Benjamin Onyango - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Benjamin Onyango

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2007

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2003

Journal of food distribution research, Mar 1, 2016

This study evaluated the relationship between gross farm income and producers' willingness to par... more This study evaluated the relationship between gross farm income and producers' willingness to participate in a food hub. The preliminary findings of the study suggested that farm size based on gross farm income did not significantly affect farmers' willingness and ability to be part of a local food hub. Irrespective of the farm income, connecting to local buyers was the main function of the hub desired by the producers. More than 60% of the producers expected to achieve broader market reach through the food hub.

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, May 1, 2015

Spermatozoa survivability is of utmost importance in delivering equine semen for artificial insem... more Spermatozoa survivability is of utmost importance in delivering equine semen for artificial insemination. Semen extender supplementation may allow for increased survivability. L-carnitine (CARN) has been studied for its role in the mobilization of fatty acids. Two experiments (EX1/EX2) assessed the effects of CARN and pyruvate (P) on spermatozoa survival. Total (TM) and progressive motility (PM), velocity and direction of movement (VAP, VSL, VCL, and elongation) were assessed by CASA, membrane status (SYBR 14/PI stains) and acrosome status (FITC-PSA stain) by flow cytometer. In EX1, 4 ejaculates were collected from 2 stallions. Aliquots were diluted in skim-milk glucose extender (SKMG) or INRA 96 (INRA) with and without CARN and P added at levels of 0.00806 g/mL and 0.0011004 g/mL. Split aliquots were placed in separate Equine Express II™ containers for CASA after 2 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. Flow cytometery was conducted at 24 hours. In EX 2, 4 ejaculates were collected from 3 stallions. Aliquots were diluted in SKMG, INRA, and Revolution (REV) with or without CARN+P. In EX1/EX2 dilution in INRA resulted in higher motility compared to dilution in other extenders (p<0.05). In EX1 CARN+P (p<0.01) improved TM and PM. Intact membrane percentages were higher (p<0.05) for with CARN + P (74.3% with vs. 71.7% without). In EX2 CARN+P (p<0.05) improved TM and PM and also improved (p<0.05) percentage of intact membranes (78.0% with vs. 75.0% without) and intact acrosomes (78.9% with vs. 66.2% without). In conclusion, addition of L-carnitine + pyruvate may improve multiple factors of spermatozoa survival.

This paper examines public perceptions on food safety particularly relating to spinach, which was... more This paper examines public perceptions on food safety particularly relating to spinach, which was subject of countrywide recall in 2006. Results indicate that food safety perceptions may be driven by public trust/confidence in institutions whose activities may be directly or indirectly related to food safety. The results further suggest that food safety perceptions may also be related to the type of the product; for example, the public perceives frozen spinach differently from bagged fresh spinach. Additionally, the results show that low levels of objective knowledge about food pathogens and the resulting illnesses have implications on overall food safety. Results further indicate that females and Caucasians perceived the four types of spinach as safe for consumption. This outcome contrasts with views held by young people, people with education below high school and those belonging to the lower incomes groups, who viewed the four types of spinach as unsafe. More attention should be directed toward public education and outreach efforts on overall food safety targeting the youth, low income groups and those with education below high school. In addition, there is need for the regulatory agencies to put their act together, given current low levels of public trust in their role of safeguarding the food supply.

Journal of food distribution research, Mar 1, 2020

A consumer survey in Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri was conducted to determine the drivers of go... more A consumer survey in Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri was conducted to determine the drivers of goat meat demand and explore consumers' willingness to buy goat meat on various festive occasions. Two logistic models were introduced to examine factors affecting current goat meat demand and willingness to pay more for the domestically produced goat meat. Results indicate that goat meat consumption in the South is driven by factors associated with younger age, being nonwhite, and having attained a bachelor's degree. The study also revealed that willingness to buy goat meat on various festive occasions is highly influenced respondents' willingness to pay more for domestically produced goat meat.

Journal of food distribution research, 2017

Growth in U.S. ethnic populations and a desire for healthy diets are driving demand for goat meat... more Growth in U.S. ethnic populations and a desire for healthy diets are driving demand for goat meat. Inventory of meat goats in Georgia has increased in recent years. A consumer survey was conducted in Georgia to determine potential driving factors determining the future outlook of goat meat demand in Georgia. About 56% of participants who had never tasted goat meat before expressed willingness to try it if grocery stores in their area gave out goat meat samples. A binary logit model was used to examine the demographic factors that impact consumers' willingness. Result shows that consumers' education, gender, and household size significantly affect willingness to consume goat meat.

Tropical Agriculture, 2010

The presence of nonlinearity, threshold behavior and cointegration under asymmetric adjustment ar... more The presence of nonlinearity, threshold behavior and cointegration under asymmetric adjustment are investigated in the vertical transmission of shocks between farm and retail prices for vegetable products in the U.S. Empirical results confirm the presence of nonlinearity and threshold behavior in the adjustment processes of farm and retail prices. Retail and farm prices are found to be cointegrated, implying long-run equilibrium relation between the two prices. However, for four of the five products included in this study, price transmissions are characterized by asymmetric adjustments. While retail prices adjust quickly in response to shocks that reduce the farm-retail spread below a certain threshold, it hardly responds to shocks that widen the spread. Farm prices are mostly unresponsive to retail market movements. Causation runs from farm to retail prices.

Journal of Food Safety, Feb 1, 2009

Journal of Extension

The growth of the goat industry has created opportunities for producers looking for a profitable ... more The growth of the goat industry has created opportunities for producers looking for a profitable alternative enterprise. Little is known about goat production or educational needs of producers in Missouri and Arkansas. A survey of goat producers in Missouri and Arkansas addressed farm characteristics, product marketing characteristics, preferred information sources, and educational topics of interest for goat producers. A better understanding of goat production and producer needs can support Extension's development of education programs to further develop the emerging goat industry.

This is the fixed version of an article made available by an organization that acts as a publishe... more This is the fixed version of an article made available by an organization that acts as a publisher by formally and exclusively declaring the article "published". If it is an "early release" article (formally identified as being published even before the compilation of a volume issue and assignment of associated metadata), it is citable via some permanent identifier(s), and final copy-editing, proof corrections, layout, and typesetting have been applied.

Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 2018

This study examined correlations of historical changes in diet and physical inactivity with the r... more This study examined correlations of historical changes in diet and physical inactivity with the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Kenya. Historical data on diet, wage jobs by industry, urbanization, gross domestic product (GDP), and morbidity due to NCDs were extracted from Kenya Statistical Abstracts, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT), and the World Bank online database. These data were plotted and correlations between these factors and the incidence of different NCDs over time were evaluated. There was a rapid rise in the incidence of circulatory disease starting in 2001, and of hypertension and diabetes starting in 2008. The rise of these NCDs, especially hypertension and diabetes, was accompanied over the same period by a rise in per capita GDP and physical inactivity (as measured by increased urbanization and declining proportion of agricultural and forestry wage jobs); a rise in per capita supply of rice, wheat and its products, and cooking oils; and a decline in the per capita supply of maize and sugar. In conclusion, the positive correlations between indicators of dietary consumption and physical inactivity and rates of hypertension, circulatory disease, and diabetes suggest that the rapid rise of NCDs in Kenya may be, in part, due to changes in these modifiable factors.

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2015

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2004

Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provi... more Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies.

A-00-04-00012-00) in support of their global economic development programs. We also thank Jerry B... more A-00-04-00012-00) in support of their global economic development programs. We also thank Jerry Brown, USAID-Southern Africa and project officer, for his support and encouragement on our ASNAPP programs and organization. Finally, we thank the New

Journal of food distribution research, 2018

Demand for goat meat currently depends on foreign-born immigrants, but current U.S. immigration p... more Demand for goat meat currently depends on foreign-born immigrants, but current U.S. immigration policies may have negative impacts on immigrant populations, which may affect the meat goat industry. Data from a consumer survey conducted in Georgia was used to determine the potential domestic market for value-added goat meat products among foreign- and nativeborn Americans. About 56% of participants who had never tasted goat meat expressed willingness to taste if the grocery stores gave out goat meat samples. Current goat meat consumers were more willing to pay for locally grown, grass fed, and organic goat meat.

Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense, 2014

This study examines public perceptions of, and likely reactions to, an act of bioterrorism target... more This study examines public perceptions of, and likely reactions to, an act of bioterrorism targeting the US food supply. Results from factor analysis of survey data suggest a range of responses including; public panic, raised fears or emotions, a controlled response or a an acceptance that such an event is inevitable. Reactions are reflective of peoples' cognitive interpretations or affective responses to the risks posed. Cluster analysis and regression results suggest that authorities may successfully position risk communication messages based on the condition that people believe the government and private institutions can function in the face of a food attack. This finding underscores the pivotal role played by trust and confidence in institutions in restoring calm after a bioterrorist event. Fine tuning of communications for different population groups may be necessary if certain Americans' perceive the risk of a bioterrorist event in a less rational manner. J ou rnal of B io te rrorism & B io de fense

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2011

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2013

s / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 321-399 323 treatment and then again at days 3... more s / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 321-399 323 treatment and then again at days 30, 60, 90 during the supplementation period. Reflective three dimensional markers (3.81cmindiameter)wereplacedatall jointson fore and hind limbs during video recording. Video footage was captured using two high speed Ethernet GigE uEyeTM cameras (IDS Imaging Development Systems, Obersulm, Germany) placed perpendicular to the line of travel on either side of the horse. Video footage was recorded into the EquineTecTM (Monroe, GA, USA) software program for analysis. Blood via jugular puncture was taken the morning following video recording. Hematocrit values were analyzed immediately. Whole blood and plasma was frozen for later analysis. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) analysis was conducted onplasma according to procedures established by C. JoandD.U.Ahn [3].DatawasanalyzedusingSASversion9.3 ProcGLMwithrepeatedmeasuresover time todetermine the effects of treatment, time, and treatment by time interactions. P valuesof P<0.05were consideredsignificant.After90 days, glucosamine horses showed greater front leg retraction distance (P1⁄4.01) as compared to earlier time points. No significant difference in this parameter was seen in control horses. Additionally, a trend toward greater front fetlock flexionwasobserved inglucosamine supplementedhorses as compared to controls. No differences between control and treatment were observed in TBARS analysis. In conclusion, oral supplementation of glucosamine sulfate resulted in modest changes in biomechanical parameters measured. Differences in blood oxidative levels between treatments were not observed.