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Delivery of Technical Information to Smallholder
Dairy Farmers in Kiambu District
From the Abstract
A survey was conducted to evaluate the use of Milk Urea Nitrogen
(MUN) as an indicator of the nutritional status of lactating
animals. 27 animals in a randomly selected sample of 21 farms
in Kiambu District were monitored for nutritional status for
12 weeks. Fortnightly records were taken on feed offered,
body condition, body weight and milk yield. Milk samples were
collected weekly and analysed for MUN. Preliminary results
indicated that there was a significant negative correlation
between MUN and milk yield, and a marginal correlation between
MUN and body weight. There was no significant relationship
between MUN and Body condition score.
The data so far collected, which excludes the feed data,
indicate that MUN may to an extent be a reliable indicator
of nutritional status of dairy cattle under smallholder farm
conditions.
| Author: |
Wambugu, M., Wahome, R., Gachuiri, C., Kaitho,
R., Omore, A. and Tanner, J. |
| Date: |
1998 |
| Type of publication: |
Paper presented at the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine Biennial Conference, Kabete Campus, University
of Nairobi, 5-7 August 1998 |
| Publisher: |
Smallholder Dairy (Research and Development)
Project Research Report |
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Available on-line
at:
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www.smallholderdairy.org/publications/Conference/Wambugu%20et%20al-1998-MUN%20&%20dairy%20cattle%20nutr%20status-UON.pdf |
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