Why you shouldn’t spray a cow in zero-grazing unit
What you need to know:
- Do you have any question or enquiry on agribusiness, marketing, logistics, processing, innovation, and technology?
- Our pool of experts from Egerton University will respond to your questions with proper advice.
BEEKEEPING ON CONTRACT
I am interested in bee farming as a contract farmer in Nyandarua County. Could you please advise as to the area’s viability and perhaps contacts of organisations involved in the same?
Dan K
Bees (especially Kenyan bees) are very adaptable creatures and thrive in all agro-ecological zones in the country.
Bee farming itself is a relatively cheap venture to start and at the same time it enhances the environment through the pollinating activity of bees.
It is a very lucrative enterprise because it is sustainable, generates lots of income and requires low levels of inputs in terms of land, labour and capital.
One of the organisations dealing with apiculture is the Hive Group Kenya Limited. They supply bee keeping starter kit as well as enter into contract with farmers to purchase their honey.
Kindly contact them on Tel: +254706349748 or +254 731905263. Alternatively you can visit their website, www.hivegp.com
Kimitei Ronald Kipkogei,
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.
DISEASE RAVAGING MY TOMATOES
I’ve been considering uprooting my tomato crops because of discouraging yields.
But my problem is that the current crop was recently infested by the moth Tuta Absoluta. How long can I wait before planting the next crop if I decide to uproot what I have now?
I’m afraid it may be attacked by the same moths again.
Faith
What you should do is plant a rotational crop. If you are in an area where indigenous vegetables are popular and you have water, you can make quick money by rotating with a one-harvest crop like cowpea.
These are cowpeas planted at high densities and then harvested by uprooting at the six to eight leaf stage. You could do three crops in six months and then go back to your tomato.
Tender leaves of cowpeas fetch premium prices in high-end markets. Cowpea is also good at breaking soil disease and some pest cycles.
Prof Richard Mulwa, horticultural scientist, Egerton University
SHOULD I SPRAY COWS IN ZERO-GRAZING UNIT?
Is it advisable to spray animals in a zero-grazing facility?
Christopher Muriithi
Animals need dry, clean and comfortable surrounding. This means these factors may be interfered with in one way or another when you spray cows inside the zero-grazing unit.
It is, therefore, advisable for you to put up a crush just outside your unit for activities such as vaccination, deworming and dehorning.
Felix Akatch Opinya,
Department of Animal Science,
Egerton University
TEMPERATURE IN GREENHOUSE
I have a wooden greenhouse that was constructed in July 2014 in western Kenya. It has 30cm plastic cover on the sides and 8m half netting.
There have been days when temperature inside soared to 40 degrees Celsius. I suspect such high temperature has resulted into dwindling yields.
Is my assumption correct and if yes, how can I correct this going forward?
Your greenhouse is okay but you need to have a heat dumping mechanism for excessively hot days. With the netting on the sides, you have good inlet of cold air.
What is needed is a provision to open up at the top when required so that excess heat can escape.
Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are very possible in greenhouses but are detrimental to crop performance.
Your yields could be declining due to these temperatures if they are persistent.
Prof Richard Mulwa, horticultural scientist, Egerton University
I WANT TO GROW MELONS USING RIVER WATER
I am currently farming watermelons in Makueni County. I get fresh water from Athi River.
My lease is ending in April and I have managed to get another land in Kiboko near Kari, which is bigger and better. However, my challenge is that Kiboko River water is salty.
Can this affect the watermelons? Do I need to do water analysis before I commence farming and where can I get the service and at what cost?
Meshack Kimatu
Kiboko River water is suitable for producing watermelons. There are various farmers growing the crop and others in the area and they are depending on the river.
What you need to have is a good rotational programme to avoid buildup of salinity in the land you will be using.
Prof Richard Mulwa, horticultural scientist, Egerton University
I NEED MARKET FOR MY CATFISH
I have succeeded in raising catfish in large quantities but I am unable to find someone who can buy in bulk.
Please provide me with information of all processors or any other buyers.
Lucy Ndungu
Catfish has a faster growth rate, low management demand and high meat to bone ratio.
Unfortunately, its physical attributes make it shunned by consumers as compared to other fish species like tilapia.
Limuru is a prime location to the urban market where fish demand is high.
Kindly consider visiting Nairobi City County fish markets where you will likely get buyers.
Alternatively, place your advert in Seeds of Gold green market section.
James Chege Wangui
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University
MY PAW PAWS ARE ALL MALE
I planted 100 pawpaw seedlings and only 30 are female. What could I have done wrong?
Julia Saru
Papaya is a complex polygamous plant species.
The plants come in three primary sex types: male, hermaphroditic (bisexual), and female.
Some plants can produce at the same time more than one kind of flower while others produce flowers which are not of these basic forms, but exhibit different degrees of maleness and femaleness.
This tendency to change in sexual expression seems to be triggered by climatic factors like drought and variable temperatures.
The tendency to produce male flowers increases at high temperatures.
Since male trees don’t produce, fruits from bisexual plants are preferred.
It is very important to select a maximum number of fruitful trees of the desired type.
This cannot be done by simply picking seedlings in a nursery.
What we advise is that you establish your own nursery bed with a variety of seed source fruits.
When they grow to 20 to 30cm height, you transplant in a prepared field where you install five to seven seedlings in a hole.
At flowering, you will select the mostly bisexual seedlings and rogue out the rest.
I recommend you leave two bisexual plants in a hole. If you notice a high number of females, perform the rouging such that you have a ratio of 1 male to 10 to 12 female plants in your orchard.
That way you will get good production.
Prof Richard Mulwa, horticultural scientist, Egerton University
THE INGREDIENTS OF KIENYEJI MASH
I am George, and I would like to know what is used to make kienyeji mash and the ratios. I have 350 chickens and feeds are too expensive.
Farmer
Most commercial feeds are manufactured following a formula developed by an animal nutritionist in a given company.
The formula varies depending on the company, animal species and class and ingredients used and costs.
Basically, commercial feeds contain energy, protein and vitamin sources and minerals premix.
In addition, feed additives are usually incorporated to enhance palatability, digestibility, utilisation and or to improve product quality.
This implies that there is no one specific ration formula for a given feed type. It is, therefore, necessary to consult an animal nutritionist who will detail for you the raw materials (ingredients) required to make a specific feed type.
From the list, source for the costs of each to ensure that the raw materials selected to make the formula produces affordable feeds.
You can as well consult animal nutritionists in the Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University for further guidance.
James Chege Wangui
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University
LACTATION CURVE OF A DAIRY COW
I have a Friesian cow which calved down two weeks ago and it is producing 10kg in the morning, 6kg mid-day and 5kg in the evening.
Please advise me on the lactation curve and if possible, provide me with a cow card. Also advice on best feeding products.
Farmer
Production of milk majorly depends on two things; an animal’s genetic make-up and environmental factors.
It is not possible to manipulate a mature animal’s genetic make-up but it is easy to influence the environmental factors to ensure optimal production based on an animal’s genetic potential.
Environmental aspects that a farmer can modify include nutrition, feeding and milking regime, housing and disease control.
Your main concern is manipulation of milking regime and feeding your lactating cows on commercial concentrates.
In general, there are two common milking regimes that can be used. The two times a day and three times a day regime, although other variances exist.
Splitting milking times in a day is usually done to empty the udder, thereby reducing pressure and allowing more secretion and synthesis.
Significant increase in production is only observed in high-yielding animals producing on average above 20 litres a day.
Concentrate feeds are a good supplement for nutrients an animal does not meet when fed on natural forages.
They help to increase milk production especially if an animal is challenge fed.
Challenge feeding, especially during early lactation (your case), ensures the animal reaches peak production early and maintains it for a long period.
When challenge feeding, kindly do not fatten your cow as this will affect its fertility. The choice of commercial feeds to use depends on previous results, company’s reputation, and acceptability by the animal and price.
A cow card should contain; cow details (identification, age, number of and dates of calving and lineage) and production details (per milking and per day).
James Chege Wangui
Department of Animal Sciences
Egerton University
PIGS VS HOUSES
I read with keen interest the story on Muhoro Mwai, the pig farmer from Kayole. I am interested in getting into pig farming. Please pass me his contacts.
Gladys Chege
EDITOR: Talk to Mwai on 0723950006.
AVOCADO FARMER
I am from Murang’a County with interest in avocado farming. Please advise where I can get information on the crop and connect me to a farmer.
EDITOR: Talk to Nyakundi, an avocado farmer, on 0725407226.
MAKING LIQUID FERTILISER AT HOME
Anja Weber’s article on liquid fertiliser was interesting. Please share her contacts plus that of soils experts who deal with or have packages for small-scale farmers.
Farmer
EDITOR: Ms Weber can be contacted through the company’s Facebook page “SoilCares Initiative”. You can also reach her on [email protected]
GROWING STEVIA
I have 20 acres in Kericho and would like to be contracted by PureCircle Kenya Ltd.
Lawrence Mutonga
EDITOR: Please talk to PureCircle, a company that deals with stevia farmers on +254 0518002540, www.purecircle.com, Email: [email protected]
CAGE FISH FARMING
I read Mark Orieny’s story and loved it. I have been thinking about the same for long. Kindly assist me with his contacts.
Otieno
Cage fish farming is great news. Can this be done in the sea? The sea is much bigger than the lake, you know.
Imagine all those people both in South and North Coast and millions of shillings that can be earned.
Farmer
EDITOR: Yes, it can be done in the sea but what discourages are the numerous predators. Mark is available on 0708235082.
PAINTED CHICKS
On February 14, on page 23, you ran a photo by Moraa Obiria showing Margaret Kimeria at her home in Ruiru, Nakuru with dyed free-range chicks to ward-off predators such as hawks.
Is there any specific dye for doing this and where can I get the dye in Bomet or Narok?
Stanley Kimutai Waitagei
EDITOR: Please talk to the farmer, through Mwangi, who paints the chicks for them, on 0723732536.
RABBIT VALUE ADDITION
Please let me know how I can reach the rabbit farmers who make sausages (Pillar Group Ltd). I would like to work with them.
Loiusa Okwaro
EDITOR: Talk to Pillar Group on 0719659551.
COPIES OF SEEDS OF GOLD
My name is Chris Munene. Unfortunately, I lost 27 editions of Seeds of Gold and I would like to replace them. Please advise.
EDITOR: Speak to Nation Media Group library on 0719038459.
ASK THE EXPERTS
Do you have any question or enquiry on agribusiness, marketing, logistics, processing, innovation, and technology?
Our pool of experts from Egerton University will respond to your questions with proper advice.
Please send your questions to: [email protected]. Read us online at www.nation.co.ke/seeds of gold