Community based small scale commercial cattle in Mangwe District of Zimbabwe

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the introduction of improved indigenous beef cattle bulls on productivity, herd population dynamics and socioeconomic factors in small scale commercial livestock production areas of Mangwe district in Zimbabwe. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to all 20 participating farmers in the breeding scheme. The data collected included household demographics, herd structure, breeding practices, management, marketing, socio-economic impacts, challenges and impacts of withdrawal of funds on the breeding project by donors. Data analysis was perfomed using statistical package for social science (SSPS), version 16 for descriptive statistics. The herd sizes increased by 77%, 96%, 71%, and 60% for the White Brahman, Black Brahman, Tuli and Nguni, respectively. The highest number of offspring was sired by the White Brahman (4 per year per farmerJ.The Tuli and Nguni bulls contributed the least number of offspringof 2 per year per farmer. The mean age at first calving from the progeny of the White Brahman, Black Brahman, Tuli and Nguni were 36 + 0 , 34,5 ± 2.12 , 33.75+ 2.26, 35 ± 1.73 months, respectively. The main challenges affecting the programme were lack of adequate feed, uncontrolled mating and lack of functional fences. The withdrawal of support funds on the breeding programme resulted in collapse of the restocking program and lack of improvement of water points. It was concluded that improved indigenous cattle genetic resources can survive, reproduce under low input communal systems. Therefore, community based breeding schemes are a viable and sustainable option in improving beef production in the countr

Can low-dose of ketamine reduce the need for morphine in renal colic? A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Background: The combination of morphine with low doses of ketamine (MK) has been utilized in the Emergency Department (ED) compared with morphine and placebo (MP) for the treatment of acute pain in few studies. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of MP with MK for the treatment of severe pain with renal colic of patients who had been referred to the ED. Methods: This study is a double blind randomized clinical trial on patients with severe renal colic pain who were referred to the ED. Patients were enrolled with pain severity of at least 6 of the 10 visual analogue scales (VAS). Patients were divided into two groups: Morphine 0.1 mg/kg and placebo (MP group) and morphine 0.1 mg/kg and ketamine 0.15 mg/kg (MK group). Pain of patients was studied in 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after injection. Results: Totally, 106 patients were enrolled in study groups. Assessment of the average pain during 120 min at 10 and 30 min after the start in the drug, MK group was significantly lower than the MP group (p = 0.019 and p = 0.003 respectively). Conclusion: Given that combinations of morphine with low doses of ketamine in patients with renal colic pain causes more pain and morphine consumption reduction then this combination is suggested as an alternative treatment that could be utilized in patients with renal colic. © 201

Can low-dose of ketamine reduce the need for morphine in renal colic? A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Background: The combination of morphine with low doses of ketamine (MK) has been utilized in the Emergency Department (ED) compared with morphine and placebo (MP) for the treatment of acute pain in few studies. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of MP with MK for the treatment of severe pain with renal colic of patients who had been referred to the ED. Methods: This study is a double blind randomized clinical trial on patients with severe renal colic pain who were referred to the ED. Patients were enrolled with pain severity of at least 6 of the 10 visual analogue scales (VAS). Patients were divided into two groups: Morphine 0.1 mg/kg and placebo (MP group) and morphine 0.1 mg/kg and ketamine 0.15 mg/kg (MK group). Pain of patients was studied in 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after injection. Results: Totally, 106 patients were enrolled in study groups. Assessment of the average pain during 120 min at 10 and 30 min after the start in the drug, MK group was significantly lower than the MP group (p = 0.019 and p = 0.003 respectively). Conclusion: Given that combinations of morphine with low doses of ketamine in patients with renal colic pain causes more pain and morphine consumption reduction then this combination is suggested as an alternative treatment that could be utilized in patients with renal colic. © 201