga, B and Getachew, S. 2009. Production Manual for Scaling up of selected
agricultural practices of Ecofarm Action research with farmers in the dry lands (No.1), DCG,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18 pages.
23. Merga, B. 2008. Climate smart food security project: Enhancing food production and
income generation of farm families and environmental protection, Ecofarm project
achievements, on Proceedings of the Annual Research Review workshop of Hawassa University,
Research, publication and extension office, Hawassa University, Ethiopia,16-17 May,2008 pp167168.
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4.2. Papers on international and national symposia and conferences
-Published 10 papers on abstracts of National reviews, conferences and symposia.
-Prepared two laboratory manuals for graduate and undergraduate programs
-Published two technical notes for agricultural technology transfer.
-Prepared 3 National project reports for international organizations
-Produced two national policy briefs for Eco-farm project achievements, DCG, Norway
5. Community services, Institutional responsibilities and consultation services
1. Regional lead consultant on assessment on the current livestock grazing practice and perception
of farmers on the pros and cons of free grazing on natural resource management and other socioeconomic parameters in Sidama, SNNP and SWE regions supported by GIZ-CLM project,
German Development cooperation (August 30, 2022 to April 15, 2023)
2. Main consultant of ROBA (Rural Organization for Betterment of Agro-pastoralists) project for
dairy development program in four districts of Bale and West-Arsi zones supported by SNVBRIDGE program, the Government of Netherlands (2021-2022)
3. Consultative team member of the International Standard Organization Global directory
Board on Laboratory Quality systems, International Standard Organization (ISO) central
secretariat, The United Nations (Since 2021).
4. Team leader of Animal feeds, nutrition and Range science team, School of animal and
range sciences, Hawassa University (2017-2023)
5. Consultative team member of National Advisory board of Ethiopian animal products,
veterinary drugs and feed quality control authority, Federal Bureau of Livestock and fishery
resource Development (2017-2020)
6. National board member of Ethiopian Animal feed manufacturers Associations (Since 2018)
7. Head of Hawassa University farm enterprises (2011-2013)
8. Consulting service on small ruminant production and feeding management for the Czech
Republic development cooperation in Southern Ethiopia, Czech University of life
Sciences, Prague, (2018- 2019)
9. Head of Nutrition section, Department of Animal and Range sciences (2008-2010)
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10. Head of Registrar of College of Agriculture, Hawassa University (2006 -2008)
11. Coordinator of Eco-farm project of Dry lands coordination group (DCG) , Hawassa University
(2008-2012)
12. Head of University abattoirs meat inspector (March 2002 - July2004)
13. Technical Supervisor of the beef project of Hawassa University (2002-2004)
14. Technical supervisor of Ethiopian sheep and goat productivity improvement breeding
station of Hawassa University funded by Oklahoma State University, USA (2009-2013)
15. Head of Animal health service of the Dairy goat development program of FARM Africa at
Hawassa College of Agriculture and Southern Ethiopia (1992-1998).
16.. Member national consultation team of live animal standard of Ethiopia (since 2020)
17. Consultancy service on feed resources and grazing management in selected dryland areas of
Ethiopia for SOS Sahel, Ethiopia (2021)
18. Consultancy and training youth for job creation on small ruminant fattening activities for SOS
Sahel, Ethiopia (2019)
19. Consultation service for youth smallholder urban dairy producers in Hawassa City, Sidama
region supported by DOT Ethiopia (digital opportunity trust) (Oct. 2022 -Feb. 2023)
7. Technical, Information technology and Data management skills
7.1. Technical skills
1 Very good skills in Project proposal writing and fund raising and project management
2 Outstanding skills in methods of survey sample data collection, organization, analysis and
interpretation
3 Very good skills of policy brief development and presentation to the national and
international institutes
7.2. Information technology and data management skills
1. Excellent in SAS, SPSS, Stata and R programs for statistical analysis
2. Basic knowledge of Fortran, Java scripts, python and C++ Programms
3. Good skills of basic computer programs such as word, excel, power point and others
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8. Professional Affiliations
-Committee member of the International Standard Organization (ISO) for global directory board
on laboratory Quality systems Since May 2021
-Member of Animal Production Society of Ethiopia
-Member of Ethiopian veterinary drugs and animal feed control authority
-Member of Ethiopian Pastoral forum
-Member of Ethiopian Forum for Climate change and Combating desertification
9. Journal Peer-review service
1. Journal of tropical Animal health and production (16 papers)
2. Journal of international biometeorology (3 papers)
3. Journal of veterinary medicine and Science (2 papers)
4. Arsi Journal of Science and innovation (1 paper)
10. References
Professor Ambassador Fekadu Beyene, Professor of dairy animal science and technology, School of
Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
Email: fbaleka@yahoo.com
Prof. Denise Beaulieu (Ph.D.), Professor of Monogastric Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan,
Department of Animal & Poultry Science, Saskatchewan, Canada
Email: anb600@mail.usask.ca
Professor Abera Melesse, Professor of animal breeding and nutrition
School of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
Email: a_melesse@uni-hohenheim.de
Dr. Melkamu Bezabeh, CGIAR Consultant, ILRI, Addis Ababa
Animal feeds and nutrition
Email: m.derseh@cgiar.org
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