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Item Molecular Detection of Entamoeba Species and Factors Associated With Infection among Diarrhoeal Patients Attending Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2023-05) Lepore, Caroline MakenaAbstractItem Effect of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia ILLUCENS) Larvae Meal on the Laying Performance of Improved Kenyan Indigenous Chicken(Kenyatta University, 2024-03) Nyingi, Damaris WacuKenya’s poultry production is constrained by high production costs occasioned by the high price of protein ingredients such as fishmeal and soybean meal, hence the need to seek alternative sources of proteins in poultry feed. This study evaluated the live weight changes, feed conversion efficiency, and egg production and their quality in the Improved Kenyan Indigenous Chicken raised on the BSFLM as protein sources. Five dietary treatments were formulated with BSFL meal replacing both FM and SBM at different inclusion levels: 0% BSFLM, 25% BSFLM, 50% BSFLM, 75% BSFLM and 100% BSFLM. These diets met the nutritional requirements of a layer chicken. Fifty-five laying indigenous hens aged 31 weeks at the peak of production were obtained from the KALRO Naivasha poultry unit, where they had undergone genetic improvement. The chickens were divided into five groups, each with 11 birds, and allocated the five trial diets in a completely randomized experimental design. The chickens were individually placed in layer battery cages from where they were fed 200 g/bird/day of the experimental diets. The amount of feed taken by the birds, production of eggs, weight of the eggs, and live body weight were recorded weekly for 22 weeks. Egg characteristics were also determined. The finding of the study showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in average daily feed intake among the diets but changes in feed consumption were not consistent with increasing BSFL inclusion in the diet. Production of eggs was also affected by dietary BSF larvae inclusion, with diet D4 (100% BSFLM) having the highest laying percentage (84.2%) while the control diet had the lowest laying percentage (54.0%). Egg weight ranged from 57g in the control to 63 g in the D3 (75% BSFLM) layers. The highest egg yolk colour intensity (15) was for D4 (100% BSFLM) layers and the lowest was for control layers. The weight gain among the birds on diets containing BSF larvae was not significantly different. BSFL inclusion levels D3 (75% BSFLM) and D4 (100%BSFL) had the best return on investment. The results of this present study therefore demonstrate the potential usage of BSF larvae in improved indigenous chicken layer diets.Item Socio-economic factors influencing adoption of improved livestock farming practices among members of livestock cooperatives in Kajiado County, Kenya(Kenyatta university, 2023-05) Ketente, Gedion Kipaya; Purity Nguhiu; Leonard Munga