Feedback: Common diseases that affect your crops and animals

Onions for sale at Endarasha Trading centre in Kieni. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |

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.

TREE SEEDLINGS BUSINESS

I wish to know the legal requirements I need to meet to start a commercial tree nursery.

Farmer

There is no legal requirement for setting up a commercial tree nursery. It is, however, important that you do a market survey.

You also need to have a regular water source.

Your farm should be accessible, maybe near the road, and the tree seedlings must be palatable to targeted market to make your business sustainable.

Prof Lenah Nakhone Wati is an expert in Soil Environmental Chemistry at Egerton University

HARD SKIN ON RABBIT EARS

I have been rearing rabbits and I have noticed they have developed a hard skin on the ears, eyes and nose and after sometimes they die.

What is the name of the disease and how do I curb it?

Farmer

From the symptoms you have indicated, they may be suffering from ear mites.

The hard skin you have observed is as a result of mite irritating the lining of the ears causing it to produce serum, which hardens into a crust, a condition commonly referred to as ear cankers.

This condition is highly infectious and is usually spread by contact. Housing also plays a key role in control of the mites, among other external parasites.

The cages should have wire floors to reduce the condition, but the best control is by always using miticides recommended for dogs and cats and cleaning the rabbit pens.

It is also advisable to have quarantine cages for new and suspected rabbits where they can be monitored for diseases and external parasites before being introduced in the brood.

To treat the rabbits effectively, contact a trained and licensed animal health personnel.

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

MAIZE DISEASE

What symptoms should I watch to know if my maize is affected by the deadly necrosis disease?

Richard

First, mottles begin to form at the base of young leaves and extend upwards towards the tips.

The leaves begin to die leading to a symptom known as dead heart. The maize plant may become stunted in some cases and ages prematurely, leading to eventual death.

For mature crops, the maize husks dry prematurely, but upon opening, there is no grain.

Rotation with crops such as sorghum, millet, Irish potatoes, chickpea, sweet potatoes and cassava, among others, for two to three seasons before going back to maize can help to contain the disease.

This will suppress the inocula and velocity of spread of the disease. Farmers must avoid growing of maize continuously on the same piece or near previously infected fields.

Seeds of Gold Team, Egerton University

MY COW HAS REFUSED TO CALVE

Hi, I have a cow which since last year August has not calved despite being served four times.

It has since gone silent. I tried GNRH and Prostaglandins hormones, which still didn’t work.

The vet confirmed that the ovaries are okay. Please advice on the action I should take.

Farmer

There are a number of causes to no-heat signs (anoestrus) in a cow, including post-partum disease, mineral deficiencies and insufficient intake of foods that provide energy.

It is important to note that when cows are over-conditioned or under-conditioned, they are likely to develop anoestrus.

High yielders take much longer to resume cyclicity after calving due to what is called negative energy balance (this is where energy expended exceeds energy intake).

Other times, especially if the ovaries were normal on rectal palpation, it might be that the cow has silent heat (this is where the eggs develop and are ovulated without outward signs of heat).

If poor body condition is the reason, nutrition should be improved, incorporating well-balanced diet with enough roughage, concentrates and mineral salts, specifically made for dairy cows.

Sometimes the cow might not require hormones but improved health management, including feeding.

Dr J. Mburu,

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Veterinary Clinical studies department

OVER 12 COWS ON TWO ACRES

My name is Cyrus Mabui, a dairy farmer in Kirinyaga, Kerugoya.

I grow maize in a leased two-acre farm under irrigation. Currently, I have two mature lactating cows and six heifers, which are expectant and one is on dry cow period, that is, it will calve in two months.

I want to know:1. Whether the land will be able to support these cows after calving?2. Should I continue with maize silage feeds?

The land is enough for your cows. If you have another source of feeds, you can stock the silage until your cow calves down.

Anthony Mugatha, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University

STUNTED PIGS

I got interested in rearing pigs and happened to have bought “slow growing piglets”. What should I do?

John

Slow growth rate can be due to three main reasons: nutrition, genetics and management, which include housing.

Pigs, like other animals, and more specifically, meat producers, require high-quality rations to ensure optimal growth.

The rations should provide adequate nutrients for maintenance and muscle build-up.

Poor rations result in low growth rates.

On the other hand, the rate at which the feeds taken are converted to the muscles is highly dependent on the genetic make-up of the animal.

Some breeds have higher feed conversion efficiency than others, for instance, a Large White or Landrace breed will have a higher feed conversion efficiency than the Duroc, but less adaptable to tropical conditions than the latter.

Finally, growth rate can be influenced to a greater extent by management practices.

Of greater significance are parasites and disease control and hygiene. On the other hand, other environmental stresses such as extreme cold or heat, and noise, among others, can lead to slow growth rates.

However, this can be minimised with proper housing and location.

Wangui, James Chege, Egerton University

WHEN TO INTRODUCE NEW POULTRY LAYERS

I have the following questions:

1) How long does it take for hybrid layers to start laying, and for how long should they lay?

2) When should I introduce the next stock to ensure continuous flow of eggs?

3) How many types of egg trays do we have in terms of capacity?

Opudo Thadayo

For a flock of layer pullets, the practical age for laying is usually from 20 weeks onwards. Others start at week 19. This many-a-time goes up to 72 weeks and at times 84.

This, however, depends on nutrition, lighting regime and management during brooding and growing stages.

The next batch of layers can best be introduced when the laying lot is aged 45 weeks as this will give room to meet the costs from the eggs sold.

For trays, the standard capacity is 30 eggs, others carry up to 60 but this is for packaging. It is in incubators that egg trays have different egg capacities.

Felix Akatch Opinya,

Animal Sciences, Egerton University,

THE BEST ONIONS TO GROW

I want to plant onions in Nakuru. Which is the best month to grow and what variety do you recommend?

I would also like information on whether to use seedlings, onion sets or seeds for good returns, and the diseases to look out for.

Harun

Onions are a high value crop. If you have a greenhouse, that would be the best place to grow because you will do it all-year round.

Also, if you have constant water supply throughout the year, it will work best for you. Red bulb onion is good because its market is better than the white one.

On pests and diseases, watch out for thrips, which punch silvery holes on leaves and fungal purple blotch is terrible.

What you must do is buy the best fungicide and pesticide to protect your onions.

However, don’t apply these chemicals on onions before you observe any serious damage caused by pest and diseases that would lead to economic loss.

Use them only when it’s necessary because residue of these chemicals are dangerous to human beings.

Peter Caleb

Horticulture Scientist,

Department of Crops Horticulture and soils, Egerton University

BEAN SEEDS BREEDER

My name is Joel Odhiambo. I am interested in Chelalang, Tasha and Ciankui beans from Egerton University.

I want to grow them as a contracted farmer in Kabondo, Homa Bay County. Please pass me necessary contacts.

EDITOR: Talk to Prof Paul Kimurto, Coordinator AgroScience Park, Egerton University on [email protected] for more information.

BOREHOLE DRILLING

Sometime back, I had asked for contacts of companies that drill water at an affordable cost. Kindly assist.

Cecilia

EDITOR: Please consult the online version of Yellow Pages. There are various companies listed in the directory.

VETIVER GRASS

I am a farmer in Thika and I would like to get in touch with Caleb Omollo from Migori, who grows vetiver grass.

Francis Nyoike

EDITOR: Omollo is available on 0714943355.

FREE-RANGE POULTRY FARMER

I need to get in touch with poultry farmer Esther Wanza. I want to buy chickens.

Evaristus

Kitengela

I was so impressed with the story of the Kitengela chicken farmer.  I need her phone number please.
Kemunto Priscilla

I am interested in buying four-week improved kienyeji chicks from Esther Wanza. Kindly share her contacts.
Kiboi
EDITOR: Please talk to the farmer through Mutunga Katia on 0718084478.

DAIRY GOATS

I am a small-scale farmer based in Kisumu keeping dairy goats. I was impressed by the story on yoghurt production. I am requesting if you could give me Waweru’s contact.

Clifford

I’m keen on yoghurt trade. What is Joseph Waweru’s contact?

Dickson

EDITOR: Joseph Waweru is available 0722455979.

IDEA THAT WON ME A MILLION

Please link me with Nixon Muturi, the tuber farmer from Nyeri.

Davidson Kirori

EDITOR: Talk to Muturi through our reporter on 0711777008.

CRISPS COMPANY

I am Muturi James from Ndunyu Njeru, North Kinangop. I would wish to talk to a crisps company you featured sometimes back.

Farmer

EDITOR: You can reach Urban Bites on [email protected], telephone number: 020 2367882/2 and Facebook: Urban Bites 254.

FISH FARMER

I would like to get in touch with Prof Ngugi to learn more on fish farming. 

Esther

EDITOR: Please reach the farmer on 0723557760.

RABBIT FARMING

I am interested in rabbit farming in Mtwapa, Kilifi County. Right now I have six rabbits. I would like to get the contacts of Alcare Group and Rabak.

Sudi Abdalla

I am Philip from Bungoma North. I wish to get the contacts of Alcare Group.

EDITOR: You can contact Peter Waiganjo (Rabak) on 0721219092 and George Kibanya (Alcare) on 0725893963.

APPRECIATION

I would like to appreciate Seeds of Gold. Personally, the pull-out has really helped me adopt farming techniques that are giving good returns. Keep it up!

Macharia N. Calvin

EDITOR: Thank you for your support. Keep reading.

SPINACH FARMER

Kindly tell me how I can get in touch with Rosaline Wanjiru, the spinach farmer from Giakanja, Nyeri.

EDITOR: Please talk to the farmer through our reporter on 0723257415.

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].

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