Litter composting can improve broiler performance.

Litter composting can improve broiler performance.Reusing poultry bedding, referred to as built-up litter, is a common practice in U.S. broiler houses and turkey finishing barns. Windrow composting techniques have been developed which, if properly implemented, can achieve several positive benefits. There are three primary reasons for windrow composting litter: 1)Conserve bedding/extend litter life. 2)Reduce on-farm waste storage capacity. 3)Reduce disease challenge and improve performance.Bud Malone, consultant, Malone Poultry Consulting said its unknown how many years broiler producers can go without a total house cleanout if windrow composting is properly done. Composting litter inside the poultry house between flocks reduces total litter volume and this, coupled with decreasing the frequency of total house cleanouts, reduces the amount of space required on the farm for litter storage. The potential big payback from windrow composting comes from improved bird health and performance. Malone cited research that shows windrow composting of poultry litter between flocks can reduce or eliminate E.coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Aspergilla, respiratory viruses, Clostridium perfringens and coccidia. Properly implemented windrow composting programs have been successful intervention strategies for dermatitis, necrotic enteritis, and runting and stunting syndrome. Windrow composting, when combined with timely insecticide treatment, has even been successful at reducing darkling beetle populations in poultry houses to near zero, he reported. Windrow composting, if done properly, can reduce disease challenge for the next flock, and it is proving to be a useful disease suppression strategy for reduced antibiotic growing programs, Malone said. But, windrow composting is not without cost. It requires a significant investment of time, and equipment is needed to make the windrows and turn them. When windrow composting is not done properly, Malone warned that the investment of time and equipment can be with minimal benefit. Also, he said before growers embark on a composting program, they need to have a strategy in place for controlling ammonia, like a litter amendment, before the next flock is brought into the house. In a windrow composting situations, poultry litter utilized as a soil amendment for growing fruits and vegetables will need to be composted reaching a temperature of at least 131F for at least 15 days and be turned a minimum of five times. Under normal circumstances, the downtime between flocks would not be long enough to allow for this process to be done inside the poultry house, so it would have to be done after the litter was removed from the house. watch

The risk of infection from heater-cooler systems in hospitals.

Invasive infections likely caused by the aerosolization of Mycobacterium chimaera from contaminated heater-cooler devices during cardiac surgery have been reported around the world and the outbreaks have prompted responses from major public health agencies. The Isolation and removal of heater-cooler devices from OR and other critical care areas could limit M. chimaera infections and keep patients from being infected by contaminated exhaust air. There is evidence that the coolers implicated in outbreaks were already contaminated from source when they arrived to the hospitals. Water outside the German plant where the heater-cooler device (HCDs) are manufactured was found to harbor M. chimaera. There was pretty good evidence that most of the devices were colonized at the factory site. HCDs are used with heart-lung machines to regulate body temperature during cardiothoracic surgeries and other medical procedures. The CDC says the devices are used in more than 250,000 procedures in the U.S. every year. The agency estimated that in hospitals where at least one HCD–related infection has been identified, the risk of a patient being infected with M. chimaera was between approximately one in 100 to one in 1,000. M. chimaera is a slow-growing species of nontuberculosis mycobacteria commonly found in soil and water, according to the CDC. Although it rarely makes people sick, symptoms of infection can be general and nonspecific and are often delayed. When the FDA linked the devices to infections in 2015, the CDC alerted health departments and providers around the United States and issued interim practical guidance advising facilities to remove contaminated units, maintain those in service and track reports about potential infections and the CDC also offers guidance on how to notify patients and health care providers about potential infection. There is no reliable disinfection procedures exist to eradicate the bacteria from HCDs, separating the devices from the air of critical medical areas is necessary to keep patients safe.more

Farmcrowdy; farming for you.

Farmcrowdy; farming for you. Agriculture is the next goldmine with every country looking at how to feed the ever increasing population without disrupting the ecosystem while looking for innovative ways to farm,feed and ensure food security. Farming like many have suggested as plan out of the ditch of depression,everybody is moving to the farm directly or indirectly. Farming can be simple or complex depending on how your mode of action and approach,but the basic requirement is determine the type of farming you want to dabble in ,acquire knowledge and skill of how-to-then start. The learning curve is shorter now as you can actually get experts to farm for you,simply by investing and after stipulated time get paid. This is the summary of farmcrowdy,Nigeria's 1st Digital Agriculture Platform focused on connecting farm sponsors with real farmers in order to increase food production while promoting youth participation in Agriculture. Farmcrowdy is an agric-tech platform that gives Nigerians the opportunity to invest in Agriculture by selecting the kind of farms they want to sponsor. We use the investors funds secure the land, engage the farmer, plant the seeds, insure the farmers and farm produce, complete the full farming cycle, sell the harvest and then pay the investor a return for their investment. While this farm process is on-going, the farm sponsors are able to keep track of the full-cycle by getting updates in text, pictures and videos. Agriculture just got so simple, you can actually be in Lagos and have a tomato farm in the north or poultry in Oyo and you will not break any sweat as your investments are safe and secured.All farms are insured and there is an off takers arrangement, this is so cool. Continue

E-learning; clinical updates.

A 2 year old male springer spaniel presents with a history of episodic sneezing and mucoid bilateral nasal discharge since importation from Romania 2 weeks ago. Chest auscultation is unremarkable but there is an increased gag reflex and resentment of nasal palpation. Rigid endoscopy reveals several segmented worm like organisms (below) ranging from 1 to 8cm long What is the organism in question? Is there a zoonotic risk and what treatment options are available? This parasite is Linguatula serrata, an arthropod that lives in the nasal passages and naso-pharynx of carnivores. Infections can be subclinical but rhinitis and pharyngitis are common outcomes of infection so is the likely cause of the signs in this case. Adult infection is obtained via the consumption of raw or undercooked viscera but humans may also act as intermediate hosts if eggs from mucoid discharge or faeces are accidentally ingested. This can lead to hepatic granulomas and rarely, aberrant migration to the lungs or anterior chamber of the eye. Therefore, good hand hygiene should be advised and facial licking by the dog should be avoided. Treatment is primarily through surgical removal of the adult parasites. At least one case in the literature has been treated by weekly oral administration of milbemycin oxime leading to expulsion of the parasites. This would be a valid option to try first in this case but it would be important to stress that no product containing milbemycin oxime is licensed for this purpose and no large scale studies have been performed to assess its efficacy against this parasite. Ivermectin is another option as this is not a Collie breed but there is only one case of treatment with this drug in the literature and that was to treat a closely related parasite, Linguatula artica in a reindeer. continue

Agriculture sector will be transformed with better credit facility for farmers.

Demonetisation: Agriculture sector will be transformed with better credit facility for farmers. Cash is the primary mode of transaction in agriculture sector, demonetisation is bound to cause temporary stress in the system. This historic move has the potential of bringing about transformational changes in the sector like better access to credit for farmers, elimination of middlemen, direct transfer of subsidies to farmers and ultimately linking the Indian farmer to the global agricultural market. However, in the short term, the sector has to brave several storms before it realizes the true fruits of demonetization. In the transitional phase, farm produces with limited shelf-life like fruits and vegetables, which significantly contribute to overall farm output, will be hit due to cash crunch. Similarly, payment of wages to farm laborers and rentals for farm implements will too become difficult considering the limited access of service providers to the banking system. The steep decline in transactions at various states APMC’s (up to 70 percent as per reports) in the aftermath of the decision is a testimony to this fact. Demonetization can potentially address the perennial problem of credit in farm sector. With banking system glowing with liquidity, there can be increase in investments in farm sector, which is the only way to get out of the vicious circle of subsistence farming. Despite being declared as a ‘priority sector’ credit availability to typical farmers for investment in their own lands are far from adequate. This has forced farmers to rely on non-institutional credit, which further aggravates the problem. continue

ECHBEE FOODS :Accelerating the sustainable development goals with the cassava value chain.

Malnutrition is found in a large population of people around the world,with 795 million people not having enough food to live a healthy and active life. Sub Sahara Africa accounts for a large population of under nourished and malnourished people. 

 Malnutrition which stems from inadequate food both in quality and quantity resulting in stunted growth and development is the bane of many developing and underdeveloped countries.

 The goal to end poverty and hunger has the root at preventing malnutrition in children especially as well as adults. The growth rate and intellectual capacity in areas where there is malnutrition is very low with high prevalence of diseases and subsequently death 

.One out of six children which is roughly about 100 million in developing countries is underweight and one in four of the world's children are stunted. In developing countries the rate is one in three with 66 million primary school-age children attending classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.  

 Women that are malnourished are at high risk during pregnancy as adequate nutrients for growth and nurturing of fetus is not available leading to physical strains,emotional imbalance and exposure to various diseases and infection as body immune system is compromised. 

Poor nutrition causes nearly 45% of deaths in children under five ,which is about 3.1 million children each year. Empowerment,education and encouragement of farmers especially women will go a long way to curb malnutrition and prevent deaths in women and children. 

When women farmers are given the same access to resources as men, they will reduce the number of hungry people in the world by up to 150 million. Malnutrition in found all over the country but its more prevalent in certain areas than others.41% of children under 5 years of age are stunted and 23% underweight with a prevalence of vitamin A deficiency reaching 29.5%. 

The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency is a public health concern that WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION has listed Nigeria amongst countries with high risk of Vitamin A deficiency(VAD) The VAD increases the risk of disease, death in children ,visual impairment,night-blindness in pregnant and lactating women 

.The introduction of food rich in vitamin A will go a long way to ensure healthy lifestyle for the people.Educating people about food combinations,additives and meal preparations will expose people to food exploration for health and well-being. 

Cassava called Manihot esculenta, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates.

Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize. Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN AND FOOD SECURITY.

  Echbee Food has found a new niche where garri a cassava by-product can be turned into nutritious wholesome foods and snacks.

  Echbee foods uses the vitamin A cassava for all her product in line with the vision of the company to end malnutrition. The first product is cassava flakes, a highly nutritious cereal fortified with vitamins and enriched with nuts fashioned after the corn flakes to provide wholesome,nutritious cereal.

 

   

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 Read how  cassava can help with sustainable goals. #end hunger #no poverty

AGRIBUSINESS: Moringa a super-food additive.

Moringa a super-food additive is fast gaining recognition all over the world because of its outstanding properties that translate to our benefits. Moringa affects many of the systems of the body from respiratory ,reproductive,musculoskeletal,digestive and the skin to ensure perfect working conditions and healthy life for the individual. Moringa is a source of protein,vitamin A, C,potassium,calcium and iron. Moringa contains essential amino acids and micro nutrients essential for growth and development. Moringa has seven times the amount of vitamin C in oranges,making it an option in cases of cold and nasal congestion. A cup of tea laced with moringa or better still mug of warm water with a dab of moringa will give fast relief. This high vitamin C content also makes it a soothing tonic in cases of stress,making it a natural energy booster. Moringa has four times the amount of calcium found in cows milk. This is a 2-prong advantage as the pregnant animal has enough calcium and also the young ones,the second aspect is that moringa can be used to fortify milk collected from cows making extra calcium available for consumers. Moringa with 4 times the amount of vitamin A found in carrots makes it a ready source of vitamin A supplement essential for eye health . The high protein content of moringa makes it an important component of end hunger programme which is aimed at feeding children highly nutritious foods to curb malnutrition.Children in rural areas without adequate food can actually be served balanced diets by adding moringa to the food provided by food missions e.t.c. Striking a balance between potassium and sodium in the body is essential for fluid management in the body, moringa helps with electrolyte balance in the body thus regulating osmo-regulatory functions, and ensure kidney health. Moringa is a natural herb that can easily be used as an additive for food,milk and even juices.The inclusion of moringa to food preparation and processing will not only add colour,flavor but nutritional values for health and healthy life style. How about some combos? #milk+ moringa= morimilk#classic. or veggies+moringa =awesome mix 0r fry eggs with a dash of moringa= fabulous mix. Powdered eggs with moringa= superfood!!! how about spicing up your pasta,indomine with moringa= supercool. Lets go #green with #moringa.