Bockline Omedo Bebe

Assessment of camel and camel milk marketing practices in an emerging peri-urban production system in Isiolo County, Kenya

Pastoral camel management practices in Kenya, characterised by free herd mobility that enables efficient utilisation of rangeland resources, is progressively restricted to foraging within the vicinity of urban milk market outlets. The emerging peri-urban camel production system (PUCPS) has potential livelihood benefits to households, but adapting herd management practices responsive to market demands is a challenge with implications for its sustained development. This study assessed marketing practices in PUCPS, guided by two research questions. To what extent are (i) camel keepers involved in trading of camel stock and milk? (ii) milk hygiene practices responsive to market demands? Data was obtained from cross-sectional surveys complemented by focus group discussions. Compared to the pastoral production system, the peri-urban system exhibited greater market integration with more milk marketing opportunities, 2.4 times more (25.8% vs 62.8%) steer sales and 2.2 times more heifer purchases for breeding (12.3% vs 27.5%). Camels were sold to meet livelihood needs of the households as well as to raise cash for other direct investments. On the other hand, PUCPS growth is facing market barriers from poor milk hygiene practices. Compared to the pastoral system, the peri-urban system exhibits greater market-oriented production of camel stock and milk. Existing milk hygiene and quality practices are unlikely to meet the safety and quality requirements for urban consumers. Development of organised marketing channels and strengthening of processes that add value to milk would enable camel producers to earn more from their stock and guarantee safety and quality to urban consumers.

Breeding goals for the Kenya Dual Purpose goat. I. Model development and application to smallholder production systems

A deterministic model was developed and applied to evaluate biological and economic variables that characterize smallholder production systems utilizing the Kenya Dual Purpose goat (KDPG) in Kenya. The systems were defined as: smallholder low-potential (SLP), smallholder medium-potential (SMP) and smallholder high-potential (SHP). The model was able to predict revenues and costs to the system. Revenues were from sale of milk, surplus yearlings and cull-for-age animals, while costs included those incurred for feeds, husbandry, marketing and fixed asset (fixed costs). Of the total outputs, revenue from meat and milk accounted for about 55% and 45%, respectively, in SMP and 39% and 61% in SHP. Total costs comprised mainly variable costs (98%), with husbandry costs being the highest in both SMP and SLP. The total profit per doe per year was KSh 315.48 in SMP, KSh −1352.75 in SLP and KSh −80.22 in SHP. Results suggest that the utilization of the KDPG goat in Kenya is more profitable in the smallholder medium-potential production system. The implication for the application of the model to smallholder production systems in Kenya is discussed.Objectifs d’élevage pour les chèvres de races mixtes au Kenya I. Développement d’un modèle et application aux systèmes de production de petits éleveursRésumé – Un modèle déterministe a été développé et appliqué afin d’évaluer les variables biologiques et économiques qui caractérisent les systèmes de production de petits éleveurs en utilisant les chèvres de races mixtes kenyanes (KDPG) au Kenya. Les systèmes ont été définis comme étant : petit éleveur à faible potentiel (SLP), petit éleveur à potentiel moyen (SMP) et petit éleveur à potentiel élevé (SHP). Le modèle a réussi à prédire des revenus et des coûts pour le système. Les revenus sont venus de la vente de lait, des chèvres de l’année en excédent et des animaux éliminés en raison de leur âge tandis que les coûts ont inclus ceux encourus pour l’alimentation de moulées, l’élevage, le marketing et les immobilisations (coûts fixes). Sur les rendements totaux, le revenu provenant de la viande et du lait respectivement a rendu compte d’environ 55% et 45% respectivement pour les SMP et 39% et 61% pour les SHP. Les coûts totaux ont principalement consisté en coûts variables (98%), les coûts d’élevage étant les plus élevés pour à la fois les SMp et les SLP. Le profit total par femelle par année a été de 315.48 KSh pour les SMP, de 1352.75 KSh pour les SLP et de 80.22 KSh pour les SHP. Les résultats suggèrent que l’utilisation de chèvres KDPG au Kenya est plus profitable dans le système de production de petits éleveurs à potentiel moyen. L’implication de l’application du modèle aux systèmes de production de petits éleveurs au Kenya fait l’objet d’une discussion.Objetivos de reproducción y crianza para cabras de doble propósito de Kenia I. Desarrollo y aplicación del modelo para sistemas de producción de pequeños granjerosResumen – Se desarrolló y aplicó un modelo determinista para evaluar las variables biológicas y económicas que caracterizan a los sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros que utilizan a la cabra de doble propósito de Kenia (CDPK) en Kenia. Los sistemas fueron definidos como: sistema de bajo potencial de pequeño granjero (BPPG), de potencial medio de pequeño granjero (PMPG), y de alto potencial de pequeño granjero (APPG). El modelo fue capaz de predecir los ingresos y costes del sistema. Los ingresos provenían de la venta de leche, del excedente de cabritillas de 1–2 años de edad y de animales sacrificados por motivo de su edad, mientras que los costes incluían aquellos debido a alimentos, a cultivo y crianza de los animales, a marketing, y a bienes fijos (costes fijos). De las producciones totales, los ingresos debido a la carne y la leche equivalían aproximadamente a un 55% y 45% respectivamente en los sistemas de PMPG, y a un 39% y 61% en los sistemas APPG. Los costes totales comprendían principalmente costes variables (98%), con los costes debido al cultivo y crianza de animales siendo los más altos tanto en sistemas PMPG como en PBPG. El beneficio total por cabra hembra y por año fue, en términos de chelines kenianos (KSh), de 315.48 en PMPG, −1352.75 en PBPG y −80.22 en PAPG. Los resultados sugieren que la utilización de la cabra CDPK en Kenia es más provechosa en el sistema de producción de potencial medio de pequeños granjeros. Se discute también la implicación para la aplicación del modelo a los sistemas de producción de pequeños granjeros.

Evaluation of losses of replacement heifers in pastoral and peri-urban camel herds in semi-arid northern Kenya

This study estimated heifer losses and associated determinants in peri-urban camel herds characterized by market orientation and domination of lactating camels grazing closer to urban market outlets for milk. In this evolving peri-urban camel production system in semi-arid Kenya, the proportion of heifers born that survives to breeding age is important in sustaining the herds and the extent to which households obtain tangible and intangible benefits from camel keeping. Data was obtained through progeny history recall on 2,000 heifer loss cases out of 4,398 heifers born between 1991 and 2009. The estimated heifer loss was 0.455 and was 11.8% higher (P < 0.0001) in peri-urban herds (0.505 ± 0.040) than in pastoral herds (0.387 ± 0.047). The extent of heifer loss was significantly associated with veterinary service access (P < 0.05), labour hire (P < 0.01) and state of security (P < 0.01). Results provide lessons for policy intervention to support evolution of peri-urban camel milk production. Improving infrastructure and the security situation is necessary to enhance delivery of veterinary service and feed supply interventions to peri-urban camel herds for production of milk and breeding stock.

Prevalence of β-haemolytic multi-drug resistant E. coli in cow and camel milk in Kenya

The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of β-haemolytic Escherichia coli in milk, as well as their sources, and their sensitivity to antibiotics. E. coli was isolated from samples of cow and camel milk, cow and camel udder surfaces, and milking persons’ hands. The organisms were identified using API20E biochemical kit. Haemolytic activity was tested on 7% defibrinated sheep blood agar while antibiotic sensitivity was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The prevalence of β-haemolytic isolates from cow and camel milk was 25% and 32% respectively. None of the isolates from the udder swabs, the milking persons’ hands, or water was β-haemolytic. In cow milk, the prevalence of isolates resistant to Ampicillin, Cefotaxime, and Cefepime was 25, 37.5 and 12.5% respectively, while in camel milk it was 52.4, 23.8 and 28.6% respectively. Prevalence of β-haemolytic and multidrug resistant isolates to the three antibiotics was 12.5% for cow milk and 19% for camel milk. None of the isolates was resistant to Ciprofloxacin, Piperacillin/Tozobactam, Amikacin, and Imipenem. The prevalence of E. coli resistant to Cefotaxime and Cefepime indicates growing resistance of the microorganisms to drugs that are supposed to be effective against them. The presence of β-haemolytic isolates in milk and their absence on the animals’ udder surface and hand swabs could indicate their better survival in the udder from which they are shed into the milk. This is a public health concern especially for pastoral communities who have a preference for consumption of raw milk.

Influence of Changes in Rainfall Patterns on Livestock Feeding Practices in Mailwa Sub - location , Kajiado County, Kenya

Changes in rainfall patterns continue to affect pastoralism as practiced by the Maasai community in Kajiado County. The Maasai community is vulnerable to effects of the changing rainfall pat terns induced by climate variability. The community has tried to cope with these changes by altering livestock feeding practices but knowledge gaps exist as to whether these characteristic responses adequately respond to the problem posed by changing rainf all patterns. Thus, this study established how changes in rainfall patterns influence livestock feeding practices of the Maasai community in Kajiado County. A sample size of 136 household heads was used for the study. Results indicated that most of the res pondents had noticed changes in rainfall patterns ( 99%), 58.09 % reported that