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.

Research on identification of Ceutorhynchus spp. on winter oilseed rape in Latvia was done during the vegetation season of 2009 and 2010. Field trials were located in the Research and Study Farm ''Peterlauki'', Jelgava municipality, Latvia (56 deg 32 min 17.38N, 23 deg 43 min 17.65E). Four species of brassica stem weevils were identified: cabbage stem weevil Ceutorhynchuspallidactylus Marsh., syn. C. quadridens Pan., rape winter stem weevil C. picitarsis Gyll., blue stem weevil C. sulcicollis Pay., and C. typhae Herb. One of the most common species in winter oilseed rape was cabbage stem weevil C. pallidactylus. Use of a sweep net for identification of particular species cannot be applied, as in practice no specimens have been collected by this method. One of the most appropriate methods for identification of Ceutorhynchus spp. on winter oilseed rape has been yellow sticky traps and water traps that have been used to collect the greatest number of specimens (24) during the vegetation season. First pests appear during the 2nd decade of April, when the plant reaches 33 BBCH. Pest control using systemic insecticide Proteus 110 OD (tiakloprid 100 g LE-1, deltametrin 10 g LE-1) with a dose of 0.75 L haE-1 was applied when the plant reached 39-44 BBHC. Despite the high population density (2 to 10 insects on 40 plants), significant (p is less than 0.05) decrease in pest damage by 43-51%, when compared to untreated area, was recorded during vegetation seasons of 2009 and 2010. Pest control with a systemic insecticide when the plant is in the stem elongation phase provided a significant (p is less than 0.05) yield increase of 0.5 to 0.7 thaE-1.

Maize yield and quality are affected by many factors, including production practices, diseases, pests, and differences in the climate. Usually it is not possible to do much to change the effect of temperature, but it is important to grow better adapted or characterized with right maturity rating hybrids. The paper is aimed to determine the impact of accumulated growing degree days (GDD) on maize development, organic dry matter yield, ODM and chemical composition of maize hybrids. A field trial was carried out in the Research and Study farm ’’Vecauce’’ of the Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU) from 2008 till 2010. Ten (in 2008), eleven (in 2009) and fifteen (2010) maize hybrids with different maturity ratings according to FAO numbers (FAO 180-340) were harvested at three different times beginning on 5 September at fourteen-day intervals. GDD were calculated when maize reached a certain growth stage (full emergence, first tassels, full tassels, first ears, full ears, specific harvest date) to characterize conditions for maize growing in a specific year. Composition of fresh maize was analyzed for all hybrids using standard methods. Results were statistically processed using methods of correlation and regression analysis. Our results presented evidence that ODM yield in 2008 and 2009 on last harvest dates was lower than that on the first harvest date in 2010. Organic dry matter yield was higher in years when more GDD were accumulated. Results also showed that GDD negatively correlated with the total N, protein, fibre cellulose, hemi-cellulose, NDF, and ADF concentration.

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 contents of soluble solids, acids and their ratio as well as phenol content are important indices for quality evaluating of sour cherry fruits. These parameters are influenced by the cultivar and growing conditions. The trial was carried out at the Latvian State Institute of Fruit-Growing to evaluate the effect of woodchip mulch and drip irrigation on fruit quality of sour cherry cultivars 'Bulatnikovskaya', 'Desertnaya Morozovoi', 'Latvijas Zemais', 'Orlica', 'Shokoladnica', 'Tamaris', and 'Zentenes'. The biochemical composition of the fruits was analyzed in 2009 and 2010. The content of soluble solids was determined with the method of refractometry; the content of total acids by titrating with 0.1N NaOH; the total content of phenols with the method of spectrometry. The content of total soluble solids in sour cherry fruits was decreased by use of woodchip mulch. The content of acids, the ratio of soluble solid content to the acid content and the content of the phenols was not significantly influenced by woodchip mulch and drip irrigation. The cultivar 'Desertnaya Morozovoi' showed the highest soluble solid content in the fruits, the cultivar 'Latvijas Zemais' - the highest acid content, and cultivar 'Tamaris' - the highest phenol content in the fruits.

Potassium (K) is one of the most important nutrients necessary for many life functions of plants, like shoot growth, fruit and flower bud set, and fruit size. The aim of this study was to determine the content of potassium in orchard lawn for reduction of potassium fertilizer application and to include the potassium from mown grass into K balance and turnover calculation. The investigation was done at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing in Dobele in 2009, on the basis of an established field experiment planted in 1997 with apple (Mains domestica Borh.) cultivar 'Melba' (rootstock B9), trees spaced at 1.5 x 4 m distances. Three different treatments of soil moisture management were compared: control, sawdust mulch, and fertigation. Soil of the experimental plot was Pisocalcic Cutanic Luvisol (Hypereutric, Hyposkeletic); loam. Organic matter - 25 g kgE-1, soil reaction pH - 6.5. Plant-available P was 130.9, K - 157.7, and Mg - 102.2 mg kgE-1. Inter-row strips were covered with grass vegetation (Lolium perenne L. and Poa pratensis L.). Grass samples were collected during cutting, 3 times per season of 2009: May 19, June 20, and August 11. The uptake and removal of potassium was calculated as kilograms per hectare area. The concentration of potassium in the lawn and the height of grass growth were significantly influenced by the mowing time and the soil moisture treatment. These results can be a base for further studies of potassium turnover in an orchard, as well as for fertilizer planning and management.