Structure, Conduct and Performance (SCP) is used as an analytical framework, to make relations amongst market structure, market conduct and market performance. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors, which affect SCP of livestock markets in the Butana area, Sudan in 2011. A total sample of 222 livestock traders were surveyed using structured questionnaire in seven primary and secondary markets distributed in Butana area. Both descriptive statistics and econometric methods were used to analyze data collected from traders using SPSS19 and STATA10 software. The logit regression model was employed to estimate the variables affecting the SCP of livestock markets in the area under study. Poor infrastructure of livestock markets, prices of livestock and high transaction cost had negative and significant effect (P<0.0) on structure, conduct and performance (SCP) of primary markets. As expected, lack of access to credit had negative effects (P<0.05) on SCP. Policies are required to improve livestock markets facilities, to encourage a higher price for the sale of animals at a younger age and to provide credit services to livestock traders in order to develop the sector and improve the livelihoods of pastoralists in the Butana area. Manuscript profile

Sudan is a large country with an area of 1.88 million Km2, and has the second largest animal population in Africa consisting of 52.08 million sheep, 43.44 million goats, 41.76 million cattle and 4.62 million camels (MARF, 2013). The majority of animal wealth is concentrated in western Sudan (40%), followed by central Sudan (23%) (MARF, 2011). Minerals are divided into two groups, macro-minerals, those that are required at 0.1% or more in the diet, and micro-minerals, are those that are required at very small amounts measured in part per million (ppm). Changes in mineral concentrations with maturity often reflect increases in the proportion of stem to leaf with stems showing lower mineral concentrations than young leaves. The objective of this research was to assess the status of the macro mineral elements, Na, K, P, Ca and Mg in the dominant native species during the flowering and seed set stages of plant growth. This experiment was conducted at El Obeid Research Station Farm at Bannu area, Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan, over 2012/2013 seasons. The data indicated a higher content of macro minerals in forbs compared with grasses. Flowering stage showed higher concentrations of macro minerals compared with the seed set stage. It was concluded that the rangelands of North Kordofan State, containing a mixture of grasses and forbs, are good sources of macro minerals. It was considered that macro elements content in forbs and grasses in the study area is adequate for sheep, especially during the stage before plants set their seeds. Manuscript profile

In order to determine the optimum rate of Vigna sun-hum seed sowing for rangeland rehabilitation in sandy soil of North Kordofan, Sudan, two trials were conducted separately under managed and unmanaged conditions at El-obeid Agricultural Research Farm in Sheikan locality of North Kordofan State in 2015 and 2016. Seed rates were 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Kg/feddan (4200m) and arranged by a Completely Randomized Block Design with three replications. The species in both trials was established under rain-fed conditions by broadcasting seeds on prepared seed beds early in the rainy season. In the managed trial, seeds were broadcasted on a clean seed bed. The first and second weeding was carried out after two and four weeks from seed broadcasting. In the un-managed trial, a bare area or an area with scatter occurrence and low density of herbaceous species was selected annually and weeding was not done. Vegetation cover, density and forage dry weights were obtained using (50x50 cm²) quadrate. MSTAT-C statistical software package was used for the statistical analysis. In both managed and un- managed trials, the results revealed that there were significant (P≤0.001) differences in most measured variables. In the managed trial of 2015 cropping season, the seed rate of 3 kg/feddan recorded the highest vegetation cover (33.3%) and the highest dry weight (260.3 g/m²) whereas the one kg/feddan had the least vegetation cover (10%) and dry weight (52.1 g/m²). In un-managed trial of 2016 cropping season, the seed rate of 4 kg/feddan recorded the highest density (98 plant/m²) and the highest dry weight (100.3 g/m²) whereas the third seed rate recorded the least density (37 plant/m²) and dry weight (33.6 g/m²). Results of combined analysis indicated that there were significant (P<0.001) differences among the five seed rates in most studied parameters. For Vigna sun-hum as endangered leguminous range species, two optimum seed rates of 3 and 4 kg/feddan were recommended for ranches and natural rangeland rehabilitation in the managed and un-managed areas, respectively. Manuscript profile