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Publication Exploring new frontiers in education, research and innovations for economic recovery(2023) Rutto D. K. L. and Omami E. N.Production of high quality seeds helps to increase crop yields. Currently, there are no high quality seeds of Jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) from breeders to farmers, resulting in farmers using re-cycled planting seed whose quality is not assured. This has resulted in low yields due to many reasons, one of them being poor quality seeds. Yields of crop has remained low 2-4 tons/ha/annum compared to expected yield of 5-8 tons/ha/annum. Farmers use up to 7kg/ha seed instead of 5kg/ha, indicating 40% extra seeds used. Though Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) are focusing her efforts on generation of appropriate strains of the vegetable, little is being done to examine seed used by farmers for its quality. Objective was to examine seed quality of Jute mallow used by farmers at planting. A field survey was conducted using structured questionnaires in five Counties of Keiyo, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, and West Pokot and Simlaw Seed Company. A sample size of 500 farmers were visited and interviewed by use of stratified random sampling method and seed simultaneously collected. Seed quality tests and data analysis on analytical purity, germination and seed vigor was done using ISTA (2004) procedures. Results showed high seed analytical purity of 99% from both Simlaw seeds and Uasin Gishu, indicating superior quality seed (above 98%). Lowest purity was from West Pokot (95%). Germination results showed Simlaw Seed (89%) was highest, while Nandi (37%) was lowest. Germination from three counties of Keiyo (57%), West Pokot (49%) and Nandi (37%) does not meet seed quality standard (above 60%). Electrical conductivity (E.C) results showed highest seed vigor was from Simlaw (2.3 µScm-1g ) and lowest from Nandi (8.2 µScm-1g ). It was concluded that planting seed used by farmers were of poor physiological quality and recommended they be trained on quality seed production.Publication Effects of camel feed supplementation on milk yields and composition during early pregnancy period(AJSTSS, 2022-09-26) Thiakunu, F.K1; Njehia, K.B2; Nguhiu, P.N2 and Arimi, Joshua M1A study was conducted between January and March 2022 which was the camel mating season at Ngaremara ward of Isiolo County. The objective was to determine the effect of feed supplementation on milk yield and composition in early pregnancy. It is documented that camels in pastoral environment drop milk production immediately after conception. There is limited information in literature on effects of supplementation on milk production at this stage. A complete randomized design was used to select ten camels which were supplemented with a formulated concentrate supplement made of locally available materials and ten unsupplemented which was the control. All camels were dewormed at the beginning of the study. Formulated feeds were gradually introduced to ten camels by adding 1 kg daily and enticing them with green acacia pods for 2 weeks until all supplemented were able to feed 3.5 kgs in the evening after grazing. Mating took place naturally using a bull between 6th January and 15th February 2022 and one supplemented and two unsupplemented camels were not mated. Milking was done in the mornings after allowing the calves to stimulate the teats for the milk letdown reflex. Production of milk in litres was recorded daily and total production per camel tabulated on weekly basis. Milk samples were taken every week and analyzed for protein and fat levels. Statistical data analysis for milk yields was done by comparing weekly means using ANOVA with the help of SPSS. Mean weekly milk yields per camel in litres for the supplemented and unsupplemented was 8.6067 ± 0.23691 and 8.0797±0.26185 respectively. There was a consistent increase in milk production for the supplemented camels with a significant increase of 1.63 litres at week 3 (P<0.05). The un-supplemented camels had a consistent drop of milk production which was more significant (P<0.05) at week 5 and 7. Supplemented camels milk had percentage increase in fat content of 3.470 ±0.0300 compared to 3.157±0.0228 for the un-supplemented. The supplemented camels were mated earlier than the unsupplemented. Six supplemented and five un-supplemented were confirmed pregnant through the indigenous knowledge method of cocking the tail (kutoa mkia) when the male or a person approaches. The study concludes that feed supplementation can positively affect the lactation curve and fertility in camels. It is recommended that camels be supplemented with feed formulations made from locally available materials at around the time of mating to improve production and reproduction. Further studies are recommended to determine the effect of pregnancy on milk yields and composition.Publication Enhancing public health awareness on food safety risks associated with livestock feeding practices in the peri urban slums of Kisumu city, Kenya.(2023) PROF. CHARLES MULEKE INYAGWA, PHDPUBLICATION 1 Livestock feeding practices present food safety concerns to consurmners who are aware of food safety and their linkage to feeding practices. Domesticated animals kept in the peri-urban territories often feed on waste dump feeds and polluted waters. Consequently, animal feeds could be contaminated with potentially toxic metals and diseases which may lead to death and economic losses in lost trade opportunities. Objective of this study was to determine the risk factors assoctated with vestock feeding and disease control practices in the peri-urban slums of Kisurme City, Kenya. This was achieved through identifiing. characterizing and disseminating peri-urban livestock feeding practices and constraints, and their effects on food safety as well as general well-being of Hvestock. Primary: data was collected from 291 randomly selected smallholder hvestock farmers in the peri-urban slums of the City by use of semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics inform of cross tabulations, means and frequencies were used to characterize peri-urban livestock feeding and disease control practices. The results revealed that 589 of the county residents were male while 2 96 were female. Their ages ranged between 18 and SOvears with a mean age of 55. Majority (749%) praocticed both livestock and crop production while 26% kept livestock only. The farmers mainly kept indigenous cattie (9796 ) as opposed to exotic (396.). The prevalent livestock farming systerm was free range (939%) where most farmers grazed their lvestock on open wnutilized spaces and dwmp sites. Animals were kept for consumption (629%) and for income generation (329). The main production constraints identified by farmers were diseases (65%) and lack of feed (209%). The diseases varied with region and animal species which included tick-borne diseases (5396) and foot and mouth (159%). Farmers obtained information on management and treatment of lvestock largely from private veterinarians (649). There is need to . create policies on peri-urban stum livestock keeping practices, and waste management to reduce the risks assoctaced N weith livestock feeding and diseases in Kisuma city. )23