Social behaviour and sociability traits of dairy calves raised in a cow-calf contact system

Calves are usually separated from their dams a few hours after birth, placed in individual house pens, cages or hutches and fed on milk replacer. This system has many welfare and ethical implications on the dam and calf, especially as regards to their bonding and natural behaviours. A case-control behavioural observational study was therefore carried out to evaluate the potential effects of early socialization of calves raised with their dams, other cows, and peers during the first months of life, on later social behaviour and sociability traits in dairy calves. We investigated this on 23 dairy calves that were born in the summer of 2019 and subjected them to two treatments: Cow-Calf Contact treatment (CCC) (10 dairy calves) and Control group (C) (13 dairy calves). When the CCC and the C calves were 25 and 22 weeks of age respectively, video recordings and social behaviours of the calves using focal scans and continuous behavioural observations were done for at least 6 hours/day for five days; three consecutive days when calves were in their groups, one day when the groups were mixed and a day after mixing the groups. A week later when the CCC and the C calves were 26 and 23 weeks old respectively, a runway test was done to evaluate the calves’ sociability. In addition, an avoidance distance test to evaluate animals’ fear towards humans and to quantify the human-animal relationship were also applied. The effect of Treatments (CCC and C), Sex (heifer and castrated male calves) and their interaction were analysed in response to the observed behaviours of calves as the dependent variables. Weaning weights of the calves were included in the model as covariates to social and locomotor play behaviours. Before mixing, castrated males were walking (F=5.76, P=0.028) and self-grooming (F=8.55, P=0.009) more than the heifers. CCC calves performed more bucking (F=5.91, P=0.026) and jumping (F=5.04, P=0.038) locomotor play behaviours than C calves. Social motivation to socialize was observed more in the CCC calves through initiating interactions by performing more pushing, butting and mock fighting play behaviours when mixed. CCC calves expressed a higher motivation to reunite at latency ˂60s and spent more time in the zone closer to the grouped calves compared to the C calves which could indicate a higher motivation to socialize. Potential sociality for both CCC and C calves in the presence of humans was tested through their docility with an attained mean avoidance or flight distance of 0.9m in both treatment groups. CCC calves chin pressed (F=7.40, P=0.022) more than the C calves during the feed competition test. Therefore, raising dairy calves in social contact with their dams, other cows and peers is most likely to positively influence the early development and performance of natural behaviours. Additionally, it could potentially influence the acquiring and retention of sociability traits in calves to positively interact with both familiar and unfamiliar mates, which in turn could ensure animal welfare and well-being at a later stage in life when dairy calves are grouped.Kalvar separeras vanligtvis från sina mammor några timmar efter födseln, placeras i enskilda boxar, eller kalvhyddor och matas med mjölkersättning. Detta system har många välfärds- och etiska konsekvenser för kon och kalven, särskilt när det gäller deras bindning till varandra och naturliga beteenden. En fallkontrollstudie genomfördes därför för att utvärdera de potentiella effekterna av tidig socialisering av kalvar som uppfostrats med sina mammor, andra kor och kalvar under de första levnadsmånaderna, på senare socialt beteende och sällskaplighet hos mjölkraskalvar. Vi undersökte detta på 23 mjölkraskalvar som föddes sommaren 2019 och delades i två grupper som utsattes för olika behandlingar: Ko-kalvkontaktbehandling (CCC) (10 kalvar) och Kontrollbehandling (C) (13 kalvar). När CCC- och C-kalvarna var 25 respektive 22 veckor gamla, gjordes observationer och videoinspelningar av sociala beteenden hos kalvarna med hjälp av fokalskanningar och kontinuerliga beteendeobservationer i minst 6 timmar / dag i fem dagar; tre dagar i följd när kalvar var i sina behandlingsgrupper, en dag när grupperna blandades och en dag efter att grupperna hade blandats. En vecka senare när CCC- och C-kalvarna var 26 respektive 23 veckor gjordes ett sk. ”runway test” för att utvärdera kalvarnas sällskaplighet. Dessutom användes ett sk. ”aviodance test” för att utvärdera djurs rädsla gentemot människor och för att kvantifiera förhållandet mellan människa och djur. Effekten av behandlingar (CCC och C), kön (kviga och kastrerade tjurar) och deras interaktion analyserades för kalvarnas beteenden. Kalvarnas avvänjningsvikter inkluderades i modellen som kovariat för sociala och aktiva beteenden. Innan grupperna blandades gick kvigor mer (F=5.76, P=0,028) och putsade sig mer (F=8.55, P= 0,009) än de kastrerade tjurarna. CCC-kalvar bockade mer (F=5.91, P=0,026) och hoppande mer (F=5.04, P=0,038) än C-kalvar. Social motivation för att umgås med andra kalvar observerades mer i CCC-kalvarna genom att de initierade fler interaktioner när grupperna blandades. CCC-kalvar uttryckte en högre motivation att återförenas vid ”run-way testet” och tillbringade mer tid i den delen av arenan som var nära de grupperade kalvarna jämfört med C-kalvarna. Det var ingen skillnad mellan CCC-kalvar och C-kalvar i deras rädsla för människor då det genomsnittliga flyktavståndet i ”aviodance test” var 0,9 m för båda grupperna. CCC-kalvar pressade hakan mer mot andra kalvar (F = 7.40, P = 0,022) än C-kalvarna under foderkonkurrens. Att öka den sociala kontakten mellan mjölkraskalvar, deras mammor, andra kalvar och kor påverkar troligen den tidiga utvecklingen av naturliga sociala beteenden positivt. Dessutom kan det potentiellt påverka mer sällskapliga egenskaper hos kalvar, vilket i sin tur kan säkerställa djurens välbefinnande i ett senare skede i livet även när mjölkraskalvar grupperas

Democratic Leadership Style and Organizational Commitment of Academic Staff in Uganda Christian University and Kyambogo University

The study establishes the extent to which democratic leadership styles influence organizational commitment of academic staff in Uganda Christian University (UCU) and Kyambogo Universities (KYU). It was guided by three specific objectives; to establish the status of democratic leadership style, status of organisational commitment and finally the influence of democratic leadership style on organisational commitment of academic staff in UCU and KYU. The study utilized Contingence theory of leadership to extensively discuss the democratic leadership style. It was a descriptive cross-sectional survey design hinged on Plato’s deductive reasoning philosophy. The population involved lecturers, heads of departments and deans. These were sampled using simple and purposive random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. Data was analysed at Univariate level using descriptive statistics means and standard deviations. Study hypothesis was analysed using Pearson’s Correlation Co-efficient index. Results revealed an insignificant relationship between democratic leadership style and commitment of academic staff. This study provides at least a facie evidence of how democratic leadership style should be devised to ensure organisation commitment of academic staff. The leaders continued efforts should improve work condition, ensure satisfaction and act in ways that increase loyalty of academic staff to their institutions

Autocratic Leadership Style and Organizational Commitment of Academic Staff of Uganda Christian University and Kyambogo University

The study established the extent to which autocratic leadership style influences organizational commitment of academic staff in Kyambogo University (KYU) and Uganda Christian University (UCU). It was guided by three specific objectives that were aimed at establishing; 1) the level of autocratic leadership style, 2) the level of employee commitment of academic staff and 3) the influence of autocratic leadership style on the employee commitment in the two universities.  The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional survey design hinged on Plato’s deductive reasoning philosophy. The population involved mainly academic staff of the two universities and administrative staff. These were sampled using simple and purposive random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and interview guide. The first and second objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics means and standard deviations. The study hypothesis was analysed using Pearson’s Correlation Co-efficient index and Simple Linear Regression.  Findings of the study revealed that, the level of application of autocratic leadership style was moderate and the level of employees’ commitment was high. Findings revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between autocratic leadership style on commitment of academic staff in two universities. The current study concludes that autocratic leadership styles had a positive significant influence on the commitment of academic staff in UCU and Kyambogo Universities. To enhance the commitment of employees/ academic staff in Kyambogo and Uganda Christian University Mukono, the university council in the two universities, faculty administrative boards, deans, departmental heads should do emphasize more use of autocratic leadership style. This can be done through establishing a mechanism that ensures constant academic staff supervision, remind of duties and work, offer deadlines, warnings and routine approaches to non-compliance Keywords: Leadership Styles, Autocratic, Commitment DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-18-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

Effect of local food on lumefantrine bioavailability and population pharmacokinetics in Ugandan children with malaria

Background. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is widely adopted as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Lumefantrine (LUM), the long acting partner drug is critical for cure by eliminating malaria parasites left after artemether exposure. Absorption of LUM is dependent on dietary fat and the basis for the pediatric dose recommendations is unclear. Aim. To explore effect of local foods on oral bioavailability of LUM and describe its population pharmacokinetics (PPK) among under five year old children in Uganda treated for malaria with the aim of optimizing use and provide basis for AL rational dosage guidelines. Methods. In an intensive pharmacokinetics (PK) study, 13 healthy adult volunteers were randomized to participate in an open-label four period crossover design and received a single oral dose of AL (80mg A/ 480mg of LUM) with water, milk, maize porridge or maize porridge with oil on separate occasions. Peak concentrations (Cmax) and area under concentration-time curve (AUC) truncated at 48 hours after a single dose (AUC0-48h) were compared using average bioequivalence techniques (I). Relevance of the findings was assessed among children < 5 years with uncomplicated falciparum malaria who were randomized in a parallel study design to receive standard weight-based AL treatment (Coartem®), 6 doses over 3 days, with either milk or maize porridge with oil (n= 33) (III). Parametric two-sample t-test was used to compare relative oral LUM bioavailability, 0 to 8 h after the first dose (AUC0-8h) (III). This bioavailability study (III) was nested in a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) study (IV) in the same pediatric patient group. After treatment, sparse plasma samples were collected during 28 days’ follow up in all children (n=55). NONMEM was used to describe the PPK profile of LUM and its metabolite, desbutyl-lumefantrine (DBL) (IV). A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for determination of low concentrations of LUM and DBL in small amounts of plasma (II). Results. The LC-MS/MS method was simple, fast and sensitive requiring only 100 μl of plasma with limits of quantification of 21 and 1.7 ng/ml for LUM and DBL respectively (II). Lumefantrine exposure was comparable in milk and maize porridge plus oil study groups (I & III). In adult healthy volunteers, the bioequivalence criteria was met [maize porridge plus oil group ranges for means ratios (90% CI) of 0.84 –1.88 and 0.85 – 1.69 for Cmax and AUC0-48h respectively, relative to milk (90%CI, 0.80 – 1.25)]. Among pediatric patients, LUM (AUC0-8h) for those dosed with milk (n=16) was comparable to maize porridge plus oil (n=17) arm (GM {95%CI}: 6.01 {3.26-11.1} vs 6.26 {4.5 -8.43} h*μg/ml, p=0.9). A two-compartment PK model with lag time using first order processes characterized the PPK of LUM (IV). Inter-subject variability in apparent oral clearance (CL/F) was explained by body mass index (BMI) and age, while that in apparent volume of distribution of the central compartment (VC/F) was explained by weight. Lumefantrine population mean CL/F, inter-compartment clearance (Q/F), VC/F and apparent volume of distribution of peripheral compartment (VP/F) were 3.19 L/hr, 0.176 L/hr, 28.1 L, and 58.4 L, respectively. Our results indicate that LUM CL/F decreased with age from two to just less than five years (≈20.6%. p=0.04) and LUM CL/F increased with decreasing BMI. Conclusions. The LC MS/MS method is suitable for pediatric studies with repeated sampling and long time follow up. Oil fortified maize porridge can be an alternative to milk in augmenting absorption of LUM. Our findings provide a structural basis for consideration of age and BMI in evaluation of rational AL dosing guidelines among under five year old children

Internal Marketing Practices, Job Satisfaction and Service Quality in the Airline Service Industry: A Case Study of Entebbe Handling Services, Uganda

There are limited studies on the relationship between internal marketing and service quality in Uganda though in the west interest in internal marketing seems to have intensified from 2006 onwards,[1]. Customers no longer simply pay for services: they co –produce with the contact employees at the time of transaction and therefore the customer buying experience has to be understood from both the employees’ and customer perspectives, [2] The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between internal marketing, employee job satisfaction and service quality. Survey research method was used with the primary data being collected from 91 employees and 96 clients of one selected firm in the aviation industry in Uganda. The study results showed that Internal marketing has a strong positive correlation with service quality (r=0.723**, p-value\u3c 0.01) while internal marketing and employee job satisfaction are significantly correlated (r=0.871**, p-value\u3c 0.01) and are strongly positively correlated. Employee job satisfaction showed a significant positive correlation with service quality (r=0.895**, p-value\u3c0.01). The practical implication of our study is that internal marketing has a fundamental contribution in the delivery of service quality. The study findings inform managers, who have hitherto tended to put more emphasis on the external customer, to change their perspective as taking the internal customer for granted may result in negative outcomes for their organizations

A preliminary report on some aspects of the biology of Clarias mossambicus Peters in the Lake Victoria basin

Clarias mossambicus Peters (Pisces: Clariidae) is a relatively common catfish in East Africa exhibiting a ubiquitous distribution in most lakes, rivers, streams and swamps (GREENWOOD, 1966). The fish in many localities supports important fisheries and thus contributes substantially to the commercial fishing industry

Clarias studies

This investigation deals broadly with some selected aspects of the biology and ecology of most of the available clariid species in various water bodies in Uganda. The programme which was initiated and commenced in March 1976 was prompted by a number of factors among which the following are considered most importan

How do rural abet centres address the challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention and support? A view from the Limpopo province of South Africa

Doctor of Education - Adult EducationDespite numerous intervention strategies, HIV/AIDS continues to spread and to pose a threat to the socio-economic transformation of South Africa. There is a need for fresh approaches to HIV/AIDS education for adults and youth in South Africa, particularly for those marginalized by society, such as rural black women. The challenge is to devise appropriate, affordable, socially acceptable and sustainable strategies to help people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in the rural communities. The broad objective of the study was to examine ways in which rural ABET centres address the challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention and support in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. A case study approach was used to investigate the ways in which five operational ABET centres addressed the epidemic in their communities. The intentions and actions of the ABET District Co-ordinator (1), Circuit Area Managers (5), Centre Managers (5), educators (10) and learners (80) were studied. Methods used in the collection of data were in-depth, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, critical incident review, and participant observation. The research investigated ways in which ABET centres dealt with HIV/AIDS-related issues, and the attitudes, beliefs and practices of ABET practitioners and learners with respect to HIV/AIDS prevention practices and care issues and how these impacted on the centres’ ability to address HIV/AIDS. The research results show that the human, social, structural and infrastructure constraints currently faced by the centres hinder their ability to play an effective and meaningful role in dealing with the epidemic. Access to knowledge, participation in social networks and entrenched cultural practices all play a role in defining the manner in which the communities have responded to HIV/AIDS. Through an analysis of the environment in which the ABET centres operate, and the varied success of their programmes in addressing HIV/AIDS, recommendations have been drawn up to assist ABET centres to address the pandemic more effectively. The study concludes that ABET centers, through acknowledgment of their role and effective use of resources in collaboration with the available networks can make a meaningful contribution in curtailing the spread of HIV/AIDS and supporting the people affected by HIV/AIDS in the communities in which they operate

Caridina nilotica in Lake Victoria: abundance, biomass, and diel vertical migration

Caridina nilotica (Decapoda: Atyidae) in offshore waters of Lake Victoria were investigated with both day and night sampling over a period of two years. Offshore populations are mainly planktonic rather than benthic, and the animals exhibit diel vertical migrations into near-surface waters at night. These changes in diel abundance as well as the size-frequency distribution of the migrating shrimp suggest that the migratory behavior is in response to visual planktivory, because only the very smallest individuals (2–4 mm) remain in surface waters during the day. During October 1992, abundances were estimated both by vertical net sampling and by underwater video transect methods. Concordance was established between abundances estimated by the two methods. Only about 9% (night) to 14% (day) of the Caridina population appeared to be epibenthic. We suggest that the behavior of the animal is consistent with the hypothesis that it is not a strict detritivore as previously reported; rather it may engage in facultative planktivory, especially at night.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42890/1/10750_2004_Article_BF00036467.pd