How to treat swellings on a cow’s body

A healthy cow displayed at a past exhibition. Swollen lymph nodes are a threat to a cow's good health. Farmers are advised to always contact a veterinary professional when an animal presents with swollen nodes for proper diagnosis, management and treatment of the condition. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA

What you need to know:

  • Swollen glands, (lymph nodes) in any animal, are a sign of an injury or an infection.
  • Removing or damaging lymph nodes, is like adding salt to injury. Farmers are therefore advised to always contact a veterinary professional when an animal develops swollen nodes for proper diagnosis, management and treatment of the condition.
  • Bamboo is low maintenance in terms of water utilisation compared to other tree species like the eucalyptus, therefore, they can grow in dry savannahs depending on the variety.
  • There are different sorghum varieties for different regions based on the altitude.

WATCH OUT FOR COW'S SWOLLEN GLANDS

What makes a calf develop swellings? To relieve the symptoms, some farmers burn them with red hot metal, others use herbs, kindly advice on vet recommendations.
Ignatius

Swollen glands, (lymph nodes) in any animal, are a sign of an injury or an infection. This will always present along with other signs of illness depending on the disease condition or infection involved.

The swelling of one lymph node is most likely a response to an injury in the vicinity of the node while swelling of many nodes in more than one location is an indication of a systemic infection as in the case of a disease.

Burning or ablation of the node using whichever means be it a hot iron or using corroding herbs is totally wrong and unhelpful. By burning them, the farmer inflicts more wounds and pain without treating the underlying cause of the problem.

Glands or lymph nodes normally swell as they produce more immune cells to protect the body against pathogens (germs). Removing or damaging them is, therefore, adding salt to injury.

Farmers are therefore, advised to always contact a veterinary professional when an animal presents with swollen nodes for proper diagnosis, management and treatment of the condition.

Dr Nyaga S.N,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Egerton University.

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GROWING BAMBOO
I would like to explore commercial bamboo farming. What species fits Kangema in Murang’a, where my farm is?
Samuel

Bamboo is low maintenance in terms of water utilisation compared to other tree species like the eucalyptus, therefore, they can grow in dry savannahs depending on the variety.

The species available in Kenya include Abyssinica, which is solid stemmed, Juniperus sabina chinensis, Bambusa textilis or longinternode, Dendrocalamus barbartus, Leucaena leucocephala, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Phyllostachys pubescens(moso), Dendrocalamus maximuslamina , Dendrocalamus membranaceus cv grandis, Dendrocalamus maximuslamina, Dendrocalamus asper and Pinus Kesiya.

You can visit the bamboo market website to learn on where to sell your trees and their various uses. Kenya Forest Service can provide you with the seedlings and advice on the care of the trees.

Muriuki Ruth Wangari,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and soils, Egerton University.
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CHICKEN VACCINATION
I need the chicken vaccination procedure as per ages.
Joseck

If you are keeping birds for egg production, consider vaccinating against Newcastle Disease (NCD) at the 1st and 3rd week of age, Gumboro (IBD) at the 2nd and 4th week of age, fowl typhoid at 9th week and fowl pox at 18 weeks. NCD and IBD vaccination are carried out twice to boost the first vaccination.

Administrations of the vaccines vary from drinking water, spraying, ocular-nasal drops, skin puncture to intramuscular injection.

I would recommend use of vaccines administered through drinking water to avoid invasive stressing of the birds and for effective vaccination, withdraw drinking water for about four hours to make the birds thirsty such that upon provision of water mixed with the vaccine, consumption can increase.

On the other hand, broiler vaccination is only done for NCD and IBD similar to layers and should be done during the first month to avoid drug residues on the meat product.

Sophie Miyumo,
Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.

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CAPSICUM FARMING
I would like to grow capsicum (pili pili) as a cash crop. Kindly give me the contact of possible buyers who can tell me which type is good for my area. I would also like to know where to get the seedlings.
Mpole

The performance of capsicum (hot pepper/pili pili) in terms of yield and the maintenance vary from place to place.

This implies that different cultivars/varieties will perform differently in various localities. The local tastes and preferences also vary, thus, influencing produce demand. Kindly provide information on where you intend to do your farming.

Sylvans Ochola,
Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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FAST-GROWING SORGHUM
Which is the best sorghum variety to plant that matures early and not attacked by birds?
Stanley Waitagei

There are different sorghum varieties for different regions based on the altitude. High altitude varieties are likely to take longer to mature compared to low altitude ones.

Moreover, the grain colour greatly influences the bird attack, with white sorghum being highly susceptible to damage compared to red loose-panicle sorghum. Kindly provide more information on where you intend to plant the sorghum.

Sylvans Ochola,
Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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A cereal trader displays her produce for sale. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA

GREENHOUSE COVERS
I wish to venture into greenhouse tomato farming but using local polythene with some nets. I just graduated with a BSc, majoring in botany, but have I no capital. What is the best greenhouse paper to use?
Haron Wamunyole

It is not advisable to construct a greenhouse from used material since it would have exhausted their ultra-violet integrity.

Muriuki Ruth Wangari,
Department of Crop, Horticulture and soils, Egerton University.

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CHELALANG, TASHA AND CIANKUI BEANS
Where can I purchase certified Chelalang, Tasha, and Ciankui bean seeds to plant in Kiambu? 
Mwangi

The seeds are available in the agrovet or seed stockiest near you. You can also obtain them from Faida Seed Company and Egerton University Seed Unit in the Agroscience Park.

You should note that Chelalang is the best variety to be grown in your area during the long rains for it requires high amount of rainfall for maximum production. You can grow Ciankui during the short rains for it is meant for drier areas.

Muriuki Ruth Wangari, Department of Crops, Horticulture and soils, Egerton University.