Browsing by Author "Osolo, N.K."

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Environmental hazards in peri-urban poultry farming in western Kenya
(2015) Osolo, N.K.; Wanambacha, Wakhungu Jacob; Obiri, John
Poultry keeping is popular in peri-urban centres of Kenya. Poultry wastes arising from intensive poultry units may become too large to be absorbed in the immediate areas of production as crop plots and gardens decrease in size in urban centres leading to potential for environmental hazards. This study was conducted in four urban centres of Bungoma, Eldoret, Kakamega and Kisumu to evaluate the contribution of poultry wastes to environmental hazards. Manure samples were collected from 40 randomly selected intensive poultry farms and taken to the Kenya Bureau of Standards laboratory for microbial and heavy metal content analysis. There was no significant variation in E.coli levels between the four municipalities (p-value > 0.353) as well as between the poultry manure types (p-value > 0.823). There was a statistically significant interaction between manure condition and municipalities and the Salmonella levels, F (2, 33) = 6.266, p < 0.005. There was lack of evidence to dispute the claim that the means concentration (mg kg-1 ) of mercury [F (3, 33) = 1.035, p < 0.390] as well as copper [F (3, 35) = 0.084, p > 0.968] in poultry manures was similar across the four municipalities. This means that the heavy metal contents in the manure in the study area was below levels that could be considered hazardous in the manure if handled as waste. Strict hygiene and bio-security was recommended. It was recommended that Bio-security and hygiene should be included in the poultry extension programmes and training curricula.
Manure Management Risks and Ownership of Peri-Urban Poultry Enterprises in Western Kenya
(2013) Osolo, N.K.; Wanambacha, Wakhungu Jacob; Obiri, John
Ownership profile and management practices of peri-urban poultry units in four urban centres in Kenya; namely Bungoma, Eldoret, Kakamega and Kisumu were evaluated. Questionnaire surveys and interviews were used among 475 farmers selected through snowball sampling. More women were reported to own peri-urban poultry than were men although most decisions were made through consultation at family level. Poultry and manure handling practices were found to be poor and varying across municipalities. There was no significant difference across the municipalities with respect to the way farmers kept poultry feeds (χ2 9, 0.616 = 7.2). Farmers kept poultry feeds either in residential houses, poultry houses, dedicated stores or given to the birds directly regardless of the municipality. Garden crops varied but most of the peri-urban poultry keepers grew leafy vegetables (χ2 18, 0.001 = 33.58). The study recommends that poultry farmers should use designated feed stores to avoid feed contamination and environmental pollution by feeds; Poultry manure should be stored under shade for at least three months; Transport of poultry manure should be in closed containers to avoid contamination of transit routes; Crops applied with poultry manure should be harvested after sufficient waiting time or properly cooked to control spread of diseases.
Species abundance, food preference and nutritive value of goat diets in the semi-arid lands of east-central Kenya
(ILRI, 1996) Osolo, N.K.; Kinuthia, J.N.; Gachuiri, C.K.; Okeyo, A.M.; Wanyoike, M.M.; Okomo, M.
The key forage species and nutrient composition of forage species preferred by free-ranging East African goats in rangelands of eastern-central Kenya were determined. One hundred and five forage species were identified including 30 tree, 29 shrub, 20 grass and 25 forb species. Shrubs and short trees were the most preferred forage species and thus formed the bulk of the goat diets. Ironically the forage species most preferred by the goats were not necessarily the most abundant on the ground, indicating that ease of accessibility and palatability may be important determinants for choice of a forage specie. That grasses and forbs were the least preferred could be largely explained by the fact that goats are naturally browsers.