Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1120515
B. Waruru, K. Shepherd, G. Ndegwa, A. Sila, P. Kamoni
ABSTRACT Methods for rapid and accurate soil tests are needed for stability-related soil properties, which are valuable for non-agricultural land use. The study tested the applicability of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for rapid estimation of selected stability-related soil properties. Two sample sets, representing different soils from across the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya, were used for the study. A model calibration set (n = 135) was obtained following a conditioned Latin hypercube sampling, and a validation set (n = 120) was obtained from independent sites using a spatially stratified random sampling strategy. Air-dried and ground (<0.5 mm) soils were scanned using a high-throughput screening accessory for diffuse reflectance attached to a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Soil properties for interval-depth datasets were calibrated to smoothed first derivative MIR spectra using partial least-square regression (PLS) and the results were evaluated using hold-out full cross-validation. MIR spectra resulted in good prediction models with coefficient of determination (R2 ) ≥ 0.60 for air-dried moisture content (mc), liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plasticity index (PI), linear shrinkage (LS), coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE), volumetric shrinkage (VS), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and total sand content (tSa). Further independent validation gave R2 ≥ 0.72 and a ratio of prediction deviation (RPD) 3.8–2.0 for mc, LL, PI, LS, COLE, VS and CEC. MIR provides rapid estimation of several soil properties that provide stability indices valuable for non-agricultural land use in the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya. Further studies should test MIR PLS for interval/separate-depth calibrations and MIR screening of soil properties based on limitation classes commonly applied in civil works.
{"title":"Estimation of stability-related soil properties using mid-infrared spectroscopy for non-agricultural land use in Lake Victoria basin, Kenya","authors":"B. Waruru, K. Shepherd, G. Ndegwa, A. Sila, P. Kamoni","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1120515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1120515","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Methods for rapid and accurate soil tests are needed for stability-related soil properties, which are valuable for non-agricultural land use. The study tested the applicability of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for rapid estimation of selected stability-related soil properties. Two sample sets, representing different soils from across the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya, were used for the study. A model calibration set (n = 135) was obtained following a conditioned Latin hypercube sampling, and a validation set (n = 120) was obtained from independent sites using a spatially stratified random sampling strategy. Air-dried and ground (<0.5 mm) soils were scanned using a high-throughput screening accessory for diffuse reflectance attached to a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Soil properties for interval-depth datasets were calibrated to smoothed first derivative MIR spectra using partial least-square regression (PLS) and the results were evaluated using hold-out full cross-validation. MIR spectra resulted in good prediction models with coefficient of determination (R2 ) ≥ 0.60 for air-dried moisture content (mc), liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plasticity index (PI), linear shrinkage (LS), coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE), volumetric shrinkage (VS), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and total sand content (tSa). Further independent validation gave R2 ≥ 0.72 and a ratio of prediction deviation (RPD) 3.8–2.0 for mc, LL, PI, LS, COLE, VS and CEC. MIR provides rapid estimation of several soil properties that provide stability indices valuable for non-agricultural land use in the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya. Further studies should test MIR PLS for interval/separate-depth calibrations and MIR screening of soil properties based on limitation classes commonly applied in civil works.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"102 1","pages":"79 - 94"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76091166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1120522
P. Kiuru, S. J. M. Muriuki, S. Wepukhulu, S. J. M. Muriuki
ABSTRACT Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves and a lovely fragrance. Leaves are finely chopped and used to flavour dishes. Rosemary propagation is done through either seed or stem cutting. Seeds of rosemary are rarely used in propagation as they are slow to germinate, taking 3–4 weeks before emergence with a poor germination rate of 10–20%. Propagation of plants from cuttings,enables a large percentage of the cuttings to produce roots quickly, and using a rooting hormone increases the success rate of creating new plants. This study was initiated to determine the best growth media and growth hormone for use in rosemary propagation. The trial was laid out in a two factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Four growing media (1) vermiculite, (2) top soil/manure/sand mixture at ratio 10:3:1 (top soil mixture), (3) top soil only and (4) sand, in combination with four growth hormones (i) Baby Bio (Roota2), (ii) Roothom H, (iii) Anatone 3 and (iv) control were evaluated. A significant difference was observed with the use of growth hormones, with the highest mean root number observed in the sand media in combination with Roothom H (48.73) while the control (no hormone) gave the lowest in vermiculite (9.34). Roothom H gave the best performance in mean root numbers across the four media treatments and therefore is recommended to stimulate root growth in cuttings.
{"title":"Influence of growth media and regulators on vegetative propagation of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)","authors":"P. Kiuru, S. J. M. Muriuki, S. Wepukhulu, S. J. M. Muriuki","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1120522","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1120522","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves and a lovely fragrance. Leaves are finely chopped and used to flavour dishes. Rosemary propagation is done through either seed or stem cutting. Seeds of rosemary are rarely used in propagation as they are slow to germinate, taking 3–4 weeks before emergence with a poor germination rate of 10–20%. Propagation of plants from cuttings,enables a large percentage of the cuttings to produce roots quickly, and using a rooting hormone increases the success rate of creating new plants. This study was initiated to determine the best growth media and growth hormone for use in rosemary propagation. The trial was laid out in a two factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Four growing media (1) vermiculite, (2) top soil/manure/sand mixture at ratio 10:3:1 (top soil mixture), (3) top soil only and (4) sand, in combination with four growth hormones (i) Baby Bio (Roota2), (ii) Roothom H, (iii) Anatone 3 and (iv) control were evaluated. A significant difference was observed with the use of growth hormones, with the highest mean root number observed in the sand media in combination with Roothom H (48.73) while the control (no hormone) gave the lowest in vermiculite (9.34). Roothom H gave the best performance in mean root numbers across the four media treatments and therefore is recommended to stimulate root growth in cuttings.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"17 1","pages":"105 - 111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91087696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1120517
B. A. Useni, C. Muller, C. Cruywagen
ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of energy sources on milk production and reproduction of dairy cows on a pasture-based feeding system. Following parturition, 201 Holstein cows from the Elsenburg herd were fed ad libitum cultivated irrigated kikuyu-ryegrass pastures for 22 weeks. Cows were divided into three groups according to concentrate supplementation, of which the energy was provided by starch and/or fat. These were grouped according to parity, body live weight and milk yield of previous lactation. The control consisted of low levels of standard supplement while treatments consisted of supplements of high starch-low fat (HSLF) and high starch-low fat low starch-high fat (HSLF-LSHF) given to cows on pastures. Treatment P-HSLF was a glucogenic regime made of maize. Treatment P-HSLF-LSHF was a high starch/high fat combination treatment, whereby a glucogenic diet was offered for the first 60 days of lactation as per treatment P-HSLF and followed from 61 to 154 days by a lipogenic (low starch-high fat) diet made of wheat bran and calcium salts of palm fatty acids. Cows were milked twice a day and concentrate supplementations were fed after each milking. Milk yields and body live weight of dairy cows were affected (P < 0.05) by the concentrate levels while milk composition was not affected. The number of services per conception (SPC) and the number of days from calving to first service (CFS) did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments for both primiparous and multiparous cows. However, the pregnancy rate (PR) of cows at 150 days was affected (P < 0.10) by the feeding programme, with P-HSLF and P-HSLF-LSHF being higher compared to the control. This evidenced that manipulating levels could have influenced the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis through improved energy balance (EB) and optimize the carry over effects into fertility. Since studies of feeding different energy sources on reproductive performance are still scarce and inconsistent, further investigations with large numbers of animals and emphasis on EB and metabolism are therefore needed to assess the effects of types of energy sources and to understand factors affecting reproduction in dairy cows.
{"title":"Effect of energy sources on the milk production and reproduction of lactating Holstein cows","authors":"B. A. Useni, C. Muller, C. Cruywagen","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1120517","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1120517","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of energy sources on milk production and reproduction of dairy cows on a pasture-based feeding system. Following parturition, 201 Holstein cows from the Elsenburg herd were fed ad libitum cultivated irrigated kikuyu-ryegrass pastures for 22 weeks. Cows were divided into three groups according to concentrate supplementation, of which the energy was provided by starch and/or fat. These were grouped according to parity, body live weight and milk yield of previous lactation. The control consisted of low levels of standard supplement while treatments consisted of supplements of high starch-low fat (HSLF) and high starch-low fat low starch-high fat (HSLF-LSHF) given to cows on pastures. Treatment P-HSLF was a glucogenic regime made of maize. Treatment P-HSLF-LSHF was a high starch/high fat combination treatment, whereby a glucogenic diet was offered for the first 60 days of lactation as per treatment P-HSLF and followed from 61 to 154 days by a lipogenic (low starch-high fat) diet made of wheat bran and calcium salts of palm fatty acids. Cows were milked twice a day and concentrate supplementations were fed after each milking. Milk yields and body live weight of dairy cows were affected (P < 0.05) by the concentrate levels while milk composition was not affected. The number of services per conception (SPC) and the number of days from calving to first service (CFS) did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments for both primiparous and multiparous cows. However, the pregnancy rate (PR) of cows at 150 days was affected (P < 0.10) by the feeding programme, with P-HSLF and P-HSLF-LSHF being higher compared to the control. This evidenced that manipulating levels could have influenced the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis through improved energy balance (EB) and optimize the carry over effects into fertility. Since studies of feeding different energy sources on reproductive performance are still scarce and inconsistent, further investigations with large numbers of animals and emphasis on EB and metabolism are therefore needed to assess the effects of types of energy sources and to understand factors affecting reproduction in dairy cows.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"114 1","pages":"104 - 95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88684030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1040645
K. Irungu, D. Mbugua, J. Muia
ABSTRACT Youth cherish technology, efficiency and innovations and accommodate entrepreneurial risks. The objectives of this study were to show the beneficial use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture among the youth in Kenya, assessed ICT application and commonly used tools, experienced challenges, impacts and suggested future ICT use. Beneficial ICT applications were exemplified by ‘Mkulima Young Champions’ who led digital initiatives, drew youth into farming, helped them learn among themselves, and traded and overcame agricultural challenges. Using radio, short message services (SMS) and social media, they discussed agricultural topics and shared successes. Mkulima Young's Facebook was vibrant. The youth posted photographs and videos, asked questions, discussed issues and interacted. Most of the youth obtained information from the internet, hence the internet was the best platform to market and promote agriculture to the youth. They used internet and social media to obtain production technologies, market information and for information sharing. Most commonly used tools were MS Office and spreadsheets for record keeping. Voice messages and SMS assisted timely accessing of market prices, reaching clients, sharing production information and money transactions. The ICT content should be relevant to targeted youth, valuable, localized and dependable. The ICT-savvy youth operated intensive, efficient and profitable farms, producing diverse and branded products for niche markets. The youth transformed the community use and access to ICTs and influenced community economic status. Smart phone technology will revolutionize access to and use of ICTs. YouTube, Twitter and WhatsApp should be expanded and widely popularized among the youth.
{"title":"Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Attract Youth into Profitable Agriculture in Kenya","authors":"K. Irungu, D. Mbugua, J. Muia","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1040645","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1040645","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Youth cherish technology, efficiency and innovations and accommodate entrepreneurial risks. The objectives of this study were to show the beneficial use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture among the youth in Kenya, assessed ICT application and commonly used tools, experienced challenges, impacts and suggested future ICT use. Beneficial ICT applications were exemplified by ‘Mkulima Young Champions’ who led digital initiatives, drew youth into farming, helped them learn among themselves, and traded and overcame agricultural challenges. Using radio, short message services (SMS) and social media, they discussed agricultural topics and shared successes. Mkulima Young's Facebook was vibrant. The youth posted photographs and videos, asked questions, discussed issues and interacted. Most of the youth obtained information from the internet, hence the internet was the best platform to market and promote agriculture to the youth. They used internet and social media to obtain production technologies, market information and for information sharing. Most commonly used tools were MS Office and spreadsheets for record keeping. Voice messages and SMS assisted timely accessing of market prices, reaching clients, sharing production information and money transactions. The ICT content should be relevant to targeted youth, valuable, localized and dependable. The ICT-savvy youth operated intensive, efficient and profitable farms, producing diverse and branded products for niche markets. The youth transformed the community use and access to ICTs and influenced community economic status. Smart phone technology will revolutionize access to and use of ICTs. YouTube, Twitter and WhatsApp should be expanded and widely popularized among the youth.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"86 1","pages":"24 - 33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79412557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1040643
M. Ayieko, E. Bett, L. Kabuage
ABSTRACT Indigenous chickens are important in Kenya for food security, income generation, employment and improved livelihoods. However, despite these benefits producers are constrained from participating in the high value markets. A purposive multi-stage sampling was used to sample 130 households from Makueni County. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. These data were then analysed using descriptive statistics and a probit econometric model. The decision to participate in the indigenous chicken high value market was influenced by the education level of the household head, processing, the age of the household head, group membership, the flock size and region. Therefore, it is recommended to form farmer groups for increased productivity, collective marketing and enhanced value addition.
{"title":"Analysis of Indigenous Chicken Marketing Participation Decisions: The Case of Producers from Makueni County, Kenya","authors":"M. Ayieko, E. Bett, L. Kabuage","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1040643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1040643","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Indigenous chickens are important in Kenya for food security, income generation, employment and improved livelihoods. However, despite these benefits producers are constrained from participating in the high value markets. A purposive multi-stage sampling was used to sample 130 households from Makueni County. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. These data were then analysed using descriptive statistics and a probit econometric model. The decision to participate in the indigenous chicken high value market was influenced by the education level of the household head, processing, the age of the household head, group membership, the flock size and region. Therefore, it is recommended to form farmer groups for increased productivity, collective marketing and enhanced value addition.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"70 1","pages":"12 - 17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78094341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1041257
N. D. Pham, J.J. Cadilhon, B. Maass
ABSTRACT This article studies the impact of innovation platforms in Tanga Region, Tanzania, set up by the MilkIT dairy development project to intensify smallholder production through feed enhancement and value chain approaches. The conceptual framework used builds up from three socio-economic theories. The Structure-Conduct-Performance model of markets contributes its elegant assumption, linking the way markets are organized with how market actors behave, which has an influence on market performance. The framework is transposed to study innovation platforms, which can be envisaged as market-enhancing institutions, according to New Institutional Economics, the second theory also contributing notions of transaction costs to the framework. The final theoretical contribution comes from business relationship marketing with its field-tested constructs for supply chain performance. This new conceptual framework applied to innovation platforms posits that the structure of the platform (how it is organized) has an impact on its members’ conduct (how they communicate and share information), which in turn influences platform performance targeted by members (feed availability and accessibility). Empirical data were collected from stakeholders involved in the MilkIT platforms through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a survey of 121 farmers. Data were analysed using principal components factor analysis followed by regression analysis. This study finds positive links between frequency, quality and modes of communication by livestock keepers with their perception of satisfactory feed availability and accessibility. On the other hand, results for members and non-members of the platform are not statistically significantly different, probably due to the very early stage of platform development.
{"title":"Field Testing a Conceptual Framework for Innovation Platform Impact Assessment: The Case of MilkIT Dairy Platforms in Tanga Region, Tanzania","authors":"N. D. Pham, J.J. Cadilhon, B. Maass","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1041257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1041257","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article studies the impact of innovation platforms in Tanga Region, Tanzania, set up by the MilkIT dairy development project to intensify smallholder production through feed enhancement and value chain approaches. The conceptual framework used builds up from three socio-economic theories. The Structure-Conduct-Performance model of markets contributes its elegant assumption, linking the way markets are organized with how market actors behave, which has an influence on market performance. The framework is transposed to study innovation platforms, which can be envisaged as market-enhancing institutions, according to New Institutional Economics, the second theory also contributing notions of transaction costs to the framework. The final theoretical contribution comes from business relationship marketing with its field-tested constructs for supply chain performance. This new conceptual framework applied to innovation platforms posits that the structure of the platform (how it is organized) has an impact on its members’ conduct (how they communicate and share information), which in turn influences platform performance targeted by members (feed availability and accessibility). Empirical data were collected from stakeholders involved in the MilkIT platforms through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a survey of 121 farmers. Data were analysed using principal components factor analysis followed by regression analysis. This study finds positive links between frequency, quality and modes of communication by livestock keepers with their perception of satisfactory feed availability and accessibility. On the other hand, results for members and non-members of the platform are not statistically significantly different, probably due to the very early stage of platform development.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"14 1","pages":"58 - 63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86796886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1041256
O. Momoh, H. U. Unung, S. Attah
ABSTRACT A study was undertaken in which two crossbred rabbit genotypes were fed two levels of dietary crude protein with the objectives of assessing and comparing their growth performances as well as investigate any possible genotype × protein level interaction. Twenty-four (24) crossbred weaner rabbits (12 chinchilla × Dutch belted and 12 New Zealand white × California) at six weeks of age were used for the experiment. The rabbits were subjected to two diets containing 12% and 17% crude proteins, respectively in a 2 × 2 factorial, using a completely randomized design. Performance indices evaluated were final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). A significant (P<0.05) genotype effect was observed in all the growth traits studied. Protein level significantly (P<0.05) affected all growth parameters except feed intake (P>0.05). Similarly, genotype × protein level interaction was significant (P<0.05), affecting all the growth traits except feed intake. Both crossbred genotypes were similar in performance at 17% crude protein while the Chinchilla × Dutch belted crossbred was superior to the New Zealand white × California crossbred at 12% crude protein. It is therefore, recommended that the Chinchilla × Dutch Belted Crossbred rabbit be adopted for widespread use in Nigeria because of its high adaptability to a low crude protein diet (12% crude protein).
{"title":"Growth Performance of Two Crossbred Rabbit Genotypes Fed Two Levels of Dietary Protein","authors":"O. Momoh, H. U. Unung, S. Attah","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1041256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1041256","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A study was undertaken in which two crossbred rabbit genotypes were fed two levels of dietary crude protein with the objectives of assessing and comparing their growth performances as well as investigate any possible genotype × protein level interaction. Twenty-four (24) crossbred weaner rabbits (12 chinchilla × Dutch belted and 12 New Zealand white × California) at six weeks of age were used for the experiment. The rabbits were subjected to two diets containing 12% and 17% crude proteins, respectively in a 2 × 2 factorial, using a completely randomized design. Performance indices evaluated were final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). A significant (P<0.05) genotype effect was observed in all the growth traits studied. Protein level significantly (P<0.05) affected all growth parameters except feed intake (P>0.05). Similarly, genotype × protein level interaction was significant (P<0.05), affecting all the growth traits except feed intake. Both crossbred genotypes were similar in performance at 17% crude protein while the Chinchilla × Dutch belted crossbred was superior to the New Zealand white × California crossbred at 12% crude protein. It is therefore, recommended that the Chinchilla × Dutch Belted Crossbred rabbit be adopted for widespread use in Nigeria because of its high adaptability to a low crude protein diet (12% crude protein).","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"73 6 1","pages":"51 - 57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83651713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1041253
T. O. K’Oloo, E. Ilatsia
ABSTRACT Liberalization of both clinical and artificial insemination services in Kenya allowed many players into the livestock service sector. This study examines key providers of veterinary services and the factors that influence the delivery of veterinary services among smallholder dairy farmers in Kakamega County. Socio-economic data were collected through a household survey of 128 randomly selected households and 30 purposively selected service providers. The descriptive statistics revealed that 59% of all cases were attended to by animal health assistants, with private animal health assistants attending to 38% of all the cases. The results of the multinomial logit econometric model estimated with self-treatment as the base category revealed a negative influence of distance on the choice of government service providers but a positive relationship with tropical livestock unit, treatment cost and education level of the farmer.
{"title":"Who Offers Veterinary Services to Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Western Kenya? Lessons from Kakamega County","authors":"T. O. K’Oloo, E. Ilatsia","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1041253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1041253","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Liberalization of both clinical and artificial insemination services in Kenya allowed many players into the livestock service sector. This study examines key providers of veterinary services and the factors that influence the delivery of veterinary services among smallholder dairy farmers in Kakamega County. Socio-economic data were collected through a household survey of 128 randomly selected households and 30 purposively selected service providers. The descriptive statistics revealed that 59% of all cases were attended to by animal health assistants, with private animal health assistants attending to 38% of all the cases. The results of the multinomial logit econometric model estimated with self-treatment as the base category revealed a negative influence of distance on the choice of government service providers but a positive relationship with tropical livestock unit, treatment cost and education level of the farmer.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"310 1","pages":"46 - 50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77790406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1040646
Tabby Karanja-Lumumba, J. Mugambi, F. Wesonga
ABSTRACT Diseases are a major constraint limiting dairy cattle production, with East Coast Fever (ECF) ranking among those of high economic importance. The high cost of ECF control and treatment led to the development of the ECF vaccine, which is envisaged to be safer, cheaper and effective. The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing the uptake of this technology. One hundred and eighty one (181) randomly sampled smallholder dairy farmers from North Rift Kenya, where the vaccine had been introduced, were used to estimate the determinants of uptake of East Coast Fever (ECF) vaccine in these areas. Results showed that the vaccine was likely to be adopted by relatively well-off households whose main source of income was off-farm employment, had relatively large herd sizes and could afford to practise on-farm tick control. Farmers with higher levels of education and advanced in age were also likely to adopt the vaccine. The paper derives important policy implications for enhanced ECF vaccine uptake in smallholder dairy systems in Kenya.
{"title":"Adoption of East Coast Fever Vaccine among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Kenya: The Case of North Rift Kenya","authors":"Tabby Karanja-Lumumba, J. Mugambi, F. Wesonga","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1040646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1040646","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Diseases are a major constraint limiting dairy cattle production, with East Coast Fever (ECF) ranking among those of high economic importance. The high cost of ECF control and treatment led to the development of the ECF vaccine, which is envisaged to be safer, cheaper and effective. The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing the uptake of this technology. One hundred and eighty one (181) randomly sampled smallholder dairy farmers from North Rift Kenya, where the vaccine had been introduced, were used to estimate the determinants of uptake of East Coast Fever (ECF) vaccine in these areas. Results showed that the vaccine was likely to be adopted by relatively well-off households whose main source of income was off-farm employment, had relatively large herd sizes and could afford to practise on-farm tick control. Farmers with higher levels of education and advanced in age were also likely to adopt the vaccine. The paper derives important policy implications for enhanced ECF vaccine uptake in smallholder dairy systems in Kenya.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"26 1","pages":"34 - 39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89394726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/00128325.2015.1040647
A. Ramadhan, M. Njunie, K. Lewa
ABSTRACT A study to determine a suitable planting method for multiplication of planting materials of Napier grass varieties was done at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Msabaha in coastal lowland (CL) agro-ecological zone 4 (CL4). The experimental design was split-plot with a factorial arrangement of three Napier grass varieties: var. Bana (Bana), var. French Cameroon (French Cameroon) and var. Gold Coast (Gold Coast) as the main plot and three types of planting material consisting of stem cuttings with different numbers of nodes (one, two, three nodes) as sub plots which were replicated three times. Data on the number of stools, number of stems per stool and the total number of nodes per treatment of the three Napier grass varieties were collected 11 months after planting. Plant counts and forage dry matter yield data was collected thereafter every two months for one year. Napier grass, established using three and two-node cuttings, maintained a 37% higher amount of surviving plants and a 43% higher amount of forage dry matter, respectively, than the one-node cuttings. Bana and Gold Coast produced a higher (p<0.05) dry matter yield than French Cameroon, while Bana and French Cameroon produced a higher number of planting material per acre. The three-and two-node cuttings proved to be suitable planting materials for long-term dry matter productivity for all three Napier grass varieties.
{"title":"Effect of Planting Material and Variety on Productivity and Survival of Napier Grass (pennisetum purpureum schumach) in the Coastal Lowlands of Kenya","authors":"A. Ramadhan, M. Njunie, K. Lewa","doi":"10.1080/00128325.2015.1040647","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00128325.2015.1040647","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A study to determine a suitable planting method for multiplication of planting materials of Napier grass varieties was done at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Msabaha in coastal lowland (CL) agro-ecological zone 4 (CL4). The experimental design was split-plot with a factorial arrangement of three Napier grass varieties: var. Bana (Bana), var. French Cameroon (French Cameroon) and var. Gold Coast (Gold Coast) as the main plot and three types of planting material consisting of stem cuttings with different numbers of nodes (one, two, three nodes) as sub plots which were replicated three times. Data on the number of stools, number of stems per stool and the total number of nodes per treatment of the three Napier grass varieties were collected 11 months after planting. Plant counts and forage dry matter yield data was collected thereafter every two months for one year. Napier grass, established using three and two-node cuttings, maintained a 37% higher amount of surviving plants and a 43% higher amount of forage dry matter, respectively, than the one-node cuttings. Bana and Gold Coast produced a higher (p<0.05) dry matter yield than French Cameroon, while Bana and French Cameroon produced a higher number of planting material per acre. The three-and two-node cuttings proved to be suitable planting materials for long-term dry matter productivity for all three Napier grass varieties.","PeriodicalId":11421,"journal":{"name":"East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal","volume":"28 1","pages":"40 - 45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90336649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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