Zambia Agribusiness Society

Achieving a good bird, barn and gut health requires operational excellence and attention to detail. A combination of quality nutrition, veterinary guidance, and increased consideration of barn and bird management will help to ensure birds have the best possible chance to perform at their maximum potential. The acronym “FLAWS” has commonly served as a reminder to check feed, light, litter, air, water, (bio)security, sanitation, space and staff. FLAWS actually serves as a detailed approach to best management practices, not only during brooding but throughout the life of the flock. Some critical focus areas are as follows: 1. Biosecurity Well-defined biosecurity practices throughout broiler production (pre-, during and post-placement) are crucial to successful poultry production. Effective biosecurity can aid hygiene, vermin and insect control on-farm and help to limit disease transmission within and between barns. 2. Downtime between flocks Adequate downtime of at least ...

Don’t be confined to one variety of eggplants any longer - these varieties come in a range of shapes, colours and sizes to suit your growing style. There’s no arguing that without eggplants, the culinary world would be missing a bright star. Cooks around the globe use this versatile veggie in dishes closely tied to both their culture and their cuisine. Without eggplants, the world would be devoid of such signature dishes as ratatouille, moussaka, eggplant parmesan and baba ghanoush, but fear not: The palette of eggplant varieties is constantly expanding, offering cooks the world over plenty of opportunities to create all these delicious dishes and more. Eggplant (Solanum melongena), also known as aubergine, is a member of the nightshade family. A close cousin to the tomato and potato, this warm-season vegetable is at home in gardens across North America. A native of the Indian subcontinent, where its wild relatives can grow up to 8 feet tall, eggplant can grow perennially for years...

Chicks are very frail, especially during the first few weeks of their life. Hence, it is imperative to have sound management to keep your flock healthy. Moreover, irrespective of the quality of the chicks supplied/procured and the robustness of management, early chick mortality cannot be avoided entirely. 1 - 5% of mortality is normal in a poultry farm; however, anything higher than this should be taken seriously. A high mortality rate is indicative that something is wrong with the flock, and it demands the poultry owner’s immediate intervention and appropriate action to stop further losses as failure to do so may lead to huge losses. Many factors cause early chick mortality, such as genetic, management, disease, and nutritional causes. Here in this post, we are sharing about the cause of early chick mortality and ways to reduce the chick mortality. ▪ What causes early chick mortality? There are a number of causes of early chick mortality. However, the most common factors ar...

The use of plastic mulches along with the use of drip irrigation has many benefits such as: 1. Soil Temperature The use of plastic mulch alters soil temperature. Dark mulches and clear mulches applied to the soil intercept sunlight warming the soil allowing earlier planting as well as encouraging faster growth early in the growing season. White mulch reflects heat from the sun effectively reducing soil temperature. This reduction in temperature may help establish plants in mid-summer when cooler soil might be required. 2. Soil Moisture Retention Plastic mulches reduce the amount of water lost from the soil due to evaporation. This means less water will be needed for irrigation. Plastic mulches also aid in evenly distributing moisture to the soil which reduces plant stress. Plastic mulching film create a barrier of photosynthesis and avoid to rise of other plants. 3. Weed Management Plastic mulches prevent sunlight from reaching the soil which can inhibit most annual and per...

Raising cattle properly requires money, land and skill. Do you have enough of each to enter this business? Equally importantly, do you have a genuine interest in cattle? A cattle enterprise can involve raising calves for slaughter, but it should be borne in mind that working with calves requires effort and patience. Beef farming slots in well with other agricultural enterprises, especially grain. Cattle can feed on resources that have little other use, such as crop residue and land not suitable for crops. Before entering the cattle business, though, you should consider your resources, the land available and your level of interest and skill. You should know why you want to rear cattle, and be able to set yourself goals to achieve the most constant economic return or personal satisfaction. These must be clearly defined and achievable in a realistic time-frame. If not, your operation will lack focus. A small-scale cattle enterprise can involve a growing and feeding system (calve...

If you are just  starting poultry farming as a beginner,  then definitely, you will need to think of how to make money in your business. In this article, you will find core ideas that will help you to make money from your poultry farm. So, if you are ready for this, let’s dive right in. 1. Housing system: This is a very important factor you need to put into consideration, no matter the number of birds you are keeping the housing can make or destroy your success in poultry farming. If you have successfully worked on the housing system more than 40% of problems have been solved. I have met some farmers who have poorly constructed houses. Some poultry houses are as a result of poor housing. Ensure that you source for the services of a good poultry house mason. Note that housing is the second most expense of the poultry venture after feeds. 2. Feed and feeding: You need to map out a feasibility studies on poultry farming before you kick-start anything this will go a ...