Smart farms

: 19 April 2016; Hits: 32279

Liquid paraffin helps day-old chick on first feeding

Chicks, after hatching, may take longer than expected to start feeding on their own. But many small-scale farmers who have heard of liquid paraffin are 'vaccinating' day-old chicks against unspecified diseases, increasing the birds' appetite in the process.

Immediately after hatching, Ian Mutwiri, a farmer, says it is recommended that chicks are given liquid paraffin (not the petroleum-based paraffin also referred to as kerosene).

Mutwiri, who has been breeding free-range chicks for sale for years, says giving them this highly refined liquid lubricates their food pathway.

This increases the chances of survival given that he breeds at least 1,500 after every nine days.
“The first thing I offer the chick after hatching is the liquid paraffin. It helps in clearing the throat in preparation for feed ingestion. Because the oils is fine and smooth, it soften the the throat,” he said.

This magic oil, he says, moves down the digestive system, clearing the way for processes feeds until they drop as waste.

“Over the years, I have learned that since the digestive system is still under developed, the oil reduces chances of constipation and if there is any unprocessed feed, it will softly be driven out. Chicks are like young children who should have no stress in eating or excretion,” he said.

In administering, the oil is poured on drinking water. Since water is denser, the oil will form a layer, which the chicks will pick at they drink.

Liquid paraffin is also used as a cosmetic product by mostly women on hair or softening rough skin.

It is available in cosmetic shops and agrovets at various prices according to quantity.

For instance, one can get 100ml bottle between Sh100 and Sh120.

He warned that kerosene may be counter productive if given to the chicks.

This liquid is also used to suffocate pests like mice, which burrow into the skin of chicken, more-so on the crown, feet and around the eyes.

“The pests make infested parts to be scaly-especially legs. Applying the oil and other petroleum jellies suffocates the parasites to death by cutting oxygen supply,” Mutwiri said.

As a practice, a farmer can increase the survival rates of chicks by giving them glucose and chick formula, as well as vaccination.

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Sunday, 17 January 2021 Thank you for this

: 19 April 2016; Hits: 11189

Charolais can earn farmers over Sh0.5 million in two years

Beef farmers, more-so those in dry areas, can earn more than half a million shillings from one cow in two years with the highly-harsh climate tolerate Charolais livestock breed.

Charolais, which originates from France, has a high conversion rate of feeds into muscles is highly efficient despite their quality.

Livestock farmers in the country, especially dry regions rear hundreds of indigenous cattle like Borana for beef. But when drought descends, massive losses are witnessed, with the 2008-2011 spell costing the country at least Sh56.1 billion, according to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment.

Rearing a few of Charolais is profitable for farmers since the breed easily feeds on most kinds of grass including poor quality before converting it for body building.

Whilst mature Borana bulls attain between 500kg and 800kgs in three to three and half months, Charolais bull can hit up to 1500kg in two years.

The Sh0.6 million bull

With about 60 per cent to 40 per cent beef carcass ratio, a farmer can realise more than 800kg from a 1500kg bull for export.

During 2015 East African Growers Council at Kabarak University, a Charolais bull was auctioned at Sh600,00.

But if one sells this breed to local slaughter house, they can fetch more than Sh1 million given that carcass is not separated from the meat for butcheries. Meat is sold at about Sh400.

The Kenya Department of Veterinary Services offers artificial insemination at Sh1000.

Rich new market

On average, Kenya exports 500 tonnes of cattle, lambs and goats meat daily. But this is not the optimum export as demand for beef increases globally.

Outside the traditional European Union, more other markets such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Malaysia, among others are emerging.

This is an opportunity for livestock holder farmers who can raise a few high yielding Charolais, which will be properly fed to give good returns instead of the big, but low yielding herds.

The State agency has a slaughter capacity of 1,000 for large animals like cows and 1,500 for small one such as goats and lambs.

AI services can be accessed by contacting +254792925859.

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Tuesday, 17 August 2021 Hi Dominic, The Kenya Livestock Breeders Association at info@klba.or.ke or +254 ...

Monday, 10 May 2021 i need the nearest AI services for charolais and angus in nakuru and kinangop

: 15 April 2016; Hits: 13298

Nakuru farmer increases milk production by letting cows watch TV

A farmer in Nakuru has confirmed that the milk output in dairy cows increases with the introduction of entertainment in the sheds.

Mr. Peter Mathenge, who was challenged to try out the strategy by a Dutch farmer, has installed a television set in his cow shed, which normally plays music videos all day long, and he confesses that he has seen a tremendous improvement in production.

“They (cows) used to produce between 27 and 30 litres (per cow) a day, but after introducing the music system, the yields went up,” said Mathenge in an interview with KBC.

“The music and activities like TV watching relieve the animals, such that they are not stressed and are comfortable.”

But Mr. Mathenge’s test was not just based on an old-farmer’s experience. The effect of entertainment on cow milk yield has been a subject of scientific studies.

Earlier study

Researchers at the University of Leicester’s School of Psychology spent time playing lots of different tunes to cows to find out if it had any effect on milk production.

The study was carried out at LCAH Dairies in Lincolnshire and the Bishop Burton Agricultural College in Humberside, both in the UK.

One thousand Friesian cows were exposed to fast, slow and no music for 12 hours a day, from 5am to 5pm, over the course of nine weeks.

Genre of music

The researchers found out that cows exposed to slow, relaxing music produced 3 per cent more milk (0.73l) than those which were either exposed to fast music or none at all.

"We found that slow music improved milk yields perhaps because it relaxes the cows in much the same way as it relaxes humans," Dr Adrian North, who carried out the study with colleague Liam MacKenzie said in an interview with BBC.

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