Author Archives: sukahumbu

 Appendix 7. Volume and weight measures of a Kasuku can Meal Volume measure—standard 2-kg plastic Kasuku cooking oil can Meal weight (g) (kg) Dairy meal Kasuku top level compacted 1287 1.3 Kasuku top level loose 1179 1.2 Maize bran Kasuku top level compacted 1252 1.3 Kasuku top level loose 1124 1.1 Maize germ Kasuku top […]

 Appendix 5. Ruminant feed conversion table Feed type Application unit Average weight (kg) Dairy meal Sack (20 kg) 20 Wheat bran Standard sack (70 kg) 39 Wheat bran Sack (50 kg) 28 Maize bran Standard sack (70 kg) 40 Maize bran Sack (50 kg) 29 Maize germ Standard sack (70 kg) 59 Cottonseed cake Sack […]

  Appendix 1. Recommended domains of major forages Agroecological zone Suitable fodder LH1 Lower Highland 1 Brachiaria ruziziensis Calliandra calothyrsus Giant setaria Leucaena leucocephala Napier grass Vetch LH2 Lower Highland 2 Brachiaria ruziziensis Calliandra calothyrsus Chloris gayana Giant setaria Leucaena leucocephala Lucerne Nandi setaria Oat Zea mays LH3 Lower Highland 3 Maize Nandi setaria Oat […]

 Appendix 6. Organic and inorganic fertilizer conversion table Fertilizer type Application unit Average table (kg) Slurry 20-kg bucket / debe 22 Slurry Wheelbarrow load 86 Wet manure Standard sack 57 Wet manure Donkey-cart load 400 Wet manure Ox-cart load 200 Wet manure Hand-cart load 250 Wet manure Pick-up load 600 Wet manure Wheelbarrow load 55 […]

Appendix 2. Nutritive value of common feed resources Feed Class DM* Ash** CP** Banana leaves Crop residue 12.20 8.80 9.90 Banana pseudostem Crop residue 5.10 14.30 2.40 Banana thinnings Crop residue 13.00 13.10 6.40 Bone meal Concentrate 75.00 49.00 6.00 Calliandra leaves Tree fodder 25.00 4.30 26.30 Couch grass Grass 30.20 7.40 8.80 Cottonseed cake […]

Fodder type Unit Average weight (kg) Napier grass Bunch 30 Napier grass Woman’s load 75 Napier grass Man’s load 43 Napier grass Standard sack (chopped) 36 Napier grass Wheelbarrow load 124 Napier grass Bicycle load 84 Napier grass Pick-up load (1095 tare) 962 Napier grass Pick-up load (475 tare) 560 Napier grass Donkey cart load […]

 Abomasum: The fourth chamber of the stomach in ruminant animals, and the only one having glands that secrete digestive acids and enzymes. It can be compared with the simple stomach of other mammals. Acidosis: An abnormally high level of acidity of the body’s fluids, In ruminants it may be caused by accumulation of acids or […]

  Feeding dairy cattle in East Africa Technical editors: Ben Lukuyu and Charles Gachuiri Compiled by Charles Gachuiri, Margaret Lukuyu, Charles and Solomon Mwendia The authors would like to acknowledge the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project for sponsoring a workshop for stakeholders, where the outline of this manual was conceived and agreed upon. In […]

 Major forage diseases In the past, forage diseases of major economic importance were rare in Kenya. The situation has recently changed with reports of smut and stunting diseases affecting Napier grass, one of the most important forages in the country. Outbreaks of smut were reported by Kungu and Waller in 1992 in an unpublished report […]

Feeding the lactating cow 1. Aim of feeding the dairy cow Maximizing milk yield by meeting the cow’s nutrient requirements is the aim of a feeding program. The nutrient requirements will largely depend on the amount of milk produced, which in turn depends on the stage of lactation—the period from calving. Other factors affecting nutrient […]