Cm Mulei

Description of Smallholder Dairy Farms in Kiambu District, Kenya

Abstract The methods used in a study of health and productivity of dairy cattle in smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu District, Kenya are described. The study sampling frame included all smallholder dairy farmers registered by one of the 14 dairy societies in Kiambu District. In a two-stage stratified random sample 90 smallholder dairy farms were selected. The farms were visited monthly over a 12 month study period (July 1991–June 1992). The overall objective of the study was to estimate health and production parameters for dairy cattle in these smallholder dairy farms. Information on general farm management, feeding and nutrition, disease status and disease prevention measures were also gathered during the study period. The initial voluntary participation rate was 98%. At conclusion of the study, 90% of the farms were still participating in the study. The median farm size was 3 acres with a median of three dairy cattle per farm.

Generalised demodicosis in a Friesian heifer from a zero-grazing unit

A Friesian heifer with generalised skin lesions was slaughtered after unsuccessful treatment. It had thickened skin with lumps and nodules, with the severely affected parts thrown into folds over the eyelids, ears, most of the head, neck, legs and perineal area. The affected skin was soft and squamous in appearance. On postmortem examination, all the skin layers were affected and were 10-22 mm thick. There was also lymphadenopathy. Histological examination showed the presence of dermatitis characterised by follicular inflammation. Multiple follicular cysts with keratin squames and numerous demodectic mites were seen. Some mites had migrated to the peripheral lymph nodes causing eosinophilic lymphadenitis and panniculitis of the subcutis.

The effects of age on the erythrocyte sodium and potassium concentrations of dairy cows during late pregnancy and early lactation

Blood samples were taken at weekly intervals from 54 dairy cows (mainly Friesians and Jerseys) during the periods 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after calving. The cows were divided into two age groups; group 1 consisting of 26 cows aged 2 1/2 years and group 2 consisting of 28 cows aged 5–9 years. The changes in the erythrocyte sodium (ENa) and the erythrocyte potassium (EK) concentrations before and after calving were expressed as the slopes for each component regressed on weeks. In the older cows the concentration of ENa decreased (p<0.05) while that of EK increased (p<0.05) after calving. Both the ENa and EK concentrations varied significantly (p<0.01) between cows in the two age groups. The prepartum and postpartum ENa and the postpartum EK concentrations varied significantly (p<0.05) between weeks. EK type did not influence the changes in ENa or EK concentrations before or after calving.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and Strongyloides in pre-weaned calves on smallholder dairy farms in Mukurwe-ini district, Kenya

Aim: Gastrointestinal diseases are among the leading causes of calf morbidity and mortality in Kenya and elsewhere. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and Strongyloides in calves on smallholder dairy farms (SDF) in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, Kenya. These infections have been associated with economic losses by decreased growth rates, decreased productivity, and increased susceptibility to other diseases. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted on 109 farms in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, Kenya, where 220 calf fecal samples (each calf at 4 and 6 weeks of age) from 110 calves (1 set of twins) were collected and analyzed for Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and helminth parasites. Results: Eimeria oocysts, Cryptosporidia oocysts, and Strongyloides eggs were detected in the fecal samples examined, but no Giardia cysts were found. The overall period prevalence of Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and Strongyloides was 42.7% (47/110), 13.6% (15/110), and 5.4% (6/110), respectively. The prevalence at 4 weeks of age for Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and Strongyloides was 30.0% (33/110), 8.2% (9/110), and 3.7% (4/109), respectively, while the prevalence at 6 weeks of age was 20.2% (22/109), 6.5% (7/107), and 2.7% (3/110), respectively. There was, however, no significant difference in the prevalence at 4 and 6 weeks (p>0.05). Conclusion: Findings from this study show that Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and Strongyloides, are prevalent in the study area and indicate the need to adopt optimal management practices to control infections in calves.

Effects of age on erythrocyte magnesium, sodium and potassium concentrations in female dairy cattle

The effect of age on erythrocyte Mg, Na and K concentrations and the correlations between these parameters (EMg, ENa and EK) and other blood parameters were studied in female dairy cattle ranging from 1 week to over 8 years of age. EMg concentration was higher than plasma Mg, the concentration being highest in calves 1 week old and lowest in cows 3–4 years old. ENa and EK concentrations were lower and higher respectively in calves 1 week of age than in older animals and did not show any significant age variation in those between 1 and 8 years of age. The EK concentration was more highly correlated with erythrocyte parameters (PCV, RCC, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC) than was either EMg or ENa concentrations.

The effect of induced hypomagnesaemia and hypermagnesaemia on the erythrocyte magnesium concentration in cattle

Hypomagnesaemia was induced in ten yearling Friesian heifers by starving them for forty hours while hypermagnesaemia was induced in seven Friesian calves (about two and half months old) by intramuscular magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) injection. The plasma magnesium (PMg) concentration decreased (P<0.05) during starvation and increased (P<0.05) following MgSO4 administration. However the erythrocyte magnesium (EMg) concentration did not show any significant change either with starvation or following the MgSO4 administration. These results show that sudden and significant changes in PMg concentration do not have any significant effect on EMg concentration. Accordingly EMg concentration may be a better indicator of long-term body Mg status and during hypomagnesaemic tetany could show whether the decrease in PMg concentration was sudden or gradual.

Risk factors associated with Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, and diarrhea in smallholder dairy farms in Mukurwe-ini Sub-County, Nyeri County, Kenya

Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the household, calf management, and calf factors associated with the occurrence of Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, and diarrhea in pre-weaned calves reared in smallholder dairy farms in Mukurwe-ini Sub-County of Nyeri County, Kenya. In addition, the study also evaluated factors associated with average daily weight gain in the same pre-weaned calves. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 newborn calves (63 males and 49 females) on 111 farms (1 set of twins) were followed for 2 months between June 2013 and August 2013. Two calves were lost to follow-up. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on household characteristics and calf management practices in the 111 selected farms. On the first visit to the farm (within 7 days of the birth of the calf), blood samples were collected from the jugular vein to assess the level of maternal immunity acquired by the calf, by determining the serum total protein and selenium concentration. At 4 and 6 weeks of age, fecal samples from the calves were collected to assess the presence of Cryptosporidia and Eimeria oocysts. Every 2 weeks for 2 months, the calves and their environments were examined, their 2-week consumption and health history were recorded, and weights were estimated with a weight tape. Each of the factors was evaluated in a univariable regression model and only those found to be significant (p≤0.20) were included in a multivariable model. Elimination of non-significant factors was done in the multivariable model through a backward elimination procedure so that only those variables which were confounders, and/or significant at (p≤0.05) remained in the final model. Results: About 37% (41/110) of the calves experienced diarrhea at least once during the 2-month study period. The overall period prevalence of Eimeria and Cryptosporidia was 42.7% (47/110) and 13.6% (15/110), respectively. Low serum protein was associated with 1.8 and 2.4 times the odds of Eimeria and Cryptosporidia infections, respectively. Lack of supervision of calf birth and low serum total protein were both associated with 1.3 times the odds of diarrhea incidence. Dirty calf pens, feeding <5 L of milk/day, and infection with Eimeria were associated with 0.105, 0.087, and 0.059 kg, respectively, reduced average daily weight gain of the calves. Conclusion: In the Kenyan context, calf diarrhea risk could be reduced through better supervision of parturition and colostrum provision. Specifically, the risk of Eimeria and Cryptosporidia infections could be reduced by optimizing the passive transfer of immunity to the newborn calves. Average weight gains of calves could be improved by good colostrum provision, pen hygiene, and preventing Eimeria infections.

The effect of age on erythrocyte magnesium concentrations of dairy cows during late pregnancy and early lactation

Blood samples were taken at weekly intervals from fifty four dairy cows (mainly Friesians and Jerseys) during the periods 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after calving. The cows were divided into two age groups; Group 1 consisting of 26 cows 2 1/2 to 4 years old and Group 2 consisting of 28 cows over 4 years old.The changes in erythrocyte magnesium (EMg) and plasma magnesium (PMg) concentrations before and after calving were expressed as the slope of each blood parameter regressed on weeks. The post-partum EMg concentration slope (increase) was greater (P<0.05) in the older cows than in the young ones. The older cows also had higher (P<0.05) mean EMg concentrations than the young cows. Between cow EMg concentration variations were significant (P<0.05) in both age groups while the weekly EMg concentration variations were only significant (P<0.05) in the older cows after calving. Age did not influence the changes in PMg concentrations before or after calving. Nor did the PMg concentrations vary significantly either between cows or between weeks.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Pathological findings of Oedema Disease of Swine in Kenya

The main epidemiological findings that were associated with oedema disease of swine were recent weaning (8-14 days), mixing of piglets from different litters, change of feed and ad libitum feeding with concentrates after weaning and high fatality rate (70%-100%) even with treatment. The consistent clinical history was sudden death of healthy piglets after weaning. The clinical manifestation was combination of the following; anorexia, staggering gait, oedema of the eyelids, dropping edematous ears, hoarse sound, tremors, paralysis and recumbency. Marked dyspnea and bluish red discoloration in some cases. The main microscopic findings were subcutaneous oedema of the head, submucosa of the stomach wall, mesentery of the spiral colon and the brain and the meninges characterized by cloudy appearance, lung congestion, edema, consolidation and collapse and excessive fluid in the serous cavities. In animals that had died suddenly there were no gross lesions at necropsy. Microscopically the main lesions in all the animals were edema in the predilection sites, interstitial pneumonia of varying degrees of severity and non-suppurative ventricular encephalitis. The histopathological lesions in the lung and the brain tissues were suggestive of a viral involvement in addition to normal E. coli toxemia. Consequently it was concluded that the etiopathogenesis of these cases of oedema disease of swine could have also involved a virus in addition to the normal E.coli toxaemia. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 22 2001: pp. 79-81

Occurrence of clinical dermatophilosis in zero-grazed dairy cattle

Dermatophilosis was clinically diagnosed and confirmed by isolation of Dermatophilus congolensis in three cows in a herd of seven zero-grazed dairy cattle. The lesions observed were matting together of hair into small tufts (greasy crusts) and discrete circumscribed lesions covered with creamy greasy crusts. The matting of hair into small tufts was found all over the body, while the discrete circumscribed lesions were mostly found in the distal extremities, dewlap, brisket, flank and dorsal midline. The circumscribed crusty lesions were similar to those of Trichophyton verrucosum infections that occur in similar production systems in Kenya, in that they were thick, horny and raised above the skin surface. However, unlike Trichophyton verrucosum infections, the crusts were held in place by penetrating hairs. Treatment of the severely affected cow with a single intramuscular injection of long acting tetracycline (20 mg/kg) resulted in regression of the lesions within 4 weeks, while in the mildly affected animals; the lesions receded on their own. Significant clinical Dermatophilosis has not been previously reported in stall-fed dairy animals in Kenya. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 21 2001: pp. 43-44