J Nguhiu-Mwangi

Indicators of Poor Welfare in Dairy Cows Within Smallholder Zero-Grazing Units in the Peri-Urban Areas of Nairobi, Kenya

Animal welfare lacks a good universal definition and a satisfactory distinction from the term “well being”. However, a consensual definition is essential for practical, legislative and sci‐ entific purposes. Without a clear definition, animal welfare cannot be effectively studied or conclusively assessed to provide remedial measures to its violation [1-3]. Animal welfare is therefore defined as the ability of an animal to interact or cope comfortably with its environ‐ ment, resulting in satisfaction of both its physical and mental state [4-6]. This satisfaction en‐ hances expression of normal behavioural patterns by the animal [7,8].

Knowledge, attitude, and practices on usage, disposal, and effect of plastic bags on sheep and goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people in the Nairobi and Kajiado Counties, Kenya, on the usage, disposal, and effect of plastic waste on sheep and goats (shoats). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 384 respondents in four communities in the two counties. Most of the people irrespective of their age, occupation, and educational status used plastic bags of some type on a daily basis. A high proportion of the respondents (37.0%, 142) used plastic bags because of the low cost. Approximately, 79.1% (304) disposed used plastic bags in open dumps. A total of 147 (38.3%) households kept shoats. Out of these, 38.1% (56) purchased feed and also allowed their animals to roam. Most of them (45.3%, 174) thought that lack of feed for the animals was the main reason why shoats roam and scavenge at refuse dump sites and road sides. A large proportion of the respondents (44.5%, 143) mentioned death of animals as the ultimate consequence of ingestion of waste plastic bags. Though, the respondents were aware that indiscriminate disposal of used plastic bags could result in death of the animals from which they derive their livelihoods, they nevertheless continued with the practice. There is a need for a paradigm shift in the way and manner plastic bags are used and disposed.

Risk (Predisposing) Factors for Non-Infectious Claw Disorders in Dairy Cows Under Varying Zero-Grazing Systems

Lameness in cattle is one of the major causes of economic losses in dairy production systems (Hernandez et al., 2005; Kossaibati & Esslemont, 1997). These losses occur through various negative impact directly on cattle and indirectly on the dairy production system. These include reduced milk yield (Hernandez et al., 2005), discarding of milk due to withdrawal period of drugs used to treat some of the lameness conditions, cost of veterinary drugs and professional services in managing the conditions (Enting et al., 1997), lowered conception rate and increased calving interval (Melendez et al., 2003; Sogstad et al.,2006), reduced ovarian activity during early postpartum period (Garbarino et al., 2004), as well as premature culling and occasional mortalities (Enting et al., 1997). Lameness has also been identified as a major welfare determinant in cattle because of discomfort and pain that it causes (Offer et al., 2000).

Categorizing Wounds to Improve Clinical Management and Prognostic Outcome: A Retrospective Study

Trauma and surgeries are common causes of wounds that require proper management to prevent complications, economic losses, pain and suffering, death or euthanasia of the affected animals. A retrospective study of 243 wounds in cattle, sheep and goats treated between 1981 and 2006 is described. It describes practical clinical methods of categorizing and correlating wounds based on their management, complications, and prediction of prognosis. Location of a wound in the body is one of the most important factors that determine the mode of management, possible complications and anticipated outcome. Approximately 22% of the wounds were located on the ventral abdomen and thoracic regions and these healed rapidly due to good drainage of exudates. Periarticular and articular wounds constituted 17.3% and required protective and supportive bandages to prevent contamination and minimize movement. Wounds in areas prone to gross contamination constituted 14.3%, took long to heal and had a high incidence of suture dehiscence. The type of wound meant the state in which it was, while the level of tissues involved determined depth. About 46.1% of wounds involved areas with scarcity of tissue and healed slowly, while sepsis and abscessation formed 39.2% of the wounds and healed after prolonged treatment. Wounds involving dense muscular tissue were 23.6% and these healed within 3 weeks of treatment, but skin-deep wounds made 6.7% and healed within 2 weeks. Those involving the bone were 4.5% and took an average of 16 weeks to heal. Bites and gangrenous wounds were unmanageable and frequently resulted in high patient mortality, while partially granulating wounds healed rapidly. Wounds penetrating to any body cavity were best managed closed rather than open. Effective wound management-entailed debridement of deep-seated necrotic tissue, removal of foreign materials or special surgery to enhance drainage. The complicating factors included presence of subcutaneous emphysema, oedema, sepsis, foreign bodies, maggots and abscesses. Location, type and depth of wounds are therefore useful factors for categorizing wounds and these factors influence management and prognostic outcomes. Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 30 (2) 2006: pp. 73-80