ANTHRAX.

 

Agribusiness: Goat processing in an abattoir.

  Interested in abattoir business? thinking  of investing in the sheep and goat business? planning to start an abattoir to provide wholesome products to the populace? then take a look at this clean method of dehairing sheep and goat.

   

Camera fitted on sheep in Faroe Islands to create Google Street View.

The Faroe Islands have some of the most beautiful roads in the world. It is impossible to describe what it feels like driving through the green valleys and up the mountains, or alongside the ocean, surrounded by steep drops and tall cliffs. It’s an experience like no other. A group the sheep view 360 decided to show case their world,to a bigger world by helping Google to come on line. The island will be picked up easily by Google as sites and sounds of Faroe. Faroe Islands with a population of 49,000 isn't always the first place to benefit from new technology. Residents are strapping cameras to sheep across the islands in a bid to get the country on Google Street View. The project dubbed Sheep View 360 ,a team with the help of a local shepherd and engineer to build a harness, have been capturing photos of the 18 islands. Durita Dahl Andreassen, Faroe Islands, the leader of the movement,gently placed a 360˚ camera, powered by a solar panel, on the back of a sheep that would take photographs as the animal freely grazed the open hillsides of the Faroe Islands .Photos are then transmitted back to his mobile phone so that he can upload them to Google Street View and finally putting the Faroes on the map in a very unique way. As at today panoramic images from five locations have been uploaded to the service and a 360 degree video gives a tour of the island, from the perspective of a sheep. "My sheep are great for capturing the tracks and trails of the Faroe Islands, but in order to cover the big sweeping Faroese roads and the whole of the breath-taking landscapes, we need Google to come and map them." Google hasn't commented on whether it will map the islands and it's possible for anyone to upload photos to Street View. This can be done using a phone, DSLR camera or specialist Trekker cameras, which can be borrowed from Google. These cameras can be strapped onto the back of a wearer and will capture the view as they walk around. This approach will develop better business models and trade strategies as well as grow the tourism industry.This is actually the new rave of marketing ,business pitching and entertainment in the VR world. Contributed by Wired UK.

Tuberculosis in man.

Cattle infected with bovine tuberculosis are spreading infections to humans by the following routes ;eating unpasteurized milk products form infected herds is a prime source of infection and Living and working in close proximity to infected animals also puts humans at risk. In 2014, an estimated 9.6 million people were infected by tuberculosis, according to the World Health Organization. Potentially fatal -- 1.5 million died from it the same year -- it is a disease known to be spread from human to human. But a subset of those contracting the disease today are getting it from infected animals. Tuberculosis can spread through your food, as well as the air, via infected animals.The most common culprits are infected cattle and the most common source are their infected food products, such as milk and cheese. Cows and many other animals can harbor bovine tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis -- a close relative of the bacteria that cause human tuberculosis. Risk of human disease rises when animal infections aren't controlled. The existence of Bovine TB among animals and humans is not unique to the Americas. The disease is found globally, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia, and in a 2012 study by the International Livestock Research Institute, more than 7% of livestock screened globally tested positive for the disease. "[In India] people are very intimately associated with their cows ... we look after the cattle, men sleep in the area where cattle are tethered ... the proximity is very close," says Krishna Prasad Hanumanthappa from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Hanumanthappa has seen the presence of both regular and bovine TB cow milk in India. Here, however, he says ingestion is not the main concern."The practice of boiling milk has been one of the greatest safeguards we've had on transmission," says Hanumanthappa. He instead worries about the disease spreading through other means. Bacteria can be excreted through fecal matter, urine, coughs, and sneezes," he explains. In most countries in Africa, bovine TB is endemic, but experts say regular milk pasteurization and slaughterhouse meat inspections are rare. "We used to see a lot of cattle slaughtered with TB lesions in the lungs of the animals ... and locals eat these products," says Simeon Cadmus, from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His recent study of a sample of livestock workers in Nigeria found 6-7% of traders and butchers to be infected with TB of some kind. Cadmeus also worries about people rearing cattle who live closely with their cows. "They eat, drink and stay all their lives with their cattle," says Cadmeus who adds that further studies of his among herds have found 40-60% of cattle infected. "Because of poor animal health issues ... the pastoralists also get infected," he says. Read more here; http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/23/health/tuberculosis-from-animals/index.html

CHRONICLES OF A VET.!!!

Every case is unique and the pet owners as well,so understanding your clients is the major step to success of the case. A client brought in a male dog today with the following signs; 1) swollen eye. 2) redness 3) watery discharges . The owner explained that the dog's eye was normal a day before,but early this morning these signs where obvious. When questioning the client further, he remembered the dog had killed a skunk overnight.This gave the clue to cause since all other questions had negative answers, the skunk must have sprayed some of the irritating fluid into the eye setting up an inflammatory reaction. Skunks common around most homes and they are not really aggressive ,they only spray their fluids to deter predators.The fluids are produced in the tail,have horrible smell that travels as far as 3 meters. The eye was examined and swabbed with normal saline , eye ointment with antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties was applied. The dog was placed on systemic antibiotics for 3 days and vitamin C. Pet owners need to ensure their home is pet-safe.!!!.

VITAMINS FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

Vitamins are handy and vital for your animal health.When animals are exposed to stressors such as fatigue, diseases,vaccination,environmental changes,dehydration e.t.c. Give this vitamin supplement to restore health. Vitamins very beneficial to regulate metabolic reactions, keep it in your box.

REARING SMALL RUMINANTS FOR FOOD SECURITY.

Small ruminants  are a viable source of protein,hence are important in the food chain.The rearing process is throughout the year because the period of gestation is 5 months.

The animals are in high demand during festive periods,although they could be found all year round in various food joints because of a sector of the populace that favors these breeds.

 The sheep and goat section is a prominent part of the abattoir operations,and are readily available in meat shops.The raising of the ruminants could be large scale or small scale depending on the financial capacity of the individual.

The breeds of the ruminant selected for the venture are those that can tolerate weather conditions and resistant to diseases.The common breeds include,west African dwarf, Yankasa,Balami,Sokoto red and Maradi.

                  BENEFITS OF RAISING SMALL RUMINANT

. 1) economic value; the animals can be raised,fattened and sold for profit.The kids and lambs can be sorted and reserved to increase herd size .

 2) Provision of much needed protein to promote growth and development of the populace. 

 3)employment opportunity; people who raise these animals actively engage services of herds men,laborers and other assistant to manage the venture.

 4) Its a way to ensure food security.

                  SELECTION OF ANIMALS FOR REARING

. 1) Animals must be sourced from reliable stock,with proven health status.

2 )The animals must be physically fit, and must conform to breed characteristics.

 3)There must be no sign of ill health such as skin diseases,cough,watery/red eyes and diarrhea.

 4)The animals must be weighty, not obese and young animals are to sourced.

 5)Dont buy during festive peaks as the prices will be astronomical thus increasing cost of production.
The animals are raised in clean,dry and ventilated housing.The housing preference depends on the keeper. The animals might be housed in groups in various housing,or they are left to graze round the compound and are provided with shelter on a side in the farm.

The advantage of housing in groups and feeding far out ways other methods.The house should be on well drained land to prevent flooding /wetness which will make the animals prone to foot rot.

The house is usually made of wood and covered with sheets,,the floor is made of roughened concrete with slants so that the animal wont slip and washing of pen is easy

. The feeding accounts for 65-70% of production,and the main source is grass of various types that are chopped and provided.

The animals to be fattened need to be provided with other feed sources so that they mature fast.These feed sources are commercial feed formulated for growth and maintenance. Water is essential for the ruminants,thus cool,clean water should be provided everyday. Mineral supplements are provided in form of salt licks.

                    HEALTH MANAGEMENT.

 1)Quarantine new stock,before release to the farm.

 2)stabilize new stock, by deworing and placing on vitamins

 3)Eradicate ectoparasites,by using appropriate chemicals for tick bath.