This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
Expert Advice for Kenyan Farmers ¶
Published on August 6, 2020
Desmodium fodder is a high-quality protein-rich forage that can be harvested in excess and dried into hay for future use as a protein supplement. However, the desmodium hay business is not as developed as the sale of Boma Rhodes hay and baled maize silage, making it relatively expensive.
For a more affordable alternative, consider growing desmodium yourself. It does well in warm, wet regions and is adaptable to a wide range of soils, from sand to clay loams. You can obtain the seeds from any agrovet near you or from the Kenya Seed Company.
Maureen N. Ogega, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University, advises that you can get the seeds from any agrovet near you or from the Kenya Seed Company.
On the other hand, if you're interested in keeping Kenbro birds, it's essential to source stock from a reputable breeder, such as Kenchic, which played a significant role in the introduction and distribution of the breed. You can contact their Kisumu regional office to make orders or get leads to their authorized distributors in Bungoma or nearby towns.
For beef farming, consider a feedlot system with proper nutrient supplementation and clean water to hasten fattening. Beef cattle must be managed properly through vaccination, controlling internal and external parasites, monitoring weight gain by weighing them regularly, and keeping proper records.
When it comes to housing, the breed requires adequate and hygienic space to thrive. A good house requires spacing of about 1.5 square feet per bird and should have proper ventilation and be rodent and birds' proof, with adequate disease control and biosecurity measures.
Lastly, grafting macadamia seedlings can be challenging due to the hard wood. Wood glue is used to accelerate the curing process and prevent the scion from losing excess moisture and the wound from coming into direct contact with water. Wood glue should be wrapped at the top of the scion on the cut surface and the bud leaves to prevent excessive loss of water.
Wood glue also prevents the cut surfaces from coming into direct contact with water and thus causing infections and may lead to death of seedlings. Wood glue should be used together with grafting tape, which normally forms the basis of the graft work. Wax or wood-glue all the cut surfaces and ensure that there are no cracks that may promote drying.
According to Lilian Jeptanui, Department of Crops Horticulture and soils, Egerton University, wood glue is cheap and easily available and easy to work with, unlike wax.
