Solar incubator reduces hatchery expenses for farmer.

The high cost of the incubators and electricity bills drove Godfrey Ng’ang’a into making solar powered machine for himself and other farmers.The Kiambu County farmer bought his first to machines from South Africa and China with the hope of getting cost-saving and efficient equipment than those sold locally. Although the South Africa made incubator, which he bought at Sh140,000, was efficient, its power consumption was inhibiting; it required 45kwatts per day. That could cost him about Sh11,000 for 21 days. The high cost of management and lack of efficiency prompted him to make his own solar version. The comparison of the two incubators in materials and technology gave Ng’ang’a an idea of making incubators that use solar energy to reduce his expenditure on electricity. He used galvanized aluminium metal sheet, turpentine, transparent glass, nails, rivets, among other materials, to produce the incubator, which is powered by solar harnessed from the sun.The use of solar incubators has enabled him cut production costs. more

Why vaccinations are important for pets.

One of the most discussed pet issue is vaccination,with various takes by various school of thoughts. A faction believe that vaccination should be minimal,others believe that it should be regulated and administered at various intervals. There is a sect that believes vaccines are not important but only a gimmick to get money from pet-owners,while others believe that vaccines could be sidelined,that pets dont need vaccines. The truth is this, vaccines are necessary for health and well being of your pets, if you love your pets you will vaccinate them.Viral infections can be prevented by vaccinations and the common viral infections in the dog population are Canine Distemper , Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus . The incidence is low in countries where vaccination is encouraged,thus ensuring pet health and safety. Vaccinations are the only method to prevent viral infections,so if vaccines are not administered on exposure to such infections,death is imminent. Dogs are usually vaccinated using the DHLPP vaccine that covers 5 deadly diseases.,and also the public health disease rabies. Dogs not vaccinated are usually a foci of infection in the dog community and consequently spreading infection. When dogs are not vaccinated especially for rabies, they pose a threat not only to the dog community but to humans as well. Vaccination is important for pet health and safety. The risk of adverse reactions to vaccines is real but as with any medication side effects can occur. It is important to only have your pet vaccinated when they are healthy, and observe them more carefully for 24 hours post-vaccination. They may sleep more but this is normal as the body works hard to produce the antibodies against future exposure to disease. Vaccinations are highly recommended for pet health, follow the pet health plan.

2017 set to be the ‘Year of Sustainable Grassland’.

Countries are revamping and re-positioning their dairy sector by improving and expanding grass cultivation. In Ireland,a new initiative launched by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will see 2017 become the ‘Year of Sustainable Grassland’,according to AgriLand. The year-long project will see an extra focus placed on the productivity, utilization and sustainability of grass by the by the Department, its agencies and other stakeholders.It also aims to focus on the international reputation of Ireland’s grass based production systems. Grass is at the heart of efficient dairy and livestock systems and is recognized and valued by international customers as a sustainable system.The aim of the initiative is to improve grass productivity and utilization and to enhance and promote awareness of the sustainability of Ireland’s grass-based production system, according to the Department. Efficient utilization of grassland through greater emphasis on soil health can increase the carbon efficiency of increased production.This would also reduce the loss of nutrients and release of gasses into the atmosphere, while improving the soils capacity to act as a carbon sink. In Nigeria, the plan to setup grassland is ongoing more

The dairy farm in the desert producing 11 litres of milk every second.

Some 22,500 cows are milked on the Al Badiah dairy farm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia four times each day, producing a jaw-dropping 11L of milk every second.

The Al Badiah farm is fitted with six rapid-exit milking parlours, each consisting of two 75-unit ‘stalls’ running parallel to each other. 

 The scale and size of the equipment is needed to collect approximately 960,000L of milk produced by the cows daily. 

 Hygiene is important and upon entering the parlour the cows teats are disinfected. Once milking is completed the milking system is flushed with iodine and water. The volume of milk produced ensures that a laden milk tanker leaves the farm every 40 minutes. At any one time on Al Badiah, 52% of the herd should be in calf. A ‘quiet day’ on the farm would see about 45 cows being calved, but on ‘busy days’ that number rises to over 100. 

 All of the heifer calves are kept on the farm; bull calves are sold at two-to-three weeks of age. There are 52 silage pits on the Al Badiah farm, with maize silage being the main feedstuff. The farm uses approximately 1,000t of feed each day.

Healthy tips for raising antibiotic free broilers (ABF).

An Indiana-based producer with more than 15 years’ experience raising broilers without antibiotics — offers these tips for ensuring a strong, healthy and efficient bird: Muller poultry has been raising broilers without antibiotics (ABF) and these are their tips. 

 1) Start with healthy stock that have been proven over the years.Miller Poultry now exclusively raises Aviagen Ross 708. While the line has a reputation for being a “big-bird breed” that requires more nutrients than other lines, they seem to have fewer leg problems — a common trouble spot in ABF production — and a higher yield at processing, according to live operations director Stephen Shepard. 

 2) Understand that gut health is the key to success in production. Birds with healthy guts absorbs food properly,grow fast and are disease free. Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis (NE) are their biggest health challenges. To help prevent coccidiosis — a prerequisite for managing NE — Miller Poultry leans on vaccines all year long for its organic birds.

 3) lightening techniques,the first 7 days in the life of birds are critical and hence great care must be taken to ensure growth and stability. The lightening procedure of lights on to ensure birds can see at night for feed can be manipulated for better effects. 

The use of LED lights have been shown to boost growth and hence productivity. see Miller Poultry is experimenting with LED tube lights along the water and feed lines, making the inside of a dimly lighted broiler house look like an airport runway at night. 

The lighting, Shepard says, attracts the birds and ensures good feed and water intake. 4) Rotate medication ,feed and vaccines. Miller Poultry was a big user of a recombinant vaccine for Marek’s disease and infectious bursal disease (IBD). In recent years, however, they’ve been rotating in traditional live IBD vaccines to get better protection against shedding — a known shortcoming with continuous use of recombinants. 

 Maintaining healthy bursas is important in any production system, it is especially critical for ABF operations to help optimize immunity. 

 5) Vaccinating year-round for Escherichia coli is a common practice in the industry for broiler-breeders and layers.E. coli typically emerges in broilers as a secondary infection to infectious bronchitis virus or reovirus, and can lead to high numbers of condemnations in the processing plant when birds are harvested . 

 Miller poultry administers the E. coli vaccine at day 1 via hatchery spray, sometimes in combination with a coccidiosis vaccine.

How to produce fertilizer from cow urine.

Cow urine is a good organic fertilizer and pesticide and its best for the cultivation of spinach .Its used as an organic pesticide, as it can prevent some attacks by the insects . Cow urine is an effective organic fertilizer used in india ,Nepal e.t.c. The cow urine can be used alone or mixed with some other ingredients to get better results. The urine mixture must not be applied directly to the crops you need to dilute it 10% water before you apply to the vegetables.more

How to use groundnut cake as organic fertilizer.

Ground nut cake can be used as a organic fertilizer in our farms,but cannot be applied directly if the benefits are to be exhibited. The method of use is as follows; 1) Take a handful of the groundnut cake and pour in one litre of water. 2)Let mixture stand for 3 days. 3) To use mix solution to 2 parts of water and spray veggies once a week.

How to make organic fertilizer from cow urine.

Cattle urine can be a good alternative to replace chemical fertilizers. When the urine is fermented for 15 days along with neem (Azadirachta indica), it can be sprayed over agricultural field to repel insects. Sap-feeding pests and foliar insects can be better controlled by spraying cattle urine and with fewer adverse effects than those presented by traditional pesticides.more Cow urine is a good organic fertilizer and pesticide and its best for the cultivation of spinach .Its used as an organic pesticide, as it can prevent some attacks by the insects . Cow urine is an effective organic fertilizer used in india ,Nepal e.t.c. The cow urine can be used alone or mixed with some other ingredients to get better results. The urine mixture must not be applied directly to the crops you need to dilute it 10% water before you apply to the vegetables. The ratio is 1: 10 that is 1 litter cow urine diluted with 10 litter of water. The ingredients needed to make the fertilizer are as follows 1) cow urine. 2) Bird's eye chili 3) bar soap. Method. 1) slice bar soap and mix with 0.5 litre of water. 2)Grind the bird's chilli pepper and mix with solution above. 3) Then mix the new solution with 1 litre of cow urine,mix thoroughly and filter. 4) To use add 10 litres of water. source

Cow urine as a low cost alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Cattle urine can be a good alternative to replace chemical fertilizers. When the urine is fermented for 15 days along with neem (Azadirachta indica), it can be sprayed over agricultural field to repel insects. Sap-feeding pests and foliar insects can be better controlled by spraying cattle urine and with fewer adverse effects than those presented by traditional pesticides. A recent study suggests that cattle urine has antifungal properties against Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii, the organisms responsible for the major fungal diseases one usually encounters out in the field. A research study suggests that rhizome rot pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zinziberi, Pythium aphanidermatum and Ralstonia solanacearum can be efficiently managed using cow urine extracts. According to H.P. University, entomology laboratory, cow urine along with Vitex negundo and Ferula asafetida can be an eco-friendly way of controlling insects and pests that affect wheat and paddy crops. The same laboratory also concluded that cabbage aphids can be drastically reduced using an ash and soil mixture along with cow urine. Diluted cattle urine can also be used as organic fertilizer by adding 10 parts of water per unit part of urine Organic fertilizers use cattle dung and urine in ample amounts. It may be due to the fact that cattle urine is a good source of urea. A study from Vishwa Ayurvedic Parishad (VAP) shows that cattle urine consists of 95% water, 2.5 % urea and the remaining 2.5 % a mixture of minerals, salts, hormones and enzymes. Nitrogen makes up 46% of urea. Demand for nitrogen, a necessary and most often abused nutrient can be significantly reduced using cattle urine as fertilizer. Furthermore, the salt and minerals found in urine help to compensate the micro nutrient deficiency in the plants. When this fertilizer is supplied through drip irrigation ,it brings the additional benefit of efficient absorption of nitrogen by plants. Countries like Nepal and India have been using cattle urine and dung as a fertilizer for thousands of years. However, with the advancement of science, farmers are now more innovative.

Rapper Akon lights up two more African nations with solar power.

Rapper Akon lights up two more African nations with solar power.The Senegalese-American artist Akon is looking skywards to splash his cash by investing in solar power projects across Africa. The rapper added The Gambia and Cape Verde to his Akon Lighting Africa initiative this weekend, a fund that already helps populations who struggle to connect to limited or absent national grids in 25 African countries. The Gambian village of Sareh Pateh, population 4,000, turned on solar street lights for the first time on Sunday night, along with power for a mosque and a pharmacy. Akon, real name Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, spent part of his childhood in a Senegalese village without electricity before settling in the United States. In Cape Verde on Saturday the musician met with Economy Minister Jose Goncalves and said he considered the poor but stable island nation to be his next investment prospect.The African Renewable Energy Initiative, launched at the Paris COP21 summit in 2015, aims to bring large-scale projects to the continent. source

How greenhouses are boosting property sales.

Agriculture is the new currency with every industry trying a slice for size. Agriculture and real estate is a fantastic merger that provides food, shelter,employment and business partnership. Agriculture and real estate see. Greenhouses are a new twist to the investment plan,the construction of greenhouses, which is the farming model being taken up by property companies is becoming an opportunity of recovering the invested capital within a year while the land is appreciating ahead of reselling. Denko Properties Consultant Gilbert Yator said more youths than before are interested in purchasing land for prospective reasons. But the inclusion of agribusiness incentives like a greenhouse is making the deal sweater as it adds value to the property. For instance, Denko Properties sells a plot in Juja, Kiambu County, at Sh630,000. The purchaser adds Sh295,000 more for the installation of the greenhouse, which is managed by the property company to generate at least a half a million shillings per year. “This investment targets the young enterprising generation that has not decided to settle, but want to invest in property for resale after appreciation of the prices. An opportunity to make an extra coin from the agribusiness without physically working in the greenhouse is contributing to the surge in this investment,” Yator said. The company has property in Kiambu, Kajiado, Nairobi, among other cosmopolitan counties and towns. After paying the extra Sh295,000, the company does all the production work until marketing, while the owner waits for the agreed money. This is perfect for the working class, who cannot be at the farm all through. Yator said the value addition, which has been adopted by many property companies, has increased the speed of selling of land by more than three times because of the recovery and turn-over rate. more

Bagging bananas to quicken maturity by two weeks.

A new research has shown that farmers, who cover banana bunches with perforated polythene bags, will quicken the maturity of the fruit by up to two weeks due to the conducive micro-climate that is created. The perforated polythene covers speed up the maturity time by between five days. The cover, which runs from the first hand to the tip, creates a micro-climate of high temperatures of an average of 0.5 degrees Celsius per 24 hours. On warmer days the ‘greenhouse’ effect micro-climate can reach 7 degrees Celsius. The cover leads to increased bunch weight due to optimum photosynthesis and reduced pests attack. The cover is placed from the base of the bunch and tied at the top, right at the scar of the first bract. Early bagging helps in preventing thrips from attacking the banana. In Central Kenya, a few farmers are adopting the method by improvisation using the common yellow polythene bags for shopping. The inner linings of synthetic fertiliser bags can also work in covering the banana hands individually or as a whole bunch. The research says thick bags increase and maintain temperatures faster and for long. Transparent covers allow in more than 90 per cent of the light required to photosynthesis while 73 per cent of the energy required in the food making process is at 73. Organic farmers around the world using this method to quicken maturity of the bananas impregnate the equipment with garlic and pepper solution to reduce thrips attack. source

How irrigation boosts banana yield by 30%.

Farmers, who regularly irrigate bananas, can boot the weight of the fruit by more than 30 per cent. More than 90 per cent of famers in Kenya- especially in Nyanza and Central regions- do not know bananas have to be irrigated like other horticultural crops for high yields. That is why some of the biggest bananas only reach 50kg to 80kg- depending on the rains. Naomi Wahu, who had a banana weighing about 110kg during a farmers’ event in Thika in February 2017, said reduced soil moisture affects food conversion in the crop for maximum weight. A plantlet requires at least 40 liters of water after planting. But as it grows, 20 litres of water must be added to the sucker until maturity,” Wahu, who is a field officer at the Aberdare Technologies Limited said. In the absence of rains, the banana sucker must get 40 to 60 litres of water every week. However, Wahu warned that excess water encourages rotting of the roots due to clogging. Bananas have broad leaves, with some spreading to more than two mitres. The leaves offer a large surface area for the loss of water through transpiration. This water, therefore, must be recovered via irrigation in absence of rain.more

Digital pen technology reports disease fast. and prevent outbreaks.

Livestock farmers in the country can now breathe a sigh of relief after the introduction of a digital pen technology used by veterinary officers to immediately report to the capital about any disease outbreak within ten seconds. The innovative tool which reports about an outbreak to the capital in ten seconds is aimed at saving millions of shillings worth of livestock which are lost due to longer periods of over three weeks that manual processes take hence making it difficult to contain an outbreak in time. The old trend has greatly been revolutionized with the Digital Pen Technology which reports about an outbreak to the capital in the shortest time span. The technology entails use of a digital pen, digital paper and an internet enabled phone. The digital paper has commands that are interlinked with the pen. It has a start and end command boxes. When one ticks the start box then the Bluetooth in the pen is activated and the pen will note anything that will be written on the paper using the camera on it and when the end box is clicked then the information is automatically stored in the pen’s memory chip. The veterinary officer just writes on the digital pare normally and then the details are recorded simultaneously by the camera on the pen to the memory chip. According to Dr. Kahariri,one of the brains behind the innovation noted, the technology is better than smart phones and gives users ample time to note the details. “Field workers and veterinarians cannot take time punching in information on a phone, trying to find the small keys on a touch screen that might be impossible to see in the bright sunlight. A digital pen, however, has a miniature infrared camera that records writing as the pen passes over paper sending the data wirelessly using Bluetooth technology to a cell phone and then onward to a central server.” The pen can store 40 forms on its’ memory chip. Once the information has been sent to the capital for analysis the platform also allows editing and adding more data on a similar report earlier keyed in. The innovative technology was first initiated by the United Nations agricultural agency; Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Since the introduction the technology, Dr. Kahariri noted that they have been able to detect and contain some of the fatal animal diseases on time and therefore improving their relations with the pastoralist communities. The digital pen technology can locate the exact position of the outbreak through GPS as the technology locates both longitude and latitude of the place. The use of the digital pen technology will help increase productivity by reducing endemic animal diseases that lower productivity but also lower zoonotic disease transmissions that threaten small-scale livestock producers in poor countries as well as human health in all countries. source

Gates, Dangote float new funding window for healthcare delivery in Kano, Yobe.

As part of its global humanitarian activities, Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with Dangote Foundation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the governments Kano and Yobe states. The aim is to boost primary health care delivery in the two states. The signing of the agreement which was witnessed by a large collection of major stakeholders various countries, was a follow up to earlier agreement entered into by the two Foundations and governments of the two states. Under the new agreement, the management of the Foundations will be partnering governments of each of the two states to float a funding basket to be used in financing Primary HealthCare Delivery in rural areas of the two states. more

Dangote to set up powder milk factory.

The Dangote Group of companies is to set up a multi-billion-shilling powder milk plant in Kenya. The conglomerate is looking at possibilities of exploiting the rich Kenyan dairy sector and the precise position, to set up a factory that would process dry milk for the Nigerian market, according to group vice-president Sani Dangote. “We will process the milk and have it shipped to Nigeria: We are first commencing with a full study to understand the value chain of the Kenyan dairy market and to evaluate the costs involved in running a full plant.” Mr Dangote said that the Nigerian market relied on a beverage company that imports in excess of 4,000 tonnes of powder milk annually. The company imports an estimated Sh1 billion worth of milk, which was still insufficient, he said. Mr Dangote said there was minimal local production of milk in the country, hence the increase in consumption of powder milk.source Mr Aliko Dangote, says 98 per cent of all dairy products consumed in the country are imported. He said that the nation was at the risk of hunger in the next few years if the mass food importation was not checked. “Ninety-eight per cent of all the milk and dairy products we consume in Nigeria are imported. “This is why Dangote Group has planned to develop dairy plants, and develop homegrown milk production, to reduce importation. more

Grazing reserves essential to boost milk production.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh says the Federal Government is working toward setting up grazing reserves across the country to curb incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers. Ogbeh, who spoke at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said he was called all sorts of names for suggesting the importation of grass for the creation of reserves, which would solve the conflict and boost milk production in the country. He explained that there were grazing reserves in the country before and the cows were then properly fed and taken care of. The minister showcased Brazil ,“Brazil took grass from Africa 25 years ago and now, they are exporting same grass to Saudi Arabia. The minister explained that when he was newly appointed, he suggested grass planting by importing grass but was called all sorts of names. He stressed that it was impossible to have grazing reserves without grass. He explained that Saudi Arabia had the largest dairy farm in the world with about 135,000 cows in one farm. The cows are very comfortable housed in an air-conditioned environment. The cows produce milk in large quantities, which is now imported into the country. He noted that we need to improve our dairy industry, by placing cattle in conducive environment so that a cow can produce 25 to 40 liters of milk per day. more

Cross-border e-commerce considered a growth rocket for sub-Saharan Africa retailers.

Thinking of a new business venture? then take advantage of the exchange rate and delve into export business. The thirst for local products has increased considerably due to fall in Naira, pushing more consumers to home grown products. There are a crop of business people that are savvy and have turned the problem to a big-time solution for exporting local products to earn forex and many are using the services of DHL. The delivery service expert has cashed in on this opportunity by providing a DHL hub in Lagos to facilitate easy freighting of cargo. Agricultural products are enjoying the spotlight with more people using this service to grow there brands and expand there capital base. DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has published research highlighting the significant growth opportunity for retailers and manufacturers with an international online product offering.The report – The 21st Century Spice Trade: A Guide to the Cross-Border E-Commerce Opportunity. Cross-border shipping is actually simple and retailers in sub-Saharan Africa are perfectly positioned to take advantage of international opportunities. More

Global harvests strong but hunger persists amid chronic conflict zones.

Global food supply conditions are robust, but access to food has been dramatically reduced in areas suffering civil conflicts, while drought conditions are worsening food security across swathes of East Africa, according to the new edition of FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation report. Some 37 countries require external assistance for food, 28 of them in Africa as a result of lingering effects of last year's El Niño-triggered droughts on harvests in 2016. Yet, while agricultural production is expected to rebound in southern Africa, protracted fighting and unrest is increasing the ranks of the displaced and hungry in other parts of the world. Famine has been formally declared in South Sudan and the food security situation is of grave concern in northern Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen. “This is an unprecedented situation. Never before have we been faced with 4 threats of famine in multiple countries simultaneously,” said FAO Assistant Director-General Kostas Stamoulis, head of the Economic and Social Development department. “It demands swift action which should consist of immediate food assistance but also livelihood support to ensure that such situations are not repeated.” In South Sudan, 100,000 people were facing famine in Leer and Mayendit Counties, part of former Unity State, while there was an "elevated risk" that similar conditions existed in two nearby counties. Overall, about 4.9 million people across the country were classified as facing crisis, emergency or famine. That number is projected to increase to 5.5 million, or almost half the country's population, at the peak of the lean season in July. In northern Nigeria, 8.1 million people are facing acute food insecurity conditions and require urgent life-saving response and livelihood protection. That comes despite the above-average cereal harvest in 2016 and reflects the disruption caused by conflict as well as the sharp depreciation of the Naira. source

Northeastern Nigeria conflict intensifies Lake Chad Basin hunger crisis.

7.1 million people are now severely food insecure across Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. . Among them are 515 000 children who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition - a condition which, if untreated, can lead to permanent damage to a child's development and even death. Violence related to the armed group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria has spilled over to parts of neighboring countries in the Lake Chad Basin - specifically, Cameroon's Far North, western Chad and southeastern Niger - with devastating effects on food security and livelihoods. With the Lake Chad Basin approaching a critical period in the agricultural calendar, FAO is urgently calling for $30 million in immediate emergency support to help farming families in the four countries get ready to plant in the upcoming May planting season and prevent them from slipping into long-term dependency on food aid. Violence has driven millions across the four countries from their homes and hampered access to agricultural lands and assets, creating massive humanitarian needs in an area already struggling with food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation. Host communities, in particular, have been struggling for several years now to feed the displaced as well as their own. more

How to use backscatter radio for soil sensor network.

The ever growing population and climate change has put pressure on food producers to come up with strategies to feed the populace using smart means so as not to disrupt the ecosystem. The internet of things has delved into agriculture,thus making it easy to monitor agricultural activities with sensors, radio frequency identification, drones and robots. The use of various gadgets to facilitate increased productivity has pushed technology into the agricultural land to ensure food security. One of such innovative method is the use of backscatter radio for soil sensor, the Soil Moisture Scatter Radio Networking with Low Power by Spyridon-Nektarios Daskalakis. The soil sensor switches half of an etched PCB bowtie antenna in and out of a circuit at a frequency proportional to soil moisture. A carrier signal from a separate transmitter is reflected off the alternately loaded and unloaded antenna, picking up subcarriers with a frequency proportional to soil moisture.

ICRA : Building agribusiness relations for sustainable profit .

Over the years, ICRA experienced that many business support services (BSS) face difficulties in offering services that have long-lasting impact. Most training events seem to have limited results and do not lead to the desired sustainable income increases and profitable businesses for their clients. As a result, BSS find it hard to attract new clients and projects. They need to invest a lot of time in search for new funding rather than in supporting small-scale producers and processors and doing the work they love and do best. Successful business support services not only assure that smallholder farmers and agri-entrepreneurs make substantial and sustainable profit, they also assist them in doing it more efficiently. Donors, business and governmental organizations line up to work with such successful service provides. ICRA is providing an opportunity to practical tips on how to secure a stable flow of income for your support services. more

Banaba Leaf Extract: A Natural Diabetes Remedy.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million children and adults in the US have diabetes. That's 8.3% of the population and represents a 14-fold increase since 1960. This high growth has led to a growing number of pharmaceutical drugs attempting to treat the problem -- and with those drugs, a host of dangerous side effects, such as increased risk of heart failure. It's no wonder people are looking for safer, and possibly more effective, natural alternatives. Fortunately, there just might be a powerful natural alternative with banaba leaf extract. Banaba leaf, not to be confused with “banana” leaf, has been used for thousands of years in India and the Philippines to naturally treat diabetes and low blood sugar levels. It turns out these cultures were onto something -- banaba leaf and blood sugar control go hand in hand. The blood sugar regulating properties of corosolic acid, the active ingredient in banaba leaf, have been demonstrated in cell culture, animal, and human studies. In isolated cells, for example, it is known to stimulate glucose uptake. In fact, some studies have shown that it can help lower blood sugar within sixty minutes. It has also been shown to help correct leptin problems and food cravings that are typically found in overweight individuals who have elevated blood sugar. continue

3 people in Ontario contract Seoul virus spread by rats.

3 people in Ontario contract Seoul virus spread by rats.Ontario's chief medical officer of health says three people have contracted a virus linked to exposure to rats. Dr. David Williams says the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is investigating three human cases of Seoul virus among people who had prolonged contact with rats. Williams says no serious health problems have been reported. Seoul virus is a type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from rats to people through bite wounds or exposure to urine, feces, saliva or contaminated bedding. Officials say the health risk to Ontarians is considered low and Seoul virus is not spread from person to person.Rats do not show symptoms of disease when they are infected with Seoul virus. A person infected with Seoul virus may not develop symptoms or will only develop very mild symptoms. However, in some instances, more severe symptoms may include fever, severe headache, back and abdominal pain, chills, blurred vision, redness of the eyes, or rash. source

Lassa fever outbreak in Borno state.

Lassa fever outbreak in Borno state. Borno State has recorded its first victim of Lassa Fever as a 32-year-old lady, who resides in Zabarmari village of Jere Local Government Area, tested positive.Lassa Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration and is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said the victim fell sick last week and was admitted at a government hospital in Maiduguri, a sample of her blood was taken to Lagos for test and returned positive. Dr. Mshelia said though the situation is under control as the victim is responding to treatment, the ministry had to summon all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, to sensitise the public on the need to ensure proper sanitation and avoid eating rodents, especially rats. source

Ex-NFL player who made $25 million quit football to become a farmer.

Ex-NFL player who made $25 million quit football at age 29 to become a farmer.In 2009, Jason Brown signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams that made him the highest-paid center in the NFL. Five years later, after earning more than $25 million of that contract, Brown is a farmer who is helping to feed the hungry.Brown was drafted 124th overall in 2005 and played nine seasons in the NFL before getting cut by the Rams in the spring of 2012. At age 29, he still had plenty of NFL years ahead of him. He wasn't playing at the level he was in 2009, but his career was far from over. He had interest from numerous teams, including an offer from the Baltimore Ravens. Brown is doing this to help the less fortunate. He grows sweet potatoes and other vegetables and donates his harvest to food pantries. According to the New & Observer, he has given away 46,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and 10,000 pounds of cucumbers this fall. more

Saving The Rhinos With GPS Sensors.

Save the Rhino numbers show there are just 29,000 rhinos left in the world; only 20 years ago this number was closer to 500,000. In an attempt to slow this devastating decline, researchers from the Sigfox Foundation are fitting the wild animals with sensors to track their movement. By tracking the animals, the researchers can protect them from poachers, for example, and better understand their habits to encourage them to breed and ultimately conserve the species. Over the past six months, the prototype GPS trackers, developed by the foundation in association with the Loweld Rhino Trust, have been implanted in the horns of 10 black and white rhinos. This prototype securely sends three GPS signals per day, to three base stations and via the Eutelesat satellite, to local teams through a dedicated secured platform, also developed internally at Sigfox more

Gene-edited pigs show signs of resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.{PRRS)

Scientists have produced pigs that may be protected from an infection that costs the swine industry billions each year. The team have used advanced genetic techniques to produce pigs that are potentially resilient to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Early tests have revealed that cells from the pigs are completely resistant to infection with both major subtypes of the virus that causes the disease. PRRS causes severe breathing problems in young pigs and breeding failures in pregnant females. PRRS is endemic in most pig producing countries worldwide. Vaccines have mostly failed to stop the spread of the virus, which continues to evolve rapidly. Consequently, it is one of the greatest challenges facing pig producers today.

Scientists discover how insecticides reverse herbicide resistance.

Scientists investigating ways to delay pre-emergent herbicide resistance within agricultural weeds have discovered applying an insecticide can reverse some types of resistance. The discovery is being welcomed by grain growers who are battling a number of weeds with growing amounts of resistance to chemical controls. In Western Australia this is often annual ryegrass. Research fellow at the University of Western Australia and researcher at the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) Roberto Busi said the finding was a significant step forward. He said his work had shown that it was possible to reverse metabolic resistance to trifluralin in annual ryegrass using the organo-phosphate insecticide phorate. Metabolic resistance is a defense mechanism plants can have which they use to protect themselves against herbicide toxicity. continue

Vaccination linked to brain damage in canines.

Vaccination linked to brain damage in canines. Neurological damage is one of the most prevalent and least desired adverse effects of the vaccine process. By over-vaccinating canines, we are introducing a potentially serious danger into society: brain damaged dogs. Amongst the vaccine-induced antibodies found in the Purdue study, autoantibodies to Cardiolipin were found. Elevated levels of anti-cardiolipin autoantibodies (ACA) have been reported to be significantly associated with neurological conditions. Encephalitis has been shown to appear in dogs after vaccination. (Grene, CE, ed, Appel MJ, Canine Distemper in Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 2nd edition, Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1998: 9-22). Writing in the Veterinary Record during 1992 (130, 27-30), AIP McCandlish et al state: “Post-vaccinal encephalitis is a recognized complication of the administration of certain strains of live attenuated canine distemper vaccine (Hartley 1974, Bestetti and others 1978, Cornwell and others 1988)”. Post vaccinal canine distemper encephalitis occurs in young animals, especially those less than six months of age. It has been recognized as a disease entity for a number of years, and is believed to be association with vaccination using live virus. The pathogenesis of this disease is unclear, but may result from insufficient attenuation of the vaccine virus which causes subsequent infections of the CNS; the triggering of a latent distemper infection by vaccination; other vaccine components; or an enhanced susceptibility of the animal (e.g., animals that are immunosuppressed). more

3 key ingredients to achieve food security in Africa.

African farmers face one of the greatest balancing acts of the 21st century – feeding a rapidly expanding population without causing irreparable damage to the environment they rely on. It’s a monumental ask. Africa’s population set to surge to 2.4 billion by 2050 the continent will inevitably continue to see rapidly rising demand for food. Pushing up supply to meet demand is no easy feat and the challenge is compounded by climate change. But “50years ago, commentators said it would be impossible to feed the population we have now. Yet between everybody working up and down the supply chain those naysayers have been proved wrong,” said Tim Smith, group quality director at Tesco and Farm Africa’s latest board member. The stakes have never been so high. Africa needs a clear roadmap on how to achieve long-term, sustainable food security. GROWING MORE – AND BETTER more

Holistic dog care.

Holistic dog health combines several traditional and alternative therapies to treat ailing dogs into a single approach with the focus on what's most important. Holistic Dog Health MedicineHolistic dog health is often confused with homeopathic dog health. Homeopathic remedies are all about stimulating the body's natural healing response with the use of plants, minerals, animal substances and other natural treatments. Veterinarians that practice holistic dog health look at the canine's overall health – not just a few symptoms – and use both traditional and alternative treatments. If you choose to treat your pet holistically, he may be prescribed an herbal remedy or a prescription drug. He may receive massage therapy or need to have lab work done. In short, holistic dog health looks for the best and healthiest way to treat a dog without choosing to be on the traditional or alternative side of the fence. The holistic approach to dog’s health takes every aspect of the dog into account – food and nutrition, lifestyle, activity level, supplements, medicine, and treatments. All these must work together to support the dog’s well-being. Holistic veterinary medicine is currently a trending topic, and pet food companies are quick to utilize opportunities. more

The World Health Organisation draws up list of drug-resistant bacteria..

The World Health Organization has drawn up a list of the drug-resistant bacteria that pose the biggest threat to human health.Top of the list are gram-negative bugs, such as E. coli, which can cause lethal bloodstream infections and pneumonia in frail hospital patients. The list will be discussed ahead of this summer's G20 meeting in Germany.The aim is to focus the minds of governments on finding new antibiotics to fight hard-to-treat infections. Experts have repeatedly warned that we are on the cusp of a "post-antibiotic era", where some infections will be untreatable with existing drugs.Common infections could then spread and kill.Dr Marie-Paule Kieny from the WHO said antibiotic resistance was reaching "alarming proportions" and yet the drug pipeline was "practically dry". "We are fast running out of treatment options. If we leave it to market forces alone, the new antibiotics we most urgently need are not going to be developed in time." The WHO says there is a danger that pharmaceutical companies will develop only treatments that are easier and more profitable to make - the low-hanging fruit.The focus should be on clinical need instead, says the WHO. Tuberculosis was not included on the list because the search for new treatments for this infection is already being prioritized. Experts drew up the list by looking at the current level of drug resistance, global death rates, prevalence of the infections in communities and the burden the diseases cause on health systems. One of the infections at the top is a bacterium called Klebsiella that has recently developed resistance to a powerful class of antibiotics called carbapenems. The US recently reported the fatal case of a woman who caught this infection which could not be treated with any of 26 different antibiotics available to her doctors. The list; CRITICAL . 1) Acinetobacter baumannii (carbapenem-resistant) - can cause serious chest and blood infections 2)Pseudomonas aeruginosa (carbapenem-resistant) - can cause serious chest and blood infections 3) Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella, E. coli, Serratia, and Proteus (carbapenem-resistant, ESBL-producing strains) - can cause serious chest, blood and urine infections HIGH PRIORITY 1)Enterococcus faecium (vancomycin-resistant) - can cause serious wound and blood infections 2)Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant, vancomycin-intermediate and resistant) - can cause serious chest, blood, urine and wound infections 3)Helicobacter pylori (clarithromycin-resistant) - infection linked to stomach ulcers 4)Campylobacter spp. (fluoroquinolone-resistant) - can cause diarrhoeal disease and bloodstream infections 5)Salmonellae (fluoroquinolone-resistant) - can cause diarrhoeal disease and blood poisoning 6)Neisseria gonorrhoeae (cephalosporin-resistant, fluoroquinolone-resistant) - a sexually transmitted infection that can cause infertility and, rarely, can spread to the blood and joints. more

Reducing Post-Harvest Loss in the Nigerian Tomato Value Chain.

The business of tomato production and marketing in Nigeria is extremely dynamic. The YieldWise program, a Rockefeller Foundation initiative, focuses on tomatoes, a ubiquitous regional crop that farmers have been cultivating for years in spite of volatile markets and unpredictable returns on investment. As with most perishable vegetables, tomato production faces consistent market instability. This has led to an average annual post-harvest loss of up to 45 percent. It is well known among stakeholders in the value chain that tomato is a commodity that historically could either drive a farmer into poverty or provide a path out of it depending on market dynamics, weather, or pests and diseases. It is in recognition of the importance of this crop and the potential impact that loss reduction could have on farmers’ livelihoods that PYXERA Global supports the YieldWise initiative and works with local and international partners to reduce post-harvest loss in the tomato value chain.more

Zero energy cooling chamber extends fruits and vegetables shelf-life.

Zero energy Cooling chamber extends fruits and vegetables shelf-life.Small-scale farmers can increase shelf-life of fruits and vegetables for up to nine days by storing their produce in simple non-energy reliant cooling chambers. A zero energy Cool chamber does not demand any form of power to run, making it appropriate for off-the grid farmers.The structure, which is build by locally available material, relies on the principle of evaporative Cooling. Materials required include bricks, river-bed sand, bamboo and water. Two parallel brick walls are constructed in form of a rectangle above the ground. Sand is filled into the cavity between the two walls. A standard small-scale unit can be constructed with measurements of 165 cm by 115 cm floor. Erect a cavity of 67.5 cm high-leaving an inter-space of 7.5cm. Drench the river-bed-sand- filled cavity with water. Make a cover lid of bamboo with straws of grass. Evaporative cooling occurs when air, which is not saturated with water, passes over a wet place. This cools the sand-bed of the cooling chamber.As water evaporates from the bed, it causes a cooling effect. Faster rates of evaporation lead to greater cooling. Cooling in the produce happens because water consumes energy to change to gaseous state. This means energy that could have facilitated metabolism in the fruits or vegetables is used up.Cooling chambers can reduce temperature to between 10 degree Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius. And humidity would be kept well above 90 per cent. Low humidity air sucks a lot of water from the system. Increased humidity causes drop in temperatures due to low metabolism in the foods because of inactivity of enzymes. Active enzymes cause more ripening and deterioration of the skin of fruits. continue

Onions stop tomato aphids attack.

In cutting down pesticide application and the accruing costs in production, one farmer succeeded in vending off the pests by growing onions around his greenhouse tomatoes in the last season. Lari Sub-county farmer Nathan Kimeu was implementing an idea he learnt from the Internet that onions’ smell can repel some crop pests like aphids. “I found out that some crops are good biological controls of pests, which attack common commercial foods such as chillies, capsicum, Kales, cabbage, tomatoes, among others. I also leant that greenhouse rotation with non-victim crops like coriander can break the lifecycle of the enemies,” he said. In May 2016, he grew onions in the periphery of his 8m by 30m greenhouse, which had tomatoes as the main crop. Indeed on close scrutiny of the tomatoes on the outermost lanes- those neighbouring the onion soldiers- were free from the aphid attack for the entire season. Aphids are pest that drill into the leaves of crops. They suck the sap with the nutrients, causing severe produce losses due to unhealthy crops.The leaves curl to the because of the heavy infestation from the underside. This condition reduces the surface area for photosynthesis, the food making process in plants.Because of the extraction of the nutrient-rich sap, some leaves turn yellow due to malnourishment, which also reduces photosynthesis resulting from the absence of the green pigment. This negatively affects the overall production.Application of chemicals in the control of the pests is not only expensive as is required interval interventions. But the onions are a one-time cost that defends the crop until the end of the season and still be sold alongside the main crop, Kimeu said. “Organic farming is gaining fame as food-related diseases rise. I am starting small and with such positive results, I hope to go organic to meet the small but healthy eating market,” he said. The Kiambu County farmer intends to grow the ‘soldiers’ along the rows of the tomatoes in 2017 to boost the defense while reducing the cost of production. Although he cannot quantify the money saved from the biological control of the pests, the farmer says his main pesticides application was specific on other pest such as white flies and mites.source

Farmers use tractor smoke as fertilizer.

Arusha farmers are teaching their Kenyan counterparts a revolutionary technology that helps turn harmful farming machinery smoke into soil fertilizer having introduced to them last year and recorded increased yields of upto 15 percent as the novel idea hopes to assist farmers markedly cut carbon emissions. The technology dubbed The Bioagtive Emmissions Technology already being used in Canada and parts of America, ensures that instead of letting out exhaust fumes and smokes from tractors and other farm machinery go where they are going to be destructive, the fumes are tapped and channeled into the soil where the fumes become fertilizers. The Bio-Agtive method involves cooling the tractor exhaust emissions then injecting the condensed gas into the air cart or directly into the soil while sowing or cultivating. When seeding with Bio-Agtive Emissions Technology (BAET), the cooled exhaust emissions are directed first into the air cart. It exposes the seed to humidity and oxidized elements from the emissions. While, the chemistry is fairly involved, the results, according to those involved in the project, are plants that create their own nitrate, develop better root systems and have much less reliance on fertilizer. “Soil acidity is also reduced due to the action of carbon dioxide in acidic soils,” said Gary Lewis whose company N/C Quest licenses the Bio-Agtive system. Kenyan farmers on an exchange programme to Arusha witnessed first hand how the Arusha farmers have perfected the art of mechanized agriculture, farming using machines, and how they ensure that any fumes or toxics that may harm the environment are put to good use. “The most interesting thing about this venture apart from using all the aspects of the machines including smoke, is the fact that it reduces farmers' over reliance on fertilizer and that to me is a huge lesson because that is one of the biggest problems,”said Cyrus Kimutai a wheat farmer in Eldoret who was in the exchange programme.source

Spain has first avian flu case in commercial poultry.

Spain has first avian flu case in commercial poultry.Veterinary authorities in Spain have reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) the country’s first outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry. The first signs of the presence of the virus were an increase in mortality among ducks in one of 10 poultry houses on the farm in Girona in the region of Catalonia. A total of 723 birds died and the remaining 17,077 have been humanely destroyed. Meanwhile, national veterinary agencies have confirmed new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry in France, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany and Italy. France: 70 new outbreaks confirmed.According to a report from the French agriculture ministryon February 23rd, there have now been 333 confirmed outbreaks of H5N8 HPAI in poultry – an increase of 70 from the previous week. All cases have been in the south-west of the country. The ministry’s latest weekly report to on the avian flu situation to the OIE records 46 new outbreaks starting between February 6 and 13. Almost all of these were on farms, and the majority were in the department of Landes. More than 218,000 birds died or have been humanely destroyed following detection of the virus, but the number of birds has not been officially recorded for many of these outbreaks and so are not included in that figure. source

10 signs of cancer in dogs.

Cancer occurs in both mixed breed and purebred dogs (depending on the cancer, some breeds like Great Danes, Saint Bernard, Boxers, Boston Terriers, and Golden Retrievers are considered at high risk). Canine cancer can happen at any age but most often it occurs in older dogs, which is partially because dogs are living longer due to modern, enhanced nutrition and veterinary care. Cancer is a disease where cells grow out of control, invade surrounding tissue, and can metastasize and just like in humans, cancer can take many forms in dogs. The disease can be localized (in one area) or generalized (spread throughout the body). Cancer is considered multi factorial, which means it has no known single cause but heredity and the environment are thought to be factors. The common signs are 1)Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow. 2)Sores that don’t heal. 3)weight loss. 4)Loss of appetite. 5)Bleeding or discharge from any body opening. 6)Offensive odor 7)Difficulty eating or swallowing. 8)Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina. 9))persistent lameness or stiffness.10)Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating. Finding a lump or your dog has any of the other symptoms above, let this be investigated by your family veterinarian. If it’s confirmed your dog has cancer, it’s advised to get a second opinion —

13 Incredible Ways to Use Aspirin.

Aspirin is most commonly used as a painkiller, but it can actually do so much more than just relieve your weekly headaches. Aspirin can help solve some of your daily, pesky problems like razor burn, dandruff, and even acne. Find out all the incredible ways to use this medication to improve your life here Aspirin can prevent cancer, see

Farmer in Burundi discovers an innovative method of storing tomatoes and preventing spoilage.

Farmer in Burundi discovers an innovative method of storing tomatoes and preventing spoilage.Vital Nduwimana hated how many tomatoes he lost every season. 

For years, his tomatoes started rotting just three or four days after harvest. He felt frustrated. Mr. Nduwimana explains: “I was not able to sell all my tomatoes; I lost almost half of my production. Worse still, I would sell at a low price in the market. So in 2015, I thought that maybe I should find a tomato conservation technique.” Mr. Nduwimana grows tomatoes in eastern Burundi, on Kabuyenge hill, five kilometres from the Tanzanian border. 

 In eastern Burundi, tomatoes are abundant during the harvest months of August and September. But growers find it difficult to keep tomatoes for later sale, which leads to a large number of tomatoes rotting. Mr. Nduwimana tried several techniques to solve his problem. 

He tried storing his tomatoes in water, in clay, underground, in cartons, and even in sand. He tried everything that came to his mind—but without success. Then one day, he noticed that the tomatoes he had kept next to his banana trees were not rotten. Then he noticed the ash at the foot of the banana trees.He decided to try keeping his tomatoes in ash and found that this was more effective than any of the other techniques he had tried.

He uses ash from a chimney, and sifts it three or four times to remove large residues, debris, and other foreign materials. Then, he dumps the ash into a paper carton and places the tomatoes in the carton. With this technique, Mr. Nduwimana manages to safely store his tomatoes for many months. He explains: “I keep my tomatoes in the ash for a period of five to six months, so I can sell them in December, January, or February when the price has risen—since tomatoes are rare and become expensive during this period.“ Jean Nivyabandi is an agronomist. 

He says using ash has no negative effect on the tomatoes, which can be consumed safely. He explains, “There is no risk of tomato toxicity after storage in ash.” Nevertheless, the agronomist wants the Institute of Agronomic Sciences of Burundi to conduct tests to scientifically validate Mr. Nduwimana’s technique. 

 Meanwhile, other tomato growers in Cibitoke—the main tomato-producing region of Burundi— have been inspired to try the techniques themselves. Judith Bizmana also grows tomatoes in Cibitoke. She says: “I can normally harvest between 550 and 600 kilograms of tomatoes per season. But … I would lose nearly half of my production. Today, I rub my hands and smile all the time. 

Thanks to Mr. Nduwimana’s technique, I can keep my tomatoes [and] wait for the price to rise in the market, knowing that very few of them will rot.” Meanwhile, the innovative farmer has changed his life. 

Mr. Nduwimana says: “With the income from the sale of tomatoes, I opened a small restaurant and I am a permanent supplier of tomatoes to restaurants in the provincial capital. I supply the whole market, and I have created jobs, too. My whole life has changed.

 In the future, I plan to buy a truck to transport my tomatoes.” Mr. Nduwimana has become an ambitious entrepreneur. In July 2016, he even won an innovation competition organized by an NGO called Agakura. more

The Beauty of Burmese Cats.

Cats are naturally nosey creatures, but this breed takes it to the extreme. If you are considering getting a Burmese cat, you will need to resign yourself to the loss of all privacy, as your new shadow will want to follow you everywhere, helping you with everything from reading a book to making the dinner. They also love to sneak under the duvet. This curious nature necessitates caution, however, as Burmese cats have been known to sneak into an open window of a van or car and find themselves transported far from home! The name belies the breed’s origins. When the Burmese army invaded Thailand in the 18th century, it is thought that a Thai temple cat was whisked off back to Burma. In the 20th century, retiring naval officer and practicing psychiatrist, Dr Joseph Thompson imported an ancestor of this cat from Burma to the US, so the breed was named after Burma even though they didn’t originate there. The original Thai name for this breed of cat means “beautiful, fortunate and of splendid appearance” – very fitting we think! Their propensity for exploring, coupled with the fact that they have zero survival skills, prompts most owners to keep them as indoor cats. If you want to know more about this breed, we found some great facts on Burmese Cat Club and Cat Time. These little critters are very active and playful, and Burmese owners will be familiar with the “mad half hour” – a period in the day where their little furry friend can be found tearing madly around the house; flitting up and down the stairs, running a slalom around chair and table legs and flipping somersaults. It’s normally at the time of day where you’d appreciate a period of calm – when you first get up, or when you’re off to bed. source

Tips on looking after a cat with Diabetes.

It is never easy hearing the news that your cat is suffering from diabetes. Many of us understand that it is a life-long condition that requires careful monitoring, and you may be worried that your pet will suffer complications as a result. However, the good news is that it can be managed effectively with the right diet and medication – under the watchful eye of your vet of course. Feline diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce insulin, a hormone that converts sugar (glucose) into energy. As it develops over time, the condition can be difficult to spot but extreme thirst is a common sign so it is worth noting if your kitty is heading to the water bowl more often than usual. Other symptoms include weight loss, tiredness and changes in appetite, but in extreme cases it can lead to ketoacidosis. This occurs when the body breaks down the fat reserves, resulting in a build-up of acid, which can cause severe dehydration and weakness. If you suspect diabetes, it is important to speak to your vet straight away because treatment is more effective if it is caught early. Diagnosis is relatively simple and involves taking a urine sample to find out how much sugar they have in their blood. Luckily, if it is caught early enough, feline diabetes is easy to manage and many cats enjoy a better quality of life once the symptoms have been alleviated. You should always try to book regular check-ups with the vet to ensure the condition is not getting worse. more

8 WAYS MILLENNIALS ARE DEFINING PET OWNERSHIP.

8 WAYS MILLENNIALS ARE DEFINING PET OWNERSHIP. A quick glance at pet celebrity megastars like Boo, Lil Bub, Pudge, Tardar Sauce (better known as Grumpy Cat) and Tuna, makes it quite clear that something entirely new is happening in the world of pet ownership. The rise of celebrity pets may not necessarily be news to anyone, but it points to larger, more significant trends in how millennials understand and approach pet ownership. We talked to some of the people on the front lines of contemporary pet culture to see how they’re redefining pet ownership. 1:) Redefining Family Millennials are putting off getting married and having children until much later than older cohorts, and it seems that their four-legged companions are filling the gap. According to a Wakefield study, the average millennial gets a first pet at the age of 21, much earlier than the average boomer, who waited until 29. Both groups think of pets as family, but many millennials view owning a pet as preparation for future adult responsibilities. For them, pets offer both companionship and a sense of duty, but require little maintenance at a time when many millennials’ lives are still unstable. For many young people who are struggling to start careers, find affordable housing and pay off student loans, a family is a luxury that has to be temporarily delayed. 2:) Pampered Pets Pet owners today are more sensitive to the life experiences of their animals. Millennials cater more than other groups to their pets’ comfort, and spend more money on non-essential pet items. They own more pet clothing and toys and prefer enclosures like crates and kennels that allow for exercise, according to the Wakefield study. “[Our cats] sleep in our beds and we spend a lot of money buying them toys we think they’ll like,” says Christina Ha, co-founder of Meow Parlour, New York City’s first cat café. Her guests – predominantly millennials – come to admire a bevy of free-more You will also like this

Dogs; Millennial ‘pet parents’ pay up for dogs to get ritzy human services.

Millennial ‘pet parents’ pay up for dogs to get ritzy human services. When shoe designer Vanessa Noel brought home two poodle puppies recently, she knew she had her hands full. Left to their own devices, the brothers would no doubt make short shrift of prized designs, not to mention the furnishings, in her Upper East Side home. “I’m a terrible disciplinarian,’’ the 55-year-old said. “They’re divine little dogs, but they can’t be chewing on my shoes or alligator bags.’’ Her solution: Lexi Beermann, who whips puppies into well-mannered shape in one week of boot camp. The cost is a cool $4,600, with the option of adding ongoing maintenance for $8,000 per month. Beermann either moves into a dog owner’s home for the week, or brings the pups to live with her.“I’m like Mary Poppins for dogs,” the trainer, 39, said. “I’m off to Jamaica for a week, and Lexi will live in my house and take care of Rasta and Reggae,’’ added Noel. “When I come back they shall have Park Avenue manners Actress Carol Kane, who lives on the Upper West Side, keeps her dog pain-free with the help of Trish Dean, who charges $75 for a chiropractic visit and $100 for a massage. “She is treating my rescue, Johnny. After a session he is relaxed and able to move around more easily,’’ said Kane. “I treat anxiety, aggression, fear and depression,’’ said the Brooklyn doc. “Most depression involves dogs being left alone, and is often associated with separation anxiety.’’ He charges $650 per case, which usually includes one visit as well as follow-up phone calls. more

How to use modern dairy heat detection systems .

Modern heat detection systems, which monitor cow movement and activity levels, do work according to the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise’s (CAFRE) Dr David Mackey. Increasing numbers of farmers will now inseminate cows on the back of the data they are picking up from their heat detection systems, he said. “But it is also important to use the traditional method of observing cows throughout the day.”Mackey confirmed that heat detection rates are traditionally higher in exclusively spring calving herds than on units where cows are calving the year round. more

Bowery farming.

Agriculture heads indoors with new farming startup Bowery Farming.The term “farmer’s tan” may soon lose all significance, as the ancient art of cultivation moves indoors. A startup called Bowery Farming has caught the attention of investors and food experts alike, and as the urban farming industry grows, so too do these new companies’ wallets. Bowery Farming has just raised $7.5 million to help grow more food inside, even within a city. It’s all contingent upon some pretty snazzy technology, including robotics, LED lighting, computer vision, sensors, and data analytics, TechCrunch explains. At the heart of Bowery’s operations is what it calls “post-organic vegetables.” Basically, all of the company’s produce are grown sans pesticides and depend upon a high-tech

Music help farmers raise quality chicken.

Taiwan's government has introduced methods developed in Australia and New Zealand to allow chickens to listen to music throughout the day, which is said to help locals raise top-quality chickens. This method has been used in different countries to boost production, in Australia a farmer has incorporated classical music into his poultry routine to boost production in the farm. Music help farmers raise quality chicken, this new innovation can work for all types of poultry see A chicken farmer in Yunlin County, Taiwan, was struggling with the high cost of chicken feed. Earlier he received assistance from the government in the form of music piped in to serenade the 40,000 chickens in their coops for 3-4 hours during feeding time. The farmer stated that he noticed the positive effect the music was having on the chickens in just a short period of time. In the past, he said, it took over 90 days to grow a chicken to a weight of 3 kg. The period shortened to 80 days after they introduced the music, which means savings of over NT$100,000 in feed costs for each batch of chickens. Additionally, the owner said that not only do both the cocks and hens exhibit even temperaments, but the chickens even produce better meat. Moreover, they are sold out when they hit the market. The birds also received certification for the chickens' being raised with music and sold without pharmaceutical residues. Their popularity has even prompted Singaporean buyers to request them. The farmer said that on the trip he made to New Zealand and Australia in 2007, he discovered that pigs and cows that had been treated to music there were larger than those that weren't. This is becoming so popular that Universal Music Group was reportedly hired to put together a compilation of tunes, and airing the music at the chicken farms here has been a complete success. more

15,000 farmers to benefit from Dangote’s rice project in Sokoto.

15,000 farmers to benefit from Dangote’s rice project in Sokoto. Aliko Dangote, the Chairman, Dangote Group of Companies, says 15, 000 farmers would benefit from the first phase of his rice growing and processing project located in Goronyo town in Sokoto State. 15,000 farmers to benefit from Dangote’s rice project in Sokoto. Mr. Dangote said this on Wednesday when he addressed journalists at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto. Mr. Dangote said: “In the first phase, we are targeting 15,000 farmers and as time goes on, we will keep on increasing the number of beneficiaries as the project progresses. continue

10m Nigerians to taste Indomie free.

10m Nigerians to taste Indomie free. Indomie Instant Noodles has revealed its intention to reach 10 million Nigerians in this year’s annual sampling exercise. It said in a statement that the programme will see millions of consumers taste the noodles for free across the country. Speaking on the free sampling programme for the year, Brand Manager, Indomie Instant Noodles, Mr. Amber Yadav said: “Indomie is using this exercise to remind consumers of how quality taste like. We know things are hard at the moment but people should always remember that there is no price tag that can justify inferiority.” He revealed that the sampling exercise will include all variants of the noodles and this will be carried out in all geo-political zones in the country with special focus on Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Owerri and Enugu among others.more