Maize pest exploits plant defense compounds to protect itself

Benadine Nonye

A new study explains why biological control of the western corn root-worm has not been efficient The western corn rootworm continues to be on the rise in Europe. Why attempts to biologically target this crop pest by applying entomopathogenic nematodes have failed, can now be explained by the amazing defense strategy of this insect. In their new study, scientists from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, show that the rootworm larvae are able to sequester plant defense compounds from maize…

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How to Prevent Flies on a Ruminant Farm

Benadine Nonye

The issue of how to prevent flies on a ruminant farm has always been a very big challenge to most ruminant farmers because flies do multiply rapidly where dungs are piled up on the farm. So to prevent this, always maintain good hygiene by ensuring the following measures: Ensure to pack their dungs and prevent them from becoming breeding site for flies. Let their housing be washed as regularly as desired and in case you are still being disturbed by flies after this, then go for drugs like pour-on that…

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How to Introduce New Animals into your Ruminant Farm

Benadine Nonye

Methods of introducing New Farm Animals into your Ruminant Farm Let us discuss how you can handle the introduction of new animals into your ruminant farm Please note that from whatever source they are coming from, it is not advisable that you introduce new animals directly into your ruminant farm because they could introduce disease to your farm therefore, it is necessary that new animals are quarantined for at least a week before they are added to the animals on your farm and during this period, the new animals are…

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The Important Records to keep on your Ruminant Farm

Benadine Nonye

There are many records that you have to keep on your ruminant farm among which is Date records which will show the date the animals were purchased, Birth Date which will show when any animal was born, Wean date which shows the date any of your animals was weaned, Death date which will show your mortality record when any animal was killed. etc. There should also be vaccination and treatment records where every vaccination or treatments given to your animals will be recorded, mortality record which is where any animal…

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The Best method of Raising Ruminants: Intensive and Extensive? Find out

Benadine Nonye

Understanding the different livestock (ruminants) management systems is the first step to develop a good strategy. Management systems have a direct impact on production and diseases, this highlights their relevance. There are three (3) main livestock management systems: Mixed production Intensive farming systems “landless” Extensive production system 1) Mixed livestock production It includes both agriculture and livestock and it can be either intensive or extensive. Generally these systems exploit both irrigated or non-irrigated land and they are common in some parts of America, Europe and Asia. 2) Intensive Ruminant farming…

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