Seasonal pattern of tick load in Bunaji cattle in the subhumid zone of Nigeria

The seasonal pattern of tick load on Bunaji cattle under traditional management in northern Nigeria was observed over 12 months to investigate the possibilities of strategic use of acaricide. Ticks were removed 2-3 times weekly by hand from 16 animals, counted and the species determined. Tick load was low in the dry season (2-5 ticks per animal per week), increased after the onset of the first scattered rains, reached a peak (40 ticks per animal per week) 1 month after the beginning of the heavy rains, and declined thereafter. The dominant tick species was Amblyomma variegatum; other species found were Boophilus spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Hyalomma spp. The low level of tick load compared with data from literature and from crossbred (Friesian-Bunaji) cattle kept in the study area suggests high tick resistance in Bunaji cattle. A biologically feasible method of controlling ticks in indigenous cattle would be twice weekly spraying with acaricide during only 2 months of the year in the early wet season to break the pronounced peak in the tick load. However, hand spraying offers no advantage over hand removal of ticks in terms of saving labour. The main advantage of strategic spraying lies in more thorough removal of ticks and possibly prevention of dermatophilosis at a lower cost than year-round use of acaricide. Knowledge of the seasonal pattern of tick load is also valuable for planning the introduction of selected stock with higher genetic potential, but higher susceptibility to tick-borne diseases than exhibited by Bunaji cattle.     

Management, productivity and livelihood effects on Kenyan smallholder dairy farms from interventions addressing animal health and nutrition and milk quality

We aimed to describe the management and productivity of this group of smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya at the beginning of an intervention program and to document relevant observed changes in the 3rd year of the intervention. A 3-year intervention program, focused on management of animal health and nutrition, and milk quality, was implemented by one Kenyan and two Canadian non-governmental organizations (one university based) to help improve the milk production and livelihoods of Kenyan smallholder dairy farmers (primarily women). Thirty farmers were enrolled and completed questionnaires at the start and end of the project. Focus groups were also conducted to obtain qualitative information on livelihood effects from the program. In 2004, 70% of the eligible youngstock (more than 15 months of age) were pregnant, and cows had a long average days-in-milk of 240 days. External parasites, poor hygiene, and long claws were not uncommon among cows, and 37% and 20% of the farms reported clinical intestinal parasitism and diarrhea in youngstock. In 2006, there were significant improvements in the proportion of farms planting high-protein forages, farms using better milking procedures, and on-farm milk storage methods. The reported mastitis incidence rate fell from 0.55 to 0.20 cases/cow-year (p < 0.01), and the average number of cows and youngstock significantly increased from 1.5 and 0.9 to 2.9 and 2.6, respectively. There were reported improvements in the livelihoods among the member families. The partnership-based intervention program significantly improved management and productivity of this group of smallholder dairy farmers in rural Kenya, leading to reported livelihood benefits.     

Modifications to physicochemical and nutritional properties of hard-To-cook beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by extrusion cooking.

The objective of this work was to evaluate extrusion cooking as a means to improve the nutritional properties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. that had been stored either at 42 degrees C and 80% relative humidity for 6 weeks or for periods >1 year in cereal stores in tropical conditions. Storage under these conditions resulted in an increase in cooking time increased (7.7- and 12-fold, respectively) as a result of development of the hard-to-cook (HTC) defect. Single-screw extrusion of the milled beans was carried out at four barrel temperatures and two moisture contents. The extrudate bulk density and water solubility index decreased with increasing temperature, whereas the water absorption index increased due to the higher proportion of gelatinized starch in the extruded samples. Both fresh and HTC beans contained nutritionally significant amounts of lectins, trypsin, and alpha-amylase inhibitors, which were mostly inactivated by extrusion. Extrusion also caused a considerable redistribution of insoluble dietary fiber to soluble, although the total dietary fiber content was not affected. Changes in solubility involved pectic polysaccharides, arabinose and uronic acids being the main sugars involved. Stored beans subjected to extrusion cooking showed physical and chemical characteristics similar to those of extrudates from fresh beans.     

Waste Activated Sludge as an Additive for Increment of Lime Sorption Capacity

Lime was physically blended with Waste Activated Sludge (W.A.S) in various proportions. These blends were hydrated, dried, ground, and sieved to size of utmost 200 μm. The sorbents were then used in fixed-bed reactor for dry desulfurization tests. It was found that the blends had higher sorption capacities than lime alone which means that W.A.S augmented lime's sorption capacity. Higher surface area and porosity of the blended sorbents compared to lime was the main cause of the improved sorption capacity, a conclusion supported by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis (surface area increment with sorption capacity) and scanning electron microscopy imaging (rough morphology being formed). This higher surface area and porosity was caused by pozzolanic reaction between lime and the alumina silicate constituents of W.A.S. The products of this reaction are high surface area, complex calcium alumina silicates.     

The use of oral fluralaner for the treatment of feline generalised demodicosis: a case report

There is little agreement on the most effective and safest treatment for feline demodicosis. Protocols generally consist of long‐lasting therapy courses based on rinses, subcutaneous injections, oral drug administration or repeated spot‐on formulation and the efficacy of most of these is poorly documented. Many of these products have also been associated with adverse effects and may be difficult to administer in cats, leading to poor owner compliance and treatment failure. This case report describes the successful use of fluralaner in treating a generalised form of demodicosis caused by Demodex cati in an adult cat that was probably triggered by chronic glucocorticoid administration. After a single oral dose of 28 mg/kg fluralaner, negative skin scrapings were obtained within one month and clinical cure within two months. No side effects were observed. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of fluralaner in treating feline generalised demodicosis.