Abstract:
This is a brief summary of all sections assignments and activities carried out during the time course of internship in kitale mixed farm from 22nd –08-2022 to 14th -10-2022 (8 weeks).
During internship I was assigned the following sections, treatment, feeding, milking, cleaning, fencing, calf management, artificial insemination, diary feed mixing among others. Furthermore, under treatment, the diseases we managed were, Lumpy skin disease, East coast fever (ECF), both internal and external parasites, calcium deficiencies in dairy cows, metabolic disorders, among others using various drugs. Under feeding, animals were fed on silage made from the farm, hay pellets, diary meal, and fresh fodder among others. Milking is done using milking machines and packed in milking cans for sale. Calves are fed using bucket feeding method during the morning and also in the evening in addition to creep feeds. Artificial insemination is done using sexed semen after standing heat detection using estrutect heat detection method and also physical examination of the cow. Cleaning involved, milking parlour, cattle shed, milk stores etc. Other activities handled involved the following, dehorning, ear tagging, de-budding, wound management fodder collection, and de-worming, maize fodder establishment
During the internship, we faced a number of challenges which included, Bad weather conditions during working hours, limited resources such as drugs to manage different diseases like ECF, lumpy skin diseases, and poor farm structures like the cattle crash for restraining animals. Due to the above unfavorable conditions, I recommend the management team of the farm to put in much efforts to meet the better standards as possible for effective production.
All out of it, I thank the management of kitale mixed livestock farm for collaborating with me all that time we worked together and I was able to acquire different skills and knowledge as my objectives stated.
