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

Geopolitics at the margins? Reconsidering genealogies of critical geopolitics

Critical geopolitics has become one of the most vibrant parts of political geography. However it remains a particularly western way of knowing which has been much less attentive to other traditions of thinking. This paper engages with Pan-Africanism, and specifically the vision of the architect of post-colonial Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, to explore this overlooked contribution to critical engagements with geopoli- tics. Pan-Africanism sought to forge alternative post-colonial worlds to the binary geopolitics of the Cold War and the geopolitical economy of neo-colonialism. The academic division of labour has meant that these ideas have been consigned to African studies rather than being drawn into wider debates around the definitions of key disciplinary concepts. However Nyerere’s continental thinking can be seen as a form of geopolitical imagination that challenges dominant neo-realist projections, and which still has much to offer contemporary political geography

Ventricular encephalitis associated with leukaemic lymphosarcoma in a bovine calfEncephalite ventriculaire liee au lymphosarcome leucemique chez un veau

A female Ayrshire calf aged three months was referred to the clinic with a history of generalized lymph node enlargement and failure to thrive. Physical examination revealed enlargement of all peripheral lymph nodes and haemonodes. A lymph node biopsy showed many immature lymphocytes in various phases of mitosis. Examination of a blood sample revealed normocytic normochromic anaemia, with many immature and abnormally shaped red blood cells. Although leukocyte count was within the normal range, lymphocytes were the majority (94%), with neutrophils constituting only 6%. Other leukocytes were absent. There were many immature and abnormal lymphocytes, similarly, there were immature and abnormal neutrophils. As a result, a clinical diagnosis of leukaemic lymphosarcoma was made. The calf died two weeks after admission. Postmortem examination revealed emaciation, enlargement of all lymph nodes, with involvement of the haemonodes, liver, kidneys and bone marrow. Microscopically, there were lymphocytic infiltrations in the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, abomasum, leptomeninges of the brain and in the subependymal areas of the ventricular system. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 54(2) 2006: 100-10

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

Africa Insight

Africa Insight is published quarterly by the Africa Institute of South Africa, an independent think-tank focusing on African affairs.This journal focuses on contemporary issues of Afric

Africa Insight

Africa Insight is published quarterly by the Africa Institute of South Africa, an independent think-tank focusing on African affairs.This journal focuses on contemporary issues of Afric