Animal feed resources for small-scale livestock producers -

Proceedings of the second PANESA workshop, held in

Nairobi, Kenya, 11-15 November 1985

Table of Contents

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Proceedings of the second Pastures Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (PANESA)
workshop, held at the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases, Kabete,
Nairobi, Kenya, 11-15 November 1985

IDRC-MR165e

November 1987
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Table of Contents

SESSION I: INVENTORY OF ANIMAL FEED RESOURCES

Inventory of feed resources for the smallholder farmer in Kenya

Introduction
Non-ruminant smallholder farm livestock
Smallholder ruminants in Kenya
Smallholder livestock feeding systems
Feed-resource options available to the smallholder
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References

An inventory of livestock feed resources in Tanzania

Abstract
Introduction
Livestock feed resources
Conclusion
References

Feed resources in Ethiopia

Introduction
Present livestock production systems
Feed resources and status
Feed development constraints
 Strategy for feed development

Feed resources for small-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe

Abstract
Introduction
Geographical distribution of small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe
Livestock holdings
Arable cropping
Natural grassland or veld
The way ahead
References

Inventory of livestock feeds in Malawi

Introduction
Grazing resources
Planted forage and fodder crops
Crop residues
Concentrate feeds
Utilization of feed resources
Conclusion
References

Inventory of animal feed resources in Burundi

Abstract
Introduction

Inventory of feed resources for small-scale livestock producers in

Madagascar

Introduction
Pastures
Agro-industrial by-products and crop residues
Rice straw
Cotton-seed cake
Cotton-seed
Groundnut cake
Livestock by-products
Crops used as livestock feeds
Conclusion
References

An inventory of animal feed resources for small-scale livestock producers in

Botswana

Abstract
Introduction
Drought relief measures
Agro-industrial by-products
Suggestions on future research priorities
References

A year-round feeding plan for the livestock owner in Swaziland

 Introduction
Pattern of pasture production in Swaziland
References

Inventory of feed resources for small-scale livestock production in

Mozambique

Introduction
A brief description of Mozambique
Livestock and livestock-production systems
Natural pastures
Improved pastures and forages
Crop by-products and crop residues
Present strategies and constraints
Research priorities
References

Session I: Inventory of animal feed resources

SESSION II: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES

Fodder for high-potential areas in Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Types of fodder
Nutritive value
Non-conventional sources of fodder
Factors limiting increased use of fodder crops
Conclusion
References

Research on animal feed resources: Medium-potential areas of Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Natural pasture grazing
Vegetation
Plant factors affecting nutritive value of natural herbage
Planted pastures
Crop residues
Summary
References

Research on feed resources for small ruminants on smallholder farms in

Western Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results and discussion
References

Small-ruminant production: The present situation and possible interventions

for improvement
 Introduction
Conclusion
References

Feed resources for dairy farmers in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
References

Maize stover improvement with legume forages

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results and discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References

Introduction of fodder crops in rural areas of Burundi

Introduction
Conclusion
References

Research experience of reinforcing veld with legumes in Zimbabwe*

Abstract
Introduction
Productivity of reinforced veld
Discussion and conclusions
Acknowledgement
References

SESSION III: SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Farmer circumstances in Ethiopia and the improvement of animal feed
resources

Abstract
Introduction
An overview of smallholder feeding systems in Ethiopia
Examples of feeding systems
Implications for research
Acknowledgements
References

Economics of intercropping maize with forage crops in small-scale farming

systems in western Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results and discussion
 Conclusions
References

The economics of smallholder dairy production in Hai District, Tanzania

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusions and recommendations
References

Strategies for farming systems research

Abstract
Overview of FSR
Methodological guidelines and issues
Types of on-farm research trials
The FSR unit in Zimbabwe
References

Rapportuer's report on session III - Socio-economics aspects

SESSION IV: REGIONAL/SUBREGIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

Legumes in forage research programmes for small-scale livestock
producers

Abstract
Introduction
Methods of legume introduction into farming systems
Availability of germplasm for research

List of participants
 Inventory of feed resources for the smallholder farmer in
Kenya
H. L. Potter

Animal Production Research Department

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
P. O. Box 21, Kikuyu, Kenya

Introduction
Non-ruminant smallholder farm livestock
Smallholder ruminants in Kenya
Smallholder livestock feeding systems
Feed-resource options available to the smallholder
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References

Introduction
The use of agro-ecological zone delineation to define areas with similar natural production
potentials and constraints has been found to be of considerable value for planning purposes in
many countries (FAO 1978). In Kenya a comprehensive field survey of six provinces was
carried out during the period 1977-1980 by the Ministry of Agriculture with assistance from the
Federal Republic of Germany. This survey resulted in the publication of the Farm Management
Handbook of Kenya in which the agricultural areas were classified according to agro-
ecological potential (Jaetzold and Schmidt 1982). Maps were prepared for each District at a
scale of 1:500,000. Seven major ecozones were identified, very largely on the basis of water
availability, with subsidiary classification being based on combinations of altitude, temperature
and soil-type parameters (Table 1).

Table 1. Agro-ecological potential zones in Kenya

Zone Climate type Water availability (rainfall/Eo) % of country

1 Humid >80 5
2 Sub-humid 65-80 5
3 Semi-humid 50-65 5
4 Transitional 40-50 10
5 Semi-arid 25-40 15
6 Arid 15-25 20
7 Pre-arid >15 40

Eo = Potential evapotranspiration.
Source: Kenya Soil Survey 1982.

Care is needed in the use of such classifications based on average conditions. Variation in the
climate in any particular season can shift the effective zone boundaries considerably (Downing
et al. 1985). However, using the average classification, the small-farm sector to be considered
in the present study lies mainly in zones 2 and 3, although parts of zones 1 and 4 may also be
included. The prevailing combination of rainfall, temperature and soils produces good-to-
excellent conditions for the growth of plants.

During the period from about 1900 to Independence in 1963 these high-potential areas were
occupied either by small-scale African subsistence farmers or, in special reserved areas, by
large-scale (mostly European) settler farmers. Prior to Independence the great majority of the
commercial agricultural output of the country was derived from the relatively limited number of
large-scale farms.

One of the great challenges to the Kenya Government over the last 20 years has been to
maintain the increase in cash- and food-crop as well as livestock production needed to satisfy
rapidly increasing local food requirements and the export needs of the country while
attempting to make land available to more farmers through subdivision of the old settler farms.
Over one million hectares have been resettled during this process.

Sub-division of these resettled farms and of the traditional African areas by land sales and
family inheritance has resulted in a rapid reduction in farm size. The survey data presented in
Table 2 were collected in 1974/75; at that time about three-quarters of all holdings were less
than 3 ha. Although no national survey has been reported since that time, there is little doubt
that over the last ten years the proportion of farms in the smaller size classes has increased
considerably. Irrigation potential over most of the high-potential region involved in the present
study is limited due to lack of suitable surface-water sources, difficult topography and the lack
of resources needed for pumping from underground sources. Production is, therefore,
dependent on natural rainfall.

Table 2. Size classes of smallholdings in Kenya

Size class ha/unit No. ('000) % of total Estimated % pasture/fodder

0.5 208 14 10
0.5-1.0 267 18 20
1.0-2.0 401 27 25
2.0-3.0 223 15 30
3.0-4.0 148 10 40
4.0-5.0 104 7 45
5.0-8.0 89 6 50
>8.0 4 3 55

Source: Stotz 1983.

A mixture of enterprises is usual on these small farms. In the higher-potential wetter areas of
zones 1, 2 and 3 cash crops, including tea, coffee, pyrethrum, cotton, wheat, barley, oilseed
and cashews, have been encouraged by Government or private marketing agencies. The
opportunities for cash cropping in the slightly lower potential areas are very limited due to the
lack of suitable crops with an acceptable level of yield. Food crops are grown on all holdings
with maize, beans, sorghum, cassava and pigeon peas being the most common. These crops
are grown primarily for the subsistence needs of the farm family, but fortuitous surpluses
following good growing seasons are frequently sold. Livestock have been estimated to be
present on more than 80% of the smallholdings (Stotz 1983), particularly to supply milk for the
farm family. The role of smallstock as a readily realizable source of cash has been shown to
be very significant in particular areas (Pollard 1981; Rukandema 1981; Stotz 1983).
Table 3 gives the estimated total values for national production of selected agricultural
products up to 1983, the last full year for which results are available.

Table 3. Value of agricultural production in Kenya, 1979-1983 (K pounds '000,000)

Sector 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

Cereals 50.5 35.3 48.0 60.0 81.4
Coffee 105.7 118.9 102.5 122.9 166.2
Tea 67.3 71.5 80.6 93.2 130.3
Sugarcane 23.3 29.5 30.9 29.4 34.3
Slaughter cattle 29.1 33.9 47.9 52.3 51.8
Slaughter smallstock 2.2 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.8
Pigs 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.7 1.9
Poultry and eggs 1.9 1.6 2.8 3.0 1.2
Wool 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.5
Hides/skins 2.3 2.6 3.7 4.1 4.3
Dairy products 17.5 15.0 22.8 28.5 32.8

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics 1984.

Non-ruminant smallholder farm livestock

Production of poultry and pigs in Kenya is now very largely a commercial undertaking as the
home consumption of these products is limited. Commercial production is based on the use of
purchased manufactured feeds, with very little on-farm feed production. At present over 60%
in value of all manufactured feed in Kenya is fed to poultry (Table 4). Very marked increases
in poultry-feed prices, approved by Government, have not been associated with corresponding
increases in prices to producers for the animal product so that the initial enthusiasm for poultry
as a means of maximizing output per unit area of the land on a smallholding has been
dampened. No central marketing organizations exist for eggs or birds and small-scale
producers lack the entrepreneurial skills to market their product with an attractive profit.

The problems of the poultry industry do not appear to be a result of lack of feeds as the
installed milling capacity is at present underutilized and the distribution network is adequate
(Magadi, personal communication). The major disincentives to production are high prices of
feeds, variation in feed quality leading to poor conversion rates, and low prices to producers
through lack of marketing skills and the low price of competitive products such as beef. The
recent formulation of a Kenya Standard for animal feedstuffs, to be supported by the
appropriate legislation, should ensure that quality problems are reduced considerably when
the required inspection and analytical system is operational. Reduction in feed costs will only
be possible when research into cheaper local alternatives to imported components of the
rations, such as fishmeal, can confirm their efficacy and adequate supply so that imports can
be banned. The lack of such research in the past has undoubtedly been a contributory factor
to the apparent reluctance of millers/compounders to make use of some local materials when
fortuitous surpluses become available (Ministry of Agriculture 1980b). The producer-price
factor mentioned above remains dependent on the beef-price structure, which is at present
under direct Government control.

Table 4. Manufactured feed production in Kenya 1978-1983 (K pounds '000,000)

Feed type 1978 1981 1983

Pig 1.3 0.9 0.1
Poultry 8.1 8.5 1.4
Cattle 1.7 1.4 0.9
Other - 3.9 1.9

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, 1984.

The problems of the poultry industry with regard to feed prices and end-product value are
mirrored in the pig industry. The fall from 40% to 18% in the market share held by the
parastatal Uplands Bacon Factory between 1981 and 1983 has been attributed to slow
payments, even though the price offered was generally somewhat higher than that from
private buyers (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development 1983). The farmers clearly
understood the value of a good cash flow.

Although the cost of feed provision is undoubtedly a major constraint to expansion of both the
pig and poultry industries in Kenya, the very small farm size and low level of resource
availability severely limit the possibilities for on-farm feed production as a means of reducing
costs. Neither the quantities of suitable raw materials nor the appropriate technology for
production of feeds of the high quality required for good feed conversion ratios appear likely to
be available at the farm level.

As Table 3 indicates, the contribution of pigs and poultry to the national agricultural output is
small in comparison to that of ruminant products, so the remainder of this paper will
concentrate on the feeding of ruminants on the smallholder farm in Kenya.

Smallholder ruminants in Kenya

This livestock class naturally includes sheep and goats as well as cattle. However, the nutrient
requirements of smallstock are similar to those of cattle. The estimated ratios of production of
smallstock in relation to cattle of 1:12 for value (Table 3) and of 1:8 for biomass (Stotz 1983)
confirm the importance of cattle on the small farm.

Table 5 indicates the pattern of cattle ownership in Kenya and Table 6 the contribution of
these cattle to the total milk supply. Present beef prices are too low to allow beef production to
compete with milk on the small farm in terms of the return per unit farm area. The areas where
the proportion of male cattle is highest are those where there is significant use of oxen for
cultivation.

Table 5. Pattern of cattle ownership in Kenya, 1983

Cattle numbers in '000,000 head

Numbers and % of cattle on farms
Cattle Type
Small farms Large farms Pastoralists Total
Zebu 4.00 (48) 1.50 (18) 2.80 (34) 8.30 (100)

Grade beef a 0.04 (11) 0.29 (28) 0.04 (11) 0.37 (100)

Cross-bred

Dairy a 0.80 (89) 0.10 (11) - - 0.90 (100)

Grade dairy c 1.10 (85) 0.20 (15) - - 1.30 (100)

a
Crosses between local and exotic beef breeds.
b
Contain less than 75% exotic genotype.
c
 Contain more than 75% exotic genotype.

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development 1983; Stotz 1983.

Table 6. Estimated volume of milk production in Kenya, 1983

Origin (type of animal) Yield (kg/head/yr) No. ('000) Total output ('000,000 kg)
Grade cows (+X bred) 800-900 900 890
Zebu cows 50-150 3,900 470
Camels 750 400 260
Smallstock 50 300 14
Total local output 1,644
Powder-milk imports 38
Total availability 1,682

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development 1983; Department of

Customs, Annual Returns 1983; Ministry of Finance and Planning, Nairobi.

Figure 1 is a marketing flow chart for milk production in Kenya for 1983. This chart shows that
80% of the marketed milk is now derived from smallholders. It is, however, clear from Table 6
that though there are almost one million grade dairy cows in the country, their average yield,
at less than 1,000 kg per lactation, is far below their genetic potential. Raising the national milk
supply to the target required for the country's estimated population in 1990 will depend to a
large extent on raising the output of these grade cows by better feeding (Ministry of Livestock
Development 1980a).

Figure 1. Marketing flow chart for milk and dairy produce in Kenya, 1983
 Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development 1983.

Smallholder livestock feeding systems

The national survey data collected for the Farm Management Handbook of Kenya (Jaetzold
and Schmidt 1982) from 1977 to 1980 were used to derive Table 7 in which various
characteristics of the smallholder livestock sector are presented. The data used in the
preparation of the table were derived from sample farm surveys supported by crop-cutting
studies of fodder and grazing areas on farms and on relevant research stations. The values
presented therefore represent the situation on a "typical" farm in the various Districts, taking
into account the range of relevant agro-ecological zones present in the District. A number of
points demonstrated in the table are worthy of emphasis.

Resource Base

The farm size is very small and hence overall resource availability is low.

Human Population Density

This is usually high - over 100 per square kilometre. The farm is required to support these
people before any saleable surpluses can be considered.

Prevalence of Arable Cropping

The concern to maximize output per unit area of land has led to expansion of the arable area
for cash and food generation at the expense of area for providing specific livestock feeds, so
that the area available for fodder and grazing is only about one-third of the farm area -
typically less than one hectare.

High Stocking Rates

The stocking rates observed are extremely high, considering the potential on-farm feed
production resources. The strategy adopted by many pastoral peoples of keeping high stock
numbers in conditions of variable feed and water supply, disease, etc., to ensure some
survival in adverse conditions (Potter 1981), appears to have been carried into the small-farm
situation. Its relevance, particularly considering the high nutritional demands of the grade dairy
cow, is now in question.

Level of Forage Supply

Table 7 indicates that the on-farm availability of forage in most areas is very low, typically
being less than 5 kg dry matter per head per day. This is partly due to the small area available
for forage production, but undoubtedly it is also a result of the lack of use of technology which
could support a higher level of forage production. Ignorance of the technology and fears of
lack of economic return have limited forage yield at the farm level. It should also be noted that
the figures in the table are based on an average year-round forage supply, masking the
problems associated with a seasonal pattern of fodder or pasture growth.

The Role of Non-Forage Feed Supply

The low level of on-farm forage supply indicated in Table 7 is completely inadequate for even
the maintenance requirements of the dairy animal. That the animals survive at all, albeit to
produce milk at a low level, indicates that they must be obtaining feed from other sources.
This must be particularly true during the dry seasons (normally two per year) when fodder or
pasture growth is reduced.

Future Trends

Whatever the difficulties of providing for the feed requirements of the dairy cow at present, the
current rate of human population growth in Kenya of 4% per annum (CBS 1985) will
undoubtedly place even more strain on the system as land subdivision is likely to continue
reducing effective farm size, with the larger rural and urban population raising national milk
requirements. Increase in stock numbers per holding as a strategy to increase farm milk output
is clearly not likely to be effective as forage resources are already limiting milk production from
the existing animals and the proportion of feed required for maintenance rather than
production would increase.

Feed-resource options available to the smallholder

The most recent estimate of on-farm feed resources available to the smallholder was made in
1979 (Table 8). It is perhaps an indication of the low priority attached to animal production in
national agricultural policy that since the publication of the National Livestock Development
Policy document over five years ago (Ministry of Livestock Development 1980a) no national
inventory of livestock-feed resources has been prepared. Figures of areas under fodder or
pasture are not available either on a District, Provincial or national basis (ISNAR 1985),
although an exercise to gather these vital data has been stimulated by this work (see
Appendix 1).

In the past, programmes related to animal production in Kenya appear to have emphasized
the animal-health and breeding aspects with rather less emphasis on nutrition. Table 9, for
example, indicates the allocation of resources to the dairy-production section of the Integrated
Agricultural Development Programme 1980/81, the first full year of the existence of the
Ministry of Livestock Development as a separate Ministry, when it might have been expected
that enthusiasm would be high. Without national feed-production data, consideration of the
feed options for the smallholder dairy industry must therefore be on the per-farm basis rather
than consolidated sectoral output potential.

Table 7. Characteristics of the livestock sector of smallholder farming in Kenya

District ha ha/head Livestock feed Stocking % % On-farm forage production%

farm (adult resources rate Grade Mature DM kg/year Non
holding equiv.) ha/farm (LU/ha) cattle female agric.
Fodder Grazing Fodder Grazing Total kg/LU land
per
day
Nyanza Province
Kisii 3.3 0.6 0.15 1.3 2.5 12 60 1,400 6,200 7,600 5.1 11
S. Nyanza 8.0 1.3 0 3.0 2.3 1 50 - 6,900 6,900 2.7 20
Kisumu 3.1 0.8 0 0.9 4.8 1 60 - 4,750 4,750 2.6 19
Siaya 5.9 1.3 0.2 2.2 2.5 1 50 1,090 5,080 6,170 1.8 17
Western Province
Busia 5.7 1.4 0.05 2.2 2.1 2 50 450 1,120 5,370 3.1 15
Bungoma 6.6 1.4 0.2 3.1 1.8 7 60 1,510 10,390 11,900 5.5 15
Kakamega 3.9 1.0 0.05 1.8 2.2 16 60 400 5,180 5,580 3.8 18
Eastern Province
Embu 2.2 0.7 0.1 0.5 9.7 60 75 730 1,540 2,270 2.2) 30
Upper
Embu 4.1 1.3 0 2.0 1.7 1 70 0 1,850 1,850 1.5)
Lower
Meru 2.0 0.6 0.15 0.6 4.2 80 85 820 1,850 2,670 2.3) 20
Upper
Meru 7.2 1.7 0.1 2.3 2.2 28 80 450 1,850 2,800 1.2)
Lower
Machakos 4.5 1.0 0.2 2.3 1.3 20 40 440 2,150 2,590 2.2) 15
Upper
Machakos 5.6 1.5 0 2.7 2.6 7 80 0 3,320 3,320 1.3)
Lower
Kitui 5.2 1.3 0 2.3 2.4 11 65 0 2,660 2,660 1.3 20
Upper
Coast Province
Taita 1.7 0.5 0.1 0.5 5.7 22 45 400 770 1,170 0.9 25
Taveta
Kwale 8.2 2.1 0 3.4 0.9 1 65 0 4,180 4,180 3.7 30
Kilifi 6.5 1.4 0 1.5 3.5 1 30 0 1,150 1,150 0.6 40
Rift Valley
Nandi 10.1 2.6 0.3 6.8 1.9 82 75 1,640 31,390 33,030 6.7 18
 Kericho 4.4 1.11 0 2.9 2.8 74 85 0 13,080 13,080 4.4 12
Elgeyo 3.7 1.0 0 1.0 4.5 33 75 0 2,310 2,310 0.6 30
Marakwet
Baringo 4.7 1.1 0.1 2.7 2.0 57 75 550 8,310 8,860 4.3 30
Central Province
Nyandarua 10.4 2.3 0.6 7.0 1.0 79 89 2,910 28,460 31,370 11.3 22
Kiambu 2.6 0.7 0.15 0.3 6.0 73 80 1,090 1,150 2,240 2.3 27
Murang'a 2.6 0.7 0.1 1.1 4.0 60 75 820 4,310 5,130 2.9 18
Nyeri 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.6 4.0 75 93 2,450 2,310 4,760 3.6 21
Kirinyaga 2.6 0.6 0.1 0.4 6.5 55 75 820 1,690 2,510 2.1) 15
Upper
Kirinyaga 6.2 1.6 0.1 1.7 3.5 28 65 450 2,620 3,070 1.3)
Lower

Source: Derived by the author from data of Jaetzold and Schmidt 1982.

Note: District values are means weighted for the production of relevant ecozones
in each District.

Table 8. On-farm feed resources for smallholder farm livestock, 1979 (estimate)

Source Total area (ha) Remarks

Permanent pasture 1,900,000 Unsuitable for arable crop use
Grass leys 2,100,000 Includes regenerating fallows
Fodder crops 240,000 Especially Napier grass
Food crop residues 2,100,000 Especially maize stover

Source: Stotz 1983

Table 9. Resource allocation to dairy development in the Integrated Agricultural

Development Programme, Ministry of Livestock Development, 1980/81

Sector Funds allocation (%)

Tick control 73
A.I. services 11
Animal production extension 14
Animal production research 2

Source: Ministry of Livestock Development, Work Plan 1980/81.

The options open to the smallholder for feed for his livestock can be summarized as follows:

1. Fodders and pastures;

2. On-farm by-products;
3. Industrial by-products;
4. Bought-in roughages;
5. Concentrates.

These will be discussed in turn.

Fodders and Pastures

Although official estimates of the overall area under fodders and pastures do not appear to
have been made since Stotz's 1979 work, there is little doubt that the area of folders,
particularly Napier grass, has considerably increased since then at the expense of grazing
area. As the results of Jaetzold and Schmidt (1982) indicate, in most areas the forage yield of
planted or natural pastures is likely to be only about half that of Napier grass, depending on
the level of technology actually used on the farm. The value of the yield increase from a switch
to folders in the smallholder's attempt to maximize output per unit area of land has been
confirmed in the rapid rise in Napier-grass area. However, the effective exploitation of the
higher potential of feed availability from the fodder has required that the farmer switch to some
form of "cut-and-carry" or stall-feeding system to reduce the wastage that occurs from
trampling and soiling by dung and urine during grazing. This switch has a number of
management implications, especially with regard to the need for a continual supply of labour
and feed as the animal can no longer find feed for itself.

The switch away from pasture use has also been encouraged by the lack of animal-production
research data on the limited range of locally available pasture grasses - whose seeds are in
any case extremely expensive at more than KSh. 50 per kilogram. Establishment of planted
pastures, especially essential early attention to weeding, is also difficult for the small farmer
who is tied up with his arable crops at the same time in the season. Natural pastures
containing grasses long known to be of high nutritional value (Strange 1963), such as star and
Kikuyu grasses, though available in some areas, are losing ground to folders, particularly
Napier grass, due not only to their lower yield potential but also to the desire of farmers to
adopt the widely publicized technology of zero-grazing. Although off-farm grazing, and even
cutting of grass from outside the farmstead do occur throughout the area under study,
especially in Districts with higher proportions of non-agricultural land, increasing land pressure
will undoubtedly reduce the availability and reliability of this supply (Potter 1982).

Napier grass has been mentioned frequently as the example of a fodder crop in the
smallholder regions of Kenya and it is at present by far the most common in terms of its
contribution to the national on-farm feed supply. Production data collected by the Dairy
Development Project team from co-operating farmers (Wouters 1985) and from the Muguga
research programme (Potter and Anindo 1985) have indicated that forage yields per unit area
can be raised considerably from the levels observed by the Jaetzold and Schmidt (1982)
surveys. The use of relatively inexpensive and simple management improvements, involving
plant spacing, weeding, cutting systems and application of farmyard manure, as outlined in the
technical bulletin recently published by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (1985), can
help significantly to remove the lack of knowledge noted as an important constraint to the
effective use of fodder (Stotz 1975; Nkanata 1984).

With regard to other fodders, including sweet-potato vines, giant Setaria, sorghums,
brassicas, etc., information is much more limited. Although standing-crop estimates of these
materials have been made on-farm (Goldson 1977), an examination of persistence, long-term
yield and quality characteristics under regular harvesting, as required in an actual production
system, has not been carried out. Animal feeding and production studies are almost
completely absent for these materials. Such studies may be extremely desirable, not only
because these materials may have growth characteristics which could supplement the already
established Napier grass, but also because the long-term wisdom of dependence on a single
forage crop as the basis of the dairy industry in Kenya appears questionable.

The nutritive value and growth characteristics of Napier grass, and other folders, will be
considered in some detail in a later paper in this workshop. Local research data do indicate
close correlations between chemical composition of the forage, intake and animal
performance (Karanja 1985; Njogah and Kamande 1985; Potter and Anindo 1985; Wouters
1985). With an appropriate field-production and feeding system material palatable enough to
be consumed at the rate of 65 kg fresh forage per head per day has been demonstrated to
support a milk output of up to 10 litres per day without concentrates (Potter and Anindo 1985).
The technical basis for supporting an increase of milk output from fodder appears therefore to
exist.

Present evidence suggests that above about 10 kg-milk-per-day production levels (about
three times the present national daily average for the grade cow), Napier grass is unable to
supply an adequate balanced supply of protein and energy (Potter and Anindo 1985; Wouters
1985). Legume enrichment, for example with Desmodium species or siratro, has been
suggested as a possible method of improving forage quality. Studies in both western and
central Kenya have so far failed to lead to the identification of a practical on-farm management
system capable of maintaining the legume at a proportion high enough to have any effect on
overall forage nutritive quality while at the same time maintaining total dry-matter yield. At the
farm level the reason for the low milk yield is much more the result of lack of feed quantity than
quality.

Conservation of either fodders or pasture material is extremely uncommon in the smallholder

areas at present. The availability of surpluses is extremely limited given the high stocking
densities on the farms. In addition, the technology for making hay or silage on a scale
appropriate to the actual farm-resource level has not yet been identified, although promising
results have been obtained from preliminary studies in Napier grass silage production by the
Dairy Development Programme in Coast Province (Voskuil, personal communication).

On-Farm By-Products

As mentioned above, all of the farms in the smallholder area grow crops, with up to two-thirds
of the farm area being under arable crops grown either for food or for sale. Many of these
crops have residues which have potential value for livestock feed. Table 10 gives the arable
by-products most commonly available in the smallholder areas, together with some comments
regarding their potential value.

Table 10. On-farm arable by-products available to the smallholder farmer in Kenya

Crop Residue Remarks

Maize Stover Est. 7.5 m tonnes available p.a.
Requires protein supplement for effective digestion
Cob spindle Est. 2.8 m tonnes available p.a.
Sweet-potato Vines No availability estimate
High water content limits value
Sorghum Stover No availability estimate
Requires protein supplement for effective digestion
Legumes Haulms No availability estimate
Good roughage if available
Bananas Leaves/Stalks No availability estimate
High water content limits value
Rice Straw Est. 39,000 tonnes available p.a.
High silica/low protein limit value
Cassava Tops No availability estimate
Very high quality if not too woody

Source: Compiled by author from various sources.

No accurate estimate has been made of the quantities of these materials used or available to
the smallholder either on a per-farm, District or national basis, but widespread use of them has
been recorded (Chudleigh 1974; Kevelenge 1978; Nkanata, personal communication). Use of
these byproducts is somewhat haphazard as often there are no suitable storage facilities and
the farmer has no way of determining the most effective feeding regime to incorporate these
roughages into a year-round feed budget. Although basic chemical-composition data have
been available for many of these by-products for many years (Dougall 1960), data on
availability and from controlled animal-feeding studies are limited (Said 1976; Kevelenge
1978).

Factors which have been identified as limiting the nutritive value of these materials include:

1. Low crude-protein content;

2. High cell-wall content (fibre);
3. Low effective in vivo digestibility (Kevelenge 1978).

To these may be added low dry-matter content, as with sweet-potato vines and banana leaves
or pseudostems.

Some research has been carried out in Kenya on the treatment of a number of these crop
residues with chemicals such as urea, ammonia and alkalis in an attempt to increase their
nutritive value (Kevelenge 1980). Although some improvements in parameters such as
digestibility have been reported, the relevance of such techniques to the small-farm situation
remains unclear, especially when the toxicity of some of the materials is considered. Of the
materials suggested, urea, with its possible additional role as a non-protein nitrogen source,
deserves further investigation.

Further studies of the availability, especially as affected by seasonal factors, and animal-
production characteristics of these byproducts appears highly desirable due to the universal
occurrence of arable crops on the farms and the need to maximize total on-farm feed-resource
use. Recent studies of the use of fresh maize leaves derived by defoliating the growing plant
have indicated that a tonne of dry matter of forage per hectare may be obtainable over a
three-month period without any drop in grain yield (KARI 1985). Such studies of methods of
integration of the crop and animal components of the small-farm operations can only be
beneficial to the farm-feed budget, and finally to farm output.

Agro-Industrial By-Products

Almost all of these materials are derived from the processing of arable crops. They are
distinguished from the previous class by having an off-farm origin, although small quantities
may be available on the farm. Table 11 presents some of the characteristics of the more
common materials involved.

Estimates of the total quantities of these materials likely to be available have only been made
for a few of them, partly because the processing is often done on a relatively small scale by
many different units with variable rates of recovery. Many of the comments regarding feeding
value made in regard to the on-farm by-product are also valid in respect of the industrial
products. The nutritional value of some of these materials is notably higher than that of most
roughages, with the value of materials such as brewer's waste (machicha) having been
recognized widely. Materials such as pyrethrum marc and poultry waste have levels of protein
which enable their use in the formulation of concentrate rations, or for raising the feeding
value of roughages such as silage (Odhuba 1984).

Table 11. Agro-industrial by-products useful for animal feed

Source Residue Remarks

Coffee Hulls No availability estimate
High fibre reduces digestibility
 Pulp No availability estimate
High water content/low palatability
Sisal Pulp Est. 41,000 tonnes available p.a.
High water content/low palatability
Coconuts Copra/meal Est. 33,000 tonnes available p.a.
High fibre/low digestibility
Cashew Waste Est. 20,000 tonnes available p.a.
High fibre/low digestibility
Pineapple Waste No availability estimate
High water content/low protein
Pyrethrum Marc No availability estimate
High protein feed, good quality
Barley Brewer's grains (Machicha) No availability estimate
Excellent roughage when available
Sugarcane Tops/waste No availability estimate
High energy content but high fibre
Cereals Milling residues No availability estimate
Quality varies according to fraction
Poultry Waste No availability estimate
High protein content from faeces source and possibly sanitization
Cattle Abattoir waste No availability estimate
Quality variable from high (blood) to roughage (rumen contents)

As with the on-farm by-products, there is a clear need for further evaluation of the availability
and animal-production-support capability of the agro-industrial materials. The quantity of
material, cost of purchase and transport to the farm will be a highly site-specific combination,
but general principles regarding the incorporation of such materials into the whole farm budget
may be clarified by research.

Bought-in Roughages

During the severe drought experienced over much of the smallholder area of Kenya in the first
ten months of 1984, it became very common to see piles of grass, hay or other roughages for
sale by the side of the road around Nairobi. Prices up to KSh. 2 per kilogram were being
asked, often for material of rather dubious nutritional value. Livestock owners had little option
but to pay the prices asked as the supply of feed on their own holdings was virtually nil. This
material had been collected from swamps, forest areas, road sides and other non-individually
owned areas. This represented a type of commercial venture for the vendors which had not
been observed previously to any extent. It remains to be seen if this type of feed provision
becomes a significant component of smallholder feed resources. The cultivation of small areas
of Napier grass outside regular farm boundaries on land that would have been previously
planted with arable crops has significantly increased over the last year, reflecting a demand
for the forage. To what extent the purchase of this forage is being supported by the higher
returns smallholders are able to obtain by selling milk direct to the consumer requires
investigation as results from such a study would have implications for Government policy on
official milk pricing and marketing, through, for example, the parastatal Kenya Co-operative
Creameries.

Concentrates

Table 4 gives the estimated total value of commercial animal feeds produced in Kenya in 1983
and comment has already been made regarding the prices of such materials. Table 12 gives
the quantum and price indices for livestock feeds over the past five years. The very steep
increase in costs noted for 1984 was the result of the need to import most of the raw materials
as drought conditions severely limited local supply, particularly of maize which makes up about
60 per cent of most rations. In spite of the almost doubling of price the quantity produced and
sold increased in 1984 over 1983, no doubt due to the shortage of other feeds for livestock.

Table 12. Commercial feed production Kenya, price and quantum indices, 1980-1984
(1982 =100)

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Quantum index 88 128 100 111 116
Price index 108 108 100 89 156

Note: Total feed output in 1982 was estimated at 120,000 tonnes

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics 1984, 1985.

No estimates are available of the proportion of smallholder farmers feeding concentrates. The
national average milk output of 3-4 kg per day for the grade cow appears to indicate that even
if feeding of concentrates does occur it does not generally provide for the high milk output
potential of the grade animal. In many cases the purchased material will be of value to the
animals only in terms of supplementing the inadequate roughage supply so that little more
than maintenance requirements are met. Considerable ignorance is also apparent as to what
is regarded as a concentrate (Nkanata, personal communication). Bran, brewer's waste and
sweet-potato vines have all been considered as concentrates. The use of these products may
in fact lead to an increase in milk output at the farm level, but it is clear that this is mainly
through improving roughage supply. As pointed out above, a roughage-only diet of Napier
grass may be able to support a milk output of 10 kg per day if supply is adequate.

The exact role of commercial concentrates on the smallholding depends to a very great extent
on the relationship between milk price and the cost of concentrate. At the present time 1 kg of
commercial dairy meal costs approximately Ksh 2.50 on the farm, while 1 litre of milk
marketed through a co-operative is worth about Ksh 2. Direct to the consumer about Ksh 3.50
may be obtained. Economic evaluation of the use of concentrates in relation to roughages has
not been carried out adequately. The Dairy Development Project is carrying out some
economic analysis of their co-operating farms and initial results will be available shortly (Valk
1985).

It is, however, abundantly clear that the price paid and marketing efficiency of the milk industry
will greatly influence concentrate use. An increase in the Government-controlled producer
price paid by the parastatal Kenya Co-operative Creameries, with its legal monopoly over
much of the smallholder region, or expansion of direct sales to consumers at higher prices,
would provide considerable incentive to the producer to intensify production, with a greater
use of concentrates. The feed-compounding industry has adequate capacity for the near
future, at least to provide a sufficient quantity of feeds for national requirements, and the
formulation of feeds of acceptable quality is not a technical problem.

The possibility of production of home-made concentrates on the small farm appears to be very
limited given the farmer's labour and land constraints. The legume sweet lupin does, however,
appear to offer some promise as a high-protein crop which is capable of being intercropped
successfully within a maize crop in a manner similar to that already practiced with beans.
There is some evidence that the legume may benefit the maize crop as well as providing a
valuable protein source (KARI 1983).

Conclusions
The dairy industry in Kenya is at present in a highly critical state. Demand for milk is
expanding rapidly due to a population growth rate of over 4% per year, increasing urban
incomes, and the requirements of the Presidential-sponsored school milk scheme aimed at
supplying free milk to all primary school children in the country. The development over the last
20 years of a small-holder-based commercial dairy industry may well be a forerunner of future
trends in other African countries as land pressure increases. The transfer of technology
developed in Kenya to other countries is a clear possibility. Within Kenya itself, increase in
national output on the small farm appears possible using technology already available, but
more research is needed to ensure that adequate material is available for the year-round feed
budget, especially as the pressure on land reduces farm size in the drier regions of the
smallholder zone. The role of milk marketing, including pricing, is central to the economic
applicability of any proposed new technology.

Acknowledgements
Appreciation is due to many people for providing background information relating to the ideas
expressed in this paper. In particular thanks are due to my colleagues at the Kenya
Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), to Mr. A. Wouters of the Dairy Development Project,
Naivasha, and to Mr. P. Bartilol, Head, Feeds Section, Livestock Division, Ministry of
Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nairobi. Errors, omissions and all ideas expressed in
the paper remain the responsibility of the author. The paper should not be taken as
representing the official attitude of KARI or its parent Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development.

Appendix 1

As mentioned in the text a survey is currently under way to obtain estimates of the area of
fodder and/or pasture in the smallholder areas. Some results are already available, as shown
in the table below.

Area (ha)
Pastures Fodders
District
Nyeri Planted Napier grass 10,464
Natural 45,000 Sweet potato 3,913
Lucerne 157

Baringo Chloris gayana 230 Napier grass 164

Setaria sphacelata 231 Misc. folders 200
Natural 66,000
Bungoma Rhodes 66 Napier grass 145
Murang'a All 16,875 Napier grass 9,925
Uasin Gishu Chloris gayana 5,000 Napier grass 1,250
Setaria sphacelata 1,000
Siaya Chloris gayana 91 Napier grass 154

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An inventory of livestock feed resources in Tanzania

A.B. Lwoga and N.A. Urio

Sokoine University of Agriculture

P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract
The main feed resources in Tanzania can be grouped into natural grasslands, established
pastures, cereals and root crops, and agricultural by-products.

The main limitations of the natural grasslands are their characteristic seasonal productivity,
low production of dry matter, the low quality of herbage and the low level of range
management. Planted pastures play a limited role as a feed resource and are confined to the
intensively cultivated areas. The poor link between pasture research and extension and a
shortage of pasture seed have also contributed to the underdevelopment of this resource.

Cereals and root crops are produced primarily for human consumption, although the potential
exists for increased production to meet both human and livestock needs.

Agricultural by-products contribute significantly to livestock feeding. Improvements in handling,

processing and transportation of the by-products, as well as integration between livestock and
crop production, could greatly increase the utilization of this feed resource.

Introduction
Tanzania has one of the largest livestock populations in Africa with 13.5 million head of cattle,
5.5 million goats, 3.6 million sheep, 0.4 million pigs and 23.2 million chickens (Ministry of
Agriculture 1982b). Most of the cattle are indigenous Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ) and the
rest (estimated at 30,000 head (Lohay 1977) are exotic dairy animals and crosses with the
TSZ). The bulk of the livestock are under traditional production systems in which the animals
are expected to fend for themselves to a large extent and to contend with the environmental
stresses imposed on them by nature.

Livestock are an important resource in Tanzania. They:

(i) are the direct source of cash income and livelihood for an estimated 10% of the
population (Ministry of Agriculture 1982a);

(ii) are the major source of animal protein throughout the country;

(iii) provide farm power in some areas in the country;

(iv) play an important role in some traditional cultural activities (for example,
payment of brideprice);

(v) provide raw materials for industry (for example, tanning and leather industries).

The direct contribution of livestock to the total exports of the country was estimated at 13.2%
in 1971 (Ministry of Agriculture 1982a).
In spite of the large population, livestock in the country have a low productivity (see Table 1).
In a review of the livestock situation in 1982, the Ministry of Agriculture (1982b) noted with
concern:

It is generally agreed that inadequate nutrition is one of the main factors accounting for the low
productivity of livestock in the country (Calo 1976; Ministry of Agriculture 1982a; Mwakatundu
and Mpatwa 1977). Ruminant livestock obtain adequate feed from grazing during the rainy
season, but are on the verge of starvation during the dry season. In some years they die from
starvation by the thousands. Reproductive performance of less than 50%, mortality rates of
15% from birth to weaning and over 5% from weaning to market, are thus the rule rather than
the exception (Calo 1976). Pigs and chickens, which in traditional production systems are left
to scavenge around the homestead, often do not obtain an adequate or balanced diet.

Table 1. Estimates of cattle population and productivity in Tanzania 1982

Cattle Beef and veal ('000 head Carcass weight Fresh milk ('000 Cow milk
population slaughtered) (kg/animal) tonnes) (kg/animal)
('000)
13,150 1,351 102 376 160

Source: FAO 1983.

(i) The small number of cattle sold, resulting in slaughter plants operating below
capacity;

(ii) The decline in the average weight of beef carcasses from 250 kg in 1971 to
180 kg in 1981;

(iii) The country's high demand for dairy products which exceeded local
production, forcing the Government to import them at an average annual value of
TSh 80 million;

(iv) The inability of the country to export beef and meat on account of the poor
quality of these products and, hence, their non-competitiveness on the world
market.

Livestock feed resources

In Tanzania livestock feed resources can be grouped into four main categories, namely,
natural grasslands, established pastures, cereals and root crops, and agricultural by-products.
The following account attempts to describe them and assess their potential.

Natural Grasslands

Natural grasslands are the most important feed resources for ruminant livestock in Tanzania. It
has been estimated that the country has 451,903 square kilometres (or 51% of the total land-
area) of natural pastures which support over 90% of the total ruminant livestock population
(UNDP/FAO 1967; Ministry of Agriculture 1982a). These areas, which correspond to
ecological-climatic zones IV and V of Pratt, Greenway and Gwynne (1966), are represented
by grazing lands on the low eastern plateau between the coastal plains and the eastern rift
valley, and on the central plateau. They are characterized by low and seasonal rainfall
(usually 760 mm or less annually) and high evapotranspiration potential (over 1,800 mm). The
vegetation is characterized by the dominance over most areas of Themeda and Hyparrhenia
grass species and the conspicuously meagre content of herbaceous forage legumes (Thomas
1973).
A basic shortcoming of natural grasslands as a source of feed for ruminant livestock is their
low production of dry matter due to a combination of the negative effects of inadequate rainfall
and the dearth of available soil nitrogen on plant growth (Russell 1966; Wigg, Owen and
Mukurasi 1973). The seasonality of plant growth, which is a reflection of the annual rainfall
distribution pattern, further restricts the availability of herbage for the grazing animal to four or
five months of the wet season over most of the natural grasslands.

Another shortcoming of the natural grassland is the low quality of the herbage. Results from an
investigation in which Karue (1974) determined the nutritive values of grass species from
similar grasslands in Kenya showed that, for most of the grasses, available energy and crude
protein fell short of the animal's (Boran cattle) nutritional requirements during both the dry and
wet seasons. In a review of the nutritional value of tropical grasses and folders, French (1957)
observed that: (i) irrespective of area in the tropics, or of grass species under consideration,
the highest crude-protein values are recorded during the wet season; and (ii) tropical grasses
often develop not only a high proportion of carbohydrates but also a high lignin content at an
early vegetational stage and the lignin reduces the overall digestibility of the grasses. French
(1957) presented data to show that the fast growth of tropical grasses was associated with a
rapid decline in their mineral content, especially of phosphorus and sodium. The combined
effects of the small quantities and the low quality of herbage from natural grasslands is to
reduce drastically their carrying capacity. Pratt and Gwynne (1977) estimated that 4-12
hectares of similar grasslands in Kenya were required to support one livestock unit. Other
factors, for instance the presence of game in some areas, annual burning during the dry
season, tsetse infestation in some areas and uneven distribution of water supplies, further
reduce the effective carrying capacity of the natural grasslands.

Considering both their size and their role as the source of feed for most of the country's
ruminant livestock population, national grasslands are, nevertheless, an important resource in
Tanzania. Their improvement through better management and utilization, bush and tsetse
control, increasing the content of forage legumes (including suitable browse species), and
provision of adequate water supplies could, by themselves, considerably raise the production
efficiency of ruminant livestock in the country.

Planted Pastures

There is a lack of information on the area of planted pastures in the country, but it comprises a
very small proportion of the total land area under cultivation. These pastures are found on
dairy farms and units mainly in areas of high crop-production potential. Table 2 shows the
various types of planted pastures and the plant species grown. Overall, they are much more
productive than natural grasslands and form the basis of the nontraditional dairy industry in the
country.

The temperate pastures deserve special mention because of their high potential for improving
dairy production in the high altitude areas. Presently only 12,000 ha out of a total of 29,000 ha
of available land in Kitulo are under planted pasture with a carrying capacity of 1 ha/livestock
unit* yielding, on average, 8 kg milk per day (TISCO 1983). TISCO also estimated (1983) that
with good management and utilization the same pastures could support 1 livestock unit/0.5 ha,
yielding an average of 10 kg milk per day.

* 1 livestock unit = a mature TSZ animal weighing 350 kg.

A major constraint to the development of planted pastures is the shortage of pasture seed.
There is no proper pasture-seed production programme and consequently the country has
had to rely on imported seed (Lwoga 1979).

Another constraint has been the failure to bring pasture research results to the point of
application, even though much research on pasture has been conducted in Tanzania (Lwoga
1979).

Cereals and Root Crops

Tanzania produces substantial amounts of cereals and root crops (see Table 3). Because of
their high content of readily digestible carbohydrates, they are valuable feeds for livestock,
especially the monogastrics. However, they are produced primarily for human consumption
and most of them are in short supply in the country. In addition, some of them are used in the
brewing industry and others (especially cassava) are likely to be used in the starch industry in
future (Kategile and Urio 1982). Appreciable quantities of sorghum are exported (Ministry of
Agriculture 1979). Changes in priorities have to be made to reduce the quantity exported and
channel part of the produce into livestock production (Kategile and Urio 1982), but quantities
are likely to diminish with improved storage.

Table 2. Types of planted pastures and plant species grown

Pasture type Grass species Legume species

Temperate pastures Perennial ryegrass White clove
Lolium perenne
Dactylis glomerata
Festuca arundinacea
Avena sativa

Sub-tropical pastures Chloris gayana Desmodium intorum

Panicum maximum Desmodium sandwicense
*Pennisetum purpureum Neonotonia wightii
*Setaria splendida *Medicago sativa
*Tripsacum laxum
*Zea mays

Tropical pastures
(a) Humid-sub-humid Chloris gayana Pureraria phaseloides
Setaria anceps Neonotonia wightii
Panicum maximum Desmodium spp.
*Pennisetum purpureum
*Tripsacum laxum
*Zea mays
*Sorghum
(b) Sub-humid to semi-humid Chloris gayana Stylosanthes gracilis
Cenchrus ciliaris Centrosema pubescens
Cynodon plectostachus Rynychosia sennarenis
Panicum maximum

*Mainly fodder
Sources: Madallali 1974; Mwakatundu and Mpatwa 1977; TISCO 1983

Table 3. Cereal and root-crop production 1970/71-1979/80 ('000)

 Year Maize Paddy Wheat Sorghum/millet Cassava Potatoes Sweet potatoes
1970/71 870 192 60 413 3,444 74 248
1971/72 850 202 77 367 3,209 67 229
1972/73 980 178 67 409 3,189 120 234
1973/74 750 193 49 423 3,388 165 296
1974/75 750 141 32 280 3,688 101 302
1975/76 825 157 46 440 3,800 87 320
1976/77 897 180 58 390 3,900 92 330
1977/78 968 203 35 390 4,000 96 335
1978/79 1,000 260 38 410 4,450 85 330
1979/80 900 250 30 380 4,550 85 330

Source: Ministry of Agriculture 1982.

Given the above situation, it is unlikely that cereals and root crops will become a major source
of livestock feed in the country in the near future. With improved production, however, they
could contribute significantly to livestock feed requirements in the future.

Agricultural By-Products

Apart from natural grasslands, agricultural by-products offer great promise as a source of
ruminant livestock feed in Tanzania. Table 4 presents estimates of the production of these
materials in the country.

Farm Residues

These include materials from annual crops (for instance, various types of stover, straw, maize
cobs, cassava peelings and groundnut haulms and hulls) and "wastes" from perennial crops
(for instance, coffee pulp and hulls, sugarcane tops, bagasse, molasses, sisal pulp, and
cashew fruit and kernel powder). Collectively, the annual production of farm residues in the
country has been estimated at 13 million tonnes dry matter, having, on average, 3.0%
digestible crude protein and 1.90 Mcal ME/kg which, if fully utilized, could support 6.6 million
head of 200 kg animals at maintenance level for one year (Calo 1976).

Annual crop residues are routinely fed to ruminant livestock, either in situ, where farmers keep
large herds, or in stalls where farmers keep a few animals for milk production. In the main
cropping areas of the country, however, these materials are either left to rot or burnt in the
fields after harvest (Kiangi 1979).

Perennial crops generate large quantities of residues. On plantations, the presence of these
materials makes possible the establishment of large-scale livestock feeding operations. Few
plantations in the country, however, have livestock enterprises. In most cases the materials
are used as mulch (e.g. coffee and sisal pulp), burnt to produce power for processing plants
(e.g. bagasse), used as raw materials in other industries (e.g. molasses for the production of
alcohol), or exported (e.g. molasses).

Considerable research has been carried out in Tanzania and elsewhere on means of
improving the nutritive value of crop residues (Kategile et al. 1981; Kiangi and Kategile 1981;
Urio 1981). As elsewhere, the improvement in feeding value involved the use of chemicals
such as sodium hydroxide and ammonia which proved to be expensive and their supply to be
unreliable. The current trend is to improve utilization of the residues through better handling
and transportation and supplementing for those nutrients which are most limiting. Traditional in
situ grazing has long been known to be wasteful (French 1943).
Milling By-Products

Milling by-products are an important group which, along with oilseed cakes, form a key raw
material in the production of feeds for various classes of livestock in the country.
Unfortunately, the majority of farmers in the rural areas have access neither to the by-products
nor the feeds since most of the milling and feed manufacturing operations are carried out in
the large urban centres (Kategile and Urio 1982). In addition, the quantities of feeds produced
are far below existing demand, and there is a lack of an efficient distribution system in the
country (Ministry of Livestock Development 1983; Mwakatundu and Mpatwa 1977).

Oilseed By-Products

These products are, perhaps, the most important group because of their high content of
protein, the most deficient nutrient in natural grassland herbage and in the other agricultural
by-products. Used as supplementary feeds they could help not only to increase the overall
productivity of the animals but also to make more efficient use of protein-deficient feed
resources. Calo (1976) estimated the potential supply of this group to be of the order of
167,000 tonnes of dry matter, with an average content of 25.7% digestible crude protein and
an energy content of 2.71 Mcal ME/kg, which if fully utilized to supplement natural grassland
grazing could add an extra 42,000 tonnes of beef without increasing the offtake.

At present, substantial quantities of cotton-seed cake are exported (Kategile and Urio 1982).
As in the case of milling byproducts, the lack of an efficient distribution system is a constraint
to the utilization of oilseed cakes where they are most needed.

Other By-Products

Other by-products are produced in small quantities and their supply is often unreliable.
Nevertheless, they deserve mention because of their high protein content which makes them
particularly good supplementary feeds for pigs and chickens. They include brewery by-
products (see Table 4), fishmeal, bonemeal and meatmeal. The brewery waste produced by
the Arusha brewery is almost exclusively and fully utilized by smallholder dairy and pig farmers
around Arusha. There has also been some attempt to produce pelletized dairy feed using
brewers waste by private feed manufacturers in Moshi, but the limited supply of this byproduct
has been a major constraint to this effort.

Table 4. Estimates of the annual production of major crop residues and processing by-
products in Tanzania

Crop Dry matter ('000 Digestible crude protein Metabolizable energy

tonnes) ('000 tonnes) (million Mcal)
Maize
Stover 3,509.5 155.9 6,844.5
Cobs 1,269.0 2.8 2,527.2
Germ meal 65.0 10.4 191.8
Bran 44.0 2.7 85.9
Sub-total 4,887.5 171.8 9,649.4
Rice
Straw 604.0 10.2 923.4
Hulls 15.0 0.1 22.3
Bran 10.0 0.5 18.5
Sub-total 629.0 10.8 964.2
Sorghum
Stover 1,875.0 14.5 3,283.4
Threshed heads 150.0 4.5 270.6
Bran 10.0 0.5 19.0
Sub-total 2,035.0 19.5 3,573.0
Millet
Stover 1,352.0 16.9 2,580.5
Bran 5.0 0.5 15.5
Sub-total 1,357.0 17.4 2,596.0
Wheat
Straw 573.0 16.0 1,011.2
Bran 18.0 1.8 39.8
Sub-total 591.0 17.8 1,051.0
Cassava
Peelings 88.0 0.9 238.0
Waste-meal 230.0 0.0 678.0
Sub-total 318.0 0.9 916.0
Groundnuts
Haulms 112.0 10.8 220.5
Hulls 10.0 0.2 7.1
Sub-total 122.0 11.0 227.6
Coffee
Pulp 11.3 0.7 31.4
Hulls 3.3 0.2 6.4
Sub-total 14.6 0.9 37.8
Sisal
Pulp 300.0 0.0 615.0
Sugarcane
(a) Plantation
Tops 36.5 0.9 71.7
Bagasse (50%) used 24.1 0.0 29.6
for fuel
Molasses 46.6 0.6 127.5
(b) Small-farm
tops 47.3 1.2 92.8
Sub-total 154.5 2.7 321.6
Cashew
Fruit (dehydrated) 382.1 25.2 1,250.3
Kernel powder 6.5 1.1 13.6
Sub-total 388.6 26.4 1,263.9
Pyrethrum flowers
Marc 2.8 0.3 8.4
Sunflower seed
Cake 3.7 1.6 10.1
 Hulls 1.8 0.1 3.1
Sub-total 5.5 1.7 13.2
Cotton seed
Cake 110.0 37.9 347.7
Hulls 42.0 0.1 65.3
Sub-total 152.0 38.0 413.0
Sesame seed
Cake 5.2 2.3 14.1
Copra
Cake 3.9 0.9 11.2
Kapok
Cake 0.18 0.1 0.4
Brewery by-products
Brewery grain (wet) 1.8 0.3 4.3
Brewers yeast 0.4 0.2 1.3
Sub-total 2.2 0.5 5.6
Grand total 10,969.0 323.0 21,681.4

Source: Calo 1976

Conclusion
It is clear from above that Tanzania has a considerable reserve of livestock feed resources
which, if fully exploited, could help to increase the level of production from its large livestock
population. It is worth drawing attention to some of the factors that have contributed to the
underutilization of livestock feed resources.

Development planners have long regarded livestock and crop production as mutually
exclusive activities that compete for the same resource (i.e. land). Consequently, development
plans have often failed to integrate the two activities resulting, in turn, in the underutilization or
wastage of agricultural by-products which could otherwise be made available to livestock.
Large crop-production schemes are frequently established without consideration being given
to the use of crop residues as a livestock feed. Similarly, the lack of transport and handling
facilities between the major crop and livestock areas blocks the flow of crop by-products to
where they could be fed to livestock.

Unco-ordinated, and sometimes wrong, decisions have often deprived the country of the
opportunity to supplement and alleviate grazing pressure on natural grassland with agricultural
by-products. The export of such byproducts as molasses, cotton-seed cake and bonemeal has
meant the country exporting materials to feed livestock in other countries and importing dairy
products at high prices.

Finally, improvements in the management and utilization of natural grassland have not been
given due attention in some livestock-improvement schemes. Overemphasis on veterinary
services, dips and water supplies was, for instance, shown to result in increased livestock
populations with the consequent overuse and deterioration of rangeland in Maasailand and in
central Tanzania.

References
Calo, L.L. (1976). Supplementary feeding. In: Proceedings of the Third Scientific Conference
of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production, Nay 1976.

FAO. (1983). Production Year Book, Vol. 37. FAO Statistics Series No. 55. Food and
Agricultural Organization, Rome.

French, M.H. (1943). Feeding value of tropical grasses and bulrush millet. East African
Agricultural and Forestry Journal 9: 88-89. 1957. Nutritional value of tropical grasses and
fodders. Herbage Abstracts 27: 1-9.

Karue, C.N. (1974). The nutritive value of herbages in semi-arid lands of East Africa. 1.
Chemical composition. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 40: 89-95.

Kategile, J.A. and Urio, N.A. (1982). A technical study on MOPROCO's proposal to set up a
feedmill. Morogoro, Tanzania.

Kategile, J.A., Urio, N.A., Sundstol, F. and Mzihirwa, Y.G. (1981). Simplified method for alkali
treatment of low quality roughages for use by smallholders in developing countries. Animal
Feed Science Technology 6: 133-143.

Kiangi, E.M.I. (1979). Ammonia treatment of low quality roughages to improve their nutritive
value. M. Sc. Thesis, University of Dar es Salaam.

Kiangi, E.M.I. and Kategile, J.A. (1981). Different sources of ammonia for improving the
nutritive value of low quality roughages. Animal Feed Science Technology 6: 377-386.

Lohay, A.B. (1977). Dairy production and processing in Tanzania. In: Proceedings of the
Fourth Scientific Conference of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production, May 1977.

Lwoga, A.B. (1979). Pasture research and development in Tanzania. Paper presented at the
National Agricultural Workshop, Arusha, March 1979.

Madallai, S.A. (1974). A review of pasture research in Tanzania. In: Proceedings of the First
Scientific Conference of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production, May 1974.

Ministry of Agriculture, (1979). Bulletin of food crop production. Statistics Section, Planning
Division, Dar es Salaam.

Ministry of Agriculture, (1982a). The Tanzania national food strategy (main report). Part II. Dar
es Salaam. pp. 358-396.

Ministry of Agriculture, (1982b). The Tanzania national agricultural policy (final report). Dar es
Salaam.

Mwakatundu, A.G.K. and Mpatwa, N.G. (1977). The strategy of dairy production in Tanzania.
In: Proceedings of Fourth Scientific Conference of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production,
May 1977.

Pratt, D.J., Greenway, P.J. and Gwynne, M.D. (1966). A classification of East African
rangeland, with an appendix of terminology. Journal of Applied Ecology 3: 369-382.

Pratt, D.J. and Gwynne, M.D. (1977). Rangeland Management and Ecology in East Africa.
London: Hodder and Stoughton.

Russell, E. W. (1966). Soils and fertility. In: Davies, W. and Skimore, C.L. (eds.). Tropical
Pastures, London: Faber and Faber.

TISCO (Tanzania Industrial Studies and Consulting Organization). (1983). Dairy development
for Tanzania Livestock Development Authority (main report). Dar es Salaam.
Thomas, D. (1973). Nitrogen from tropical legumes on the African continent. Herbage
Abstracts 43: 33-39.

UNDP/FAO. (1967). East African livestock survey. FAD/SF: 21 Reg., FAO, Rome, Vol. II, pp.
18-28.

Urio, N.A. (1981). Alkali treatment of roughages and energy utilization of treated roughages
fed to sheep and goats. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Dar es Salaam.

Wigg, P.M., Owen, M.A. and Mukurasi, N.J. (1973). Influence of farmyard manure and
nitrogen fertilizers on sown pastures, seed yield and quality of Cenchrus ciliaris at Kongwa,
Tanzania. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 38: 367-374.

  
   

Feed resources in Ethiopia

Alemayehu Mengistu

Animal and Fisheries Resources Development, Main Department

Ministry of Agriculture, P. O. 62347, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction
Present livestock production systems
Feed resources and status
Feed development constraints
Strategy for feed development

Introduction
Ethiopia lies in the horn of Africa between 3° and 18° north and 33° and 48° east and has a
land area of approximately 1.23 million km². It borders on the Sudan in the north and west,
Kenya in the south, Somalia in the southeast and Djibouti and the Red Sea in the east.

Out of the total land area, 846,100 km² is agricultural land of which 137,000 km² is cultivated
land 651,000 km² pastureland, and 88,000 km² forests. Swamps cover 57,800 km² are barren
land and 120,000 km² water and water courses.

The topography consists of a high central plateau ranging in altitude from 1,800 to 3,000 m,
the Rift Valley that divides the country from south to north with altitudes ranging from 1,000 to
1,800 m, and the extensive lowland plain areas to the south and south-east with varying
altitudes but often less than 1,000 m. These are the areas occupied by nomadic people.

The soils vary from black cotton soils (vertisols) and red soils (artisols) to desert sands.
Vegetation cover varies from rain forest to savanna. The originally fertile soils of the high and
medium altitudes have been intensively cultivated for centuries and are now degraded in some
places.

There are several large rivers such as the Blue Nile, Wabe Shebele, Omo, Baro and Gibe,
and many smaller rivers, streams and lakes whose potential is as yet untapped.

Large parts of the country have adequate rainfall which has a bimodal pattern. The small rains
occur from March to May and the big rains from late June until the end of September in the
high and mid-altitudes. The rainfall pattern is different in the lowland areas for there the rains
start in early July and end in early September. Temperatures vary with altitude, ranging from
less than 10°C in alpine areas to 35°C and higher in lowland areas.

Agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy with the raising of crops being the major
activity. Coffee is the major exportable agricultural commodity and it earns the largest
proportion of foreign exchange. Livestock also play an important role in Ethiopia's economy
being the second largest earner of foreign exchange after coffee.

Present livestock production systems

Domestic livestock herds and flocks include 29 million cattle, 24 million sheep, 18 million
goats, 1 million camels, 7 million equines and 53 million poultry, distributed throughout the
country. The greatest concentration occurs in the highland where 70% of the human
population live. Although there are few data on the animal population, it is generally accepted
that there are about 5 livestock units (LU)* of grazing animals per capita in the lowlands and 1
LU per capita in the highlands. In addition, almost all rural households, with the exception of
nomadic ones, own some chickens.

*1 LU is equivalent to a 250 kg animals

The heterogeneity of Ethiopia's topography, climate and cultural conditions make it difficult to
generalize about livestock production systems in the country. The following are the major
livestock production systems in the country, however.

Highland Livestock

Here animals are part of a mixed subsistence farming complex. Animals provide inputs
(draught power, transport, manure) to other parts of the farm system and generate
consumable or saleable outputs (milk, manure, meat, hides and skins, wool, hair and eggs).

Lowland Livestock

Where animals are kept by pastoralists they do not provide inputs for crop production but are
the very backbone of life for their owners, providing all of the consumable saleable outputs
listed above and, in addition, representing a living bank account and form of insurance against
adversity.

Parastatal and Commercial Livestock

Commercial livestock are mainly held by state farms, co-operatives and some private
individuals and produce milk and eggs for local sale and meat for export. Only a very small
proportion of the animals in Ethiopia fall into this category.

Feed resources and status

In Ethiopia livestock obtain feed from:

1. Grazing and browsing on natural pastures;

2. Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products; and
3. Cultivated pasture and forage-crop species.

Grazing and Browsing

The availability and quality of native pastures available to livestock vary with altitude, rainfall,
soil type and cropping intensity. The total area of grazing and browsing is 62,280 million
hectares, of which 12% is in the farming areas (more than 600 mm rainfall) and the rest
around the pastoral areas (Tables 1 and 2).

Afro-alpine vegetation, found at altitudes above 3,000 m, is characterized by heaths and

Lobelia with cold-resistant short grasses. Much of this area is overgrazed. The highland areas
(between 2,200 and 3,000 m) as characterized by grass and legume pastures with the legume
component decreasing with decreasing altitude. The area available for grazing is determined
by the intensity of annual cropping and in southern Ethiopia, by the areas sown to coffee,
Ensette (pseudo-banana, a carbohydrate source), and chat (Cata edulis, a narcotic leaf which
is chewed). There are extensive grassland plateaux and areas of seasonally waterlogged
soils. Active plant growth is restricted to periods during the short rains, where these occur, and
to one or two months after the small rains. Pastures are generally overgrazed and many areas
are invaded by Pennisetum spp. Overgrazing is less severe in areas with lower cropping
intensity. The lower-altitude farming areas are characterized by grass-dominant pastures and
production varies with rainfall, which in some areas is poor and erratic overgrazing is common
in settled farming areas.

The higher rainfall areas of the pastoral zone (300-600 mm rainfall per annum), are
characterized by dense thornbush with a low carrying capacity and more open vegetation with
understory grasses having a higher carrying capacity. Open desert with annual rainfall below
300 mm is characterized by sparse vegetation, including early maturing annual grasses.
Carrying capacities vary from 8 to 15 ha per LU.

In the farming system, permanent pastures provide 85% of the feed resources available to
livestock and in the pastoral areas grazing and browsing provide 100% of such resources.
(Table 1 and 2).

Productivity studies indicate that in the lowland areas native pasture yields 1 ton dry matter ha-
1
or less in intermediate and high areas on freely drained soils yields are 3 tons dry matter ha-
1
and in seasonally waterlogged fertile areas 4-6 tons dry matter ha-1 .

Table 1. Feed Resources Available Annually to Livestock in the Highlands

Feed source Area (millions ha) Availability

dry matter Total dry matter

Grazing 7.280 4.50 32.760

Cereals 4.607
Crop residues 1.40 6.500
Aftermath grazing 0.40 1.843
Pulse residues 0.808 0.50 0.404
By-products 0.150
Total 41.657

Table 2. Feed Resources Available to Livestock in Pastoral Areas

Rainfall zone (mm) Area (millions ha) Availability

Dry matter h-1 Total dry matter (million t)

500-700 9.90 1.00 10.007
300-500 8.10 0.64 5.153
<300 22.50 0.35 7.970
Thorn bush areas 14.50 0.53 7.685
Total 55.00 30.815

Sources: Tables 1 and 2, Ministry of Agriculture, 1984

Vegetation

The highlands are rich in pasture species, particularly indigenous legumes. The proportion of
legumes tends to increase with increasing altitude and particularly above 2,200 m there is a
wide range of annual and perennial Trifolium spp. and of annual Medicago spp. At lower
altitudes native legumes are less abundant and commonly have a climbing or sprawling
growth habit which renders them more susceptible to loss through grazing. There is a large
variation in the range and density of legumes in wet bottomlands, and this appears to be only
partly due to edaphic differences.

Common species

Areas above 3,000 m

The most common grasses are species of Poa, Fectuca, Agrostis and, to a less extent,
Andropogon. In the wetter areas, sedges of the genera Carex, Eleocharis, and Mariscus
occur. Of the perennial legumes, the most important are the deep-rooted Trifolium
burchellianum (var. oblongum and var. johnstonii) and Trifolium acaule which extends to over
4,000 m. Trifolium polystachyum extends to at least 3,500 m and of the annuals Trifolium
tembense is the most significant, though it occurs only in the lower range. Of the shrubs, Erica
arborea and Hypericum revolutum are common.

Areas from 2,000 to 3,000 m

The most common grasses are species of Andropogon, Cynodon and Pennisetum. Other
common ones are species of Setaria, Themeda, Eragrostis, Sporobolus, Brachiaria,
Paspalum, Phalaris and Festuca aurindinacea. The only significant annual grass is Snowdenia
abyssinica. Productivity may be extremely high during the later part of the wet season but
there is little growth after early October. Legumes are prolific in this zone. The most common
perennial is Trifolium semipilosum, and other frequently occurring ones are Trifolium
burchellianum var. johnstonii, Trifolium, polystachyum, Lotus sp., Trifolium rueppellianum,
Trifolium decorum, Trifolium steudneri, Trifolium quatinanum and Vigna sp. are the most
widespread of the annuals. In the extremely wet bottomlands sedges are common. Of the
legumes, Trifolium tembense is prolific. Arable land left fallow usually has a dense weed cover
initially, but with heavy grazing there is always an invasion of grasses, including Digitaria
scalarum, Cynodon dactylon and Phalaris paradoxa. With longer-term fallows Cynodon
dactylon and Pennisetum sp. become more common. Trifolium semipilosum and Trifolium
burchellianum are also found in such areas. Of the browse Erythrina sp. is common.

Areas from 1,800 to 2,000 m

This zone is characterized by tall grasses and a higher proportion of climbing/sprawling

legumes, especially in less intensively settled areas. The most common grasses are of the
genera Chloris, Cenchrus, Hyparrhenia, Setaria, Paspalum, Cynodon, Pennisetum, Eleusine,
Eragrostis, Cymbopogon and Andropogon. The perennial legumes include Neonotonia wightii,
Indigofera spp., Crotolaria sp., Desmodium sp., Rhynchosia sp., Vigna sp. and Trifolium
semipilosum which grows down to about 1,500 m in wetter western areas and commonly to
1,800 m in central areas. Stylosanthes fruticosa is found in scattered sites, mainly below 1,800
m, and may be common in degraded areas where few other species thrive. Of the annuals,
Trifolium steudneri, Trifolium reupellianum and Medicago polymorpha are quite frequent above
1,700 m. Of the browse species, Albizia sp. is common and Sesbania is also prolific on wet
lake margins.

Areas below 1,800 m

These areas, which include the Rift Valley, are covered with Acacia woodland. Today much of
the Acacia has been removed as the demand for charcoal has increased in urban centres.
Heavy grazing and low-productivity farming have followed the cutting of trees. Common
grasses include Chloris pycnothrix, Hyparrhenia anthistiriodes, Setaria acromelana, Aristida
keniensis, Cynodon dactylon, Panicum atrosanguineum, Microchloa kunthii, Hyparrhenia
dregeana, Cenchrus ciliaris, Heteropogon sp. and Bothriochloa insculpta. Of the legumes,
Neonotonia wightii and the less valuable Indigofera spicata are common. Browse species are
dominated by Acacia etbaica, Acacia nilotica subsp. leiocarpa and Acacia seyal var. seyal.
Crop Residues and Agro-Industrial By-Products

Cereals and Pulses

Cereal straw from teff, barley and wheat is the largest component of livestock diet in the
intermediate and highland areas that is not obtained in situ. Straw is stacked after threshing
and fed to animals during the dry season, as are pulse-crop residues (e.g. horsebeans,
chickpeas, haricot beans, field peas and lentils). At lower altitudes in the highland areas
maize, sorghum and millet stovers occur to a greater extent than at higher altitudes. Teff is
grown at intermediate altitudes and barley replaces wheat at the higher altitudes, where pulses
are also grown to a great extent. The nutritive values of the different residues vary. Whereas
teff straw is equivalent to medium-quality hay, the residue of other cereal crops is only of poor
to fair quality. On the other hand, pulse haulms are high-quality roughage with 5-8% protein.

By-Products from Sugar

The sugar industry in Ethiopia has factories at three sites (Wonji, Shoa and Methara). The
present area of cane is 13,000 ha and the estimated yield of cane tops is 6 tonnes dry matter
per hectare or 78,000 tonnes dry matter per year. Production of molasses in 1981/82 was
51,100 tonnes of which 29,000 tonnes were exported. At present the use of a molasses/urea
mixture as a drought-relief feed has been started in a pilot scheme run jointly by the Ministry of
Agriculture, the Ministry of State Farms and ILCA.

Oil-Cake

Oil cakes are an excellent concentrate feed for ruminant livestock. Ethiopia grows most of the
temperate and sub-tropical oilseed plants such as linseed, groundnuts, rape, sesame,
sunflower and cotton. Neug or niger, a native annual composite, which produces niger seed
for oil, is also grown. The processing of oilseeds is widely practiced on a family basis or in
small village mills. In some areas (the northwest) neug cakes are currently being wasted
rather than being properly used.

Milling By-Products

The various milling by-products obtained through processing wheat are of great interest as
livestock feed for state farms, city dairy holders, and to a lesser extent for some dairy co-
operatives. Wheat grain is processed in big mills, whereas in the case of teff, barley, maize
and sorghum the whole grains are processed and used for food.

Slaughter Products

Large numbers of livestock, mainly cattle, sheep and goats, are slaughtered every year. Of
these, only a small proportion of the cattle are slaughtered in abattoirs with processing
facilities. The Addis Ababa Municipality, which is responsible for the abattoirs, produces meat,
bonemeal and blood. At present most of the meat and bonemeal is exported.

Brewery By-Products

Brewer's grains are traditionally valued for lactating cows because of their palatability and milk-
producing property. In addition to commercial beer production at the two breweries in Addis
Ababa and one each in Asmara and Harare, small-scale home brewing is also practiced.

Other By-Products

Sisal waste is produced in the southern part of the country. Studies indicate that it has a low
protein and high fibre content. Coffee pulp and hulls (about 30,000 tonnes per year) can also
be used as a minor feed source in the coffee-growing areas. Since coffee-residue production
is seasonal, storage is a problem.

Cultivated Pasture and Forage-Crop Species

Research on cultivated pasture and forage-crop species was initiated in the late 1960s. The
leading organizations conducting research were the Institute of Agriculture Research (IAR),
Arsi Rural Development Project (ARDP, ex-CADU), and lately the International Livestock
Center for Africa (ILCA) and the Forage Network in Ethiopia (FNE). The development
programmes were partially executed by the Extension Promotion and Implementation
Department (EPID) and the Livestock and Meat Board (LMB), but since 1979 the Ministry of
Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources Development, Main Department, has been
responsible for the execution of the national programmes. Within the same Ministry, the
Department of Soil and Community Forests and the Third Livestock Project are also running
development programmes. The Ministry of State Farms, especially the Animal Resources
Development Department, has large-scale dairy and beef farms.

Cultivated pastures and forage crops, with the exception of alfalfa and Rhodes grass, have not
been used on significant areas outside government stations, state farms and farmer's
demonstration plots. Fodder crops are commonly grown for feeding dairy cattle, with oats and
Vetch mixtures, alfalfa, Rhodes grass and fodder beet being the most common. There has
been widespread acceptance of the use of fodder following an intensive rural development
programme; and both an oats/Vicia mixture and fodder beets have been used to a limited
extent for draught oxen. Fodder crops have had minimal use in non-dairy production, perhaps
partly because seed has been imported and available only in limited quantities. In suitable
areas yields of oats/Vicia mixtures are commonly 8-12 tons dry matter per hectare. Introduced
fodder trees (Leucaena, Sesbania sp.) have been used only within the soil-erosion control
programme and around farmers' homesteads. Due to land scarcity and a crop-dominated
farming system there has been no significant introduction of cultivated species into traditional
grazing areas.

Key recommendations for plant species to be grown in the different zones are shown in Table
3.

Feed development constraints

Undernutrition and malnutrition are major factors constraining animal production in Ethiopia.
Nutritional stress causes low growth rates, poor fertility and high mortality, which is
compounded by diseases. About 85% of feed intake is used to meet the animals' maintenance
requirements and only 15% is utilized for production. Utilization of the feed resources is
therefore highly inefficient. The area of improved pastures and fodder crops is insignificant
and natural pastures are overgrazed causing invasion of inferior species. Seasonal feed
deficiencies cause the loss of weight gains made during more favourable periods, while fodder
conservation to help eliminate seasonal feed-supply fluctuations is rarely practiced. Generally,
all stock are grazed together with no attempt to provide special treatment for different classes
of stock. Controlled breeding is rarely practiced so that seasonal variation in feed supply and
demand are not synchronized. Agro-industrial by-products are often wasted or poorly utilized
and crop residues are fed without treatment or supplementation. Transport problems often
prevent by-products being moved to areas where they can be utilized effectively. The
incidence and effects of mineral deficiencies are poorly understood, although there is an
overemphasis on concentrate feeding, even though the supply of concentrates is unreliable.
Dairy calves receive poor weaning rations which lead to poor growth.

Table 3. Major Recommended species for different environments

Altitude Rainfall Major Species
(m) (m)
<2,000 600- Buffel, Rhodes grass, Stylosanthes spp., Siratro, green panic, Sorghum almum,
900 Leucaena, pigeon pea.
>900 Rhodes grass, Panicum maximum, elephant grass, Desmodium uncinatum, Siratro,
Stylosanthes spp. alfalfa, Leucaena, Sesbania, pigeon pea.
2,000- All Rhodes grass, Panicum maximum, Panicum coloratum, Setaria, tall fescue, Phalaris,
2,400 vetch, Desmodium, Medicago, alfalfa, oats, Sesbania, pigeon pea.
2,400- <1,200 Tall fescue, Phalaris, indigenous clovers, Medicago, vetch, oats, fodder beet.
3,000 >1,200 Tall fescue, Phalaris, rye grass, cocksfoot, indigenous clovers, Medicago, vetch, oats,
fodder beet, Erythrina sp.

In pastoral areas, feed shortages during drought cause high mortality. There are increasing
signs of range deterioration including erosion, bush encroachment and loss of species
diversity. Better management of the rangeland is badly needed.

Strategy for feed development

A strategy for feed development/improvement would incorporate reduction of livestock
numbers improvement of feed availability and quality, and improvement in the efficiency with
which feed supplies are used. A reduction of livestock numbers would concentrate initially on
the intensively cultivated highlands where the stocking pressure is greater. The destocking
would be accompanied by increased utilization of working oxen bred in the rangeland areas
and eventually by mechanized cultivation.

Strategies to improve the efficiency with which feed supplies are used include disease control
so that animals can realize the benefits of improved nutrition, and improved feeding
management techniques such as rotational grazing, fodder conservation, feeding fresh forage
using the cut-and-carry method, and regulating the intake by different categories of stock. The
introduction of seasonal calving and lambing would help to synchronize fluctuations in feed
supply and demand. Dry-season supplementation with protein-rich feeds would help reduce
seasonal losses. Improved use of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products would also be
useful. Mixing cereal residues with legumes would be the preferred method of improving the
efficiency of utilization of the residues, rather than chemical treatments which would be difficult
to apply in Ethiopia. Some agro-industrial byproducts such as cane tops, coffee pulp, oilseed
meals, and molasses are currently underutilized or wasted and the scope exists for improving
their utilization. Prepared feeds could also be improved by up-grading the existing feed-milling
facilities.

Measures to improve the availability and quality of feed include establishment of

grass/legume-based permanent pasture, fodder crops, forage intercropping, oversowing,
undersowing, use of fodder trees and seed production.

  
   

Feed resources for small-scale livestock producers in

Zimbabwe
J.N. Clatworthy

Grasslands Research Station, Marondera, Zimbabwe

Abstract
Introduction
Geographical distribution of small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe
Livestock holdings
Arable cropping
Natural grassland or veld
The way ahead
References

Abstract
Small-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe include both small-scale commercial and
communal land farmers. The latter, in particular, occupy a large proportion of the area of
Zimbabwe with low agricultural potential. Cattle are the main livestock type, supplying draught,
milk, manure and meat to their owners. Goats and donkeys are important in the lower altitude
areas, especially where tsetse occur.

Crop residues form an important source of winter feed for stock and are either grazed in situ
or are harvested and stored. Maize is the dominant crop in the high- and medium-potential
areas and is grown both as a cash and food crop. In the very dry areas sorghum and millets
are grown instead of maize.

Natural pastures form the main feed source for the small-scale livestock producer, but
massive overstocking has led to severe degradation over large areas. Grazing schemes
incorporating simple grazing rotations appear to offer a potential measure to halt this
degradation of the environment, but few are in operation at present.

Some methods of alleviating the present situation of critical feed shortages are suggested.

Introduction
Small-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe fall into two distinct groups:

Small-Scale Commercial Farmers

These are producers on land in the former African Purchase Areas who have full and sole
rights to the arable and grazing land within a defined area. In 1983 there were 8,563 farm
units, with a total area of 1.07 million ha.

Communal-Land Farmers
These are farmers in the former Tribal Trust Lands who have individually-allocated arable
plots but whose grazing is used by the whole community. There are about 850,000
landholders and the communal lands cover a total of 16.20 million ha.

Statistics relating to the crop and livestock production of small-scale commercial farms are
published annually. Corresponding data for the communal lands as a whole are difficult to
locate and are at best estimates. However, detailed surveys carried out recently in the
communal lands do help to give deeper insight into conditions and practices in those areas.

Geographical distribution of small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe

Vincent and Thomas (1961), modified by Surveyor-General (1980), defined five natural
regions (NR) in Zimbabwe each with differing agricultural potential and suited to differing
agricultural potential and suited to different farming systems. These regions are defined as
follows:

NR I: Specialized and Diversified Farming Region

Rainfall is high (900 + mm) normally with some precipitation in all months of the
year. The region is one of high-altitudes and mountainous so temperatures are
relatively low leading to high rainfall efficiency. The main farming activities are
afforestation, orchard crops and tea and coffee plantations. Supplementary
irrigation of these tree crops may be required for maximum yields. There is also
some intensive livestock production, particularly with dairy cattle.

NR II: Intensive Farming Region

Rainfall is confined to the summer months (November to March) and is

moderately high (750-1,000 mm). Two sub-regions have been defined:

Sub-region IIa receives an average of at least 18 rainy pentads per

season, normally enjoys reliable rainfall conditions and rarely
experiences severe dry spells in summer. The region is suitable for
intensive systems of farming based on crop and/or livestock
production.

Sub-region IIb receives an average of 16-18 rainy pentads per season

and is subject either to rather more severe dry spells during the rainy
season or to rather short rainy seasons. In either event, crop yields in
certain years will be affected but not sufficiently to change the overall
utilization by intensive systems of farming.

NR III: Semi-Intensive Farming Region

Rainfall amounts are moderate (650-800 mm) but effectiveness is reduced by

intense storms and high temperatures. Rainy pentads average 14-16 per season,
and fairly severe mid-season dry spell alone are common. Suitable farming
systems are therefore based on livestock production. The region is, therefore,
marginal for enterprises based on crop productions (assisted by the production of
fodder crops) with cash-crop production on soils of high available moisture
potential.

NR IV: Semi-Extensive Farming Region

Fairly low rainfall (450-650 mm), periodic seasonal droughts and severe dry spells
during the growing season make this region generally unsuitable for cash
 cropping. The farming system should be based on livestock production but it can
be intensified to some extent by growing drought-resistant fodder crops.

NR V: Extensive Farming Region

Low and erratic rainfall precludes the growing of even drought-resistant crops and
livestock production based on the veld alone is the most suitable farming system.

The proportions of the various land-tenure categories which fall within each of the Natural
Regions are shown in Table 1. This table is derived from pre-Independence data and does not
include the resettlement schemes which have been set up in former large-scale commercial
farming (LSCF) areas.

Table 1. Percentage of each natural region falling into the various land tenure
categories

Natural region % of Zimbabwe

Land-tenure category I II III IV V
National and unreserved 16 6 12 18 23 16.8
Large-scale commercial 71 69 45 28 26 37.3
Small-scale commercial - 4 4 4 2 3.8
Communal land 13 21 39 50 49 42.1
% of Zimbabwe 1.8 15.4 18.5 37.4 26.9

Source: Chavunduka et al 1982

From Table 1 it is clear that LSCF occupies a disproportionately large proportion of the land in
the more intensive regions, that small-scale commercial farming (SSCF) areas are fairly
uniformly distributed and that communal land (CL) is mainly in the more extensive regions.

Livestock holdings
Cattle are the main domestic livestock in Zimbabwe and have this dominant role in both the
commercial farming areas and the communal lands. In LSCF areas cattle are kept for the
commercial value of their products (meat, milk or breeding stock). In SSCF areas the position
is more mixed, with sales in 1982 equivalent to about 18% of cattle numbers, but oxen also
form the main source of draught power on most farms. In CL the role of cattle is diverse with
the main benefits being derived from arable inputs (draught and manure), a substantial benefit
from home consumption of milk and meat and only a small benefit from the sale of stock
(Dackwerts, no date; PTASC 1982). The social values of livestock in CL cannot be ignored.

To some extent these different roles of cattle in the farming economy can be detected in the
ratios of the different sex and age classes of cattle in LSCF, SSCF and CL herds. The smaller
percentage of steers/oxen in LSCF herds (Table 2) is a reflection of the fact that these animals
are slaughtered when relatively young rather than kept until too old to work. There is also a
greater proportion of cows in the LSCF herd. The calving percentage in the Chibi data is very
low because these figures were collected after three years of drought.

Table 2. Demography of cattle herds in large and small-scale commercial farming areas
and in various communal lands. Percentages of cattle herd in each class

LSCFa SSCFa CL

ZCUM b Mangwende c Chibi a

Calves (12 months) 20.7 19.7 27.7 11.0 5.1
Heifers 16.7 15.8 12.0 17.6
Cows 37.7 32.0 34.6 34.1 28.4
Bulls 2.1 4.9 3.5 4.4 11.3
Steers/oxen 21.5 27.6 -34.2 27.2 26.0

a
. CSO 1982a
b
. Zvimba, Chirau, Umfuli and Magondi communal lands, Gubbins and Prankerd
1983
c
. Mombeshora et al 1985

Numbers of cattle in Zimbabwe have increased steadily since the rinderpest epidemic of 1896
and after the war in 1980. For most of this period the LSCF and CL herds have been roughly
the same size but there are now considerably more cattle in the communal lands. SSCF
holdings form only a very small percentage of the total.

Small-Scale Commercial Farming Areas

In order to examine the effect of environment on livestock holdings, groups of farming districts
falling entirely within each NR were taken and the mean size of herd, the calving percentage
and the percentage of the herd made up of draught animals calculated. The results are
presented in Table 3.

It is noticeable that nearly all the farms have cattle, irrespective of NR. The size of farm
increases as farming becomes more extensive and the farms are very much larger in NR V.
Stocking rate decreases as farming becomes more extensive and is very low in NR V. These
stocking rates would be regarded as reasonable by LSCF standards, except perhaps for NR
IV, and it may be significant that NR IV is the only one with a calving rate below 60%. Mean
herd size was roughly constant in NR II to IV but was very much greater in NR V. The high
proportion of draught animals in the herds emphasizes the importance of ox traction on these
farms. Although the percentage of draught animals was lower in NR V than in the other
regions, the actual number of draught animals per farm remained roughly constant.

Table 3. Small-scale commercial farms grouped by natural region to examine effects on

various cattle-holding parameters

NR Farms in % farms with Mean size Cattle Ha per Calving % draught

sample cattle (ha) per head rate animals
IIa 1,015 95.9 92.8 27.0 3.44 60.3 18.5
IIb 446 88.6 78.0 20.3 3.84 67.3 18.5
III 831 93.3 100.6 21.7 4.64 62.3 20.8
IV 572 97.7 111.7 25.3 4.42 57.7 22.0
V 54 100.0 835.5 62.3 13.14 63.1 7.7

Source: CSO 1982a

The percentage of farms in each NR with sheep, goats and pigs and the mean size of flock is
shown in Table 4. These data were derived from the same sample of farms used for Table 3.

Table 4. Percentage of small-scale commercial farms in each natural regional with

sheep, goats or pigs and the flock size of each

Sheep Goats Pigs

 % farms No. Flock % flock No. Flock % farm No. herd

IIa 12.8 8.1 25.5 10.4 9.2 3.8

IIb 17.4 6.9 20.1 5.3 7.7 8.9
III 21.6 5.5 43.4 8.0 - -
IV 82.4 7.5 40.2 8.5 22.4 2.7
V 48.0 9.7 80.0 14.4 44.0 7.3

Source: CSO 1882a.

The percentage of farms with each class of livestock increases as farming becomes more
extensive, but there is no clear effect on flock size except for the much larger flocks of goats in
NR V. It is unfortunate that donkeys were not included in these statistics as they form an
alternative form of draught power in the drier areas. These figures emphasize clearly the
subordinate role that other classes of livestock play to cattle in Zimbabwean agriculture.

Communal Lands

The estimated numbers of the different classes of livestock in the communal lands over the
past 20 years are shown in Table 5. There was a steady increase in cattle numbers to a peak
in 1977, followed by a decrease until 1980. This was largely due to the prevalence of tick-
borne diseases following the cessation of dipping over large parts of Zimbabwe during the
Independence struggle. It is estimated that approximately one million head of cattle died
during this period (Chavunduka 1984). The communal-land cattle herd then increased until
1982 after which the effects of three successive years of drought resulted in the death of
about a quarter of a million head and further reduction in numbers (Chavunduka 1984).
Despite these fluctuations, a linear regression fitted to cattle numbers over this period
indicates a mean annual increase of approximately 76,300 head.

Table 5. Communal land numbers of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs at end of each year
('000 head)

Cattle Sheep Goats Pigs

1964 1,916 186 579 66
1965 1,844 182 599 51
1966 1,714 215 778 71
1967 2,183 263 851 72
1968 2,036 278 975 82
1969 2,315 336 1,291 100
1970 2,451 387 1,504 99
1971 2,600 392 1,689 101
1972 2,691 403 1,813 90
1973 2,847 444 1,877 94
1974 2,936 466 1,909 89
1975 3,123 494 1,872 96
1976 3,183 440 1,694 85
1977 3,388 451 1,748 99
1978 2,950 494 1,872 96
1979 2,860 400 1,300 -
1980 2,869 214 935 39
1981 2,895 297 1,203 84
1982 3,240 247 858 76
1983 3,105 241 1,013 74
1984 3,087 260 1,409 94

Source: CSO 1985

The numbers of sheep increased to a peak of about 500,000 in 1978 but numbers have since
decreased to approximately half that figure. Goat numbers increased steadily from 1964 to
1974 but then remained roughly constant until 1978. Numbers then decreased dramatically
until 1982, but there are signs that they are now increasing. There were no clear trends in the
number of pigs (which are of little importance) with numbers fluctuating irregularly between
39,000 and 100,000. It is noticeable that with pigs, too, the lowest population was recorded at
the end of 1980. It is unfortunate that donkeys are not included in this table but Vaughan-
Evans (1984) states that there were 256,000 donkeys in the communal lands in 1982.

A total of 3,240,000 cattle and approximately 850,000 households in 1982 implies an average
of 3.81 cattle per household, but the pattern of stock owning is obviously not as simple as that.
This is illustrated by the reports of the Zimbabwe National Household Survey Capability
Programme (ZNHSCP 1985a, b) which cover the communal lands of Mashonaland East and
West.

From Table 6 it can be seen that more than half the households in Mashonaland East and
nearly 40% of those in Mashonaland West own no cattle at all and a further 38% in
Mashonaland East and 45% in Mashonaland West own herds of ten head or less which are
unlikely to be self-sustaining in terms of draught requirements.

Table 6. Mean household sizes and cattle holdings in Mashonaland West and East
Provinces

% households with
No cattle >10 Cattle
Persons per household Cattle per household
Mashonaland West 5.6 5.1 38.9 45.2
Mashonaland East 4.7 3.0 54.5 37.8

Source: ZNHSCP 1985 a, b.

The same survey also recorded the numbers of households in each province owning other
classes of livestock, although unfortunately numbers of smallstock were not recorded. These
figures are presented in Table 7, which also contains the data of Mombeshora, Agyemang and
Wilson (1985) for Mangwende (in Mashonaland East) and Chibi communal lands.

Table 7. Percentage of households in different areas owning different classes of

smallstock

% of household with
Goats Sheep Pigs Donkeys Poultry Others

Mashonaland West 45.0 8.5 2.6 1.8 68.1 2.8

Mashonaland East 18.4 5.4 10.5 0.7 61.1 3.5
Mangwende CL 27.8 1.8 4.6 4.6 87.0 10.2 a
Chibi CL 51.9 5.3 6.1 29.8 79.4 2.3 a
 a
Rabbits only quoted in this reference.
Sources: ZNHSCP 1985 a, b; Mombeshora et al 1985.

Poultry were very common, being owned by the vast majority of households. Goats were the
most common ruminants and were kept especially in the drier parts of Mashonaland West
(Gubbin and Prankerd 1983) and in Chibi. Donkeys made up a significant part of the "other
stock" holding only in Chibi.

Now that we have categorized the livestock holdings of small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe, we
should turn our attention to the feed resources available for their nutrition.

Arable cropping
The percentage of land cultivated or fallow in each NR in each of the three agricultural land
tenure categories is presented in Table 8.

In each land-tenure category there is a decrease in the percentage of the land cropped as the
NR becomes more suited to extensive farming. In each NR the intensity of cultivation follows
the order LSCF<SSCF<CL. The intensity of cultivation in the communal lands is frightening. In
NR IV, a region best suited to semi-extensive farming, almost a quarter of the land is either
cultivated or fallow and in NR V, best suited to extensive livestock production, almost one-
sixth.

Table 8. Percentage of area in each natural region and land-tenure category which is
cultivated or fallow

Natural region LSCF SSCF CL

I 7.0 31.5 38.4
II 29.3 32.0 42.4
III 10.6 12.6 33.1
IV 4.5 15.4 23.1
V 2.8 12.0 17.1
Mean 12.2 20.7 24.7

Source: Whitlow 1979.

In terms of livestock production, land used as arable has a dual consequence: it reduces the
area available for grazing in summer when the crops are growing, but the residues of the
crops become available as feed during the dry season. These crop residues are often of
higher feeding value than the natural grazing. Small-scale farmers, both SSCF and in the CL,
do not use arable land to grow crops specifically for livestock.

Small-Scale Commercial Farming Areas

In order to examine the effects of NR on patterns of cropping, the same group of farms as
used in Tables 3 and 4 were taken and the percentage of arable land under each of the major
crops was calculated (Table 9).

Maize is the dominant crop, being grown both as a cash crop and as a food for home
consumption, and occupies roughly three-quarters of the arable area in NR IIa, IIb and III and
over half in NR IV. Only in NR V was a greater area of other crops sown, with a preference for
the drought-resistant sorghum. One noticeable feature is the diversity of cropping - a wide
range of crops is grown, even though many are grown only on small areas.
Communal Lands

The main crops planted in the communal lands, and their estimates yields, over the period
1976-1986 are shown in Table 10.

Again maize is the most widely-grown crop, although it does not dominate to quite the same
extent as in SSCFA. It must be remembered, though, that the figures in Table 10 were from
the pre-Independence period before the massive incentive price rise for maize in the 1980/81
season. One point of interest is the importance of munga (Pennisetum americanum) which
was hardly grown in the SSCFA.

Table 9. Percentage of arable area planted to major crops on SSCF in different natural
region

Natural region
IIa IIb III IV V

Farms in sample 1,015 446 831 572 54

Mean size (ha) 92.8 78.0 100.6 111.7 835.5
Area cropped (ha) 12.20 7.58 6.21 7.96 11.67
% of arable sown to:
Maize 72.20 78.9 79.3 56.3 40.0
Sorghum 1.7 0.6 3.7 46.5

Mungaa 1.4 1.0

Groundnuts 6.7 10.7 9.4 11.8 7.6

Sunflower 0.7 2.8 0.4 7.0 3.5

Nyimob 0.2 1.2 0.9 2.3 1.0

Beans 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.8 0.3

a
. Pennisetum americanum
b
. Voandzeia subterrana
Source: CSO 1982 b

Table 10. Main crops planted in communal lands 1976-1980

Area (ha) % of total Yield (kg/ha)

Maize 738,400 43.7 695
Munga 339,800 20.1 385
Groundnuts 250,000 14.8 481
Sorghum 152,400 9.1 493

Rapokoa 116,500 6.9 493

Cotton 33,800 2.0 722

Beans 29,500 1.7 304
Sunflowers 29,400 1.7 401
Total 1,698,800

a
. Elensine coracana
Source: Chavunduka et al 1982

Obviously there are likely to be major differences in the cropping patterns in the different
regions, but figures are not readily available. However, even within four adjoining communal
lands Gubbins and Prankerd (1983) showed clear trends (Table 11).

Maize was the dominant crop throughout but its importance decreased successively from
Zvimba to Umfuli. Cotton played a valuable role as a cash crop in the latter two areas. Areas
of arable per household corresponded closely with the mean holding of 2.10 ha in
Mashonaland West (of which these communal lands form a part) and 1.82 ha in Mashonaland
East (ZNHSCP 1985a, b).

Table 11. Cropping and other data for four communal lands in Mashonaland West

Zvimba Chirau Magondi Umfuli

IIa IIb III III/IV
Natural region
Total area (ha) 48,800 32,500 46,000 100,000
Arable not cropped 4,070 2,920 660 1,200
Arable cropped 7,250 6,800 2,870 4,270
% of arable sown to:
Maize 83.2 73.8 67.9 63.2
Cotton 0.3 9.1 23.0 29.0
Groundnuts 11.2 4.7 - -
Others 5.4 12.4 9.1 7.7
Households 3,960 2,890 1,810 1,560
Arable ha/household 1.83 2.35 1.59 2.74

Source: Gubbins and Prankerd 1983

Similar trends are obvious the data presented in Table 12, for communal land districts in
Mashonaland East Province. Maize occupies a smaller percentage of the arable land in the
drier areas and munga becomes an important grain crop. Cotton formed a large portion of the
"other crops" in Murewa and UMP but not in Mudzi, and it seems likely that the most important
"other crops" in the latter area were drought-resistant grain crops.

Table 12. Percentages of arable land sown to various crops in communal land districts
of Mashonaland East Province

District N.R a % of arable sown to

Maize G'nuts Rapoko Munga Beans Others
Goromonzi IIa 86 6 4 - 0.6 3.4
Harava IIb 72 17 4 - 5.0 2.0
Rudhaka IIb, IIa 72 14 8 - 4.0 2.0
Wedza IIb, III 72 16 11 0.5 0.5 -

Murewa & UMPb IV IIa IIb III 40 12 8 21.0 10.0 9.0

Mudzi IV 36 11 3 19.0 1.0 30.0

a
Where more than one NR occurs within a district, they are listed in order of
importance.
b
Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe communal lands.
Source: PTACS 1982

Over the years the area under cultivation in the communal lands has increased. Phillips et al
(1962) estimated the area of cultivated land as 1,166,500 ha, compared with the figure in
Table 10 (from Chavunduka et al 1982) of 45% over a period of less than 20 years. But the
increase in total area cultivated has not meant an increase of 1,689,800 ha: an increase in
area per household as the number of households has increased even more dramatically - from
359,300 in 1961 to 850,000 in 1982. The mean area of arable per household therefore fell
from 3.25 ha in 1961 to 1.99 ha in 1982. Vaughan-Evans (1984) states that the-ratio of arable
to grazing land fell from 1: 10.8 in 1965 to 1: 6.4 in 1982. Over the same period the number of
cattle per cultivated hectare fell from 1.7 to 1.5.

Once the crops have been reaped stock are allowed access to the arable area to graze on
crop residues and on the grass on contour ridges, roadways and waste areas. The crop
residues remain the property of the landholder, however, and if he wishes to harvest and store
them for his own stock he is at liberty to do so. In the survey of Mombeshora Agyemang and
Wilson (1985) 96% of the stockowners in Chibi harvested and stored their crop residues,
compared with only 17% in Mangwende. These authors say that the reason for this marked
difference is not clear, but it is almost certainly a result of the very successful pen-feeding
scheme "pushed" by extension staff in the Masvingo Province in the early 1970s (Danckwerts,
no date). In Chibi grain stover is mostly used as feed for stock but in Mangwende it is mainly
used for bedding. In both areas legume stover is mostly used for bedding (Mombeshora,
Agyemang and Wilson 1985). Because of its generally higher crude-protein content legume
stover is likely to be a particularly valuable feed during the dry season and its use as bedding
seems wasteful.

Communal farmers recognize differences in the acceptability of the stover of different crops to
livestock. As an example, Billings et al (1984) record that farmers in the Siabuwa valley of the
Sebungwe area reported that stock do not readily graze millet stover. They considered that
this was because the millet leaves were very tough and were covered with hairs.

Natural grassland or veld

Veld forms the most important source of feed for small-scale livestock producers in
Zimbabwe, especially during the growing season.

The natural vegetation over most of Zimbabwe is woodland with a sparse understorey of
herbs and grasses. The dominant tree species vary widely, according to rainfall, altitude and
soil type. In the high-altitude high-rainfall areas Brachystegia spiciformis is the most common
tree, with Julbernardia globiflora and Brachystegia boehmii more important at slightly lower
altitudes. In lower rainfall areas Acacia spp. dominate on heavy soils while Terminalia sericea
is characteristic of the granite sands. The Kalahari sands carry a woodland in which Baikiaea
plurijuga is the most prominent species. In the low-rainfall low-altitude areas mixed tree/shrub
associations occur. Colophospermum mopane is widespread and is associated with soils of
poor infiltration. In most regions broad drainage areas (vleis) occur which are clear of trees
and are dominated by grasses (often of low grazing value) and sedges.

In many communal lands, especially those near major centres of population, cultivation and
felling of trees for fuel and poles has changed large areas of woodland into grassland. Rattray
(1957) classified the grasslands of Zimbabwe into seven types ranging from mountain
grassland in the eastern highlands to Aristida-Dactyloctenium-Eragrostis veld in the driest
parts of-NR V. A knowledge of these grassland types, and of the successional changes likely
to occur in them, is of great value to anyone dealing with grazing land in Zimbabwe.

Small-Scale Commercial Farming Areas

There are very few published data on the grazing resources of these farms. In drawing up
Table 3 stocking rate was calculated as hectares of total farm area per head of cattle because
cattle have access to the crop residues during the dry season. The arable forms only a small
proportion of the farm and the figures are very similar when calculated on a grazing-area-only
basis. Stocking rates are very similar to those on equivalent LSCF areas and no particular
problems seem likely.

Communal Lands

Vincent and Thomas (1961) presented a suggested carrying-capacity range for each NR and
sub-region defined in their agro-ecological survey. Using the upper limit of the Vincent and
Thomas range and the area of CL in each sub-region, the total carrying capacity of the
communal lands was calculated as 2,385,000 livestock units. (A livestock unit (LU) is
equivalent to 500 kg of grazing ruminant.) Vaughan-Evans (1984) calculated the present
livestock holding in the CL as 2,642,724 LU, which represents 10% overstocking - not really a
very horrific situation.

Reality, however, points to a rather more gloomy interpretation because, as usual, averages
tell us very little. Some portions of CL are grossly overstocked, others (usually in tsetse-
affected areas) are virtually unused. Cleghorn (1966) reported on a survey of the condition of
grazing areas in CL which gives scant ground for complacency. Grazing land was divided into
four condition classes and the proportions of these in each NR are presented in Table 13.

Table 13. The proportions of communal land in each natural region falling into four
veld-condition categories

NR Veld condition
Bare Very overgrazed Moderate Good

I - 21.4 76.7 1.9

II - 65.5 18.0 16.5
III - 68.2 12.9 18.9
IV 4.8 29.7 16.6 48.9
V 39.1 26.3 9.8 24.8

Source: Cleghorn 1966

This report makes depressing reading and authors such as Sandford (1982) and Whitlow
(1980) have been quick to point out that the communal land herd of 1,916,000 in 1964 has
increased tremendously subsequently. They argue that the 70% increase in cattle numbers
between 1964 and 1982 is hardly commensurate with the position outlined by Cleghorn.
Unfortunately, data for individual CL are not available and it is not possible to be sure how
much of the increase was due to expansion into areas which were virtually unstocked at the
time of Cleghorn survey. However, it is almost certain that some of the areas classed by
Cleghorn as bare or very overgrazed were carrying considerably more stock in 1982 than they
were in 1964. On the other hand, those were the areas where the greatest stock losses were
experienced during the 1982-1984 drought.

The communal lands are carrying their high cattle population at the expense of ecological
stability, and erosion of the grazing areas is now considered to pose a greater threat than
erosion of the arable land. Siltation of rivers is just one example of the consequences which
follow this exploitative grazing.

One approach to halting the degradation of the grazing area is by the application of some form
of grazing management. During the early 1970s "grazing schemes" were widely instituted in
Masvingo Province (Froude 1974). Normally these schemes were planned on the basis of five
paddocks which were grazed in rotation for 14 days and then rested for 56 days. No accurate
data on veld condition were recorded in these schemes but observations by grazing
specialists indicated a definite upward trend with an increase, for instance, of Hyparrhenia
spp. This was confirmed by the comments of tribesmen involved in the schemes (Danckwerts
no date). Unfortunately nearly all these grazing schemes foundered during the liberation
struggle and the fencing was removed and used for other purposes. The major limitation to the
reinstitution of these schemes today is the lack of capital for fencing. It is true that grazing
could be controlled by herding the cattle in particular areas, using seasons to demarcate the
"paddocks", and even simple schemes of this kind have been shown to lead to improvement
(Robinson 1961). This is being done now in a few instances but the feasibility of herding is
reduced by the attendance of the young males (the traditional herders) at school. However, in
some cases adults are taking it in turns to herd the cattle of the whole village. Several
communities are now making plans to institute some form of management on their grazing
area and if these prove successful the practice will spread rapidly.

The way ahead

For the agricultural scientists, suggesting possible solutions to the problems of the communal
areas in Zimbabwe is both fascinating and frustrating. Fascinating because there seem to be
no end of beneficial interventions, frustrating because the agricultural economy of the CL is
tightly interwoven and an intervention here is likely to lead to a reaction there, and soon the
matter gets beyond the stage of mere technology and involves political or sociological
changes as well. Quite obviously there can be no lasting solution to the problems inside the
CL without major external changes as well. One such is the creation of a voracious
employment market so that those who have no desire to be cultivators of the soil can find
other ways of earning a living. Those who then remain in the CL will be those who have
chosen to farm (rather than those who were forced to through lack of alternatives), and would
regard farming as a career. Such a situation is far in the future: let us confine ourselves to the
situations here and now and to technical aspects alone.

Grazing Areas

Barnes and Clatworthy (1976) suggested four possible ways by which the grazing areas in CL
could be stabilized and their carrying capacity increased. An essential preliminary to the
application of these steps was the demarcation of grazing areas so that each village knew the
extent of its grazing and would have some incentive to maintain or improve it.

Development of Stock-Watering Facilities and the Application of Rational Grazing

Procedures

In some places, particularly in the drier parts of Zimbabwe, the number and distribution of
watering points limits the use of grazing. Grazing near the water point is overused and
degraded, that further away is underutilized. If watering points were spread more widely, the
utilization of the grazing would be more uniform and more efficient.

Another way of increasing the uniformity of utilization is by some form of rotational grazing.
Under uncontrolled grazing, favoured areas and palatable plants are continuously defoliated
without adequate rest. With rotational grazing they have a chance to grow out and increase in
vigour. Five paddocks seem to be the minimum number which accords with both the technical
and the physiological needs of rotational grazing systems and, as has already been pointed
out, this was the number used in the grazing schemes of Masvingo Province. Claims have
been made that rotational grazing will lead to massive increases in carrying capacity. These
claims have not been borne out by the results of research in Zimbabwe and it is preferable to
regard the main benefit of rotational grazing as being increased ecological stability. Other
benefits could flow from this. Dams, for instance, would not be so subject to siltation and a
programme of small-dam construction would be more easily justifiable.

The Use of Sheep or Goats in Combination with Cattle

Because of their different feeding habits, the use of smallstock with cattle can lead to more
uniform utilization of the grazing and to greater production. We have already seen that
smallstock are common in CL, especially in the drier areas. What is needed is greater control
of their grazing as uncontrolled smallstock can be enormously destructive, and perhaps better
marketing facilities so that stock in excess of local requirements can be profitably sold.

The Selective Thinning or Clearing of Tree and Shrub Growth

The natural vegetation over most of Zimbabwe is woodland and the trees can compete with
and drastically reduce the grass understorey. Clearing the tree cover has been shown to lead
to marked increases in grass yields. In the higher rainfall areas few of the trees have much
browse value and clearing of the trees, perhaps leaving shelter belts, seems justifiable. In the
lowveld many of the trees and shrubs form useful browse and selective thinning is preferable.
In all cases follow-up operations after felling are essential. Uncontrolled cutting can lead to
coppice regrowth much denser than the original tree cover.

The Introduction of Legumes into the Veld

Nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting the productivity of grassland and, even in the drier areas
of Zimbabwe, applications of nitrogen have been shown to lead to marked increases in yield
(Mills 1966). Nitrogen applications to veld are not economically justifiable, especially under CL
conditions. The other way of adding nitrogen to the ecosystem is through the use of nodulated
legumes and in NR II and III veld reinforcement has been shown to be feasible on commercial
farms. This topic is dealt with in a separate paper at this workshop. So far the technique has
been little used in CL but it does seem to offer one means of increasing the productivity of
grazing above natural levels. However, it should form the final step in the ladder of
improvement of the communal grazing areas and be undertaken only when the preceding
steps have been negotiated.

Arable Lands

There appear to be two means of increasing production from the feed resources of arable
land: firstly by utilizing fully what is already grown, secondly by growing new crops or
exploiting presently unused areas. These will be discussed under four headings.

The Harvesting and Controlled Feeding of all Crop Residues

The use of crop residues, and especially legume stover for bedding in cattle kraals seems
very wasteful. These crop residues have a relatively high feed value and should be used as
feed. Feeding legume hay or residues with grain crop residues may increase the utilization of
the latter and there may also be a role for feeding small amounts of purchased supplementary
protein as well as salt and minerals if necessary. In view of the power limitations on CL farms,
processing of crop residues (e.g. milling) before feeding seems unlikely to happen. It is
desirable that the herd be subdivided and kraaled separately at night and the residues
rationed to the most important classes of stock, probably the draught animals and the cows
with calves.

Bedding in the kraals is important, both for the well-being of the stock and the production of
compost, but dry grass is the most suitable source.

Growing Perennial Forage Plants, Especially Legumes, on Contour Ridges or Waste

Areas
There is always a considerable area of land within the cultivated fields that is otherwise
wasted and which could be sown with forage plants to offer considerable scope for increasing
production. If the plants are left for winter grazing in situ, there is a need to select ones which
retain their leaves well and tree legumes may be especially suitable. Possibly the best way to
use herbage produced from these areas may be to cut it and feed it as hay.

Multiple Use of Land or Multi-Purpose Crops

Under present conditions maize is likely to retain its pre-eminent position in higher-rainfall CL
areas because of its interchangeable role as food and cash crop. Overall production from
maize lands could perhaps be increased by intercropping with a grain or forage legume.
Similarly, in choosing grain legume crops, the fodder value of the stover could be taken into
account. Because of the widespread protein deficiency in CL, both in humans and in livestock,
as much emphasis as possible should be placed on the pulses.

Increased Use of Non-Ploughed Arable Land

The report by Gubbins and Prankerd (1983) showed that a considerable proportion of the
arable is not ploughed every year. This land could be included in some form of rotation which
should incorporate a legume/grass fey. This would have the dual function of contributing to
livestock productivity as well as restoring the fertility of the soil.

References
Barnes, D.L and Clatworthy, J.N. (1976). Research in veld and pasture production in relation
to the Tribal trust Lands. Rhodesia Science News 10: 271-278.

Billings, K.J., Chiudza, C., Murphree, M.P. and Reh, I. (1984). Enterprise patterns and end
uses in the Siabuwa valley. In: Sebungwe Regional Study, First Interim Project Report, August
1984, Department of Land Management and Applied Social Sciences, University of
Zimbabwe.

Chavunduka, D.M. (1984). Project proposal for livestock improvement schemes for the
communal areas of Zimbabwe. Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, Harare.

Chavunduka, G.L., Baker, J.E., Blackie, M.J., Chigaru, P.R.N., Chipudhla, P.W.T., Chitsike,
L.T., Furusa, J.M., Gapare, R.L., Kirby, E.W. and Millar, C. (1982). Report of the commission
of enquiry into the agricultural industry. Government Printer, Harare.

Gleghorn, W.W. (1966). Report on the conditions of grazing in Tribal Trust Land. Rhodesia
Agricultural Journal 63: 57-67.

CSO. (1982a). Livestock on commercial farms, (1982). Central Statistical Office, Harare.

CSO. (1982b). Crop production of commercial farms (I.C.A. supplement). Central Statistical
Office, Harare.

CSO. (1985). Quarterly digest of statistics, March 1985. Central Statistical Office, Harare.

Danckwerts, J.P. (no date). A socio-economic study of veld management in the Tribal Areas of
the Victoria Province. Department of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe.

Froude, N. (1974). Veld management in the Victoria Province. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal
71: 29-33.

Gubbins, K. and Prankerd, H. (1983). A review of the agriculture in some communal areas of
Mashonaland West Province: Zvimba, Chirau, Magondi and Umfuli. Report for Ministry of
Lands, Resettlement and Rural Development, Harare.

Mills, P.F.L. (1966). Effects of nitrogen on the yields and quality of hay from three types of
veld at Matopos. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal 63: 9-12, 18-21.

Mombeshora, B., Agyemang, K. and Wilson R.T. (1985). Livestock ownership and
management in the Chibi and Mangwende communal areas of Zimbabwe. Document SRC 2,
International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa.

Phillips, J., Hammond, J., Samuels, L.H. and Swynnerton, R.J.M. (1962). The development of
the economic resources of Southern Rhodesia with particular reference to the role of African
agriculture: report of the advisory committee. Government Printer, Harare.

PTACS. (1982). Study for the agricultural/rural development of the communal areas of
Mashonaland East Province. PTA Consulting Services report for Ministry of Lands,
Resettlement and Rural Development, Harare.

Rattray, J.M. (1957). The grasses and grass associations of Southern Rhodesia. Rhodesia
Agricultural Journal 54: 254-257.

Robinson, D.A. (1951). Pasture improvement in Zimutu reserve: a factual account. Rhodesia
Agricultural Journal 48: 254-257.

Sandford, S. (1982). Livestock in the communal lands of Zimbabwe. Report for Ministry of
Lands, Resettlement and Rural Development, Harare.

Surveyor-General. (1980). Zimbabwe: natural regions and farming areas. 1:1 000 000 map,
Surveyor-General, Harare.

Vaughan-Evans, R.H. (1984). Overgrazing in the communal lands. Mimeographed report,

Harare.

Vincent, V. and Thomas, R.G. (1961). An agricultural survey of Southern Rhodesia. Part I
Agro-ecological survey. Government Printer, Harare.

Whitlow, J.R. (1979). An assessment of cultivated lands in Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Zimbabwe

Rhodesia Science News 13: 233-238.

Whitlow, J.R. (1980). Environmental constraints and population pressures in the tribal areas of
Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Agricultural Journal 77: 173-181.

ZNHSCP. (1985a). Report on demographic socio-economic survey: communal lands of

Mashonaland East Province 1983/4. Report 5, Zimbabwe National Household Survey
Capability Programme, Central Statistical Office, Harare.

ZNHSCP. (1985b). Report on demographic social-economic survey: communal lands of

Mashonaland West Province 1983/4. Report 6, Zimbabwe National Household Survey
Capability Programme, Central Statistical Office, Harare.

  
   

Inventory of livestock feeds in Malawi

J.T. Munthali and B.H. Dzowela

Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Research

Chitedze Research Station, P.O. Box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi

Introduction
Grazing resources
Planted forage and fodder crops
Crop residues
Concentrate feeds
Utilization of feed resources
Conclusion
References

Introduction
The livestock industry of Malawi comprises a large traditional sector and only a small but
important commercial sector. For example, about 96% of the nation's cattle are in the
traditional sector (MOA 1969). The cattle population is about one million and growing at 5%
per annum (DAHI 1982). The offtake rate from the traditional sector is estimated at 9%, but the
total marketed offtake passing through the rural markets and the Cold Storage Company
(CSC) is estimated at 25%. The populations of goats and sheep are 630,000 and 157,000,
respectively, and the growth rates are 1.5% for goats and negligible for sheep (MOA 1982).
The offtakes are estimated at 40% and 19% for goats and sheep, respectively. Pigs, poultry
and fish are also important sources of animal protein in the nation.

The annual per capital consumption of meat is 3.2 kg. This low figure is a result of low
livestock numbers combined with low productivity per animal. The major constraint to the
livestock industry in Malawi is poor animal husbandry, the chief component being feeding. The
traditional sector is plagued with multiple social and economic constraints to both crop and
animal production. In order to improve livestock production from this sector, significant
extension efforts towards better grazing management and utilization of crop residues need to
be emphasized.

This paper is intended to give information about the feed resources available to livestock
producers in the country and, where possible, the expected levels of animal production if these
feeds were given.

Grazing resources
Malawi's ruminant carrying capacity has been estimated as ranging from 877,000 to 1,279,000
livestock units (LU)* (Booker Agriculture International Limited 1983). Table 1 shows the
carrying capacity for cattle alone.

* 1 LU is equivalent to 340 kg live weight

Table 1. National carrying capacity from grazing for cattle

High Low estimate

estimate
Total carrying capacity (LU) 1,279,000 877,000
Less sheep/goats (head) 802,190 802,190

= Lu a 160,438 160,438

Balance available to cattle (LU) 1,118,562 716,562

= Head b 1,454,131 931,531

Present cattle population 949,833 949,833

Surplus (deficit) carrying capacity head of cattle 594,298 (18,302)

a
Average 5 head per LU
b
Average 1.3 head per LU
Source: Booker Agriculture International Limited 1983

Using the Lower estimate, there is a deficit in carrying capacity of 18,302 head. This deficit
might be reflected in the observed low productivity of traditional livestock. Improvements in the
carrying capacity of ruminants might come from planted forage and fodder crops, improved
utilization of crop residues and increased use of supplements/concentrates.

Planted forage and fodder crops

Although the technology for pasture production is available in Malawi, its adoption by the
traditional sector is poor. The technology is presently adopted by the commercial sector, which
uses Rhodes grass in tobacco rotations, and some smallholder dairy producers. Pasture
improvement in the traditional sector is difficult because (1) grazing is by customary right with
everybody having free access to the grazing areas; (2) improved pastures are expensive to
establish, maintenance requires regular fertilizer applications and fencing might be necessary
to control grazing; and (3) the average holding in Malawi is small and does not allow the
farmer to establish a significant area of pasture on his own land unless it can provide him with
a greater return than that from crap production. Dairying might justify pasture establishment in
the traditional sector but not beef production.

The available technology for pasture production is described in the Pasture Handbook of
Malawi. A summary of the dry-matter yields, crude-protein values and organic-matter
digestibility of prominent pastures in the nation is given in Tables 2, 3 and 4.

Table 2. Dry-matter production of some selected forages in Malawi

Type of forage Dry-matter production (kg/ha/annum)

Natural grassland
Unimproved "dambo" 3,220
Unimproved dryland 1,050
N-fertilized dryland 1,585
Stylo-improved dryland 3,960
Fertilized improved pastures
Common Guinea grass 10,075
Ntchisi panic grass 17,075
Bushmine panic grass 9,965
 Biloela buffel 9,170
Giant Rhodes grass/Silverleaf 11,140
Giant Rhodes grass/Siratro 11,680
Silverleaf (pure sward) 9,846
Siratro (pure stand) 9,655
Gold Coast Napier grass 21,860

Source: MOA 1983

Table 3. Crude-protein contents of natural grasslands and improved forage species in

Malawi

Species Crude-protein content (%) (Dry-matter basis)

Natural grasslands
Dryland grass - wet season 11.0
- dry season 2.0
"Dambo" grass - wet season 6.0
- dry season 3.0
Improved grasses
Rhodes grass - Young 13.8
- Mature 4.2
Green panic - Young 14.4
- Mature 4.1
Ntchisi panic - Young 12.3
- Mature 4.1
Improved legumes
Tinaroo Neonotonia - Young 23.1
- Mature 14.4
Siratro - Young 19.4
- Mature 12.1
Endeavour stylo - Young 19.4
- Mature 13.6
Leucaena leaf - Grade A 26.0
- Grade B 14.2

Source: MOA 1983

The crude-protein content of young and improved grasses is higher than that of unimproved
forages (Table 3) and that of legumes is even higher. Therefore the inclusion of legumes in
grass pastures would improve the overall nitrogen content of hays. The digestibility of
improved grasses is also much higher than that of unimproved grasses (Table 4).

Table 4. Digestibility of some natural grassland species and improved forage species

Type of forage Organic-matter digestibility at the end of wet season (% of DM)

Natural grasslands
Hyparrhenia sp. 31
Sporobolus sp. 30
Improved forage (grass)
Giant Rhodes grass 63
Ntchisi panic grass 61
Common guinea grass 62
Bushmine panic grass 65
Mature forage (standing hay)
Buffel grass 35
Rhodes grass 40
Napier grass 35
Joint vetch 58
Siratro 47
Neonotonia 52

Source: MOA 1983

Dry-matter production, crude protein and organic-matter digestibility are all higher for
improved pastures than for natural pastures. Thus, an increase in the establishment of
improved pastures alone would be expected to more than double the present ruminant
carrying capacity (based on dry-matter production in Table 2). Gold Coast Napier grass and
Ntchisi Panic grass are particularly high yielding (Table 2) and could be better utilized under
the cut-and-carry systems of livestock production. Since these forages are capable of high
yields, a farmer could plant them near his homestead thereby avoiding the need for fencing
whilst restricting the use of the forage to his own animals.

Crop residues
Estimates of crop-residue production are given in Table 5 and the available total digestible
nutrients (TDN) are shown in Table 6. Crop residues provide valuable grazing from April to
August. From September to November ruminants thrive on scanty supplies of crop residues,
overgrazed river basins, browse, and coarse standing hays. Rampant bush fires reduce the
quantity of standing hays even more. The available TDN from crop residues could support an
additional 861,137 LU per year (Table 6). Since crop residues are available only during the dry
season, their utilization is restricted to that season. Therefore they would be best utilized for
maintaining stock during the dry season and not to support extra stock. The utilization of crop
residues might be enhanced by improving their intake and feeding value through some
convenient means of treatment.

Table 5. Basic statistics on production of crop residues and crop by-products

Crop Area Kernel Crop-residue a Bran/cake b Husks c

planted production production (tonnes) (tonnes) (tonnes)
(ha) (tonnes)
Cereals
Maize 1,144,850 1,355,200 2,710,400 433,664 -
Rice 20,807 34,265 34,265 3,426 8,566
Sorghum and 50,138 32,700 65,400 - -
Bulrush millet
Wheat 1,126 787 787 197 -
Oil crops
Groundnuts 135,966 62,240 62,240 31,140 -
 Pulses - 5,573 - - -
Sunflower 3,513 1,544 - - -
Cotton 51,059 30,545 - 9,209 -

a
. Based on kernel-to-residue ratios of 2:1 for maize, sorghum and bulrush millet,
and 1:1 for rice, wheat and groundnuts.
b
. Based on kernel-to-bran/cake-yield ratios of 3.1:1 for maize, 10:1 for rice, 4:1
for wheat, 2:1 for groundnuts, and 3.3:1 for cotton seed.
c
. Based on paddy rice-to-husk ratio of 4:1.
d
. Pulses purchased by Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation.

Concentrate feeds
The Grain and Milling Company was established in 1971 to provide balanced feedstuffs from
local raw materials, and to reduce imports of animal feeds. The volume of animal feeds
produced by Grain and Milling Company ranges from 500 to 1,500 tonnes per month. The
large range in monthly production is not necessarily a response to demand at the time. It is
indicative of the unpredictable nature of the supply of concentrate feeds. Most of the
concentrates produced are used by commercial animal producers.

Minerals and supplements are also supplied by the Grain and Milling Company but other
companies such as Shell Chemicals and Malawi Pharmacies also supply them.

Table 6. Available TDN from crop residues and by-products

Residue Dry matter (%) TDN of residue (%) TDN available (tonnes) a

Maize stover 90 59 575,689

Maize bran 90 74 288,820
Rice straw 90 35 10,793
Rice bran 90 68 2,097
Sorghum and bulrush millet 90 57 33,550
Groundnut tops 90 64 35,850
Wheat straw 90 48 340
Wheat bran 90 63 112
Equivalent to 1.1 tonnes TDN LU per year 947,689
861,137 LU

a
. Calculated from the estimated yields given in Table 5

Utilization of feed resources

The research work conducted on animal production in Malawi is usually geared towards small-
scale livestock production. The main feeds evaluated are crop residues (maize stover and
groundnut tops), maize bran and Rhodes grass (mainly for fattening steers).

The performance of steers grazed on Rhodes grass pasture is given in Table 7. Cattle
performance per LU declined with increasing stocking rate, although total gain increased per
hectare. The situation in Malawi favours the 2.5 stocking rate due to short supplies of fattening
stock, and hence high individual animal performance is desired.

Table 7. Effect of stocking rate on animal production (Rhodes grass pasture)

Parameter measured Stocking rate LU/ha

2.5 5.0 7.5
Number of grazing days 159 123 91
Animal gain/ha (kg) 369 525 539
Mean gain/LU (kg) 148 105 72

Source: Addy and Thomas 1976b

Since smallholder farmers rarely make hay, the performance of steers grazed on Rhodes
grass aftermath was investigated and the results are shown in Table 8. During bad rainfall
years (1973) aftermath grazing nearly met maintenance requirements of the animals. During
good rainfall years (1974/75) aftermath grazing gave some gains, although at high stocking
rates weight losses were experienced (Table 8).

Table 8. Performance of steers grazed on Rhodes grass aftermath

Year Cattle breed Stocking rate (LU/ha) Change in Livestock July to mid-October (kg)
Nil supplement Supplement

1973 MZ 3.25 -13 22.8

1974 MZ 3.25 42 55.3
Friesian 3.20 67 124.9
MZ and F x MZ 3.75 -38 -
Friesian 3.50 -70 -3.5

Source: Addy and Thomas 1976 b

Maize stover and ground tops are the main crop residues produced in the nation, and most of
them are grazed in situ. Table 9 shows the performance of steers grazed on maize stover.
The stover used was obtained from crops yielding 6,250 to 7,500 kg/ha grain. Maize stover
was able to meet the maintenance requirements of the type of cattle used in these trials (Table
9).

Table 9. Performance of yearling cattle grazing on maize stover

Cattle breed Treatment Grain in 8 weeks days (kg) LU grazing per ha

MZ Grazed maize
Stover + 0.73 kg 12 108
CP/day
MZ and F x MZ Grazed maize stover only 7 103

The performance of steers fed different types of crop residues and supplements is shown in
Table 10. The table demonstrates the value of including either groundnut tops, Leucaena leaf
or cottonseed cake in maize stover/maize bran-based diets. Both daily gain and conversion
efficiency of the maize bran is improved by the inclusion of groundnut tops, Leucaena leaf and
cotton-seed cake, all of which are higher in crude protein content than maize.

Table 10. Performance of steers fed different types of residues and supplements
 Cattle type Maize Feed consumption (kg/ha)
stover Leucaena leaf CSC a Mean daily gain C.E. b of
Groundnut Maize (kg) concentrate
tops bran

MZc Appetite - 3.6 - - 0.37 9.9

MZ Appetite - 5.2 - - 0.63 8.3

MZ Restricted - 6.4 - - 0.63 9.3
MZ Appetite Appetite 3.6 - - 0.68 5.3
MZ + MZ x Appetite Appetite 6.3 - - 0.89 7.1
Fd
MZ + MZ x Appetite - 2.3 - 1.2 0.75 4.7
F
MZ + MZ x Appetite - 2.3 1.8 - 0.77 -
F

Conclusion
The potential carrying capacity of ruminant animals in Malawi has almost been reached.
Increased production per animal needs to be emphasized more than increasing the numbers
of animals. Such an improvement in production per animal will result from increasing the
utilization of crop residues to minimize liveweight losses of animals during the later months of
the dry season. Good range management, through controlled grazing and bushfires, will also
contribute significantly to increased feed supplies for the animal during the dry season.
Emphasis should be put on teaching the traditional sector simple practical animal husbandry
techniques, conservation of rangelands, and proper rationing of the available feed resources
to last a whole year.

References
Addy, B.L. and Thomas, D. (1976a). The utilization of crop residues, madeya and Leucaena
for winter stall feeding in Lilongwe District. Research Bulletin No. 2/76, Ministry of Agriculture
and Natural Resources.

Addy, B.L. and Thomas, D. (1976b). Rhodes grass pastures: some aspects of management
and utilization. Research Bulletin No. 3/76, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Booker Agriculture International Limited. (1983). Livestock and meat study. Final report, Vol. 2.
Republic of Malawi.

Department of Animal Health and Industry (DAHI) (1982). Annual Reports. Ministry of
Agriculture, Malawi.

Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) (1969). National Sample Survey of agriculture reports. Lilongwe,
Malawi.

MOA (1982). Ministry of Agriculture Annual Reports. Lilongwe, Malawi.

(MOA) (1983). Pasture Handbook for Malawi. Lilongwe, Malawi.

  
   

Inventory of animal feed resources in Burundi

M. Banzira

Institut des Sciences Agronomiques de Burundi (ISABU)

B.P. 795, Bujumbura, Burundi

Abstract
Introduction

Abstract
Natural grazing lands are becoming scarce and more degraded every year because of the
population explosion. Since the livestock production methods practiced today no longer enable
the animals to realize their full production potential there is a need to adopt other methods
such as the cultivation of fodder grasses and legumes. The fodder types would be sufficiently
productive and adapted to each of the country's natural regions. The rational use of field-crop
residues and processing of agro-industrial by-products will also be important in increasing
livestock productivity.

Introduction
An improvement in animal feeding and the livestock breeding environment are basic
conditions for the intensification of animal production. The improvement of animal feeding
means rational management of natural pastures, the establishment of fodder crops and the
availability of concentrates in sufficient quantities. The traditional method of livestock
production is based on extensive grazing where animals feed exclusively on the natural
grazing lands. The traditional system may be improved by ranching. In this system seasonal
fluctuations in quality and supplies adversely affect livestock productivity. In fact, it is
recognised that food problem is most responsible for poor animal performance. The genetic
factor is only of secondary importance. Therefore, adequate and good quality feed supplies
should get first priority genetic improvement. This presentation will deal with the rational
exploitation of natural pastures, agro-industrial byproducts and concentrate supplements.

Natural Pastures

The natural pastures of Burundi, even though they are subject to continuous deterioration, will
remain the mainstay of animal feeding for a long time to come. In order to make some
improvement in our pastures, and especially to avoid further deterioration of cover vegetation
and soil, we recommend the practice of very late bush fires in October after the
commencement of the long rains 50 to 100 mm of rainfall. In cases where there is a possibility
of mowing (on the commercial farms) three-year burnings followed by grazing restriction and
then mowing, would be advisable. In order to apply this method, the grazing lands are sub-
divided into paddocks whereby about one-third is mown annually and another one-third is
burnt. Burning should be done in paddocks which were mowed the previous year.

Some experiments have also been carried out to determine the potential grazing capacity,
which varies according to the type of vegetation in each natural region of the country and
according to the season of the year. The grazing capacity also depends on the quantity of the
fodder produced and the quality available to the animal so that they can support satisfactory
animal performance.

The most precise method consists in determining the value of the pasture through estimates of
the recorded animal-husbandry performance of a given grass, that is the weight of livestock
that the grass can sustain and the performances realized by the animals.

The agro-industrial by-products produced in Burundi include brans from cereals, oil meals and
brewer's wastes. For a long time cottonseed cake was the only by-product offered on the
market. Lately others have been introduced including rice bran, plam-kernel cake and wheat
and maize brans. With the exception of wheat bran, the amount of the by-products available
each year depends exclusively on the national production of cotton, palm kernels, rice and
maize. Recent production statistics are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. National concentrate production and prices

Concentrate Production Maximum factory capacity (tons) Price per kg (FBu)

1982 1983

Wheat bran 595 1,554 2,000 7

Maize bran 194 42 1,200 9
Rice bran 770 1,000 1,500 7
Brewer's waste - 4,050 - -
Cotton-seed cake 1,520 800 3,000 10
Palm-kernel cake 1,475 1,500 1,500 7
Groundnut cake - 17 - -

Wheat bran is produced by the Muramvya Flour Mills, the major part of the wheat being
imported. Intensification in wheat growing will make it possible to increase the production of
wheat bran that is so essential for food and animal production. The extraction yield is about
23%. The maximum production capacity is 2,000 tons per year, of milled wheat depending on
the demand for wheat flower for bread making. Maize bran is also produced at Muramvya
Flour Mills, the milling yield being 17% bran. The maximum annual capacity is 1,200 tons. The
production of maize bran is almost exclusively dependent on the purchases of the Brarudi
(Burundi's brewery) the availability of maize bran is, therefore, erratic. It is also very
dependent on the maize offered on the market and sales are limited to only a few months in
the year. The rice bran is produced at the rice fields of the Imbo Societe Regionale de
Developpement (SRDI). These are residues resulting from the polishing of rice grain produced
in the Imbo Valley.

Brewer's wastes are produced by the Brarudi Breweries. The present installations only allow
for delivery of wet wastes to each brewer. The setting up of a pressing and drying machine will
make it possible to deliver the wastes in bags and consequently to widen the geographical
area from which they can be collected. The recent opening of the Gitega Brewery will make it
possible to increase the availability of fresh brewer's wastes, and particularly make them
available in the areas surrounding Gitega. Cottonseed cake is produced by RAFINA, from
cotton grains delivered by COGERCO. The extension of cotton cultivation to other areas
(Move) will make it possible to increase the amounts of cotton-seed cake produced.
Sunflower-seed cake is also produced by RAFINA, using sunflower seeds from the Kivoga
plantations. Production is, however, limited to about 30 tons per year. Palm-kernel cake is
produced by several small factories whose main final product is soap. The extension of palm-
kernel cultivation undertaken in the Rumonge Region by the Societe Regionale de
Developpement will increase the production of palm-kernel cake.

Chemical Analysis of Agro-Industrial By-Products

The chemical composition of the agro-industrial by-products given in Table 2 are averages for
five years for the cakes and three years for the brans. In general, the composition of the
various concentrates does not differ substantially from that reported in the literature.

However, the cotton-seed cake produced in Burundi has traces of gossypol in it and the fat
content of the local palm cake is about 20% of dry matter. The high level of fat in the palm-
kernel cake is due to the method of extracting the palm oil. The high rate of fat is a
disadvantage as it greatly reduces the preservation period of the feed. All the byproducts have
imbalances in the phospho-calcium ratio. It is, therefore, advisable to rectify the mineral
balance by adding some chalk.

The palatability of the different by-products is variable, both within each species and between
different test animals. Cotton-seed cake and the brans are the most relished by all classes of
livestock, while the palm-kernel cake is the least accepted, with the exception of pigs. In order
to avoid dustiness in brans it is advisable to feed it wet, although humidity somewhat modifies
the smell.

The storage of the agro-industrial by-products does not pose serious problems if they are
used within a short period. Storage of palm-kernel and groundnut cakes and of rice bran is
limited to one month: beyond that, there is a serious risk of it becoming rancid.

How can these agro-industrial by-products reach the livestock farmer? While livestock
keepers in the vicinity of the factories can obtain the concentrates directly from the factories,
those farther away buy them from veterinary centres. As is to be expected the prices are
higher at these centres being one franc more per kilo than the factory price.

Table 2. Chemical composition of agro-industrial by-products

Composition (% Cotton- Palm- Wheat Rice Maize Brewer's Groundnut Rice

DM) seed kernel cake bran bran bran wastes cake straw
Dry matter content 90.8 91.1 88.5 88.9 87.6 91.5 91.7 91.5
(% of total)
Protein 45.2 14.6 15.5 11.1 11.6 4.5 41.6 4.5
Cellulose 7.3 27.3 9.3 12.7 6.7 33.5 6.5 33.3
Ash 6.5 3.5 5.2 11.8 2.9 17.2 3.6 17.2
Fat 8.2 20.2 4.3 13.1 5.7 0.8 27.1 0.8
Non-azotic extract 32.8 34.4 65.7 51.3 73.1 - - -
Calcium (mg/kg) 1,703 1,825 898 5,511 390 2,900 375 -
Phosphorus mg/kg 11,589 4,948 10,439 9,519 3,135 4,800 4,648 -
FBu/kg 1.0 0.7 0.75 0.75 0.8 - - -

Burundi is faced with an ever increasing population resulting in an increase in the amount of
arable land at the expense of grazing land. Intensive animal production can only develop
through a really intensive farming system based on the use of fodder crops. According to a
1970 SEDES study there were 1,477,000 ha of pastoral land in Burundi. That area is now
reduced to 810,000 ha (1983-1987 Five-Year ISABU Development Plan).

The intensification of fodder-crop cultivation is already a subject of study at ISABU and is a

practice which is starting to spread here and there in the country. But there is still a long way
to go. At present 1,708 ha (1982 agricultural census) of fodder crops have been established in
the rural areas, made up as follows: 463 ha started by the development projects (for
demonstration), 1,129 ha started by the livestock farmers themselves, and 116 ha through
community development works using stem cuttings and root fragments produced by ISABU
and given to the various extension centres in the rural areas. These fodder crops are mainly
Tripsacum laxum and Setaria sphacelata in the low- and medium-altitude regions and Setaria
splendida in the high-altitude regions. Pennisetum purpureum is grown in all regions.

ISABU is carrying out research on improvement of the grazing lands, the development of
artificial pastures (with the emphasis on fodder-crop cultivation), the preservation of fodder,
and the collection of agro-industrial by-products with the aim of integrating agriculture with
livestock breeding. We must choose the most adaptable and productive of the available
fodder-crop species, whether local or imported.

  
   

Inventory of feed resources for small-scale livestock

producers in Madagascar
J.H. Rasambainarivo and R. Razafindratsita

Department de Recherches Zootechniques et Veterinaire

P.O. Box 4, Antanarivo 101, Madagascar

Introduction
Pastures
Agro-industrial by-products and crop residues
Rice straw
Cotton-seed cake
Cotton-seed
Groundnut cake
Livestock by-products
Crops used as livestock feeds
Conclusion
References

Introduction
The Malagasy small-scale farmer is both a rice producer and a cattle owner. This means that
in most cases a mixed animal-crop system is used. The main outputs required from livestock,
particularly Zebu cattle, are manure and draught power for paddy cultivation.

Estimated livestock populations (MPAEF 1984) are: 10,363,000 cattle, 1,379,000 pigs,
1,340,000 goats, 550,400 sheep and 14,486,000 poultry.

Feed requirements for all these animals vary widely, but over the last two decades no
feedstuff has been imported except for micro-ingredients such as vitamins, antibiotics, trace
minerals and amino acids.

Generally speaking, there is no special fodder for the small-scale producer, but the use of any
particular feed depends mainly on its availability and its price. Feed resources can be divided
into three classes:

1. Pastures;
2. Agro-industrial by-products and crop residues; and
3. Agricultural products.

Pastures
Natural grazing land occupies the largest part of the island and artificial pastures are very
localized.

Natural Grazing Lands

Of the 587,000 km² total surface area of Madagascar, nearly 58%, or approximately 340,000
km², are occupied by natural grassland. Four main zones can be identified (Granier, Lahore
and Dubois 1968; Bosser 1969; Morat 1972).

The Western Region

This is the largest region where the prevalent grasses are Hyparrhenia dissoluta, Heteropogon
contortus and Chrysopogon serrulatus.

The Southern Region

In this region the main grasses are Aristida congesta, Cenchrus ciliaris and Heteropogon
contortus.

The Mid-Western Region

This region is dominated by Hyparrhenia rufa, Heteropogon contortus and Aristida rufuscens.

The Highland Areas

These are defined as all land above 1,000 m, and the most common grasses are Aristida
similis, Aristida rufescens and Ctenium coucinuum.

The common features of these grazing lands are, on the one hand, the absence of productive
indigenous legumes and, on the other, their very low nutritive value during the dry period
which lasts 5-8 months according to region. Uncontrolled burning, even if it limits bush
encroachment, leads to a reduction of useful grass species (Granier 1969).

Zebu cattle are raised on these grazing lands without receiving supplements. Generally,
animals are on pasture day and night, but recently, because of an increase in cattle thefts,
they have been kraaled at night.

Animal production on natural pastures were studied particularly in the mid-western region
(Granier, Lahore and Dubois 1968; Granier 1969; Sarniget et al (1969); de Reviers 1970;
Granier and Gilibert 1976; Rasambainarivo et al 1984).

Annual liveweight gains range from 41 to 98 kg per animal. The most important problem is the
quality and availability of dry-season fodder. Crude-protein content of the pasture may be as
low as 2.5% dry-matter and the loss of weight may reach 60 kg per animal. Calf mortality is
high.

Artificial Pastures

More than 70 species and varieties have been introduced to Madagascar during the last three
decades. They have been tested in more than 50 localities. Among these introduced species,
ten are in common use in the highland and mid-western regions by small-scale dairy
producers.

No pasture irrigation is practiced. The most cultivated species are Pennisetum purpureum,
Tripsacum laxum, Chloris gayana and maize. Perennial grasses (Pennisetum purpureum and
Tripsacum laxum) are cultivated alone, not in association with legumes. They are used as
green fodders which is cut and carried to the herd. Chloris gayana is established for hay
making. Three to five cuts can be realized and the annual dry-matter yield may reach 12 t/ha.
Maize (Zea mays) is mainly grown for silage for dairy cattle. In the mid-western region dry-
matter production ranges from 15 to 20 t/ha. Maize silage was tested as the basal ration for
fattening cattle and the daily liveweight gain was about 0.7 kg (Rasambainarivo, Rakotoarivelo
and Rakotozandrindrainy 1980).
Oats (Avena saliva) is cultivated on rice fields just after the rice harvest (Granier and
Razafindratsila 1970). It produces well and may be the only green cattle fodder available
during the dry season. In the mid-western and western areas Stylosanthes guianensis and
Stylosanthes hamata are cultivated and used in the late rainy season and in the first part of
the dry season (Granier 1970; Rasambainarivo et al 1983). In the southern region, spinny,
Opuntia ficus, is cut, burnt and distributed to some lactating Zebu cattle.

Annual liveweight gains on artificial pasture ranges from 81 to 602 kg/ha (Rasambainarivo et al
1984).

Even when pastures are cultivated, cattle graze for a part of the day on natural grassland or
crop residues. So it is difficult to estimate the potential stocking rate on artificial pasture under
this system. It is observed that when farmers grow artificial pasture, they also give some
supplements to their cattle during the dry season, and if the artificial pasture is not sufficient,
they buy some green forage cut in the lowlands.

Agro-industrial by-products and crop residues

Rice is the Malagasy staple food and annual consumption is estimated at 135 kg per capita.
Consequently the most important agro-industrial by-products and crop residues are those
which come from rice, followed by those from cotton and groundnuts. Other crop residues are
available in relatively small quantities and they are not produced throughout the year.

Rice Brans

Three main grades of rice bran can be identified: soft, roughed and mixed (De Riviers and
Gaulier 1970; Laurent 1975). There is no clear standardization in milling processes, so there is
great variability in these feedstuffs between mills. Mongodin, Lobry and Pergent (1980)
reported that the total amount of rice bran available is approximately 376,000 t (Table 1). It is
noteworthy that the highest yield comes from many small and widely scattered manual mills.
Under these conditions the bran is not commercialized but fed directly to poultry and pigs. The
commercial rice brans come from a variety of mills. They produce a total of about 46,000 t per
year. Rice polishings and rough rice brans are produced by large mills (rizeries) and the mixed
bran by small mills (decortiqueries) and hand mills. Rice polishings have a high fat and crude-
protein content up to 17 and 14% dry matter, respectively. Meanwhile, rough and mixed brans
are lower grade and contain more crude fibre, as high as 22% DM (Table 2).

Table 1. Extraction rates of rice brans in different milling processes

Large mills Small mills Hand milling

Rice 70% 60% 60%
Rice bran Rice polishings 3% Mixed bran 25% Mixed bran 15%
Rice bran 4%
Rice husk 23% 15% 25%
Total bran available 13,000 tonnes 33,000 tonnes 330,000 tonnes
376,000 tonnes

Table 2. Chemical composition of rice brans (% DM)

Sample Dry matter Ether extract Crude protein Crude fibre Ash
Rice polishings (n=54) 89 15.6 12.0 6.9 9.2
Rice bran (n=36) 91 5.9 8.1 18.9 17.4
Mixed rice bran (n=22) 92 5.3 6.0 22.4 16.0
 Source: Laurent 1975

Rice brans are used for all farm animals. They may be the only component of pig and poultry
diets, but, generally, 80% rice bran is combined with 15-20% seed cake and minerals (Tillon
1972). A recent review of Zebu-cattle fattening shows that a ration of 0.4-0.8 kg/100 kg
liveweight gave a daily gain ranging from 0.5-0.8 kg (Rasambainarivo and
Rakotozandrindrainy 1985). The best gain was obtained with a ration consisting of rice
polishings and molasses (Serres et al 1971; Meissonnier and Godet 1972). Rice brans were
also combined with cassava and gave high liveweight gains (Godet 1971).

Rice straw
Rice straw is extensively used for Zebu cattle and particularly for draught and lactating
animals. National rice production is estimated at 2 million tonnes and if we assume a 1:1
straw/grain ratio, the total yield of rice straw is equivalent to the total yield of grain. The straw
is all cut and dried before threshing, then the straw is left to the cattle for ad libitum
consumption without any treatment. There is a high level of wastage. Experiments are now
being conducted to see if the nutritive value of this straw can be improved by the addition of
ammonia.

Cotton-seed cake
Cotton-seed cake is the most common seed cake used for animal feeding. In 1983 cotton-
seed cake production was estimated at 5,000 t. It is produced principally in the western region,
but it is extensively used for all livestock. For growing and finishing pig diets (Tillon 1971)
recommended no more than 10% of cotton-seed cake in the complete feed. For beef feed-lot
fattening up to 1 kg of cotton-seed cake is essential if the basal ration is maize silage. With
this use of cottonseed cake the liveweight gain may reach 0.72 kg (Rasambainarivo et al
1980).

Cotton-seed
The use of whole cotton seed prevents weight loss in Zebu grazing dry-season pasture. A
daily ration of 1.5 kg per animal leads to 0.075 a liveweight gain ranging from 0.75 kg to 0.191
kg in mature animals. For young animals 0.5 kg of cotton seed seems sufficient and gives a
daily liveweight gain of between 0.21 and 0.31 kg (Rasambainarivo and Rakotozandrindrainy
1985).

Groundnut cake
Groundnut cake is highly valued and together with rice bran constitutes a regular ingredient of
poultry and pig rations (Daumas 1963; Gaulier and Serres 1971). Generally the groundnuts
are not decorticated, crude fibre content is relatively high (up to 18% dry matter) and there is a
constant risk of aflatoxin-induced diseases.

Although here attention has been focused on rice, cotton and groundnut by-products, other
by-products such as wheat bran, soybean cake, coconut cake and brewer's grains are also
used.

Livestock by-products
Four well-equipped abattoirs are operational, but the numbers of animals slaughtered in them
represent only 15-20% of the total number of slaughtered animals. The majority are not
slaughtered in these abattoirs and the byproducts are not recovered. The estimated data on
available livestock byproducts are presented in Table 3. The majority of these by-products
come from Zebu cattle. A 300-kg animal produces around 1 kg of dry bloodmeal (Raveloson
1980) and 25 kg of bonemeal (Ranaivoson 1985). Meatmeal quantity is variable and is
estimated at a total of 855 t (Mongodin, Lobry and Pergent 1980).

Fish Products

Dried fish is produced in the western region and at Alaotra Lake. The fish are generally sun
dried or smoked, but there are no industrial facilities. Consequently, the dried fish are sold
whole and without any removal of oil or heads. Total dried fish available varies between 1,000
and 2,000 tonnes per year.

Table 3. Estimated production of animal processing by-products

By-product (tonnes) Annual production

Meatmeal 855
Bloodmeal 98
Bonemeal 147
Fish 1,500
Waste shrimp meal 200

Source: Mongodin, Lobry and Pergent 1980

Waste shrimp meal comes principally from processing plants on the north-western Malagasy
coast. Production is estimated at about 200 t per year (Mongodin, Lobry and Pergent 1980).
All of these animal byproducts are commonly used in pig and poultry rations.

Crops used as livestock feeds

When rice brans became scarce, the research and extension services proposed the use of
maize and cassava (Serres, Zebrowska and Sejourne 1966). The former is mainly used in pig
and poultry diets and the latter is used for all livestock except for the extensively raised Zebu
(See Table 4).

Table 4. National production and animal consumption of root tubers

Cassava Sweet potatoes Potatoes Maize

(tonnes) (tonnes) (tonnes)
Estimated national production Fresh 1,322,355 (40% 333,000 132,190 100,040
DM)
Estimated for live-stock Dry 599,000 32,700 19,000
feeding
Percentage used for livestock 10-15 10-15 10-15 30-60
feeding

Source: Mongodin, Lobry and Pergent 1980

Maize

National maize production is approximately 100,000 t, of which 60% is for animal feeding.

Cassava
Cassava is the only agricultural product traditionally distributed to cattle and particularly to
lactating female, fattening and draught cattle. It may be distributed green or dried, with
quantities distributed ranging from 3 to 5 kg per day. A feed-lot review indicates that if the
quantity of cassava increases without any corresponding increase in protein sources, the
Zebu's liveweight gain may be low.

Other Agricultural by-products

Potatoes, sweet potatoes, Colocassia and Canna edulis are in some cases fed to pigs and
Zebu cattle in some areas. Rejected banana fruit are commonly fed to growing and fattening
pigs.

Conclusion
Numerous feed resources are available in Madagascar. It is clear, however, that protein
deficiency is a major problem. Dry-season pasture does not meet the maintenance
requirements of ruminants and leads to a loss of weight and mortality in young animals.
Protein seed cakes are produced but they are expensive and not always available. Zebu and
dairy cattle suffer from a second major nutritional deficiency caused by a shortage of
phosphorus. In addition, transport costs are a bottleneck for wider utilization of these various
feedstuffs.

Intensive research is needed to increase our knowledge on the use of locally available raw
materials. Information is required on yields nutritive value and management of pastures and
multipurpose fodder trees. Studies on the use of crop residues and non-conventional feeds
should continue. The tendency seems to be to maximize the use of available feedstuffs to
meet the nutritional requirements of livestock and reduce the input cost. To this end, an
interdisciplinary approach, at national and international level, is needed to improve the small-
scale farming system of Madagascar.

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Tillon, J.P. (1971). Conseils pratiques pour l'alimentation des porcs a Madagascar
I.E.M.V.T./R.R.M.

Tillon, J.P. (1972). Utilization digestive de rations a base d'issues de rizerie par le pore en
finition (60 a 90 kg). Influence de l'incorporation de son de meules sur la digestibilite des
principaux constituants. I.E.M.V.T./R.R.M.
   

An inventory of animal feed resources for small-scale

livestock producers in Botswana
H.B. Makobo and B.M. Mosimanyana

Department of Agricultural Field Services

Private Bag 003, Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract
Introduction
Drought relief measures
Agro-industrial by-products
Suggestions on future research priorities
References

Abstract
With an estimated livestock population of 3.8 million, Botswana produced 903,905.1 tonnes of
agro-industrial by-products in 1984. Currently, very little of these by-products is used to meet
the nutritional requirements of livestock.

Because of the fodder deficit, the Government imported 5978.6 tonnes of roughage from
neighbouring countries in 1984. Despite these efforts, livestock mortality was still as high as
20%.

Crop residues are not utilized efficiently as livestock feed, but could play a significant role in
livestock feeding. The major quantities are cereal residues while legume residues are
marginal.

Milling by-products are from cereal sources as there is no factory producing oilseed cakes or
the equivalent. Major animal byproducts consist of bone, blood and carcass meals and
chicken litter. These can be used by the dairy industry which is still in its infancy. There is
endless competition for bonemeal by the cattle, pig and poultry subsectors.

There are two sources of industrial by-products and all of them are used by the dairy industry.

It is suggested that future research address itself to inventory, documentation and

dissemination of information on available feed resources.

Introduction
The livestock population in Botswana is estimated at 2.7 million cattle, 0.9 million goats and
0.2 million sheep (ASU 1984). These are kept under two production/management systems,
namely the commercial system and the communal system. About 85% of the national herd is
found in communal areas, where the majority of farmers are small/livestock producers.
Botswana has an area of 576,000 km² of which 77% is grazing land.

Livestock in Botswana have customarily been maintained on feedstuffs that come from natural
rangeland. Rangeland utilization within the communal zones is uncontrolled, while the
commercial system follows "reasonably acceptable levels of management" (APRU 1980).
Unfortunately, there is considerable evidence to indicate that the productivity of the range is
declining rather than increasing to match the steadily increasing livestock population. In 1978
the average stocking rate in communal areas was 14.4 ha/LU (Field 1978) which by 1983 had
decreased to 11.0 ha/LU*. Large grazing areas have lost their plant cover as a result of
overgrazing and the four-year-old drought. It is perhaps now evident that the country's current
rangeland production under the two management systems may not provide the animal
feedstuffs required by small livestock producers as well as the entire national herd.

*The figure was arrived at by dividing the total communal grazing land area
(41,290,000 ha) by the estimated number of livestock units (= 3.75 million) derived
from multiplying the number of cattle (= 3.0 million) by a factor of 1.25 LU per 350
kg animal.

It is therefore, inevitable that some districts in the country will soon have to resort to agro-
industrial by-products to augment the disappearing range resource and to meet feed
requirements of their livestock.

To achieve efficient utilization of the available feed resources, it is essential to have a good
knowledge of their production and availability. With this in mind, this inventory has been
undertaken to ascertain the national production of animal feed resources available for
utilization by the small livestock producer other than from the natural rangeland.

Drought relief measures

Botswana's livestock industry is one of the heavily subsidized sectors in the country. There
has been an intensified drought-relief programme geared to providing fodder from the livestock
industry. Lucerne, pandamatenga grass, **nyle grass of Acroceras macium teff, maize and
sorghum stover have been provided at subsidized prices (Table 1). Peak demand period is
from mid-winter to mid-summer. Sale of these feedstuffs has fluctuated since the inception of
the programme in 1983. The 1984/85 sale estimates are shown in Table 1.

**A bale containing a mixture of Hyparrhenia spp., Setaria sphacelata and

Ischaemum brachyatherum

During this period, livestock mortality was 20% and this amount of fodder did not have a
significant effect on reducing mortality.

Agro-industrial by-products
There are large amounts of by-products which can be used as feed for ruminants. They result
from the processing of food crops and as animal byproducts.

Table 1. Drought-relief sales in 1984/85

Feed type Production sales (tonnes)

Pandamatenga grass 568.6 (locally produced)
Nyle grass 1,180.9
Lucerne 367.5
Teff 877.1
Wheat straw 18.0
Millet stover 136.2
Peanut stover 148.2
Maize stover 1,649.5
Sorghum stover 1,601.2
Total 6,547.2

Source: Livestock Advisory Centre, Gaborone

Crop Residues

Maize and sorghum are the major cereal crops in Botswana, followed by millet, beans and
groundnuts. They provide considerable amounts of grain and crop residues. With a cattle
population of 2.7 million and each animal consuming about 2.5 tonnes of dry-forage equivalent
per year, crop residues could play a major role in supplementing natural grazing. A previous
study (Mosimanyana 1983) revealed substantial residue-production levels per hectare (Table
2).

Table 2. Dry-matter yields and dry-matter digestibility of sorghum, millet and maize
residues

Type of DM yield range Average DM yield Dry-matter digestibility

residue (tonnes/ha) (tonnes/ha) (%)
Sorghum 0.60-10.40 5.50 60.93
Millet 1.15-4.95 3.05 55.65
Maize 1.66-5.81 3.73 63.60

Source: Mosimanyana 1983.

It was concluded that a herd of 50 cattle could be maintained for at least two months on the
residues from 6 hectares. It was also concluded that dry-matter yield of the plant residue
decreased by 28.34% and dry-matter digestibility by 11.17% from April to May. This means
that early harvesting would result in higher quality fodder.

Average residue-production values per hectare (Table 2) were used to compute the 1984
production estimates (Table 3), given the area planted (ASU 1984).

Table 3. Estimated 1984 season sorghum, maize, and millet crop residues*

Type of residue Area planted (000 ha) Total production (000) tonnes
Sorghum
Traditional 107.6 591.8
Commercial 6.8 37.4
Maize
Traditional 43.9 163.8
Commercial 4.0 14.9
Millet
Traditional 16.6 50.6
Commercial 0.1 0.3
Total 179.0 858.8

*1984 was a drought year.

Under traditional husbandry considerable quantities of crop residues are left to be trampled by
livestock or ploughed under (Table 3). These could have an important impact on animal
production if they were preserved as soon as possible after grain harvest when both the yield
and nutritive value are relatively high (Mosimanyana 1983).

Though there are several options open to small-scale producers on how to utilize crop
residues for livestock, in Botswana the popular method is to have them grazed by uncontrolled
animals. The current extension packages emphasize cutting the residues during grain harvest
and drying and transporting to a safe place next to a kraal from where they can be fed to a
selected group of animals.

Legume Residues

Production of legumes in Botswana is primarily done on a commercial basis, therefore these

crops do not play a significant role in small-scale livestock production systems. The few small-
scale producers who do grow legume utilize them by grazing livestock after harvest.

Milling and Animal By-Products

As energy resources become scarcer, there is an ever-increasing need for efficient utilization
of food by-products and animal and plant waste. Because techniques of integrating them into
animal-feeding systems are often unknown or uneconomic, millions of tonnes of potentially
valuable feed are discarded annually. Both concentrate and roughage by-product feeds are
available in Botswana, though utilization by small-scale producers is very limited.

Milling By-Products

There are a number of sorghum-milling factories in Botswana. A recent inventory revealed the
existence of one large milling factory in the south, one medium-sized factory in central
Botswana and about ten smaller units scattered throughout the country.

Since Botswana is not yet self-sufficient in food grain production, there is heavy reliance on
grain imports. Over the past two years, Botswana imported about 19,000 tons of sorghum
represented about 3,800 tons of additional sorghum bran that could be used as feed.

The figures in Table 4 were arrived at by adding the estimated production levels of milling
factories to 20% of sorghum grain imports. Wheat bran production figures were provided by
producers. The third source of sorghum bran relates to individual household production. This
level of production has not been estimated, though the production capacity cannot be
discounted. The high-energy feeds produced include rice and wheat bran.

Table 4. Estimated production levels of milling by-products

Type of by-product Estimated production (tonnes/year)

Sorghum bran (moroko)
Local 11,000
Imports 3,800
What bran 6,000
Total 20,800

Wheat bran is produced by the flour milling company in the south, while rice bran is localized
in the north-western part of Botswana (Ngamiland).

Considerable but undocumented quantities of glumes (moko) are wasted annually during
threshing. These are generally disposed of by burning-another untapped source of livestock
feed.
Animal By-Products

Recycling animal waste as livestock feed is a well established practice. Broiler or layer-house
litter is currently being used as a protein and energy substitute in other parts of the world.
Botswana has an estimated 770,000 mature birds (broilers and layers) producing 6,183.1
tonnes of chicken litter per year - based on 0.022 kg dry-matter production per day by a 1.8 kg
bird (North 1978). Currently Botswana does not use chicken litter for livestock feeding but
occasionally as fertilizer.

The Botswana Meat Commission has three slaughter and canning factories which currently
produce bonemeal, meatmeal and bloodmeal. Production levels vary from year to year
depending on the number of animals slaughtered. Table 5 gives the 1984 production levels of
the three animal processing byproducts.

Bonemeal is highly subsidized to encourage small livestock producers to utilize it, though
supply is below national requirements. The cattle, pig and poultry sub-sectors are currently
competing for the scarce bonemeal feed. Fish meal is imported in small quantities for pig
production.

Table 5. Production of animal by-products in 1984

Type of by-product Production (tons/year)

Chicken litter 6,183.1
Bonemeal 2,528.0
Meatmeal 4,361.0
Bloodmeal 533.0
Total 13,605.1

Source: Botswana Meat Commission 1984

Brewery By-Products

There are at least three sources of brewer's grains in Botswana. On average both Kgalagadi
and Chibuku Breweries produce 700 tons of dry matter per year. Brewer's grains have 20-
25% crude-protein content on a dry-matter basis (Huber 1980).

Concentrate Feed Production

Like most of the developing countries, Botswana often experiences a shortage in grain
production for human consumption. Concentrate feeding is therefore not practiced in
Botswana except for one feedlot and a handful of commercial farmers. On average there is
production of 10,000 tons of hominy-chop, maize bran mixed with coarse particles of grain,
which is also utilized by the growing pig industry. Nutrient values for some of the agro-
industrial products mentioned are given in Table 6.

From Table 6, it can be seen that some agro-industrial byproducts have adequate crude
protein but cereal stovers are marginal to deficient.

Table 6. Nutrient values for some agro-industrial products

By-product CP CF Ca P
Groundnut hulls 10.11 20.32 2.36 0.077
Rice bran 12.63 - 0.202 0.531
Sorghum bran (Moroko) 12.00 6.17 0.038 0.036
Sorghum stover 6.35 31.46 0.35 0.11
Maize stover 8.54 30.85 0.35 0.10
Millet stover 3.98 37.02 0.19 0.03
Brewer's grains 12.15 43.94 0.77 0.46
Bonemeal 45.80 - 5.67 0.49
Bloodmeal 90.51 - 0.004 0.005
Meatmeal 59.52 0.17 11.34 7.84

Source: APRU (unpublished data), Gaborone.

Suggestions on future research priorities

Forage from natural rangeland in Botswana is of very how nutritive value, being characterized
by high crude fibre, low crude protein, low dry-matter digestibility and low calcium and
phosphorus values at all times except for the immature herbage produced after the first rains.
Consequently beef cattle and range research in Botswana has concentrated on improving the
utilization of extensive natural rangeland and thus the nutritional status of the grazing
ruminant. There is, therefore, a need to focus research priorities on other sources of livestock
feeds. With this in mind, the following priorities are suggested:

1. Documentation of total production (traditional and commercial) and availability

of agro-industrial by-products, and the designing of suitable utilization methods
under both the communal and commercial systems;

2. Characterization of nutritive value and inventory of local feed resources;

3. Production of continuous publications/handouts on nutritive values of such by-

products for extension staff.

References
ASU (Agricultural Statistics Unit). (1984). Botswana Agricultural Statistics, Ministry of
Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.

APRU (Animal Production Research Unit). (1980). Ten years of animal production and range
research in Botswana. Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.

Botswana Meat Commission. (1984). Annual Report, Lobatse, Botswana. Field, D.I. 1978. A
Handbook of Basic Ecology for Range Management in Botswana. Ministry of Agriculture.
Gaborone, Botswana.

Huber, J.T. (1980). Upgrading Residues and By-Products for Animals. Florida: CRC Press,
Inc.

Mosimanyana, B.M. (1983). Crop residues for animal feeding. Bulletin of Agricultural Research
in Botswana, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.

North, M.O. (1978). Commercial Chicken Production Manual. Westport, Connecticut: AVI
Publishing Company, Inc.

  
   

A year-round feeding plan for the livestock owner in

Swaziland
B.H. Ogwang

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland

P.O. Luyengo, Swaziland

Introduction
Pattern of pasture production in Swaziland
References

Introduction
Swaziland has a total land area of 17,365 km² and is divided into four distinct topographical
regions: the highveld, middleveld, lowveld and lumbombo, each running roughly north to
south. Just over half of the country's area is vested in the King in trust for the Swazi nation
and parts of it are allocated by chiefs to individual Swazi families. This sector is known as
Swazi Nation Land (SNL). The agriculture in this sector is mainly subsistence in character.

The rest if the land is known as Individual Tenure Farms (ITF) and is owned on freehold or
concessionary title. It includes commercial forests as well as farms, estates and ranches, and
land owned by the Swaziland Government. The agriculture of the ITF is highly modernized
and most of the country's cash production is derived from it.

Livestock have traditionally been an important component of the agricultural industry in

Swaziland. Table 1 shows the population of ruminant livestock according to the most recent
census.

Table 1. Ruminant livestock population in Swaziland

Class of livestock Total in country Number on SNL

Cattle 636,036 502,000
Goats 320,398 286,000
Sheep 40,138 26,000
Equines (mules, horses, donkeys) 16,975 14,000

Source: CSO 1982

The majority of the herd is owned by the subsistence farmers in SNL (Table 2).

Table 2. Swaziland land-use figures for 1981/82 (hectares)

Land-use category Whole country SNL ITF

Cropland 135,974 97,260 52,341
Natural pastures 1,046,620 861,895 184,725
Improved pastures 96,259 0 98,259
Commercial forest 100,916 0 100,916
Other 341,846 5,925 320,294
Total 1,721,615 965,080 756,535

Source: CSO 1982.

Several features of Swaziland's grazing resources may be discerned from Table 2. Firstly,
improved or cultivated pastures contribute less than 10% of the total grazing resource. They
are established exclusively on ITF. Secondly, native pastures or veld occupy some 90% of
SNL while they form only a small proportion of title-deed land.

Under Swaziland's system of conversion, the total livestock population presented in Table 1 is
equivalent to 617,000 livestock units which gives a crude stocking rate of 1.7 hectares per
livestock unit on native veld, the major grazing resource. This value is undoubtedly well above
the estimated carrying capacity of much of the veld and is reflected in the observed low animal
productivity and degraded range condition, especially on SNL (Ions and Kidner 1967).

Another important feature of Swaziland's pastures, whether natural or planted, is their

relatively low nutritive value for most of the year. Many forage species grow very rapidly as
soon as the rains commence in early summer (October). At this time leaf production is high
and crude protein content and digestibility are satisfactory (Ogwang 1985b). By the end of the
wet season (March), the plants develop tall flowering stems which are low in protein and high
in fibre. These conditions place severe restrictions on livestock production, particularly during
the dry season which can be as long as seven months. The present paper discusses some of
the strategies that could be used to minimize the winter-feed problem thereby improving
overall livestock production throughout the year.

Pattern of pasture production in Swaziland

Pasture production is usually related to seasonal rainfall distribution which in Swaziland is
restricted to only a few months of the year. Consequently stock owners who rely exclusively
on pastures experience periods of excess forage in the wet months alternating with periods of
scarcity in winter. In order to sustain uninterrupted livestock production, the stockowner should
be able to adjust to this fluctuating feed supply. To some extent this could be achieved
through seasonal disposal and purchase of livestock while the winter feed deficit could be
improved by a number of measures, as described below.

Irrigation

Pasture production can be extended into the dry winter months through irrigation, subject to
limitations of light and temperature. Cool-season grasses such as oats, rye grass and triticale
have been grown successfully for dairy production in some parts of the country. It has also
been shown that the yield and the feed value of the grasses can be considerably enhanced by
the inclusion of temperate legumes such as vetch or red clover (Whitmarsh 1977).
Approximately 37,000 hectares of land are currently irrigated in Swaziland of which 1,200
hectares are on SNL and the rest on individual farms and company estates. While the cotton,
rice and sugarcane, opportunities for pasture establishment could be investigated.

Use of Fertilizers

In terms of quantity, by far the most important farm input used, particularly on SN, is fertilizer.
An estimated 46,500 tonnes of fertilizer were used in Swaziland during the 1980/81 season
(Anonymous 1983a). This represented an average application rate of 320 kg per cropped
hectare. At present the bulk of the fertilizer used on SNL is reserved for maize and cotton and
very little appears to be used for pasture establishment. While the cost of pasture fertilization
may appear unattractive, possibilities for strategic application of small quantities just before the
end of the growing season need to be investigated. Fertilizers could extend the period of
pasture production into the dry season and any surplus will remain in the soil during the winter
months to stimulate active growth with the new rains in spring.

Use of Drought-Tolerant Species

Pasture species capable of growing out of season can be planted to prolong the period of
good-quality forage. Drought-tolerant legumes can be particularly useful in this regard. They
can benefit ruminants through their high productivity, high protein content and high mineral
status. That the use of legumes is not widespread in Swaziland probably reflects the limited
knowledge of their agronomic characteristics and adaptability to the local environment. Some
success has been recorded with a few legumes such as Desmodium and stylo (Whitmarsh
1975) and the need to explore more of them was recently emphasized by Ogwang (1985a).

Shrub legumes such as pigeon peas and Leucaena have been successfully established
around homesteads and grass strips in other sub-tropical countries. They are not only drought
resistant but also offer a variety of domestic uses besides being important dry-season feeds.
Their potential for Swaziland needs to be investigated.

Conservation of Excess Forage as Silage

The production of silage is currently practiced on a limited scale in Swaziland. Small quantities
of maize silage are produced on a number of dairy farms around the country. Both bana grass
and Napier grass have been shown locally to have higher yields than maize (Whitmarsh
1977). If cut with a forage harvester before they become too mature these giant grasses are
no more difficult to ensile than maize, although they do have a higher protein content
necessitating the addition of a carbohydrate supplement such as molasses. There is a need to
re-examine the potential limitations of silage making under Swaziland conditions.

Conservation of Excess Forage as Hay

In Swaziland, hay making is practiced on livestock breeding stations and in a number of

ranches. The production of hay from natural as well as improved pastures can be an easy and
cheap method of conserving forage. Its present lack of popularity emphasizes the need for
more research on the quality of the various forage species available, appropriate techniques
for cutting, drying and storing the hay, and the socio-economic viability of such technologies.

Conservation of Forage as Standing Hay

Where a decline in quality can be tolerated, forage can also be stored as standing hay. This is
generally the cheapest way of conserving forage. On fenced grazing land, standing hay may
be conserved by leaving one or two areas/paddocks ungrazed during the last part of the
growing season. It can then be utilized during the dry season when forage from other areas is
no longer available in adequate quantities. Even on communal grazing land, certain areas
could be reserved during the growing season and grazed later.

Crop Residues

A wide variety of arable crops is grown both on SNL and ITF for subsistence. Many of these
crops have residues which can form an important source of livestock feed. Yields of some of
the common crops grown are presented in Tables 3 and 4 respectively.

Table 3. Area and production of major crops grown on SNL, 1981/82

 Crop (tonnes) Area Production
Maize 58,936 52,267
Sorghum 2,168 720
Cotton 11,575 8,445
Beans 2,071 404
Groundnuts 1,665 481
Sweet potatoes 910 1,192

Source: CSO 1982.

Tables 3 and 4 indicate the potential variety and abundance of crop residues that could be
used for livestock feeding in Swaziland. The contribution of such residues to total available
feed resources has been reported to vary from 6% in some regions to 2% in the Rural
Development Areas (Anonymous 1983b).

Table 4. Area and production of major crops grown on ITF, 1981/82

Crop Area (ha) Production (tonnes)

Sugarcane 30,819 3,249,659
Cotton not available 5,810
Pineapples 1,552 33,150
Citrus not available 58,492
Oranges not available 33,249

Sources: Central Statistics Office; Sugar Association; Swaziland Citrus Board

Yields of cereal stover may be expected to vary depending on season, inputs and skill of the
farmer. Maize stover, for example, has a digestible CP content of 2.3% on a dry-matter basis
and a TDN of 57%. This compares with 2.5% DCP and 52% TDN for very good quality veld or
poor quality Eragrostis curvula hay. Opportunities for improving the quality of dry cereal crop
residues through treatment with chemicals such as urea, NaOH and NH3 could be
investigated.

Whenever available, grain legumes such as groundnuts and beans should provide good-
quality roughage after the crops have been harvested.

The most important vegetables grown in Swaziland include sweet potatoes, pumpkins,
cabbages, tomatoes and onions. The non-marketable parts of sweet potatoes and cabbages
can provide feed of high value compared to dry-crop residues. They are difficult to store and
would therefore be more suitable for daily feedings.

It has been shown in other countries that sugarcane can be used as the basis of intensive
animal production systems. In the Philippines, for example, a number of sugarcane producers
experimented with fattening cattle using sugarcane tops as basal diets. Their results showed
average daily weight gains per cow of 0.5-0.7 kg (Guzman and Lee 1978). Sugarcane is the
most important export crop in Swaziland and the tops could form an important feed source for
animals raised around sugarcane growing areas. Molasses is another feed which is being
used very extensively in other countries.

Pineapple and citrus wastes may be regarded as high-energy feed for livestock. They are high
in sugar, low in protein and fairly high in fibre. Swazican produces a large quantity of these
wastes at Malkerns but they are largely thrown away due to the lack of appropriate technology
and economic methods of utilization. Suitable methods of conservation could be devised. The
addition of formic acid and urea to ensiled pineapple waste has been shown to significantly
improve the digestibility of the nutrients (Lebbie, personal communication).

Agro-industrial By-Products

Potential agro-industrial by products for livestock feeding include molasses, bagasse and
cotton-seed cake. About 138,000 tonnes of molasses were produced in 1982 in Swaziland
(CSO 1982). This could be used to supply energy in conjunction with poor-quality forage in the
dry season. Bagasse, another sugar-processing by-product, is generally of low quality due to
high content of fibre and Lignin. However, the quality can be significantly improved through
heat or alkali treatment.

At present no oilseeds are produced as a primary commodity in Swaziland. Cotton seed is

exported mainly to South Africa where oil is expressed from it for domestic use. There is some
potential for making good-quality animal feed if the seeds could be processed locally.

Concentrate Supplementation

Cereal grains such as maize and sorghum have a high feed value. They can contribute
significantly to animal output. However, most of the grains grown in Swaziland are primarily for
human consumption. This, together with the high cost of concentrates, renders them
inappropriate as livestock feed unless very high yielding animals are used.

In conclusion, it should be pointed out that there is considerable opportunity for increasing
pasture production and the availability of non-conventional feedstuffs in Swaziland. Veld
improvement can be effected through bold policies such as destocking, fencing and bush
clearing. Planted pastures need considerable inputs such as fertilizers and, although the
economics of such undertakings have often been questioned, the possibility of strategic
application of small quantities could be explored. The inclusion of both herbaceous and shrub
legumes in the cropping systems can significantly cut such production costs. Considerable
opportunities also exist for the use of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products. What is
needed is a comprehensive inventory of the feed sources coupled with appropriate
technologies for improving their nutritional values.

References
Anonymous. (1983a). Livestock industry development study. Report by Hunting Technical-
Services to the Swaziland Government. Department of Economic Planning and Statistics,
Mbabane.

Anonymous. (1983b). Review of the Rural Development Areas Programme. Final Report
(Annexes). Report by Hunting Technical Services to the Swaziland Government. Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mbabane.

CSO (Central Statistical Office). (1982). Annual Statistical Bulletin, Central Statistics Office,
Mbabane.

Guzman, M.R. and Lee, N.S. (1978). Integration of backyard dairy-beef farming with cropping
systems and feed grain substitutes for cattle. Food and Fertilizer Technology Bulletin No. 110.
Taiwan, Republic of China.

Ions, J.H. and Kidner, E.M. (1967). Veld and pasture management in Swaziland. Bulletin No.
17, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mbabane.

Ogwang, B.H. (1985a). Research on forage legumes in Swaziland. Paper presented at a

workshop on potentials of forage legumes in farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, 16-19 September 1985.

Ogwang, B.H. (1985b). Chemical composition of native pastures in the middleveld of

Swaziland. Unpublished report, University of Swaziland.

Whitmarsh, A.R.T. (1975). Guide to pasture field trials 1975/76. University of Botswana,
Lesotho and Swaziland. Faculty of Agriculture, Research Division, Miscellaneous Report No.
111.

Whitmarsh, A.R.T. (1977). Improved pasture production in the middleveld of Swaziland: Some
tentative recommendations based on results of recent trials at Malkerns, 1974-1977. Advisory
Bulletin No. 12, Malkerns Research Station.

  
   

Inventory of feed resources for small-scale livestock production in

Mozambique
Jonathan Timberlake

Instituto Nacional de Investigacao Agronomica, Maputo c/o UNDP, C.P. 4595, Maputo, Mozambique

Celia Jordao

Unidade de Direccao de Carnes, Maputo

UDC., C.P. 1863, Maputo, Mozambique

Introduction
A brief description of Mozambique
Livestock and livestock-production systems
Natural pastures
Improved pastures and forages
Crop by-products and crop residues
Present strategies and constraints
Research priorities
References

Introduction
The principal form of livestock in Mozambique is cattle, which are raised traditionally in an extensive manner on
natural pastures. Most of the national herd is concentrated in the relatively tsetse-free southern fifth of the country
south of the Rio Save (Figure 1). Although concentrated, the cattle numbers are not so high as to cause large areas
to be overgrazed. This is partly due to the reasonable rainfall and productive pastures of much of the zone.

Mozambique has a low cattle population considering its size (1.77 cattle/km² and population (0.1 cattle/habitation
(UDC 1981)). Indeed, it is one of the lowest in Africa. This can be explained by the presence of tsetse, large areas
of woodland unsuitable for grazing, and no tradition of livestock raising among much of the population.

Other important livestock for small-scale producers are goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens and, increasingly,
rabbits.

The principal activity of the estimated 1984 population of 13.3 million is agriculture, which employs 3.5 million
economically-active people, mostly in the form of crop raising for subsistence. This is done on small plots, which
are nearly all on light soils and cultivated by hand.

Agricultural activity is commonly divided into four sectors: state farms, private farms, co-operatives and the family
sector. The family sector can be further divided into those practicing traditional methods of agriculture (hereafter
termed traditional farmers), and smallholders. Smallholders are mostly concentrated in areas close to the major
towns (the "Zonas Verdes") and practice improved forms of management with higher inputs. Their attitude is
somewhat or wholly commercial, but the area cultivated and number of animals kept remains small. The family
sector possesses 76% of the national cattle herd (Table 2) but in terms of commercialized offtake provides only
23% of the national total (Dionisio 1985). The co-operative sector is of little significance with regard to cattle.

Table 1. Agricultural areas in use by sector (1980 data)

Sector Area of land utilized (ha) %

State farms 250,000 10.5
Co-operatives 75,000 3.1
Private farms 65,000 2.7
Family farms 2,000,000 83.7
Total 2,390,000 100

Table 2. Livestock population by sector, 1980

Animal Sector No. of Head

Cattle Family a 1,001,813

Commercial b 383,155
Total 1,384,968

Goats and sheep c Family 413,280

Commercial 12,558

Total 425,838
Pigs Family 176,599
Commercial 41,240
Total 217,839

Rabbits d Family 1,800 e

Commercial 18,000

Total 19,800

a
. Peasant owned.
b
. State farms and private.
c
. Not recorded separately, but in 1974 16% of total in family sector were sheep.
d
. Pavesi 1985.
e
. Estimated minimum
Source: FAO 1982a and others

Due to reasonable climatic and soil conditions over much of the country the natural potential for pasture and feed
production is high. But there is still no tradition of provision of feed to small ruminants and cattle in the traditional
sector; all grazing is from natural pastures and, locally, crop residues. The necessity to cultivate feeds for pigs,
chickens and rabbits, when feed requirements exceed the feed and scraps that can be collected locally, is a severe
limitation to future expansion of production.

Fig. 1 - Cattle distribution in Mozambique in 1975

Des: Maciel/PED/8418

A brief description of Mozambique

Mozambique covers an area of 799,380 km² between 11° and 27°S latitude, and ranges in altitude from 1,600 m to
sea level, with an extensive (2,800 km) coastline along the Indian Ocean. Much of this area is under 200 m and
consists of coastal plains of sedimentary deposits between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. Three major rivers
cross the country - the Zambezi, the Sare and the Limpopo. The valleys and flood plains of the Zambezi, Limpopo
and Incomati rivers provide fertile soils, and it is here that a large proportion of the country's cattle are found.

Mean annual rainfall ranges from 350 mm near the Mozambique/Zimbabwe/South Africa border to 2,000 mm in the
highlands of Zambezia. North of the Rio Save the rainfall is more concentrated with a long dry season, except in
parts of the coast. South of this, rainfall is less concentrated in distribution and winter rains can be encountered in
areas closer to the coast. The range of climate, topography, geology and vegetation gives a very diversified
environment.

Livestock and livestock-production systems

Livestock numbers in the country and in the family sector are shown in Table 2.

Cattle

Until Independence in 1975 cattle numbers had been growing at about 2% per annum (Dionisio 1985). At
Independence many of the colonial farms were abandoned and many cattle found their way into the family sector.
Following the decrease in total numbers after independence there was an increase of about 2.3% per annum until
1981. In the last few years the cattle population has been decreasing substantially in all sectors due to drought and
problems associated with reduced security in rural areas.
Cattle in the family sector are almost exclusively of the Nguni type (called Landim in Mozambique) in the south, and
of the Angoni type (the same as the Malawi Zebu) in Angonia close to Malawi. A few improved crossbred dairy
cattle are raised by smallholders in some areas.

Cattle are kept in a traditional manner and for the traditional reasons of status, brideprice, as a means of storing
and acquiring capital, risk-reduction in mixed-farming systems, draught power, for home consumption, for meat
production and milk production. Draught power is very important on the heavier soils of the Limpopo and Incomati
river basins and on the sandy soils of coastal Inhambane. Less than 100,000 ha is ploughed by animals out of a
total of 2 million ha cultivated by smallholders throughout the country (FAO 1982b). Average herd size is around 10
head, and the herd is usually grazed on communal pastures or fallows during the day and gathered in kraals at
night.

There is no supplementary feeding and by the end of the dry season in some places cattle have to walk 20-30 km
to drink and only drink every two days.

In 1979 the average commercial offtake from the national herd was 4% with a family-sector offtake of 2.2%.
However, this does not consider local slaughter, and a more realistic estimate of family-sector offtake would be 5%
per annum (FAO 1982b).

Goats

Goats and sheep are more evenly distributed over the country and appear to be the principal form of livestock in
drier parts of the north. Virtually all are of the local Landim breed (southern African small-eared type) and are kept
close to the villages. Many are tethered in semi-urban areas. Normally no supplements are given. Postnatal is an
important factor, but otherwise disease mortality incidence is unknown. Given their size and reproductive rate goats
represent a valuable form of livestock production for smallholders.

Pigs

Pig numbers in the smallholder sector increased substantially after Independence. In the traditional sector pigs are
mostly left to forage, but smallholders tend to raise them in enclosures and provide feed. Generally only one or two
pigs are kept per family due to problems with provision of feed. Many fruit are used, e.g. pawpaws and mangoes,
along with locally-collected green feed.

Poultry

Chickens are commonly kept around homesteads and fed on scraps and winnowings, but there is as yet no
commercialization of smallholder production. Attempts are being made to encourage production in cooperatives
using locally-mixed rations, and to encourage the use of local plants. Ducks are quite common too, and are fed on
locally-collected fresh green feeds.

Rabbits

Production of rabbits in the smallholder sector, particularly those around urban centres ("Zonas Verdes"), has been
actively encouraged in recent years. Pregnant females are provided by state breeding farms and raised in housing
constructed from local materials. At this level of production feeding can be adequate using locally collected grasses
and other plants. But beyond a population of 10-15 animals this becomes too difficult. This form of livestock
production has shown some success in the smallholdings surrounding the major towns, particularly Maputo, where
sufficient extension services are available.

Natural pastures
Practically all of the cattle and goats in the smallholder sector are raised on natural pastures. Average stocking
rates in the two main livestock raising-provinces of Maputo and Gaza are around 9 ha/LU* and 26 ha/LU
respectively (1981 data). Overgrazing is not generally a problem, although it can be quite marked and severe
around water sources. There is thought to be still room for expansion in cattle numbers, perhaps of the order of
20%, in these provinces.

Pastures in Mozambique can be divided into sweet and sour types. Sweet pastures are those found in the drier or
more variable climatic zones, particularly on heavier soils, and are usually dominated by Themeda triandra,
Panicum maximum, P. coloratum, Digitaria eriantha and Eragrostis spp. They can support grazing throughout the
year. Sour pastures are found in the higher rainfall areas and are usually dominated by Hyparrhenia spp.,
Hyperthelia dissoluta, Andropogon spp. and Heteropogon contortus. They show high levels of plant production, but
protein content falls rapidly on flowering and cannot support cattle production through the year without
supplementary feeding. Most of the smallholder cattle are concentrated in areas of sweet or semisweet pastures.
Browse is an important dry-season feeding resource in these areas (Walker 1980). The major species are
Colophospermum mopane (xanate or mopane), Acacia spp. and some species of Combretum.

Very few data exist on actual or potential carrying capacities on the different pasture types. However, accepted
estimates for ranching are of the order of 3-4 ha/LU on Themeda pastures on fertile soils in the 700 mm rainfall
zone with some winter rains, to 8 ha/LU on the mixed Themeda pastures on seasonally flooded soils of the
Limpopo Valley in the same rainfall zone. In mopane bushland or open woodland in the 400 mm rainfall zone
estimates for the family sector in the major cattle-raising district of Magude, have been put at between 4 and 6
ha/LU (FAO 1983). A comparison of the available natural resources, e.g. climate, soil, fertility, pasture species,
distribution of water, and accepted carrying capacities in different parts of Maputo Province would suggest that
accepted values for the family sector are higher than those for commercial ranching in similar areas. This requires
further investigation and would be of great importance in livestock planning in Mozambique.

Shortage of dry-season grazing is an important constraint to improved cattle production, although the major
constraint is thought to be the limited distribution of dry-season water sources. The provision of water by the use of
small dams, greater use of strategic family fodder banks, and improvement in the cultivation of crops and use of
crop residues, are seen as ways of ameliorating dry-season feeding problems.

A model of potential pasture productivity is presently being developed by Reddy and Timberlake (1985), based on
models developed in Australia and on productivity data from Zimbabwe. The model uses potential
evapotranspiration, annual rainfall and soil-moisture holding capacity to give the potential productivity of natural
pastures with no tree or bush cover. The annual variations in production are also being calculated for a range of
sites. The order of the results (see Table 3) seems to be reasonable, but no experimental data are available to
support any conclusions. In addition, attempts are being made to link geological and soil-survey data, particularly
regarding soil fertility and calcium levels, to pasture quality and species composition Again few supporting
experimental data are available but it is hoped that this work will help in formulating guidelines for more rational
pasture utilization.

Table 3. Potential pasture primary-productivity estimates for four locations in Mozambique on different
unfertilized soil types at various probability levels

Location Mean Annual rainfall Potential evaporation % Total dry-matter production

(mm) (mm/year) probability a (tonnes/ha/year) b
100 mm AWC 200 mm AWC

75 0.72 0.73
50 1.06 1.09
Pafuri 357 2,024
25 1.42 1.47

75 1.92 2.02
50 2.51 2.77
Catuane 577 1,622
25 2.91 3.40

75 1.90 2.01
50 2.34 2.55
Tete 627 1,911
25 2.68 3.02

75 2.95 3.49
50 3.04 3.91
Ilha de 814 1,536
Mocambique 25 3.04 4.17

Source: Adapted from Reddy and Timberlake 1985.

a
. Percentage of total years at which value can be expected.
b
. Potential total dry matter production of natural grassland assuming no bush cover, negligible slope,
and soil fertility not limiting.
c
. 100 mm available water capacity soils represent sandy soils and 200 mm AWC soils represent clay
soils.

Improved pastures and forages

There exists much potential in Mozambique for the cultivation and use of forage crops as the country has adequate
rainfall and good potential for irrigation in many of the larger river valleys.

Traditional farmers do not normally feed their cattle or goats, relying on natural pastures or what the animals can
find for themselves. With the increased use of animal draught power in certain areas, and the gradual intensification
of production by some of the subsistence farmers, much effort will have to be put into determining suitable forage
species and practices, and the productivity levels possible.

Forages grown under irrigation or dry land are commonly used for dairy cattle on State farms. The major species
used for green feed is elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and, more locally, lucerne, siratro, Cenchrus ciliaris
and Leucaena (Timberlake and Dionisio 1984). No surveys have been made of smallholder usage but elephant
grass is grown widely and successfully in moister locations. Leucaena leucocephala has shown promise in some
areas (Ludemann 1984) and could prove well suited to traditional farmers' requirements and abilities, particularly for
goat production.

One crop occasionally grown by smallholders for its edible seed is Dolichos lablab (= Lablab purpureus). This
grows very well on better drained fertile soils in southern Mozambique with 600-800 mm rainfall, and remains green
through the dry season. It would seem to have good potential as a dual-purpose crop being already well known and
accepted. Sweet-potato leaves are often used as animal feed, and Amaranthus retroflexus is used as pig feed as
well as a vegetable in some areas (Basto 1984).

Investigations are being carried out on urea treatment of rice straw (de Vries, personal communication). The
technique is promising as large amounts of rice are grown by smallholders in parts of the Limpopo Valley and the
straw is presently unutilized. In this area animal traction is extensively used and there is an increasing shortage of
feed for the oxen. Large amounts of molasses are also available not too far away and it has been suggested that
some of this could be sold to ox-owners for supplementary feeding, particularly at the times of the year when
ploughing is in progress.

Some work has been carried out in recent years (Morgado 1985; Caulton and Wetlhii 1984; Pavesi 1985) into the
identification of various native plants of value in the feeding of rabbits, ducks and chickens. Some of more
widespread occurrence and use are shown in Table 4.

This work is continuing and it is hoped to obtain better data on their nutritive values, productivity and distribution in
view of the potential and increasing raising of rabbits and ducks by smallholders. One result of this study is that,
except on a very small scale, smallholders will have to devote some of their energies to the cultivation of suitable
forages if they wish to raise larger numbers of these types of animals.

The areas of Mozambique climatically suited to the establishment of improved pastures under relatively low inputs
and management (that is, those areas with a higher and more reliable rainfall) do not generally have a tradition of
ruminant livestock raising. There is not thought to be much potential in the short and medium term for the use of
any type of improved pasture in the smallholder sector.

Crop by-products and crop residues

Mozambique is a country with good agricultural potential and a range of crops can be grown. Many crops such as
sugar, coconuts, cotton, maize, rice and sunflower are grown on a commercial scale and their byproducts can be
used for animal feeds. Estimated or recorded quantities of these crops are shown in Table 5. Those used for animal
feeds in the commercial sector at present are molasses, copra cake, cotton-seed cake and sunflower seed cake.
Rice and maize bran are also used locally, but not sugarcane tops. The major problem with these byproducts is
distribution as most of the large-scale agricultural production is in the centre and north of the country while the
animal populations are in the south, which is less suited to crop production. Present levels of commercialized crop
production are quite low and supplies are not always reliable. With all of these crops, except sunflower, the majority
is produced by the State sector or by the larger private farms. Crop by-products are primarily used in the
manufacture of feedstuffs for State livestock enterprises. Ration production in 1983 was running at 28,500 tonnes,
of which 17,700 tonnes was for pigs.

Table 4. Some local plants as forage for small livestock species

Species Goats Pigs Rabbits Chickens Ducks

Amaranthus deflexus x x x x x
Psilotrichum boivinianum x x
Commelina benghalensis x x
Bidens pilosa x x x
Parthenium hysterophorus x x x
Sonchus cleraceus x x x
Tridax procumbrens x
Ipomoea plebia x x x
Merremia tuberosa x x x x
Cassia petersiana x
Crotalaria monteiroi x x x
Glycine wightii x x x x x
Leucaena leucocephala x x x x x
Stylosanthes mucronata x x x x x
Boerhavia erecta x x
Giesekia africana x x
Oxygonum delagoense x x
Portulaca cleracea x x
Richardia brasiliensis x x x
Solanum panduraeforme x x
Lantana camera x
Priva cordifolia x
Ficus elasticus x
Morus alba x
Ipomoea equatica x
Eichornia crassipes x

Source: Caulton and Wetlhii 1984, and others

Presently small farmers do not make much use of crop by-products as the distance from the processing plants can
be large, and little village-level processing takes place. Efforts are being made, particularly with chickens, to
encourage use of rations in the cooperative sector using locally available products. Work has been carried out on
the use of by-products (Wetlhii 1985), principally maize bran, for chicken and duck feed formulation in an attempt to
reduce the imported component in feed formulations. The use of maize husks for feeding goats, and rice and maize
bran for chickens and pigs, is often observed.

Few data exist on the importance or amounts of crop residues, but general observation shows that many fields are
heavily grazed in the dry season or when fallow. It would seem that crop residues are an important source of cattle
feed in the mixed-farming systems in southern Mozambique and in Angonia.

The areas where the major traditional-sector crops are grown are shown in Figure 2. In the cattle raising areas the
main grain crops are maize, sorghum, and locally, rice. Groundnuts, pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and cowpea
(Vigna unguiculata), are grown on lighter soils and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) on heavier soils, along with
small areas of Lablab purpureus, mung bean (Vigna mungo) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) (Heemskerk, personal
communication). On lighter soils cassava is extensively grown, sometimes for sale by smallholder producers to
commercial pig farms. Other crops are cotton, cashew, coconut, banana, sugarcane, pearl millet, finger millet,
sweet potato and sesame. Fruits such as guava, pawpaw and mango are often used for pig feed.

Present strategies and constraints

The most important limiting factor in commercial livestock production is shortage of trained manpower for
management. In recent years attention has been increasingly directed toward support of smallholder production
and lower-capital inputs.

The feed resources used by smallholders for livestock production at present are predominantly natural pastures for
cattle, sheep and goats. Even the few small farmers who possess genetically improved stock suitable for milk
production do not practice supplementary feeding. Pigs are raised predominantly on what they find for themselves
or on locally collected plant materials and scraps, while chickens mostly forage for themselves. Ducks and rabbits
are fed locally-collected plant materials which are not usually systematically cultivated.

In the commercial sector a certain amount of deferred grazing is practiced on beef ranches and hay is sometimes
made. Commercial dairy herds are raised on natural pastures with a certain proportion of silage, which is grown on
the farm, freshly-cut feeds (in particular elephant grass), and some rations. Pig production, which is mostly in the
State sector, is based on the use of rations, either mixed inside the country using what byproducts are available
(copra, cotton-seed cake, bran), or imported premixed. Some rabbit-breeding enterprises grow lucerne or siratro
under irrigation.

Present Government strategy regarding the use of feed resources is still in the process of formulation. The
increasing use of natural pastures and other locally available feed resources is being encouraged. In the
smallholder sector, particularly around the urban areas, the raising of small livestock species is being encouraged
as much as possible using feeds that can be collected locally.

Fig 2. - Spatial distribution of traditional crop zones - Mozambique

 by S.J. REDDY

Crop Condition (area %)

Paddy-rice >0
Maize ³ 35*
Sorghum + Cotton ³ 35**
Pearl millet >0
Cassava ³ 20

* South of 20°S latitude the maize area also includes beans and groundnuts
** In the sorghum + cotton zone, cotton is grown only in the north-western regions
Source: CARVALHO, M. (1969)
FAO/UNDP (MOZ/81/015)

Within the smallholder sector, particularly regarding cattle, it seems that a major constraint is marketing not feed
availability. But the availability of dry-season feed is a limiting factor to increased production. This limitation could
be overcome, most importantly (a) by better distribution of water sources, and also (b) by deferred grazing, which
implies a degree of fencing or more rigid herding practices, (c) by control of wild fires, and (d) by the use of hay,
silage or small areas of improved forages. Point (d), however, requires a certain input of energy and mechanization
which limits its suitability at present. Small areas of improved forage under low-cost irrigation on suitable soils,
possibly associated with small dam spillovers, show much potential in certain areas if inputs can be kept low.
However, conflicts with the growing of human foods will arise. The relatively high carrying capacities and smaller
herd sizes than found in some surrounding countries mean cattle are kept closer to the village and often under
reasonable control, and so controlled regular access to supplementary feed is perhaps easier.

Constraints in smallholder pig, chicken, duck and rabbit production primarily revolve around quantity of feed,
followed by quality. The increasing use of small areas of cultivated forages, especially indigenous ones not
requiring imported seed, is the only way to overcome this.

Tsetse are a major limiting factor on livestock distribution but can also produce productivity substantially in some
localized areas. The presence of the Amblyomma tick which destroys quarters of the udder can be a serious
limitation to milk production and increase calf mortality. Otherwise health problems are less important than those
associated with poor feeding.

Research priorities
Not much research has been carried out in Mozambique on pastures and animal feeds. Perhaps our biggest gap is
in knowledge and understanding of the predominantly mixed farming systems in which so much of our livestock
production takes place. In view of the low effective numbers of livestock of all types in the country, their present
distribution, and the relatively rich and varied agricultural resources available, the following are thought to be the
major areas for applied investigation in the next few years:

1. Inventory of existing farming systems involving livestock, including determination of herd size,
grazing patterns, feeds utilized, distribution and use of water, strategies for overcoming dry-season feed
shortages, importance of draught power, and use of crop residues;

2. Inventory of productivity and quality of natural pastures;

3. Productivity levels and quality of crop residues and crop by-products and ways of utilizing them
better urea-treated straw, etc.;

4. Determination of appropriate methods of grazing control allowing for reduction in or control of bush
encroachment;

5. Determination of intermediate farming systems for goats, pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits.

References
Basto, X. (1984). Estudos sobre o Amarantho (Studies on Amaranthus spp.). Mimeo report, EMOCHA, Gurue,
Mozambique.
Dionisio, A.C. (1985). Evolucao da producao pecuaria na Republica Popular de Mocambique com especial enfase
pare bovinos de corte. (Evolution of animal production in RPM with especial reference to beef cattle.) Report of
IREMA, Min. of Agriculture, Maputo.

Caulton, E. and Wetlhii, E. (1984). Algumas plantas silvestres com importancia pare a alimentacao dos animais
domesticos. (Some wild plants of importance for feeding of domestic animals.) Direccao Nacional Tecnica Agraria,
Ministerio da Agricultura, Maputo.

Comissao Nacional do Plano. (1985). Informacao estatistica 1975-1984. Direccao Nacional de Estatistica, Maputo.

FAO, (1982a). Mozambique: livestock production and health. Project findings and recommendations. Terminal
report of FAO MOZ/75/008. FAO, Rome.

FAO, (1982b). Animal disease control and eradication. Report to Veterinary Research Institute, Mozambique.
Consultants' report GCP/MOZ/018/SW. FAO, Rome.

FAO, (1983). Preparation of livestock development project in Mugada, Mozambique. Report of TCP/MOZ/2202.
FAO, Rome.

Ludemann, R. (1984). Pastos amelhorados e Leucaena. (Improved pastures and Leucaena.) Centro Rural de
Desenvolvimento M'tengo Umodzi, Angonia. Internal report to Department of Rural Development, Min. Of
Agriculture, Maputo.

Morgado, F.P. (1985). A necessidade dum melhor conhecimento e aproveitamento dos recursos espontaneos na
producao animal. (The necessity for a better knowledge and use of natural resources in animal production.)
Agricultura Boletim Tecnico 1 (1): 9-12. CEDASPE, Maputo.

Pavesi, M. (1985). Potencialidades sobre a cunicultura em Mozambique. (The potential for rabbit raising in
Mozambique.) Report for Livestock Production Seminar, Maputo (in prep.).

Reddy, S.J. and Timberlake, J. (1985). A simple method for the estimation of primary pasture productivity over
Mozambique. Unpublished report.

Timberlake, J.R. & Dionisio, A.C. (1984). Country paper for Mozambique. Presented at IDRC/SADCC workshop on
African pastures, Harare, September 1984.

UDC. (1981). Arrolamento de gado bovino em Mocambique, Dezembro de 1981 (cattle census). Mimeo., Ministry of
Agriculture, Maputo.

  
   

Session I: Inventory of animal feed resources

Rapporteur's Report: (N.A. Urio)

Summarized under:

A. The main feed resources.

B. The limitations/constraints on utilization and improving productivity of feed

resources.

C. What has been done on utilization and improving productivity of feed

resources.

D. What could be done to improve further the utilization and productivity of the
feed resources.

The Main Feed Resources

1. Natural grasslands/permanent pastures.

2. Planted/established pastures/forage crops.
3. Crop residues.
4. Agro-industrial byproducts.
5. Others.

Note: Except for a few countries, it was generally observed that there was a lack of qualitative
as well as quantitative data on each of the above outlined feed resources.

1. Natural Grasslands

The main pastures species include: Themeda, Hyparrhenia Brachiaria, Heteropogon, Aristida,
Eragrostis, shrubs, trees, and indigenous legumes.

Constraints

The main constraints identified under this feed resource are:

(i) Seasonal and low productivity of natural grasslands, including conspicuous

absence of legume species.

(ii) Lack of proper management, including serious overgrazing.

(iii) The inherent communal land-tenure systems which hamper efforts to improve
management of the grasslands.

(iv) The inability to effectively carry out destocking.

What has been done:

(i) There has been some change in some countries (e.g. Kenya) on the land-
tenure system from communal to individual ownership, which tends to facilitate
proper management.
 (ii) There has been some controlled grazing through fencing of grazing areas (e.g.
Botswana and Zimbabwe), although the shortage of fencing materials is a major
constraint.

(iii) There has been a limited introduction of legume species in grazing lands (e.g.
in Swaziland in the past, and now in Zimbabwe).

(iv) There has been some efforts in providing more watering points in grazing
lands.

What could be done:

(i) More realistic and effective approach to the problem of overstocking.

(ii) Improvement on management aspects of grasslands, including grazing

management, introduction of more productive pasture species including legumes
spp., and provision of more watering points.

2. Established Pastures

It was generally observed that broadly, these currently play a limited feed resource, and are
specifically more important in intensively cultivated areas and in high population density areas.
The main pasture species under this feed resource include Napier grass, Guatamala grass,
Setaria, Rhodes grass and limited amount of legume species such as Alfalfa, Stylosanthes,
Desmodiums, Siratro and Trifoliums.

Constraints:

(i) The productivity of the established pastures has not been fully exploited in
terms of proper agronomical practices including use of proper varieties for each
ecological zone, or the inclusion of legume species into the pasture leys.

(ii) Lack of pasture seed especially legume seeds.

(iii) Lack of technology among smallholder farmers, on establishment of pastures.

What has been done:

(i) There has been considerable use of three pasture species viz Napier grass,
Setaria spp, and Guatamale grass among smallholder farmers.

(ii) There has been some improvement on agronomical practices e.g. spacing and
manure application with considerable increase in yield of such spp. as Napier
grass (e.g. in Kenya).

(iv) There has been some characterization of forage crops for different ecological
zones e.g. in Ethiopia and Burundi.

(v) There has been some introduction of fodder trees like leucaena and others.

What could be done:

(i) There is a need to devise a production system that will ensure a continuous
supply of forage throughout the year either by increasing yield and productivity of
the forage crops through better agronomical practices, and or inclusion of suitable
legume species in the pasture leys.

(ii) There is a need to devise suitable technology of forage conservation for the
 smallholder farmer.

(iii) Production of pasture seeds for both promising grasses and legumes.

3. Crop Residues

This feed resource include mainly crop left overs after havest i.e. stovers and straws and
include such materials as maize stover, sorghum stover, millet stovers, rice straw and various
forms of pulses straws/haulms.

Constraints:

(i) Generally observed that the crop residues are low in feeding value, and are
particularly deficient in nitrogen.

(ii) The mode of harvest and transport limit their efficient utilization. They are
generally bulky materials and the feeding practice either grazing in situ or stall
feeding results into considerable losses especially of the leafy portions.

(iii) Some of the crop residues are produced in places far from user sites.

What has been done:

(i) Limited characterization and inventory of available quantities in terms of their

nutritive value and quantities produced annually.

(ii) Crop residues have generally been accepted as an important feed resource
and are incorporated into the various feeding systems.

(iii) There has been some improvement of the feeding value of the crop residues
by supplementation with urea, molasses and oil seed cakes. Attempts to improve
the nutritive value of crop residues through chemical treatments have not
effectively taken off due to rise in the price of the chemicals as well as the
unreliability on the supply of the chemicals.

What could be done:

(i) Proper inventories and characterization of the crop residues available in each
country.

(ii) Improvement on utilization of the crop residues through supplementation for the
limiting nutrients.

(iii) Improvement on methods of harvesting and handling of the residues to

minimize wastages.

4. Agro-Industrial By-products

These broadly include sugarcane industrial by-products such as sugarcane tops, baggasse
and molasses, cereal milling by-products, oilseed cakes and brewers waste.

(i) Lack of proper inventories and characterization of the byproducts.

(ii) Lack of proper and efficient distribution and market networks for the by-
products from production sites to user sites.

(iii) Exportation of some by-products at the expense of local demands.

 (iv) Wide variation on quality of by-products due to differences in processing
methods.

What has been done:

(i) Wide use of the by-products in various feeding systems e.g. molasses urea by-
products in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.

(ii) Inclusion of cereal by-products and oilseed cakes into various compounded
livestock rations.

(iii) There has been attempts to improve the distribution networks for the by-
products.

(iv) There has been some studies to characterize the nutritive values of a number
of by-products.

What could be done:

Generally efforts could be directed towards the four constraints outlined above.

  
   

Fodder for high-potential areas in Kenya

A. Abate, D. Kayongo-Male and M. Wanyoike

Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi

P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Types of fodder
Nutritive value
Non-conventional sources of fodder
Factors limiting increased use of fodder crops
Conclusion
References

Abstract
Fodder crops that are or could be used in the high-potential areas of Kenya for purposes of
maximizing animal production are identified and discussed in terms of their nutritive value and
efficient utilization by animals. The DM productivity of most of the fodder crops was found to be
about five times that produced by a common pasture species such as Rhodes grass (Chloris
gayana). Data on in vivo digestibility, intake and performance of livestock when fed fodder are
lacking, however, and information on chemical composition is scanty. It is suggested that feed
resources be expanded to include crops other than the now well established Napier grass
(Pennisetum purpureum) and that the defoliation practiced on maize be tried on other cereal
crops. In a multi-disciplinary approach, it was recommended that research be directed towards
evaluation of food crops which also double as fodder, and to multipurpose trees and shrubs,
for the benefit of farmers in the high-potential areas.

Introduction
The high-potential areas of Kenya comprise about 15% of the total area of the country. They
lie between 1,800 and 3,000 m above sea level and on average receive at least 1,200 mm of
rainfall per annum spread in a bimodal pattern (Figure 1). Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum
clandestinum) and star grass (Cynodon dactylon) predominate in the natural grass cover.
Agricultural activity is intense in holdings that constitute about 55% of the smallholder areas of
Kenya (Stotz 1979). Mixed farming is common on farms that average less than 4 hectares.
The major crop enterprises include coffee, tea, maize, pyrethrum and horticultural crops.
Dairying is important to the extent that about 82% of all the grade dairy cattle in Kenya are
kept in the high-potential areas. In addition, there is a sizeable amount of sheep farming.

Increasing population pressure, coupled with a bias towards cash and food-crop production,
has seriously limited the amount of land under grazing in these areas. This has led to the
development of intensive systems of livestock production which include:

(a) Grazing animals by day and stalling or enclosing them at night to be fed fodder
crops and farm by-products in a system known as semi-zero grazing;
 (b) Feeding animals entirely on fodder crops and crop residues in stalls or
enclosed areas in a cut-and-carry system or zero-grazing.

Figure 1. DISTRIBUTION OF THE HIGH POTENTIAL AREAS. (1200-2000 mm rain p.a.) OF

KENYA

Key

Kt - Kitale
Ka - Kakamega
Na - Nanyuki
Me - Meru
Nb - Nairobi
 Ma - Machakos
Mo - Mombasa

Fodder, therefore, is that forage that is fed to animals in confinement. It is the intention of this
presentation to examine those fodder crops that are or could be used in the high-potential
areas for the purpose of maximizing animal production.

Types of fodder
In the classification given in Table 1, an attempt has been made to distinguish between crops
that are grown primarily for fodder and those whose contribution to fodder is secondary.
Accordingly, we have the following main classes:

Table 1. Productivity and nutritive value of fodder for the high-potential areas of Kenya

Productivity (tonnes DM Crude protein (g kg - Crude Ca P (MJ kg -1

ha -1 y -1 ) 1 DM) fibre DM)

Pure fodder cross

Napier grass 12.6 a 128 354 3.6 1.8 6.7

Bana grass Sudan 9.0 a 127 394 5.2 4.2 -

grass
Tree legumes
Leucaena - 260 233 - - -
leucocephala
Sesbania sp. - 280 172 - - -
Gliricidia sp. - 260 - - - -
Other fodder crops
Green maize 20-26 180 580 - - -
Forage sorghum - 78 161 0.5 3.4 10.4
Pigeon peas 15-18 200 262 8.7 8.2 -
Cassava tops 10-30 270 240 2.6 1.8 -
Banana leaves - 160 200 5.8 1.8 9.6
Sugarcane tops - 47 303 - 1.5 6.8
Sweet-potato vines 14-16 234 169 14.2 3.3 8.9

a
Per havest

Pure Fodder Crops

The Ministry of Agriculture recognized the highly productive nature of Napier grass
(Pennisetum purpureum) and launched a scheme for its popularization (Chema 1984). Napier
grass has now become the key fodder crop among smallholders practicing stall feeding. It is
intercropped with coffee and grown in all areas unsuitable for grazing and/or production of
food and cash crops, including road sides and river banks. The other fodder crops have
received less attention, but some, such as Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense), have shown
potential under similar production conditions. Available-data in Kenya suggest an annual
increase of area under fodder of about 17.0% (MLD 1978).

Multipurpose Trees/Shrubs

The multipurpose trees and shrubs identified so far are the legume trees. The practice has
been to use them as hedgerows dividing cultivated fields, to cultivate them as shade trees and
windbreaks around homesteads, and to grow them specifically to provide firewood.

Recently, however, farmers have become aware of the high fodder-producing potential of tree
legumes and have been particularly keen on feeding Leucaena leucocephala leaves and pods
to sheep and dairy goats (Russo 1984).

Other Fodder Crops

The crops in this category are grown primarily for human-food production, but their ability to
produce forage in the form of leaves and pods is considerable. Sorghum and maize may be
harvested before ear formation and fed as such or after ear formation and conserved by
ensiling, except that in smallholder farms scarcity of resources does not allow for conservation
even in periods of plenty. Pigeon peas and cassava plants have the added advantage of
being drought-resistant. Sweet-potato vines are already widely fed, while banana leaves and
pseudostems alleviated the severe shortage of feed in the last drought period of 1984.

Nutritive value
The nutritive value of feed for livestock is determined by its content of dry matter, crude protein
and crude fibre, digestibility of organic matter and the voluntary intake of ME and the other
nutrients (Abate et al 1984). For milking animals, the concentration of calcium and phosphorus
is also important (Underwood 1979).

Table 1 gives some of these data for some of the fodder crops listed earlier. It shows that the
dry-matter productivity of most of the fodder craps is about five times that of a common
pasture species such as Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). Except for sugarcane tops and
forage sorghum, the crude-protein content is well above the 7% level known to limit the intake
of tropical forage (Milford and Minson 1966). The concentration of macro-elements seems
sufficient to support lactation if the fodder is appropriately supplemented with minerals.

There is hardly any information on in vivo digestibility, intake and performance of livestock
when fed fodder. There is, therefore, a great need to investigate these parameters to provide
more data.

Non-conventional sources of fodder

The non-conventional methods of obtaining fodder have been developed as a result of efforts
to integrate crop and animal production with benefits to both. The methods that have been
tried or seen to be practical by farmers in the high-potential areas are mainly with maize
varieties of the 500 and 600 series. The methods of interest include topping, thinning and
defoliation.

Topping involves cutting off the top of the maize plant above the ear. It is known to be
practiced by some farmers in the Central Province of Kenya but definitive scientific data are
lacking-. There are suggestions that maize plants should be topped at 3.5-4.5 months of
growth but the effect of the material so harvested on animal production is not known. It has,
however, been reported that topping reduces grain yield by 15%, a figure which is biologically,
socially and economically substantial (Russo 1984).

Thinning is reduction of a high population of maize plants per unit area. The recommended
plant population for the 500 and 600 hybrids is about 44,500 per ha. Farmers who practice
thinning achieve higher plant densities either by closer spacing or by planting more seeds than
the usual two per hole. When plants are knee high, or between 4 and 6 weeks old, the excess
plants are removed and fed to animals. The dry-matter content of thinned maize plants is low
(10–12%) and this could lead to digestive problems or scouring. Moreover, a farmer would
thin only once, and therefore would have to face the problem of storing a bulky material with a
high moisture content.

To defoliate is to deprive a plant of leaves prematurely. With maize, our experience has been
that systematic picking of one leaf per plant once a week produced between 1.0 and 1.2
tonnes of dry matter per ha in a season. The best times to start plucking the leaves varies
from 90 to 120 days post-emergence depending on location, but generally can be said to be
about 30 days after silking. Since a large proportion of maize in Kenya is grown in the high-
potential areas, defoliation is an attractive method of increasing animal resources. The cost of
labour involved in collecting the material is also minimal. In one hour an individual can collect
about 7.0 kg dry matter which can feed six mature sheep in a day.

The quality parameters of fresh maize leaves are given in Table 2. The data show that maize
leaves posses nutritional characteristics that can support ruminant animal production better
than the commonest fodder crop in the high-potential areas (Table 3).

Table 2. Average quality of defoliated maize leaves

Parameter Mean (%)

Crude protein 12.6
Acid detergent fibre 43.0
Acid detergent lignin 7.4
Dry-matter digestibility 56.8

Table 3. Performance of sheep and cattle when fed fresh maize leaves or Napier grass

Sheep Cattle
Fresh maize leaves Napier grass Fresh maize leaves

Initial weight (kg) 20.2 21.0 68.3

Final weight (kg) 29.8 24.9 87.2
DMI, gd 890.0 690.0 2,660.0
ADG, g 136.0 48.0 336.0
FCE 6.5 14.0 7.9

Defoliation has not been widely adopted by farmers in the high-potential areas, probably
because there are certain problems associated with it. These are:

(a) Defoliation causes loss in grain yield. By some estimates, up to 25% of the
yield may be lost if defoliation is not properly done. Thus the time to start
defoliating and frequency of defoliation need precise definition by location and
variety in order to minimize grain loss.

(b) There seems to be a relationship between defoliation and increased lodging.

The factors contributing to this have not been quantified but appear to be a
combination of poor root development, stem elongation, poor stem lignification
and force exerted on the plant during defoliation. However, research at the
Department of Animal Production, University of Nairobi seems to support these
physical factors as being connected with lodging.

(c) Like everything that depends on rain for its growth, fresh maize leaves are
available only during the growing season when grazing is also plentiful. Methods
 of preserving excess material, therefore, need to be developed. In the Department
of Animal Production, the following methods of conservation have been tried on a
pilot basis: sun drying, shed drying, and blanching coupled with sun drying. The
first two methods would be appropriate for the smallholder in the high-potential
areas. Blanching has an energy requirement and would be expensive.

Factors limiting increased use of fodder crops

Excepting Napier grass, the use of fodder in the high-potential areas of Kenya has not been
widely practiced. A number of constraints can be invoked to explain this.

Population Pressure

In the smallholdings, a high population density of 8-10 persons per 12 ha implies that the
demand for food far outweighs the desire of farmers to meet the feed requirements of their
stock. The situation is aggravated by sub-division of land into ever smaller plots which means
the space that could be used for growing fodder is progressively diminishing. We foresee even
smaller holdings due to the high population growth rate, quoted at 4% per annum (Republic of
Kenya 1981); and a shifting of the small-scale farmer's attention-towards growing dual-
purpose food crops and multipurpose trees and shrubs, leaving pure fodders to the large-
scale farmers.

Research Information

The volume of past research on the agronomic aspects of high-potential-area fodders is small.
But more important, the limited information available is not being disseminated to the farmer
quickly enough and in a form that he can immediately utilize. Research needs to identify the
type of material to plant in accordance with the climatic and soil properties and the fertilization
practices of a given locality. Equally, optimum harvesting time needs investigating so that
harvesting is done when dry matter and the nutritive value of the forage are at their optimum.
The dry-matter producing capacity of materials planted on the small-scale farms should be
quantified. Factors such as cutting height, frequency of cutting and methods of feeding require
studying as they affect the acceptability and efficiency with which the fodders can be utilized.
Appropriate intermediate technology needs to be developed for the small-scale farmer to
enable him to process his fodder and ensure maximum intake or to allow him to conserve it
for dry-season use. The results of such research should then be communicated to the array of
agricultural extension workers in the field.

Labour

Labour on a mixed farm in the high-potential areas would be required to cut and carry forage,
manage the animals and ensure an adequate water supply, among other requirements. The
demand for labour is particularly intense in the zero-grazing system during planting and
weeding of fodder, which also coincides with the peak labour requirements for other crops.

The labour constraint to the use of fodder is very much tied to the farm size. Studies
undertaken in Kenya suggest that zero-grazing was justifiable only where the returns to
increased output of surplus family labour were greater than the would-be income from off-farm
employment. This phenomenon obtained in the small farms but capital inputs were frequently
lacking. For larger holdings, zero-grazing was less attractive because labour resources were in
short supply (Stotz 1979).

Management Problems

In many cases forage yields from planted fodder crops are low because repeated harvesting
depletes the soil of nutrients which are then not replenished. Farmers should, therefore, be
educated on the value of fertilizer application for increasing crop production and be advised to
practice it either using chemical fertilizers, or more appropriately, manure which would also
improve the texture of the soil.

Conclusion
In addressing ourselves to problems of fodder production in the high-potential areas of Kenya,
we have taken note of the positive contribution of Napier grass. Its dry-matter productivity is
phenomenal. But there are gaps to be filled in terms of agronomic practices that would go a
long way towards ensuring even higher practices that would go a long way towards ensuring
even higher productivity and more efficient utilization by animals. We have also been careful to
point out that availability of land may not favour the growing of pure fodder crops especially if
the present annual population growth rate of 4% is maintained. We are suggesting, therefore,
a fresh look at potential fodder-producing crops and an aggressive research commitment to
their evaluation. This is in line with Government policy as spelled out in sessional Paper No. 4
of 1981 on national food policy which urges an intensification of land utilization for food and
livestock production so that energy and protein in excess of the national average per caput
nutritional requirement may be produced. In particular, we mentioned food crops which also
double as fodder, and multipurpose trees and shrubs. There is also need to popularize the
defoliation, topping and thinning practices that have been applied on maize and to extend
them to other cereal crops. Such an approach would, we believe, benefit farmers in the high-
potential areas of Kenya and beyond in the wider context of agricultural development in Africa.

References
Abate, A., Kayongo-Male, H., Abate, A.N. and Wachira, J.D. (1984). Chemical composition,
digestibility and intake of Kenya feedstuffs by ruminants: a review. Nutrition Abstracts and
Reviews 54: 1-13.

Chema, S. (1984). Milk production in Kenya. In: J.A. Kategile (ed.). The potential for small-
scale milk production in Eastern and Southern Africa. Proceedings of a workshop held in
Nairobi, Kenya, 19-21 September.

Kenya, Republic of. (1981). Sessional Paper No. 4 on National Food Policy. Government
Printer, Nairobi.

Milford, R. and Minson, D.J. (1966). Intake of tropical pasture species. Proceedings of the 9th
International Grassland Congress, Sao Paulo, pp. 815-822.

MLD (Ministry of Livestock Development). Animal Production Division Annual Report.

Government Printer, Nairobi.

Russo, S. (1984). Feed production research for smallholder agriculturists in Western Kenya.
In: Report of a networkshop on draught power and animal feeding in Eastern and Southern
Africa. Ezulwini, Swaziland, 4-6 October 1983.

Stotz, D. (1979). Smallholder dairy development in past, present and future in Kenya. Ph.D.
Thesis, University of Hohenheim.

Underwood, E.J. (1979). The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock (2nd ed.) Commonwealth
Agricultural Bureau.

  
   

Research on animal feed resources: Medium-potential areas of Kenya

D.M. Thairu and S. Tessema

National Dryland Farming Research Station, Katumani,

P.O. Box 340, Machakos, Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Natural pasture grazing
Vegetation
Plant factors affecting nutritive value of natural herbage
Planted pastures
Crop residues
Summary
References

Abstract
The research studies carried out on animal-feed resources at the Katumani Research Station have shown
that the problem of continuity of feed supply should be addressed by designing an integrated feeding system
that includes the improvement of natural pastures, the production of pasture grasses and fodder crops and
the increased use of crop residues in combination with legume fodders such as Leucaena, if adequate
nutrition for livestock is to be ensured.

Introduction
The semi-arid regions of Kenya account for about 60% (342,000 km²) of the country's surface area.
Although extensive, they are not homogenous. The areas cover a wide range of physical features, including
flat lands and gently rolling or steep and rugged hills and valleys. Elevations range from 700 m to 1800 m.
Slopes can be as much as 30%, making large areas prone to erosion. The majority of soil types are
relatively shallow, and range from well drained reddish soils to loamy and stony sands with a limited
capacity for storing water.

The rainfall is noted for being low in most years and for its erratic occurrence. The annual rainfall pattern is
monomodal in certain areas (west of the Rift Valley) and bimodal in other areas (east of the Rift Valley). For
5-7 months of the year the climate over most of these areas is mild or hot resulting in high
evapotranspiration. Areas with less than 500 mm of rainfall are considered to be too dry for rain-fed
cultivated pasture with the current available technology.

Research work in pasture and animal production at the National Dryland Farming Research Station,
Katumani, is aimed at finding ways of increasing feed resources in smallholder agricultural systems of
dryland areas and developing technologies and management systems that will improve animal productivity
and profitability.

Natural pasture grazing

Under the present livestock-raising system practiced by small-scale farmer, almost all the feed supply for
livestock in the semi-arid areas comes from herbage on non-arable natural grazing lands or fallowed crop
lands. A fixed rate of stocking is generally practiced by farmers as they do not have the option of decreasing
stock numbers during the dry season or increasing them during the growing season. This situation almost
always results in high grazing pressures leading to soil erosion and land degradation. Many areas become
bare and others have been ingressed by scrub bush and unpalatable species which diminish the effective
grazing area.

The experimental work carried out on these pastures included assessments of:
 (a) Their productivity and nutritive value;
(b) The appropriate grazing pressure to be employed; and
(c) The contribution that these pastures can make to the year-round feeding system.

Vegetation
The vegetation of semi-arid areas is generally described as savannah, being almost treeless in some areas
and with a scattering of trees in other areas (Rattray 1960). Although rainfall, temperature, soil conditions
and topography are the main factors that determined the original distribution of vegetation in semi-arid
areas, the tree/grass complex that is observed today is largely a direct expression of different degrees of
man's disturbance to which the vegetation has been subjected in the recent past; i.e. fire, grazing, tillage,
fuelwood extraction, and other activities. Large areas are covered by dense deciduous thicket and bush
surrounded by areas that have degenerated under overgrazing. Natural swards found under thick thorny
bushes where livestock have not been able to get at them contain an abundance of good grazing species.

Table 1 shows the distribution of grasses in combination with herbaceous plants, shurbs and trees as well as
information on the percentage of plant species collected from bush and where grazing pressure has been
controlled. The collected herbage was separated into major species of grasses and broad/leafed weeds.
Trees and shrubs were only identified in the field and the most prominent species were Acacia spp.
Combretum spp. Commiphora africana and Indigophera sp. It can be seen from the table that a wealth of
very good grass and browse species grow in these environments when given the opportunity. Some of the
grasses are of very high quality during the growing season and would be comparable to good-quality fodder
crops. Even during the dry season when the grasses are extremely scarce, livestock browse to a
considerable extent on the shrubs and herbs which are still succulent and high in nutritive value.

Dry-matter Production of Natural Pastures

Estimates of forage biomass were obtained from 3 m² enclosure cages which were moved to new sites
every 20 days throughout the year. All plant material within the cage was harvested and weighed in the field.
In order to overcome bias four cages were used at a time and they were placed at random on each cutting
date. Samples of the vegetation harvested were oven dried at 65°C for 48 hours and the percentage
composition and biomass data are given on an oven-dried basis that allows comparisons to be made
irrespective of the moisture content of various species.

The biomass and percentage dry matter and rainfall during each cutting period are given in Table 2. The
table shows that the natural pastures grow very fast with the onset of the rains and by the end of the rains
the grasses have flowered and set seed. In eight weeks, most grasses will have completed their
reproductive cycle and dormant and have set seed until the next season. The dry-matter accumulation at
each cutting, shown in Table 2, shows marked seasonal variation which is closely related to precipitation.
The total annual dry-matter yield of 2,335 kg per hectare, extrapolated from the clipping measurements,
represents reasonably high dry-matter production. It must be pointed out, however, that this production level
was from well managed grassland on an experimental station which is an indication only of what can
potentially be achieved in a semi-arid environment. Dry-matter yields of open grasslands under farm or
communal-grazing conditions are 25–50% lower than the yields obtained from clipping studies.

Plant factors affecting nutritive value of natural herbage

This fast growth and development of the pasture grasses is normally accompanied by rapid deposition of
fibrous components making them less digestible by ruminants. Table 3 gives the chemical composition and
in vitro dry-matter digestibilities of the natural grassland vegetation on various cutting dates. The values are
averages for three years, including two good ones and one bad. The detergent system of partitioning forage
dry-matter into cell wall and cell contents (Van Soest 1978), as well as the proximate-analysis method were
employed. The in vitro dry matter disappearance system employed was the modified Tilley and Terry (1963)
method using the cellulose enzyme in the second stage of the analysis.

It can be seen from the table that the time when the natural vegetation has a high nutritional value is limited
to short period of rapid growth which last no more than two months. A rapid increase in crude-protein (of
7.47-10.11%) is observed in response to the first rains during November and December. From then onwards
the drop is rapid (6.99% in January and 5.46% in February). The crude-protein content responded similarly
to the second rains, with rising values in March (10.53%, April 10.9% and May 10.1%). The crude-protein
content goes down to 4.40 to 5.12% during the dry months of August and October.

Figures, 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the relationships between date of cutting and the composition of various plant
parts in the natural pasture herbage. The corresponding analysis of variances are shown in Table 4.
Table 1. Species composition of natural herbage and percentage occurrence of each species at
different cutting dates

Species CUTTING DATES

21/11/84 5/12/84 7/1/85 5/2/85 5/3/85 4/4/85 6/5/85 20/5/85 5/7/85 5/8/85 5/9/85

GRASSES
1. Themeda triandra 49.69 50.75 15.5 - 16.49 13.41 31.59 14.48 22.23 32.01 34.09
2. Sporobolus fimbriatus 6.32 - - - 6.72 8.14 0,37 - - - -
3. Cenchrus ciliaris 15.72 6.41 - 5.47 4.38 - 0.64 2.08 1.82 2.22 2.66
4. Digitaria milanjiana 9.21 20.97 3.3 40.41 0.92 - 3.89 - - - -
5. Digitaria abyssinica 0.33 1.92 - - 1.80 16.03 2.25 0.70 8.45 - 3.45
6. Eragrostis superba - 0.86 0.8 - - 4.21 1.18 - - - 1.73
7. Eragrostis cilianensis - - - - - - 1.08 5.11 - - -
8. Eustachyus paspaloides 0.94 1.02 - - - - - - - - -
9. Aristida adcensionia 0.56 1.25 3.2 - 1.23 - - - - - -
10. Aristida kenyensis - - - 3.86 22.69 44.78 36.84 32.17 43.51 61.79 58.05
11. Panicum maximum - - 8.9 9.60 - - 4.17 - - - -
12. Cynodon spp. - 1.22 - 14.24 - - - 0.61 - - -
13. Bothriachloa insculpta - 0.71 - 5.63 - - - - - - -
14. Heteropogon contortus - - 3.1 19.99 - 9.61 6.51 9.58 6.48 1.64 -
BROAD-LEAFED WEEDS
1. Solanum incanum - - 1.3 - 3.53 3.09 - 8.92 - - -
2. Polygala sphenoptera - - 2.2 - 15.13 - 0.80 1.04 2.91 - -
3. Umbelliferae 3.18 3.12 - - - - - - - - -
4. Papilionaceae - 10.08 2.2 - 4.03 - - 6.40 - - -
5. Commelina sp. 0.35 - 16.1 5.76 - 5.69 0.93 0.67 1.81 - -
INDETERMINABLE SPECIMEN 13.68 3.38 30.5 - 23.0 - 6.51 18.0 13.0 2.0 -

Figure 1. Relationship between date of cutting and crude protein (%) content natural pasture herbage
(1980-1983) Katumani
Figure 2. Relationship between date of cutting and acid detergent fibre (%) natural pasture herbage
(1980-1983) Katumani
Figure 3. Relationship between date of cutting and lignin (%) content natural pasture herbage (1980-
1983) Katumani
Figure 4. Relationship between date of cutting and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (%) natural pasture
herbage (1980-1983) Katumani
Table 2. Monthly rainfall, dry-matter production (kg/ha) and percentage dry matter of the herbage
from natural grazing lands

Months Rainfall (mm) Dry-matter production (kg/ha) DM %

November 154 292 40
December 80 318 40
January 56 191 35
February 43 134 63
March 73 191 58
April 115 109 45
Nay 64 298 48
June 11 287 59
July 4 156 59
August 4 188 70
September 7 171 73
TOTAL 611 2,335

Table 3. Chemical composition and in vitro dry-matter digestibility of natural pasture herbage at
various cutting dates

Date of cutting CHEMICAL COMPOSITION In vitro matter

Digestibility
% ASH % CP % NDF % ADF % ADL % CELL % HEM % CELL
9/12 9.06 10.11 71.12 44.53 5.61 34.64 26.79 52.44
31/12 8.13 7.77 73.29 46.34 6.38 34.56 26.95 46.16
22/1 7.86 6.39 74.01 46.01 6.30 35.86 28.01 45.80
13/2 7.25 5.46 75.64 47.26 6.87 36.16 28.38 42.97
7/3 9.38 10.58 68.16 42.67 6.25 32.31 24.99 55.22
29/3 10.05 10.48 66.22 44.13 6.86 34.02 22.09 50.18
20/4 9.81 10.90 70.01 44.15 5.04 32.95 25.86 54.57
12/5 8.67 10.90 71.53 47.08 5.73 37.59 24.45 48.00
3/6 7.64 6.99 73.28 48.88 6.04 39.06 24.40 42.96
25/6 7.05 5.59 73.04 49.30 6.70 38.81 23.54 40.00
17/7 7.02 5.68 75.32 49.60 6.60 39.61 25.72 38.19
8/8 8.59 4.82 72.28 49.76 6.64 38.16 22.52 41.70
31/8 9.49 4.40 78.17 51.54 8.22 38.52 26.63 39.66
21/9 7.47 5.12 78.19 53.84 8.63 41.27 24.35 36.48
13/10 7.65 4.88 73.52 57.04 8.58 39.83 16.49 31.73
3/11 9.19 7.47 74.57 53.85 7.07 38.93 22.19 40.30

The crude-protein composition showed the greatest change per unit of time. It ranged from 4.40 (August) to
10.90 (April and December). The proportion of cell wall, as determined by neutral detergent fibre (NDF) did
not show significant changes with time (Table 4). It ranged from 66.22% (March) to 78.19% (August). As this
fraction includes the hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, it is the fundamental characteristic of the plant as it
is the first stable product of photosynthesis and must remain so throughout the life of the plant. The acid
detergent fibre (ADF) portion of the plants shows highly significant changes with dates of cutting (Table 4).
The ADF fraction, as determined by the acid detergent solution, recovers cellulose as well as lignin in the
plant.

Table 4. Analysis of variance data of plant characteristics and cutting dates

Source of CP NDF ADF ADL CELL HEMCELL IVDMS

variation df MS F df MS F df MS F df MS F df MS F df MS F df MS F

Between 9 22.25 2.80 9 28.00 98 9 56.26 3.91 9 3.38 3.48 9 26.62 2.80 9 21.23 87 9 155.54 2.55
dates (a) NS (b) (a) (b) NS (a)

Within 30 7.96 31 28.45 31 14.40 30 30 9.52 31 24.49 31 60.12

dates
Total 39 40 40 39 39 40 40

(a) = (P<0.05)
(b) = (P<0.01)
NS = Not significant

The percentage ADF in the natural pasture ranged from 42.67 (March) to 57.04 (October). The proportion of
lignin also, showed highly significant changes with dates of cutting (Figure 3). ADF and lignin were more
consistently associated in the plant than were other components. Percentage lignin ranged from 5.04 (April)
to 8.58 (October), while percentage cellulose ranged from 32.31 (March) to 41.27 (September), also showing
significant variability with cutting dates.

These changes in herbage quality with time are functions of the maturation process as well as of
environmental factors. Deinum (1976) and van Soest (1978) have shown that lignification is strongly
influenced by environmental temperature. High temperatures decreased water-soluble carbohydrates and
increased fibre content causing decreased digestibility. Light, on the other hand, increased water-soluble
carbohydrates and decreased fibre content causing increasing digestibility. In the semi-arid bimodal rainfall
areas such as Katumani, the natural pastures have two periods of morphological development during the
year.

The Relationship Between Chemical Composition and Digestibility

To understand the nutritional worth of the natural pasture herbage, it is necessary to know the quantitative
relationships of the various plant components. In Table 5, Correlation coefficients between these
constituents are presented. The quantitative relationship between the structural components shows that the
components are not uniformly controlled by lignification. As expected, all the fibre fraction, i.e. NDF, ADF,
lignin and cellulose (except hemicellulose) show significantly high negative relationships with digestibility.
Among the fibres, however, cellulose had a more negative (r = -0.86*) relationship than lignin (r = -0.78 a ).
Lignin was also more closely related to cellulose than hemicellulose and had a greater effect on its
digestibility. The lignin-cellulose ratio is the critical factor which determines the rate curve of cell-wall
fermentation.

Table 5. Simple correlation coefficients observed between various plant dry-matter components of
natural pasture herbage

CP NDF ADF ADL CELL HEMCELL IVDMS

CP 1.00
NDF 0.48 1.00
ADF 0.68 0.53 1.00
ADL 0.58 0.50 0.77 1.00
CELL 0.68 0.65 0.87 0.58 1.00
HEMCELL 0.19 0.51 0.44 0.21 0.21 1.00
IVDMS 0.80 0.57 0.91 0.78 0.86 0.31 1.00

Regression equations that show the relationship between in vitro dry-matter digestibility and various plant
parts are presented in Table 6. The equations show the regression of in vitro digestibilities on the
percentage of various plants parts.

Table 6. Relationships between in vitro dry-matter digestibility and various plants parts

Plant parts (predictors) Regression equation Sdr Sds r r²

Crude protein Y = 28.67+2.17X 5.54 0.26 -0.80** 0.64
NDF Y = 115.64-0.97X 7.69 0.23 -0.54** 0.32
ADF Y = 125.42-1.68X 3.93 0.13 -0.9** 0.82
ADL Y = 82.67 = 5.76X 5.83 0.76 -0.78** 0.61

Sdr = Standard deviation from regression

Sds = Standard deviation from the slope
a = P < 0.05
b = P < 0.01
NS = Not significant
Y = in vitro dry-matter disappearance (%)
X = plant parts in dry-matter (%)

The mean chemical composition values of the natural pasture herbage cut at various stages of growth show
that the quantity of ADF in the herbage did not appear to be associated with digestibility.

The main factor that influenced the digestibility was ADF, as indicated by the regression equations in Table
6. The relationships are significantly negative for all fibre components (P= < 0.01).

While the ADF fraction, which consists of the lignin and cellulose components in close association, most
positively affected digestibility, the most amount of protein in the forage was also a factor. It could also be
used as a better predictor of digestibility of the natural pasture herbage than some of the fibre fractions
(Table 6).

It has been found that the herbage consumed by the grazing animal may have a composition diverging
widely from that of the total herbage available (van Soest 1978). A comparison was made between the
nutritional value of hand-plucked samples and samples collected by the grazing animals from the same
pasture. Table 7 shows the percentage of protein in the dry matter of the two samples.

The herbage consumed by the grazing cows contained more crude protein than the herbage clipping from
the same source. When the grass was immature, during the months of April and May, there appeared to be
little selection by the grazing animal. But as the plant matured, during the months of June and July, the
difference in composition between the selected the clipped herbage became greater. Clipping herbage,
therefore, did not provide definite quantitative values of the nutrients available to the grazing animal.

Table 7. Percent crude protein dry matter of sample collected from two oesophageal-fistulated cows
compared to percentage protein in dry matter of clipping herbage from natural grazing land (1985)

Dates of sampling
16/4 30/4 11/5 3/6 25/6 5/7 16/7
% % % % % % %

Fistula sample 13.50 12.69 13.13 11.80 9.38 11.94 6.56

Clipping sample 10.90 10.48 10.90 6.99 5.59 5.68 4.82

Livestock Responses to Natural Pasture Grazing with no Supplementary Feeding

Table 8 shows mean liveweight responses of steers, goats and sheep at two different stocking rates.
Pronounced seasonal variations were observed in liveweight changes of all three species. Over the whole
grazing cycle, however, no significant differences were observed between animals grazing at the rate of 0.54
LU/ha* and those grazing at the rate of 0.35 LU/ha. Compensatory gains during the wet season offset the
losses made during the dry season. Sustained liveweight gains of between 160 and 180 g per day for steers
and 35-40 g per day for sheep were achieved during a year's cycle. During the wet season, however, rates
of gain were as high as 90 g for sheep and goats and 250 g for steers, clearly showing the possibility of
intensive short-season utilization of natural pastures.

Grazing management had very little influence on weight changes. There were no significant differences in
rates of gain between continuous and rotation grazing during any seasons of the year or over the whole
year.

Planted pastures
Pasture research for medium- and low-potential areas has been going on for many years. However, it has
not received adequate attention compared to pasture research in high-potential areas, and thus development
of relevant technology for farmers in these areas has lagged behind.

Grasses for Planted Pastures

Bogdan (1965) described cultivated varieties of tropical and subtropical herbage plants in Kenya issued by
the then Grassland Research Station, Kitale since 1953. The species that were recommended for dryland
farming areas included Chloris gayana (Kunth), (Mpwapwa, Mbarara and Rongai), Panicum coloratum L.
(coloured Guinea grass). Panicum maximum Jacq (Guinea grass, varieties Makueni and Mackinnon Road).
Other species which had been tested included Cenchrus ciliaris, Brachiaria brizantha, Themeda triandra and
Cynodon dactylon.

Table 8. Weight changes of steers, goats and sheep when grazing natural pastures at two stocking
rates (1981/82)

Steers Goats Sheep

Number of days 323 323 323

Stocking ratesa 0.54 0.35 0.54 0.35 0.54 0.35

Number of animals 14 10 28 20 28 20
Initial average wt 246 260 30 29 31 32
(kg)
Final average wt 308 312 38 42 42 42
(kg)
Average daily gain 189 161 25 36 30 32
(g)
Summary of Analysis of Variance
Source d.f. MSS (F) d.f. MSS (F) d.f. MSS (F)
Treatments 1 4,882 (NS) 1 1,509 1 9 (NS)
(NS)
Fields 1 51 1 1,509 1 30 (NS)
(NS)
Treatment x fields 1 7, 375 1 240 (NS) 1 239 (NS)
(NS)
Error 20 5,857 44 140 44 231
SE 20.5 24.2 2.2 2.6 2.5 3.5

a) In LU per hectare.
NS = Difference not significant
* One Livestock Unit (LU) represents 250 kg liveweight.

Many ley grass species were evaluated at the Katumani Research Station between 1957 and 1984. Studies
comparing various planted grass species and cultivars showed that Panicum maximum (Makueni) and
Cenchrus ciliaris (Biloela) were the two species with widest adaptability in dryland areas. The Makueni
variety of Panicum was found to be the most vigorous tufted perennial. P. maximum (Makinnon Road)
established from splits at a spacing of 2.4 m x 0.5 m and managed for dry-season utilization yielded a total
of 4.5 tons DM per hectare. In trials to evaluate planted pastures through the grazing animal several varieties
of Cenchrus ciliaris (Biloela, Mbalambala, P6012, P6010, Kongwa 531 and K5148), Chloris gayana
(Mpwapwa); Panicum maximum (Makueni); and Cynodon dactylon and Cynodon plectostachysis were
evaluated by liveweight increases of Dorper lambs at Katumani. The best performance was from P.
maximum (Makueni) with lambs averaging 230 g per day (Department of Agriculture, Kenya 1964).

Establishment of ley grasses without fertilizers has been one of the major problems in the marginal potential
areas due to unreliable rainfall. Unavailability of good quality seeds has also been a bottleneck. Weed
competition was the most important factor affecting establishment. A study of the persistency of the ley
grasses shows that production drops markedly after two or three seasons (12 to 18 months). Attempts to
incorporate certain grasses such as Rhodes grass in mixtures with more persistent species were not
successful.

Table 9 shows the dry-matter yields in pasture-grass ecotype trials during the long rains of 1983
(March/May) and the short rains of 1984 (November/December). The long rains of 1983 were much below
average and the short rains of 1984 were much above average.

Table 9 shows that wide variations exist in dry-matter yields between the various ecotypes and these
variations are not only due to species differences but also to variation in rainfall, establishment difficulties,
weeds and persistency. Those that had a high dry-matter yield during a bad year did not respond well when
rainfall was favourable due to their inability to compete with weeds.

Table 9. Dry-matter yield of 12 selected pasture grass ecotypes at Katumani Research Station

1983 long rains (good season) 1984 short rains

DM production (mean t/ha) Rank DM production (mean t/ha) Rank
Ecotypes
P. maximum
K7317/21 4.06 1 2.72 7
K583/87 4.03 2 0.36 11
K585 3.61 3 0.27 12
K6016 3.58 4 4.67 3
K6541/45 3.50 5 2.83 5
K8168/72 3.42 6 0.86 9
P. coloratum K5389 3.33 7 2.82 6
P. maximum (Makueni) 3.28 8 4.90 2
P. maximum K6462 3.17 9 5.11 1
Brachiaria brizantha 3.10 10 1.10 8
P. coloratum 52430 2.89 11 0.39 10
Cenchrus ciliaris 2.64 12 4.06 4

Although suitable pasture species can be identified through vigorous introduction and selection, the overall
place of such grasses for ley farming in these dryland environments is becoming questionable. This is
because of the difficulty of establishing and maintaining such pastures under an inadequate rainfall regime
since, in the main, they have to be established from seed. The use of fertilizers for establishing these
pastures is not economically feasible. Furthermore, the place of these pastures in small-farm systems is not
clear in view of the type of livestock-raising system presently being practiced.

Legumes for Planted Pastures

Although pasture research in Kenya has been carried out for many years, our knowledge on forage legumes,
particularly in the medium-potential areas, has lagged behind compared with that on pasture grasses.
Grass-based pastures are usually very productive during the first two years, but yields drop markedly during
subsequent seasons. Nitrogenous fertilizers could sustain yields and prolong the life of the pasture if applied
at strategic times. Nitrogen fertilizer is, however, too expensive for farmers of the medium-potential areas.

The answer to these problems is the introduction of legume species to be grown in association with the
grasses. A number of pasture legumes have been introduced and are being tested. Among these are
Stylosanthes scabra, Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) and Leucaena leucocephala. These are still being
examined both for use in grass/legume mixture leys or for improving pasture grazing schemes. Much testing
for drought tolerance and herbage yield will be needed.

It has been suggested that productive legumes are absent from pastures in some parts of Kenya either
because they have not been introduced or because they have not been maintained for various reasons
including:

a) inadequate supply of nutrients and possibly trace elements;

b) failure to tolerate heavy grazing,

c) drought stress;

d) ineffective nodulation,

e) insufficient quantity of germinable seed of annual species at the start of the growing season;
and

f) availability and cost of seed.

It is therefore suggested that serious research gaps exist in the area of pasture legumes for marginal- and
low-potential areas and particularly the improvement of indigenous legume species such as Neonotonia
wightii and Trifolium semipilosum glabrescens. Development of legumes which could be used to provide
ground cover on arable land and high quality livestock feeds during the dry season should be given high
priority.

Fodder Crops

Planted fodder crops, both annual and perennials, are becoming very important animal feed resources in the
medium-potential areas, mainly because of their apparent dry-matter-yield superiority. The most important
species are elephant grass or Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), and Guinea grass (Panicum
maximum). Napier grass has received more research attention than most other potential fodder crops and
has become very popular with farmers in all areas. Two varieties of Napier grass, i.e. French Cameroon and
Bana, and one hybrid (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoides), known as Bajra, have been studied
the most.

The Napier cv Bana variety is leafier and shorter than the other two. The Napier cv Cameroon variety has a
distinct spreading habit while the hybrid Bajra grows tall and has more stalk. Bajra Napier outyields both the
Bana and French Cameroon varieties and seems also to be more drought resistant than the other two as it
grows and stays green-long into the dry season. There is, however, the disadvantage that it becomes quite
stemmy and looses its quality very rapidly after flowering.

In cutting management and defoliation studies, the dry-matter yields attained from the three varieties, over a
number of seasons that included those below and above average rainfalls, were as follows: Bana 3.25 tons
per hectare, Bajra 4.43 tons per hectare and French Cameroon 3.75 tons per hectare per season. When
rainfall was average, two 4-weekly cuts and one 6-weekly cut were possible from the three fodder grasses
during each of the two growing seasons, i.e. from the three fodder grasses during each of the whole growing
seasons, i.e. November/January and March/May. The amount produced from any of these grasses would be
more than enough for the average smallholder. However, the farmer obviously needs a continuous supply of
fodder and would not be able to utilize excess supplies over a short period of time, which would necessitate
either the development of a conservation system (hay or silage) or the integration of fodder feeding within an
intermitent system of utilization i.e. using fodder in the wet season and conserving other grasses for later
grazing, or growing two plots, one for the wet season and one for the dry season with some fodder from the
latter spinning off into-the wet-season system.

Screening studies of a number of Panicum maximum fodder ecotypes have also been carried out at the
Katumani Research Station. Nine promising ecotypes have been pre-selected and screening tests are still
continuing. Table 10 gives the dry-matter yield as compared to that for Bajra Napier.

The reason underlying the decrease of yield in the long rains 1983 is the low rainfall received. The best
ecotypes in both seasons responded better to more moisture availability. It is also seen from the table that
some of the ecotypes compared very favourably with Bajra Napier in both good and bad years. An added
advantage of those that compare well with Bajra was that they had a higher leaf-to-stem ratio and stayed
even longer into the dry season. Those ecotypes of Panicums are therefore rapidly increasing in importance
as fodder crops for small farmer systems.

Table 10. Dry-matter yields of Panicum maximum ecotypes as compared to the yield of Bajra Napier
(t/ha)

1982/83 short rains 1983 long rains a

Good season Bad season
Ecotypes
DM production (t/ha) DM production (t/ha)
P. maximum K52-129 4.62 1.79
P. maximum K8168/72 4.05 1.59
P. maximum K5383 3.29 1.51
P. maximum K74.2367 3.23 1.51
P. maximum K5918 3.13 1.61
P. maximum K1231 3.09 1.11
P. maximum K5083 1.91 1.07
P. maximum K5239/43 1.87 1.04
P. maximum K1234 1.59 0.71
Bajra Napier 5.43 2.57

SE Treatment mean = 0.279

CD at 5% = 0.81
CD at 1% = 1.09
a) The 1983 long rains were almost a complete failure.

Intensive animal production utilizing these fodder crops in an integrated feeding system is a possibility,
although it can be a delicate undertaking in semi-arid situations because the farmer gives priority to growing
food crops. Forage crops can only become part of the cropping system after improvements in food crop
husbandry have resulted in two- or three-fold yields. Secondly, the impact of cultivated fodder crops on
profitability depends upon the net income margin between the animal product and food-crop production.

Studies have been carried out at the Katumani Station to measure the amount of milk produced when fodder
was fed as the sole source of feed made available to lactating dairy cows. Table 11 shows the milk
production and dry-matter intakes of cross-bred lactating cows fed on Bana grass ad libitum as compared to
milk production from similar cows supplemented with Bana grass plus dairy meal.

Table 11. Milk production from cross-bred dairy cows supplemented with Bana Napier grass fed ad
libitum compared with cows supplemented with Bana Napier grass fed ad libitum plus dairy meal
(16% protein commercial feed)

Treatments
Bana grass alone Bana grass + dairy meal SE

Number of cows 18 18
Number of days 143 143
Average number of days after calving 163 177
Average daily milk per day (kg) 6.56 9.75 1.32 (P<0.05)
Total milk yield/animal for period 938 1,395
Average DM intake per animal per day (kg) as fed
Bana 48.0 47.0
Dairy meal 0 1.85
Significant differences were observed between the treatments, as expected, in view of the wide differences
in the feeding systems. However, the main goals were to see the magnitude of the difference and to
determine the level of milk production that could be supported by the Bana grass alone. The table shows that
Bana grass fed ad libitum level can support up to 6.56 litres of milk per day without recourse to concentrate
feeding. The group on Bana grass plus dairy meal gave 30% more milk per day than those fed Bana grass
alone. To increase the milk output from an average of 6.5 kg to an average of 9.75 kg per day, an additional
intake of 1.85 kg of dairy meal was required. The expected increase from 1.85 kg concentrated feed was 4.6
kg of milk. The responses in this study showed that this method is not an economically attractive proposition.
Such studies reinforce the role of fodder crops in small-scale dairy systems.

Crop residues
Cropping is now being practiced on substantial portions of the semiarid dryland areas and it is anticipated
that more areas of the region will be put under crops in coming decades. In Kenya, most of the dryland areas
are found in the Coast, Eastern and Rift Valley Provinces. Here the principal food crops with residues that
are suitable for animal feeding are maize, sorghum, millet, beans, cow peas, pigeon peas, cassava and
sweet potatoes. Maize is the most abundant, followed by sorghum, beans and pigeon peas.

At present, crop residues have a variety of uses including animal feeding, fuel, mulch, bedding and for
returning organic matter to the soil. However, the utilization of crop residues for animal feeding is likely to be
greatly increased in the future since:

1) crop production is increasing, following increases in acreages as well as yield, and

2) acreages of grazing lands and lands under fallow are being reduced making it necessary for
animals to depend more and more on crop residues for part of their nutrition.

Table 12 shows total land areas under the three main cereal crops and yields and crop residues produced in
the three provinces. The total quantity of residue available is then estimated by assuming a 1:1 grain to
stover ratio. It can be seen from the table that a substantial amount of residue is produced seasonally from
just these three crops. If we assume that one ton of maize stover produces 7,560 MJ of gross energy
(Morgan Rees et al, 1977), the contribution that these feedstuffs can make to the feed budget is substantial.

Table 12. Land area (ha) under maize, sorghum and millet and amounts (tons) of the crops and crop
residue produced in Coast, Eastern and Rift Valley Provinces (1982)

Province Crops grown Area (ha) Crop yields (kg/ha) Residue (tons)
Coast Maize 51,570 831 42,855
Sorghum 520 615 320
Millet 160 375 60

Eastern Maize 357,510 1,274 455,467

Sorghum 34,300 528 18,110
Millet 33,380 401 13,385

Rift Valley Maize 153,220 1,191 182,485

Sorghum 380 1,042 396
Millet 2,750 495 1,361

TOTAL 714,439

Source: Ministry of Livestock Development 1983 Annual Report

At present, crop residues are the second most important feed resource available to livestock in the dryland
areas of Kenya. While they are generally used after each harvest season, these residues may be the only
source of feed for a large number of livestock for a period of one or two months at the end of the long dry
season when natural grazing is drastically reduced. Some farmers collect and store these residues
especially maize and sorghum stovers, while the bulk is left for the animals to graze in situ after the-harvest,
thus losing a considerable amount from trampling wastage. Because of the difficulties of collection,
transportation and storage, only a small part of the thousands of tons of crop residues available are used as
feed, and when they are used, the efficiency of utilization is very low. These crop residues vary widely in
nutritive value. The variations are due to differences in proportions of plant components such as the ratio of
leaf-to-stem, genotypic differences and to environmental conditions of growth. Being deficient in several
nutrients (protein, energy and minerals) and containing a number of factors that limit optimum utilization,
these feed sources are of little value when fed as they are. The development by plant breeders of stiff-
stalked and insect- and disease-resistant varieties of maize and sorghum may also result in varieties with
high lignin content and low digestibility.

Improvement of the nutritive value of these feedstuffs can be achieved through:

a) treatment methods that increase the availability of nutrients, and

b) supplementation methods that correct nutrient imbalances.

It has been established by numerous research workers (Jackson 1978; Kategile et al 1981; Mwakatundu
and Owen 1974) that processing of poor quality roughages by physical and chemical means can
considerably increase the availability of nutrients in field-crop residues. In his review, Jackson (1978)
reported that 10-20% increments in digestibility and more than 100% increments in voluntary intake can he
achieved by processing. Physical treatments such as chopping do not increase digestibility but have the
advantage of reducing wastage by reducing selection by the animal. They also increase the amount
consumed. Treatment with alkali saponifies the linkages between lignin and fibrous fractions (cellulose ad
hemicellulose). The lignin content is not reduced but digestibility is increased substantially.

Sodium hydroxide is the most fully investigated and widespread chemical applied to poor quality roughages.
Its application, especially for small-scale operation, is usually discounted because it is expensive and difficult
to handle. Of the alkalis tested, ammonia generated from urea is preferred because it provides both the alkali
effect and a source of nitrogen for microbial fermentation. Supplementation aimed at alleviating nutrient
deficiencies is another method of improving the utilization of low quality roughages. It is recognized that
conventional energy and protein feeds such as grains and oil-seed cakes are not only unavailable but are
also too expensive for the small-scale farmer. It is therefore necessary to consider cheaper, preferably
home-grown supplements, e.g. fodder shrubs such as Leucaena leucocephala, pigeon pea stover,
Sesbania, cassava leaves, sweet-potato leaves and vines.

Thinnings and stripping from crop fields are of little significance as supplements to poor quality roughages,
for two reasons. Firstly, they are always available during the green season when plenty of green forage is
available and little or no crop residue is being fed. Secondly, the crop fields (maize and sorghum) are
thinned during the first weeding and at this time the thinnings amount to too little quantitatively. The farmer
cannot afford to delay thinning in order to get bigger plants as this would lead to severe plant competition.

A number of palatable browse trees and shrubs exist in the region, e.g. Acacia spp., but they can only be
grazed in situ. Small ruminants, especially goats, make better use of these feed sources than cattle. The
growing of forage legumes such as Leucaena leucocephala, or the proper use of leguminous crop residues
such as pigeon-pea leaves and stems and cassava leaves, seems to be a practical alternative to the
problem of supplementing poor quality roughages.

A series of experiments have been conducted at the Katumani Research Station to:

a) determine the effect of alkali treatment of stovers;

b) determine the effects of supplementing stovers with protein sources; and

c) to evaluate the effect on weight changes in livestock fed with crop residues whose quality has
been improved through various treatments and supplements.

Animal Responses to Treated and Supplemented Crop Residues

Table 13 shows the responses of sheep and goats to supplementation of treated and untreated stover with
either Leucaena or pigeon-pea leaves and stems added to the diet. The trials were conducted during the dry
season and the animals were grazed all day and supplemented with the diet in the evening.

It can be seen from Table 13 that the feeding of urea-treated stover improved weight gains in sheep and
goats. In an earlier experiment, the feeding of untreated stover during the dry season only resulted in a daily
gain of 19 g, while animals on grazing alone mostly lost weight during the dry season. It was not possible
during this experiment to make an economic assessment of the value of the incremental weight gains from
the feeding of treated stover when either Leucaena or pigeon-pea stovers were added to the diet as the
animals were not immediately sold on the open market. But considering the fact that most animals lose
weight during the dry season even the weight gains made with the Leucaena and pigeon-pea supplements
were quite considerable.
Table 13. Responses of sheep and goats when supplemented with urea-treated and untreated maize
stover and with either Leucaena leucocephala or pigeon-pea leaves and stems added to the diet

Untreated stover + Treatedb stover + Untreated stover + Treated stover +

Leucaenaa Leucaena Pigeon pea c Pigeon pea

Number of animals (half 28 28 16 16

sheep, half goats)
Number of days (trial) 90 90 110 110
Initial average weight (kg) 25.0 26.0 18.0 19.0
Final average weight (kg) 31.0 34.0 24.0 29.0
Average daily gain (g) 67 90 55 91.0
Average DM intake (g) 250 300 220 279

a
= Leucaena leucocephala was fed as green chop and mixed with the stover at 20% of the dry-
matter offered.
b
= Treatment of stover was by 5% urea solution added to the chopped stover and the material
kept in an airtight bin for 20 days before feeding.
c
= Pigeon-pea residue (after grain harvest) was fed as green chop and mixed with the chopped
stover at 50% of the dry-matter offered.

Summary
The primary source of feed in the semi-arid dryland farming systems is natural pasture. Improvement in the
management and utilization of this important feed resource should thus be an essential point of departure for
the development of a more productive livestock feeding system.

Total animal dry-matter production yield of the natural pasture (2,335 kg DM) was reasonably high when
properly utilized. The high dry-matter yields are undoubtedly a function of the bimodal rainfall pattern that is
common in the semi-arid regions of Kenya and this has a favourable effect on forage growth-cycle. Marked
seasonal variations are observed in dry-matter yields, and the rates of growth were highest in May and
December which corresponded with the times of highest rainfall. Trends in nutritive value, especially crude
protein, followed the same pattern.

Mean liveweight gains from steers, sheep and goats showed pronounced seasonal variations.
Compensatory gains during the green season compensate for the losses made during the dry season and
sustained liveweight gains of 160-180 g per day per steer and 35-40 g per day per sheep and/or goat over a
year's cycle.

Forage grasses and fodder crops offer the best possibilities for improving livestock products per animal and
per land unit. A number of suitable pasture grasses, legumes and fodder crops have been identified. Among
these are many Panicum species, Cenchrus ciliaris, Cynodon dactylon, varies varieties of Napier grass
(Bana, Bajra, French Cameroon cultivars), the fodder Panicum ecotypes, Macroptilium atropurpureum,
Stylosanthes scabra and Leucaena leucocephala.

Trials conducted to determine the amount of milk produced when fodder (Bana) was the only source of feed
available to the grazing cow resulted in average yields of 6.56 kg of milk per day.

A series of trials to evaluate the results of various physical and chemical treatments and supplementation of
stovers showed that the nutritive value of crop residues can be considerably improved. The method that
showed the greatest potential for application seems to be that of supplementing these feedstuffs with home-
grown proteinaceous feedstuffs such as Leucaena leucocephala or pigeon-pea leaves and stemps.

References
Bogdan, A.V. (1965). Cultivated varieties of tropical and sub-tropical herbage plants in Kenya. East African
Agricultural and Forestry Journal 30: 330-338.

Dienum, B. (1976). Effect of age, leaf number and temperature on cell-wall digestibility of maize. In:
Carbohydrate research in plants and animal. Misc. Paper 12. P.W. van Adrichem (ed.). The Netherlands.
Harkin, J.M. (1973). Lignin. In: Chemistry and biochemistry of Herbage. London: Academic Press. Volume 1.

Jackson, M.G. (1978). Treating of straw for animal feeding. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No.
10, FAO, Rome.

Kategile, J.A., Urio, N.A., Sunstol, F. and Mzihiriwa, Y.C. (1981). Simplified method for alkali treatment of
low quality roughages for use by small-holders in developing countries. Animal Feed Science and
Technology. 6:133-143.

Kenya Government, National Development Plan 1979-1983.

Kenya Government, Department of Agriculture, Annual Report 1964.

Morgan Rees, A.M., Williams, T.E., Smith, A.J. and Capper, B.S. (1977). Report of DDM Mission to Egypt to
undertake the prefeasibility study of forage production and animal feeds. London Tropical Products Institute.

Mwakatundu, A.G.K. and Owen, E. (1974). In vitro digestibility of sodium hydroxide treated grass harvested
at different stages of growth. East African Agriculture and Forestry Journal 40: 1-10.

Pratt, D. and Gwynne, M. (1972). Rangeland Management and Ecology in Kenya.

Rattary, J.M. (1960). The grass cover of Africa. FAO/UN Agricultural Studies. Bulletin No. 49, Rome, Italy.

Tilley, J.M.S. and Terry, R.R. (1963). A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. Journal
of the British Grassland Society 18.

Van Soest, P.J. (1978). Dietary fibres: their definition and nutritional properties. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition 31: pp. 512-520.

  
   

Research on feed resources for small ruminants on

smallholder farms in Western Kenya
J.F.M. Onim, P.P. Semenye and H.A. Fitzhugh

Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development

SR-CRSP, P.O. Box 252, Maseno, Kenya

M. Mathuva

Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development

P.O. Box 252, Maseno, Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results and discussion
References

Abstract
The paper discusses the history of land-ownership patterns and agro-ecological zonation
which have provided the basis for the complex smallholder farming sector in Kenya. Evidence
is presented for the availability and costs of feeds being major constraints to improvement in
levels of production, both per animal and nationally, for all livestock classes. Specific detailed
consideration is given to the feeding of dairy cattle on the prevailing small, mixed farms, due to
the national policy of expansion of local milk production to raise the level of human nutrition in
general, and school children in particular. The difficulties associated with the high densities of
population of both people and livestock, low feed availability and competition for resources
with arable enterprises are among the constraints discussed in relation to possible feeding
systems. The second half of the paper contains details of the latest available data on on-farm
availability and possible future options and trends for ruminant feed supply on the small farm
in Kenya. Fodders and pastures, on-farm and industrial by-products, bought-in roughages and
concentrates are discussed in turn.

The relevance of the recent Kenya experience to future trends in smallholder livestock
production systems in other countries of sub-Saharan is emphasized.

Introduction
Small-scale farmers in Kenya own between 1 and 4 ha of land (Jaetzold and Schmidt 1982).
The land use is divided among food and cash crops and livestock. The livestock on these
farms may include cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and poultry. The main sources of feeds for
small-scale farmers are:

1. Communal grazing land;

2. Fallow land on farms;
3. Feeds from food-feed crops; and
 4. Crop residues (Onim et al 1984).

Due to very high population densities, up to 900 people/km² in some areas (such as western
Kenya), sub-division of farms has substantially reduced pasture and fallow lands to the extent
that cattle populations in those areas are diminishing rapidly (Russo et al 1983). Lack of
adequate grazing land has led to intensive management methods such as tethering and zero-
grazing. This situation has also led to more farmers reverting to small ruminants instead of
cattle because smallstock require less forage and are therefore more adapted to the scarce
and erratic feed supplies on small-scale farms.

Several methods have been developed to improve feed supplies on small-scale farms. These
include estimating feed values of common plant species consumed by goats (Otieno et al
1984), total feed production capabilities of pastures and small-scale farms (Onim, Hart,
Russo, Otieno and Fitzhugh 1984), potential of intercropping food with feed crops to increase
livestock feeds (Onim, Hart, Otieno and Fitzhugh 1984) and the potential of food-feed crops
(Onim et al 1984).

This paper reports results of experiments and surveys on the potential of simplified hay baling,
roadside and fallow-land pastures, sugarcane tops and sesbania (Sesbania sesban var.
nubian) as sources of livestock feeds under intensive management in small-scale farms.

Materials and methods

Productivity and Pasture Quality of Roadside and Fallow Lands

In order to estimate forage productivity and quality of roadside and fallow lands in western
Kenya, forage sampling and analyses were done. A quadrat measuring 80 x 80 cm was
randomly thrown on to representative parts of the pasture. The enclosed vegetation was
clipped and weighed fresh. Later oven-dry weights were recorded. Sub-Locations, Locations,
Districts and altitudes of the sites where the samples were collected were recorded. This
survey was conducted from Kapsabet town at an altitude of 2,000 m to Asembo Bay on Lake
Victoria at 1,190 m. A similar procedure was used to sample farms in three research areas
once a month for 12 months.

Other feed resources on the farms were also estimated. These included crop residues, fence
and hedgerow cut-and-carry, and crop thinnings and leaf strippings. The samples were
analysed for neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF), acid-detergent lignin
(ADL), hemicelluloses (HC), and crude protein (CP).

Goats have also been observed while grazing or tethered in the same pastures and the plants
that they ate were recorded. Plant parts that they consumed were clipped and analysed for
CP.

Simplified Hay Baling for Small-Scale Farmers

The extra feed produced from the new feed interventions and during the rainy season is often
grazed down as soon as supplies begin to become scarce. It is important, therefore, that
farmers find a suitable preservation method that could help them to carry over the surplus
feeds to the periods with deficits. Since attempts to devise successful silage-making
techniques for small-scale farmers in western Kenya have not been successful at Maseno, a
hay-baling experiment was initiated.

Several high-yielding forage legume and grass species that are grown by the SR-CRSP
respondent farmers in western Kenya were used. These included Sesbania (Sesbania sesban
var. nubian), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), bana grass
which is a cultivar from a cross between Pennisetum purpureum and P. typhoides, Sudan
grass (Sorghum sudanense) and mixed grasses from fallow land and pastures. The mixed
grasses mainly comprised star grass (Cynodon dactylon), couch grass (Digitaria scalarum),
congo signal (Brachiaria ruziziensis), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and a few minor forage
legumes such as Glycine spp. and Desmodium spp.

Except for Sesbania and leucaena the other forages were cut in the morning from around 8.00
a.m. and allowed to dry in the field. Sesbania and leucaena were cut and the branches were
placed on polythene sheets onto which drying leaflets dropped. The average air temperatures
in the sun were taken at 10.00 a.m., 12 noon and 2.00 p.m. Fresh sub-sample weights of
each forage were determined as soon as it was cut, and thereafter every 2 hours for 10 hours.
Wooden baling box measuring 85 cm x 55 cm and 45 cm deep was used for making bales.
These dimensions were chosen in order to make a well pressed bale that weighs 20 kg. This
is the average weight of a commercial grass-hay bale. Sisal twine strings were placed
lengthwise and crosswise in the baling box. The number of strings placed varied according to
the nature of the hay to be baled. The short-straw grasses, for example, needed more lines of
twine than long-straw types. The hay was placed over the strings in the baling box until it was
full. The hay was then compressed by one man jumping on it. With the help of an assistant,
the strings were tightly tied. The finished bale was then pulled out and stored in a bale barn
for six months.

Crude protein (CP) of fresh forages in this experiment were estimated. CP values were again
estimated six months later.

Supplementation with Energy and Protein Sources

In western Kenya, farmers supplement the forages that the livestock consume in pastures and
under tethering with cut-and-carry and purchased forages. Experiments with various legume
fodders have been conducted.

Experiments with Legume Fodders as Supplements

Intercropping pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and Sesbania (Sesbania sesban var. nubian) with
maize (Zea mays) was tried in four sites, Kaimosi, Hamisi, Maseno and Siaya, in 1983 and
1984. DM yields and CP contents of these forages were estimated. Leucaena (Leucaena
leucocephala) and gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) were planted in pure stands at Maseno
Research Station and the same parameters were estimated.

Purchased Fodders as Supplements

Zero-grazing is a common practice in densely populated areas of Central, Nyanza and

Western Provinces. When farmers are short of planted fodder they often purchase from the
open market. A survey was therefore conducted around Maseno to determine which fodders
were sold and at what prices.

Market fodders were purchased and weighed before the plant parts that could be consumed
by sheep and goats were separated and reweighed. These were then dried in an oven before
DM was recorded. Quality analyses for the market samples will be done later.

Results and discussion

Productivity and Pasture Quality of Roadside and Fallow Lands

Feed production figures for a 1.5 ha farm in Masumbi, Siaya District taking into account
communal grazing, fallow land, crop residues and hedgerow cut-and-carry forages are
presented in Figure 1.
The demand line represents feed requirements of the livestock of an average household (e.g.
three cows with calves, four sheep and three goats). The production line represents digestible-
energy (DE) fluctuations through the year. These results show that feed deficits occur from
January to May. Surpluses are realized during the rainy season from May to December.

The dominant plant species that the goats consumed in roadside and fallow-land pastures are
given in Table 1.

Table 1. Crude-protein content of promising feeds consumed by goats in western

Kenya

Forage/feed CP %
Grasses
Sorghum sudanense 14.1
Brachiaria brizantha 16.2
Digitaria scalarum 13.2
Cynodon dactylon 21.7
Mean 16.3
Common weeds
Bidens pilosa 21.0
Lantana camera 24.1
Galinsoga sp. 14.4
Amaranthus sp. 32.5
Commelina sp. 26.3
Argemone mexicana 18.3
Leonotis mollisim 25.2
Tagetes minuta 26.8
Mean 23.6

Figure 1. An average year-round feed production and demand on a 1.5 ha farm in

Masumbi, Siaya, western Kenya
 Source: Onim, Hart, Russo, Otieno and Fitzhugh (1984)

The grasses had a mean CP of 16.3%, with star grass showing a high value of 21.7%.
Common weeds had an average CP level of 23.6%, with several individual species having
very high levels. These included Amaranthus (32.5%), Tagetes minuta (26.8%), Leonotis
mollisima (25.2%), Lantana camera (24.1%) and Bidens pilosa (21.0%). These protein values
indicate that when livestock graze in these pastures and get enough DM to consume, they get
adequate CP and DE.

The effect of altitude on fibre and CP content of roadside and fallow-land pastures in western
Kenya is shown in Table 2. There were no altitudinal effects on NDF and ADF, but ADL
increased by an average of 1% with every 20 m drop in altitude. This indicates that plant
species in lower altitudes had a higher lignin content and hence were of poorer quality as
forage. However, RC increased with altitude at the rate of 1% CP for every 60 m. These
results indicate that lower areas in western Kenya have poorer pastures than higher ones. We
have also shown that food-crop DM yields are five times greater at an altitude of 1,800 m
compared to 1,200 m. Rainfall seems to be the main factor here.

Table 2. Effect of altitude on the mean fibre and CP content of roadside and fallow-land
pastures in western Kenya

Sample size District Altitude (m) range Fibre (%)

NDF ADF ADL HE CP

3 Nandi 1,865-1,965 67.3 24.3 4.6 42.7 16.0

1 Nandi 1,765-1,865 77.0 30.8 11.8 46.2 20.7
12 Kakamega 1,665-1,765 80.8 32.2 11.6 41.9 12.2
2 Kakamega 1,565-1,665 68.3 34.3 7.9 36.5 7.5
2 Kakamega 1,465-1,565 57.9 26.7 10.1 31.2 12.7
4 Siaya & Kisumu 1,365-1,465 63.8 33.4 12.0 30.4 10.3
1 Siaya & Kisumu 1,265-1,365 74.3 35.3 14.5 39.0 15.4
2 Siaya & Kisumu 1,165-1,265 75.3 37.3 12.6 38.3 10.0
Simplified Hay Baling for Small-Scale Farmers

The rate of moisture loss by the various grasses varied. The three legumes - leucaena,
sesbania and pigeon pea - dried fastest. On average, these three lost moisture at the rate of
66% in the first four hours of drying compared to 46% for Sudan grass and mixed grasses.
This difference was caused by differences in leaf sizes and structure. The legumes have
compound leaves, while both sesbania and leucaena have compound bipinate leaves and
pigeon pea has simple trifoliate leaves. The leaflets in both sesbania and leucaena are small
and thin, while those in pigeon pea are larger and thicker. The stems and twigs of the
legumes were not considered part of the hay being made. However, the legumes were not
considered part of the hay being made. However, in the grasses, leaves and stems were dried
as hay. Since stems were thicker than leaves, they slowed down drying in grasses. Slow
drying was most marked in bana and Sudan grasses which had thick stems. It was interesting
to note, however, that although Sudan grass did not have as thick stems as bana, it had the
slowest drying rate.

Since the moisture content of hay should be around 15%, these results indicated that the
three legumes should be dried for six hours, bana and mixed grasses for eight hours and
Sudan grass for more than ten hours. These drying times will increase on days when sunshine
is inadequate.

The CP values and percentage changes in CP of the fresh forages and six-month-old hays
are presented in Table 3. These results show interesting differences between grasses and
legumes. The CP of Sudan grass did not change from fresh to six-month-old hays. That of
bana grass showed a slight increase (11.1%) and that of mixed grasses showed slight
decrease (8.7%). The changes in the three legumes are, however, much larger. Leucaena
showed a CP drop of 27.4% in six-month-old hay as compared to the fresh forage. Jones and
Megarrity (1983) have reported that the poisonous protein mimosine constitutes between 3
and 5% dry weight of leucaena. This protein is believed to disintegrate upon drying, rendering
dry leucaena less poisonous. It is possible that these changes may be associated with the
observed reduction of CP in leucaena hay after six months of storage.

CP in both pigeon pea and sesbania increased by more than 30% fresh forage to six-month-
old hay (Table 3).

Table 3. Crude-protein content of forages and their hays

Species % CP in fresh forage % CP in 6-month-old hay change % CP + -

Sudan grass 13.8 13.4 -2.9
Bana grass 14.4 16.0 +11.1
Mixed grasses 10.3 9.4 -8.7
Leucaena 26.6 19.3 -27.4
Pigeon pea 28.2 36.7 +30.1
Sesbania 26.9 36.0 +33.8

This increase indicates that some changes occurred in the plant tissue as it dried or during
storage that favoured increased synthesis of CP. Fungal growth could be a plausible
explanation, but both hays dried fast and maintained a moisture content of only 4% throughout
storage, thus minimizing this possibility. This observation requires further investigation,
perhaps with the inclusion of other legumes. It would be beneficial to livestock not only to be
fed the hays during the dry season but also to be able to utilize a better quality feed even than
that used during the wet season.
Supplementation with Cut-and-Carry and Purchased Forages

Farmers in western Kenya do not only supplement their livestock with cut-and-carry forages
from hedges and planted fodders, but also with forages purchased from the markets. Some of
the weeds and planted forages that farmers use as cut-and-carry were presented in Table 1.
The results show that if livestock consume adequate DM, then their protein requirements will
also be supplied. It is interesting to note that farmers specifically select and cut forages that
are liked by the livestock and these are usually those with high protein levels. An example of
such a species is Leonotis mollisima.

Another interesting species is sesbania. Farmers in western Kenya save it when they are
weeding their food crops. The leaves which are 26% CP, are consumed by goats, sheep and
cattle and are also believed to have medicinal uses. Sesbania roots fix up to 600 kg N/ha/yr
and the stems provide fuel wood estimated at 40-60 t/ha. Sesbania leaves make an excellent
protein supplement for livestock.

The types of forage purchased from the markets near Maseno are presented in Table 4.

Table 4. Partitioning of DM of purchased forages into consumable and unconsumable

portions of small ruminants

Date Types of forage Total DM % DM of purchased sample

(kg) Cattle Sheep and goats
Consumable Unconsumable Consumable Unconsumable

17.10.85 Sugarcane tops 5.08 2.45 2.63 34.44 17.89

17.10.85 Sugarcane tops 4.10 1.82 2.28 27.96 17.26
17.10.85 Napier grass 1.49 0.92 0.57 30.58 14.19
6.11.85 Napier grass 2.45 1.97 0.49 16.97 10.63
17.10.85 Green maize stover 4.14 3.38 0.76 19.99 10.75
6.11.85 Green maize stover 4.05 2.86 1.19 24.46 15.85
6.11.85 Green maize stover 4.28 2.68 1.60 25.16 16.97
17.10.85 Mixed riverside 1.57 1.57 - 22.35 -
grasses
24.10.85 Mixed riverside 4.01 4.01 - 28.64 -
grasses
23.10.85 Mixed riverside 4.16 4.16 - 33.31 -
grasses

For small ruminants, the consumable portion of the purchased green maize stover, Napier
grass, and sugarcane tops constitutes approximately 50%. For cattle, the whole sample can
be consumed if it is chopped up. All mixed riverside and roadside grasses can be consumed
by both smallstock and cattle. DM in the leaves about twice that in the young stems of maize,
Napier grass and sugarcane tops.

Prices that the farmers pay for DM/tonne of the purchased forages are presented in Table 5.

Mean prices for portions consumable by small ruminants of sugarcane tops, Napier grass,
green maize stover and mixed grasses were Sh 2,394, 3,443, 1,599 and 2,270/tonne DM,
respectively. Although few farmers purchase fodder from the market, those who do so pay
very dearly for it. These prices make such fodder crops attractive to grow, although there is
only a small market for them at the moment.
Since sugarcane is widely grown in western Kenya and the tops are not utilized for livestock
feeding, we felt it would be useful to estimate feed values of 10 top commercial sugarcane
varieties. The results, presented in Table 6, show that most of the varieties have a very high
fibre content.

Table 5. Costs of purchased forages on DM basis

Type of forage Sample DM (kg) Price of sample (Sh) Price/tonne (KSh)

Consumblea All

Sugarcane tops 5.08 5.00 2,040.80 984.25

Sugarcane tops 4.10 5.00 2,747.25 1,219.50
Mean 5.50 5.00 2,394.00 1,101.90
Napier grass 1.49 4.00 4,347.80 2,684.60
Napier grass 2.45 5.00 2,538.10 2,040.80
Mean 1.97 4.50 3,442.95 2,462.70
Green maize stover 4.14 4.00 1,183.40 966.20
Green maize stover 4.05 5.00 1,748.25 1,234.60
Green maize stover 4.28 5.00 1,865.70 1,168.20
Mean 4.16 4.67 1,599.12 1,123.00
Mixed riverside grasses 1.57 3.00 1,910.80 1,910.80
Mixed riverside grasses 4.01 10.00 2,493.80 2,493.80
Mixed riverside grasses 4.16 10.00 2,403.85 2,403.85
Mean 3.25 7.67 2,269.50 2,269.50

a
By sheep and goats

Table 6. In vitro digestibility, fibre and CP content of the top 10 commercial sugarcane
varieties in western Kenya

Variety Fibre (%)

NDF ADF ADL HC IVD (%) CP (%)

EAK7076 70.0 40.5 11.1 29.5 49.3 7.4

CO421 75.5 41.1 5.5 34.1 42.6 7.4
EAK69-40 92.5 57.6 7.9 34.9 47.7 8.7
EAK71-183 75.8 37.4 8.9 38.3 45.5 8.0
EAK7079 74.8 37.8 5.4 36.9 41.7 8.7
CO421 78.3 46.9 9.0 26.4 54.8 7.0
CO617 74.6 43.9 7.0 30.7 42.0 9.3
EAK6941 73.1 37.5 3.7 35.7 38.9 6.7
EAK71-420 73.1 39.2 3.6 33.9 46.6 6.7
CO1148 74.5 43.8 6.5 30.7 36.4 6.0

Their IVD values are also very low, and variable. In this regard it would seem that varieties
00421, EAK7076 (49.3%) and EAK69-40 (47.7%) may have some potential as fodder. CP
levels of 7.6% were fairly low. However, because of the abundance of cane tops in western
Kenya, they can be supplemented with cheap energy sources such as molasses and protein-
rich sesbania to constitute an excellent feed not only for small-scale farmers even for fattening
and in feed-lots.

References
Jaetzold, R. and Schmidt, H. (1982). Farm Management Handbook Vol. II National Conditions
and Farm Management Information. Part A, West Kenya (Nyanza and Western Provinces),
pp. 267-357.

Onim, J.F.M., Hart, R., Russo, S., Otieno, K. and Fitzhugh, H.A. (1984). Potential of
intercropping forage crops with maize in western Kenya. Proceedings of the Third SR-CRSP
Kenya Workshop, Kabete, Nairobi, 5-6 March, pp. 65-74.

Onim, J.F.M., Mathuva, M., Otieno, K., Hart, R. and Fitzhugh, H.A. (1985). Potential of food-
feed crops in western Kenya. Proceedings of the Fourth SR-CRSP Kenya Workshop.
Kakamega, Kenya, 11-12 March (in press).

Otieno, K., Onim, J.F.M., Hart, R. and Fitzhugh, H.A. (1984). Botanical composition and crude
protein content of forage grazed and grazing behaviour of goats at Maseno Farm and SR-
CRSP Clusters. Proceedings of the Third SR-CRSP Kenya Workshop, Kabete, Nairobi, 5-6
March, pp. 75-79.

Russo, S., Hart, R., Otieno, K., Owino, J. and Onim, M. (1983). Feed production research for
small-holder agriculturalists in western Kenya. Paper presented at CIMMYT Network on
Animal Feeding in Small Farm Systems, 4-6 October, Mbabane, Swaziland, p. 10.

  
   

Small-ruminant production: The present situation and

possible interventions for improvement
L. Reynolds

International Livestock Centre for Africa

Humid Zone Programme, P.M.B. 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria

Introduction
Conclusion
References

Introduction
In tropical Africa there are estimated to be about 104 million sheep and 125 million goats
(Jahnke, 1982) kept predominantly within the small-farming sector. It is only in highland
regions that sheep outnumber goats (Table 1). Throughout the continent there are many
different breeds, ranging from small trypano-tolerant animals found in the humid zone of West
Africa to long-legged, rangy animals found in most arid regions. Day length in the tropics has
little variation, females breed throughout the year, and variations in birth patterns from month
to month are related to the plane of nutrition at the time of conception.

Table 1. Ruminant livestock population by species and ecological in tropical Africa

Ecological zone Cattle Sheep Goats Livestock units

(x 10 6 ) (x 10 6 ) (x 10 6 ) (x 10 6 )
Arid 31.5 37.1 48.3 41.7
Semi-arid 45.5 23.1 33.2 37.5
Sub-humid 32.8 14.2 20.3 26.4
Humid 8.8 8.2 11.6 8.1
Highland 29.0 21.4 11.9 23.6

Source: Jahnke, 1982.

Mortality rates are usually high (25–40% per annum), and young stock are particularly at risk
in the first three months postpartum. Neonatal losses can be closely correlated with birth
weight, which is in itself a reflection of maternal nutrition during the final two months of
gestation. The disease pattern varies from area to area and season to season. At all times
animals that are undernourished will be at high risk. Undernutrition also lengthens kidding
interval and decreases kidding percentage and growth rates which, together with survival rate,
are components of productivity index.

Productivity index = KP x 365/KI x S x BW

Where
 KP = kidding percentage/100
KI = kidding interval (days)
S = survival rate to weaning expressed as a proportion
BW = body weight at weaning

Thus any strategy to improve productivity of small ruminants must look closely at nutrition.

Table 2. The effect of alley farming on the yield of maize (tons/ha in southern Nigeria)

1983 1984 1985 1985

1st season 1st season 2nd season 1st season
maize maize maize maize
Continuous cropping 2.19 2.55 1.16 2.49
(control)
Continuous alley cropping 2.54 3.75 1.45 2.83

(1.16)a (1.47) (1.25) (1.14)

Alley grazing/cropping - - - 3.88

(1.56)

Alley cropping/grazing 2.56 3.43 1.27 -

(1.16) (1.35) (1.09)

a
Values in parentheses indicate yield expressed as proportion of control yield.
Source: Atta-Krah, Sumberg and Reynolds (1985)

Table 3. The effects of supplementary Leucaena and Gliricidia, with ad-libitum Panicum
maximum, on the productivity of West African Dwarf sheep (mean ± SE)

Browse g/day 0 400 800

Parturition interval (days) 262 ± 13.5 226 ± 8.4 241 ± 8.9
Little size 1.26 ± 0.087 1.19 ± 0.082 1.17 ± 0.078
Survival to 90 days 0.65 0.65 0.82
Birth weight (kg) 1.80 ± 0.069 1.52 ± 0.073 1.72 ± 0.067
Daily liveweight gain to 90 days (g) 64.4 ± 2.98 73.4 ± 4.98 83.8 ± 3.69

Productivity index a 8.67 10.15 13.46

a
Productivity index = kg of lamb weaned/dam/year.
Source: Reynolds and Adeoye, 1985.

The Current Situation

On the African continent food production for human consumption lags behind population
growth and increased areas show a food deficit. Ruminants have a distinct advantage over
simple-stomached animals, being capable of converting organic material unsuitable for human
consumption into products of high nutritional value, while at the same time providing excellent
fertilizer from undigested residues. Furthermore, in extensive farming systems, small
ruminants, particularly goats, are complementary to cattle. Goats have catholic tastes and
consume many more plant species than cattle. By preference goats are browsers rather than
grazers while cattle take the opposite role. Provided an area is not overstocked, and in many
areas of Africa that condition is unlikely to be fulfilled, goats and cattle together ensure a
carrying capacity higher than would be possible for either species on its own.
The myth of the destructive goat should have been finally demolished by Staples, Hornby and
Hornby (1942) who described the comparative effects of goats and cattle on fenced plots of
semi-arid wooded grassland in central Tanzania. After four years of the trial considerable
modifications had been effected to the plots. Goats browsed all plants within reach, but did not
browse any plant down to ground level, so that none were destroyed as a result. Little bark
damage was caused to trees, and young trees large enough to produce branches out of reach
of the goats continued to grow. Thus a good ground cover was maintained at a stocking rate
of approximately 1.4 livestock units/ha/year. In contrast, cattle, at a slightly higher stocking
rate, concentrated on the grasses and eventually produced open thicket with little ground
cover. Carrying capacity was reduced and erosion accelerated. Environmental degradation
was therefore more likely from cattle than from goats. It is realized, however, that when an
area is overstocked with goats damage to vegetation will occur.

In areas of extensive farming where the soil is of low agricultural potential, animal productivity
is also low. There is little competition for the land and extensive livestock systems are most
appropriate to the conditions. In such areas, despite the fall in nutritional value of maturing
grasses, small ruminants are frequently better nourished than cattle because of their
preference for browse (Marais 1983 and Coetsee 1983, 1984). In east Africa many browse
species start to produce new growth ahead of the onset of rains. This contributes to a rising
plane of nutrition and is associated with a peak in conception rates (Walker 1980; Reynolds
1985). The flush of young grass that accompanies the early rains, although highly nutritious,
does not result in the expected increase in production. A concurrent rise in levels of both
internal and external parasites also occurs (Adeoye 1985).

Forage availability during the dry season determines the overall carrying capacity of the land.
On more fertile land the perceived needs of pastoralists and arable farmers compete.
Throughout Africa, with increasing population pressure, former grazing areas are being used
for arable farming and the true pastoralist is restricted to a decreasing area. Although it may
appear contradictory, this can be to the advantage of the pastoralist. In a symbiotic
relationship pastoralists can graze animals on crop residues in the dry season, and the settled
farmer benefits from deposited manure. It has been demonstrated that this can result in an
increase in overall carrying capacity because the crop residues can support more animals
than natural pasture during the critical dry period. In areas of higher soil fertility and cropping
intensity, local communities view wandering animals with disfavour, and may demand that
livestock be penned or tethered. Most localities, however, have areas unsuitable for cropping
that can be set aside for communal grazing; but overstocking will be a hazard. Traditionally,
herding of livestock has been performed by children, but with the spread of primary education,
and in some places compulsory school attendance, this source of free labour is decreasing
and herdsmen must be employed. One response to these combined pressures is stall- or pen-
feeding where animals are not allowed out.

A continuum of management systems can be found between nomadic pastoralism and stall
feeding. Where do small ruminants fit into these systems? In most parts of Africa they are
merely adjuncts to the farming systems, albeit important ones. Attention is paid to cattle while
sheep and goats continue as they have done for generations. It is only under special situations
in moderate- to high-rainfall areas, for example, where tsetse flies combined with government
directives exclude cattle, that small ruminants assume a dominant role. Where such situations
exist infrastructural development is invariably poor. Farmers have difficulty marketing their
animals because roads and transport to centres of population, and hence consumers, is
lacking. Prices paid by itinerant buyers to farmers are low, and profits accrue to middlemen
rather than to the farmer. In some African countries the demand for goat meat is high enough
to favour the development of the goat industry. At the other extreme, where demand for land is
intense, there may be moves to exclude livestock completely.

Scope for Improvement

Small ruminants are raised under a low-cost system and farmers are less likely to buy
feedstuffs or provide veterinary care for sheep and goats than for cattle. Interventions that call
for expenditure are unlikely to be adopted widely, while those that are simple adaptations of
existing systems could be more acceptable.

Productivity can be improved by two major routes, with a degree of interdependence. The first
involves improved health care, which reduces the mortality rate. ILCA (1985) have shown that
prophylatic health measures in south-west Nigeria allowed goat numbers to rise over a two-
year period by 118% compared with a 24% increase in control villages. The possibility of
overstocking must always be borne in mind. However attractive increasing flock size appears
in the short term, it is a long-term recipe for disaster unless forage availability is also
increased. Are more animals needed or could higher productivity be achieved through better
nutrition and health care while reducing the total population? If a reduction in numbers is to
accompany health and nutrition interventions, this necessitates increased offtake. Are existing
marketing arrangements adequate?

The second major route is through improved feeding. The form taken by any nutritional
intervention will depend upon the overall farming system employed and environmental
conditions. Certain questions must be asked whatever the farming system. What can be found
on the uncultivated land? What is available from crop residues? Is the farmer aware of the
nutritional value of the potential feed resources? Will using that material as animal feed fit into
the existing farming system? If not, what changes will be necessary?

It can be argued that extensive systems, implying little competition for the land from arable
farmers because of low soil fertility and lack of water, are the most difficult to assist given the
necessity of minimal cost interventions. The major feed resource in extensive systems is
uncultivated browse and grasses. Goats, in particular, are capable of selecting the most
nutritious plants, and parts of plants, obtaining a reasonably balanced diet throughout the
year. It is rare to see extensively raised goats in poor condition unless carrying capacity is
exceeded. Farmers may assist by lopping branches that would otherwise be outside the reach
of livestock, and by providing water to animals overnight. This latter intervention will be
particularly beneficial to lactating females since 86% of milk is water. Shortage of water will
inhibit milk production. Bush improvement may be suitable for selected areas within cattle
ranches, but is generally uneconomic for small-ruminant farmers. Communal agreement to
reserve an area for dry-season feeding can be beneficial and has been successfully adopted
in some areas. One such example is in West Mzimba, Malawi (Dzowela 1980) where the
reserved area was improved with Stylosanthes guianansis cv. Cook.

A cost-effective approach for research workers is to check on mineral nutrition. Tissue and
feed samples will show whether supplementation is necessary, if so, they can easily be
incorporated into salt-licks. Use must be made of whatever crop residues are available. Crop
residues left in the field will help to maintain soil structure through the provision of organic
matter. Is it more beneficial to allow incorporation of residues into the soil or to return manure
from livestock as a by-product of crop residue feeding? The value of feedstuff from a particular
residue will be related to the overall feed situation. Where there is a shortage of forage, a
residue of low nutritional value will assume a greater importance than when adequate feed is
available. Under the latter conditions quality rather than quantity becomes the major factor.

As human population density rises, the importance of crop-residue feeding increases relative
to uncultivated forage. Livestock can have free access to arable fields after harvest in addition
to whatever natural forage is available. Animals grazing maize stover always waste part of the
feed by knocking it over. Contamination with soil, urine and faeces occurs, and the resultant
mixture is unpalatable. A bimodal rainfall patter limits access to first-season crop residues in
situ because second-crop cultivation closely follows the first harvest. Access to fields after the
second harvest is less restricted and labour is more readily available for collection and
transport of residues to animal pens.

In many areas, maintenance of soil fertility depends upon the inclusion of fallow periods in the
farming system. Regrowth during these periods can be available to animals. ILCA in West
Africa have shown that alley farming, the use of leguminous trees such as Leucaena
leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium in rows, with food crops between the rows, provides mulch
and browse to the advantages of both crops (Atta-Krah, Sunberg and Reynolds 1985, Table
2), and livestock (Reynolds and Adeoye 1985, Table 3). This provides high-quality feed on a
cut-and-carry basis for confined animals. Emphasis is placed on managing the trees to ensure
maximum forage availability for the dry season. In addition, mulch helps to maintain soil fertility
(Kang, Grimme and Lawson 1985) and reduces the need for a fallow period so that a higher
proportion of available land can remain under cultivation.

The resultant crop residues are important feed resources during the dry season. The same
question that was raised earlier, whether the farmer is aware of the value of crop residues,
must be asked here. In addition, household and small-scale food-processing wastes, such as
maize bran and cassava peels, may also be available. Maximum use must be made of them
since as energy sources they complement high-protein browse. Less wastage of feed occurs
in cut-and-carry systems but the labour requirement is naturally, high. In the Oume Province of
the Republic of Benin, with confined animals on a cut-and-carry system, forage is deliberately
spread on the floor so that much of it becomes unpalatable. Food residues, mixed with urine
and feaces, are composted in situ and the resultant manure is highly valued. Animals are kept,
therefore, to provide manure, with meat as the by-product of the system (Atta-Krah, personal
communication). Does the labour requirement for a cut-and-carry system conflict with other
farm activities? Who owns the animals, and who looks after them during the owner's
absence? The farmer puts a low cost-value on his labour, but in any economic analysis labour
time will be charged at the market rate. What is the return that the farmer can expect for his
extra labour and is this economic system?

Where there is only a limited amount of supplements available, preferential feeding of these to
animals in late pregnancy and lactation is advisable. This will ensure that animals under the
greatest nutritional stress will benefit. In intensive systems the provision of extra rations prior
to malting (steaming-up) has been demonstrated to increase litter size, particularly when
breeding females are in poor-to-moderate body condition initially. With an extensive system
and year-round breeding it would be difficult to implement steaming-up, but where
confinement is practiced implementation is quite feasible.

It is possible to select for twin-bearing females to increase the overall kidding percentage of
the flock, but unless adequate nutrition is provided this may simply result in a higher mortality
rate. A close inverse relationship exists with birth-type classes between birthweight and
mortality rate. Single offspring are heavier at birth than twins, which in turn are heavier than
triplets. Neonatal deaths amongst offspring from multiple births is higher than for singles.
Undernutrition of the dam during the final two months of gestation, when foetal growth is
greatest, will adversely affect birthweight. Improvement of the genetic base must, therefore, be
accompanied by good nutrition, otherwise the additional potential, gained at such cost during
selection over a number of years, cannot be realized.

Selection for improved growth rates to weaning, in part at least, is selection for higher milk
production from the dam. Milk yield will depend on both condition, nutrient intake, and number
of offspring being suckled, as well as on genetic potential. When the crude-protein level in
natural grasses is low and lignin levels are high, as happens after flowering in maturing plants,
digestibility will fall. At this stage the provision of additional nitrogen, whether from browse or
from urea, will increase rumen microbial growth rates and improve digestibility. This, in turn,
will be matched by a higher food intake because of a faster rate of passage of food through
the gastro-intestinal tract. Thus the nutrient intake of lactating females on poor-quality forage
can be greatly improved by the provision of browse.

Milk production from small ruminants kept for meat has received little attention in Africa, and it
may be useful to extrapolate from cattle data, differences in response to supplementary
feeding during lactation have been noticed between beef and dairy breeds. Incremental
increases in feed intake of dairy cows have most effect on total milk production during the
early lactation period and decline thereafter (Broster, Broster and Smith 1969). Hart et al
(1975), in a matched-pair trial with beef and dairy cows, showed that beef cows gained weight
but produced little milk, while dairy cows on the same level of feeding lost weight but had a
high milk yield. Supplementary feeding of small African ruminants and Zebu cows at any stage
of lactation produces a response comparable to that observed in temperate beef cattle.
Genetic selection for high milk production has increased the importance of early-lactation
feeding, but in meat animals the timing of supplementation during lactation is less critical.
Nevertheless, milk production is important, ensuring as it does a high pre-weaning growth
rate. Zebu cows are sometimes expected to provide milk for human as well as for calf, often to
the detriment of calf growth. Lambs and kids are less likely to be affected since human
consumption of sheep and goat milk is less widespread.

Conclusion
Small-ruminant production by small farmers is at present a low-cost enterprise. Development
agencies must take this fundamental point into account, and look first for modifications of the
existing farming systems before proposing drastic changes. Low-cost intervention might
include pro of water in pens, maximum use of residues from small-scale food processing,
household wastes, crop residue utilization and the reservation of areas of the bush for dry-
season use. The use of leguminous trees for browse should be considered.

References
Adeoye, S.A.O. (1985). Performance of West African Dwarf goats raised in villages in the
derived savanna zone of southwest Nigeria. Internal document, ILCA, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Atta-Krah, A.N., Sumberg, J.E. and Reynold, L. (1985). Leguminous fodder trees in the
farming system - an overview of research at the Humid Zone Programme of ILCA in
southwestern Nigeria. Presented at the Workshop on the Potential of Forage Legumes in
Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, 16-19 September, 1985. ILCA, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.

Broster, W.H., Broster, V.J. and Smith, T. (1969). Experiments on the nutrition of the dairy
heifer. VII. Effect on milk production of level of feeding at two stages of lactation. Journal of
Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 72:229.

Dzowela, B.H. (1980). Pasture agronomy and improvement research. Ministry of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, Malawi (Mimeo).

Hart, I.C., Bines, J.A., Balch, C.C. and Cowie, A.T. (1975). Hormone and metabolic
differences between lactating beef and dairy cattle. Life Sciences 16:1285.

ILCA 1985. Annual Report, 1984. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Jahnke, H.E. (1982). Livestock production systems and livestock development in tropical
Africa. Kiele Wissenschaftsverlag Vank. Kiel, West Germany.

Kang, B.T., Grimme, H. and Lawson, T.L. (1985). Alley cropping sequentially cropped maize
and cowpea with Leucaena on sandy soil in southern Nigeria. Plant and Soil 85:267.

Reynolds, L. (1985). The reproductive performance and productivity of small East Africa x
Boer goats. Zimbabwe Journal of Agricultural Research (in press).

Reynolds, L. and Adeoye, S.A.O. (1985). Small ruminant productivity and nutrition in southern
Nigeria. Paper presented at the National Conference on Small Ruminant Production, 6-10
October 1985. Zaria, Nigeria.

Staples, R.R., Hornby, H.E. and Hornby, R.M. (1942). A study of the comparative effects of
goats and cattle on a mixed grassbush pasture. East African Agriculture and Forestry Journal.
8:62.

Walker, B.H. (1980). A review of browse and its role in Livestock production in southern
Africa. In H.N. le Houerou (ed.) Browse in Africa. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Zeeman, P.J.L., Marais, P.G. and Coetsee, M.J. (1983). Nutrient selection by cattle, goats
and sheep on natural karoo pastures. 1. Digestibility of organic matter. South African Journal
of Animal Science. 13:236.

Zeeman, P.J.L., Marais, P.G. and Coetsee, M.J. (1984). Nutrient selection by cattle, goats
and sheep on natural karoo pasture. 2. South African Journal of Animal Science. 14:169.

  
   

Feed resources for dairy farmers in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Ndelilio A. Urio

Animal Science and Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture

Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusion
References

Abstract
Smallholder dairy production has become an important agricultural activity in Kilimanjaro area
in recent years. Land is very scarce in the region, particularly in the area immediately
surrounding Mt. Kilimanjaro. Scarcity of feeds is one of the major constraints facing these
smallholder dairy producers. The feed resources commonly used are grass cut and
transported from the lowlands, established pastures, crop residues and agro-industrial by-
products. Increased productivity of established pastures can be effected through improvement
in agronomic practices, the inclusion of suitable legume species in pasture leys, and through
better supply of pasture seeds. Utilization of crop residues can be improved through efficient
handling and transportation, and supplementation for the most limiting nutrients. Organized
markets and distribution networks for the agro-industrial byproducts will improve the
availability of inputs and increase productivity.

Introduction
Kilimanjaro Region is one of the 20 administrative Regions that make up the United Republic
of Tanzania. Most of the land in this Region lies at more than 800 m above sea level with
Kibo peak, (the highest point in Africa) being 5,895 m. Because of the high altitude, the region
has a mild climate with temperatures ranging from 17 to 34°C rainfall varies greatly from place
to place. The humid, intensively cultivated highland area receives 1,000–1,500 mm annually,
with the probability of at least 1,000 mm even in the driest years (Naveh and Anderson 1966).
Agriculture is the main industry of the region, and since the 1930's the production of arabica
coffee has played a major role in the economic development of the region. Other important
crops include bananas, maize, beans, paddy, wheat and cotton. Coffee and bananas, are by
far the most important crops, occupying about 55% of the cultivated land in the region as a
whole and about 69% of the cultivated land around Mt. Kilimanjaro (Mlambiti, Edelsten and
Colyer 1982).

Livestock raising is traditional, and despite the land problem, the region had 751,823 head of
cattle, 192,810 goats, 99,211 sheep and 12,300 pigs in 1978 (Ministry of Agriculture 1978).
Since the mid-1960's there has been an increasing tendency towards diversification away from
coffee. This desire to diversify production has resulted from the threat of frequent outbreaks of
coffee disease as well as the need to maximize the use of scarce land resource. As a result,
dairy farming has developed-very rapidly in the past decade in Kilimanjaro area. In a recent
survey conducted in one of the Districts (Urio and Mlay 1984) it was revealed that about 90%
of the farmers raising cattle had replaced their indigenous Zebu cattle with higher-yielding
crossbred animals.

Land is limiting, however, more than 60% of the farm holdings are less than 1 ha, and 80%
are 2 ha or less (Table 1). As a result farmers have very few options for increasing fodder
production, and scarcity of livestock feeds is one of the major constraints facing the
smallholder dairy farmer.

Table 1. Proportions of holdings by farm-size group in Kilimanjaro Region

Farm size Holdings in Moshi and Rombo Holdings in Pare District Holdings in the
(ha) Districts (%) (%) Region
Under 1 65 82 72
1-2 22 11 18
2-3 8 4 6
3-4 2 1 2.0
4-5 2 1 2.0
5-10 1 0.5 0
10-20 0 0.5 0

Source: Mlambiti, Edelsten and Colyer. 1982

Feed Resources

For convenience the major livestock feed resources can be grouped into natural grasslands,
established pastures, crop residues, agro-industrial byproducts, and others.

Natural Grasslands

As most of the smallholder dairy farmers in Kilimanjaro live in the densely populated highland
areas, there are hardly any areas which can be reserved for herding cattle. All the cattle in the
highland areas are stall-fed and feed has to be brought in from long distances. Nevertheless,
the natural grasslands do play an indirect role in that grass is cut from the lowlands and
transported to the mountain homesteads. The quality and quantity of such grass is typically
affected by the seasonal variation in rangelands productivity. The grass is either carried on
people's heads or, for those who can afford it, by hired pick-ups, tractors or trucks. This grass
may contain such species as Cynodon, Digitaria, Echinochloa and indigenous strains of
glycine. During the dry season, however, such grass may consist largely of mature
Hyparrhenia and Themeda. Farmers may travel to the lowland areas and cut/harvest the
grasses themselves, or they may purchase by the head-loads from hawkers.

Established Pastures

Kilimanjaro is one of the few areas in Tanzania where established pastures do play a
significant role in livestock feeding. Three grass species are specifically grown for cutting and
feeding livestock in Kilimanjaro. These are Setaria splendida, Pennisetum purpureum
(elephant grass, Napier grass) and Tripsacum laxum (Guatemala grass). Nearly every small
dairy farmer in Kilimanjaro has at least two of the above grass species in his pasture plots.
Due to scarcity of land these grasses are grown mostly in rows and terraces between the
coffee and banana plants, on farmstead boundaries and along road sides. The three grass
species have become extremely popular in Kilimanjaro and there have been instances of
farmers having up-rooted their coffee in order to give room for fodder crops. It is interesting to
note that the widespread use of the above grass species has generally taken place largely
through farmers' own efforts to supply fellow farmers with rooted cuttings for propagation free
of charge. Despite the popularity there is still a tendency to neglect pasture and not to give it
the degree of husbandry that is accorded to cash or food crops. Inputs such as fertilizers,
proper spacing and irrigation could increase the yield and hence the productivity of these grass
species several fold.

In addition to the above three grass species, a few farmers grow alfalfa and Rhodes grass but
due to scarcity of land the acreage is very limited. Two commercial farms grow and sell bales
of alfalfa and Rhodes grass hay, but their production is far outstripped by demand. The
potential exists, however, for growing these fodder crops on a large scale and selling the bales
to the smallholder dairy farmers who otherwise purchase low-quality grass.

A number of research projects in the northern part of Tanzania have had the specific objective
of improving both the bulk and quality of the herbage on established pastures. Most of this
work has concentrated on trying to find suitable legumes to include in mixtures with the three
common grass species. Nevah and Anderson (1966, 1967) investigated the suitability of
several legume/grass mixtures for the highland areas of Kilimanjaro and Arusha. They
particularly singled out Desmodium uncinatum, which gave a dry-matter yield of more than
20,000 kg/ha, as well as two strains of Medicago sativa (Saladina lucerne and hairy Peruvian
lucerne) as suitable legumes for inclusion in the pasture leys. Rapidity of germination, vigour,
growth habit and seeding rate were factors considered of importance in addition to yield. In a
later study at Lyamungu Research Station reported by Lugenja (1979) several Desmodium
species were again identified as being suitable legumes for inclusion in the pasture leys (see
Table 2).

Despite the apparent benefits of including legumes in pasture leys, farmers in Kilimanjaro
continue to grow pure stands of the grasses mentioned. There is clearly a missing link
between the research findings and their application at the farmers' level. Lack of seeds is one
of the constraints to the adoption of legumes, but the farmers also have to be convinced of the
actual benefits in terms of greater and higher-quality yields from the inclusion of legumes in
the pasture plots taking into consideration the limited land resource.

Crop Residues

Two main crop residues are utilized as livestock feeds in Kilimanjaro. These are maize stover
and bean haulms. Unlike other areas in the country where these crop residues are produced
in the vicinity of livestock dwellings, in Kilimanjaro the crop residues have to be transported
from the lowland areas to the highland homesteads. Transport is the main factor limiting the
quantities utilized per year.

Table 2. Dry-matter yields of grass/legume mixtures for a five-year period at Lyamungu

Coffee Research Station

Grass/legume mixture Annual yield (tonnes DM/ha)

1972 1973 1974 1975 1976

Guatemala/Neonotonia wightii 26.3 17.8 13.5 13.3 16.2

Guatemala/Desmodium uncinatum 26.6 20.8 12.7 16.9 14.5
Guatemala/Desmodium intortum 39.7 20.6 13.7 12.8 12.7
Guatemala/Pueraria phaseoloides 26.3 12.2 13.7 11.0 12.0
Setaria/Neonotonia wightii 32.2 15.7 10.3 8.0 12.8
Setaria/Desmodium uncinatum 27.3 15.0 9.2 10.3 13.1
Setaria/Desmodium intortum 30.6 21.0 10.3 9.2 18.5
Setaria/Pueraria phaseoloides 23.7 14.2 9.4 10.6 13.6
 Source: Lugenja 1979.

Current research work going on in Hai District has indicated that baling of these crop residues
is beneficial and economical as it reduces bulk and greatly facilitates transport and storage.
Use of hand operated hay binders has been proposed as a possible and probably more
appropriate technology for smallholder dairy farmers.

Bean-haulm chaff is a product which appears to have promising potential, particularly if mixed
with molasses. Appreciable amounts of this product are produced in West Kilimanjaro area,
but again transport limits utilization.

Large quantities of barley and wheat straw are also produced in the West Kilimanjaro area,
but due to the distance to the user sites, these are simply burnt.

Where transport is not a limiting factor, farmers make use of all the crop residues produced on
their farms, and occasionally this may be supplemented by purchases from other farmers. All
the crop residues are fed without any form of chemical treatments. Although considerable
work has been done in Tanzania and elsewhere on upgrading the nutritive value of crop
residues by means of chemical, these have become prohibitively expensive and their supply
extremely erratic. For the time being the most appropriate way of improving the feed values of
these crop residues is to supplement them with these nutrients known to be most limiting.

Agro-Industrial By-Products

These can be divided into two main categories: the milling by-products of cereals and the by-
products of oilseed industries. The milling by-products commonly used in Kilimanjaro are
maize bran, wheat pollard, wheat bran and rice polishings. The supply of these is, however,
directly related to the production of the respective cereals. Since the production of cereals for
human food is generally inadequate, the production of the cereal by-products for animal
feeding is also in short supply. The limited amounts produced are available to the farmers
sporadically and at high prices. When utilized for feeding these by-products are fed straight
without mixing them with other ingredients and are generally fed only to lactating cows during
milking times.

Although appreciable quantities of oilseed cake and particularly cotton-seed cake, are
produced in Tanzania, very limited amounts are utilized by smallholder farms. Most oilseed
cakes are produced in places distant from Kilimanjaro, and this leads to thigh transport costs.
As with the cereal by-products, only limited amounts of oilseed cakes (mostly cotton-seed
cake) are utilized by dairy farmers in Kilimanjaro.

Molasses, which is produced by a sugar-cane processing plant about 20 km south of Moshi

town, has been used extensively for feeding livestock in Kilimanjaro area rather than
elsewhere in the country. Until recently, however, use of this product was limited to well-to-do
farmers, particularly those with transport. A distribution network has now been established for
this product through the FAO/UNDP Dairy Development Project for Arusha and Kilimanjaro
areas. Through this project, a small plant for mixing urea and molasses has been constructed
at the sugar factory which produces molasses with 3% urea.

Collection centres have been constructed in selected villages where 10,000 litres of molasses
can be stored and from which farmers can then purchase their requirements. Tanker loads are
regularly delivered to these centres on request from the farmers. Plans have also been worked
out to develop the molasses/urea-receiving centres into distribution centres for other inputs
such as cereal by-products and oil cakes.

Other Feedstuffs
Traditionally banana pseudostems, banana leaves and banana peelings are perhaps the most
important feed resource for livestock keepers in Kilimanjaro area. As is evident from Table 3,
bananas play an important role not only as a staple food for the local people, but also as a
reliable and important feed resource. Their low nutritive value notwithstanding, banana
pseudostems and/or banana leaves are always mixed with other forage and the chopped
pseudostems aid in moistening dry roughages such as maize stover, and thereby apparently
increasing feed intake. Occasionally "Magadi" salt is sprinkled on the copped pseudostems
and banana peelings to increase intake. Farmers do realise the low feeding value of banana
pseudostems, but, on the other hand, they regard this as a reliable feed resource that is
readily available whenever supplies of other forages becomes short.

Brewers waste is obtained from the Arusha and Moshi breweries, but the supply of this
product is far outstripped by demand. Only a few farmers, particularly those with transport and
'contacts', are able to use this product for feeding their dairy cattle.

Table 3. Land-use categories in Kilimanjaro Region

Crop Moshi District Pare District Region

hax 1,000 % hax 1,000 % hax 1,000 %

Coffee/banana 124.4 68.5 10.8 16.6 135.3 54.7

Maize 21.3 11.7 14.3 21.8 35.6 14.4
Maize/beans 30.4 16.7 3.1 4.7 33.5 13.6
Paddy 1.4 1.8 16.9 23.9 18.3 7.4
Fallow 0 0 12.4 18.9 12.4 5.0
Bananas 3.5 1.9 2.8 4.3 6.3 2.5
Cotton 0.5 0.3 2.6 3.9 3.1 1.3
Cassava 0.1 0.1 2.5 3.9 2.6 1.1
Total 181.7 100.0 65.4 100.0 247.1 100.0

Source: Mlambiti, Edelsten and Colyer 1982.

Conclusion
Farmers in Kilimanjaro and Arusha areas have a keen interest in dairy farming, perhaps more
than any other area in the country. Due to land scarcity, however, feed resources are very
limited. The productivity of the established pastures could be increased by applying proper
agronomical practices, including application of manure/fertilizer, irrigation, and the inclusion of
suitable legume species. Improvement or better utilization of crop residues through handling
and transportation, and supplementing for deficient nutrients, could greatly increase feed
supply and productivity. Organized markets and distribution networks for molasses and other
concentrate feeds will facilitate input supply to farmers and increase productivity.

References
Lugenja, M.M.S. (1979). Evaluation of pasture grasses and legume mixtures in northern
Tanzania. Proceedings of the Tanzania Society of Animal Production 6: pp. 181-199.

Ministry of Agriculture. (1978). Livestock Census, 1978. Ministry of Agriculture, Dar es Salaam.

Mlambiti, M.E., Edelsten, P. and Colyer, D. (1982). Economic analysis of the traditional
farming systems of the Kilimanjaro region Tanzania. IAF Publication No. 85, West Virginia
University, U.S.A.

Naveh, Z. and Anderson, G.P. (1966). Introduction and selection of promising pasture plants
for the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions of northern Tanzania. I. Problems of pasture research
and development. East African Agriculture & Forestry Journal 32: pp. 41-44.

Naveh, Z. and Anderson, G.P. (1967). Promising pasture plants for northern Tanzania. IV.
Legumes, grasses and grass legume mixtures. East African Agriculture & Forestry Journal 32:
pp. 282-304.

Urio, N.A. and Mlay, G.I. (1984). Progress report on diagnostic survey among smallholder
dairy farmers in Hai district Tanzania. IDRC Project file No. 3-P-82-8085. Dairy Feeding
Systems (Tanzania).

Welsch, D.E. (1965). Response to economic incentive by Mbakaliki rice farmers in eastern
Nigeria. Journal of Farm Economics 47: pp. 900-914

  
   

Maize stover improvement with legume forages

B.H. Dzowela

National Research Coordinator for Livestock and Pastures

Department of Agricultural Research, Chitedze Research Station
P.O. Box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results and discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References

Abstract
A simple technology which integrates maize grain production with improved forage/pasture
legumes is being tested in Malawi using the on-farm-/adaptive and station research concepts.
This work focuses on the enhancement and more efficient utilization of maize stover, a cheap
and widely available small-scale livestock feed resource as a byproduct of the national maize
grain production system. Results of this work which is currently undertaken are discussed.

Introduction
In Malawi, agricultural crop production has reached unprecedented levels in recent years
(Appendix 1). More importantly, maize grain production between 1974 and 1984 rose from
65,470 to 296,292 tonnes, an increase of 353%. Maize is the most widely grown crop,
occupying some 1.0 million hectares of a total 1.7 million hectares devoted to smallholder
agricultural production (Dzowela and Johnson 1984). It is the major cereal grain used for
human consumption along with other cereal grains, rice (9,771 tonnes), wheat (960 tonnes)
and minor cereal grains such as sorghum and millet. Since cereal-grain production has
surpassed local demand by the country's human population of 7.2 million, some surpluses,
particularly of maize, are being exported.

Recent estimates put the cattle population at about 1 million with an annual growth rate of 5%.
The majority of these cattle belong to smallholders, with only about 4% of the total herd being
on commercial estates (Booker Agriculture International 1983). Smallholder ownership is
generally at the level of a few head per family and only about 11% of all households own
cattle. Associated with this ownership pattern, therefore, is the problem of management, and
especially improvement of feed resources.

In spite of high national cereal grain production, the use of cereal grain for animal small feed
in the smallholder situation, a practice commonly associated with commercialized livestock
establishments, risks a corresponding diminution of grain resources available for direct human
consumption. The importation of animal feedstuffs is a further drain on national foreign-
exchange reserves. The most logical course of action is to improve the management of natural
forage/fodder resources, and especially the efficient utilization of crop by-products. The recent
increase in national maize production of 296,292 tonnes represents enormous amounts of
maize stover (Appendix 2).

Cattle Production Systems in Malawi

There are two systems of smallholder cattle production. The first one is based on zero-grazing
in which animals (dairy or beef) never leave the pen and fodder/crop residues are taken to
them throughout the year. This system is common amongst dairy and stall-fattening beef
farmers. It has resulted in increasing amounts of high quality meat and milk produced from low
cost-diets and is based primarily upon crop residues. The system makes negligible demands
on land and utilizes waste materials and crop by-products such as maize stover and
groundnut haulms. It blends very well with arable cropping and helps to provide a sufficient
cash income for the smallholder. It also helps the rural farm economy and spreads the concept
that cattle ownership can be profitable. Furthermore, the value of the dung from stall-fed cattle
as a manure for crop production, particularly in view of the cost of organic fertilizers.

The other system is one of summer grazing and winter stall-feeding and grazing. It is less
labour-intensive than exclusive stall-feeding. However, under this system, feed resources are
so limited during the dry (winter) season that animal liveweight gains and milk production are
curtailed. The situation is aggravated by bush fires which can wipe out all feed resources in
the vicinity of farmsteads.

Improved Pasture Technology

Improved pasture technology in Malawi has been an extension effort throughout the dairy
development areas. All smallholder dairy farmers are encouraged to establish Rhodes grass,
Napier grass, buffelgrass or staff grass pastures occasionally with a forage legume such as
Stylosanthes spp., Desmodium spp. or Leucaena leucocephala. Adoption of this technology is
good for as long as the farmers are repaying the loan for the cost of the dairy cows and
milking equipment. After this period, however, adoption is comparatively slow. The reasons
advanced for this low adoption are:

(a) The high cost of seed and other planting materials. For example, Rhodes
grass seed costs MK 6.50 per kg and one would require some MK 45 for seed just
to establish one hectare of pure Rhodes grass sward.

(b) The high cost of fertilizer required to sustain sufficient forage production with
annual applications of inorganic N-fertilizer. At current Agricultural Development
and Marketing Corporation prices, inorganic N-fertilizer costs MK 1.67, MK 1.50
and MK 2.05 per kg N as ammonium sulphate (21% N), calcium ammonium nitrate
(26% N) and 20:20:0 compound fertilizer (20% N), respectively.

Integrated Maize/Fodder Production

An increasing demand for dairy and meat products has prompted efforts to integrate maize
production with fodder production. Maize stovers with groundnut tops are an important feed
resource during the dry season on which the smallholder steer-fattening and dairy schemes
depend (Mtukuso, Gray and Pervis 1983; Addy and Thomas 1976; Mtimuni 1982; Balch 1977;
Kategile 1982). Addy and Thomas (1976) recorded feed protein values of 5.43 and 8.35% for
maize stover and groundnut tops respectively. National Research Council (1976) proximate-
analyses values intended for beef cattle show that maize stover has a metabolizable energy
(ME) content of 2.13 Mcal/kg DM, marginally above the 2 Mcal/kg DM threshold value for
meeting maintenance requirements. Addy and Thomas (1977), however, reported an ME
value of 1.09 Mcal/kg DM for maize stover.
Maize stover is low in nutritive value. As a consequence, there have been numerous attempts
to enhance the availability of energy, mainly through chemical-treatment procedures (Kategile
1982; Said 1981; Kategile and Frederiksen 1979; Kiangi 1981; Kategile et al 1981; Edelsten
and Lijongwa 1981). This chemical-based technology, although successful in appreciably
enhancing availability of energy, may not be appropriate for the Malawi smallholder livestock
producer who may not have adequate finance handling resources.

Following the technique of work of Thomas and Bennett (1975a; 1975b) and Thomas (1975)
the undersowing maize with forage legumes has been advanced in Malawi under this system,
there is no deleterious effect on productivity of the maize crop. If anything, it results in the
production of a crop by-product (maize residue) with a high legume content which could be
utilized with the maize stover. The common practice in Malawi is to graze the maize stover in
situ after the ears have been removed. The presence of an improved pasture, such as a
forage legume, provides extra dry matter and crude protein essential for animal production
during the dry season. Where maize is a cash crop, the cost of pasture establishment is
absorbed by the maize crop enterprise.

The present paper discusses some research avenues in forage-legume establishment and
production in maize crops. The primary objective is to enhance the utilization of maize stover
in Malawi.

Materials and methods

On-farm Pasture Improvement Study

These pasture-improvement systems were tested in conjunction with the Adaptive or On-farm
Research Team in the Kasungu Agricultural Development Division in which the target group
was smallholder dairy farmers who wanted to improve their pasture resources as a pre-fallow
operation following a maize crop. The pasture systems were:

(a) A pure Rhodes grass cv. Boma pasture undersown in a maize crop after the
first weeding in January;

(b) A mixed Rhodes grass-Desmodium uncinatum pasture undersown in maize

after the first weeding in January;

(c) A mixed Rhodes grass-Centrosema pubescens pasture, also undersown in

maize after the first weeding.

The legumes were drilled on top of the maize ridges which were spaced 90 cm apart. The
legume seed rate was 2.5 kg/ha, a rate of 5 kg/ha. The maize varieties used were either
NSCM41, MH whereas the Rhodes grass was broadcast along the ridge furrows at 12 or local,
all depending on individual farmers' choice. The maize was planted following standard cultural
practices with respect to plant population and fertilization. Quantification of components of
maize yield (stover and grain) was done in early May, but that of the forages was done early in
June.

Main-station Maize Undersowing Study

Three blocks of a maize crop MH 12 were grown following standard cultural

recommendations. Forage legumes, (Macrotyloma axillare, Neonotonia wightii and
Centrosema pubescens) were undersown in the maize crops immediately after the first
weeding when the maize was about 30 cm high. The legumes were drilled along the maize
ridges. To encourage legume establishment and growth, maize leaves below the cob were
stripped from the maize at the anthesis/pollination stage of growth onwards. One leaf was
removed each week. Work conducted at Muguga in Kenya (Abate, personal communication),
shows that removal of maize leaves below the cob contributes an important animal feed
resource for the small-scale livestock producer without appreciably affecting grain yields. The
physiology of the maize plant is such that only the leaves above the cob contribute effectively
to grain-filling after anthesis and pollination.

Within the three forage-legume undersowing treatments, seven leaf-stripping treatments were
superimposed and these were replicated three times. Components of yield (maize grain and
stover) and forage dry-matter (stripped maize leaf and forage legumes) were measured. A
chemical analysis of forage samples was done for crude protein values.

Results and discussion

In the on-farm study, the amount of forage produced was very small. This was largely due to it
being an establishment year because of the smothering effect of the maize crop on the
undersown forage. Yield differences in maize grain and stover between the three pasture
systems were not significant. Discounting the maize-grain and stover yields which the farmers
could have realized from a pure maize stand, the differences in the extra amounts of forage
from these systems were considerable. Assuming that a mature 450 kg dairy cow consumes
3% of its own body weight in dry matter per day (i.e. 13.5 kg DM/day) then the pure Rhodes
grass sward was capable of providing 92 extra days of feed. The Rhodes grass-Desmodium
sward on the other hand, provided 66 days and the Rhodes grass-Centrosema sward 144
days.

Table 1. Yield components of the pasture undersowing systems

Pasture system Maize grain yield Maize stover yield Forage yield (DM)
(kg/ha) (kg/ha) (kg/ha)
Maize-pure Rhodes grass 6,100 4,403 1,240
Maize - Rhodes grass + 5,479 4,605 887a
Desmodium
Maize - Rhodes grass + 5,770 4,503 1,950 b
Centrosema

a
Of the total forage DM produced only 9% was contributed by the legume
component.
b
Of the total forage DM produced only 7% was contributed by the legume
component.

Indications from other studies (Dzowela 1985) are that grass-legume swards have much
higher crude-protein values than pure grass swards. Even so, the advantages of a mixed
sward over a pure maize-stover feed resource are great in terms of crude-protein values
(Table 2). Although the differences between the maize stover samples from the different
pasture systems were not significant, the fact that the maize - pure Rhodes grass system not
only provided extra feeding days but also an extra feed resource of higher protein value than a
pure stover feed made this a very worthwhile intervention. There was an even better forage
by-product from the maize-Rhodes grass-legume systems. This is further supported by work
from ILCA (Table 3). The higher protein values of the pasture system in which a forage
legume was included would certainly result in much better fodder utilization and better animal
performance than those from a system in which maize stover was the only feed resource
available.

Table 2. Crude protein values (% of DM) of forage components

Pasture system Maize stover Rhodes grass (hay) Legume forage (hay)
Maize-pure Rhodes grass sward 3.75 6.80 -
Maize - Rhodes grass + Desmodium sward 4.69 7.50 8.80
Maize - Rhodes grass + Centrosema sward 4.12 7.65 9.69

In the maize undersowing study conducted on the maize station, the significant differences in
maize grain yields between the three different forage legume systems were probably
incidental (Table 4). A heavy storm affected maize on the station and lodged most of the
maize in the Neonotonia and Centrosema-based blocks. This was because of their location far
away from the Gmelina aborrea tree wind-breaks. This was most obvious in the form of poorly
filled maize grains from these two systems. Although the more intense maize stripping
treatments (5 to 7) resulted in lower grain yield, these reductions were not statistically,
significant.

There were no differences in maize stover yields resulting from the forage-legume and maize-
stripping treatments (Table 5). As expected, the amount of stripped maize leaf forage
increased with the intensity of stripping from 1 to all 7 leaves below the cob (Table 6).
However, the actual forage-legume treatments had no appreciable effect on the amount of
maize leaf yield. There were differences between forage-legume treatments in dry-matter
production (Table 7). Because of its very slow establishment Neonotonia wightii produced the
least forage dry-matter. Contrary to expectations, the maize-stripping treatments did not
appear to have any effect on forage-legume dry-matter production. It would appear that this
maize stripping effect was nullified by the storm that lodged most of the maize. Light
relationships in the maize crop canopy were not affected by the stripping of leaves because of
the lodging which took place.

Table 3. Grain and fodder yields of sorghum when sown with forage legumes

Crop mixture Grain Crop Legume DM (kg/ha) Total fodder Total CP

yield residue
Sorghum alone 1,296 4,467 (2.7)a - 4,467 126

Sorghum + S. hamata 313 1,685 2,278 (11.4) 4,463 363

Sorghum + S. guianensis Cook 388 1,555 2,063 (12.8) 3,618 326
Sorghum + C. pascuorum 1,019 2,981 1,296 (14.2) 3,407 241
Sorghum + Alicecarpus 1,092 2,519 926 (10.8) 3,445 168
vaginalis
Sorghum + M. lathyroides 1,297 2,761 1,481 (16.5) 4,222 316

a
Figures in parentheses are % CP of fodder crop
Source: ILCA Report, 1984

Table 4. Yields from undersowing trials: maize grain (kg/ha)

Pasture system Maize leaf stripping intensity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Means

Macrotyloma axillare 5,466 6,750 7,890 7,614 7,435 7,080 5,792 6,861
Neonotonia wightii 6,548 6,920 6,428 6,775 5,352 5,812 5,291 6,161
Centrosema pubescens 6,212 4,845 4,962 5,557 4,415 5,088 5,074 5,164
Means 6,075 6,171 6,427 6,647 5,734 5,993 5,386

S.E. of legume means ± 226**

S.E. of stripping treatment means ± 335 NS
 S.E. of legumed x stripping means ± 597 NS

Table 5. Yields from undersowing trails: maize stover (kg/ha)

Pasture system Maize leaf stripping intensity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Means

Macrotyloma axillare 4,717 3,649 4,418 3,938 4,506 4,309 4,094 4,233
Neonotonia wightii 3,782 3,936 4,450 4,185 3,449 3,560 3,902 3,895
Centrosema pubescens 4,804 4,419 3,282 3,412 3,612 4,382 3,277 3,884
Means 4,434 4,002 4,050 3,845 3,790 4,150 3,758

S.E. of legume means ± 203 NS**

S.E. of stripping treatment means ± 310 NS
S.E. of legumed x stripping means ± 597 NS

Table 6. Yields from undersowing trails: maize leaf (DM kg/ha)

Pasture system Maize leaf stripping intensity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Means

Macrotyloma axillare 86 235 442 687 1,077 1,470 1,788 187

Neonotonia wightii 126 279 500 751 1,075 1,420 1,712 838
Centrosema pubescens 128 289 491 726 1,169 1,578 1,877 894
Means 113 268 478 721 1,107 1,490 1,792

S.E. of legume means ± 113 NS

S.E. of leaf stripping treatments means ± 162**
S.E. of legumed x stripping means ± 533 NS

Table 7. Yields from undersowing trails: forage legume (DM kg/ha)

Pasture system Maize leaf stripping intensity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Means

Macrotyloma axillare 176 304 152 218 179 103 173 187
Neonotonia wightii 177 31 34 47 30 27 20 47
Centrosema pubescens 161 144 182 186 231 187 117 173
Means 158 160 123 150 146 106 104

S.E. of legume means ± 17**

S.E. of leaf stripping treatment means ± 26 NS
S.E. of legumed x stripping means ± 45 NS

The stripped maize leaves had adequate amounts of crude protein from the first to the seventh
leaf stripped (Figure 1). The protein values were well above 12%. While in the first four weeks
the maize-Neonotonia system had the highest protein values, during the last three weeks the
maize-Centrosema system ranked first in this respect. No adequate explanation could be
advanced for this switch. The adequate amount of crude protein in these maize leaves does
indicate their value as a feedstuff. Thus a byproduct from the maize crop, which is usually
wasted, could provide an extra source of feed in smallholder livestock production enterprises.

Conclusion
The need to provide sufficient amounts of cereal grain for direct human consumption
precludes the possibility of channeling these feed resources to livestock production in small-
scale farming situations. It is logical, therefore, that efforts be made to improve the
management of natural forage/fodder resources, and especially the efficient utilization of crop
by-products. While attempts have been made to enhance the availability of nutrients in these
feedstuffs through chemical treatment, there is still a dearth of technology for these small-
scale livestock producers.

The Malawi experience of undersowing forage legumes in maize crops shows that there is a
possibility of improving the quantity and quality of feed resources available to small-scale
livestock producers during the dry season. This simple technology is cheap and makes few
demands on labour and land as it involves an integration of arable crop, forage legume and
livestock production. It is a good chance of improving the utilization of low-quality waste
products such as maize stover. Research efforts in this area continue with a wide range of
tropical forage-legume species.

Acknowledgements
The work covered in this paper was undertaken with logistic support from the Ministry of
Agriculture in Malawi. I would like to thank the Chief Agricultural Research Officer of the
Ministry for permission to publish this paper.

Figure 1. Crude protein values (% of DM) of stripped maize leaf from different positions
below the cob

References
Addy, B.L. and Thomas, D. (1976). The utilization of crop residues, Madeya and Leucaena for
winter feeding in Lilongwe District. Research Bulletin No. 2/76. Ministry of Agriculture,
Lilongwe, Malawi.

Addy, B.L. and Thomas, D. (1977). Intensive fattening of beef cattle on Rhodes grass pasture
on the Lilongwe Plain, Malawi. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 9: 99-106.

Balch, C.C. (1977). The potential of poor quality agricultural roughages for animal feeding.
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Reading, U.K.

Booker Agriculture International Limited. (1983). Livestock and meat study, Final Report, Vol.
I: Malawi.

Dzowela, B.H. (1985). Value of a forage legume component in summer beef fattening systems
in Malawi. Paper presented at the workshop on Potentials of Forage Legumes in Farming
Systems of sub-Saharan Africa, 16-19 September, 1985, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dzowela, B.H. and Johnson, W.H. (1984). Agricultural research resource assessment in
SADCC countries. Malawi country report, Vol. 11. Devres Inc., Washington, D.C.

Edelsten, P. and Lijongwa, C. (1981). Utilization of low quality roughages - economical

considerations in the Tanzania context. In Kategile, J.A., Said, A.N. and Sundstrol, F., (eds.)
Utilization of low quality roughages in Africa. AUN-Agricultural Development Report 1, Aas,
Norway, pp. 107-112.

Kategile, J.A. (1982). Utilization of low-quality roughages with or without NaOH treatment. In
Kaflewahid, B., Potts, G.R. and Drysdale, R.M. (eds.) Proceedings of a workshop on By-
Products Utilization for Animal Production, Nairobi, Kenya, pp. 37-48.

Kategile, J.A. and Frederiksen, J.H. (1979). Effect of level of sodium hydroxide treatment and
volume of solution on the nutritive value of maize cobs. Animal Feed Science and Technology,
4:1-15.

Kategile, J.A., Urio, N.A., Sundstol, F. and Mzihirwa, Y.G. (1981). Simplified method for alkali
treatment of low quality roughages for use by smallholders in developing countries. Animal
Feed Science and Technology, 6:133-143.

Kiangi, F.M.I., Kategile, J.A. and Sundstol, F. (1981). Different sources of ammonia for
improving the nutritive value of low quality roughages. Animal Feed Science and Technology.
6: 377-384.

Mtimuni, J.P. (1982). Proximate analysis of local feedstuffs. Research Bulletin. Bunda College
of Agriculture, Lilongwe, Malawi. Vol. 3, p. 68.

Mtukuso, A.P., Gray, R.C. and Pervis, D.W. (1983). The utilization of groundnut tops for beef
production in Malawi. Ministry of Agriculture. (Mimeo.) Lilongwe, Malawi.

National Research Council. (1976). Nutrient requirements for beef cattle. National Academy of
Sciences, Washington, D.C.

Said, A.N. (1981). Sodium hydroxide and ammonia-treated maize stover as a roughage
supplement to sheep and beef feedlot cattle. In Kategile, J.A., Said, A.N. and Sundstol, F.
(eds.) Utilization of low-quality roughages in Africa. AUN. Agricultural Development Report 1,
Aas, Norway, 107-112.

Thomas, D. (1975). Grass-legume establishment under maize - a new technique for the
tropics. Span, 18(2).

Thomas, D. and Bennett, A.J. (1977a). Establishing a mixed pasture under maize in Malawi. I.
Time of sowing. Experimental Agric. 11: 257-263.

Thomas, D. and Bennett, A.J. (1975b). Establishing a mixed pasture under maize in Malawi. II.
Method of sowing. Experimental Agriculture II. 273-276.

Appendix 1

Figure A1. Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation Domestic purchases of

agricultural crop produce

Source: National Statistical Office Monthly Statistical Bulletin, January 1985

Appendix 2

Table A1. Maize grain and stover production (tonnes) a

Period Grain Stover b

1974 65,470 65,470
1981 136,647 136,647
1982 246,062 246,062
1983 244,937 244,937
1984 296,292 296,292
Source: National Statistical Office, 1985, Zomba, Malawi.
a
Represents only grain quantities
b
Using a 1:1 grain to stover ratio.

  
   

Introduction of fodder crops in rural areas of Burundi

H. Banzira

Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU)

B.P. 795, Bujumbura, Burundi

Introduction
Conclusion
References

Introduction
The problem of feeding livestock is particularly acute during the dry season. There are several
alternative solutions, namely improving natural pastures (division into paddocks, rotation of
grazing lands, control of fires, and mowing), use of agricultural pastures byproducts, and
introduction of improved pastures. The traditional system does not include forage production
and is wholly dependent on natural pastures of Eragrostis and Hyparrhenia. These natural
pastures supply adequate feeds in the rainy seasons but are inadequate in the dry seasons.
Research has been undertaken in Burundi to test improved pasture species.

To achieve this goal many grass species have been introduced in the various centres and
research stations of the Institute of Agricultural Research (ISABU - IAR). Among those tested,
the most promising are Tripsacum laxum, Pennisetum purpureum, Setaria splendida and
Setaria sphacelata which gives a good yield of high feed value. Consequently these have
been selected for introduction into the rural areas. However, the introduction of these forage
crops in Kigozi and Mahwa areas is combined with the introduction of Sahiwal x Ankole
heifers/cows. The use of improved cattle is important to ensure economic returns to
investments in fodder production. The choice of the two areas is based on their proximity to
the two research stations and it is therefore easy to visit and advise the farmers.

At the moment, this study will focus on the productivity of these fodder crops under intensive
cultivation and on their impact on animal and food production.

Characteristics of the Recommended Grasses

Tripsacum laxum is recommended in the agricultural zones situated between the 750 m (at
Lake Tanganyika level) and 1,700 m in altitude. It is planted up to 2,000 m, however, it is
excellent for dry-season feeding as it does not become stemmy and has a good leaf-stem
ratio.

Pennisetum purpureum grows at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 2,000 m receiving
between 1,000 to 15,000 mm of rain on rich soils. It grows in areas where any crop can grow.
Setaria splendida and S. sphacelata grows at high altitudes (1,700 to 2,400 m) while Setaria
sphacelata grows at altitudes of 700-1,700 m. They require rainfall of more than 600 mm in
some areas per year. At altitudes above 1700 m of Mugamba and Bututsi. Setaria grows
where Tripsacum cannot thrive. Setaria is also used to control soil erosion when planted on
contours.
Type of Usage

The four grasses are sub-grouped in accordance with their suitability for grazing. T. laxum and
P. purpureum are used in a cut-and-carry system while Setaria sphacelata and S. splendida
can be either grazed or cut and carried.

The Establishment of the Pastures

Soil Preparation

For the four grasses it is recommended to plough deeply to a depth of 3 cm irrespective of the
type of implements. With hand cultivation it is advised to bury the organic matter under the
soil. If tractors are available it is recommended to harrow. The application of manure at 40
tons per ha before planting has been found to be beneficial. Annual applications at 10-15 tons
of manure per ha at the onset of the rains in October is also recommended.

Results

The production of green matter in intensive farming

The productivity rates (total green matter per hectare from two harvests per year) presented in
the graphs below were obtained with a large input of artificial fertilizers and organic manure.

Forage Production

Generally, elephant grass produces more green fodder in a four-year cycle than Guatemala
grass (170 and 130 t/ha in Mugamba, 150 and 120 t/ha in Bututsi, 240 and 185 t/ha in the
Eastern Savannas as well as 180 and 130 t/ha in Imbo and Lower Ruzizi, respectively).
Estimates of dry-matter yield can be made based on dry-matter content of the fresh material.

Table 1. Production of T. laxum, P. purpureum and S. splendida in the three regions

according to the different cutting intervals (green matter/ha)

Cutting interval (months) T. laxum P. purpureum S. splendida

Mugamba But. Moso Mugamba But. Moso Mugamba

2 - - 116.7 - - 186.7 -
3 131.5 111.3 - 167.3 137.3 - 121.4
4 142.7 124.2 169.0 187.3 128.7 272.0 111.7
6 172.2 155.6 219.0 194.0 156.7 268.1 115.3

Setaria splendida produced similar amounts of green matter to that of the T. laxum in four
years at high altitudes (140 t/ha in Mugamba and 120 t/ha in Bututsi). In all the regions of
Burundi the distribution of the annual harvests shows that the production of T. laxum is similar
during the first four years of farming. The production of T. purpureum, on the contrary,
decreased drastically in the course of the four-year period in Imbo and Bututsi region. In the
same ecological zones, Setaria splendida yielded constantly for the first three first years
followed by a sharp drop in the fourth year.

In conclusion we can say that the most productive grass for cutting is P. purpureum, but its
decreasing production of forage with time makes it imperative to re-plant at shorter intervals in
order to increase its productivity. This constraint does not apply to T. laxum.

With regard to the two species of Setaria, they can be grown for cutting for the three years
and thereafter, their good resistance to grazing makes them adaptable to grazing
management.
Leaf-stem Ratio

The leaf-stem-ratio was calculated for the plants at the ideal harvest stage - plants aged two
to three months for Setaria and four months for T. laxum and the P. purpureum.

The ratios were 9.6 for the T. laxum, 0.5 for elephant grass, 2.25 for S. splendida and 2.50 for
S. sphacelata. We note straight away the extremely high ratio of the Guatemala grass and the
very low ratio for P. purpureum. The ratio for the two Setaria is similar with an intermediate
value. Based on this we can assume that T. laxum is of good quality followed by Setaria.

The Food Value

Chemical analyses have been carried out on the grasses harvested at high altitude (Bututsi).
Cutting was done every 2-3 months, four months or six months (Table 2). Dry-matter content
varied between 22 and 29%. There is little difference between regions. However, the T. laxum
seems to have slightly higher rates of dry matter than the other two grasses. T. laxum has a
higher protein content and a higher energy value than the elephant grass, but the reverse is
the case for cellulose content and mineral elements (Ca, P, Na and Mg). The changes in the
content of mineral and organic substances are similar in the two fodder crops for cutting.
There is, however, a reduction in the amounts of protein K, Ca and P, as well as an increase
in the cellulose content, when the cutting is done frequently. It appears then that the mowing
should be done every three to four months in order to maintain a high forage value of the
harvested grass.

With regard to the graminaceae for mowing and for pasture the highest protein content is
observed in frequent cuttings and the highest rate of cellulose is also observed when the
cutting is done at the time of flowering. This suggests that these two grasses must be
harvested before they flower in order to ensure that they are of high food value.

Table 2. Dry-matter content of grasses at various stations (%)

Cutting interval (months) T. laxum P. purpureum S. splendida

Bututsi Mug. Moso Bututsi Mug. Moso Mugamba

2 or 3 26.0 29.1 27.4 22.5 26.2 24.5 24.5

4 27.5 27.8 28.4 22.7 27.4 27.2 26.9
6 28.6 27.3 29.1 26.4 27.3 27.6 22.4

Studies on chemical composition have been made at Bututsi. The results are shown in Table
3. Seasonal variations are most significant in protein contents of elephant grass. Mineral
contents are generally low with the exception of potassium.

Table 3. Changes in average organic matter content (% of dry matter) and mineral
elements (Mg/kg of dry matter) during the dry rain seasons

Elements Tripsacum laxum Pennisetum purpureum

Rainy season Dry season Rainy season Dry season

Cellulose 33.2 34.4 37.2 37.0

Crude protein 13.0 9.3 10.3 2.2
Ca 2.340 2.206 2.700 2.971
P 1.698 1.680 1.854 2.038
K 20.281 16.413 19.237 17.847
 Na 112 92 102 280
Mg 1.379 1.667 1.365 1.509

The evolution of the contents of the various elements between the dry and rainy season is
similar for the two species: an increase in cellulose and Mg, a decrease in proteins and K, and
little change in the concentration of Ca and P. The differences already noted for the two
grasses with regard to average annual content are reflected in the seasonal rates. It can also
be noted that whatever the season, T. laxum has less cellulose than P. purpureum.

Changes in the dry matter were marked between the two seasons (Table 4) as was to be
expected.

The analysis of the general production levels obtained by the different cutting systems (Table
1) reveals the superiority of cuttings practiced more than twice a year: the four-monthly system
being in between while cuttings carried out every two or three years turn out to be the least
productive. A three monthly cutting rhythm is best for S. splendida.

A comparison of these results with those of the chemical analysis shows that a four-monthly
cutting rhythm is the system which guarantees satisfactory production of high quality mowing
grass, while for Setaria, the three-monthly rhythm gives the best results.

Table 4. Changes in percentage dry matter

Tripsacum laxum Pennisetum purpureum S. splendida

Dry season Rainy season Dry season Rainy season Dry season Rainy season

Mugamba 30.9 24.9 30.1 22.7 27.8 20.5

Bututsi 29.6 25.1 26.5 20.9 - -
Moso 28.9 26.8 26.7 24.7 - -

Ensiling

The only preservation method which is practiced in Burundi is ensilage. The usual loss in
green matter is in the region of 25 to 30%. However, prior drying of the grass, which reduces
the water content by 10%, limits the loss in weight to 15%.

The extension of forage crops in the rural areas

The extension of fodder crops is done in the same way as the extension of other plants
through the regional development projects and societies as well as through the new research
project by ISABU (Institute of Agricultural Research - Burundi). The objective is to transfer
modern agro-pastoral techniques to the rural areas. ISABU produces the planting material and
crossbred Sahiwal heifers for introduction into the rural areas. Farmers are advised to plant
the grasses in accordance with the research findings, but it is obvious that farmers do not have
all the required inputs, in particular adequate manure. Fields of the forages are lower than on
station. In the future it is planned to introduce a legume such as Desmodium intortum in the
system.

Conclusion
The poor quality of Burundi soils and the ever-worsening deterioration of the pastures calls for
an intensification of fodder crop cultivation. However, even if the intensification of forage crop
cultivation remains the basic component of the improvement of animal feeding, certain
constraints hinder such vital action, especially:
 1. The arable area being quite small, the area allocated to fodder crops will be
reduced in favour of food crops.

2. These fodder crops need manure, but priority in the use of manure will go to the
food crops before anything else.

3. Extension methods are not yet sufficiently developed to sensitize peasants to

the advantages of fodder crops, and this accounts for the persistence of
transhumance.

The project undertaken by ISABU with the aim of changing the present extensive method of
livestock production in the rural areas into a semi-intensive one through the introduction of
fodder crops and improved cattle may result in the improvement of the environment, more
livestock productivity, and better nutrition of the rural population.

References
ISABU Annual Reports. (1963-1981). Vancoppenole, R. 1984. Ecologie, phytotechnique,
productivite et valeur alimentaire de quatre graminees fourrageres au Burundi: Tripsacum
laxum Nash, Pennisetum purpureum Schumach, Setaria splendida Stape et Setaria
sphacelata (Schum) Stape et Hubbard. ISABU Publication No. 49.

  
   

Research experience of reinforcing veld with legumes in

Zimbabwe*
*This paper is based on a presentation to the Grassland Society of Zimbabwe
Symposium on Forage Legumes in Zimbabwe, 26 September 1985.

A.R. MacLaurin

Department of Crop Science, University of Zimbabwe

P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant Harare, Zimbabwe

P.J. Grant

Grasslands Research Station, P. Bag 3701, Marondera, Zimbabwe

Abstract
Introduction
Productivity of reinforced veld
Discussion and conclusions
Acknowledgement
References

Abstract
Better management of veld (rangeland) has led to an improvement of veld condition which has
led to sustained economic production of beef off veld, although overall production has not
increased dramatically. Research in Zimbabwe has shown that reinforcing veld with legumes
can increase body-mass gains per hectare by over 60% compared to natural veld. The forage
legumes with potential under Zimbabwean conditions are listed, and investigations into
planting procedures and nutritional requirements for their successful establishment are
outlined. Required management practices for veld reinforced with legumes have been shown
not to differ significantly from those for natural veld. The applicability of veld reinforcement with
legumes by small-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe is discussed.

Introduction
For a number of decades there has been an increasing need to improve the production of veld
in Zimbabwe. Much research into better methods of veld management continues to take
place. Whilst this has led to a better understanding of the veld, the results in real terms have
been for an improvement in veld condition which has led to sustained economic production of
beef off veld. However, overall production has not increased dramatically. Applications of
fertilizer to the veld have certainly improved production, but at tremendous cost. At the same
time, the poor performance of cattle which over-winter in the highveld persists if they are not
fed expensive protein-rich supplements at this time. Thus, interest in reinforcing veld with
legumes grew, particularly as it had been shown in other parts of the world that native
grassland reinforced with legumes resulted in marked improvements in the performance of
individual animals and in overall carrying capacity. This paper sets out to review some of the
research on veld reinforcement with legumes that has been carried out in Zimbabwe.
Plant Screening and Introduction

In the early 1960s, from 124 legume introductions a short-list was drawn up of a number of
species which showed promise of being adapted to conditions in the high-rainfall sandveld of
Zimbabwe, including Desmodium intortum (greenleaf desmodium) Lotononis bainesii (Beit
lotonosis), Stylosanthes fruticosa, S. guianensis, and Trifolium semipilosum (Kenya white
clover) (Barnes 1966). These species were further evaluated in disced sandveld plots and
only Stylosanthes guianensis established and persisted well (Clatworthy and Thomas 1972).
Further introductions and screening of legumes took place, and by 1973 almost 300 additional
legume strains had been grown at the Grasslands Research Station in Marondera (Clatworthy
1975). It was found to be important that the screening procedure be carried out under grazing
conditions (Clatworthy 1980), and this is now done routinely (Clatworthy 1985).

The legumes which have promise under Zimbabwean conditions are given in Table 1. This list
is not exhaustive and not all the legumes do well in reinforced veld.

Table 1. Legume With Promise under Zimbabwean Conditions

Cajanus cajan Pigeon pea

Cassia rotundifolia Roundleafed cassia
Desmodium discolor Horse marmalade
D. intortum Greenleaf Desmodium
D. uncinatum Silverleaf desmodium
Leucaena leucocephala Leucaena
Lotononis bainesii Beit lotononis
Macroptilium atropurpureum Siratro
Macrotyloma axillare Archer
Neonotonia wightii Cooper glycine
Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis Graham stylo
S. guianensis var. intermedia Oxley fine-stem stylo
S. hamata Verano stylo
S. humilis Townsville stylo
S. Scabra Shrubby stylo
Trifolium semipilosum Kenya white clover

Establishment and Nutrition

It has been shown that for successful establishment to occur it is necessary to disturb the soil
surface and to set back grass growth (Clatworthy and Thomas 1972). Subsequently, the
achievement of successful establishment of legumes in veld has been investigated.

With the small-seeded legumes Desmodium intortum (greenleaf desmodium), D. uncinatum

(silverleaf desmodium), Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), Neonotonia wightii (Cooper
glycine), Stylosanthes guianensis var. intermedia (Oxley fine-stem stylo) and Trifolium
semipilosum (Kenya white clover), the ideal depth of planting was found to be between 5 and
10 mm; below 10 mm there is a marked fall-off of emergence. Under conditions of water-
stress, covering the soil surface with a mulch increases emergence, but has the opposite
effect if the soil is moist (Grant 1975). Burning-off of top hamper before discing the strips also
improves emergence, possibly because there is greater soil-surface disturbance. Rolling with
a Cambridge roller or with a tractor wheel after seeding, and where the seed is covered either
with a flat roller (if Cambridge roller is used before seeding) or-by lightly brushing or raking,
has also been shown to be advantageous (Grant 1976).

Desmodium discolor (horse marmalade), a woody legume, can be established in veld after
burning in disced strips (Boultwood 1964). In further investigations, cultivation was found to be
more important than burning for good establishment of this species.

Many pasture legumes have hard seeds and scarification needs to be carried out by use of
hot water, dry heat, mechanical means of treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid (Grant
and Clatworthy 1978; Grant 1979). Some legumes are specific in their Rhizobium
requirements and need to be inoculated, in particular Beit lotononis, Kenya white clover and
Oxley fine-stem stylo, and greenlead desmodium and silverlead desmodium on sandy soils.

Some confusing responses to the application of fertilizer have been obtained. With increasing
applications of single superphosphate (SSP), there have been increases of herbage yields on
both sandy and clay soils with Cooper glycine, Oxley stylo, silverlead desmodium and siratro.
However, with Oxley stylo there have been marked decreases in yield by the second year
when high levels of SSP have been applied (Anon. 1973; Grant and Tanner 1984a). Thus,
although with silverlead desmodium and siratro 100 kg SSP/ha can be used, with Oxley stylo it
may be advisable to use no more than 50 kg SSP/ha. Since the possible cause for this
response may be an inherent low level of zinc in the soil or that the zinc is bound up in non-
available from by the phosphate (Grant 1985), this problem could also be overcome by
keeping the applications of phosphate to 100 kg SSP/ha and applying a zinc compound or
trace-element cocktail. This would ensure that the full potential response to applications of
phosphate is realized.

Legumes appear to have a more critical need for trace elements than grasses and if there is a
known deficiency a mineral cocktail should be applied. The use of these mixtures is most
beneficial when legumes are used to reinforce sandveld vleis (Penny Grant, Soil Productivity
Research Laboratory, Marondera, personal communication).

Dolomitic limestone has also been shown to enhance establishment and herbage yields
(Grant and Tanner 1984b) and should be applied at approximately twice the rate at which
SSP is applied. Single superphosphate contains magnesium, both of which are important in
the process of nitrogen fixation.

Management

There has been little research into whether legume-reinforced veld would require different
management from unimproved veld. In one trial, Oxley stylo was shown to thrive under
conditions of frequent and short defoliation (Mufandaedza 1976 a, b). Three cutting
frequencies (2, 4 and 8 weeks) and three harvesting heights (4 cm, and progressively
increasing to 10 cm and 12 cm above ground level) were used. Total yields of dry matter,
crude protein and digestible dry matter in the herbage increased as the interval between
harvests increased (Table 2). Height of cutting had relatively little effect on the yields of
herbage, although close cutting tended to reduce the amount of crown and root yields.

Table 2. Yields (G/POT) of Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP) and Digestible Dry
Matter (DDM) of Stylosanthes Guianensis var. Intermedia (Oxley fine-stem stylo) grown
in pots and Harvested at 2, 4 or 8 Week Intervals

Harvest interval (weeks)

2 4 8

DM
- leaf 8.8 13.4 16.2
 - stem 5.6 7.1 18.5
- total 14.4 20.5 43.7
CP 3.6 4.8 6.8
DDM 10.6 14.3 21.0

Source: Mufandaedza 1976b.

In a later trial Hyparrhenia filipendula tufts were planted into plots (Mufandaedza 1978). One-
third of the area was left as a pure grass stand, one-third was oversown with siratro and the
remaining third with Oxley stylo. Different intervals (2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks) and heights (4 and
12 cm) of cutting were used over a four-year period. Reinforcing with the legume increased
the dry-matter yields. In addition, not only were the total yields of crude protein and digestible
dry matter contents of the grass increased by up to 130% (Table 3), but also the crude protein
and digestible dry-matter contents of the grass were increased by up to 40%. Thus, clearly, it
is mainly the legume which is providing the additional protein. Increasing the interval and
height of cutting increased the yields of siratro, but with Oxley stylo this was not so, and in
fact, with the longest interval (16 weeks), yields were decreased. Overall, the responses to
cutting treatments were similar, which showed that all three species can be grown together.

In a trial in which Oxley stylo under Hyparrhenia veld was bulked-up for winter use by resting
from January to April, the legume was shaded out as the Hyparrhenia grew too fast for the
legume during this period (Clatworthy, undated). Thus, if stylo is grown with tall grasses, the
rest period should not be too long as the stylo is intolerant of shading. If long rest periods are
necessary, then it would be better to use siratro as it is able to twine up the grass. However,
siratro does not yield well under frequent close grazing and will not persist, and under these
conditions stylo gives better yields.

In a grazing trial with steers grazing Oxley stylo-reinforced veld, it was observed that at the
start of the season, grasses (in particular Hyparrhenia filipendula) constituted the major portion
of the diet. By mid-February, legumes (in particular Oxley stylo) were the major constituent
and this increased as the dry season was approached (Mufandaedza 1976c, 1977) (Figure 1).
Later work on a grass-legume pasture showed that cattle were able to select their diet very
effectively in terms of crude protein and digestible dry-matter content, keeping both these
reasonably constant throughout the growing season, although they did progressively decline
(Mufandaedza 1981) (Table 4).

Table 3. Effects of frequency of harvesting and addition of the legumes Stylosanthes

guianensis var. Intermedia (Oxley stylo) or Macroptilium atropurpureum (Siratro) to
plots of Hyparrhenia filipendula on dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and digestible
dry matter (DDM) total yields (kg/ha). Crude protein and digestible dry matter contents
as percentage of dry matter in brackets

Frequency of harvesting (weeks)

2 4 8 16

Grass alone 2,450 3,300 4,000 5,040

Grass + stylo 3,800 4,720 5,440 7,940
Grass + siratro 3,110 4,080 5,160 7,510
CP
Grass alone 260 (10.6) 290 (8.8) 210(5.3) 160 (3.2)
Grass + stylo 660 (17.4) 740 (15.7) 660 (12.1) 440 (5.5)
Grass + siratro 410 (13.2) 460 (11.3) 430 (8.3) 510 (6.8)
DDM
Grass alone 1,460 (59.6) 1,900 (57.6) 2,080 (52.0) 2,170 (43.1)
Grass + stylo 2,420 (63.7) 2,910 (61.7) 3,050 (56.1) 3,400 (42.8)
Grass + siratro 1,710 (55.0) 2,270 (55.6) 2,660 (51.6) 3,350 (44.6)

Source: Mufandaedza 1978

Table 4. Changes in crude protein (CP) and dry-matter digestibility (DMD) of available
grass-legume pasture and the diet selected by cattle during the growing season

Sampling period Sample Difference

Pasture Diet

CP (%) 19/12 - 21/1 16.6 15.1 -1.5

22/2 - 22/3 11.9 14.4 +2.5
28/4 - 8/6 10.5 12.8 +2.3

DMD (%) 19/12 - 25/1 58.7 54.5 -4.2

22/2 - 22/3 53.8 63.5 +9.7
28/4 - 8/6 46.0 56.5 +10.5

Source: Mufandaedza 1981

Bearing these points in mind, it would appear that the main value of the legume in reinforced
veld lies in its contribution to the animals' diet in the late growing and early dry seasons. Thus,
a farmer should aim to ensure a high proportion of legume during these periods. Management
should favour high nutrient yields of the grasses in the early part of the growing season, and in
the latter part high yields of legume. This can be achieved through rotational grazing without
excessive defoliation using a rest of four to five weeks between grazings in the early to mid-
growing season and a rest of from six to eight weeks in the latter part (Mufandaedza 1976b).
This procedure also allows some sort of late-season rest for the grasses which helps to
ensure their vigour.

While cutting trials are useful in helping to understand how the legumes grow, ultimately the
legumes should be tested in a full production trial. One system which has been recommended
for producing finished beef steers is to buy weaners in May or June, carry them on veld with a
protein supplement during the dry season, and then on heavily fertilized star grass (Cynodon
nlemfluensis) pastures during summer, and finally pen-finishing them on a high-energy diet
between June and August. With rapidly rising costs of winter protein supplements and
nitrogenous fertilizers, the use of legumes would be a decided advantage.

In a trial to test this system at Henderson Research Station, Mazowe, Hyparrhenia veld was
reinforced with different amounts of silverleaf desmodium (zero, one-third, two-thirds and
whole area) for use by steers during winter (Clatworthy 1984). Two stocking rates were used,
one 50% greater than the other. Stocking rate had no effect on amount of herbage on offer at
the start of the grazing each year. However, the addition of the silverleaf desmodium
significantly increased herbage yields above those of the veld alone, particularly in the later
years (Table 5). There were also obvious changes in species composition in the reinforced
plots which lodged badly, became moribund and led to invasion of the reinforced plots by
weeds. By contrast, the control plots remained dominated by lower-growing Hyparrhenia
filipendula and Sporobolus pyramidalis. By the end of the trial there were larger weed yields in
the reinforced plots. Although the silverleaf desmodium grew well, it was not ideally suited to a
system of winter grazing only as it formed a tangled mass which was largely trodden underfoot
and wasted by the cattle. Also, frost caused the legume to shed its leaves so that only bare
stems were left. Grazing during the growing season may have prevented some of the lodging
that occurred.

A fire in 1982 did not damage the silverleaf desmodium unduly, and it seemed to rejuvenate
the Hyparrhenia spp. so that periodic burning could be beneficial. Observations with Oxley
stylo in veld which has been burnt have indicated that it will withstand fire.

From the little knowledge that we have, it is generally recommended that veld reinforced with
legume (in particular Oxley stylo) be managed the same way as unimproved veld, that is, by
rotational grazing with a grazing period of not more than two weeks and a rest period of at
least five weeks (Clatworthy 1985).

There has been little research on the management of reinforced veld in communal grazing
areas, although screening trials in Masvingo Province have shown that round-leafed cassia
(Cassia rotundifolia), Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and Oxley stylo can be
established and will spread under these conditions (Clatworthy, Maclaurin and Avila 1985).

Figure 1. The selection of grasses and legumes by steers at different times of year
(after Mufandaedza 1976c, 1977)
Table 5. Amounts of total Desmodium uncinatum (Silverleaf desmodium) herbage (kg
DM/ha) on offer at the start of grazing each year on reinforced Hyparrhenia veld seeded
with different proportions of legumes

Proportion of legume Year

1978 1979 1980 1981 1982

0
Silverleaf - - - - -
Total 4,720 3,260 3,010 2,920 1,890
1/3
Silverleaf 140 580 1,180 1,280 960
Total 4,780 3,240 4,130 4,810 2,730
2/3
 Silverleaf 480 1,170 2,080 1,270 1,060
Total 5,480 3,660 4,530 4,350 2,760
All
Silverleaf 1,140 1,780 2,110 1,380 1,120
Total 5,590 3,980 4,690 5,010 2,640

Source: Clatworthy 1984

Productivity of reinforced veld

The first major trial to determine the effect of legume reinforcement of veld was carried out at
the Grasslands Research Station. Stylo was sown in a 12-ha block of reverted veld whilst
another 12 ha was used as a control. For a number of years, weaner steers bought in June
were run on these plots for 12 months and then removed for pen-fattening. A four-paddock
rotational grazing procedure was used (Clatworthy and Holland 1979). Steers on veld lost, on
average, 20 kg body mass over the dry season whilst those on reinforced veld maintained
their body mass. Animal performance between November and February was similar for both
treatments. However, between February and June, steers on reinforced veld gained 20 kg
more than the control group (Figure 2). Thus, there was a 40 kg greater gain by animals on
reinforced veld than those on veld only. As the stocking rate was 20% greater on the
reinforced veld, this represents a 61% increase in terms of body-mass gains per hectare
(Table 6).

As a follow-on to this trial, the whole area was seeded to Oxley stylo and stocked with weaner
steers at four different stocking rates. A four-paddock rotational grazing procedure was used.
In order to assess the feasibility of finishing steers off on reinforced veld they were partially
destocked at the end of their first year so that similar stocking rates were maintained over the
two years. The trial has run for five years now (Maclaurin, Clatworthy and Muyotcha 1985).
Seven Hereford steers were used for the first two years, nine Afrikaner steers for the next two,
and over the last years, (1984/85) eleven communal-farming-area-type steers and heifers.
The steers all lost body-mass during the dry season, especially those at the heaviest stocking
rate. During the wet season all groups gained well, although the heaviest stocked group
gained significantly less. There was little difference between the performance of the animals at
the three lightest stocking rates which consistently gave well-finished steers with excellent
carcasses fleshing indices. The steers at the heaviest stocking rate did not perform so well. A
short summary of the results is given in Table 7. Stocking rate had a significant effect on
animal performance.

Table 6. Live-mass gains of steers on reverted veld and on similar veld reinforced with
Stylosanthes guianensis var. intermedia (Oxley stylo) over 12 months without winter
protein supplement

Gains/steer (kg) Gains/ha (kg)

No stylo With stylo No stylo With stylo

1973-74 123 152 107 135

1974-75 115 165 103 191
1975-76 139 164 139 205

Source: Clatworthy and Holland 1979

Table 7. The effect of stocking rate on weaner steer performance when grown out over
two years on reverted veld reinforced with Stylosanthes guianensis var. Intermedia
(Oxley fine-stem stylo)

Treatment (ha)
8.4 6.3 5.04 4.2

1980-1982
Initial no. head (1st year) 7 Hereford weaners
Initial body-mass (kg) 205
Gains/head (kg) 141 133 136 113
Gains/ha (kg) 118 148 189 189
No. head (2nd year) 4 Hereford yearlings
Gains/head (kg) 151 171 150 130
Gains/ha (kg) 72 109 126 124
Mean gain/head (2 years) 146 152 148 122
Mean gain/ha (2 years) 95 128 158 156
CDM (kg) 264 272 255 236
1982-1984
Initial no. head (3rd year) 9 Afrikaner weaners
Initial body-mass (kg) 212
Gains/head (kg) 151 142 123 115
Gains/ha (kg) 162 203 220 246
No. head (4th year) 5 Afrikaner yearlings
Gains/head (kg) 152 157 161 136
Gains/ha (kg) 90 124 160 162
Mean gain/head (2 years) 152 150 142 126
Mean gain/ha (2 years) 126 164 190 204
CDM (kg) 264 256 250 231

Source: Maclaurin, Clatworthy and Muyotcha, 1985

At Makaholi Experiment Station, Masvingo, veld reinforced with either siratro or Oxley stylo
has been compared with natural veld. Although there have been some soil-nutrient problems
in the legume establishment, steers on reinforced veld gained more than those on unimproved
veld (Kelly and Tiffin 1984). Gains were not as good as at the Grasslands Research Station,
but considering the marginal rainfall, this does show that even under these circumstances
there are benefits to be gained from veld reinforcement.

In the trial at Henderson Research Station, where steers were given access to silverleaf
desmodium-reinforced veld during winter, they lost body-mass, although not as quickly as in
the case of the steers on veld alone. There were no consistent differences-due to stocking
rate. The main differences were due to whether the veld had been reinforced with legume or
not (Clatworthy 1984) (Figure 3).

Most of the trials involving reinforced veld have been on reverted veld using steers. At the
Grasslands Research Station, a breeding herd and their progeny on reinforced veld are being
compared with other systems of beef production (Grasslands Research Station 1985). This is
the first major trial of reinforcing virgin veld with legumes. Unfortunately, there was poor
establishment of the Oxley stylo, possibly due to soil-fertility problems. In addition, due to a
lack of appreciation that stocking rates Figure 3 should be reduced by up to a third in the
establishment year in proportion to the loss of veld grazing in the disced strips, the early
results for reinforced veld in this trial have not been conclusive (Table 8).

Table 8. Calving rate (%) and weaning mass (kg) of cows and calves run under different
beef production systems at Grasslands Research Station

Veld alone Veld + legume Veld + protein supplement

Calving rate
1980 91.5 88.1 88.1
1981 71.4 64.4 84.5
1982 58.2 59.6 79.3
1983 69.0 64.9 87.7
1984 85.2 86.8 87.3
Mean 75.1 72.8 85.4
Weaning mass
1981 165.3 167.8 174.9
1982 168.7 171.7 193.2
1983 185.0 195.7 210.9
1984 198.5 207.0 230.0
Mean 179.3 185.5 202.2

Source: Grassland Research Station 1985

Figure 2. Body mass changes of steers grazing legume reinforced or unimproved

reverted veld 1975/76 (Clatworthy and Holland 1979)
 Figure 3. Body mass changes of weaners on veld alone or silverleaf desmodium-
reinforced veld during the dry season (Clatworthy 1984)

Discussion and conclusions

Research experience with legume-reinforced veld has shown that it can be a successful
means of improving the productivity of veld. In terms of individual animal performance, body-
mass gains of up to 40 kg above those on unimproved veld have been achieved using 20%
higher stocking rates. This has resulted in over 60% increases in livestock production per
hectare over veld alone. These improvements are important because they allow a beef farmer
to grow out his weaners and steers faster and so get them into pens for fattening more
quickly. In addition, the dairy farmer is able to grow out his replacement heifers either faster or
by using less supplementary feeding.

Whilst there may be fairly substantial improvements in terms of animal production, to a large
extent these are made possible only if management standards of the reinforced veld are high.
Careful attention needs to be paid to stocking rates and the way in which the veld is grazed
and rested. Unless the establishment of the legumes is successful, the improvements are not
likely to occur.

Small-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe generally make use of communal grazing areas.
There is little or no control of stocking rates and grazing tends to occur where the herdsman
feel there is most forage for their livestock. No form of grazing management is practiced. Many
of the communal grazing areas are severely degraded and of poor fertility. Before successful
reinforcement of these areas with legumes can occur, it will be necessary to improve grazing
management in order to restore the condition of the veld. For continued high production of the
legume-reinforced veld, good management would be necessary. The only way that veld could
be successfully reinforced and used in the communal grazing areas, therefore, would be if the
farmers who have communal tenure in these areas were to be able to group themselves
together and apply suitable grazing management. Due to the low fertility of much of the
degraded veld, some fertilizer inputs would be necessary during reinforcement, but these
costs could be shared equitably amongst all the farmers using the grazing area. Seed of
suitable legumes could be made readily available for quite large areas of communal veld
grazing to be reinforced.

The advantages of reinforcing veld in the communal grazing areas are numerous. The quality
and quantity of the grazing would be enhanced and this would improve the performance and
condition of the animals. However, unless stocking rates are controlled these benefits will not
be realized. In many areas it is unlikely that stocking rates will be controlled as there is a
critical shortage of draught power and farmers would not willingly maintain this situation. Thus,
it does not appear that there would be much success with legume reinforcement of communal
grazing areas. In these areas the main emphasis should be on improving veld management in
the first instance.

Whilst attempting to reinforce communal grazing areas may be a doubtful starter, there is no
reason why the larger areas of reverted cultivated land that often exist in the cropping areas
should not be reinforced with legumes. Groups of farmers could "pool" their reverted veld and
allow access to these areas for selected animals, for example their draught oxen, cows in milk
or steers that they wish to fatten for slaughter. They could share the costs of fencing, which
would be necessary to protect their crops, and of fertilizers and seed. These groups of farmers
would be small and so consensus with regard to management could be reached more easily.

There are areas which require further research work. There is a need for a broader selection
of legumes for use in reinforcing veld, particularly in the drier areas both in the large-scale and
small-scale communal farming areas. The legumes need to be screened under grazing,
particularly in the communal farming areas. There is a need for trials to be carried out under
the conditions found in communal farming areas so that an accurate evaluation of benefits can
be made and thereafter used for planning purposes. The nutrient requirements (especially
micro-nutrients) of the legumes in reinforced veld, and in particular virgin veld, need to be
determined for the different soil types found in Zimbabwe.

With the present state of knowledge of reinforced veld, it should be possible for farmers to
successfully reinforce their veld and make use of its greater productivity. It has been shown to
be an economically justifiable method of improving veld provided there is successful
establishment of the legumes and attention is paid to management. For the small-scale
livestock producer this would most likely be in reverted veld in the cropping areas rather than
in the communal grazing areas.

Acknowledgement
Extensive reference has been made to J.N. Clatworthy (1985) in the preparation of this article.

References
Anon (1973). Fertilizer studies. Annual Report 1972-73. Grasslands Research Station,
Marondera: 27-28.

Barnes, D.L. (1966). The preliminary evaluation of grasses and legumes for use in the high
rainfall sandveld of Rhodesia. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 1: 69-
74.

Boultwood, J.N. (1964). Two valuable legumes: Horse marmalade and Kuru vine. Rhodesia
Agricultural Journal 61: 70-72.

Clatworthy, J.N. (1975). Introduction and preliminary screening of pasture legumes at

Marondella, Rhodesia: 1967-1973. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa
10: 57-63.

Clatworthy, J.N. (1980). Screening of legumes for veld reinforcement. Proceedings of the
Grassland Society of Southern Africa 15: 111-116.

Clatworthy, J.N. (1984). Effect of reinforcement of native grazing with Silverleaf desmodium
(Desmodium uncinatum) on dry season performance of beef steers in Zimbabwe. Tropical
Grasslands 198-205.

Clatworthy, J.N. (1985). Pasture research in Zimbabwe: 1964-1984. In Kategile, J.A. (ed.).
Pasture improvement research in eastern and southern Africa. IDRC, Ottawa, Canada pp. 25-
58.
Clatworthy, J.N. (1985). Livestock productivity of legume-based grazing. Grasslands Research
Station, Marondera. (Mimeo.).

Clatworthy, J.N. and Holland, D.G.E. (1979). Effects of legume reinforcement of veld on the
performance of beef steers. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 14: 111-
114.

Clatworthy, J.N., Maclaurin, A.R. and Avila, M. (1985). The possible role of forage legumes in
communal area farming systems in Zimbabwe. ILCA Workshop on Potentials of Forage
Legumes in Farming Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16-19
September 1985.

Clatworthy, J.N. and Thomas, P.I. (1972). Establishment of Stylosanthes guianensis in

Marandellas sandveld. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 7: 76-83.

Grant, P.J. (1975). Some factors affecting germination and emergence of sub-tropical pasture
legumes in Rhodesia. Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 10: 65-71.

Grant, P.J. (1976). Some factors affecting the field establishment of subtropical pasture
legumes in Rhodesia. Proceedings of the Grasslands Society of Southern Africa 11: 97-102.

Grant, P.J. (1979). Mechanical scarification of Stylosanthes guianensis cv Oxley seed.

Proceedings of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa 14: 137-141.

Grant, P.J. (1985). Phosphate-induced zinc deficiency in Stylosanthes guianensis Oxley fine-
stem stylo in Zimbabwe. ILCA Workshop on Potentials of Forage Legumes in Farming
Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16-19 September 1985.

Grant, P.J. and Clatworthy, J.N. (1978). How to establish pasture legumes. Rhodesian Farmer
48 (26) 13-19.

Grant, P.J. and Tanner, P.D. (1984a). Superphosphate requirements of pasture legumes in
different soil types. Annual Report, 1981-1982. Division of Livestock and Pastures, Research
and Specialist Services, Zimbabwe, pp. 166-171.

Grasslands Research Station. (1985). Unpublished mimeo. for a field day, 28 February: B.

Kelly, R.D. and Tiffin, J. de W. 1984. Effect on animal production of veld reinforced with Siratro
or fine-stem stylo in a medium-rainfall area. Annual Report 1981/82. Division of Livestock and
Pastures, Research and Specialist Services, Zimbabwe; pp. 163-164.

MacLaurin, A.R., Clatworthy, J.N. and Muyotcha, N. 1985. Body mass gains of steers grazing
at four stocking rates on reverted veld reinforced with fine-stem stylo. Annual Report 1983/84,
Division of Livestock and Pastures, Department of Research and Specialist Services,
Zimbabwe (in press).

Mufandeadza, O.T. (1976a). Effect of frequency and height of cutting on some tropical
grasses and legumes. I. Hyparrhenia filipendula (Hochst) Stapf and Heteropogon contortus (L)
Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. Rhodesian Journal of Agricultural Research 14: pp. 21-38.

Mufandeadza, O.T. (1976b). Effects of frequency and height of cutting on some tropical
grasses and legumes. II. Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. Rhodesian Journal of
Agricultural Research, pp. 149-151.

Mufandeadza, O.T. (1976c). Diet preferences of cattle and defoliation patterns under grazing
on legume-improved veldt Annual Report 1974/75, Division of Livestock and Pastures,
Department of Research and Specialist Services, Zimbabwe, pp. 149-151.

Mufandeadza, O.T. (1977). Diet preferences of cattle and defoliation patterns under grazing
on legume-improved veldt Annual Report 1975/76, Division of Livestock Pastures, Department
of Research and Specialist Services, Zimbabwe, pp. 175-180.

Mufandeadza, O.T. (1978). Effect of frequency and height of cutting on the yield, composition
and quality of the herbage of grass grown alone or in mixture with legumes. Annual Report
1976/77. Division of Livestock and Pastures, Department of Research and Specialist Services,
Zimbabwe: 173-176.

Mufandeadza, O.T. (1981). Diet selection by cattle grazing on a high quality legume pasture.
Zimbabwe Journal of Agricultural Research 19: 127-128.

  
   

Farmer circumstances in Ethiopia and the improvement of

animal feed resources
Frank M. Anderson

Agricultural Economist & Team Leader

ILCA Highlands Programme, ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract
Introduction
An overview of smallholder feeding systems in Ethiopia
Examples of feeding systems
Implications for research
Acknowledgements
References

Abstract
The productivity of both crop and animal agriculture in Ethiopia is stagnant. Major increases in
both crop and animal production are a prerequisite to the nation achieving food self-
sufficiency. Livestock play a vital and catalytic role on Ethiopia's smallholder farms. Oxen, for
example, are the main source of agricultural power.

Different farming systems have evolved in Ethiopia over many generations, but many of them
will be unable to sustain adequately the increased human and livestock populations certain to
exist in the coming years. The middle altitudes of the country are the areas most likely to be
required to absorb the bulk of the increased population.

In the future, livestock will depend increasingly upon crop byproducts as their feed source.
Pasture areas are decreasing as cropped areas expand. Subsistence-oriented smallholders
have limited means with which to boost production and will be unlikely to adopt new feeding
systems requiring substantial cash outlays. Furthermore, they will not invest their resources in
increasing fodder production if it is at the cost of reducing the output of subsistence food
crops.

Researchers must seek innovative ways of boosting livestock production, and recognize that
the ultimate beneficiary of the research is the farmer through the links between livestock and
crop production. Benefits occurring to the livestock enterprise will carry forward to crop
production.

Different technical means exist to boost fodder production on farms and to raise the effective
feeding value of crop by-products. However, not all these technologies are well suited to the
resource endowments and objectives of smallholders. If gains in fodder production require
substantial investments, or the returns on investment are only via a multi-stage production
process, they will not be likely to be adopted by farmers. Some strategies to increase fodder
production were examined and found wanting in this regard.

The most promising research thrust which addresses the problems of both crop and livestock
production concerns crop-legume interactions. This study area deserves priority allocation of
research resources. Successful research on this complex of issues, i.e. research producing
adoptable results, will require use of the farming-systems approach to research and a
commitment to multidisciplinary during its execution.

Introduction
Agriculture in Ethiopia is dominated by smallholder farms where over 90% of the country's
grain is produced. Smallholder farmers cultivate an average of less than 1 ha and the 7 million
farm families in Ethiopia cultivate perhaps 6 million ha each year. Although agriculture is
organized in a socialist framework, collective farming accounts for less than 5% of the total
area cultivated. The bulk of agricultural output is produced by individual farmers who have
"farming rights" over the land they till (Gryseels et al 1984). With few exceptions, crop
irrigation is not practiced, and under these dryland conditions farmers produce a surplus
above subsistence needs equivalent to approximately 10% of total production on each farm.

In adverse years, grain production shortfalls are ordinarily made up by the sale of livestock
and surplus grain that farmers may have been able to accumulate from previous years.
However, as the Ethiopian tragedy of 1984 and 1985 revealed, even such actions can be
pitifully inadequate. Hunger, destitution and death can easily occur in the subsistence farming
areas.

Integrated crop and livestock production is an ancient tradition in Ethiopia. However, changes
are taking place in the production systems in many parts of the country which are challenging
the ability of subsistence farmers to sustain the integration which was easily achieved by past
generations when there was much less pressure on land resources. The more important
changes occurring include progressively declining average farm sizes in response to rising
rural populations, encroachment of cropping land onto erstwhile grazing areas and onto less
fertile and more easily erodable lands, and expansion of degraded lands which can no longer
support either annual crops or pastures.

These factors are combining to increase the relative dependence of farmers' livestock upon
cereal-crop residues and stubble. Unless supplemented, these products are seldom adequate
for livestock maintenance and even less so for milk production or as finishing rations. Also,
using current technologies, farmers in the coming years will have smaller quantities of crop
residues available per farm and be less able to augment these cereal products by pasture
grazing or hay. The areas under pasture are being reduced and average stocking rates are
increasing.

Existing and future agricultural production systems in Ethiopia will require draught power for
cultivation. Livestock will also continue to be farmers' principal buffer in times of crop failure, as
well as a vital source of cash for the purchase of farm inputs and consumption goods.

The challenge to forage researchers will be to reduce this emerging competition between crop
and livestock production and enable new, more productive and stable farming systems to
develop. Improvements in animal-feed production from declining land areas are urgently and
will be a critical means of addressing this problem.

This paper highlights issues concerned with research on the improvement of animal feed
resources for the livestock of Ethiopian smallholders. Farmers' circumstances directly influence
the acceptance and adoption of new technologies and are stressed here as necessary and
desirable influences on forage-related research if the research is to produce relevant results.

The following section of the paper gives an overview of important smallholder feeding systems
in Ethiopia with special reference to the farmers' objectives in managing these systems. The
problems confronting farmers in achieving these objectives are emphasized. The penultimate
section relates research needs to farmers' forage-production problems and opportunities.
Finally, this is followed by a summary and conclusions.

An overview of smallholder feeding systems in Ethiopia

The General Production Environment and Livestock Management Systems

Mixed crop-livestock farming in Ethiopia is dominantly on farms located above 1,500 m above
sea level and with annual rainfall in excess of 700 mm. Crops are grown at altitudes up to
about 3,300 m. Some highland areas have a bimodal rainfall pattern. Most crops are sown in
the main rains, which fall between June and October over most of the country. The short rains
from February to May are unreliable and only in some areas can farmers crop routinely in that
secondly season. Nationally, some 5% of the grain crop is produced in the short rains.

The complex physical environment and ecology of the Ethiopia highlands has resulted in the
evolution of distinct agricultural production systems in different parts of the country. Some
85%, or 35 million of the 43 million people in the country, are resident in the highlands. A
similar percentage of the country's estimated 30 million cattle, 25 million sheep and 20 million
goats are kept by smallholder mixed farmers. Farmers in these systems also practice different
animal-feeding and management strategies, reflecting differences in crops grown, in the
relative importance and productivity of crops and pastures, in the proximity of the cropping
areas to pastoral areas (meaning access to replacement stock and especially draught oxen)
and differences in the intensity of-land use by farmers and their livestock.

Domestic livestock in the central highlands are grazed communally on fallow and permanent
pasture lands for the duration of the cropping season and on crop lands after harvest.
Livestock of indigenous breeds are seldom fed, with this practice being restricted to the few
thousands of crossbred dairy cows owned by smallholders. Selected classes of livestock,
especially draught oxen and lactating cows, receive supplements to grazing when they are
housed at night. Production levels are low. Cows of indigenous breeds, for example, calve
about every two years on average and produce some 300 litres of milk per lactation over and
above that consumed by the suckling calf.

The Objectives of Livestock Keeping

The primary purpose of cattle keeping in most of the highlands is to produce oxen. The low
rates of reproduction and milk production of indigenous cows, both of which are directly
influenced by nutrition levels throughout the cows' production cycles, result in low overall
levels of conversion efficiency of feedstuffs into draught power. Draught power is the primary
product of cattle enterprises. At present farmers keep up to ten cattle to produce and maintain
the pair of oxen conventionally used for cultivation.

Oxen are only used for some 60 pair days of work each year. Thus the feed demands of this
subsystem (oxen plus cows and followers) in relation to the direct contribution of oxen to
production are burdensome and favour changes in management to reduce aggregate feed
demands per unit of draught power and the draught-power needs to crop production. The
single-ox cultivation system developed by ILCA is one way of reducing the feed demands of
the draught animals on farms with up to 1.5 ha under cultivation (Gryseels et al 1984). Using
one ox rather than a pair can effectively have the total feed requirements of the cattle kept to
provide-draught power.

Cattle manure provides an important fraction of domestic fuel needs in areas with limited fuel-
wood supplies. Manure sales make significant contributions to cash incomes. Meat and milk
are relatively less important products of cattle enterprises. In some farming systems, such as
in western Shoa Province, selected fields are intensively manured by livestock penned
overnight in the fields. However, little of the animal manure produced in the country is used
intentionally as fertilizer for crop production.

According to location, farmers keep sheep and/or goats as producers of cash and meat. The
high rates of flock growth, relative to cattle herds, and the different grazing behaviour of small
ruminants make them appropriate complements to cattle through most of the Ethiopian
highlands. Small ruminants are the best stock to be sold in times of crop failure They seldom
receive special feeds and ordinarily are grazed together with cattle. Special-purpose fattening
of smallstock is not practiced by Ethiopian smallholders.

Livestock are also a major source of cash income. In large parts of the highlands, trade in
livestock and the sale of livestock and livestock products provide up to 80% of farm cash
income in a normal year (Gryseels and Getachew 1985). In summary, livestock produce a
range of intermediate and final products in the traditional farming systems of Ethiopia.
Regional differences exist in the relative importance of these products, but in all cases the
presence of livestock on smallholders' farms enables them to be more productive and stable
over time than would be the case in their absence (Rodriguez and Anderson 1985).

Some Problems of Existing Smallholder Feeding Systems

Seasonality of Fodder Production

A production problem common to most Ethiopian livestock feeding systems is the seasonality
in animal feeds supplies. Some parts of the country have dry seasons of up to 200 days each
year. Such areas farmers must harvest and store fodder for dry-season use when feed
supplies in the fields are extremely limited. Communal grazing of crop and pasture lands after
harvest is the norm, so individual farmers cannot calculate with certainty the contribution of
such grazing to their needs. Farmers usually stack all cereal straws near the homestead after
threshing, selling only that portion needed to provide for basic household needs.

Effective short rains in a particular year can result in pasture growth enabling farmers to sell
surplus straw. As noted previously, farmers have competing demands on their labour during
the cropping season and "ideal" conservation practices for hay, especially, are not often used.
The development and adoption of labour-saving technologies for crop production could
release labour for fodder conservation, in turn improving livestock production.

The low frequencies with which cows calve oblige farmers to maximize annual conception
rates by not limiting breeding to any time of the year. The resultant spread of calving over the
year means that farmers have difficulties in matching feed supplies and feed demands.
Farmers maximize their use of communal grazing lands (for which there are no cash
payments due) and then utilize stored feeds for their stock on a priority basis. Oxen have first
call on conserved feed, followed by lactating cows and the classes of cattle and smallstock if
supplies are adequate. Informal surveys by ILCA in the Debre Birhan area of Ethiopia (about
2,800 m above sea level) suggest that farmers trade in smallstock (sheep in that area) both to
increase cash incomes and to balance feed demands with available feed supplies.

Fodder Quality

The second major problem in smallholder feeding systems in Ethiopia is that the quality of
most harvested and conserved feedstuffs is such that when fed alone it is often unable to
provide even for the maintenance needs of livestock. Thus, on an annual basis, livestock must
make sufficient liveweight grains during the flush period of the year to be able to offset losses
occurring during the following dry season. The regular cycle of liveweight gain and loss each
year is the principal cause of the low annual average conversion efficiencies of fodder into
meat, milk and draught power.
In commercially-oriented mixed farming systems farmers could if it were profitable, negate this
cyclical pattern by feeding of purchased supplements. Such a strategy is rarely possible in
Ethiopia at present and is limited to the few farmers with easy access to major urban centres.
The majority of dairy and fattening operations are in such situations. (Some 75% of all
smallholders are more than one day's return walk from even an all-weather road.) Alternative
means of overcoming the annual cycle of gain and loss will have to be developed for these
farmers.

Land Tenure

Some aspects of the social context of crop and livestock production in Ethiopia have been
noted. All land is the collective property of the Ethiopian people and individuals have user
rights only over the land they till each year. While, in principle, an individual farmer can be
assigned new plots each year, in practice this does not happen. However, it does foster
discernible reluctance in farmers to invest in the maintenance and improvement of any plots of
land they use. Also the current system whereby crop land becomes available for communal
grazing after harvest encourages farmers to leave crop lands bare of cover after harvest. This
predisposes such fields to erosion and has negative long-term impacts on soil fertility and
structure.

Also, the individual's fragmented holdings require farmers to haul crop by-products to the
homestead for safe keeping. From there they are given to their stock as required. The labour
costs of this operation are substantial. Although the traditional method of threshing by
trampling using cattle and equines (horses and donkeys) is relatively inefficient from the point
of view of grain extraction, it does favour livestock production through the relatively higher
grain and husk fraction remaining than would occur if the grain where threshed by mechanical
means.

Examples of feeding systems

Shoa Province

Farmers in the central Ethiopian highlands in Shoa Province, have a tradition of hay-making
from permanent (usually valley-bottom) pastures. The hay is usually cut well after its protein
content has peaked, and the protein percentage in harvested hays on a dry-matter basis
seldom exceeds 5%. If harvested at the "right" time, the protein content on a dry-matter basis
can exceed 11%. However, at the "right" time for hay making, farmers favour using their
scarce labour for weeding of cereal and pulse crops. Subsistence food crops have the highest
priority for farmers' time. Furthermore, as most of the hay is used as a feed supplement for
oxen, farmers report that they maximize dry-matter yields per hectare by harvesting later in
the season, although they are aware that the feeding value of hay made at that time is
reduced. Hay making is relatively more important in the higher altitude areas (say above 2,500
m) than in lower altitude areas. The latter tend to be more intensively cultivated and have less
pasture land available per farmer.

Frost is a major crop hazard toward the end of the main growing season in the higher altitudes
and farmers there attempt to avoid frost damage to crops by sowing on land away from the
more frost-prone valley bottoms. Even in the long term it is unlikely that main-season crop
production will be important in these high-altitude valley bottoms. Routine cropping on them
would require development of frost-tolerant, short-duration cereal and pulse varieties.
Maturation periods as short as 90 days under relatively low temperature and radiation
conditions will be required. Crop-breeding research in Ethiopia will be less problematic and
have greater impact on national production if targeted on the needs of the less rigorous
agricultural environments in the middle altitudes of the highlands.
Crop production in the higher and cooler mixed-farming systems will continue to be risky and
farmers are likely to become increasingly dependent upon livestock production as human
populations increase. However, without significant improvement in overall soil fertility (perhaps
largely rectifiable by rock phosphate application), the quality of feedstuffs available to stock
will not be increased. In turn this places upper bounds on the per-unit productivity of livestock.
Gains in productivity per head will then only be possible if strategic supplements are provided
and these will not be likely to be produced within these systems. Also, the prospects of
identifying a productive legume shrub for the higher altitude areas are remote (S. Jutzi,
personal communication).

Under traditional management regimes both crops and pasture are more produced for
livestock. Leguminous plants are not cultivated specifically to provide supplements for the
cereal-straw-based diets. These straws are now complemented only to a limited extent by
pasture grazing and hay. Purchased feed supplements are used routinely by an insignificant
percentage of farmers and fallow land is a diminishing proportion of the land used regularly for
cropping. In the Debre Zeit area, for example, the proportion of cultivable land under fallow in
any year is less than 5% (Gryseels and Anderson 1983).

Hararghe Province

In other parts of Ethiopia, such as the highlands of Hararghe Province in the south-east of the
country, limited areas of permanent grazing are available and livestock depend more than in
the central highlands upon thinnings from annual crops during the growing season and crop
stover and stubble during the dry season. The proportion of arable land left fallow is minimal.
Substantial areas of land on more than 50% slopes are cultivated, reflecting the severe
shortage of arable land, even though net returns from crops on such land are at best,
marginal. Sorghum and maize are the dominant annual crops. Perennial crops, including
coffee, provide a substantial proportion of the cash income of farmers in the area.

All cattle and most small ruminants are tethered in the field during the day and hand fed
selected crop parts according to the season. As elsewhere throughout Ethiopia, all animals
are penned at night, usually at the owner's homestead. The Hararghe highlands are close to
extensive rangeland areas and the working oxen in Hararghe Province come mainly from the
rangelands. Typically smallholders purchase oxen from the rangelands (through traders), use
them as draught animals for some years and then fatten them prior to sale. The oxen are
fattened successfully on farm products alone. The regional success of this strategy is reflected
in the price premium offered to fatstock from Hararghe Province on the Addis Ababa market,
the most important domestic meat market in the country. The relatively close proximity of the
Province's smallholders to pastoralists in the rangelands areas enables Hararghe farmers to
keep relatively more efficient herds and flocks (in terms of rates of conversion of animal feed
into draught power and other livestock products) than is the case in the central highlands.
More than half the cattle kept by Hararghe farmers are working oxen. The interregional links
between cattle breeders and smallholders who have different production objectives are
advantageous to both groups.

Implications for research

The Approach

Cost-effective agricultural research requires that researchers undertake research only on

those problems for which results are expected a priori to have an impact on production. A
substantial body of theory and experience under the rubric of the "farming systems approach
to research" (FSR) has been developed in the last decade. The philosophy guiding this
approach is that adequate knowledge of farmers' production circumstances is a prerequisite to
the efficient design and execution of agricultural research. The FSR approach offers relevant
guidelines for research on animal feeding systems and forage research.

As argued earlier in this paper, improvements in animal-feed resources in the Ethiopian

highlands, both in total and on an individual-animal basis, necessitate substantial changes to
traditional practice. Ethiopian agricultural systems are under stress and simple incremental
changes to existing systems will be an inadequate means of producing the major increases in
production which are necessary.

Subsistence-oriented smallholders, such as those which dominate Ethiopian agriculture, will

not adopt technologies which increase the production risks associated with their staple crops.
In regard to staple food crops, the annual rates of return on marginal investments to increase
crop yields need to be as high as 40% before farmers will adopt them on a large scale. Forage
crops as pure stands produce intermediate products and only have their value expressed
when they are used by animals. It is arguable, therefore, that the annual rates of return on
investments in such fodder crops in subsistence-oriented systems with shortages of arable
land must exceed 40% as this will also have to account for the opportunity cost of not
producing staple crops which are ordinarily the main users of arable land. Together, the
opportunity cost of not producing staples, and the production of intermediate products, only
militate against the prospect of widespread use of special-purpose fodder crops by
subsistence farmers.

The urgency of solving the feed-supply problem for both people and their animals means that
other methods of raising the quality and quantity of feed on offer to livestock must be sought.
Several avenues are possible. These are outlined below. The first concerns the strategic use
of agro-industrial by-products to raise the effective feeding value of farm produced fodders.
The second concerns strategies to increase farm production of animal feeds. The last strategy
considered relates to exploitation of the synergistic link between legumes and cereal crops.

Agro-Industrial By-Products

Agro-industrial by-products are in short supply in most African countries. Ethiopia has only
limited supplies of various oilseed cakes and molasses which, even when efficiently used,
cannot boost production for more than a small proportion of the ruminant livestock in the
country.- Research is in progress to identify where these resources would be best used. This
will most likely be by enterprises producing meat and milk and will be unlikely to be used by
smallholders in support of draught oxen feeding. The general shortages of cash and credit in
Ethiopian smallholder systems make it improbable that farmers will purchase such inputs to
enhance the working capacity of their draught oxen.

Difficulties of access to markets for farm inputs and products will also limit the use of agro-
industrial by-products by farmers in remote situations. Thus, while research on the best
utilization of these products is important, at this stage in Ethiopia's agricultural development it
has lower priority than the two other avenues of fodder development outlined below.

Intensified Crops and Pasture Production

Crop yields are low in Ethiopia. Nationally, average cereal yields are substantially less than 1
t/ha for most crops. Grain and straw yields of most crops are positively correlated, and
increases in grain yields through the use of new crop varieties and fertilizers can be expected
to increase the yields of crop by-products. However, significant increases in grain yields at the
national level will take many years to achieve. Even at this time the yield gaps between crops
on research stations and the same crops on farmers' fields are indicative of the major research
effort needed to have farmers adopt even currently available technologies. However, there are
potentially conflicting changes to crop production as regards the impact on animal feed
supplies and at present it is not possible to predict which changes will dominate. For example,
if farmers adopt dwarf cereal varieties in order to increase grain yields they may reduce the
quantity of byproducts produced per hectare. Alternatively, if they change from a wheat to a
sorghum-based cropping system they would ordinarily increase the byproducts available to
their stock.

Concerning pastures, as all permanent pasture areas in Ethiopia have at least some element
of communal tenure related to their use, it is improbable that they will be a target for
development by individual farmers. If profitable productivity gains are demonstrable, then the
proper avenue for investment would be by the Peasants Association which has group control
over the use of pasture lands within their boundary. Research on technical and socio-
economic issues related to permanent pasture development is not well advanced.

Fallow lands are relatively more important in the higher altitudes of the highlands where the
soil-fertility levels are such that fallowing for several years (sometimes up to 15 years) is
necessary to support low-input cereal and pulse cropping for three or so years. In these cases
farmers will not invest directly in fallow land improvement. Here the principal means of
improving pasture yields will be through fertilization of the cereal crops in the cereal-pulse-
fallow rotation. In this way farmers will receive the benefits of the purchased inputs directly
through the increase in cereal and pulse-grain yield and indirectly through the carry-over of
nutrients to the fallow pasture phase. Research on ways and means of improving fallow lands
alone without reference to the crops in the rotation has low priority.

The Cereal-Legume Link

Legume crops are an important element in most Ethiopian smallholder farming systems. Only
in those systems which are semi-commercial, as in Hararghe Province, do some farmers
eliminate legumes from their cropping patterns. Nationally legume production is almost
exclusively of grain legumes. Pulses are an integral part of the diet of most Ethiopians. In
addition to contributing to soil nitrogen and producing a break in cereal-dominated crop
rotations, legume crap by-products contribute modestly to livestock production. Vicia faba, for
example, is not fed to livestock except in combination with cereal straws. Ordinarily farmers
favour cereal production over legume-grain production because of the higher prices received
for the former.

Forage legumes are grown as single-stand crops by an insignificant number of smallholders.

The conditions of subsistence production do not favour using crop land for fodder crops
instead of grain crops. Fodder crops produce only an intermediate product which must then be
transformed into a saleable commodity such as meat or milk for the farmer to receive the
benefits of his cash outlay and investment of labour and land. The risks perceived by farmers
to be attendant upon this multi-stage process are sufficient to limit its adoption by farmers
even though it can be a profitable activity (Gryseels and Anderson 1983). Regular and
successful participation by Ethiopian farmers in the market economy is a precondition for the
widespread adoption of special-purpose fodder crop production.

Given these considerations, can the well-established benefits which legumes confer upon
cereal crops be tapped to advantage by subsistence farmers and incorporated into their
farming system?

While a definitive answer to this question must await the results of research now in progress
by several agencies in Ethiopia, the evidence to date is that innovative approaches to using
legumes will enable smallholders to increase food-crop production (and the quantity of crop
by-products) and simultaneously produce significant quantities of high-protein leguminous
materials. Intercropping, serial and relay cropping of cereals with legumes are only a few of
several ways of including legumes in systems without diverting land from subsistence food
crop production. Research at ILCA initiated in 1985 has shown how legume shrubs, in rows at
5 m spacings between rows, can produce up to 2 t/DM/ha/year of 20% crude protein content
(at 1,850 m above sea level) without significant reduction in yields of the cereals grown
between the rows. This quantity of leguminous material is adequate on a per-hectare basis as
a strategic feed supplement to convert a below-maintenance straw diet into one allowing a
crossbred cow to produce 58 litres of milk per day.

Such results are indicative of the substantial potential of legumes to boost and stabilize food-
grain and fodder production in Ethiopia. Research on ways and means of profitably integrating
fodder legumes into Ethiopian farming systems is a high priority. They are especially relevant
as they require modest cash inputs in addition to those used to boost crop production and are
adoptable equally by farmers in areas of easy and difficult market access. Also, given the
degradation of agricultural land which-is now occurring in Ethiopia, such legume technologies
will play a central role in ensuring the long-term ability of Ethiopia to be self-sufficient in food
needs. Effective research on the crop-legume complex will require multidisciplinary research
with an FSR perspective.

Acknowledgements
The helpful comments of Guido Gryseels, Samuel Jutzi, Barbara Grandin and Jenny Davis on
earlier drafts of the paper are recorded with appreciation.

References
Gryseels, G., Abiye, Astatke, Anderson, F.M. and Getachew, Asamenew. (1984). The use of
single oxen for crop cultivation in Ethiopia. ILCA Bulletin No. 18, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Gryseels, G. and Anderson, F.M. (1983). Research on farm and livestock productivity in the
central Ethiopian highlands: Initial results 1977-1980. ILCA Research Report No. 4, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.

Gryseels, G. and Getachew, Asamenew. (1985). Links between livestock and crop production
in the Ethiopian highlands. Research Brief in ILCA Newsletter, Vol. 4(2).

Rodriguez, G. and Anderson, F.M. (1985). Farm risks: a case study of a mixed farming system
in highland Ethiopia. IFPRI/DSE Workshop on sources of Increased Variability in Cereal
Yields, Feldafing, Germany, November 26-29, 1985.

  
   

Economics of intercropping maize with forage crops in small-

scale farming systems in western Kenya
A.W. Mukhebi and J.F.M. Onim

Agricultural Economist and Agronomist

Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development
SR-CRSP P.O. Box 252, Maseno, Kenya

L. Oyugi

Research Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development

P.O. Box 30028, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results and discussion
Conclusions
References

Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) Hybrid 512, was intercropped with Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense),
pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) cultivar "Kioko", and sesbania (Sesbania sesban van mubian) in
split plot designs at Maseno and the Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support
Programme (SR-CRSP) cluster areas in Kaimosi and Masumbi during the short-rains season
of 1983. The main plots were fertilizer treatments (NPK 20–20–0) at the rate of 40 kg per ha of
N, P 2O5 and the sub-plots were crops and their intercropping combinations. Standard
agronomic practice was applied in planting maize and maize-intercrop plots. Sampling for dry
matter (DM) yield estimates was done whenever any forage was ready as various forages
were ready for feeding at different times in the various treatments and environments. DM
yields from each forage crop in one site were accumulated until the last sampling was done.
Maize grain and stover DM yields were also estimated when the crop matured at various
sites.

A partial budgeting model was applied for economics evaluation of the biological data.
Incremental benefits and incremental costs for each crop treatment at each site were
calculated. The resultant benefit: cost ratio (BCR was derived as a ratio of net incremental
benefits to incremental costs and was used as the choice criterion for ranking the various
maize-forage intercrops).

Results indicate that intercropping maize with forages with or without fertilizer application
generated greater economic returns than pure-stand maize in Kaimosi Cluster, and with
fertilizer application in Masumbi Cluster. There was no economic advantage over pure-stand
maize at Maseno Research Station, and in Masumbi Cluster without fertilizer application. In
Kaimosi Cluster, maize intercropped with leguminous forages yielded greater returns than
maize intercropped with Sudan grass when fertilizer was applied, but the converse results
were the case without fertilizer application. For Masumbi Cluster, maize-Sesbania followed by
maize-Sudan grass were the most promising intercrops only when fertilizer was applied,
otherwise pure-stand maize was economically superior to the maize intercrops without
fertilizer application. Overall, fertilizer application was economically more profitable than non-
fertilizer application at all the sites for both pure-stand maize and maize intercrops. It is
concluded from the results of this one season trial that while intercropping maize with forage
crops yields greater economic returns than pure-stand maize in some areas, it may lead to
economic loss in other areas depending upon soil fertility and rainfall conditions.

Introduction
Shortage of livestock feed, particularly during dry seasons, is one of the major constraints to
increasing livestock production in small-scale farming systems in western Kenya. The Feed
Resources Project of the Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support Programme (SR-
CRSP), has conducted various station and on-farm trials on alternative forage producing
interventions for relaxing this constraint. Trial interventions have involved intercropping the
staple food crop, maize, with leguminous or grass forages with or without fertilizer application.

The objectives of this paper is threefold:

1. To quantify the economic costs and benefits of intercropping maize with

selected forage crops;

2. To assess the economic impact of applying fertilizer to maize both in pure stand
and intercropped with forage crops;

3. To identify the economically most promising maize-forage intercrops for the SR-
CRSP Cluster areas in Kaimosi and Masumbi and for the Maseno Research
Station environment.

Two main hypotheses are tested: that intercropping maize with forages yields less economic
returns than maize grown in pure stand, and that applying fertilizer to maize in pure stand or
intercropped with forage crops yields greater economic returns than non-fertilized pure-stand
or forage-intercropped maize.

Materials and methods

Biological Trials

During the short-rain season of 1983, maize (Zea mays) Hybrid 512, was intercropped with
Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense), pigeon pea, (Cajanus cajan) cultivar "Kioko", and
sesbania (Sesbania sesban var. nubian) in split plot designs at Maseno and in cluster areas.
The main plots were fertilizer treatments (NPK 20-20-0) at the rate of 40 kg per ha of N, P 2O5
and the sub-plots were crops and their intercropping combinations.

Maize was-planted at the standard spacing of 90 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants
in the row. Pigeon pea and Sesbania were then planted between these rows but only 45 cm
from the maize rows and with inter-row spacing of 30 cm. Sudan grass was drilled between
maize rows at the same inter-row spacing as the other forage crops. Fertilizer was applied
only once at planting time.

Maize, pigeon pea and Sesbania were thinned to single plants per hill at the second weeding.
The thinnings were oven-dried at 80 for 24 hours. Because various forages were ready for
feeding at different times in the various treatments and environments, sampling for dry matter
(DM) yield estimates was done whenever any forage was ready. DM yields from each forage
crop in one site were accumulated until the last sampling was done at the end of the second
rainy season in February 1984. Dry matter maize grain and stover yields were also estimated
when the crop matured at the various sites between the middle and end of February 1984.

Dry maize grain and DM forage yields obtained per hectare are summarized in Table 1. There
was a complete crop failure for maize grain yield in Masumbi Cluster due to a severe drought.
However, DM stover yields for maize and forage crops were measured.

Table 1. Dry maize grain and dry-matter forage yields from station and on-farm trials at
Maseno Station and in Kaimosi and Masumbi Clusters, Western Kenya, short-rain
season, 1983

Intercrop Without fertilizer With Fertilizer Intercrop (Mean)

Dry Forage Dry grain Forage Dry grain Forage
grain dry matter dry matter dry matter
Maseno Station
Maize-pure stand 2.49 40.20 2.47 48.10 2.48 44.15
Maize-Sudan grass 1.38 28.00 1.87 38.90 1.63 33.45
Maize-Sesbania 1.64 28.50 1.75 39.40 1.70 33.95
Maize-Pigeon peas 1.67 26.60 2.32 40.60 2.00 33.60
Fertilizer treatment mean 1.80 30.83 2.10 41.75 1.95 36.29
Kaimosi Cluster
Maize-pure stand 1.66 10.10 2.03 23.10 1.85 16.60
Maize-Sudan grass 0.72 17.20 2.78 34.10 1.75 25.65
Maize-Sesbania 2.47 17.50 1.58 30.20 2.03 23.85
Maize-Pigeon pea 2.34 21.70 3.33 23.50 2.84 22.60
Fertilizer treatment Mean 1.80 16.63 2.43 27.73 2.12 22.18
Masumbi Cluster
Maize-pure stand 0 4.80 0 10.00 0 7.40
Maize-Sudan grass 0 2.90 0 13.80 0 8.35
Maize-Sesbania 0 4.50 0 13.80 0 9.15
Maize-Pigeon pea 0 4.00 0 11.30 0 7.65
Fertilizer treatment Mean 0 4.05 0 12.23 0 8.14

a
There was no maize grain yield due to a severe drought
Source: Onim, et al, 1984

Economic Analysis

A partial budgeting model was applied for economic evaluation of the biological data in Table
1 (Mukhebi and Onim, 1985). Maize grain yields were valued at farm-gate prices. Forage DM
yields were converted into SR-CRSP dual-purpose goat products (liveweight and milk) using
the Kenya Dual Purpose Goat Model (Ruvuna and Blackburn 1984). The animal products were
then valued at farm-gate prices (Mukhebi and Onim 1985).

Incremental benefit and incremental cost for each crop treatment at each site were calculated.
The resultant benefit cost ratio (BCR) was derived as the ratio of net incremental benefit to
incremental cost. It is the absolute marginal rate of return (or loss, if negative) to incremental
cost. BCR is the choice criterion for ranking the alternative maize-intercrops against respective
control practices. A positive BCR implies that a particular crop treatment is economically
superior (yields positive marginal return) to the control treatment or practice, and vice versa.
The higher the positive BCR, the more economically superior the crop treatment vis-a-vis the
control treatment. The converse is also true.

BCRs were computed in two ways. First, pure stand maize was taken as the control practice
against which incremental benefits and costs for intercrops were measured, both with and
without fertilizer application. This was to determine the effect of intercropping maize with
forages with or without fertilizer application. Second, maize and maize intercrops without
fertilizer application were regarded as the control practice against which the same crop
treatments, but with fertilizer application, were compared. This was to assess the effect of
fertilizer application to maize in pure stand or intercropped with forages.

Results and discussion

Intercropping Maize with Forages

Benefit cost ratios from intercropping maize with various forage crops with or without fertilizer
application at the various sites are shown in Table 2. The ratios are summarized from partial
budgeting results presented in Appendix 1, Table A1 for Maseno Station, Table A2 for Kaimosi
Cluster and Table A3 for Masumbi Cluster.

Figures in Table 2 demonstrate clearly that there were no incremental economic benefits
generated by intercropping maize with Sudan grass, Sesbania or pigeon pea with or without
fertilizer application at Maseno station. BCR is negative unit for each maize intercrop
indicating zero incremental benefits. This implies that pure-stand maize is the economically
superior practice for the site whether fertilizer application is undertaken or not. This result is
apparent from the biological data in Table 1 which show that for Maseno station both grain
and dry-matter yields for each maize intercrop were less than those of pure-stand maize.

Table 2. Economics of intercropping maize with forage crops with and without fertilizer
application in station and on-farm trials at Maseno Station, Kaimosi and Masumbi
Clusters, Western Kenya, short rains season, 1983

Intercrop Benefit: Cost ratios

Without Fertilizer With Fertilizer Intercrop Mean

Maize-pure stand Control

Maseno Station
Maize-Sudan grass -1.0 -1.0 -1.0
Maize-Sesbania -1.0 -1.0 -1.0
Maize-Pigeon peas -1.0 -1.0 -1.0
Kaimosi Cluster
Maize-Sudan grass 0.1 5.3 2.7
Maize-Sesbania 11.9 1.0 6.5
Maize-Pigeon pea 16.2 3.0 9.6
Masumbi Cluster
Maize-Sudan grass -1.0 0.3 -0.4
Maize-Sesbania -1.0 1.2 0.1
Maize-Pigeon pea -1.0 -0.3 -0.7

For Kaimosi Cluster Table 2 shows that without fertilizer application the maize-pigeon pea
intercrop yields the highest BCR of 16.2, followed by the Maize-Sesbania intercrop with a BCR
of 11.9. The maize-Sudan grass has the lowest BCR of 0.1. On the other hand, with fertilizer
application, the maize-Sudan grass intercrop yields the greatest BCR of 5.3, followed by the
maize-pigeon pea intercrop with a BCR of 3.0, and lastly by the maize-Sesbania mixture with
a BCR of 1.0. Each intercrop with or without fertilizer is economically superior to the pure-
stand maize control as indicated by positive BCRs.

Results for Kaimosi Cluster also show that when fertilizer is not applied, maize-legume
(pigeon peas and Sesbania) intercrops generate significantly greater marginal returns (higher
BCRs) than the maize-grass (Sudan grass) intercrop. The explanation for this is that when
fertilizer is not applied, maize benefits from the nitrogen fixation by the legumes, while it
competes with a grass intercrop for available nitrogen in the soil. On the other hand, when
fertilizer is applied, the maize-grass intercrop generates higher marginal returns than the
maize-legume intercrop. In this case, the yield response to fertilizer application is greater for
the maize-grass intercrop which does not fix any nitrogen than for the maize-legume
intercrops which fix some nitrogen of their own.

Table A1. Partial budget analysis of intercropping maize with forage crops with and
without fertilizer application, Maseno, short rains season, 1983

Intercrop Without fertilizer With Fertilizer

Incrementala
Benefit Cost Marginal Benefit (+) Benefit cost Cost Marginal Benefit (+)
(Ksh/ha) (-) cost (-)
Maize-pure Control
stand
Maize-Sudan 0 6,878 -6,878 0 7,007 -7,007
grass
(-1.0) b (-1.0) b

Maize-Sesbania 0 8,111 -8,111 0 6,588 -6,588

(-1.0) (-1.0)

Maize-Pigeon 0 9,950 -8,950 0 4,640 -4,640

pea (-1.0) (-1.0)

Maize-Benefit 0 7,980 -7,980 0 6,078 6,078

cost (-1.0) (-1.0)

a
. Incremental benefit (gain) or cost (loss) as compared to pure-stand maize used
as control practice.
b
. Figures in parentheses are benefit: cost ratios (BCR) computed as a ratio of
marginal net benefit (+) or cost (-) to incremental cost: BCR is an absolute
marginal rate of return on incremental cost. When multiplied by 100 it yields a
percentage return.

Intercrop mean BCRs for fertilizer and non-fertilizer treatments are 9.6, 6.5 and 2.7 for maize-
pigeon pea, maize-Sesbania and maize-Sudan grass respectively.

For Masumbi Cluster all the three intercrops are inferior to the pre-stand maize control without
fertilizer application, as shown by negative unit BCRs. With fertilizer application,
maize-Sesbania and maize-Sudan grass yield positive BCRs of 1.2 and 0.3 respectively, while
the maize-pigeon pea intercrop yields a negative BCR of -0.3. Only the maize-Sesbania
intercrop has a positive intercrop mean of 0.1 for fertilizer and non-fertilizer treatments.

Table A2. Partial budget analysis of intercropping maize with forage crops with and
without fertilizer application, Kaimosi Cluster, short rains season, 1983

Without Fertilizer With Fertilizer

Incrementala
Benefit Cost Marginal benefit (-) cost (-) Benefit Cost Marginal benefit (+)
(Ksh/ha) cost (-)
Maize-pure Control
stand
Maize-Sudan 3,433 3,138 +295 b 7,109 1,129 +5,980
grass
(0.1) (5.3)

Maize-Sesbania 5,521 428 +5,093 3,433 1,741 +1,692

(11.9) (1.0)

Maize-Pigeon 7,215 420 +6,795 2,644 658 +1,986

peas (16.2) (3.0)

Mean benefit or 5,390 1,329 +4,061 4,395 1,176 3,219

cost (3.1) (2.7)

a
. Incremental benefit (gain) or cost (loss) as compared to pure-stand maize used
as control practice.
b
. Figures in parentheses are benefit: cost ratios (BCR) computed as a ratio of
marginal net benefit (+) or cost (-) to incremental cost. BCR is an absolute
marginal rate of return on incremental cost. When multiplied by 100 it yields a
percentage return.

Fertilizer Application to Maize and Maize-Forage Intercrops

BCRs from applying fertilizer to maize and maize-forage intercrops are reported in Table 3.
These ratios are summarized from partial budgeting results presented in Appendix Table A4
for Maseno Station, Table A5 for Kaimosi Cluster and Table A6 for Masumbi Cluster.

Table A3. Partial budget analysis of intercropping maize with forage crops with and
without fertilizer application, Masumbi Cluster, short rains season, 1983

Without Fertilizer With Fertilizer

Incrementala
Benefit Cost Marginal benefit (-) cost (-) Benefit Cost Marginal benefit (+)
(Ksh/ha) cost (-)
Maize-pure Control
stand
Maize-Sudan 0 1,612 -1,612 1,440 1,129 +311
grass (0.28)
(-1.0) b
Maize-Sesbania 0 542 -542 1,440 665 +775
(-1.0) (1.16)

Maize-Pigeon 0 722 -722 493 658 -165

pea (-1.0) (-0.25)

Mean benefit 0 959 -958 1,124 917 +307

cost (-1.0) (0.38)

a
. Incremental benefit (gain) or cost (loss) as compared to pure-stand maize used
as a control practice.
b
. Figures in parentheses are benefit: cost ratios (BCR) computed as a ratio of
marginal net benefit (+) or cost (-) to incremental cost. BCR is an absolute
marginal rate of return on incremental costs. When multiplied by 100 it yields a
percentage return.

Table 3. Economics of fertilizer application to maize intercropped with forage crops at

Maseno Station, Kaimosi and Masumbi Clusters, Western Kenya, short rains season,
1983

Intercrop Benefit: Cost ratios of fertilizer application over non-application of fertilizer

Maseno Station Kaimosi Cluster Masumbi Cluster Inter-Crop Mean

Maize-pure stand 12.4 29.2 7.3 16.3

Maize-Sudan grass 26.1 54.1 16.4 32.2
Maize-Sesbania 22.3 1.6 13.8 12.6
Maize-Pigeon peas 12.7 12.7 10.6 12.0

Table A4. Partial budget analysis of fertilizer application to maize intercropped with
forage crops, Maseno station, short rains season, 1983

Intercropped With Fertilizer

Incrementala benefit Incrementala cost Marginal net benefit (+) cost(-)

Maize-pure stand 3,816 285 +3,531

(12.4)b
Maize-Sudan grass 6,436 238 +6,198
(26.1)

Maize-Sesbania 5,528 238 +5,290

(22.3)

Maize-Pigeon pea 3,247 238 +3,010

(12.7)

Mean benefit cost 4,757 250 +4,507

(18.0)
 a
. Incremental benefit (gain) or cost (loss) as compared to the same intercrop
without fertilizer application.
b
. Figures in parentheses are benefit: cost ratios (BCR) computed as a ratio of
marginal net benefit (+) or cost (-) to incremental cost. BCR is an absolute
marginal rate of return on incremental cost. When multiplied by 100 it yields a
percentage return.

It is quite clear from Table 3 that fertilizer application is economically superior to non-fertilizer
application at all sites (Maseno, Kaimosi and Masumbi) and for both pure-stand maize and all
the maize-forage intercrops. BCRs are all positive and considerably greater than zero for all
treatments. For Maseno Station trials, maize-Sudan grass and maize-Sesbania intercrops
generate the highest BCRs of 26.1 and 22.3 respectively. For Kaimosi trials, the highest BCRs
are recorded from maize-Sudan grass (54.1) and pure-Sesbania with a BCR of 13.8. Overall,
the BCRs in Table 3 again demonstrate that the maize-Sudan intercrop generates greater
economic response (BCR = 32.2) than maize-legume intercrops (BCR of 12.6 and 12.0 for
maize-Sesbania and maize-pigeon pea respectively).

While the results in Table 2 address the first hypothesis, namely that intercropping maize with
forage crops yields less economic returns than maize grown in pure stand, the results in Table
3 address the second hypothesis that applying, fertilizer to maize in pure stand or
intercropped with forage crops yields greater economic returns than non-fertilized pure stand
or forage-intercropped maize. The first hypothesis appears to be acceptable for Kaimosi
Cluster, unacceptable for Maseno Station and inconclusive for Masumbi Cluster. This implies
that, while intercropping maize with forages is an economically superior practice in some
areas, it may lead to economic loss in other areas depending upon soil fertility and climatic
conditions of the areas in question. The second hypothesis appears to hold for all sites and for
all crop regimes (pure or intercrops), i.e. it is economically beneficial to apply fertilizer whether
maize is grown in pure stand or intercropped with forages.

Table A5. Partial budget analysis of fertilizer application to maize intercropped with
forage crops, Kaimosi Cluster, short rains season, 1983

With fertilizer

Incrementala Incrementala cost (Ksh/ha) Marginal net benefit (+) cost (-)
Maize-pure stand 7,173 238 +6,935

(29.2)b

Maize-Sudan grass 13,096 238 +12,858

(54.1)

Maize-Sesbania 6,137 2,365 +3,772

(1.6)

Maize-pigeon pea 3,247 238 +3,009

(12.7)

Mean-benefit or cost 7,413 769 +6,644

(8.6)

a
. Incremental benefit (gain) or cost (loss) as compared to the same crop intercrop
 without fertilizer application.
b
. Figures in parentheses are benefit: cost ratios (BCR) computed as a ratio of
marginal net benefit (+) or cost (-) to incremental cost. BCR is an absolute
marginal rate of return on incremental cost. When multiplied by 100 it yields a
percentage return.

Conclusions
It should be noted that the above results are based upon biological data from one season
only, namely short rains 1983. Nevertheless, several conclusions may be drawn from the
results. First, intercropping maize with forage crops with or without fertilizer application has no
economic advantage over pure-stand maize at Maseno Station, and in Masumbi Cluster
without fertilizer application. Second, intrecropping maize with forage crops yields greater
economic returns than pure-stand maize, with or without fertilizer application in Kaimosi
Cluster, and with fertilizer application in Masumbi Cluster except for the maize-pigeon pea
intercrop. Third, for Kaimosi Cluster, maize intercropped with leguminous forages yields higher
economic returns than maize intercropped with Sudan grass when fertilizer is not applied. In
this case, the maize-pigeon pea and maize-Sesbania intercrops, in that order, are
economically the most promising intercrops for Kaimosi Cluster. Fourth, for Kaimosi cluster,
maize-Sudan grass intercrop generates greater economic returns than maize-legume
intercrop when fertilizer is applied. In this case, maize-Sudan grass and maize-pigeon pea
intercrops, in that order, are economically the most promising intercrops. Fifth, for Masumbi
Cluster, maize-Sesbania followed by maize-Sudan grass are the most promising intercrops
only when fertilizer is applied. When fertilizer is not applied, pure-stand maize is economically
superior to the maize-forage intercrops. Sixth, fertilizer application was economically more
profitable than non-fertilizer application at all sites for both pure-stand maize and maize
intercrops. Seventh, and lastly, while intercropping maize with forage crops yields greater
economic returns than pure-stand maize in some areas, it may lead to economic loss in other
areas depending upon soil fertility and climatic conditions of the areas in question.

Table A6. Partial budget analysis of fertilizer application to maize intercropped with
forage crops, Masumbi Cluster, short rains season, 1983

With Fertilizer

Incrementala Incrementala cost Marginal net benefit (+) cost (-

benefit (ksh/ha) )

Maize-pure stand 1,971 238 +1,733

(7.3)b
Maize-Sudan grass 4,130 238 +3,892
(16.4)

Maize-Sesbania 3,523 238 +3,285

(13.8)

Maize-pigeon pea 2,766 238 +2,528

(10.6)

Mean benefit or 3,097 238 +2,859

cost (12.0)

a
 . Incremental benefit (gain) or cost (loss) as compared to the same intercrop
without fertilizer application.
b
. Figures in parentheses are benefit: cost ratios (BCR) computed as a ratio of
marginal net benefit (+) or cost (-) to incremental cost. BCR is an absolute
marginal rate of return on incremental cost. When multiplied by 100 it yields a
percentage return.

References
Mukhebi, A.W. and Onim, J.F.M. (1985). Economics of intercropping forage crops with maize
in Kaimosi Cluster, Western Kenya. Proceedings of the Fourth Small Ruminant CRSP Kenya
Workshop, Kenya, March 11 and 12, 1985.

Onim, J.F.M., Hart, R., Otieno, K. and Fitzhugh, H.A. (1984). Potential of intercropping forages
with maize in Western Kenya. Proceedings of the Third Small Ruminant CRSP Kenya
Workshop, 5-6 March, 1984, Kabete, Kenya.

Ruvuna, F., and Blackburn, H. (1984). Data from the Kenya dual purpose goat model
simulations, SR-CRSP Kenya Systems Analysis Project, Kabete, Kenya (unpublished).

  
   

The economics of smallholder dairy production in Hai District,

Tanzania
Gilead I. Mlay

Department of Rural Economy, Sokoine University of Agriculture,

Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract
Introduction
Conclusions and recommendations
References

Abstract
This paper presents a cost-returns analysis of smallholder dairy production in Hai District,
Tanzania. The use of gross-margins analysis to assess the economic impact of proposed
technologies is demonstrated. The data used were obtained during a 1984 household survey
of 150 randomly selected farmers keeping dairy cattle.

The results indicate that dairy production is economically attractive for smallholder farmers in
both the short run and long run. The high internal rate of return (over 50%), while suggesting
an overestimation of enterprise costs, explains the high demand for dairy cattle by smallholder
farmers despite the present critical shortage of feedstuffs.

The comparison of gross margins per cow and per man day with existing feeding technology,
and an improved technology that incorporates the use of an urea-molasses mixture, shows
that productivity can be improved with these inputs. While merely reorganizing resources is
unlikely to raise farmers' income substantially, technologies that can make existing resources
more productive do have this potential.

Introduction
Smallholder dairy production in Tanzania is concentrated in the highland areas of Kilimanjaro,
Arusha and Mbeya. The increased demand for fresh milk in urban centres in recent years has
resulted in an expansion of smallholder dairy production around these centres. Until recently,
Government policy on dairy development focused mainly on large-scale State-owned farms.
The new Tanzania livestock policy gives due emphasis to the development of the smallholder
sector through increased supply of upgraded cattle, animal feeds and other production inputs,
including extension services (Ministry of Livestock Development 1983).

The emphasis on smallholder dairy production in Tanzania calls for increased efforts towards
the development of locally tested technology that will increase productivity given farmers'
present resources. Available information about peasant farmers indicates that they are good
decision makers, given their experience and resources, and that a mere reallocation of their
resources will not appreciably increase incomes (Stevens 1977). Assuming that smallholder
farmers allocate their resources to maximize profit or expected utility of profit, subject to
satisfying their subsistence needs, new technologies will only have a chance of success if
they effect an improvement in standard of living. There is, therefore, a need to understand the
economics of current smallholder production systems and the potential impact of proposed
new technologies before making definite recommendations.

This paper reports on the results of a study of the economies of smallholder dairy production
in Hai District. The work is part of an ongoing project on smallholder dairy feeding systems
whose main objective is to design innovations that will increase productivity. The data used in
this paper are based on a household survey conducted in February/March 1984 on a
randomly selected sample of 150 households keeping dairy cattle.

Farming Systems in Hai District

Land use in the District is based on kinship structures which are basically patrilineal as far as
patterns of land ownership and inheritance are concerned. Farmers own farms in two distinct
zones: the highlands, where they live in permanent homesteads, and the lowland zone.

The highland zone has relatively more rainfall and the cropping pattern is coffee with bananas.
The lowland zone is cropped with maize and beans. The survey conducted in 1984 indicated
that the median farm size in the highland zone is 1.01 hectares, while in the lowland zone it is
1.2 hectares. The average distances from the homestead to the lowland farms is 18 km (Urio
and Mlay 1984). These statistics suggest that land in the District is a critical constraint and
that agricultural production can only be increased through intensive land-use measures.

Crop Production

In the highland zone, coffee intercropped with bananas are the main crops. Vegetables are
also growing in this zone. Maize and beans are the main crops in the lowland zone, either as
pure stands or intercropped. Tractor utilization during land preparation is a common practice in
the lowland zone. While coffee is the main cash crop in the District, production has been falling
in recent years due to the high incidence of coffee berry disease. Falling production coupled
with declining real producer prices have resulted in a growing tendency towards
diversification.

Livestock Production

Livestock production is an integral part of the farming system in the District. Land scarcity has
contributed significantly to the high degree of dependence between the crop and livestock
sub-systems. Stall feeding is the rule, and crop by-products are extensively used as feed,
while the manure from the livestock is, in turn, used on the banana/coffee plots to maintain soil
fertility.

According to the 1978 national census, cattle are the most numerous livestock in the District,
followed by sheep, goats and pigs, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Numbers of domestic animals in Hai District, 1975

Type Number Average per

household
Cattle 132,000 4.0
Sheep 28,200 0.9
Goats 9,000 0.3

Source: Adapted from M.E. Mlambiti et al 1982.

The rapidly increasing demand for milk as reflected in the parallel market price of Sh. 20 per
litre compared with the official price of Sh. 10 per litre coupled with declining income from
coffee has seen a rapid growth in commercial milk production by smallholder farmers in the
District. The relatively unproductive local Zebu is being replaced by improved breeds.

Land constraints and the scarcity of commercial feeds pose special problems for livestock
feeding. The main sources of feed are crop byproducts (mainly banana leaves and
pseudostems), maize stover and bean straw. Some farmers have also established pasture
leys (Pennisetum purpureum, Tripsacum laxum and Setaria spp.) along farm boundaries,
footpaths, and on any patches of land unsuitable for crop production, the use of commercial
feeds is limited and erratic, and reflects availability rather than ignorance on the part of
farmers. On the basis of the survey conducted in 1984, only 58% of sampled farmers used
commercial feeds and all indicated that the levels used were below the recommended rates
(Urio and Mlay 1984).

Analytical Procedures

Three main analytical procedures are used. These are gross-margin analysis, production-
function analysis and returns to investment. Important measures of technical and economic
efficiency of resource utilization can be derived from these three analyses.

Gross-Margin Analysis

Gross margins are widely used in farm planning. They can be used to prepare partial budgets
for minor changes in the farm programme, or to prepare completed budgets for major changes
in farm programmes (Styrrock 1971). Gross-margin analysis involves determining all variable
costs and revenue associated with an enterprise. The difference between revenue and total
variable costs is the gross margin for the enterprise, and, in essence, this is the return to
capital, management and risk.

Several efficiency measures can be calculated from the general analysis and compared with
standards to identify areas of potential improvement. Such efficiency measures include gross
margin per unit of the enterprise, gross margin per unit of a scarce resource, and gross margin
per unit of an investment. In addition, the potential effects of introducing a new technology on
the above efficiency measures can be assessed before resources are committed to
production.

Production Function Analysis

A production function shows the technical relationship between inputs and output. The general
form of the relationship is presented in equation 1.

Y = f (X1, X 2 ... X n) ......... (1)

where X 1, to X n are the production inputs and Y is output.

While several function forms have been used to study the productivity of agricultural inputs,
the Cobb-Douglas production function is the most commonly used (Welsch 1965). It has the
following form:

Y = A II Xi i B i ......... (2)

where B i (i = 1, 2..., n) are the partial elasticities of production.

Each measures the degree of responsiveness of output when the corresponding input is
changed by 1%. The magnitudes of these coefficients can be used to assess the productivity
of the inputs.
The data required for the analysis are cross-sectional, collected across households. Detailed
records on outputs and levels of use of the identified inputs are necessary. With appropriate
logarithmic transformation and assumptions, estimates of the elasticities can be obtained by
the least-squares method. This approach is not used in this paper due to lack of suitable data.

Return to Investment

The returns-to-investment method allows direct comparison with alternative enterprises. This
method is particularly useful in cases where loans are to be sought for establishing or
expanding an enterprise. The measure proposed here is the internal rate of return whose
formula is as follows:

......... (3)

where

n = number of years for which the internal rate of return is relevant

F n = Net cash flow for year n, and

i = an internally calculated rates of interest that makes the discounted present

value of the flow of costs equal to the discounted present value of the flow of
returns at a point in time.

The observed returns to investment can be used to explain the observed returns to investment
can be used to explain the observed investment behaviour by the farmers.

Results and Discussion

Gross Margins

Table 2 presents results of gross margin analysis based on current production organization in
the District. The prices used are those that prevailed in the market when the survey was
conducted.

Table 2. Gross margins for a smallholder dairy farmer in Hai District

Animal numbers and performance

Average herd size excluding calves 4
Average number of calves 1
Average number of cows in milk 2
Average milk yield per cow per day (litres) 7.4
Average lactation length in months 10
Revenue (TSh)
Milk (2,220 x 2) litres @ Sh. 10 44,400a
Variable costs (TSh)
Concentrates 1,755.00 b
Mineral supplements 824.20
Purchase and transport of crop residues 988.50
Maintenance of cattle shed 750.00
Veterinary expenses 320.00
Total variable costs c 4,637.70

Gross margin (revenue-costs) (TSh) 39,762.30

Gross margin per cow (TSh) 9,940.58

Labour in man days per year c 220.00

Gross margin per man day (TSh) 180.74

a
The revenue on milk sales assume that all milk is sold.
b
Accurate data on concentrate feeding rates were not available.
c
Only family labour is used, and the figure of 55 man days per cow per year is
adapted from Mlambiti 1983.

One of the innovations currently being tested in the District is the use of a molasses-urea
mixture. Apart from improving the intake of maize stover, it is intended to improve feed quality
by providing nitrogen. Since data are still being collected, the results presented below are
based on created data to illustrate the use of gross margins in assessing the potential
economic impact of a new technology. It is assumed that 13 man days will be required to
collect the molasses-urea mixture from the selling centres and that the feeding rate is 2 kg per
animal per day. The milk yield is assumed to increase by 10% when all other factors are
maintained at their present levels.

Table 3. Gross margin analysis incorporating molasses-urea mixture

Revenue
Milk sales (2,442 x 2) litres @ Sh. 10 48,840.00
Variable costs (TSh)
Original cost (Table 2) in TSh 4,637,70
Molasses urea (2 kg x 4 x 365) kg @ 0.60 (TSh) 1,460.00
Total variable costs 6,097.70
Gross margin (revenue costs) 42,742.20
Original labour in man days 220
Additional labour in man days 13
Total labour in man days 233
Gross margin per cow in TSh 10,685.50
Gross margin per man day in TSh 183.44

The results in Table 2 indicate that, in the short run, smallholder dairy production under the
existing production system is economically viable. The enterprise covers all the variables in
costs and has a large positive return to capital, management and risk. The long-run viability of
the enterprise is dependent on it being able to cover all production costs. The gross margin
per cow and per man day can only be assessed in the presence of other figures for
comparison.

The cash-flow results indicate that, with the exception of the first year, the net benefits from
the dairy enterprise are positive. The apparently high positive net benefits suggest that costs
have been underestimated, in particular the cost of feeds. The exclusion of costs of family
labour have also contributed to the under estimation of costs. In computing the internal rate of
return, a figure of over 50% was obtained, again suggesting that enterprise costs have been
underestimated. However, the high demand for dairy heifers, as reflected by the high parallel
market price of Sh. 15,000-18,000 compared with an official price of Sh. 6,000 per heifer,
suggests that the enterprise has high returns to investment.

Table 4. Cash-flow analysis of a typical smallholder dairy enterprise in Hai District (TSh)

OUTFLOW YEAR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Capital expenditure
Heifers 45,000.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Construction 25,000.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
of shed
Subtotal 70,000.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Operating expenses
Maintenance 0 350.00 450.00 550.00 650.00 750.00 750.00 150.00 750.00 750.00
of shed
Concentrates 1,755.00 1,755.00
Crop 988.50 988.50 988.50 988.50 988.50 988.50 1,755.00 1,755.00 1,755.03 1,755.00
residues
Veterinary 320.00 320.00 320.00 320.00 320.00 320.00 988.50 988.50 988.50 988.50
costs
Mineral 824.00 824.00 824.00 824.00 824.00 824.00 320.00 320.00 320.00 320.00
supplements
Subtotal 3,887.50 4,237.50 4,437.50 4,437.50 4,537.50 4,637.50 824.00 824.00 824.00 824.00
Total 73,887.50 4,237.50 4,437.50 4,437.50 4,537.50 4,637.50 4,637.50 4,637.50 4,637.50 4,637.50
outflows
INFLOW
Sales of milk 0 3,120.00 35,400.00 40,200.00 44,400.00 44,400.00 44,400.00 40,200.00 35,400.00 31,200.00
Sales of 0 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 0 0 0
calves
Sales of 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
culls
Total inflows 0 0 3,200.00 36,900.00 45,900.00 45,900.00 45,900.00 40,200.00 35,400.00 46,200.00
Net benefit - 28,462.50 32,562.50 37,262.50 41,362.50 41,262.55 41,262.50 35,562.50 30,762.50 41,567.50
73,887.50

Conclusions and recommendations

This paper has demonstrated the application of gross-margins analysis and internal rate of
return to assessing the economics of smallholder dairy production in the Hai District. The
results indicate that, both in the short and the long run, dairy production is a viable economic
activity under smallholder conditions.

Work done by other researchers in the District has shown that a mere reallocation of
resources through enterprise reorganization will not increase farmers' income appreciably
(Mlambiti 1983; Msechu 1979). This suggests that an increase in farmers' incomes will come
from improved technologies that will make the existing resources more productive. As
indicated by the results on potential use of molasses-urea mixture, the gross margins per cow
and per man day can be changed if livestock are made more productive.

It is recommended that researchers involved in developing or tasting technologies for use by

smallholder farmers first obtain detailed base-line data on current farming practices and
resource utilization and then use them to assess the economics of those enterprises without
improved technologies. Alternative technologies should then be subjected to economic
analysis and the results compared with those of the traditional practices. This will allow us to
make more rational choices and technology recommendations, which are, therefore, more
likely to be adopted by farmers.

References
Ministry of Livestock Development (1983). Livestock Policy of Tanzania, Government Printer,
Dar es Salaam.

Mlambiti, M.E. (1983). Agricultural sector analysis for Kilimanjaro Region: a basis for decision
making and planning. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.

Mlambiti, M.E. et al (1982). Economic analysis of the traditional farming systems of the
Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. IAF, No. 85, West Virginia University.

Msechu, A.R.M. (1979). An economic analysis of the small scale coffee-banana holdings in
Moshi rural district, Tanzania. Unpublished M. Sc. thesis, University of Nairobi.

Stevens, R.D. (ed.) (1977). Tradition and Dynamics in Small Farm Agriculture. Ames: Iowa
State University Press. pp. 3-24.

Sturrock, F. (1971). Farm accounting and management London: Pitman Press pp. 139-180.

Urio, N. and Mlay, G. (1984). "Progress report on diagnostic survey among small holder dairy
farmers in Hai District, Tanzania". Mimeo., University of Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Tanzania.

  
   

Strategies for farming systems research

Marcelino Avila

IDRC Project Advisor & FSR Team Leader

Department of Research and Specialist Services
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Development, Zimbabwe

Abstract
Overview of FSR
Methodological guidelines and issues
Types of on-farm research trials
The FSR unit in Zimbabwe
References

Abstract
FSR is not really a new practice. However, there are institutional bottlenecks in it. Interfacing research,
extension and other support service institutions, usually separated by commodities or broad disciplines, to
focus their attention on farmers is a major problem for implementing FSR. Nevertheless, FSR is receiving
increased attention and the trend will continue because efforts to improve small-farmer production
systems have made researchers recognize the strong linkages between farming activities and the
environment, the household and community. Consequently, there is an obvious need to study, learn from
and exploit those linkages to the benefit of the farm households.

The objectives of this paper are to present an overview of farming systems research (FSR), review key
methodological guidelines and issues, and briefly describe the organization and operation of the FSR Unit
in Zimbabwe.

Overview of FSR
Farming systems research is an approach for generating appropriate technologies for studying existing
farming systems and involving the technology users - usually the small farmers in the planning and
evaluation process. The approach is justified on the basis of three vital considerations. Firstly, the farmer
and his family are rational in their decision-making. Given their available resource base, circumstances,
opportunities and knowledge, they typically manage a combination of crops, animals, and other on-farm
and off-farm activities to satisfy basic physical, financial and social needs. Secondly, the production
systems of small farmers embody an integrated set of husbandry practices that have developed over
centuries so that these systems are stable, complex and very sensitive to the ecological, biological and
socio-economic environment. Thirdly, a farming system belongs to the goal-setting and purposeful
category of systems and its direction is determined by the farmer and his family. The decision to introduce
changes or adopt any innovation depends entirely on how the household assesses the relative
advantages and disadvantages in terms of its own perceptions and priorities. Because of these
considerations, FSR is an interdisciplinary, integrative, problem-oriented and farmer-centred approach.

The research experience on cropping systems in the developing countries has resulted in a progressive
refinement of FSR concepts and methodologies (Harwood 1979; Byerlee et al 1980; Gilbert, Norman and
Winch 1980; and Zandstra et al 1981). Similarly there are research experiences on livestock production
(Li Pun and Zandstra 1982; Fine and Lattimoer 1982; CATIE 1983; Gryseels and Anderson 1983; Ruiz
and Li Pun 1983) and mixed production systems (McDowell and Hilderbrand 1980; Fitzhugh et al 1982;
Huxley and Wood) which have successfully applied FSR approaches and methodologies. State-of-the-art
reviews have also been carried out at the request of donors (Dillon, Plucknet and Vallaeys 1978; Shaner,
Philipp and Schmehl 1982; Simmonds 1984).

At first glance the review of the wide range of experiences tends to suggest a state of confusion in FSR.
There appear to be differences in terminologies, approaches and methods and these are sometimes
intentionally exaggerated by FSR proponents for personal or institutional reasons. Upon careful analysis,
however, these differences can be explained on the basis of the following characteristics of research
programmers the primary objective (system description and analysis, technology development or
methodology development), the type of farming system/environment interaction under study (maize
production in humid areas, lowland and upland rice production, savannah livestock production,
agroforestry in semi-arid areas, etc.) and the composition/leadership of research teams (economic,
agronomic, land-use planning, plant protection, or other bias). Furthermore, it is interesting to note that
crop FSR generally tends to have its roots in the "Green Revolution" and studies of adoption patterns,
livestock FSR in systems analysis and modelling, and agroforestry FSR in resource conservation and
ecology. To a large extent these schools of though determine how the practitioners perceive and analyse
a given farming system.

In spite of such varied experience and schools of thought, there is a consensus on FSR philosophy and
strategy. To improve a farm system, it must be studied and understood. FSR is an interactive stepwise
process that has three actors - the researchers, extension agents and farmers - in the conduct of the four
basic phases:

1. Characterization involves an understanding of the structural and functional relationships of

current farming systems in specific geographical areas and an identification of the
endogenous and exogenous constraints to achieving farmers' goals;

2. Design of technological alternatives involves an x-ante evaluation and selection of strategic

interventions, components, inputs and/or practices that results in a well defined and effective
agenda for follow-up research with respect to farm monitoring, component experimentation
and/or technology testing;

3. Testing involves evaluation, on farmers' fields and under partial or exclusive farmer
management, of the assumptions, decisions and expected performance of the technological
alternatives as designed in the previous phase;

4. Diffusion usually refers to the dissemination of tested innovations to credit and extension
personnel or to small groups of farmers, usually through intensive assistance. Large-scale
adoption ad impact on productivity is more difficult to achieve.

Although extension to farmers is an intrinsic activity of FSR, there is not much experience of this phase
mainly because international centres consider it the responsibility of national programmers. However,
national programmers are unable to effectively transfer such results due to their own resources
constraints or lack of infrastructural support and incentives for farmers.

Methodological guidelines and issues

This section will highlight some of the more critical research steps in FSR. More emphasis will be given to
livestock FSR.

Analysis of the Farming Systems and its Sub-systems

Understanding how a system works implies knowing the parts and how they relate to each other and to
the environment (Dillon, Plucknet and Vallaeys 1978; Roundtree 1977; Van Dyne and Abramsky 1975).
From a pragmatic viewpoint, one begins with an identification of the components of the farming system as
illustrated in Figure 1. An inventory of crops with the cropping components, species within the animal
component, and other on- and off-farm activities, is used to illustrate the major interactions of these
components with each other, with the household component and with the outside market. This diagram
provides a global picture of the farming system which can be improved with a quantitative description of
the components and their interactions. Such a semi-quantitative model is extremely useful to ensure that
one does not unintentionally exclude important parts of the system, or to select, on a preliminary basis,
specific parts for further analysis.

As a second step, one must understand how these parts are related to one another, with respect to space
and time. To do so, one must know how the land is used and managed on different production
enterprises during the course of the year. Cropping patterns are examples of this type of relationship and
could likewise be extended to livestock production as follows:
 (a) Maize/sorghum: intercropping of maize and sorghum;
(b) Sorghum-beans: cropping of beans after harvesting sorghum;
(c) Pasture/cattle/goats: pastures grazed by cattle and goats together;
(d) Maize-cattle: cattle grazed on maize field after harvest.

If present in a given farming system, these can be called sub-systems or agro-ecosystems (Hart 1981).

Figure 1. The identification of components and their interactions in a mixed farming

 Source: McDowell and Hilderbrand 1980

As a third step, one must describe, quantify and interpret the input-output relationships, that is, the flows
of energy, materials, information, and so forth. With respect to both inflows and outflows of a sub-system,
one must ask and answer the following questions:
What? Water, labour, seed, fertilizer, draught power and technical advise are examples.
Why? The reasons for conducting certain activities could be social, economic, etc.
How much? Quantitative and qualitative measures are essential to estimate their value or opportunity cost.
When? This should be done at least on a monthly basis.
From where and to Other on-farm sub-systems or storage deposits and off-farm sources or buyers/beneficiaries
where? should be identified

Although there are different levels of specificity and detail to deal with these questions, it should be borne
in mind that this analysis should provide the basis for:

(a) Understanding the specific roles of each crop or animal species in the farming system;

(b) Determining the types (direct or indirect and technical or administrative) and levels (low,
high, etc.) of existing functional interactions among sub-systems; and

(c) Determining technical and economic performance, the positive and negative effects, and
the advantages and disadvantages of each sub-system.

It may be decided to proceed with distinct levels of analysis for different sub-systems as a way of
streamlining the analysis of the total farming system.

Identification of Constraints

Identifying constraints is a continuous process of discovering opportunities or potential for change - at the
region/community, family, farm or subsystem level - that could improve the performance of the farming
system. As knowledge of the structural properties of the system improves through the implementation of
the various phases of farming systems research, constraints are progressively refined and redefined.

Although constraint identification is one of the main objectives of the characterization phase, it is very
much a function of who does it. Is it the farmer or the researcher? If it is the researcher or a research
team, then care must be taken to avoid disciplinary biases (Zandstra in Fitzhugh et al 1983). Even when
interdisciplinary teams are used, differences occur because of:

1. The criteria of evaluation applied. Researchers generally use physical or economic

productivity criteria within the short-term context (Perrin and Anderson 1976; Dillon and
Hardaker 1980; Banta 1982), whereas farmers may consider these as means rather than
ends for achieving family objectives, or as of secondary importance within a broader set of
criteria and a longer term context;

2. The scope of analysis. Researchers focus on enterprises or, at best, on sub-systems and
perceive their range of decision variables as being confined to the biological and technological
aspects of the production systems. Farmers assess opportunities in terms of how they fit in
with on-farm and off-farm conditions. Their perceptions of decisions or manipulable variables
may differ substantially from the researchers.

3. The analytical methods used. The researchers use simple descriptive statistics, regression
functions, analysis of variance, optimization and simulation models, basically quantitative
approaches. The farmers use their experience, common sense and intuition, basically
qualitative approaches. What assumptions concerning risk and uncertainty are made and how
they can he considered in these two general approaches is certainly a major issue. Farmers
tend to act conservatively because they are faced with unpredictable factors such as
fluctuating weather conditions, disease and parasitic attacks, uncertain input availability and
costs, and unstable product outlets and prices. Farmers do not assume favourable conditions
as researchers do.

Thus the basic question to be addressed is what present conditions, when changed, would have the
largest net effect in the quickest time on the relevant performance criteria. Answering this question
requires symbiotic interaction among social and natural scientists and direct and continuous discussion
with farmers.

Ex-Ante Analysis

The design phase is a process of identifying, fitting and screening technological innovations (components,
inputs and/or management practices) into the traditional system, that should solve the farmers' problems.
Design objectives pertain to particular levels of desired performance, income generation or welfare,
defined in conjunction with farmers. For example, they-could be stated as maximizing yields per hectare,
yield per dollar of cash input, yield per unit of moisture, gross income per hectare, family net income per
labour day, or an index of living standard. In addition to these, the researchers may define other
objectives, such as applying existing experimental results, designing transfer "packages", or setting
priorities for the research organization. The definition of the type and levels of these objectives determines
the intrinsic characteristics and expected performance of the interventions and the time required to
complete the task.

Technologies to be considered in the modelling exercise can be procured from farmers, from the existing
body of information from past research, or developed by conducting component research. Some farmers
in the same geographical area or farmers from other areas have agricultural practices that overcame
similar constraints and are worthy of consideration. Past independent research on specific components
provides technologies that may be suitable. The need for component technology research, that is trials
managed mainly by researchers following experimental station procedures, may arise due to a
conspicuous lack of information, for example on the range productivity of natural species of grass,
appropriate stocking rates and utilization potential of various crop by-products and residues.

Fitting technological innovations within the traditional system involves identifying conflicts with the
endogenous and exogenous conditions of the system which are created by the requirements and impacts
of the proposed technologies. The analysis has to be conducted in a series of progressive steps,
summarized as follows:

1. The ecological and physical environment. Soil capabilities, rainfall patterns, temperature
levels and their relationships are the basic determinants of technological design;

2. The socio-economic environment. Technologies are determined and do affect social

customs, religious beliefs and values, age and sex occupational roles, forms of social or
communal organizations, credit policies, input markets, product markets, etc.

3. The family goals and objectives. Although the definition of design objectives is based on
these considerations, the introduction of a particular technology may interfere with other goals
and objectives;

4. The sub-systems. Conflicts may be intensified or reduced with respect to the management
of other sub-systems;

5. The farm resources. New technologies directly affect the use or replacement of locally
existing resources, tools or techniques. They may be too difficult or complicated for the farmer
to manage.

At each stage the number of technological options to achieve the design objectives would progressively
diminish.

From the view point of the farmer, the ex-ante evaluation procedure of technological options includes a
quantification of:

1. The magnitude of the real benefit in terms of the design objectives, that is, physical,
economic or financial benefits;

2. The predictability of benefits (levels of risk), at least in terms of favourable, unfavourable

and normal conditions;

3. The requirement of resources, particularly labour and cash costs;

4. The length of time required to implement recommended changes and to obtain acceptable
levels of success.

From the viewpoint of research scientists the ex-ante evaluation usually includes one additional concern,
transferability. These are questions related to the divisibility of the designed alternative (can the farmer
apply a part of the "whole package"?), the scope of application (how widely can the designed alternative
be applied?), and the expected impact on other key sectors of the society (who will be the beneficiaries or
losers among leaders, input suppliers, product intermediaries and buyers, etc?). For this reason, it is
important to define, from the beginning of the design phase, the endogenous and exogenous environment
of the farming systems within which the technological alternative is being modelled. A precise description
of the target farmers, decisions and assumptions made with respect to the key determinants of the
expected performance of the interventions, vis-a-vis the traditional practices, results in a clear statement
of what the proposed technological change is, what type of farmers and production system it is designed
for and what conditions (ecological, physical and socio-economic) it is suitable for. These are the basic
hypotheses to be evaluated in the testing phase, and which are particularly significant for extension
purposes. Consequently extensionists can make an effective contribution in addressing these issues and
understanding their broader implication.

It is common that for the same geographical area several target groups of farmers are identified because
of particular endogenous and exogenous characteristics of the farming systems and that for the same
target group several interventions are designed because of particular decisions and assumptions made in
the ex-ante evaluation.

Types of on-farm research trials

The results of the design process set the stage for and define the terms of reference for the following
activities:

(a) Further analysis of existing systems (complementary single-visit surveys, farm monitoring
or case studies);

(b) Technology testing under farmer conditions and management (on-farm farmer-managed
trials);

(c) Component technology development under farmer conditions but under the shared
management researchers and farmers (on-farm researcher and farmer-managed trials);

(d) Component technology development under farmer conditions but under the exclusive
management of researchers (on-farm research-managed trials);

(e) Component technology development on experimental stations (on-station researcher-

managed trials); and it is conceivable to have

(f) Component technology development on experimental stations but under partial

management of researchers (on-station researcher and farmer-managed trials).

Accordingly, there are three types of on-farm trials: researcher-managed (RM), researcher and farmer-
managed (RFM) and farmer managed (FM). These are compared in terms of design and evaluation
criteria based on the experience of cropping systems research (Table 1).

In RM trials, the farm is used as the experimental unit or laboratory, primarily to find out the characteristics
of the area and its ecological/physical potential, to screen available or high-risk, technologies and to learn
from farmers. In FM trials, on the other hand, testing is aimed at evaluating how the proposed technology
fits into the farming systems, permits assessment of the impact on farmers' performance criteria, the
easiness or difficulties of management and adoption potential, in addition to providing guidelines for
needed infrastructural support and appropriate extension strategies. Field days with participating farmers
in FM trials can be used as an effective method to obtain feedback on collective issues and priorities.

In RFM trials, research focuses on exploring alternative treatments with respect to the key determinants of
the proposed technology in FM trials. For example, if the performance of the technology being tested is
sensitive to the proposed level of fertilization, the researcher may design an experiment (with the
proposed, the farmer's and optimal level) to be conducted on the same fields as the FM trials and with
some prearranged degree of farmer involvement. Similarly, RM trials may be designed to identify key
biological and physical determinants of technologies for FM trials under more controlled conditions.

Table 1. Comparison of on-farm cropping systems research trials in terms of design and
evaluation criteria

Criteria Researcher Researcher and farmer Farmer

Design:
1 CR, RCB, RIB, SP CR, RCB, RIB CR, RIB, PT
 Field design
No treatment combinations 5-20 4-6 2-4
No replications 4-5 2-4 1-2
Plot size, M² 15-25 15-100 50-1000
Precision (farms, land types) within farm across farm/farmer across farmer
Characteristics for selection of site
Evaluation
Objective Generation Verification Acceptance
Level of performance Higher Intermediate Lower
Variation of performance indicators
Loss of experiments Moderate High Very high
Loss of experiments Moderate High Very high
Risk consideration Biological Management Economic

1
Complete randomized (CR), randomized complete block (RCB), randomized incomplete
block (RIB), split plot (SP) and paired treatments (PT).

Source: Adapted from Shaner, Philip and Schmehl p. 101, 1982.

A crucial aspect of evaluation concerns the analysis of risk. Risk refers to the expected levels of
performance depending on the probability of occurrence of certain events and acts. There are risks
associated with biological (climatic conditions, pest and disease attack, etc.), management (understanding
by the farmer, sequencing of activities, compatibility with available resources, etc.), and economic factors
(availability and prices of cash inputs, availability of markets and prices of products, opportunity cost of
resources and services, etc.). These considerations have obvious implications for the different types of
on-farm trials, particularly with respect to the level and variation of performance indicators and the loss of
experiments. Thus in RM trials, biological risk is the major source of performance variability since the
other factors are under control, whereas in FM trials farmers always tend to act more conservatively
because they are confronted with the entire array of unpredictable factors. Consequently, it is critical to
identify the specific circumstances and causes of variation and loss when it occurs.

Usually the three types of on-farm trials are conducted simultaneously in order to gain time. However, the
decision to implement one or the other first depends on the relative stage of technological development
and complexity of farming system in the particular area. If component technology research is at an
advanced stage (or results can be extrapolated from ecologically analogous areas) and the farming
systems comprise monocropping sub-systems with minimal interactions with animals or their farm
enterprises, on-farm research could focus on FM trials. On the other hand, if component technology
research is at a very early stage (which is usually the case in areas with multiple cropping systems and
strong crop/animal interactions), FM trials may he premature and therefore extensive RM trials are
necessary to achieve a better understanding of real farming systems constraints.

On-farm research trials with animal production systems are extremely difficult to implement particularly
RM trials with traditional experimental designs. Experimentation requires many animals with comparable
weight and sex characteristics. The required experimental period (a minimum of 4 months for feeding
trials or 3 to 4 years for cattle grazing experiments) makes it almost impossible for farmers to agree to
provide their animals and facilities. Even when negotiations with farmers are successful, the probability of
losing experiments is extremely high because of the lack of appropriate facilities and conditions in
traditional production systems. Because of the enormous cost of animal production research ($1,000-
5000 per experiment in cattle production), the number of treatments and replications on FM and RFM
trials has to he reduced. Unlike cropping systems research, the farmers cannot he asked to provide a
small plot or part of their herd for experimentation. Thus statistical evaluation of RM trials usually leads to
ambiguous results because of the inability of researchers to control non-treatment variables. System
experimentation (livestock or whole-farm) may be more suitable for on-farm research but logical analysis
and farmer assessment are more relevant evaluation methods. Here modelling is recommended as a
helpful tool but it must he practically oriented to reflect how the farmers manage the system. Usually, in
livestock system experimentation, it is the cost, troth investment and operational, which limits the type of
interventions. This is a blessing in disguise since it is also a very important criterion from the farmers'
perspective.
The FSR unit in Zimbabwe
Organization of the Unit

The specific objectives of the Farming System Research (FSR) Unit in the Department of Research and
Specialist Services (DR & SS) are to study mixed crop and livestock production systems in the communal
areas, to adapt, develop and test on-farm improved crop and livestock production technologies and
systems; and to provide information for the formulation of agricultural development policies for the
communal areas (FSR 1985).

The FSR staff consists of one agricultural economist (team leader), two livestock scientists, two
agronomists, eight research assistants and four field hands under the overall co-ordination of the Deputy
Director of DR & SS. The five-member core team, which is stationed at DR & SS Head Office in Harare,
is technically responsible for designing or adapting research strategies, methodologies and programmes
of work and for guiding, supporting and participating with the field teams in the implementation. One
member of the Head Office team has also been assigned the task of co-ordinating technical and resource
inputs for and monitoring the activities in each of the two selected communal areas.

A field team, consisting of a research technician, two agricultural assistants and two field hands, has been
permanently assigned to each area. Their duties include selecting suitable research sites and farmers,
conducting farming systems surveys and monitoring studies, and implementing research trials as well as
continuous liaison with farmers to obtain feedback on proposed interventions and, as they develop
competence, participating in the analysis and interpretation of research results.

The contribution of institute or station research scientists of DR & SS to the FSR Programme has been
substantial in that they have provided reviews of past research on key topics or problem areas, have
assisted in assessing farmer situations and identifying research opportunities in situ, have participated in
designing research trials, and are planning to establish on-station trials which have been identified as
priorities for component technology development. The close interaction between the FSR staff and staff
scientists in the various DR & SS activities has resulted in a better understanding of FSR philosophy and
strategies and in a mutually beneficial working relationship.

An interesting feature of the model is the active participation of the extension staff and organized
communal groups in the research programme. Extension staff usually help with designing and carrying out
diagnostic activities. Additionally, to cover a large number of households while saving on travelling time
and costs, trial sites in each research area are clustered on the basis of extension workers and their
farmer groups, given particular soil climatic and farmer characteristics. Extension staff participate in
discussions on farmers' problems, research progress and research diagnosis, extension workers accept
responsibility for establishing and monitoring farmer-managed trials and conducting pre-planting
demonstrations for farmers before the start of the cropping season. An added dimension of extension
participation in FRS is the contribution of the social science experts in planning and implementing
household and community decision-making studies.

The international research centres, ILCA, CIMMYT and IDRC have a special role to play in terms of
providing experienced scientists whose aim is to complement and build on FSR in the Department of
Research and Specialist Services (DR & SS). They provide technical expertise in methodological
approaches and subject matter-staff training and documentation services. The participation of all these
organizations has been co-ordinated to focus almost exclusively on the felt needs and priorities of the
FSR Programme.

Methodological steps

The FSR Unit carried out the following activities in 1984 which demonstrate the methodological steps
followed in designing the 1984/85 programme:

1. Organization FSR;
2. Review past research;
3. Selection of areas;
4. Informal survey;
5. Screening interventions;
6. Formal surveys;
7. FSR meetings.
A summary of the specific objectives pursued and procedures employed in each activity follows.

Review of past research

This review covered a series of specific topics: national development policies and priorities, the role and
ownership patterns of livestock, communal grazing practices and schemes, nutrition and
supplementation, as well as health conditions and management, genetic potential of local breeds and
crosses, and livestock marketing and markets. Although livestock production systems were particularly
emphasized because of the general lack of information in this regard, information on crop productivity and
constraints was reviewed, particularly the previous FSR work under the Agronomy Institute. For the FSR
meeting in September, station researchers prepared three research review papers on topics of critical
importance to the communal-area production systems: veld management, cattle manure utilization for
crop production, and moisture harvesting and conservation techniques.

Area Selection and Description

Three major sets of area selection criteria were identified and used, namely: the ecological and physical
conditions of communal areas in the country, the biological and economic potential for both crop and
livestock production systems, and the managerial or logistic conditions for setting up a research base.
From a total of four suggested areas, Chibi and Mangwende were selected, representing low- and high-
potential areas, respectively.

Informal Survey

A one-week informal survey was conducted in each area. Crop and livestock research and extension
specialists familiarized themselves with the areas and interviewed and discussed with a wide diversity of
farmers to obtain a broad view of the existing farming systems. The specialists worked intensively in small
inter-disciplinary teams and rotated on a daily basis to provide ample opportunity to discuss and analyse
critical problems faced by the farmers from different personal (within discipline and disciplinary (across
disciplines) perspectives). Their findings resulted in a tentative list of research proposals defining potential
technological interventions within all the major components of the farming systems.

Screening/selection of Technological Interventions

To evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of specific interventions resulting from step 3 above,
the FSR would be attempting to overcome and the target group of farmers likely to benefit from such
interventions. They were classified into constraints at the levels of the household, crop component and
livestock component. Within and across class, they were organized into a cause and effect hierarchy. For
example, within the livestock component, poor digestibility of feeds results in insufficient consumption of
feeds and this results in low animal weight gains. Another example, across components, is that
inadequate quantity and quality of feeds causes low calving rates which causes small herd sizes which
causes poor access to draught and low quantity of manure for crop production, and both results in low
productivity of land, thereby resulting in the household problems of cash shortage, unstable cash
hierarchical levels within the farming systems becomes the initial method of analysing technical options.

The previous exercise sets the stage for identifying the opportunities to intervene in the system, which
constitutes the fundamental objective of this exercise. Firstly, the FSR Team attempted to describe on
which constraints and in what manner (direct or indirect) each research intervention (if results were
satisfactory and applied successfully) should be having an impact (positive or negative). Secondly, for
each research intervention, the probable advantages (benefits for farmers) and disadvantages (conflicts)
were identified. The team gave special attention to conflicts with existing on-farm (objectives of farmers,
on- and off-farm enterprises, resources), community (tenure arrangements, organization) and exogenous
conditions (markets for inputs and products, availability and prices of inputs) which would likely arise from
effecting the proposed changes. Thus far, no quantification of these aspects had been done (see Table
2).

Formal Surveys

A special purpose survey of 76 farmers, approximately two-thirds of whom were well aware of the crop-
trial programme, was conducted in Mangwende to assess crop production technologies that were tested
for the area, namely tine and herbicide use for maize production.

Another survey was conducted to consult farmers on more appropriate technological interventions and
important assumptions made for the analysis in step 4, and to determine to what extent their reactions are
conditioned by selected farmer characteristics, available resources and productive activities. A five-page
pre-tested questionnaire was used to interview 131 and 108 farmers in Chibi and Mangwende,
respectively. The farmers were selected following a stratified (extension-worker areas, village within area,
and households within village) and systematic (every unit) or random procedure which was considered
appropriate for drawing a representative sample from the entire geographical area.

FSR meetings

A total of 36 Mangwende workers participated in a four-day meeting to evaluate the results of the crop
production trials of the 1983/84 season and to plan a preliminary programme for the 1984/85 season It
was proposed that maize, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sorghum, and finger millet trials be
established in 66 sites in Mangwende and that extension workers be directly involved in roughly 50% of
these trials.

A meeting with DR & SS researchers, AGRITEX officers, and other Zimbabwean and international
organization researchers was held in Harare. The purpose of the meeting was to set out the on-farm
research proposals, and to analyse them in detail to obtain feedback from the participants. Specific
suggestions for improving proposed designs, the identification of other on-farm and on-station research,
and relevant information from past research and/or other projects were being sought. During the
deliberations the need to consider at all times farmer's priorities and conditions was emphasized.

Farmer Target Grouping and Policy Recommendations

At every step in the process described above, decisions and assumptions were being made on the basis
of the actual on-farm, community and exogenous conditions or on the basis of possible changes that
could be effected therein. It was essential to record them for two reasons. Firstly, such decisions and
assumptions define the target group of farmers (e.g. farmers with and without draught cattle, farmers with
and without fallow arable land) for whom each technical intervention is being designed and therefore with
whom interventions should be tested. Results of the testing phase will further refine the definition of the
target groups. Secondly, the set of "possible" changes which is assumed in the design phase and
becomes necessary to promote adoption after successful testing, defines the basis for interphasing FSR
with the political or policy setting entities. In other words, researchers can also be very precise as to what
non-technical elements need to be asessed or changed (credit, markets, roads, etc.) to promote particular
innovations among farmers. These should be formulated into policy recommendations for communal area
development.

This particular model of FSR in DR & SS was negotiated and defined according to the peculiar
circumstances prevailing in Zimbabwe, namely the strength and tradition of the agricultural research
organization, the DR & SS commitment to FSR, the objective/commitment of the international centres and
the present socio-economic and organizational conditions in the communal areas.

Table 2. Identification of possible positive and negative effects of introducing fodder legumes on
arable land into the farming system

Affected Farmers with permanent cropping practice Farmers with fallow practice (fallow =
resource or uncultivated arable land)
activity Positive Negative Positive Negative

Labour Less labour required for land Labour required for

preparation at establishment establishment
No labour required for harvesting
(grazing)
Land use/soil Nitrogen/root enrichment of soil Unused land
properly
covered
(reduced
erosion danger)
Nitrogen root
enrichment of
soils
Draught power Reduced draught power through Draught power required
use/requirement use of minimum tillage at for land preparation in
establishment year of establishment
No draught power requirements in
years 2+3
Crop production More labour input available for Reduced crop area Higher yield of Draught labour input
crops (e.g. quicker planting, better crop in year 1 available for crops in
weeding) after cultivation year of establishment
due to better
soil fertility
Higher yield of crap in year 1 of
recultivation (better soil fertility)
Animal More supplementary protein feed Less crop residues More
production available for cattle and other supplementary
ruminants, donkeys (stronger protein feed for
animals, reduced mortality, cattle and other
increased conception rates, ruminants
increased milk production) donkeys
Cash No cash requirements for seed Less cash income More cash Cash expenses for
income/expenses (and fertilizer) in year 2+3 from crop due to income from fertilizer and seed
reduced crop area higher yields in required
year 1 of
recultivation, or
More cash income from higher Less cash Additional cash
yields in year 1 or recultivation cc expenses in expenses for draught
less cash requirement for fertilizer year 1 of power in year of
in year 1 of recultivation due to recultivation for establishment for
soil fertility fertilizer due to farmers with no draught
better soil power
fertility
No cash requirement for draught Possibly more
power in year 2+3 for farmers cash income
with no draught power better fed
Possibly cash income from better animals
fed animals
Food supply to More milk available due to better It is assumed that the More milk
family cow nutrition reduced crop area available
More meat from small ruminants will not affect the More meat from
available due to better animal subsistence food small ruminants
nutrition supply available
Community More draught animals available Increase of herd More draught Increase of herd
due to increased herd sizes/stocking rates, animals sizes/stocking rates and
sizes/reduced mortality denudation of grazing available due to increased denudation of
land if off-take is not increased herd grazing land it off-take is
increased to the sizes/reduced not increased to the
same extent mortality same extent

Source: FSRU, Animal Report, 1984. Farming Systems Research Unit, Department of
Research and Special Services, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, and Rural Development,
Harare.

References
Banta, G.R. (1982). Asian cropping systems. Research Microeconomic evaluation procedures. IDRC,
Ottawa, Canada.

Byerlee, D. (1980). Planning technologies appropriate to farmers concepts and procedures. CIMMYT,
Mexico.

Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensentanza (CATIE). (1983). Investigacion en Sistems de

Produecion Animal: Informe Tecnico Final 1979-1983 del Proyecto CATIE - BID. Turrialba, Costa Rica.

Dillon, J.L., Plucknet, D.L. and Vallaeys, G.J. (1978). A review of farming system research at the
International Agricultural Research Centres CIAT, IITA, ICRISAT and IRRI. CGIAR-FAO.
Dillon, J. and Hardaker, B. (1980). Farm management research for small farm development. FAO
Agricultural Services Bulletin 41, Rome, Italy.

Farming System Research Unit (FSRU). (1985). FSRU Annual Report 1983/84. Department of Research
and Specialist Services. Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Development, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Fine, J.C. and Lattimore, R.C. (1981). Livestock in Asia: Issues and policies. IDRC, Ottawa, Canada.

Fitzhugh, H.A., Hart, R.D., Moreno, R.A., Osuji, P.O., Ruiz, M.E. and Singh, L. (eds.). (1982). Research
on crop-animal systems (Proceedings of a workshop). Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y
Ensenanza, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute and Winrock International,
Morrilton, Arkansas.

Gilbert, E.H., Norman, D.W. and Winch, F.E. (1980). Farming systems research: A critical appraisal. MSU
Rural Development Paper No. 6, Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, Mich.

Gryseels, G. and Anderson, F.M. (1983). Research on-farm and livestock productivity in the central
Ethiopian highlands: Initial results, 1977-80. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Hart, R.D. (1981). Las bases conceptuales del Sistema Agro-Silvo-Pastoril. Presentado en el Seminario
sobere Sistemas Agroforestales, del Pegueno Productor, VIII Reunion de ALPA, Republic Dominicana.

Huxley, P.A. and Wood, P.J. (undated). Technology and research considerations in ICRAF's "Diagnosis
and Design" procedures. Working Paper No. 26. ICRAF. Nairobi, Kenya.

Harwood, R.R. (1979). Small farm development: understanding and improving farming systems in the
humid tropics. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado.

Li Pun, and Zandstra H. (eds.). (1982). Informe del II Taller de Trabajo sobre Sistemas de Produccion
Animal Tropical. IDRC Manuscript Reports, 62s. Bogota, Colombia.

McDowell, R.E. and Hilderbrand, P.E. (1980). Integrated crop and animal production: Making the most of
resources available to small farms in developing countries. Working paper Series. The Rockefeller
Foundation, New York.

Perrin, R.K. and Anderson, (1976). From agronomic data to farmer recommendations: an economics
training manual. CIMMYT, Mexico City.

Roundtree, J.H. (1977). Systems thinking - Some fundamental aspects, Agricultural Systems 2: pp.-247-
254.

Ruiz, M.E. and Li Pun, H. (eds.). (1983). Informe de la III Reunion de Trebajo sobre Sistemas de
Produccion Animal Tropical. IDRC Manuscript Reports 90s. Bogota, Colombia.

Shaner, W.W., Philipp, P.F. and Schmehl, W.R. (1982). Farming Systems Research and Development:
Guidelines for developing Countries. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Simmonds, N.W. (1984). The state of the art of farming systems research. Consultant's Report for
Agriculture and Rural Development Department, World Bank. Washington, D.C.

Van Dyne, G.M. and Abramsky, Z. (1975). Agricultural systems models and modelling: An overview. In
G.E. Dalton (ed.). The Study of Agricultural Systems. London: Applied Science Publishers.

Zandstra, H.G., Price, E.C., Litsinger, J.A. and Norris R.A. (1981). A methodology for on-farm cropping
systems research. The International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines.

  
   

Rapportuer's report on session III - Socio-economics aspects

A.R. MacLaurin

In order for useful economic analyses to be done, it was necessary to closely identify and
define the system within which the analyses is made. This meant that there was an urgent
need for more and/or better co-operation between specialists in different disciplines. At times
this can result in the formal setting up of farming systems research teams. However, this has
often been strictly crop oriented although Zimbabwe and Ethiopia recognise the need to
incorporate the animal component, particularly with respect to forage and/or livestock
research. It was generally felt that data bases were weak and FSR teams can help to alleviate
this and help define research priorities.

The way in which FSR can be conducted was outlined and clearly showed the need for close
team and farmer-researcher interaction. Cognisance of the farmer-system interaction needs to
be made. It was pointed out that small-scale farmers are by nature subsistence farmers and
will not adopt strategies or interact if they are put at risk.

For innovations to be effective they should require low inputs, which do not upset the stable
system, and produce improved increments. Innovations should not upset the system and
should lead to sustained changes.

A number of different ways of performing economic analyses were illustrated and clearly
showed the need to closely define the system and what assumptions need to be made.
Biological and climatic limitations and levels must be defined. Caution was expressed over the
use of surveys in defining parameters, particularly with regard to cash flows and labour use
and requirements.

In many places, there are FSR teams working in isolation. These should be induced to co-
operate both nationally and on an interdisciplinary basis. Where possible formalization of
linkages should occur and possibly national approaches developed. However, it was felt that
FSR teams should not become too institutionalized.

Where FSR-extension-researcher-farmer linkages are weak, care should be taken not to

adopt downward approaches (such as "on a ladder") but have an equally interactive basis as
illustrated:

Where FSR teams are testing new technologies on-farm, they should not be too cautious in
trying their innovations, which should not only be applicable in the present: but also future
contexts. It was generally felt that payment for use of farmer resources should not be done
lest it set a precedent, but this would depend on individual cases.

Extension - Farmer - Researcher

  
   

Legumes in forage research programmes for small-scale

livestock producers
John R. Lazier

FLAG, ILCA, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract
Introduction
Methods of legume introduction into farming systems
Availability of germplasm for research

Abstract
The emphasis in research for small-scale livestock producers should be on fitting legumes into
existing farming systems by means of-such techniques as intercropping, undersowing,
hedges, alley-cropping, cut and carry and reserved grazing. Multipurpose legumes warrant
particular attention. Genera of potential value for use in small farms, and which are available
for testing from ILCA, are given together with information on the environments to which they
are adapted.

Introduction
Forage research in the tropics has traditionally emphasized the oversowing of natural
grasslands with legumes and the planting of grass-legume pastures. There are good reasons
for these approaches. There are large areas of natural grassland in Africa where conditions
are unsuitable for cropping and which support mainly livestock. Improved productivity on these
lands would, in many countries, significantly increase the productivity of the national herd.
However, vigorous and persistent legumes have yet to be identified which can significantly
increase grassland productivity under the generally prevailing African conditions of low fertility,
low rainfall, poor management and overstocking.

Mixed grass-legume pastures for more intensive, commercial farming conditions have also
received considerable research attention. The legumes are grown in mixtures with grass
because a pure legume sward will not persist being quickly invaded by weeds due to the
increasing soil fertility under the legumes. Such mixed swards, once established, can maintain
comparatively high levels of productivity with relatively small labour and fertilizer inputs.

There are factors, however, which indicate that grass-legume mixtures are not the best way of
increasing livestock productivity for small-scale farmers. The farmer may not have sufficient
land to use for longer term pasture and he may not be prepared to alienate land from
cropping, even for a few years, despite the improvements that would occur in soil fertility. In
addition, vigorous, stable species combinations which persist are difficult to identify and fairly
careful grazing management is often necessary to prevent one component from dominating
the pasture. Vigorous legumes are usually identified by researchers long before vigorous
grass-legume combinations are identified and their management needs defined, and there is
thus a gap of some years between the identification of a productive legume and its
introduction. Frequently the final research stages are never accomplished and thus the legume
is never introduced at all.

Thus the rapid introduction of legume forage to small farmers is unlikely to be accomplished
by the oversowing of natural grasslands or by the establishment of grass-legume pastures.

Methods of legume introduction into farming systems

The small-scale farmers who are most likely to respond to the introduction of legumes as
fodder are those who have restricted area for grazing and farming, are dependent on milk and
milk products for food and cash and who also cut and carry fodder and have good markets for
their animal products.

There are a number of ways in which legumes can be effectively introduced into small-scale
farming stems. The effective method or methods will be dependent on the individual farmer,
the farming system, the adapted legumes, and the germplasm screened. Some of the more
important methods of introduction will be briefly described and some of the legumes identified
by ILCA as being of potential value will be listed. Summaries of the promising genera, their
environments of adaptation and their areas of usefulness are presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

Natural Legume Resources

Frequently there are natural leguminous resources available to the farmer and these can be
further developed (Tables 1,2 and 3). In some environmental zones such resources have
been critical elements in the farming systems. Natural Acacia woodlands, for example, are
used as grazing lands in drier environments. The Acacia enhance grass growth in the wet
season, and prolong its growth into the dry season. The Acacia leaves and pods provide
significant amounts of high-quality dry-season fodder and thus animals are maintained in
reasonable condition through the dry season. At Abernosa Ranch in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia,
for example, cattle grazing Acacia woodlands have liveweight gains which are only slightly
reduced during the seven month dry season. For male and female Boran cattle gains of 713
and 500 g/day in the wet season and 643 and 456 g/day in the dry season have been
recorded (Daboba, personal communication).

There are traditional farming systems in the Sudano-Sahelian zone which utilize A. albida, tall
trees which are leafless in the wet season. Farming is done directly under them and the crops
are thus able to benefit from the improved soil conditions under the tree canopies.

In areas of higher rainfall and where A. albida is not common, the Acacia trees are thinned
and the remaining scattered natural trees are cut back to the main trunk (pollarded)
periodically to provide wood for fuel and construction and dry-season fodder.

These valuable resources are frequently destroyed by land clearing and for short-term gains
for firewood or charcoal. Research and extension workers should encourage the maintenance
and controlled utilization of existing stands, and their re-establishment where they have been
destroyed. Research is badly needed to quantify their contribution to productivity.

Herbaceous legumes can also be an important natural legume resource. In the Wolayta region
of Ethiopia, an area of high population density with little available grazing land, cut-and-carry
feeding of cattle is commonly practiced. Native herbaceous legume (Zornia, Stylosanthes,
Desmodium, Neonotonia, etc.) are collected by hand and fed to animals to increase milk
yields and improve butter quality. In their search for adapted legume germplasm researchers
should not neglect the possibility of enhancing the production of native species and
genotypes, particularly those with which farmers are already familiar.

Traditional Legume Crops

In some communities leguminous crops are used as animal feed. It is a common practice for
residues of pulse crops to be fed to animals in the dry season. In some cases the crop may be
planted solely as animal feed, for example Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) in the Sudano-
Sahelian zone of West African. Various species of Erythrina are commonly planted in the
middle-altitude regions of Ethiopia for fencing, and/or dry-season fodder. This plant is
apparently unpalatable in the wet season, but quite palatable in the dry season.

Researchers should look carefully at the methodologies which farmers have developed and
look for ways of enhancing the use of these traditionally developed resources.

Small plots for cut-and-carry Feeding

Small plots of perennial legumes for cut-and-carry feeding of selected classes of stock are
particularly appropriate for small-scale farmers. While these plots may have the disadvantage
of requiring inputs such as weeding and fertilization, they permit the utilization of a large group
of very productive plants which are not normally utilized for cut-and-carry feeding due to their
high palatability or sensitivity to mechanical damage by trampling. Viney plants are particularly
susceptible to damage by trampling and there are many vigorous and palatable species
belonging to the genera Centrosema, Vigna, Phaseolus and Rhynchosia which have potential
for cut and carry. In order to encourage rapid regrowth of viney plants, leaves can be stripped
from the stems or a generous residual amount of stem can be left on cutting. Almost all
leguminous forage genera have some potential for use as cut-and-carry, although the bulkier
browse, shrub, sub-shrub and viney species are most useful.

Table 1. Perennial legume genera of forage potential for small-scale farming

Genus Spmecies Origin Potential Morphology Rainfall Altitude USES

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Alysicarpus 2 A G Herbs Moderate- Medium- x x

high high
Calopogonium 2 E G Vines Moderate- Low x x x
high
Canavalia 2 E E Vines Low- Low- x x
moderate medium
Centrosema 7 E F-E Vines Low-high Low- x x x
medium
Clitoria 1 A G Vines Moderate Low- x x
medium
Desmodium 6 E F-E Herbs/vines Moderate- Low- x x x x x
high medium
Lablab 1 A G Herbs Low-high Low- x x
medium
Lotononis 1 A E Herbs Moderate Medium x
Lotus 3 A G Herbs Moderate? Medium- x x
high?
Macroptilium 3 E G Vines Moderate Low- (x) x x
medium
Macrotyloma 1 A E Vines Moderate Medium (x) x x x
Medicago 1 E E Herbs Moderate- Low- x x x
high medium
Neonotonia 1 A E Vines Moderate Medium (x) x x
Rhynchosia 3 AE G Vines Moderate Medium x x
Stylosanthes 8 AE F-E Herbs (low) Low- x x x x (x) x
moderate medium
Trifolium 5 AE E-G Herbs Moderate Medium- x x x
high
Teramnus 1 A G? Herbs Moderate Medium- (x) (x)
high
Vigna 3 E G Vines Moderate- Low- x x
high medium
Zornia ? AE F-G Herbs Low-high Low- x x x
medium

Table 2. Annual legume genera with forage potential for small-scale farming

Genus Species Origin Potential Morphology Rainfall Altitude USES

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Alysicarpus 2 A G Herbs Moderate Medium-high x x

Arachis 3 A G? Herbs Moderate Low- x x
medium(?)
Cassia 1 E F Herbs Low Low-medium x x
Neonotonia 1 E G Herbs Moderate Low-medium x x
Macrotyloma 1 A F Herbs Low- Low-medium x x
moderate
Phaseolus 3 AE F-E Herbs/vines Low-high Low-high x x x x
sp.
Pisum 1 AE G Vines Moderate- High x x
high
Stylosanthes 1 E F Herbs Moderate- Low-medium x x
low
Tephrosia 2 A F Herbs Moderate- Medium-high x x
high
Trifolium 6 A G-E Herbs Moderate- Medium-high x x x
high
Vicia 2 A E Vines Moderate- (Medium) high x x x x
high
Vigna 1 A E Vines Low low-medium x x x
Zornia 1 A F Herbs Moderate Medium x x x

Table 3. Browse species with forage potential for small-scale farming

Genus Species Origin Potential Morphmology Rainfall Altitude USES

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Cajanus 1 AE E Shrub Low-high Low-medium x x x x x

Codariocalyx 1 E E Shrub Moderate- Low-medium x x x x
high
Desmanthus 1 E G Shrub Low-high Low-medium x x x x x
Desmodium 3 E G-E Shrub Moderate- Low-medium x x x x
high
Erythrina 2 A E Tree (Low)-high (Low)-high x x x x
Gliricidia 1 AE E Tree Moderate- Low-medium x x x x
high
Leucaena 9 E E Tree Moderate- Low-(high) x x x x
high
Medicago 1 E F Shrub Low- Low-medium x x x x
moderate
Prosopis 6 E ? Shrub Low Low- x x x x
medium?
Sesbania 3 AE E Tree Moderate- Low-medium x x x x x
high

Key for Tables 1,2,3

Species: Number of species

Origin: A African, E Exotic

Potential: Fair, Good, Excellent, suspected

Rainfall: Low, <800; moderate 800-1,200, high >1,200 mm per annum

Altitude: Low <1,500; medium 1,500-2,000, high >2,000 (at 9 degrees)

Use:

1. pure sward grazed

2. grass-legume mixture grazed
3. reserve fodder
4. inter-crop
5. catch crop
6. under crop
7. cut and carry
8. food and fodder
9. on low potential land

Reserved grazing

Areas of pure or mixed grass-legume swards can be reserved for feeding selected productive
classes of animals year-round or during the dry season. These protein or fodder banks are
grazed for brief periods daily. The legumes are usually perennial and thus must be drought
resistant and unaffected by trampling, although their palatability can be high as the grazing
pressure can be controlled. Such areas would normally be larger than those reserved for cut
and carry and fencing may be required, although labour inputs would be lower. Useful species
and genera for reserved grazing include Pueraria phaseoloides, Stylosanthes, spp.
Macroptilium atropurpureum and Zornia spp.

Undersowing in perennial cash crops

There may be opportunities for the sowing of a leguminous ground cover under perennial tree
or shrub crops. In the Wolayta region of Ethiopia, for example, the weeds growing beneath
coffee and ensete (false banana, a carbohydrate food crop) are cut and fed to livestock.
Desmodium intortum has proved to be well adapted to growing under these crops, and is
beginning to be planted by farmers for providing better quality fodder as well as providing
nitrogen for the cash crop.

Intercropping in annual crops

Legumes can be sown between rows of annual crops. They can be sown at the same time as
the crop if they do not compete too strongly with its growth. If they do compete, the farmer
may be prepared to cut them back and feed them during the early growing season, or,
alternatively, may plant the legume two to four weeks after the cash crop. Perennial and late-
maturing annual legumes would then continue to grow after maturation of the main crop,
producing additional fodder.

Perennials which can persist through the dry season are particularly useful as they will
produce some growth in response to any showers during the dry season and this growth can
be grazed as standing hay or used for cut-and-carry fodder. In the following growing season
the farmer will have a number of options in the management of his perennial legume. These
are to:

(i) cut back the legumes sufficiently severely or frequently to allow rapid
establishment of the cash crop;

(ii) allow the legume to regrow and seed after the dry season to provide a
permanent cut-and-carry or grazed plot;

(iii) remove the permanent legume stand after a period of years, or cut it back, and
plant a regular crop to take advantage of the additional nutrients fixed by the
legume.

ILCA has had success intercropping S. guianensis cv. Cook, Macrotyloma axillare and Lablab
purpureus in Ethiopia and S. hamata cv. Verano in Nigeria near Kaduna. The annual vine
Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) is widely and traditionally intercropped in the Sudan zone.

Catch crop

Legumes which have a short a short life-cycle may have a place as a crop in seasons with
unrealiable rainfall, or when planted during or after the maturity of the main growing-season
crops to take advantage of residual soil moisture and late rains.

Short-lived annuals adapted to dry conditions which could be useful as catch crops are
Macrotyloma uniflorum and Phaseolus acutifolius.

Hedge plantings

Browse species may play an important role in small farms for they can provide natural fencing,
fuel, construction material, food and fodder. They may be planted around fields and houses in
rows or broadcast in pastures, or in rows in cropped land (alley farming) where the leaves can
be used as a fertilizer or mulch, cut and carried as feed, and grazed in situ during fallow
periods. Leucaena, Cajanus, Gliricidia, Sesbania and Erythrina are among the more widely
planted species.

Low-potential areas

While small farmers will usually not have control of extensive areas of rough land or eroded,
infertile areas, even small areas may provide significant additional fodder. Legumes are
commonly good pioneer plants. The appropriate legume may be exotic or native and should
have a weedy, hardy character. Townsville stylo (S. humilis) is a well known Australian
example of an exotic which naturalized and spread on infertile and degraded soils which were
unsuitable for cropping. In Ethiopia the native legume S. fruticosa is often the major
component of vegetation on eroded areas in certain environmental zones.

Multipurpose crops
A forage plant is much more likely to be attractive to a farmer whose land area is limited if it
has more than one use. As has already been mentioned, browse species commonly have
multiple uses and there is also a broad range of herbaceous annual legumes whose seeds
are used for human food while the stovers are used for fodder. The genus Phaselous contains
many of these and within the species P. vulgaris there is a tremendous range of growth forms.
P. vulgaris is of American origin and this species is traditionally intercropped with maize. The
larger bushy or climbing forms not only produce more fodder, but also more seed. Other
species of actual or potential value for Africa include cowpea (V. unguiculata), lablab, pigeon
pea (Cajanus cajan), wing bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and groundnut (Arachis
hypogea).

Availability of germplasm for research

ILCA is in the process of establishing a Forage Genetic Resources Section in the Forage
Legume Agronomy Unit (FLAG). Currently there are about 8,000 accessions in the collection
of African and exotic legume, grass and browse species which have been collected or
acquired by the section. These include tropical, sub-tropical, Mediterranean and temperate
germplasm. Considerable effort has been put into building a computerized database on
passport and site-of-accession environmental data and some of these data are available to
researchers in the ILCA Forage Germplasm Catalogue in order that they may ensure selection
of germplasm which is appropriate for specific environments. Seeds are multiplied by the
section for long-term storage and for provision to researchers.

Because of space considerations most experimental lines are only multiplied to a level of
3,000 seeds to cater for the needs of researchers. Thus only up to 30 seeds can be provided
of these lines and researchers must multiply the seed themselves before being able to plant
them in trials. Promising experimental and commercial lines are continuously multiplied in
small plots and, depending on the quantity of seed available, usually 0.5 g of seed would be
available on request, with larger quantities of up to 50 g being available for some commercial
lines. These quantities are sufficient for simple screening trials.

The FLAG Unit also has many types of experimental designs available, particularly those for
germplasm screening which will utilize minimal amounts of seed. Requests for seed and
experimental designs should be forwarded to the Leader, FLAG, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa.

  
 List of participants
BOTSWANA

Mr. D.R. Chandler

Animal Production Research Unit
Ministry of Agriculture
P.O. Box 69
Lobatse

Mr. H. Makobo
Animal Production Research Unit
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
P. Bag 003
Gaberone

BURUNDI

Mr. M. Banzira
ISABU
B.P. 795
Bujumbura

ETHIOPIA

Dr. J.R. Lazier

Forage Legume Agronomy Group
ILCA
P.O. Box 5689
Addis Ababa

Dr. F.M. Anderson

Ethiopian Highlands Programme
ILCA
P.O. Box 5689
Addis Ababa

Ato Alemayehu Mengistu

Ministry of Agriculture
Animal Feeds and Nutrition
P.O. Box 62291
Addis Ababa

KENYA

Dr. D.M. Thairu

National Dryland Farming Research Station
Katumani
P.O. Box 340
Machakos
Dr. S. Tessema
National Dryland Farming Research Station
Katumani
P.O. Box 340
Machakos

Dr. J.F.M. Onim

SR-CRSP
P.O. Box 252
Maseno

Dr. A.N. Mukhebi

SR-CRSP
P.O. Box 252
Maseno

Mr. P.P. Semenye

SR-CRSP
P.O. Box 252
Maseno

Prof. A.N. Said

Department of Animal Production
University of Nairobi
Kabete Campus
P.O. Box 29053
Nairobi

Dr. H.L. Potter

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
P.O. Box 21
Kikuyu

Dr. Margaret Wanyoike

Department of Animal Production
University of Nairobi
Kabete Campus
P.O. Box 29053
Nairobi

Dr. A. Abate
Department of Animal Production
University of Nairobi
Kabete Campus
P.O. Box 29053
Nairobi

Prof. J.A. Kategile

IDRC
P.O. Box 62084
Nairobi

Dr. Kassu Yilala

Department of Animal Production
University of Nairobi
Kabete Campus
 P.O. Box 29053
Nairobi

Dr. G.C.J. Voskel

Dairy Development Project
Ministry of Agriculture and
Livestock Development
P.O. Box 30028
Nairobi

Dr. B.A. Keating

Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
P.O. Box 41567
Nairobi

Mr. W.M. Beattie

ACIAR
P.O. Box 41567
Nairobi

MADAGASCAR

Dr. J.H. Rasambainarivo

Department de Recherches Zootechniques et Veterinaires
Ampandrianomby, B.P. 4
Antananarivo

Mr. M. Honsel
GTZ
Department de Recherches Zootechniques et Veterinaires
Ampandrianomby, B.P. 4
Antananarivo

MALAWI

Dr. B.H. Dzowela

Department of Agriculture Research
P.O. Box 158
Lilongwe

Dr. J.T.K. Munthali

Department of Agriculture Research
P.O. Box 158
Lilongwe

MOZAMBIQUE

Dr. J. Timberlake
FAO Range Survey/Livestock Production
Instito Nacional de Investigaco Agronomica
C.P. 3658
Maputo

NIGERIA

Dr. S. Adeoye
 ILCA-Humid Zone Programme
c/o IITA
P.M.B. 5320
Ibadan

SWAZILAND

Dr. B.H. Ogwang

University of Swaziland
Malkerns

TANZANIA

Dr. G.I. Mlay

Rural Economy Department
Faculty of Agriculture
Sokoine University of Agriculture
P.O. Box 3004
Morogoro

Dr. N.A. Urio

Animal Science Department
Faculty of Agriculture
Sokoine University of Agriculture
P.O. Box 3004
Morogoro

Prof. A.B. Lwoga

Faculty of Agriculture
Sokoine University of Agriculture
P.O. Box 3004
Morogoro

UGANDA

Dr. Charles P. Anyii

Department of Agriculture
Serere Research Station
Pasture Unit
P.O. Soroti

ZIMBABWE

Dr. M. Avila
Department of Research and Specialist Services
P.O. Box 8108
Causeway
Harare

Dr. J.N. Clatworthy

Grassland Research Station
P.O. Box 3701
Marondera

Mr. A.R. MacLaurin

Crop Science Department
University of Zimbabwe
P.O. Box 167
Mount Pleasant
Harare