Part of our mission at food water shelter is to train Tanzanians in permaculture systems and agricultural science. We have two managers at the Kesho Leo Permaculture Farm - Elvis Mariua and John Melau. Elvis takes care of the crops and John is the animal caretaker. Since I, Don Lotter, am a crops and soils specialist, I have brought in an expert in animal husbandry, Brighton Nzama, to visit every other week to train John. Brighton received his training at the Livestock Training Centre in Tengeru, outside of Arusha. He has the highest recommendations from the Christian Brothers school next to us where he works, Edmund Rice Secondary School.
Brighton has been teaching John how to manage and care for the dairy cows (2), pigs (7), and goats (4) that we have here at the farm. One of the cows was obtained quite sick because she had swallowed a plastic bag. She needs to gain weight and Brighton has put her on a special diet to get her weight back. The other cow is pregnant and John will be learning how to assess the progress of her pregnancy.
In the photos above, at left Brighton talks to John about the medicines and vaccinations that animals require. At right, Brighton demonstrates the trimming of cows' hooves, as Kesho Leo boys look on.
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