The management of indigenous pigs in rural villages of Busia and Kakamega district, Western Kenya, is discussed. Data on husbandry practices, challenges and farmers knowledge on T. solium taeniosis / cysticercosis were gathered using questionnaires administered in face-to-face interviews. Pigs were examined for cysticercosis using the lingual palpation method. Data were managed in Stata®. Majority of the farmers were aged 30-50 years (44%), and were mostly women (69%). Years of pig keeping experience was higher in Kakamega (11.4±8.7) than it was in Busia (6.3±5.6) (P<0.05). Pork (31%) and beef (51%) were the most preferred meat types in the villages. Families owned an average of 0.94±0.81 hectares of land. The mean number of pigs owned per farm was 5.0 (±3.4), 1.8 (±1.2) and 1.5 (±0.9) for the pre-weaned, growing and adult pig categories, respectively. Constraints faced by the farmers included feeding (65%), diseases (46%), fewer breeding boars (60 %), poor profits (61%) and conflicts with neighbours (53%). Parasite control was poor. The majority of farmers (73%) had no pig house. These farmers either lacked skills to build the houses (11%; 23/209) or had no money to purchase construction materials (45%; 93/209). Tethering of pigs was frequent (>50%) during the planting (91%; 263 / 290), growing (90%; 263 / 290) and crop harvesting seasons (78%; 227 / 290). Prevalence of pig cysticercosis was 4.5%. Piglets were significantly cheaper in Busia (Ksh 509±57) than in Kakamega (Ksh 777±174) (P<0.05). Indigenous pig management in Western Kenya is reportedly poor. Improved knowledge coupled with changes in local husbandry practices would improve productivity, increase family incomes and safeguard the community from potential health risks associated with pig rearing.

This study was conducted in four Peasant Associations in Jamma district. A total of 120 households from four PAs were involved in the study. Ninety eight percent of farmers were supplementing extra feeds and water for their chickens, with the main proportion of food leftover (26.4%) followed by spoiled grain (25.1%). The proportions of households providing supplementary feeding were: 19.8, 21.5, 37.3 and 21.4% in the morning, at noon, afternoon and evening respectively. Most of the households (77.7%) were not giving feeds separately to the flock compositions. Households were practicing of chicken selection with the main characters of egg productivity (35.4) and body weight (38.4%). Majority of households (78%) were using their living room for birds penning at night and women were more (72%) responsible for flock management. The larger eggs with oval shape and smooth in eggshell were the preferred characters in selection of incubating eggs. Farmers (38%) adapted a practice of mixing local eggs with exotic or crossbred eggs while incubating for better hatchability of exotic or crossbred eggs. Around 73% the respondents reported that the highest mortality of chicks was occurring up to 2 weeks of age. But around 12.6% of the households were treating their sick birds with traditional-treatments. Ninety-one per cent of farmers pointed out that more frequently occurring and devastating disease was Newcastle Disease.

According to FAO statistics, camel population in Sudan ranks the second in the world after Somalia with 4.5 millions heads. This population is quite important while the camel production appears, at least officially, very low. With a meat production of 49,880 tons and a milk production of 120,000 tons, camel production is far away from the potential. Even if these data did not cover the entire reality, it is obvious that camel production in Sudan is insufficiently valorized. Meat from young camels has been reported to be comparable in taste and texture to beef. Inspite of the increase in local camel meat consumption to 63,000 tons in 2009, yet camel meat is common in some parts of the country and milk consumption under gariss form is popular in rural areas where camel is generally reared. Camel diseases are the major constrains of production such as trypanosomiasis and mastitis. The research has to push in that way in order to innovate camel meat and milk sector. The modernization of meat and milk processing could be the motor for the improvement of camel production. Both in terms of research and of development, the identification of the main constraints for the camel sector is the way to propose a fruitful strategy. (Résumé d'auteur)

A survey of marketing system, socio economic role and intra household dynamics of indigenous chicken was conducted in Gomma Wereda located at 390 km southwest of Addis Ababa. Six Kebeles of the Wereda were randomly identified and 30 households (hh) randomly selected from each kebele were used to collect data on the profile of the respondents, chicken population and flock structure, marketing system, socio economic role and intra household dynamics of the indigenous chicken using questionnaire, regular visit and target group discussions. The results obtained showed that the mean flock size/hh of the study area (6.23 chickens) was greater than that of the national average (4.1) and strangely dominated by hens of > 5 months of age. Informal and open markets of live birds and eggs are common throughout the Wereda. There is variation in market price of chickens and eggs attributed to the physical condition of the birds, disease outbreak, time of incubation, and holidays and festivals. Both eggs and chickens pass through different individuals before reaching consumers and about 52.2% of the market chickens and eggs are collected and transported by retailers to terminal markets contributing to disease spread and quality deterioration. About 96.7% of the ownership of chicken was held by women and with the exception of poultry house construction all the other activities including marketing are done by women indicating that village chickens are source of self-reliance for women. There are no taboos connected to consumption of poultry. And yet, chickens and eggs are not among staple food items in the Gomma Wereda. The results obtained also showed that lack of access to credit and high prevalence of disease conditions and predators are the major constraints to improve household poultry in the study area.

The influence of non-genetic factors on lamb survivability at various ages up to 360 days was studied under village management condition in Jimma, Ethiopia. The overall least squares means of lamb survival rate was 89.0 at 0-60, 81.5 at 0-120 and 50.0 % up to 360 days. The survival rate of lambs up to weaning (120 days) was 81.5 %. Season of birth consistently exerted a significant effect (p<0.05)) on lamb survival. Lambs born during the post rain and dry periods showed a higher survival rate than lambs born during the wet season. Districts showed a significant effect (p<0.05)) on survival rates of lambs. Lambs born in land scarce areas (Dedo) had a low survival rate than lambs born in Seka (land available area). Type of birth did not exert an influence (p>0.05) on lamb survival. Sex had a significant effect (p<0.05) on survivability of lambs at later stages and the females showed higher survivability rate than males. Mortality tended to decrease with an increase with birth weight and decreased as parity increased. The birth weight showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on survival rate of lambs. The lambs with birth weight of 2 kg and above were showing higher survival rate. The lambs with 1.5 kg and lower birth weight showed high mortality rate. The study revealed that, adequate measures to be taken to curb mortality of lambs. The selection of heavier weight and larger litter at birth coupled with improved management could be a means to improve lamb productivity in the villages.

A cross-sectional survey was done in two Districts in Western Kenya to determine the socio-economic characteristics and perceptions of the cattle types kept. This involved socio-economic profiles of households, herd structure, reasons for keeping specific types of cattle and production and marketing constraints together with desired policy interventions to address the constraints. A total of 210 farmers randomly selected were interviewed. The data was analysed using Statistical Analysis System program. The majority of farmers (84%) were males. The households surveyed had an average family size of 8 (± 4.7) members. The mean land holding was 7.8 acres, with 98% of them owning the land. Most of the farmers (64%) in the two districts were literate and were involved in farming (95%) as the primary livelihood. The majority (80%) of the households preferred keeping indigenous zebu cattle over the exotic cattle. The first three reasons for keeping zebu cattle were, in that order, work, especially ploughing (91%), milk (74%) and as a repository for wealth (32%), which accounted for about 62% of the respondents. Diseases (86%), inadequate and low quality feed (12%) and high cost of drugs (2%) were the major constraints to livestock productivity. The farmers also identified lack of market (48%), poor infrastructure (39%) and misuse by the middlemen traders (12%) as main marketing constraints. The survey showed that there is need for the effective implementation of policies on adequate financial aid and regulation of farm input prices to the farmers as well as improved livestock extension services to enhance the production of ruminant livestock.

The yield and quality (1000 kernel weight, protein, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content) of peas was studied in cultivar 'Madonna'. The peas (Pisum Sativum L.) were part of the five-year crop rotation experiment where red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), peas, potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), were following each other. There were two production variants which followed the crop rotation. In one variant mineral fertilizers and pesticides were used, and the other variant was conversion to organic without any synthetic agrochemicals. In mineral fertilizing variants the background in all variants was N20, P25, and K95 kg haE-1. The previous crop was winter wheat which received in fertilized variants mineral fertilizers with the background of P25 and K95 kg haE-1, the N amount varied from 0 to 150 kg haE-1. The aim of this paper was to study a mineral fertilizing after-effect on the peas which followed the winter wheat. Herbicide MCPA 750 was used. In conversion to organic, the pea grains which followed the crop rotation and mineral fertilizing Nl50 after-effect variants had higher yield, protein and nitrogen content compared to the other variants where mineral fertilizing after-effect was investigated. Phosphorus contents were higher in NO, and conversion to organic variants. Potassium content remained lower in Nl00, and Nl50 mineral fertilizing after-effect variants. The 1000 kernel weight was significantly higher in the variant of conversion to organic compared to the other variants.

Renewable energy resources play an important role in energy production both in Latvia and in the world. Bio-ethanol is used as a substitute for oil products in various countries of the world. It is produced from the plants containing starch: cereals, potatoes, beet, maize. The task of the research was to evaluate the suitability of different varieties of winter wheat, triticale and rye for extraction of bio-ethanol in Latvia. The research was carried out at the State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute in 2009, and the following varieties and lines of cereals were examined: winter wheat varieties 'Mulan', 'Skalmeje', and the line '99-115', developed at the State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute; winter triticale varieties 'SW Valentino', 'Dinaro', and the line '0002-26', developed at the State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute; winter rye varieties 'Matador', 'Placido' Fp and 'Dankowskie Nowe'. The content of crude protein and starch of grains, the grain yield, and the bio-ethanol yield were determined. The highest bio-ethanol yield was acquired from the winter wheat and triticale varieties that had the highest starch content and the lowest crude protein content of grains. The best results were obtained from winter wheat line '99-115' and variety 'Mulan' (409.4 and 406.8 L tE-1), triticale variety 'Dinaro' (423.3 L tE-1), and winter rye variety 'Matador' (370.1 L tE-1.).

Oil-flax has a wide range of utilization possibilities, inclusive of bioenergy production. In our research evaluated out two oil-flax varieties 'Scorpion' and 'Flanders' after the calorific value, oil, lignin, and ash content; and also the chemical composition in 2008 -2010. The results show that oil-flax shoves have a high calorific value and high lignin content but a low temperature for ash fusion. It was established that the growth year and some unexplored factors have influence on the ash content. The oil content in the seeds was 336-458 g kgE-1, depending on the chosen variety. The flax shoves can be used as a supplement for biofuel combustion, as they have a low fusion temperature, a high calorific value, but a comparatively low yield makes oil-flax unprofitable to grow for biofuel production.

The treatment of ketosis with glycerol was first introduced in the 1950s. Currently, the availability of glycerol as a feed supplement for dairy cattle has increased due to the rapid expansion of the biodiesel industry. It has been suggested that glycerol can be used as a dietary glucose precursor for dairy cows in a similar way to propylene glycol. This study examined the effect of orally administrated crude glycerol on milk production and composition, and energy-status related blood metabolites of primiparous (n=4) and multiparous (n=4) Holstein dairy cows in the first three weeks of lactation. The treatment group cows were given an oral drench of 500 mL of crude glycerol once a day before the morning feeding. Long-term oral drenching of crude glycerol had no effect on dry matter intake (DMI), but there was a positive effect on milk yield. Most milk composition values were not affected by the treatment, but treatment groups had lower milk protein levels. Blood glucose and insulin concentrations were declined with glycerol administration.