Phylogenetic relationships among and genetic variability within 60 goats from two different indigenous breeds in Narok and Isiolo counties in Kenya and 22 published goat samples were analysed using mitochondrial control region sequences. The results showed that there were 54 polymorphic sites in a 481-bp sequence and 29 haplotypes were determined. The mean haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.981 ± 0.006 and 0.019 ± 0.001, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis in combination with goat haplogroup reference sequences from GenBank showed that all goat sequences were clustered into two haplogroups (A and G), of which haplogroup A was the commonest in the two populations. A very high percentage (99.90%) of the genetic variation was distributed within the regions, and a smaller percentage (0.10%) distributed among regions as revealed by the analysis of molecular variance (amova). This amova results showed that the divergence between regions was not statistically significant. We concluded that the high levels of intrapopulation diversity in Isiolo and Narok goats and the weak phylogeographic structuring suggested that there existed strong gene flow among goat populations probably caused by extensive transportation of goats in history.

The study is focused on the capability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict next month and first lactation 305-day milk yields (FLMY305) of Kenyan Holstein-Friesian (KHF) dairy cows based on a few available test days (TD) records in early lactation. The developed model was compared with multiple linear regressions (MLR). A total of 39,034 first parity TD records of KHF dairy cows collected over 102 herds were analyzed. Different ANNs were modeled and the best performing number of hidden layers and neurons and training algorithms retained. The best ANN model had one hidden layer of logistic transfer function for all models, but hidden nodes varied from 2 to 7. The R (2) value for ANNs for training, validation, and test data were consistently high showing that the models captured the features accurately. The R (2), r, and root mean square were consistently superior for ANN than MLR but significantly different (p > 0.05). The prediction equation with four variables, i.e., first, second, third, and fourth TD milk yield, gave adequate accuracy (79.0%) in estimating the FLMY305 from TD yield. It emerges from this study that the ANN model can be an alternative for prediction of FLMY305 and monthly TD in KHF.

1992). Hay intake, milk production and rumen fermentation in British Saanen goats given concentrates varying widely in protein concentration. AbstractAbout 8 weeks after parturition six multiparous British Saanen goats with permanent rumen fistulas were allocated to three dietary treatments in a random sequence for three successive 30-day periods. The treatments were perennial ryegrass hay ad libitum with 1000 glday of concentrates containing 112 LP), HP) or 255 (very high protein, VHP) g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM) daily. The CP concentration was increased by substitution of soya-bean meal for cereals. From day 19 of each period, when measurements were made, concentrate allowance was reduced to 850 gl day and hay intake was offered at proportionately 0-10 more than consumption in the previous 6 days. Hay intake and milk yield increased linearly with CP in the concentrates, but differences between HP and VHP were small and non-significant. Milk composition was unaffected by the treatments, so yields of milk solids followed the same trends as yields of milk, but these were only significant for solids-not-fat. The digestibility of neutraldetergent fibre, acid-detergent fibre and nitrogen (N) all increased with increasing CP, but significantly so only for N; the digestibility of DM and organic matter was unaffected.The digestibility of the hay incubated in the rumen was unaffected by the treatments. With increasing N intake, faecal, urine and milk N increased linearly as did apparently digested N but N retention did not follow a consistent pattern. Rumen volatile fatty acids and pH were unaffected but concentration of rumen ammonia and blood urea increased with increasing CP as did rumen fluid dilution rate. The results suggest that, with lactating goats given diets of moderate quality grass hay and concentrates containing soya-bean meal, responses to concentrations of CP greater than about 180 g/kg DM in the concentrates or 140 g CP per kg DM in the total diet are likely to be small.

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During the first 2 weeks after kidding, 27 multiparous British Saanen goats were offered 1·5 kg hay (98 g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM)) and from 0·45 increasing to 0·70 kg concentrates (152 g CP per kg DM) daily. Week 2 was used as a covariance period. At week 3 of lactation all the goats were allocated to one of three groups and were offered hay ad libitum and 1 kg concentrates containing 117 (LP), 152 (MP) or 185 (HP) g CP per kg DM daily to week 15. During weeks 4 to 15, hay intake and milk yield were highest in the HP group. With increasing protein in the concentrates, hay DM intake was 1·20, 1·19 and 1·37 (s.e. 0·060) kg/day respectively and milk yield was 3·04, 3·21 and 3·36 (s.e. 0·080) kg/day respectively (linear response P < 001). There was no significant effect on the concentration of solids-not-fat, fat, total nitrogen or casein in milk. The digestibility of dietary organic matter, acid-detergent fibre and total nitrogen measured after week 15 was significantly greater with HP than with LP (P < 0·05), with MP values being intermediate (linear response P < 005). The rate of passage of ytterbium-labelled hay was unaffected by the treatments. The results indicate that, with lactating goats given hay and concentrates, beneficial responses may be expected to increasing concentrate CP to at least 185 g CP per kg DM.

variations among populations of the wild Penaeid shrimps in Malindi-Ungwana Bay along the Northern Coast of Kenya (2019) Journal of Aquaculture, Fisheries & Fish Science 2(2) pp:155-164

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The aim of this project was to study indigenous breeding practices used in management of Capra hircus (Galla and Small East African goats) populations in Kajiado County in Rift valley province and Makueni County in Eastern province. Data were obtained through a field survey using questionnaires (Appendix I) and personal observations between 1 st September, 2013 and 2 nd December, 2013. This study covered key characteristics of goats production and areas of goat breeding, such as general farm details, number of goats, main activities of the farmers, farming types, breeds, flock structure, feeding, housing, catastrophes, selection, mating systems, breeding systems, average age at parturition, breeding problems, and the importance of goats. Results showed that the average number of goats in Kajiado was 100.65 ± std 49.88 while in Makueni it was 12.28 ± std 6.46. The main activity of the people interviewed was farming as 58 people (96.67%) in Kajiado and 42 people (61.60%) chose farming as their main activity because this was their main source of livelihood. Flocks were dominated by breeding females at a mean of 39.06 ± std 16.75 in Kajiado and a mean of 5.62 ± std 3.50 in Makueni because females were kept to reproduce to increase the size of the flock and the males were kept majorly for cash and only one or two were left to reproduce with the females. Drought was the major catastrophe as it killed an average number of goats of 6.33 ± std 4.36. Pneumonia and diarrhoea were the major diseases according to 28 farmers (46.66%) in Kajiado and 31 farmers (51.66%) in Makueni. Ticks and fleas were the major parasites according to 42 farmers (70%) in Kajiado and 4 farmers (63.34%) in Makueni. Treatment was mostly done by the farmers individually as 54 farmers (90%) in Kajiado and 46 farmers (76.67%) in Makueni treated the animals by themselves. This was so because it was either not easy to get a veterinarian or expensive for them to hire veterinarian doctors. Some farmers used traditional medicine like mavuavui; Steganotaenia araliacea was used to treat pneumonia. Farmers also devised feeding methods during drought as 48 farmers (80.00%) in Kajiado and 23 farmers (38.33%) in Makueni cut leaves from up trees to feed the goats. When doing selection of breed, 58 farmers (96.67%) and 57 farmers (95%) considered large body size and drought resis-O. G. Otieno et al. 112 tance respectively in Kajiado. The farmers in Makueni considered age and drought resistance at equal chances of 59 farmers (98.33%). The main mating system was naturally uncontrolled as 113 farmers (95.17%) of the overall 120 farmers interviewed in Kajiado and Makueni chose this as the main mating method. The major breeding system was pure breeding at 85 farmers (70.83%). The average age at parturition of the goats was 1.435 ± 0.125 years in Kajiado and 1.44 ± 0.121 years in Makueni. Abortion was the major breeding problem because it was caused by environmental stressors like drought and diseases as 54 farmers (93.92%) in Kajiado and 55 farmers (95.66%) claimed tha...