Dairy cattle performance in agro-pastoral production systems of Uganda, MSc. Christina Johansson
Transcript of Dairy cattle performance in agro-pastoral production systems of Uganda, MSc. Christina Johansson
Dairy cattle performance in agro-pastoral production systems of Uganda Christina Johansson1, Denis Mpairwe2, Eva Spörndly1, Sylvester Katuromunda2, Elly Sabiiti2 & Ewa Wredle1
1 Dept. Animal Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 2 Dept. Agricultural Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala,
Background • 95 % of population within agriculture • 85 % of meat and milk from livestock on rangelands • Climate changes, degradation, access to land, increasing
population, changing eating habits • Feed shortage, especially during dry season
Background • 35% of Ugandas milk production from the southwest • Pastoralists → agro-pastoralists • Exotic breeds to improve milk yield - but their nutritional
demand is higher • Pasture used as the only feed source, often low quality
Aim of projects • Analyse factors of importance
to improve milk production
• Suggest management improvements based on results
• Quantity and quality of pasture during rainy and dry season
• Animal management routines
• Cattle performance
Study I
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Prot
ein
(%) a
nd E
nerg
y (M
J M
E/kg
DM
)
Past
ure
(kg
DM
/ha)
Pasture
Protein (%)
Energy (MJME/kg DM)
• Calves born in early dry season had low growth
• Cows calving in late and early dry season had high loss in weight
• Milk yield decreased with days in dry season
• Cows in lactation 3 or higher had higher milk yield (8.7 kg/day) compared to cows in first lactation (6.9 kg/day)
• Milk yield increased with degree of exotic breed
• Milking twice per day gave +2 kg milk
• Cows on pasture during night had higher milk yields
• Evaluate effect of protein-rich (~ 17%) supplements to calves in wet season
• A: pasture B: pasture + lablab hay C: pasture + concentrate
Study II
Treatment Benefit per calf and month
A: pasture 38 345 UGX (~98 SEK)
B: pasture + lablab hay 26 288 UGX (~67 SEK)
C: pasture + concentrate -14 852 UGX (~38 SEK)
Concentrate supplementation is not cost effective in the short run.
UGX = Uganda shillings
Future research/work • Feed conservation techniques
• Possibilites to introduce milk
machines
• Farmers cooperatives