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.