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

government centre between 1935 and 1990
(DPR, 1989). Therefore the multiplication of the
Simmental crosses is picking up well.
Each participating farmer made his own
decision in terms of land preparation, planting,
weeding, harvesting and allocation of land for
various crops. The predominant crops were
sorghum and millet intercropped with either
cowpeas or water melons. The project succeeded
in convincing participating farmers to allocate
one hectare of land for fodder (Lablabpurpureus)
production. Here fodder production has become
a major component of the cropping system
(Boitumelo et al, 1991).
The feeding system is practically oriented and
hence based on local feed resources i.e. winter
(dry season) feeding using conserved crop
stovers, legume fodders and sorghum bran
(moroko) and summer (wet-season) feeding on
natural grazing. In a comparative winter-feeding
trial the dry-muttter intake values were not
different from t:e range recommended for
dual-purpose cattle.
The dry-season feeding ;.rategy using high
protein lablab legume fodc'er, planted and
harvested by farmers, fed in association with
crop by-products and post-ha vest residues has
been a significant interventior, in the small dairy
farms. All farmers harveptei and stored on the
average 34, 63; 28, 70; 113, 3, ;and 35, 26 tonnes
of dry matter of lablab and sorghum stover for
the 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88 and 1988/89
seasons, respectively (Boitumelo et al, 1991).
In terms of management, all farmers were
responsible for feeding and watering their cattle.
Some farmers milked the cows twice a day but
the majority milked once a day. Those
participating were provided with standard forms
to record the daily milk yield ofeach cow. Surplus
fresh milk or sour milk was sold to the nearby
villages.
Animal performance data indicated that
under similar nutritional and management
conditions Simmental crossbred cows produced
about twice more milk per lactation than Tswana
cows. Average milk produced per lactation
(average 250 days and 200 days) by breed for the
1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/58 and 1988/89 seasons
were 760, 338; 890, 319; 818, 474, and 988, 420
litres for Simmental crossbred and Tswana cows,
respectively (DPR, 1989). These quantities do
not include the portions suckled by the calves,
Average birth weighk,, for Simmental
crossbred calves (34 kg) wvere higher than for
Tswana calves (28 kg). At 12 months of age the
average liveweights for Simmental crossbred
calves and Tswana calves were 147 kg and 124
kg, respectively (DPR, 1987). This shows that the
crossbreds are also good beef producers.
Improved feeding, disease control and
management has resulted in overall better
condition of animals in the project area. For
example, in the 1985/86 season five Simmental
93
crossbred cows died, while in the 1986/87 season
seven crossbred cows and calves died. In the
1987/88 no cow n'ortality was recorded. This
trend shows a reduction in incidences of
mortality.
Problems or failures
The problems that have been isolated are mainly
related to feed procurement. Firstly, the major
constraint observed during harvesting and
conservation of lablab was the duration of time
required to dry the stems. Lablab leaves dry and
shatter within three days while it takes up to six
weeks for the stems to dry completely (DPR,
1988). Secondly, the labour required to harvest
sorghum stover is a constraint in that it affects
the quantity that can be harvested and
conserved by farmers (APRU, 1989).
Another problem relating to animal health
concerns several reported deaths had no known
causes. As a result it has not been easy to
adequately address the problem. Lack of
organised marketing outlets has also proved to
be a problem.
Evaluation of the research
programme
The increase in milk production by small-scale
pen-urban farmers has been a major objective of
the Ministry of Agriculture during the six-year
National Development Plan (Ministry ofFinance
and Dovelopment Planning, 1985). It was
thought that increased production in this sector
would not only increase local supplies for home
consumption but could also lead to surpluses
available for sale to the rapidly increasing urban
population. Therefore, the government policy
environment has been quite conducive to production.
The low performance of the dairy subsector
has been largely attributed to the lack of
technici expertise within the country. As a
consequence there emerged a big gap between
info-mation and extension packages and the
research and extension methodology needed for
bringing about increased productivity. Due to
this problem, technical support was offered by
the co-sponsors of the project who provided an
animal scientist to give expert advice. Provision
was also made to strengthen research capacity
by training a local young scientist and technician
in various dairy related fields. In recognition of
inadequate equipment, laboratory capacity,
transport etc funds were provided the project to
facilitate the procurement of these necessary
inputs.
Dairy production based on dual-purpose
c.ttle using the Simmental crosbred proved
promising and appropriate because it required
less intensive management skills than the pure
bred dairy breed. It could also produce
reasonable quantities of milk and be sold as a
beef animal.