Introduction
There is an increasing demand for red meat (Beef) in Kenya which calls for high growth rates, quality and maturity weight. In addition, the changing consumption habits for the increasing affluent Kenyan population is increasing the demand for high quality beef. Effect of climate change necessitates that breeds kept in the ASAL be both heat and disease tolerant. Slow growth rates, low maturity weights and generally low productivity from indigenous breeds. There is need for a dual-purpose (meat and milk) cattle breed.
1. Improved Boran
Improved Boran Bull
Improved red Boran cow with calf
2. Improved Boran/Red Poll Terminal Crosses In-Calf Heifers
3. Improved Boran/Sahiwal cross
A cross of improved Boran and Sahiwal at KALRO Lanet
4. Sahiwal
5. Orma Boran
Orma Boran - Kalro Lanet Orma herders watering the cattles
6. The Small East African Zebu(SEAZ)
Forage Sorghum (E6518)
Forage Sorghum E6518
Dual purpose sorghums (Ikinyaruka; E1291, BJ28, BM30, Lanet1)
Dual purpose sorghum - Ikinyaruka variety
Dual purpose sorghum E1291in Isiolo County
Chloris Gayana var X-tozi and Lanet
Rhodes-Chloris Gayana in farm filed
Lanet Brachiaria Varieties (B. brizatha var. Busia; B. brizatha Var. Bungoma ; B. brizatha var. Lanet)
Brachiaria variety B. brizatha var. Busia
Bagging of brachiaria to harvest seeds
Brachiaria Mutant Variety
Clitoria (Clitoria ternatea)
Clitoria (Clitoria ternatea)
Tree Lucerne
Tree Lucern
Brachiaria spp and Dolichos (Dolichos lablab) and Desmodium feed blocks feed blocks
Sweet Potato (Wagaborige)
Sweet Potato (Wagaborige)
Vaccines
1.East Coast Fever (ECF) Vaccine
2.Sub-unit Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia (CBPP) vaccine
3. Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia DIVA Vaccine
Use of heart girth band to estimate Boran liveweight
Estimation of the body live weight of Boran using the Bos Taurus weigh-band
Calf Management
How to feed the calf?
Calf Feeding Schedule
Weeks |
Body weight |
Litres per day |
1 |
27kg |
0.54 |
2-3 |
30kg |
0.6 |
4-6 |
32 |
0.64 |
7-10 |
33.5 |
0.67 |
11-14 |
35 |
0.7 |
15-16 |
36 |
0.72 |
17-20 |
37 |
0.74 |
Figure 1: Orphan Calf Bottle
How to identify the calf?
What is dehorning/ disbudding?
• Dehorning involves cutting over grown horns.
• Disbudding is the process of removing horn buds in calves using hot disbudding irons.
• This is done to at 3 weeks to 1 month of age.
What is dehorning/ disbudding?
Why dehorn/disbud?
Disbudding at Kalro-Lanet
Weaner and Steer Management
What is weaning?
Feeding of weaners
Weaner Husbandry Practices
Castration
What is castration?
Heifer management
Feeding of heifers
Why feed?
This is important for the following reasons;
Health management for heifers
Routine disease control measures should be considered. This includes;
Selection and culling
Why select and cull?
Cow Management
Why feed the cow?
Routine disease control measures should be undertaken.
Vaccination
What is vaccination?
Vaccination schedule for beef cattle for Nakuru County
Vaccine |
Months |
Foot and mouth |
January, May and September |
East coast fever |
February |
Black quarter |
April (before onset of long rain |
Anthrax |
April before onset of long rain |
Lumpy skin disease |
March |
Administering Foot and Mouth vaccine at KALRO Lanet
Dipping
Why dipping?
Cattle dipping at KARLO-Lanet
Weighing
Why weigh?
Calve weighing at KALRO Lanet
Deworming
Importance of deworming
Deworming of Improved Boran weaners
Source: BRI Lanet
Hoof Trimming
What is Hoof trimming?
The importance of preventing lameness and for the good welfare of the cattle.
Hoof trimming by An animal Health officer
Selection of Breeding Heifers and Bulls
Selection of Breeding Heifers
What to consider when selecting heifer:
Selection of Breeding Bulls
Records Keeping, Importance and Management
Why keep records?
Types of Records
Birth Notification register
Birth notification record sheet
Date of birth |
Identification no |
Sex |
Birth weight |
Dam |
Sire |
breed |
Treatment record sheet format
Animal No |
Age |
sex |
Clinical signs |
Diagnosis |
Treatment (drug used and dosage) |
Withdrawal Length |
Withdrawal date |
Name of service provider |
sign |
remarks |
Vaccination/Deworming record sheet format for planned disease control
Vaccination date |
Vaccination done |
Type of vaccine and dosage |
Batch No |
Withdrawal date |
Next vaccination |
Name of service provider |
Sign |
remarks |
Production (performance) Records
Sample of weight record from birth to one year
ID |
BREED |
SEX |
BRTH-WT |
WT1 |
WT2 |
WT3 |
WT4 |
WT5 |
WT6 |
WT7 |
WT8 |
For dual purpose animals, milk records are kept with the following parameters; -
Milk record sheet format
Date |
Daily milk yield produced |
Milk fed to calves |
Milk consumed at home |
Milk sold |
Milk spoilt |
remarks |
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Feeding Records
These should indicate the amount of feeding given as well as the type of feed. Thus the important records are:
Sales records
Sales record Sheet format
Animal No |
sex |
Breed |
Live weight |
Price(amount Kshs) |
Reason for sale |
Deaths records
Deaths record Sheet format
Animal No |
Date of death |
sex |
Breed |
Age |
Cause of death |
Registering Bull and Heifers
What are the benefits of registration with the Kenya Stud Book?
Kenya Stud Book registration process
Basic costs
Estimated returns
Marketing
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Call: 0111010100