Dr.iCow’s Diary Date: 12.02.2020 Hi doctor, What is the best dewormer for cattle after long rains? From: Dominic, County: Bomet, Kenya. Dear Dominic, Regular deworming throughout worms and flukes seasons help to ensure better livestock which are healthier, make better use of available feeds, better weight gain and increased milk yields. Please use a dewormer […]
Monthly Archives: February 2020
Post Harvest Diseases
Credits: Biovision-Infonet Some growth on cassava chips, usually when the moisture content of cassava chips exceeds 14%, making them unfit for feed and food. A survey of cassava chips processing areas of West Africa has indicated that the most common fungi were Rhizopus sp. and Aspergillus sp. (IITA, 1996). What to do: Early harvesting prevents […]
Calf Feeding
Dr.iCow’s Diary Date: 09.02.2020 Dear Dr.iCow, My cow has given birth. Is it good for the calf to suck the mother? From: Teresia, County: Machakos, Kenya. Discussion: Dear Teresia, Congratulations! Please let the calf suck for the next 48 hours. At birth and on standing allow the calf to suck colostrum from the mother. You […]
Cassava Anthracnose
(Glomerella manihotis) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Initial symptoms of the disease are oval lesions (“sores”) on young stems. On older stems, raised fibrous lesions develop that eventually become sunken. What to do: It is not an economically important disease in most cassava growing countries and it does not warrant any intervention.
Cassava Brown Streak Virus Disease
(Potyvirus – Potyviridae) Credits: Biovision-Infonet It is particularly serious in coastal areas of Kenya, Zanzibar, Mozambique and Tanzania and lakeshore region of Malawi and in Uganda and is a threat to the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. The virus is vectored by whiteflies (Bemisia spp.) and also transmitted through infected cuttings. Symptoms include yellowing (leaf chlorosis) […]
Feeds contaminated by Mycotoxins
Dr.iCow’s Diary Date: 07.02.2020 Dear Dr.iCow, Ng’ombe yangu inahara damu. Translation: My cow is diarrheaing blood From: Anne, County: Uasin Gishu, Kenya. Discussion: The cow is eating normally and she is not showing any signs of illness except there is blood in the dung. Anne had some spoilt maize grains crushed and made some maize […]
Brown Leaf Spot
(Cercosporidium henningsii) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Symptoms are restricted to older leaves. Brownish round spots with definite borders appear on the upper leaf surface. On the lower leaf surface, they are brownish-grey in colour. Infected leaves later become yellow and eventually drop. In wet areas the disease may cause a yield reduction of up to 20%. What […]
Cassava Bacterial Blight
(Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis) Credits: Biovision-Infonet It is a major constraint to cassava cultivation in Africa. Infected leaves show localised, angular, water-soaked areas. Under severe disease attack heavy defoliation occurs, leaving bare stems, referred to as “candle sticks”. Since the disease is systemic, infected stems and roots show brownish discolouration. During periods of high humidity, […]
Lumpy Skin Disease
Dr.iCow’s Diary Date: 06.02.2020 Dear Dr.iCow, How to treat Lumpy skin disease. Which drugs should I use? From: Mr. Odingo Benedict,County: Homa Bay, Kenya. Discussion: The cow has nodules all over the skin, poor feeding and very weak. The vet had treated the cow with some injections but still is not showing improvement. Dear Mr. […]
African Cassava Mosaic Disease (ACMD)
Credits: Biovision-Infonet African cassava mosaic disease is one of the most serious and widespread diseases throughout cassava growing areas in Africa, causing yield reductions of up to 90%. It is spread through infected cuttings and by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). Symptoms occur as characteristic leaf mosaic patterns that affect discrete areas and are determined at an […]