The use of preserved colostrum for rearing replacement dairy calves: calf performance, economics and on-farm practicability in Kenya

A total of 133 observations on mean daily mass gains from 19 calves reared on either whole milk (control) or preserved colostrum (treatment) were estimated. The control group had a total of 104 observations computed, while the treatment group had a total of 29 observations. There was no significant difference in the overall mean daily mass gains between the treatment and control groups which were 0,2257 and 0,3607 kg, respectively (P < 0,1 ). Partial budgeting analysis estimated that with an annual calf crop of 80 calves, the use of preserved colostrum would result in a direct saving of an estimated US$1 ,800 per year for the farm.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Canadian International Development Agency (C.I.D.A.) through the University of Nairobi-University of Guelph.mn201

Prevalence of microorganisms associated with udder infections in dairy goats on small-scale farms in Kenya : short communication

Six hundred and thirty clinically-normal milk samples from dairy goat flocks comprising a mixed population of German Alpine, Toggenburg, Saanen and Galla crosses were exam-ined over a 3-month period to determine the prevalence of bacterial organisms. Bacteria were isolated in 28.7 % of the milk samples (181/630) either singly (92.8 %) or in combination (7.2 %). The most prevalent bacterial organisms were Staphylococcus spp. (60.3 %), followed by Micrococcus spp. (17.7 %), Acinetobacter spp. (5 %), Actinomyces spp. (5%) and Streptococcus spp. (1.1 %). The Staphylococcus spp. were mainly coagulase negative (64.3 %). Coagulase-- negative staphylococci and coagulase-positive staphylococci accounted for 37.5 % and 22.7 % respectively of the total bacteria isolated. The isolation of bacteria, some of which are important in clinical and subclinical mastitis, in apparently normal caprine milk, indicates that particular attention should be given to the management of these dairy goat flocks in order to avoid the development of cases of clinical mastitis

Experimental transmission of Besnoitia caprae in goats : research communication

Experimental transmission of Besnoitia caprae from naturally chronically-infected goats to susceptible ones was achieved by intra-nasal instillation and intra-conjunctival inoculation of cystozoite-containing suspensions, subcutaneous implantation of fascia containing cysts and alternate needle pricking between the infected and non-infected goats. Typical chronic symptoms developed in the fascia-infected does. Cystozoite inoculation into the eyes and mouth did not result in infection. Kids born of dams with acute and chronic besnoitiosis did not contract the infection in utero, suggesting that intra-uterine transmission may not occur. In contrast to does with acute besnoitiosis, which occasionally aborted, the does with chronic besnoitiosis gave birth to healthy kids. Kids below the age of 4 months (pre-weaned period) born of both infected and non-infected does were susceptible to besnoitiosis but appeared to be more resistant than adult goats

An outbreak of urticarial form of swine erysipelas in a medium-scale piggery in Kiambu District, Kenya : case reoprt

This report concerns an outbreak that occurred during July/August 1997. Ten pigs from a herd of 181 pigs in a medium-scale, semi-closed piggery in Kiambu District, Kenya, contracted the clinical disease. The main clinical findings in affected pigs included: fever (40.5-41.8 oC), prostration, inappetence, dog-sitting posture, abortion, erythema and raised, firm to the touch and easily palpated light pink to dark purple diamond-shaped to square/rectangular spots on the skin around the belly and the back. Based on the pathognomonic skin lesions, a clinical diagnosis of swine erysipelas was made. The diagnosis was confirmed by the isolation of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae organisms from the blood and skin biopsies taken from the affected pigs. Response to treatment with a combination of procaine penicillin and dihydrostreptomycin at the dosage rate of 20 000 IU/kg body weight (based on procaine penicillin) for 3 days was good and all the affected pigs recovered fully. The farm was placed under quarantine to prevent spread of the disease

Prognostic indicators of post partum viability of kids born to Escherichia coli-vaccinated or unvaccinated does : research communication

This study was undertaken to determine some blood and other physiological parameters with potential for use as prognostic indicators of viability of newborn goat kids. Of the 143 kids born during the on-farmstudy, 97 were crosses of Galla × Small East African (SEA) and 46 were pure SEA. The SEA × Galla kids were 46 single males, with a mean body weight at birth of 2.77 ± 0.22 kg , 43 females with a mean body weight at birth of 2.36 ± 0.76 kg and 5 and 3 sets of female and male twins (mean body weight at birth of 1.8 ± 0.19 kg and 2.05 ± 0.07 kg for the female and male kids, respectively). The SEA kids comprised 36 single male and female kids (mean body weight at birth of 2.48 ± 0.04 kg and 10 sets of twins (both male and female) (mean body weight at birth of 1.50 ± 0.04 kg ). Pre-suckling sera obtained on-station from kids born of does vaccinated against Escherichia coli (n = 8) and unvaccinated does (n = 7) had a total protein content of < 40.0 g/l and no detectable levels of IgG and A or E. coli antibodies. Sera obtained 12 hours post partum from kids that survived in both groups contained about 19-22 g of Ig g/ , 50-80 g total protein/ , blood glucose of >5 mmol/l and had an E. coli antibody titre of between 1/160 and 1/640. On the other hand, kids that died within 48 hours of birth (parturient deaths) and had been classified in categories 3 and 4 righting reaction had low (< 40 g//l ) total protein, low white blood cell count (4000/m/l ) and low blood glucose concentration (< 4.9 mmol//l ). It is concluded that kids with delayed righting reaction (> 45 minutes), low rectal temperature (< 36 °C), low birth weights (< 1.5 kg for singles and < 1.0 kg for twins), low white blood cells (< 4000/ m/l ), low (< 2 mmol/l ) blood glucose levels, low total protein (< 40.0 g//l ), low (< 1:160) E. coli antibody titre and IgG ( < 3350 mg//l ) in sera obtained 12 hours after birth have a poor prognosis for survival

Target priority transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses in the IGAD region for control interventions

Prioritization of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonoses in the IGAD region was conducted by IGAD Member States, namely, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan together with support from ICPALD and AU-IBAR. The main aim of the exercise was to develop clear control strategies and policies for focussing disease control efforts and the limited resources on few diseases in order to achieve efficient and effective disease control. The prioritization methodology for transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses according to Phylum was applied, taking into considerations, economic impact, human health importance, societal impact, environmental impact, feasibility of control methods and the ecological impact of the diseases. Overall, Rift Valley fever had the highest rank, followed by Contagious Bovine  Pleuropneumonia, Newcastle Disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Lumpy Skin Disease, Peste des Petits des Ruminants, Rabies,  Brucellosis, Bovine Tuberculosis, Foot-and Mouth Disease and Sheep and Goat Pox. In conclusion, the IGAD region is encouraged to facilitate systematic efforts  towards rolling forth priority diseases through focused national efforts, harmonized regional strategies and streamlined stakeholder investment in the region.Key words: Target, priority, animal diseases, zoonoses, control, interventions, IGAD region Maladies animales transfrontalières et zoonoses prioritaires Ciblées dans la région IGAD pour les interventions de contrôle Les États membres de l’IGAD, à savoir Djibouti, l’Éthiopie, l’Érythrée, la Somalie, le Soudan du Sud et le Soudan, ont procédé à une définition des maladies animales transfrontières et zoonoses prioritaires dans la région IGAD, avec le soutien de l’ICPALD et de l’UA-BIRA. L’objectif principal de cette priorisation était d’élaborer des stratégies et politiques de contrôle claires visant à concentrer les efforts de contrôle des maladies et les rares ressources disponibles sur certaines maladies afin de parvenir à un contrôle efficace et efficient. La méthodologie de priorisation des maladies animales transfrontalières et des zoonoses selon leur phylum a été appliquée, en prenant en considérations l’impact économique, l’importance pour la santé humaine, l’impact sociétal, l’impact environnemental, la faisabilité des  méthodes de contrôle et l’impact écologique des maladies. Dans l’ensemble, la fièvre de la vallée du Rift a été mise en tête des priorités, suivie de la péripneumonie  contagieuse bovine, la maladie de Newcastle, l’influenza aviaire hautement pathogène, la dermatose nodulaire contagieuse, la peste des petits ruminants, la rage, la brucellose, la tuberculose bovine, la fièvre aphteuse et la clavelée du mouton et la variole caprine. En conclusion, la région IGAD est encouragée à faciliter des efforts systématiques visant à contrôler les maladies prioritaires à travers des activités nationales ciblées, des stratégies régionales harmonisées et une rationalisation des investissements des parties prenantes dans la région.Mots-clés : ciblées, prioritaire, maladies animales, zoonoses, contrôle, interventions, région IGA