Keeping layers: What you should do from chicks to maturity

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CATFISH

I want to keep catfish in my home in Kangundo. What are the basic things I should know about the fish?
Stephen

African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is among the most favoured fish species cultured due to its hardy characteristics. The fish can survive in water with low amount of dissolved oxygen (almost zero per cent of dissolved oxygen since they have accessory breathing organs) and can also tolerate slight levels of toxicity, unlike tilapia.

The fish is a catholic feeder, an added advantage to farmers since it can feed on chicken and kitchen waste, rice bran and blood.

You can use a wide spectrum of culture ranging from earthen ponds, tanks to intensive indoor culture methods. The species take six to eight months to mature, weighing about 600 to 700g but under good feeding, they grow up to over 1kg.

Seeds of Gold Team Egerton University.

Raising layers to maturity

I’m interested in rearing layers. Please advise me on how to rear them; the best variety of layers in the market; best feeds in the market and how to feed them at all the levels to maturation.

Bonny

For hybrid layer birds, consider the Issa Brown which you can source from Kenchic. In management, provide supplemental heating using infra-red bulbs for the first four weeks of the chicks’ life.

Vaccination procedure should be as follows; New Castle Disease (NCD) at day 7, Gumboro at day 14, fowl typhoid at week 9, fowl pox at week 18 and de-worm at 19 weeks just before laying begins and, thereafter, de-worm after every six months.

Provide chick mash of 35 to 75g/chick/day between 0-7 weeks. This should be increased gradually such that the birds are fed 75g/bird/day by the sixth week.

Introduce growers mash gradually during the seventh week, thereafter provide 75-110g/bird/day of growers mash until 20 weeks of age. Finally, the adults should be fed 110-140g/bird/day of layers mash. Ensure the feed is of good quality.

Avoid abrupt changes in source of feed and feeding times. These factors greatly affect egg production. Provide clean water daily.

Sophie Miyumo,

Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.

FEEDING COWS AFTER DROUGHT

After drought or dry spell, what happens to a cow in terms of feeding and how can one remedy the situation?

Githinji Jon

Dry spells are usually characterised by reduced availability of water both to the animals and pasture. The pasture becomes fibrous and moisture content decreases and if not timely and properly conserved, may drastically loose nutrients.

During this period, a cow’s digestive system adjusts and adapts to high fibre feeds and may require higher level of supplementation to avoid losses in production. After a dry spell, comes a wet season which is characterised with lush forages.

This change in diet implies that the cow’s digestive system will equally adjust from highly fibrous materials to succulent ones high in soluble sugars and unbound nitrogen sources. This drastic changes in diet if not checked leads to digestive system upsets such as bloat and diarrhoea.

To minimise this, ensure that the proportion of roughages fed to the cow is near uniform as much as possible both in the wet and dry seasons.

During wet season, feed the animals with wilted forages as well provide them with dry forages such as hay preferably early in the morning. During the dry season, it’s advisable to add value of the dry forages by mixing with a soluble sugar and nitrogen sources such as molasses and urea respectively.

Wangui James Chege,
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.

HAPPY ANIMALS OFFER GOOD YIELDS

Some farmers treat animals so cruel that you wonder if they wish to get any produce from them. Do animals have rights?
Salome, Eldama Ravine

Animal rights revolve around the five internationally recognised freedoms namely freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from fear and distress; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain and freedom to engage in normal animal behaviour.

However, these five freedoms are often violated through some management practices. It is pertinent that farmers provide an appropriate and comfortable environment and shelter for the animals protecting them from harsh climate and predators.

The shed should be kept dry and free of pests and parasites. It should also incorporate a resting area designed to the requirements of the particular animal.

Freedom from hunger demands that animals should enjoy adequate food and clean drinking water. The diet for animals should have the nutrients that their bodies require. This is important for their general welfare as it is for their optimal output.

Most farmers will call the veterinarian immediately they detect signs of sickness in their herd or flock. This, however, is mostly driven by the fear of losing the animal rather than the welfare of the animal. Animals deserve ultimate freedom from pain, injury or disease.

Some management practices like tail docking, de-beaking, castration, branding and disbudding expose animals to injury. Whereas it is important to carry out these practices, they should be done in manner that does not cause unnecessary pain or injury to animals, which leads to stress and in extreme cases, death.

Farmers need to ensure that shelters for animals do not interfere with their natural behaviour. They should allow in enough light and fresh air. The floors should also be comfortable for them to walk on and allow adequate drainage.

Commercial production of poultry is the most guilty of violation of these freedoms as farmers cram many chickens in little spaces.
Denial of freedom to exhibit natural behaviour can lead to unusual aggressiveness in an animal, cannibalism, and an increase in disease prevalence.

Dr Mary Muchunguh is a livestock expert in Nairobi.

Growing Strawberry
I’m interested in strawberry farming but I have not yet settled on which variety to plant and would highly appreciate your advice on the most favourable one.

Vincent Njuguna, Thika

The most common strawberry varieties in Kenya are Chandler, Douglas, Aiko, Fern and Cambridge. You can choose any that you want as they can all do well in your region.

Carol Mutua,
Egerton University

My oranges have black spots

There is a strange disease affecting the leaves and fruits of my oranges resulting to less produce. The disease is characterised by round black spots that form hard patches. What is this disease? How do I control it?

Robert Machakos County

From your description, it sounds like a fungal disease known as Citrus black spot. You can control the disease culturally by mulching the trees, removal of the dead twigs and wood, regular irrigation during the dry season and harvest early. Chemical control can involve the use of copper based fungicides.

Muriuki Ruth Wangari, Department of crops, horticulture and soils, Egerton University.

HYDROPONICS

How do I engage in hydroponics farming? Can it be used in planting any crop?
Jonhson

Hydroponics is an interesting but highly technical and expensive investment because it requires some training and various gadgets. Egerton University offers courses in the technology, thus, you should purpose to enrol for one to boost your knowledge before you start the farming.

Prof Richard Mulwa is a professor in horticulture at Egerton University

Farming Garlic

Can garlic do well in Mbeere, Embu County? The place is semi-arid.

Wahome

Yes, garlic can grow well in Embu. It, however, requires well-draining soils, so if yours is heavy clay, then you’ll need to add some sand. Garlic also likes rich organic matter, so well-rotted manure or other bulky organic matter should be incorporated into the ground prior to planting. Choose a sunny and relatively sheltered spot and you’re ready to plant your garlic cloves. In case of severe drought, you can irrigate.

Muriuki Ruth Wangari,
Department of crops, horticulture and soils, Egerton University.