Support Animal Welfare in Kenya via my poetry work. This initiative seeks to raise funds to support the ongoing animal welfare education in Kabete, Kenya. The campaign also runs online to reach a greater audience. I now humbly present to you one of my poetry works that sensitizes on environmental conservation.

TEARS OF OKOKO, THE AFRICAN DRUM

The sun rays seldomly die off,

Ushering in an African night in the hinterlands.

From the pregnant silence of the rain forests,

Folks retire from herding, one by one.

Osuka! Osuka! Osuka! the man calls.

Wake up my little son! the enemies are here.

Whistling sounds of poisoned arrows call out, Flashing out like glow-worms over Kruger park.

Like the smoke that thunders, "Mosi-oa-Tunya".

Ashy mist arrest the eye sight.

Osuka watches, as shelters perish.

A mighty kingdom loses its glory, fame,prosperity.

Silence! An echo whispers like a  passing, Limpopo  breeze.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum,

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

From its pouch, the sun births a new day.

Earth's wrath welcomes the newbie.

A solemn calm of a hidden Kingdom engulfs,

Like a lost city in the Sahara.

Pillars of a checkmated African Kingdom fall.

Like the white Nile descending,

Tears flow freely on faces of  folks,

Upon sight of fallen heroes,

Covering the earth like wildebeests on Mara river.

To the shrine the villagers head.

Covered in goat skin coated coats,

Their elders, wise and in late ages, proclaim.

Silence! An echo whispers like a  passing, Limpopo breeze.

Viva African Drum, Viva African drum

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

Soaring above the hills of Gota.

And flat like the nyika plateau.

A kingdom rests, the Itembe Kingdom.

Gatherers and hunters they are.

Like petals in fall, years have fallen, 

Decades have risen.

Time have lapsed, youth have aged, old is gold.

It's a big day, the King's presence stamps that.

Hail the Itembe King!

We shall hunger no more!

Women and children shout in corases. 

Okoko, the king's drum is hit hard.

Signaling the king's might and status.

Ladies and gents of the land dance and wine,

To the pain of the drum.

Silence!  An echo whispers like a  passing, Limpopo breeze.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

The drum beats kill time,

A new beat welcomes a fall.

The drummist hits hard,

Rejoicing of his fame to be.

Stop hitting the drum!

Folks shout, as the king rises up.

Dark clouds, I see them around me.

Okoko, the drum is talking,

To me the mighty ruler, conquerer of lands.

Silence!  An echo whispers like a  passing, Limpopo breeze.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

I Okoko! the mighty drum, mighter than,

All the kings of the African soil.

You! the king, listen,

From hide and wood I was created.

From the battlefield I was born.

I proclaim, no more forest death, animal death.

Bring back my tears, offsprings of the rivers.

Bring back my clean, zero carbon breath.

Bring back the life, of them in deep seas.

Bring back my colour, let i be called green.

For failure,my curse follows.

Every drumbeat will bring death unto you humans.

Silence! An echo whispers like a  passing, Limpopo  breeze.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

Viva African drum, Viva African drum.

©Moses Kwereba Gathua

To support this initiative.

PayPal: moseskwereba@gmail.com

Mpesa Mobile Number: +254725042992

Bank: Equity Bank Kenya

Account name:Moses Kwereba Gathua

Bank Account Number:0020194705900

Branch: Fourways

Swift Code:EQBLKENA

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/moseskwereba

Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/toyitawi

Open Data Day 2021, Kenya

Poetry

#comingsoon.............. "POETIC TALES OF THE AFRICAN DRUM".

Amazon.com 

A collection of my ten great poems.

Special thanks to  Amazon Kindle

MYSELF

The place i call home boosts of having the only national park within a city.Yes,i come from Nairobi,Kenya and i bring to you African greetings from the Maasai community.My friends call me Moses, the veterinary specialist who loves to play the game of chess.

FOOTBALL IS PEACE

#FOOTBALL IS PEACE pic.twitter.com/JXqelRG53h

— moses kwereba gathua (@kwereba) February 10, 2015 ">

KILIMO HUB

Agriculture is the pillar towards the development of human kind. Ancient civilizations relied on their agricultural propelled strength for wealth and power in conquering other kingdoms. Egypt had its hope on the river Nile flooding and to the Egyptian monarchy, feeding the people was a priority as was seen in the many wheat silos that were built all over. Earliest inventions were geared towards improvements of agriculture as was the invention of the wheel in Mesopotamia. Agriculture has resulted to many revolutions in the world like the French revolution where peasant farmers turned against the ruling regime. The Agrarian revolution saw the birth of modern day agriculture techniques while ancient, renaissance and modern artists have widely depicted agriculture themes in their fine art works and music. Food is important and the saddest thing to a mother is when she looks at her new born face and realizes that she cannot feed the child. Like money, land cannot be multiplied, nevertheless this quote puts it well “planting your own food is like printing your own money”. The call for a well established agricultural system is of great concern hence the need for better farming techniques that can only be attained through modern training. It is with the latter reason that Kilimo Hub was set up under the auspices of Musa Veterinary Clinic. Kilimo Hub is derived from a Swahili and English words,”Kilimo” meaning agriculture and Hub refers to a centre. Kilimo Hub is a charity initiative (non-profit initiative) by Musa veterinary clinic that aims at providing agricultural know how to farmers at an affordable rate. Further more Kilimo Hub aims at bringing to the table the various stake holders in the agriculture industry around the world. The trainings will be take place on specified time that will be communicated to the interested individuals well in advance .Training sessions will be conducted by selected specialists. The trainings will be held at Musa Veterinary Clinic offices. The office is centrally placed in the heart of Wangige town, lower Kabete, central Kenya making it accessible to the attendants. Kilimo Hub will also house a book and computer library where farmers can walk in and get information.

Increasing Your Profits From Beef Farming There are huge differences between farms in the level of profits made from beef farming. This can be seen when comparing the top 1/3 of beef farms to the average and even greater still when the bottom 1/3, says a report from Teagasc, 'Increasing your Profit from Drystock Farming'. Whether it is suckler farms selling weanlings, suckler farms finishing their progeny, or non-suckling beef farms buying weanlings/stores for finishing, the same message is consistent. On average, the farms producing the highest amount of beef per hectare are making the highest profits per hectare. Combined with this, a control on the costs that are associated with producing this output is also very important. Variable costs represent approximately 50 per cent of total costs and include feed, fertiliser, veterinary and contractor charges. Increasing beef output per hectare On suckler farms there are three areas that affect the level of beef liveweight produced per ha. These are:- Production per suckler cow Performance per head. Stocking rate per ha. Obviously on non-suckling farms production per cow does not play a part and performance per head and stocking rate are the two variables involved. 1. Production per cow The more live weanlings produced every 365 days per 100 cows put to the bull the higher the average production per cow. This is affected by: Cow fertility: The sooner a suckler cow goes back in calf and produces her next calf the more productive she is. A high empty rate and long average calving interval are both signs of poor fertility. Participation in ICBF Herdplus for beef will provide detailed information on calving interval for your herd, show how you compare with the national average, and identify cows with breeding problems. Bull fertility: It has been estimated that 25 per cent of all stock bulls are sub-fertile and 4 per cent are infertile in any one year. Low fertility in a bull running with a suckler herd can dramatically reduce the productivity of the herd, in the current and subsequent years if it is not discovered soon enough. Having the bull prepared well in advance of the breeding season is vital and close observation during the breeding period is essential to ensure the bull is functioning properly. Calving pattern: The more spread out the calving pattern is the lower the average production per cow. Do not leave the bull running with the cows all year. Herds with a compact calving pattern confine the breeding period to no more than 70 days and remove the bull at this stage. The option with cows not in-calf at this stage is to cull or some can be let slip six months to calve at the start of an autumn herd if they must be kept in the herd. Cows that are consistently poor breeders should be culled. Mortality: Calf deaths at or shortly after calving can be high on some farms. Pay attention to expected calving difficulty of the bull at purchase to minimise calving problems, monitor cow condition and nutrition from drying off to reduce the risk with the cow. The mortality rate from then until weaning also needs to be kept to a minimum. 2. Performance per herd The more liveweight put on each growing animal the higher the overall output per hectare. This is affected by: Liveweight gain at grass: The standard of grassland management on the farm will have an enormous influence on this. Where cattle are grazing a plentiful supply of high quality leafy grass performance will be at the maximum. Where cattle are grazing poor quality swards, due to either low levels of ryegrass or poor management, liveweight gain per day will be very poor. A long grazing season is essential to maximise performance at grass and early turnout in spring is achieved by planned closing/resting of fields from the previous autumn. Performance in the second half of the grazing season from July is an area where grass quality and weight gain are often poor due to poor grazing management in the early part of the year. Pastures must be grazed tightly up to June to ensure the basis for leafy grass later in the year. Liveweight gain indoors: The feeding value of the forage fed over the winter will have the biggest affect here. Grass silage of low dry matter digestibility (DMD) or poorly preserved forages will lead to little or no animal gain for close to half the year. On growing cattle the higher the level of gain required in the indoor period the higher the costs and it may not be economical to attempt to finish animals indoors unless they are at or above their target weight for age – this is especially true for steers or heifers. Cattle going back to grass should achieve the shortest possible indoor period. Level of meal feeding: The more concentrates or alternative energy sources fed (e.g., beet) the higher the level of output per head. Where there is a return for feeding this extra feed source it makes sense to do it. Where there is not it needs to be questioned. The duration of the feeding period has a huge impact on the economics of finishing, as feed efficiency reduces over time. This is particularly important for steers and heifers, less critical for young bulls. Animal health: Healthy cattle that are free of parasites, respiratory diseases etc. put on more beef liveweight per day. Timely use of the correct dosing products is essential to maximise the payback. Do not waste money on dosing when it is not necessary – e.g., a turnout dose for cattle free of parasites is money wasted. 3. Stocking rate Where production per cow and performance per head are high, maximising the number of animals farmed per hectare should be the next priority. Every farm has a limit on the amount of cattle it can accommodate. This depends on: Land type: Free draining fertile soils can carry more stock per hectare than wet farms with poor soil fertility; Grassland management system: Rotational grazing gives greater control over managing grass quality and supply and results in higher utilisation of grass thereby increasing stock carrying capacity and consequently beef output per hectare; Cattle housing availability and labour availability. Controlling production costs In general, the more beef a farm produces, the higher the costs per hectare to produce that beef. Farms with a high beef output per hectare can afford to have higher variable costs per hectare, whereas, farms that have a very low production of beef per hectare find it difficult to justify even their very low costs of production. The more beef produced per hectare the more the production costs are diluted. A farm with 400 kg of beef liveweight produced per hectare has very high variable costs per hectare at €400 compared with a farm with variable costs of €600 per hectare but an output of 800 kg of beef liveweight per hectare. Systems with low beef output per hectare must obtain most of their production from grazed grass and must minimise the input of purchased concentrates. High output systems can afford larger concentrate inputs provided the overall cost per kilogram of beef produced is economical. The aim with variable costs is that they should match the level of production; the target should be close to 75 cents per kg of beef produced. A farm therefore producing 400 kg of beef per hectare should be aiming for no more than €300 per hectare on feed, fertiliser, vet and contractor charges (this will be extremely difficult to achieve and this type of farm needs to increase its output per hectare to dilute its costs of production). The variable cost limit is €600 or less on the farm producing 800 kg per hectare. Your own farm’s figures When looking at your own eProfit Monitor results what are the key areas that you should focus on to ‘benchmark’ yourself against other farms and targets? (i) Output of beef liveweight per livestock unit (LU) This is a measure of the amount of beef liveweight that a farm is producing for every LU being farmed. It takes into account both cow productivity and performance per head. On suckler farms it should be at least 300 kg whereas on non-breeding farms it should be over 400 kg. The higher it is, the higher your output of beef liveweight per hectare will be. (ii) Stocking rate This is measured in LU per hectare. A stocking rate of less than 1.5 LU per hectare is quite low. The aim should be that it is as high as your farm will allow taking into account land quality, REPS and Nitrates Directive limits. The majority of commercial beef farms, looking to maximise their profits from beef production, should be aiming for a figure of at least 2.0 LU per hectare. (iii) Output of beef liveweight per hectare. This is a combination of (i) and (ii). If either is low it will be difficult to achieve a high output per hectare. On suckling farms selling weanlings you should aim for this to be over 700 kg per hectare. Where the progeny are brought through to beef it should be over 800 kg and where all the cattle are bought (no suckler cows) it should be over 900 kg per ha. (iv) Variable costs per Kg Variable costs of production should match the level of output of beef produced. Farms with low levels of production should have very low variable costs whereas farms with a high output of beef per hectare can carry significantly higher variable costs per hectare and still have a higher margin per hectare than the low output farms. Look at the costs to produce 1 kg of beef liveweight. The target is 75 cents or less for variable costs. Fixed costs The main items in fixed costs include depreciation, machinery running costs, repairs & maintenance, land rental and interest. Motor costs, insurance, hired labour and machinery leases are also included. Generally, any item that can not be directly linked to an enterprise and which varies little with changes in scale of enterprise is termed a fixed cost. Fixed costs represent approximately 50 per cent of total costs on cattle farms and can have a huge impact on overall profitability level. The stage of development on a particular farm can influence the level of fixed costs – farms with good facilities and adequate machinery in place may have low depreciation and interest costs where the investments were made some years earlier. Farms with very recent substantial investments will have much higher current costs for depreciation and interest where the new investment was funded with borrowing. A very significant influence on fixed cost level on cattle and sheep farms is the level of single farm payment. Before decoupling cattle premia (suckler cow premium, special beef premium, slaughter premium and extensification premium) were included as part of output from the cattle enterprise and generally fixed costs consumed approx 30 – 35 per cent of output value – that is farms with a high output level per hectare had much higher fixed costs per hectare than farms with a low output value per hectare. Since decoupling the old cattle premia are no longer counted as part of the cattle output value and the fixed cost structure inherited from pre-decoupling results in the fixed costs consuming a much higher percentage of the lower cattle output value. The same principles about reducing variable costs per kg beef output also apply to fixed costs. Achieving the highest physical output of beef produced per hectare is the means of diluting fixed costs per kg of beef. It is essential for farms with low beef output per hectare to have very tight control on both variable and fixed costs. The absolute level of fixed costs may be more difficult to control but high fixed cost farms can only reduce the cost per kg beef produced by increasing output of beef produced per hectare and/or reducing fixed cost spending level. Profitability from the cattle enterprise will ultimately be determined by the difference between the cost of producing a kg of beef and the market price of the beef. Efficient farms with a high output of beef per hectare have diluted total costs per kg beef produced and are maximising profitability. At farm level there is little influence on selling price other than improving quality and/or targeting niche markets and/or contract prices. The target production costs for very efficient operators are approximately €1.50 per kg liveweight with this equally split between variable costs and fixed costs.

WELFARE ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION

1. PREAMBLE

This constitution applies to all members of this group. All are expected to adhere in all collection, plans and functions of one or the entire membership must be within this constitution.

2. (a) NAME.

The name of the group shall be…………………………………….
Proposed, agreed and approved by members in a group

(b)Registration
Registered as a welfare association in the ministry of gender and culture

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUP

I. Help members in areas of welfare and the improvement of living standards
II. Unite members in bold friendship and mutual understanding
III. Acquire and manage assets
IV. To create a forum for members to socialize, share ideas and experiences
V. Any other objective that members agree upon.

4. REGISTRATION

I. Over 18 years of age
II. Be in the animal health/production industry
III. Of good moral values /conduct
IV. Share and uplift the objectives of the group
V. Upon voting and acceptance by members, this new member is entitled to pay the prescribed registration non refundable fee as per the rules and regulations

5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(a)The executive committee mandate comprise of;
I. To coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the objectives of the group
II. To prepare and give regular reports
III. Implement resolutions made by the group
IV. Interpret the constitution
V. Any other matter as directed by the group




(b)Comprise of elected group members;

 Chairman
 Secretary
 Treasurer


6. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

(a)Chairman will;

I. Be the spokesman of the group
II. Show direction and lead group members and all group activities and any other issue of common interest to the group
III. Chair all group meetings in adherence to this constitution

(b)Secretary will;
I. Be the custodian of this constitution , all records, resolution reports and correspondence of the group
II. Take minutes of all deliberation and table reports to the executive committee for discussion
III. Be in charge of organizing meetings for executive committee, monthly meetings and the AGM
IV. Invite the committee meeting in liaison with the chairman

(c)Treasurer will;

I. Keep proper record of book of accounts,
II. Prepare budgets and the annual returns
III. Draw statements of income and expenses, cash flow and the balance sheet
IV. Ensure safe custody of group assets and keep updated records
V. Be a signatory to all financial statements with the chairman and secretary.

7. ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS

(A) Office post
All group members are eligible to hold any office post. The aspirant must not have any disciplinary case 12 months prior to elections.

(b)Tenure of office
I. Election will be held annually.
II. The chairman, secretary and treasurer can only serve for only two consecutive terms, re-election can only be done after 3 terms
III. A by election can be called to fill in any vacancy within two months




(c)Removal from office

Any executive member can be replaced

I. During the annual general meeting
II. Before the expiry of the office tenure, through a substitution motion passed and approved by a majority of 2/3 of the members
III. As a result of clause 10(a) i,ii,iii and iv

(d)Methodology from office

Election will be by show of hands or secret ballot

(e)Assumption of office
Upon election, the new office bear(s) will; assume office for 21 days when the necessary instruments and the financial statements are handed over.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The annual general meeting will be held when the election is conducted.

(a)Agenda of AGM

I. Confirmation of the minutes of previous AGM.
II. Chairman report.
III. Election of executive committee.
IV. AOB


(b) Special annual general meeting.


The executive committee or any member in the event of urgent matter will call a special general meeting of any special purpose by giving a notice to members in writing of 7days to all members. Half of the members shall consist of SGM.










9. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.

(a)Funds

The group shall obtain funds from;-

I. Members’ subscription and contribution.
II. Fines and penalties as set in the rules and regulations of the group.
III. Good will from well wishers.
IV. Any lawful source e.g. banks, micro-finance institutions.

The group shall operate a bank account, with the executive members as the signatories
A special general meeting can replace any of the signatories in consideration of the welfare of the group.

The financial year shall run as indicated in the rules and regulations

(b) Contribution.

I. Members shall make a contribution as indicated in the rules and regulations. Any change must be supported by 2/3 members.

II. On welfare and social affair the members shall contribute a minimum amount as indicated in the rules and regulations.

10. (A) WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP AND REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

(a)The following situations will terminate membership.

I. Voluntary resignation by informing secretary in writing.
II. Upon death of a member.
III. If a member fails to attend three meetings continuously without sufficient reason[s] or fails to remit the agreed contribution for three months, will be deemed to have voluntary withdrawn his membership.
IV. If a member is found to have behaved in gross misconduct or in a manner that adversely affect the dignity of the group.

(b) Appeals.

A member aggrieved a determination under clause 10[a1] may appeal to the executive committee within 30 days.


(c ) Refunds.

In any case above the treasurer shall reprocess any item in his/her procession and will;-

Refund a percentage as per the rules and regulations
10 [ii]. Pass any resolution made by the group as per the rules and regulations.



(11) AMENDMENTS.

I. Any member can come up with proposals of amendments to this constitution by writing to the secretary who in turn table the same to the group for discussion and approved by at least a quorum of the members.

II. Such attendants are forwarded to the registering authority.




12. RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Other than this constitution, simple majority [50%] will amend the rules and regulations from time to time as determined by members as annexed herein.


13. EFFECTIVE DATES.

This constitution must be passed by voting at least 65% members and become effective immediately.

The current office bearers will be deemed to have been elected under this constitution of their last term as per clause 7[b] upon of the constitution.


14. DISTRIBUTION.

Each member is entitled to a copy of constitution and on event of amendment being made; they must give to each other.

Distribution cost will be borne by the group.




15. DRAWINGS.

Any drawing by a member shall be charged as per the rules and regulations. Before any drawing is made, it must be approved by all members if essential security will be given.

16. SHARING OF PROFITS.

Any profit or loss made or incurred will de shared by members in the basis of fixed capital/contribution.

17. DISSOLUTION OF THE GROUP.

I. The group shall not be dissolved except by a resolution passed at AGM, the resolution must be supported by 75% of members.

II. Upon approval of the dissolution by registering authority .the executive committee shall take no action other than liquidation for cash all group assets and settle all liabilities

Teule 100 Cycle Classic

BIO GAS

Advantages

Production of green energy - electricity and heat
Considerable environmental advantages - less methane, CO2 and emission of nitrous oxide
Environmentally friendly recirculation of organic waste from industry and households
Less odour inconveniences when spreading slurry - fermented slurry smells considerably less than normal slurry and the smell decreases faster
Protection of subsoil water - improved nitrogen exploitation which reduces leaching and thus protects the drinking water
Reduced costs for artifical fertilizer

KE: Forgotten Posts – GM Dimitri Reinderman Visits Kabete Cares Chess Club

KE: Forgotten Posts – GM Dimitri Reinderman Visits Kabete Cares Chess Club

INTERNATIONAL RABBIT MARKETING SEMINAR 2011

Musa Veterinary Clinic in conjunction with other stake holders in international rabbit marketing has the privilege to invite you to the first International Rabbit Marketing seminar in Kenya. This is a forum for sharing information on the development of sustainable cunniculture technologies; methods, particularly well adapted for use by small scale producers in developing countries.

Date: 15th October 2011
Time: 8am-4pm
Venue: Marble arch hotel, Nairobi.

CHARGES
US $ 134 (Kshs 12000)
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
 Rabbit management: diseases, records and breeding
 Rabbit meat production for small holders’ farmer
 Economic importance of rabbit meat
 Rabbit keeping policies and economics.
 E-Commerce in rabbit marketing (I.T. enabled services)
 Supply chain and value addition in rabbit keeping
 Markets, standardization and certification.
 Organic farming in rabbit keeping
 Rabbit meat processing (quality control, quantity hygiene and food safety)
 Rabbit meat grading
 Skin treatment
 Proposal writing in rabbit marketing
 Finance and management for small holder farmers.
BENEFITS
 Face to face meeting with rabbit meat buyers.
 Trips to major rabbit farms in the world.
 Sponsorship to rabbit Bio-technology seminars.
 Participation certificates.

The attendance fee is Inclusive of…
 Stationery (books and pens)
 Meals
 Website maintenance
 Registration of the international rabbit marketing group
 Registration to rabbit marketing firms.
 Rabbit market networking.

Registration is through m-pesa on 0725-042992
Registration closes on 8th October 2011

NEW DRUG IN THE MARKET TO BE DISTRIBUTED BY MUSA VETERINARY CLINIC

VITAMAX HERBAL POWDER

Vitamax is used in the symptomatic treatment of diseases associated with Mineral deficiency, metabolic disorders and infertility. It is used as a metabolic booster in all farm animals including rabbits and in the prevention/treatment of caecal dybiosis, coccidiosis, pasteurellosis, collibacillosis, Tyzzer’s disease, staphylococcus infections, salmonellosis, Bordetellosis, venereal spirochetosis, encephalitozoonosis and enterotoxaemia in rabbits and poultry. It also acts as a laxative in cases of coli/bloat, as an aid in stress cases, as a natural milk booster, as an effective microflora promoter and as a calcium/phosphorous supplement.

Extracted from the leaves and roots of indigenous rain forest trees of central Africa, This herbal supplement does prove the efficiency of Ethno-veterinary medicine.

DOSAGE

Boil with half litre of water to make a smooth suspension and administer orally. For rabbits, administer in drinking water. Monthly administration is encouraged.

Swiss System:

Swiss System:
In the 1800's, the format of chess tournaments was often a "Round Robin", where each opponent played all of the other opponents. This is the best way of determining playing strength; however, the number of rounds needed are prohibitive for a large number of entrants. For example, for 32 players, there would be 31 rounds using the Round Robin format. And for many scholastic sections, it's not uncommon to have 100-300 players, which would require from 99 to 299 rounds!
Today, in order to host a large number of players in a single weekend, the "Swiss System" is used. Invented by J. Muller and first used in a chess tournament at Zurich, Switzerland, in 1895 (hence "Swiss" system), this pairing system was introduced in the United States by the legendary George Koltanowski.
In the Swiss system, after the first round, players are placed in groups according to their score (winners in the 1 group, those who drew go in the 1/2 group, and losers go in the 0 group). So each round, you play someone with the same score as you. Since the number of perfect scores is cut in half each round, it doesn't take long until there is only one player remaining with a perfect score. (The actual number of rounds needed to handle the number of players in the section is 2n, where n = the number rounds. So for 32 players, 5 rounds are needed to determine a clear winner, since 25 = 2x2x2x2x2 = 32. After 1 round, there would be 16 with 1-0; after 2 rounds, only 8 would have 2-0 scores; after 3 rounds, 4 players would have 3-0 scores; after 4 rounds, 2 players would score 4-0; and after the 5th round, only 1 player would have a score of 5-0). In actual practice, there are usually many draws, so more players can be handled (a 5 round event can usually determine a clear winner for a section of at least 40 players, possibly more).
The current system "seeds" players according to their rating. Players are listed from highest rating to lowest, and unrated players are listed at random at the bottom, then assigned a pairing number for the tournament. The top half of the list then plays the bottom half of the list (if there are 32 players in the section, #1 plays #17, #2 plays #18, etc.), alternating colors (if #1 plays white, then #2 plays black and #3 plays white, etc.) The starting color for #1 is picked at random. In subsequent rounds, colors are alternated if possible. A player might be paired the same color twice in a row if necessary, but is usually not paired the same color three times in a row, unless absolutely necessary (for example, both players have played the same color twice in a row, and there is no other logical pairing).
After each round, players are placed in scoring groups, or "packs", according to their score. Then the above process is repeated within each score pack. If a scoring pack has an odd number of players, the lowest pairing number within the pack plays the highest pairing number in the next pack down (for example, if there were an odd number of 1's after the first round, the lowest rated 1 would play the highest rated 0.5, if there were any players who drew the first round, or the highest rated 0 if there were no draws the first round). So ideally, you're either playing someone with the same score as you, or usually no more than 1/2 or 1 point lower or higher than your score.
Pairing adjustments are made if both players are due the same color, unless it cannot be avoided. Also, in tournaments where team scores are kept, players from the same school are usually not paired against each other. Directors have the discretion of overriding this, however, if all or most of the players within a section are from the same school.
In any event, players are never eliminated in Swiss System or Round Robin tournaments. Also, you may not play the same player twice within the same tournament. If there are 5 rounds, you will play 5 different players. If there is an odd number of players in a section, the lowest rated player with zero points will receive a 1 pt. "bye". (Unrated players should not be given a bye unless there are no rated players with zero points. This helps unrated players play more opponents to give them a more accurate rating). If there are no players with zero points, then the lowest rated player in the lowest score group gets the bye, etc. A player cannot receive more than one bye during a tournament.
The drawback of the Swiss system is that it's only designed to determine a clear winner in just a few rounds. However, there could still be ties if the last two players with perfect scores draw against each other. Also, the strength of the players between the top and bottom players is hard to determine. There could be many players with 3-2 scores, and it's hard to say which player is better than the others, or whether a player with 3.5 points is better than a player with 3 points. To help determine the order of finish, a tiebreak method is usually implemented.

Accelerated Pairings
If there are more players in a section than the number of rounds can handle (to determine a clear winner), then "accelerated" pairings are an option for the director.
Players are seeded as above, but in the first round, the players from the top 1/4 of the wallchart play the players in the 2nd 1/4 of the wallchart. The 3rd 1/4 plays the bottom 1/4. Then in the second round, the winners in the top 1/2 of the wallchart play each other, the losers in the top 1/2 play the the winners from the bottom half of the wallchart, and the losers from the bottom 1/2 of the wallchart play each other. (The reasoning is, the higher rated losers from the top half should beat the lower rated winners from the bottom half, which would cut down the number of perfect scores faster). After the 2nd round, all the players are lumped together within their score packs, as in the traditional Swiss method, and the tournament continues as a regular Swiss. The only difference is, there should be 1/2 as many players with 2-0 than there would have been with a straight Swiss System tournament. So up to 64 players could be handled in a 5 round tournament.

www.kdscpmis.com

my poems

THE BLIND POWERFUL POWER OF POWERS
If I have the power,
Next to you would I roam,
Searching for a rest,
A rest of a lifetime.

If I have the power
Now and then would I come
Not to utter a love spell,
But to learn and comprehend your soul.

If I have the power,
The sparrows I would command them,
To pass my feelings on meeting you,
And bring me the keys to your heart.

If I have the power,
Then I would steal your shadow,
On top of mine I would place it,
Hoping for warmth, comfort and felicity.

If I have the power,
Into a palace I would turn my room,
Whose floor is love and happiness the roof,
Where you and I would dwell forever.

If I have the power,
Then I would time travel,
Into the future I would reach,
To enjoy a lifetime with you,
Only if the blind,
Powerful power of powers would see.




Poet: Moses Kwereba Gathua
Tel:+254725042992
www.musaveterinaryclinic.blogspot.com

Edema disease in pigs

Edema disease is a peracute toxemia caused by specific pathotypes of Escherichia coli that affects primarily healthy, rapidly growing nursery pigs. Other names for edema disease include “gut edema” or “bowel edema,” due to the prominent edema of the submucosa of the stomach and mesocolon.
Etiology and Pathogenesis:
Edema disease is caused by hemolytic E coli that produce F18 pili and Shiga toxin 2e (also known as verotoxin 2e). The F18 pili have 2 antigenic variants, F18ab and F18ac, with F18ab being characteristic of edema disease strains and F18ac being associated primarily with enterotoxigenic E coli . The Shiga toxin-producing E coli implicated in edema disease most commonly belong to 4 specific serotypes: O138:K81:NM, O139:K12:H1, O141:K85a,b:H4, and O141:K85ac:H4.
Pigs become infected initially by contaminated environment or the sow. Spread of infection among penmates is facilitated by the large numbers of pathogenic E coli that are shed by colonized pigs. Some strains of E coli that cause edema disease also carry genes for enterotoxins and can cause diarrhea as well as edema disease. Ingestion of edema disease strains of E coli is followed by colonization of the intestine in pigs in which intestinal epithelial cells carry receptors for the F18 pili. Expression of the receptors is age-related, so younger pigs are less susceptible to colonization than older pigs. Furthermore, some pigs carry a specific mutation in a gene required for expression of the receptors and are thereby resistant to infection. Resistance/susceptibility is determined by a single locus with a dominant susceptibility allele and a recessive resistant allele; it is possible to select resistant pigs, which can be identified by a simple PCR test that identifies presence or absence of the specific mutation.
High-protein diets have increased the susceptibility of pigs to the disease. Factors associated with weaning, including the stresses of mixing pigs, changes in diet, and the loss of milk antibodies from the intestine, appear to be important elements in enhancing the susceptibility of weaned pigs to the disease.
Shiga toxin 2e produced in the intestine of colonized pigs is responsible for the major clinical signs and pathology that are observed. This cytotoxin inhibits protein synthesis, leading to cell death. The toxin is absorbed from the intestine and targets vascular endothelium in specific sites believed to have high concentrations of the toxin receptor globotetraosyl ceramide. These sites include the submucosa of the stomach, the colonic mesentery, the subcutaneous tissues of the forehead and eyelids, the larynx, and the brain. Damage to vascular endothelium results in edema, hemorrhage, intravascular coagulation, and microthrombosis.
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Clinical Findings and Lesions:
Clinical signs range from peracute death with no signs of illness to CNS involvement with ataxia, paralysis, and recumbency. Edema disease usually occurs 1-2 wk after weaning and typically involves the healthiest animals in a group. The disease is seen occasionally in nursing pigs or in adult pigs. The average morbidity is 30-40%, and the mortality among affected pigs is often as high as 90%. Periocular edema, swelling of the forehead and submandibular regions, dyspnea, and anorexia are common. Edema disease is primarily a disease of the vasculature, and gross lesions consist of subcutaneous edema and edema in the submucosa of the stomach, particularly in the glandular cardiac region. The edema fluid is usually gelatinous and may extend into the mesocolon. The edema may be accompanied by hemorrhage. Fibrin strands may be found in the peritoneal cavity, and serous fluid may be found in both the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Microscopically, a degenerative angiopathy affecting arteries and arterioles and necrosis of the smooth muscle cells in the tunica media are present. Lesions of focal encephalomalacia in the brain stem are characteristic and thought to result from vascular damage, leading to edema and ischemia.
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Diagnosis:
The clinical history of peracute death in healthy, well-conditioned, recently weaned pigs, along with visual observation of periocular edema and extensive edema of the stomach and mesocolon, are helpful in diagnosis. There may be a characteristic squeal due to edema of the larynx. Diarrhea may precede the signs of edema disease if the E coli responsible also possesses genes for enterotoxins. Characteristically, the stomach is full of dry feed. Diagnosis is easily made in an outbreak in which the full range of clinical signs and pathologic features are likely to occur. It is more difficult when only a few animals are affected or when the disease occurs in an atypical age group. Isolation and characterization of the E coli are needed for a definitive diagnosis. Culture of the small intestine and colon typically yields a heavy growth of hemolytic E coli , but in some cases the organism may no longer be present in the intestine at the time of death. Demonstration that the hemolytic E coli isolated is an edema disease strain may be done by PCR amplification of the genes for the F18 pili and Shiga toxin 2e. Serotyping of the isolate is useful for tracking the persistence of a particular type of the organism on a farm. However, the F18 pili are not readily expressed in vitro and they may not be detected on organisms that are cultured routinely.
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Treatment and Control:
Because the onset of disease is often sudden and the course rapid, treatment is often ineffective. Oral medication via the drinking water may be used to protect clinically unaffected pigs in a herd in which cases of the disease have been detected. Antibiotic sensitivity should be determined on the isolate from an affected pig; medication should be changed if the initial choice was ineffective. Control is also difficult. Several experimental approaches have been shown to be effective, but none are economical to date. These methods include feeding a high fiber and low protein diet, reducing the amount of feed given to weaned pigs, vaccination by a systemic route with a Shiga toxin 2e toxoid, oral vaccination with an F18+ nontoxigenic E coli , passive systemic immunization with antitoxin, and passive oral immunization with anti-F18 antibodies.

importance of water to rabbit

WATER
The importance of adequate water intake cannot be overstated. A rabbit who does not drink sufficient water will gradually begin to suffer desiccation of the intestinal contents. Skin tenting, a common method used by veterinarians to gauge the state of hydration in many animals, is not a good gauge of hydration in rabbits. It seems that even when the tissues of the rabbit appear to be well-hydrated, the intestinal contents may not be, perhaps because the rabbit is so efficient at sequestering necessary fluids from its own intestine. When this happens, the ingested food in the stomach and intestine becomes dry and difficult for the normal muscular motions to push through. This can start a downhill cascade into a condition known as ileus, which can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.

A rabbit will usually drink more water from a clean, heavy crock than from a sipper bottle. The rabbit caregiver may wish to provide both, but it's important to be sure that the crock, if porcelain, is lead free, and that the water is changed daily and the crock washed thoroughly with hot water and detergent to prevent bacterial growth in the water source.

japan motors

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chess at kabete cares chess club,Nairobi,Kenya