Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) :Poultry and the superbug MRSA.

A study has shown that novel form of the dangerous superbug Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can spread to humans through consumption or handling of contaminated poultry.

 The research, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, shows that poultry may be a source of human exposure to MRSA, a superbug which can cause serious infections and even death. The study focuses on a special newly identified strain of MRSA associated with poultry.

 MRSA is often found in chickens, pigs and other food animals. Researchers know that farmers, farm workers, veterinarians and others working directly with livestock are at risk of MRSA infections, however the study shows that people with no exposure to livestock are becoming colonized and infected with this new strain of poultry-associated MRSA -- most likely by eating or handling contaminated poultry meat. 

 This poultry-associated MRSA may be more capable of transmitting from food to people and as MRSA continues to evolve, it may spread from animals to people in new ways. Early research suggests that modern farming practices, that involve giving food animals low doses of antibiotics to spur their growth and compensate for overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions led to the rising tide of superbugs, like the new strain of MRSA identified in this study. 

 The fact that food inspectors don't typically test poultry and other food products for MRSA contamination and instead are focused on Salmonella and other more typical food-borne pathogens may be the reason why the link has remained undetected until now. 

There is a need to expand the number of pathogens that are tested for in the food supply chain, and an urgent need for international bodies to enforce the ban on unnecessary use of antibiotics on industrial farms around the world. 

 The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock must be abolished to prevent emergence of new, and more virulent strains of livestock-associated MRSA which will pose a much greater threat to human health.continue

Growth drivers of Chinese pet food industry.

Pet Food Global Market Focus Webinar Series: Growth Drivers of the Chinese Pet Food Market.This exclusive webinar is coming up next week on Tuesday, September 27, at 9 a.m. Central (Chicago). Join colleagues as industry expert Pushan Tagore identifies key factors currently driving the Chinese pet food market and provides valuable analysis on current and forecasted growth in China. Reserve your space now for convenient access to next week’s presentation, now Meet the speaker ;Pushan Tagore ,Vice President, Global Marketing, Pet Care GfK.

Ghana making millions from snail farming ..

Ghanaians are rushing into snail farming because it's inexpensive and a very lucrative business contributing to about US $ 4 million per annum from America as imports. Ghana exported about 620 kilograms of snails in 1994 and 1,050 kilograms to the Netherlands and the United States respectively. Snail farming in Ghana has become such a lucrative business that agricultural experts are offering professional advice to prospective farmers to enable them to harvest more yield for the local and international market. Snails for food Consumption of snails in Ghana, a century old practice found within the Akan tribe, has prompted almost every Ghanaian throughout the country to consume this delicacy as a staple food well known to have nutritional value. The snails are also important source of foreign exchange, the meat is not only a delicacy but is a component of what the rural Ghanaian will call a complete meal. The consumption level of snails by Ghanaians is over 15,000 tonnes, however not even a quarter emanates from the country, about 13,000 comes from neighboring Cote d'Ivoire. These positive descriptions of snails and their economic value by experts have led to the snail farming rush in the country. Farmers are interested in the rearing of snails because of its rapid turn over and the relative ease of rearing. A lot of entrepreneurs are looking for lean startups to beat recession, training are conducted every time,to help farmers.You can join the next class by sending name and email address to 08023003455,you will learn the nitty gritty. Snail farmers always make huge profits during off season because in average about four snails in size which weigh between 100-150 grams can make profits of up to 50,000 cedis in the local market. In rainy seasons the same quantity can sell for as low as 5.000 cedis. The challenge for Ghanaian farmers is to be able to make available 120- footer container every month to meet the maximum demand for the Europeans. Learn how to trade snails for dollars The market is very large for exportation of snails,join the gold rush ,sign up for the training Snails have become popular dishes in Europe and France, were they feature very prominently. For instance, France imports the snails from Ghana and adds value to them for exportation elsewhere- mainly to other European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Turkey, Greece and Canada. more

How to make money from snail business: African women are turning snails into gold.

Snails are known as a delicacy in the U.S. and in some European countries, but they have long been a staple of the traditional diet in the African nation of Ghana. They're used in everything from soups to kebabs, and Ghanaians consume some 33 million pounds of snails per year, but demand far outweighs local supply. 

    How to make money from snail business.

Now a pair of scientists are teaching women how to raise snails as a renewable food source and as a source of economic independence. Environmental scientist Mildred Quaye and agricultural biotechnologist Dr. Lydia Quansah have been setting up women-run snail farms in rural areas of Ghana. Their project is funded by a grant from Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 

The Israeli university has also provided instructors and students to work on projects in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African nations for nearly six decades. 

 Heliculture is the science and occupation of raising snails for food, and the practice is quickly becoming popular for occupational training of African women. Snails are relatively easy to raise and feed on vegetables and fruits. They are also hermaphrodites, which means that both male and female snails reproduce. see more 

 

    How to make money from snail business.

 Snails are not difficult to raise and manage because they feed on kitchen leftovers and leafy greens from the field,While snails can live up to 10 years in their natural habitat, it only takes two to three months before young embryonic snails are ready for sale to the market. That means it’s only a short time before the farmers begin to see a return on their investment. more

How to make money from snail farming.

How to make money from snail farming.  Snails  are of various species  with some species peculiar to certain regions. 

The Achatina fulica is a species of large land snail that belong in the Achatinidae family. It is also known as one of the giant African snail or giant African land snail. The giant African snail is native to East Africa, and can be traced back to Kenya and Tanzania. 

 

 The Achatina fulica is well suited for the west African region as its rugged,adaptable and grows better than A. marginata.

                       How to make money from snail farming.

 The Achatina fulica mates once and can lay eggs continuously for 5 years. The snail lay up to 400 eggs in various clutches 2-3 times a year.The snails are good fluid savers,making maximum use of water provided. Snail rearing also referred to as heliculture is an agribusiness that has great potential,not only locally but internationally. 

 Snails can be reared in urban setting without any environmental hazard or pollution and most importantly its a lean startup venture,with little or minimal overhead and great profit margin.Snails can be reared in cheap boxes,old tyres,plastic bins,crates and any enclosure you can innovate as long as the snails are secured from pests and harsh environmental conditions.

                     How to start and make money from snail business.

The housing unit can be simple to complex depending on scale of production and level of production.

 Read about various housing options here Feeding snails are also relatively cheap, irrespective of level of production.The snails can thrive on common household waste or feed. They can be fed leaves,roots of certain plants and sometimes formulated ration to boost production. 

These are the common feed sources. Biosecurity and handling are so important when you are rearing snails. 

 

The sand in the snailery must be heat treated,before you put it in the snailery and the sand must be raked everyday to remove left over feed and also to turn the soil as this stimulates growth.Snail farming is a hidden goldmine,very few actually get it right and make money. 

 Changing of the soil at regular intervals is very important, calcium supplement is very essential for proper growth and regular supply is necessary. 

The wetting of soil is also important,to keep the house moist but not waterlogged 

This is how to start a business raising snails with 20,000 Naira and make profit in millions.

 Get mature snails @ 200 naira for 50 pieces.......10,500 naira.   

 Construction of wooden boxes or plastic boxes or plastic cages ........5,000 naira. 

 Feeding....................................4,000 naira. 

 miscellaneous./chalk....... .......... ..500 naira. 

 The production phase; 1 snail hatch about 400 eggs in a year,thus 50 snails .....20,000 eggs. 

 At 95% hatachability.......19,000 eggs.

 Assuming 5% mortality during rearing......, that's 19,000 eggs to maturity.

 The farmer can decide to sell hatchlings,  sell immature snails  or raise to maturity and cash in . Whatever the farmer decides he can make money on all 3 levels.

Gamifying my practice.

The game world has taken over all major facets of the economy,with more professionals bringing fun and games to table to solve problems. Games aside from taking the stress of work off you, it creates an avenue to look at the problem on a different level and envision the solution in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The game shaking practice has evolved, play now

Flat faced dogs and associated health risks.

Dog lovers should refrain from buying animals with flat-faced features, because they are prone to a lot of health problems. Dog lovers are shifting to breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, shih-tzus and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because they consider them cute and fashionable ,not considering that these dogs often suffer from a wide range of health problems. The common problems are eye ulcers and severe breathing difficulties which usually result in a lot of suffering for the animals and emotional torture for the owners. These flat faced breeds are usually abandoned by some owners when they can no longer bear the weight.The pugs and bull dogs are super sensitive to the slightest changes in temperature and other environmental factors.The sniffling and constant sneezes of pugs can be annoying,likewise the huffing and puffing of the bulldogs makes you feel so sad as every breath is a struggle. These flat faced dogs need extra care especially in cases of anesthesia before surgery, though they are cute their health issues are not appealing at all. This is how a client lost her bulldog in a jiffy; she had gone to visit a friend and she left her dogs in the car. She had an Alsatian and a bulldog in the car with the windows down and it was early in the morning after gym, when she came back 45 minutes later,the bull dog was dead. The British veterinary association warns ,A pug in the clinic today