Constraints to Profitability of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Nyeri South Sub-County, Kenya

Aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate the constraints to profitability of small holder dairy farmers in Nyeri South Sub-county. The study was guided by the following  specific  objectives; to establish the production methods used by smallholder dairy farmers and their impact in profitability in Nyeri South  Sub-county, to examine how the cost of production affects profitability of smallholder dairy farmer, to establish how government policy interventions in the dairy market influence the profitability of smallholder dairy farmers and to find out  social economic factors that affect profitability of smallholder dairy farmers. Study design: The study employed a descriptive research design. Place and duration of the study: The target population for the study included all the dairy farmers in Nyeri South Sub-county and took a period of three months. Methodology applied: Simple random sampling and stratified technique were used to select a sample of 131 farmers. The data was collected using questionnaires. A pilot study was used to determine the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. Analysis: The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Relationships between independent variables and the dependent variable were established using regression analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was applied. Results: The study found that that there was a statistically significant relationship (F=19.68, P<0.05) between Production methods, Production costs, Social Economic Factors, Government Policy and profitability of smallholder dairy farmers. Socio-economic factors had the greatest effect on profitability with a unit increase of social economic factors resulting in a 29.6% increase in profitability. Changes in production methods, production costs, socio-economic factors and government policy explain 56.1% of profitability of small scale dairy farmers. Conclusions: The researchers concluded that population growth and increased land fragmentation coupled with mixed farming practices have seen fodder production lowering.  This forces the farmers to highly rely on expensive manufactured feed and thus reducing their incomes. Recommendations: The researchers recommended that dairy farmers should use better husbandry practices to improve production and reduce cost. Dairy farmers can improve access to land through leasing. The government should make capacity building programmes more accessible to dairy farmers as well as improve their support services to them. These would promote production and income in the dairy sector hence dairy farmers’ profitability in the sector. Keywords: Artificial Insemination, Brokers, Dairy Farming, Extension Officers, Fodder, Productivity, Profitability/ Return, Zero Grazin

Extraction and analysis of tea (Camellia sinensis) seed oil from different clones in Kenya

Kenyan tea (Camellia sinensis) is widely grown for its leaves and is commercialized as black tea. Product diversification and value addition is currently an area of great interest. This study provides data on the physico-chemical properties of Kenyan tea seed oil from selected clones of tea seeds to ascertain its potential applications. Soxhlet extraction using hexane was employed to obtain tea seed oil followed by chemical analysis to assess its properties. Oil yield, iodine value, saponification value, peroxide value, free fatty acids, total polyphenols and antioxidant activity were determined. The oil yields ranged between 16 to 25% w/w. Iodine value was in the range of 86 to 91 g I2/100 g, peroxide value < 3.5 meq O2/kg, saponification value between 182 to 187 mg KOH/g, free fatty acid < 1.5% oleic acid, total polyphenols 0.036 to 0.043 mg/L gallic acid and antioxidant activity of between 14 to 21% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. Tea seed oil is stable and can be a potential source of natural antioxidants.Keywords: Tea seed oil, iodine value, saponification value, peroxide value, free fatty acids, total polyphenols, antioxidant activityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(8), pp. 841-84

Biochemical quality indices of sorghum genotypes from east Africa for malting and brewing

There is a gradual shift to substitute barley with sorghum in brewing industry to reduce the cost of doing business and make beer products more competitive. This study evaluates the sorghum genotypes for desirable malting and brewing characteristics. Biochemical characteristics assayed for 131 sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] accessions included total starch, amylopectin, amylose, proteins, tannins contents, germination energy and germination capacity. Results indicate that starch contents ranged from 22.8 - 81.2%, amylose from 11.5 - 30.2% while the amylopectin content ranged from 6.6 - 59.8%. Generally, amylose contents of sorghum genotypes were lower than their amylopectin contents, with a ratio of 1:2. The mean protein content for the sorghum accessions was 9.4% with a range of 3 - 18%, while that of barley was from 7.7 - 9.8%. Germination energy and germination capacity for sorghum ranged from 82.9 - 99.8% and 74.0 to 99.5%, respectively. Barley varieties showed germination energy and capacity greater than 98%. Sorghum tannin contents ranged from 2.55 mg/100 ml to as high as 100 mg/100 ml while barley varieties had tannin contents of 8.9 to 10.3 mg/100 ml. Two genotypes, SDSA 1x ICSR 43 and SP 993520-1 were the most favorable for brewing.Keywords: Sorghum, starch, protein, tannin, germination energy, malting and brewingAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(2), pp. 313-321, 8 January, 201

Antioxidant activity and effects of Kenyan Tea (Camellia sinensis) on the liver function and serum biochemistry in male Wistar rats

Background: Tea is a beverage that is most widely consumed worldwide. Studies have shown that oral consumption of tea has health benefits however, there is paucity of data in Kenya detailing the biochemical effects of tea in the liver and elucidation of its mechanism of action.Methods: The polyphenol composition and antioxidant capacity of tea were determined by HPLC and the Folins Ciocalteu spectrophotometric methods. Metal levels were determined using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Aqueous black and green tea extracts were administered to the rats at dosages of 400mg/kg b.w.t. The effect of tea on total blood proteins, Albumin, ZHX1, TBARS, AST, ALP and ALT were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The body weight of each rat was also determined at one week interval.Results: Total Polyphenols (TP), Total Catechins (TC) and Antioxidant Activity (AA) between the black and green teas were significantly (P0.05) effect on TP, ALB, ALT, AST, ALP, MDA and ZHX1 in the test animals compared with the controls. This data indicates that green tea is rich in catechins while black tea being rich in Theaflavins (TFs) and Thearubigins (TRs). Both tea products possess essential and non-essential metals well within the maximum permissible concentrations.Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate both green and black tea aqueous extracts have polyphenols and high antioxidant activity. Administration of the aqueous tea extracts have no toxicological effect on the liver.

Determinants of genetic structure in a highly heterogeneous landscape in southwest China

Intra-specific genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity, and is key to species adaptation and persistence. However, significant knowledge gaps still exist in our understanding of the patterns of genetic diversity and their key determinants. Most previous investigations mainly utilized single-species and/or a limited number of explanatory variables; so here we mapped the patterns of plastid genetic diversity within 15 plant species, and explored the key determinants shaping these patterns using a wide range of variables. Population-level cpDNA sequence data for 15 plant species from the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region (LRGR), southwest China, were retrieved from literature and used to estimate haplotype diversity (H(D)) and population pairwise genetic differentiation (F(ST)) indices. Genetic diversity and divergence landscape surfaces were then generated based on the H(D) and F(ST), respectively, to clarify the patterns of genetic structure in the region. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationships between plastid genetic diversity and 16 explanatory variables (classified as anthropogenic, climatic, and topographic). We found that the highest genetic diversity occurred in the Yulong Mountain region, with a significant proportion (~74.81%) of the high diversity land area being located outside of protected areas. The highest genetic divergence was observed approximately along the 25°N latitudinal line, with notable peaks in the western and eastern edges of the LRGR. Genetic diversity (H(D)) was weakly but significantly positively correlated with both Latitude (lat) and Annual Mean Wet Day Frequency (wet), yet significantly negatively correlated with all of Longitude (long), Annual Mean Cloud Cover Percent (cld), Annual Mean Anthropogenic Flux (ahf), and Human Footprint Index (hfp). A combination of climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic factors explained a significant proportion (78%) of genetic variation, with topographic factors (lat and long) being the best predictors. Our analysis identified areas of high genetic diversity (genetic diversity “hotspots”) and divergence in the region, and these should be prioritized for conservation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the features that shape the distribution of plastid genetic diversity in the LRGR and thus would inform conservation management efforts in this species-rich, but vulnerable region

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM L. FROM DIFFERENT POPULATIONS OF KENYA

Hydro-distilled volatile oils from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) of 13 populations of different silvicultural zones were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aereus, Bacillus spp.) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Samonella typhi, Klebisiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis) bacteria and a pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. All the essential oils are active to the tested microbiles with different strength. The highest antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosae and Proteus mirabilis) was observed from the eastern Kenya (Meru) oil. Meru oil was the best and its effectiveness was consistent on nearly all the microbes tested. The oil from the plant growing in the coastal region of Kenya (Mombasa) showed the best effect only on Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis). Both oils (Meru and Mombasa) were dominated by monoterpenes accounting for 92.48 % and 81.37 % respectively. The monoterpene fraction was characterized by a high percentage of eugenol (68.8 %) for Meru oil and 74.10 % for Mombasa oil. The other major monoterpene was methyl eugenol (13.21 %). Camphor (0.95 %) was observed only in the Meru oil. (Cis)-Ocimene, (trans)-ocimene and β-pinene were present in both Meru and Mombasa oils. The sesquiterpenes present in fairly good amounts in both oils were germacrene D and (trans)-caryophyllene. The minor sesquiterpenes were α-farnesene (0.85 %) and β-bisabolene (0.74 %) which were present in the Meru oil only

Appropriateness of clinical severity classification of new WHO childhood pneumonia guidance : a multi-hospital, retrospective, cohort study

Background: Management of pneumonia in many low-income and middle-income countries is based on WHO guidelines that classify children according to clinical signs that define thresholds of risk. We aimed to establish whether some children categorised as eligible for outpatient treatment might have a risk of death warranting their treatment in hospital. Methods: We did a retrospective cohort study of children aged 2–59 months admitted to one of 14 hospitals in Kenya with pneumonia between March 1, 2014, and Feb 29, 2016, before revised WHO pneumonia guidelines were adopted in the country. We modelled associations with inpatient mortality using logistic regression and calculated absolute risks of mortality for presenting clinical features among children who would, as part of revised WHO pneumonia guidelines, be eligible for outpatient treatment (non-severe pneumonia). Findings: We assessed 16 162 children who were admitted to hospital in this period. 832 (5%) of 16 031 children died. Among groups defined according to new WHO guidelines, 321 (3%) of 11 788 patients with non-severe pneumonia died compared with 488 (14%) of 3434 patients with severe pneumonia. Three characteristics were strongly associated with death of children retrospectively classified as having non-severe pneumonia: severe pallor (adjusted risk ratio 5·9, 95% CI 5·1–6·8), mild to moderate pallor (3·4, 3·0–3·8), and weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) less than −3 SD (3·8, 3·4–4·3). Additional factors that were independently associated with death were: WAZ less than −2 to −3 SD, age younger than 12 months, lower chest wall indrawing, respiratory rate of 70 breaths per min or more, female sex, admission to hospital in a malaria endemic region, moderate dehydration, and an axillary temperature of 39°C or more. Interpretation: In settings of high mortality, WAZ less than −3 SD or any degree of pallor among children with non-severe pneumonia was associated with a clinically important risk of death. Our data suggest that admission to hospital should not be denied to children with these signs and we urge clinicians to consider these risk factors in addition to WHO criteria in their decision making

Relationships between Parental Education and Overweight with Childhood Overweight and Physical Activity in 9-11 Year Old Children: Results from a 12-Country Study

Background: Globally, the high prevalence of overweight and low levels of physical activity among children has serious implications for morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood. Various parental factors are associated with childhood overweight and physical activity. The objective of this paper was to investigate relationships between parental education or overweight, and (i) child overweight, (ii) child physical activity, and (iii) explore household coexistence of overweight, in a large international sample. Methods: Data were collected from 4752 children (9-11 years) as part of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment in 12 countries around the world. Physical activity of participating children was assessed by accelerometry, and body weight directly measured. Questionnaires were used to collect parents' education level, weight, and height. Results: Maternal and paternal overweight were positively associated with child overweight. Higher household coexistence of parent-child overweight was observed among overweight children compared to the total sample. There was a positive relationship between maternal education and child overweight in Colombia 1.90 (1.23-2.94) [odds ratio (confidence interval)] and Kenya 4.80 (2.21-10.43), and a negative relationship between paternal education and child overweight in Brazil 0.55 (0.33-0.92) and the USA 0.54 (0.33-0.88). Maternal education was negatively associated with children meeting physical activity guidelines in Colombia 0.53 (0.33-0.85), Kenya 0.35 (0.19-0.63), and Portugal 0.54 (0.31-0.96). Conclusions: Results are aligned with previous studies showing positive associations between parental and child overweight in all countries, and positive relationships between parental education and child overweight or negative associations between parental education and child physical activity in lower economic status countries. Relationships between maternal and paternal education and child weight status and physical activity appear to be related to the developmental stage of different countries. Given these varied relationships, it is crucial to further explore familial factors when investigating child overweight and physical activity