Browsing by Author "Ball, R.S."
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Item Calf Rearing(March 1940) Ball, R.S.; Kenya ColonyA considerable amount of information is available on the best methods of management of dairy herds in the various areas of the country, and the standard of husbandry has greatly improved during recent years. As a result of more intensive management there has been a tendency to rear more calves by hand than formerly. Results have, however, in some cases been disappointing, and it may be that under certain conditions in this country it is better to use natural methods. When weaned, therefore, heifer calves should continue to receive a concentrate ration which should be fed in the middle of the day if possible, and in the evening during the dry season or periods of shortage of grazing they should continue to receive hay and silage.Item The Cultivation of Lucerne(1935/1936) Ball, R.S.Lucerne has long been recognized in this country as a valuable food for stock, either fed in the green state, or made Into hay. As a standby for the dry season. Considerable use has also been made of it for silage. but when used for this purpose it should. If possible. be ensiled together with some non protein-rich matrials. such as oats. for. if ensiled alone, the high protein content may lead to the formation of a sour silage. due to the accumulation of butyric and other undesirable acids.Item Lucerne in South Africa(1938) Ball, R.S.; Kenya Colony.A useful and comprehensive pamphlet on the above subject has recently been published by the Department of Agriculture in South Africa and much of the information contained therein is likely to be of considerable value to East African farmers. A summary of some of the more important features relating to the cultivation and management of the crop is therefore appended.Item Mixed Farming in East Africa III.-Starting a Dairy Herd in Kenya(1936) Lipscomb, J.P; Ball, R.S.; Kenya ColonyTHE necessity for the introduction of a mixed farming system with dairying has been discussed in previous articles [see Ball, p. 266; Maher, p. 271]. In starting a dairy herd in Kenya, the necessity for a slow and careful policy in the initial stages must be emphasised. For dirty areas the farmer should start with selected native cows and a purebred bull of a suitable dairy breed. The income derived will be low until the halfbred progeny come into milk 3 years after the herd has been started. After the grade herd has been established, the original native cows can be used for fostering calves. In cases where acreage is restricted it might be possible to form the nucleus of a herd more quickly by the purchase of old cows from a good herdItem Notes on feeding(July, 1939) Ball, R.S.; A.I.C.T.A, Department of Agriculture, Kenya ColonyThe somewhat irregular nature of the rains and the poor growth of grass in many areas has caused some anxiety amongst stock farmers and has necessitated of the feeding position for the coming months. It is doubtful whether any large reserve of grass will now be available for the dry periods likely to be experienced in the coming months, and the position is further rendered difficult in many areas by the possibility of locust infestations. In order to guard against these, it will be desirable to plant those forage and fodder crops which are least likely to be damaged by these pests, and although the range of such is limited yet there are several which will probably not be severely affected. The most important of these is sunflower, 1 and, in addition, there are others such as the bulk of the leguminous crops, including vetches, peas, etc., all of which are likely to suffer a minimum amount of damage.Item Notes on Feeds and Feeding(May, 1939) Ball, R.S.; Department of Agriculture, Colony of KenyaThe effects of Along drought have ephasized again the importance of the adoption of abreeding policy that will not outspace the ability to provide for the animalsthat is to say not to feed economically within the limitations of the individual farmItem Some Aspects of the Poultry Industry in Kenya(1937) Ball, R.S.; Department of Agriculture, Kenya ColonyThe low prices for grain crops that have prevailed during the past few years have emphasized the desirability of converting them in part into other products before they leave the farm. For this reason, a large number of farmers turned to poultry as a sideline to their other activities. Although prices of produce have now risen appreciably, yet the industry has become soundly established; and, in spite of higher food costs, is likely to remain profitable, but only as a sideline, when the fullest utilization of surplus produce can be made. As a proposition by itself, where all foods would have to be purchased and transported, there is probably not very much scope in Kenya, for, apart from the difficulties that arise where large numbers are handled, the outlet for poultry products is not at the present time sufficiently great to justify a large expansion. The possibilities of export of eggs have, however, been explored, and results to date are encouraging, particularly in the South African market at certain seasons of the year.Item Some South African Investigations on Fodder Crops, Field Crops and Animal Husbandry(1939/1940) Ball, R.S.; A.I.C.T.A., Kenya ColonyThe work of breeding for high butterfat yields depends on the fact that the butterfat character is a homozygous recessive and line-bred bulls are being used. It is found, however, that there is a tendency to perpetuate faults such as narrow muzzles in this line breeding, although the stock generally do not show. signs of general loss of constitution. The work has not yet proceeded very far and the results to date are indefinite, although there has been a slight upward tendency in butterfat percentages amongst the most recent progeny.Item Sprouted Grain as a Stock Food(1937) Ball, R.S.; A.I.C.T.A., Department of Agriculture, Kenya ColonySprouted grain as a stock food has become increasingly popular in Europe during the last few years since it provides a succulent and very palatable feed which can be used safely for any class of stock. Experiments have been carried out in this country and it has proved to be very easy to prepare, since the relatively high temperatures generally experienced make it unnecessary to use any artificial heat in the sprouting of the grain and very little equipment is required. An additional advantage of this food is the rapidity with which it can be prepared should other sources of feed supplies fail unexpectedly or supplies of succulent material become scarce. On an average, a period of thirteen to seventeen days only is required to prepare the grain, although this time will vary according to the day and night temperatures. The greatest growth is obtained when the temperature can be maintained fairly uniform throughout, which can be most readily achieved by growing the grain in a fairly thick-walled mud and wattle store with a grass roof.
