aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

Table 5. Napier production on-farm at different stages of cutting.
Zone Cutting Interval Height of cut DM Number
(days)
Muheza 46
39
51
Maramba 52
56
50
61
Tanga 61
76
50
The package of technologies included planting of
pasture, attendance at a two-week training
course on the basics of dairy farming, construction
of a cow shed, purchase of inputs such
as acaricide and minerals, enrolment in a dairy
farmers' organisation and the payment of
transport for the in-calf dairy heifer. All these
preparatory activities were financed by the
individual farmers. The in-calf heifer was
delivered only after it had been purchased,
either for cash or on credit,
Tkh airst group involved in the SDEP programmie
consisted of retired government officers,
rural businessmen, government officials and
other people employed in the urban area.
Unfortunately, this category ofdairy farmers did
not see the necessity ofadhering to the extension
package. Some ofthem obtained their foundation
stock from other sources. Farmers who could
obtain heifers only through the programme had
to follow the prescribed conditions. However,
while farmers initially planted Napier or
Guatemala grass pastures, the pasture plots
were neglected after receiving t, beifer,
indicatingthatfarmerswerenotconvincedofthe
necessity of maintaining a pasture plot. Most of
the pastures Y,, glected were in areas where
natural grasses were abundant for most of the
year.
A survey conducted in October 1986 revealed
that 40% of dairy smallholders had an
alternative source of income, either from
(government) employment or bus;ness. The
remaining 60% were full-time farmers. After the
introduction of the credit programme the
proportion of full-time farmers increased to
about 80%.
Constraints on dairy development
Project implementation in the Tanga region was
hindered by the poor soils found in some
districts, the unreliable and markedly seasonal
(cm) (kg/ha per year) of cuts
121 4477 5
97 4546 6
99 1662 6
108 2079 7
89 2383 3
98 2363 1
127 3661 6
105 2596 2
123 2803 5
87 3063 5
161
rainfall, erratic supplies of Pnimal feeds (which
fluctuated in both quant.ty and quality),
underdeveloped infrastructure, e.g. roads and
hence poor market outlr ts.
These problems were compounded by
inadequate budgeting for both recurrent and
development costs in the dairy subsector.
The low genetic potential of animals,
inadequate supplies of feeds, lack of relevant
skills and disease incidences were the main
technical constraints. As in other tropical
environments, the most suitable grade dairy
cattle should have between 50 and 75% exotic
blood (Bos taurus) for optimal production
combined with resistance to disease and
adaptability to harsh climatic conditions.
Research elsewhere clearly indicates that
crossbred co s under good management are the
best producers. Although breed variations do
exist within the crossbred cattle, experience
from Tanga shows that the Friesian-zebu-Boran
three-way cross is the best producer. All F1 and
F2 crosses are from the heifer breeding farm in
the region. The preferred exotic semen for
upgrading is Friesian. The production of
crossbred cattle on-farm ranges from 2 kg to 28
kg/cow per day, indicating wide variations in
management and genotypes.
Feeds and nutrition
Native pasture and planted Napier grass
(Pennisetum purpureum) or Guatemala gra.is
(Tripsacum laxum) were the main forages
available to dairy cattle. However, maize bran,
cottonseed cakes, copra cake, coconut cake,
sunflower and sun-dried leaves of Leucaena
leucocephala are abundantly available in some
districts. When these feeds are given in the right
combination, production increases significantly.
The chemical composition of the common feeds
is given in Table 6; quality is apparently very
good.