CRP Livestock journal articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/80101

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 699

Heterogeneity of Resilience of Livelihood Strategies in Pastoral and Agropastoral Farming Systems of Rural Semi-arid to Arid Areas in Morocco
(Journal Article, 2022-01) Alary, Véronique; Caulfield, Mark E.; Amsidder, Lina; Juanes, Xavier; Boujenane, Ismaïl; Sraïri, Taher M.; Adams, Sam; Hammond, James; Wijk, Mark T. van
A large proportion of rural households, particularly in the dry land areas, representative for more than 10% of the world's land surface and up to 80% in Morocco, depend for their livelihoods on livestock. They exploit livestock's capacity to live in very harsh environments using herd-mobility at multiple scale level. Understanding the multiple contributions of livestock to the household and national economy raises complex research issues and challenges linked with the multitude of goods and services derived from livestock, their interactions with other family activities, and the local and national context. The objective of our research was therefore to analyse the diversity and assess the resilience of livelihood strategies of farming households oriented to livestock using a set of data collected in the dry land areas (oases and mountainous zones) of Morocco and discuss the livelihood outcome indicators. To achieve this, we have realized a cross-sectional analysis of livelihoods and adaptive capacity, to select a set of pertinent indicators. These indicators have been developed using an adapted version of the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) toolkit for pastoral and agropastoral household systems. Our results highlight the critical importance of livelihood diversification (off-farm diversification, livestock diversification, and crop diversification) in building household resilience and the livelihood outcomes. While livelihood strategies undoubtedly contribute to livelihood outcomes, there is also a critical iterative process, i.e., livelihood outcomes also influence the livelihood strategies at the farming households. The present work proposes an aggregated indicator of livelihood outcomes allowing us to capture the heterogeneity of living conditions of agropastoral systems by considering the main drivers of this system, i.e., mobility, livestock species, and physiological stage composition of the herd. This approach could constitute a valuable contribution to help fill the knowledge gaps that do not allow policy makers in developing contextualized rural development policies and instruments in these very harsh environments.
Pathways to Empowerment: Case Studies of Positive Deviances in Gender Relations in Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2023-03) Kinati, Wole; Temple, Elizabeth C.; Baker, A. Derek; Najjar, Dina
Development eforts have increased women’s perceived empowerment and free dom, yet have failed to sustainably alter gender norms. There is a lack of research investigating reasons for this anomaly. This study, departing from the conventional approach, tries to fll this gap by employing an interpretative phenomenological approach to assess how women have managed to achieve expanded agency while living within a constraining normative environment. We argue that women have the capacity to deviate and the intentions that lead to new behaviors emerge not only from individuals’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral con trol, as suggested by the Theory of Planned Behavior, but also in combination with demographic and economic factors. Individuals need to make decisions in three ar eas ―self-conviction (attitude and perceived behavioral control), subjective norms (within household and community), and structures (state and non-state institutions). The results shed light on alternative empowerment pathways that could potentially inform the design of transformational interventions.
Empowerment resources, decision-making and gender attitudes: which matter most to livestock keepers in the mixed and livestock-based systems in Ethiopia?
(Journal Article, 2022-12) Kinati, Wole; Baker, A. Derek; Temple, Elizabeth C.; Najjar, Dina; Mulema, Annet
Women's empowerment constitutes an important aspect of the development agenda. Although it is highly contextual in nature, empowerment literature so far has focussed on identifying factors associated with empowerment, neglecting the importance of understanding which empowerment resources and agency dimensions are more important for whom and under what contexts. This is important, because we cannot talk of empowerment for those who are not in a disempowered condition or who do not value it. We examine the gender differences in the relative valuations of empowerment resources and decision-making areas across different farming systems, and examine the most valued empowerment resources.
A simplified approach for producing Tier 2 enteric-methane emission factors based on East African smallholder farm data
(Journal Article, 2022) Ndung'u, Phyllis W.; Toit, C.J.L. du; Takahashi, T.; Robertson-Dean, M.; Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus; Merbold, Lutz; Goopy, John P.
Context. Accurate reporting of livestock greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is important in developing effective mitigation strategies, but the cost and labour requirements associated with on-farm data collection often prevent this effort in low- and middle-income countries. Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the precision and accuracy of simplified activity data collection protocols in African smallholder livestock farms for country-specific enteric-methane emission factors. Method. Activity data such as live weight (LW), feed quality, milk yield, and milk composition were collected from 257 smallholder farms, with a total herd of 1035 heads of cattle in Nandi and Bomet counties in western Kenya. The data collection protocol was then altered by substituting the actual LW measurements with algorithm LW (ALG), feed quality (FQ) data being sourced from the Feedipedia database, reducing the need for daily milk yield records to a single seasonal milk measurement (MiY), and by using a default energy content of milk (MiE). Daily methane production (DMP) was calculated using these simplified protocols and the estimates under individual and combined protocols were compared with values derived from the published (PUBL) estimation protocol. Key results. Employing the algorithm LW showed good agreement in DMP, with only a small negative bias (7%) and almost no change in variance. Calculating DMP on the basis of Feedipedia FQ, by contrast, resulted in a 27% increase in variation and a 27% positive bias for DMP compared with PUBL. The substitutions of milk (MiY and MiE) showed a modest change in variance and almost no bias in DMP. Conclusion. It is feasible to use a simplified data collection protocol by using algorithm LW, the default energy content of milk value, and seasonal single milk yield data, but full sampling and analysis of feed resources are required to produce reliable Tier 2 enteric-methane emission factors. Implications. Reducing enteric methane emissions from livestock is a promising pathway to reduce the effects of climate change, and, hence, the need to produce accurate emission estimates as a benchmark to measure the effectiveness of mitigation options. However, it is expensive to produce accurate emission estimates, especially in developing countries; hence, it is important and feasible to simplify on-farm data collection.
Mining and utilization of salinity tolerant legumes in tropical coastal agroecosystems: An overview
(Journal Article, 2022) Liu, Yiming; Atieno, Mary; Cardoso, Juan Andrés; Yang, Hubiao; Xu, Bin; Dong, Rongshu; Yang, Linling; Huang, Chunquiong; Huan, Hengfu; Yu, Daogeng; Douxchamps, Sabine; Liu, Guodao
Coastal saline soils are increasing year by year caused by climate change and human activities. Most of the coastal saline soils are idle due to their high salinity level and few crops can grow normally. Salinity tolerant legumes are naturally tolerant to salt, which can ecologically cover the coastal saline soil, enhance soil fertility by symbiotic nitrogen fixation and increase the smallholder farmers’ benefits in terms of forage, green manure, food or medicine. However, few reports are available for the systematic evaluation of salinity tolerant legumes. This review summarizes and evaluates currently available salinity tolerant legume species that could potentially be used and discusses their potential for integration into smallholder mixed coastal systems of the Asia-Pacific region. Fourty four salinity tolerant legumes were summarized, six of them showed a high level of salinity tolerance, 17 of them showed a moderate level of salinity tolerance and 21 of them showed potential salinity tolerance but need to be further studied. Many gaps such as combined tolerance evaluation, nitrogen fixation efficiency, animal feeding experiments and salinity tolerant rhizobia screening/inoculants exist. Case studies demonstrate legumes could be used to reclaim coastal saline soils, but commitment and support from government and public services are necessary to address both seed system and extension needs, through the provision of adequate incentives, policies and development efforts.
The politics of governing resilience: Gendered dimensions of climate-smart agriculture in Kenya
(Journal Article, 2022-06-07) Brisebois, Anouk; Eriksen, Siri H.; Crane, Todd A.
This paper uses climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Kenya as an empirical entry point for investigating how climate actions reshape or reinforce gender relations, and how they are aimed at improving local resilience that is nested in such relations. While enhancing national food security, CSA practices could however reproduce inequitable power relations, such as gendered authority relations that produce vulnerability and inequalities. Equity and knowledge represent particularly contested aspects of CSA because it largely fails to address who wins and who loses from such interventions, who are able to participate while others are excluded, and whose knowledge and perspectives count in decision-making processes. Gender relations provide a stark illustration of the way that CSA fails to address how enduring inequalities of access in both production and consumption shape who is rendered vulnerable to climate change and who is left food insecure. In this paper, we treat CSA projects as a site of tensions between stability and contestation of gender relations, brought into view through moments where practices and knowledges are (re)shaped. We first review the concepts of authority, recognition, and resilience as a framework to understand how gendered inequalities and struggles over rights to resources are perpetuated within adaptation and resilience responses to climate variability. We analyze evidence from past studies regarding rural adaptation processes and gender dimensions in CSA projects to identify how such projects may modify the space for renegotiating inequitable gender relations. We approach gender relations as authority relations that are constantly internalized, resisted, and contested through practices and interactions between different actors associated with CSA projects, and the different knowledges that direct these practices. The examination focuses on Kenya as an empirical context to gain sufficient depth in understanding the social and political processes in which climate actions and gender relations are nested, enabling us to identify key points of intersection within these two themes. In addition, gendered dimensions of rural resource governance and adaptation are relatively well-described in Kenya, providing lessons for how climate actions can become more gender-responsive.
Benefit of feeding Urochloa hybrid cultivar ‘Cobra’ on milk production in Tanzania
(Journal Article, 2022-09-30) Mwendia, Solomon W.; Notenbaert, An Maria Omer; Nzogela, Beatus; Mwilawa, Angello
Animal genetics, management, diseases, feeds and environment affect milk production in cattle. Feed is the most important and when addressed, cattle show immediate responses. In sub-Saharan Africa, livestock productivity is low largely due to use of low-quality crop residues and natural pastures, often poor in key nutrients for animal performance. In an 8-week on-farm feeding trial with farmers’ participation, milk production under farmers’ practice (FP) was compared with the use of improved Urochloa hybrid cultivar ‘Cobra’ hay (Cobra hay) as an intervention (IN). A crossover design with each cow undergoing FP and IN phases was used. For the initial 2 weeks, the experiment followed FP before shifting to 50-50 FP/IN in week 3 and 100% IN in week 4 and 5, followed by 50-50 FP/IN in week six and 100% FP in week 7 and 8. Milk production increased by 15 % under IN and was associated with better feed utilization efficiency of 2 kg DMCobra hay/L of milk. The use of Cobra hay has potential to increase dairy productivity in Tanzania and other similar tropical ecologies and contexts in sub-Saharan Africa
The impact of COVID-19 on the sustainable intensification of forage-based beef and dairy value chains in Colombia: A blessing and a curse
(Journal Article, 2022-09-30) Burkart, Stefan; Díaz, Manuel Francisco; Enciso, Karen; Charry, Andrés; Triana Ángel, Natalia; Mena, Martín; Urrea Benítez, José Luis; Gallo Caro, Irieleth; Hoek, Rein van der
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties associated with the need to transition the cattle sector in Latin America towards achieving sustainability and created a “double crisis” of pandemic and climate change. The increasing demand for animal sourced foods and the need to address the negative environmental impacts of cattle production, including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and deforestation, and the implications of climate change on cattle production (prolonged droughts, prolonged rainy seasons, heat stress), have placed strong emphasis on sustainable intensification of forage-based beef and dairy systems for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This is needed to meet the commitments made by many Latin American countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement. Through a qualitative approach, this perspective paper reviews the present and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on progress towards sustainable intensification of the Colombian cattle sector. It also outlines new opportunities for sustainable intensification in Colombia that may provide useful examples for other Latin American countries. Short-term impacts such as: (i) increased input prices, (ii) limited access to inputs, credit, and technical assistance, and (iii) reduced incomes, have limited investment in sustainable intensification along the value chains. Reduced resources for research and development funding, unavailability of skilled and experienced staff, restrictions to travel and person-to-person interactions, in tandem, have caused setbacks in the development and application of sustainable technologies and programs. This has been addressed by increased use of technology for communication but there are difficulties with the broad availability of such technologies, especially farmers. A long-term shift of consumer demand towards more sustainable animal products is occurring and expected to continue, and this should lead to new opportunities for sustainable intensification.
Productivity and feed quality performance of Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genotypes growing under different soil moisture levels
(Journal Article, 2022-10-01) Habte, Ermias; Teshome, Abel; Muktar, Meki S.; Assefa, Yilikal; Negawo, Alemayehu T.; Machado, J.C.; Silva Ledo, F.J. da; Jones, Christopher S.
In the semi-arid and arid environments of Sub-Sharan Africa, forage availability throughout the year is insufficient and highly limited during the dry seasons due to limited precipitation. Thus, the identification of drought stress-tolerant forage cultivars is one of the main activities in forage development programs. In this study, Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus), an important forage crop in Eastern and Central Africa that is broadly adapted to produce across tropical environments, was evaluated for its water use efficiency and production performance under field drought stress conditions. Eighty-four Napier grass genotypes were evaluated for their drought stress tolerance from 2018 to 2020 using agro-morphological and feed quality traits under two soil moisture stress regimes during the dry season, i.e., moderate (MWS) and severe (SWS) water stress conditions, and under rainfed conditions in the wet season (wet). Overall, the results indicated the existence of genotype variation for the traits studied. In general, the growth and productivity of the genotypes declined under SWS compared to MWS conditions. High biomass-yielding genotypes with enhanced WUE were consistently observed across harvests in each soil moisture stress regime. In addition, the top biomass-yielding genotypes produced the highest annual crude protein yield, indicating the possibility of developing high-feed-quality Napier grass genotypes for drought stress environments.
A One Health approach to plant health
(Journal Article, 2022-09-29) Hoffmann, Vivian; Paul, Birthe K.; Falade, Titilayo D.O.; Moodley, Arshnee; Ramankutty, N.; Olawoye, J.; Djouaka, R.; Lekei, E.; Haan, Nicoline C. de; Ballantyne, Peter G.; Waage, Jeff
One Health has been defined as an approach to the pursuit of public health and well-being that recognizes the interconnections between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. In this opinion piece, based on a webinar of the same name, we argue that a One Health perspective can help optimize net benefits from plant protection, realizing food security and nutrition gains while minimizing unintentional negative impacts of plant health practices on people, animals and ecosystems. We focus on two primary trade-offs that lie at the interface of plant health with animal, ecosystem, and human health: protecting plant health through use of agrochemicals versus minimizing risks to human health and antimicrobial and insecticide resistance; and ensuring food security by prioritizing the health of crops to maximize agricultural production versus protecting environmental systems critical for human health. We discuss challenges and opportunities for advancement associated with each of these, taking into account how the priorities and constraints of stakeholders may vary by gender, and argue that building the capacity of regulatory bodies in low- and middle-income countries to conduct cost–benefit analysis has the potential to improve decision-making in the context of these and other multi-dimensional trade-offs.
Identification of temporary livestock enclosures in Kenya from multi-temporal PlanetScope imagery
(Journal Article, 2022-09) Vrieling, Anton; Fava, Francesco P.; Leitner, Sonja; Merbold, Lutz; Yan Cheng; Nakalema, Teopista; Groen, Thomas; Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
The use of night-time livestock enclosures, often referred to as "bomas", "corrals", or "kraals", is a common practice across African rangelands. Bomas protect livestock from predation by wildlife and potential theft. Due to the concentration of animal faeces inside bomas, they not only become nutrient-rich patches that can add to biodiversity, but also hotspots for the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), an important greenhouse gas, especially when animals are kept inside for long periods. To provide an accurate estimate of such emissions for wider landscapes, bomas need to be accounted for. Moreover, initial experiments indicated that more frequent shifts in the boma locations could help to reduce N2O emissions. This stresses the need for better understanding where bomas are located, their numbers, as well as when they are actively used. Given the recent advances in satellite technology, resulting in high-frequent spectral measurements at fine spatial resolution, solutions to address these needs are now within reach. This study is a first effort to map and monitor the appearance of bomas with the use of satellite image time series. Our main dataset was a dense times series of 3 m resolution PlanetScope multispectral imagery. In addition, a reference dataset of boma and non-boma locations was created using GPS-collar tracking data and 0.5 m resolution Pléiades imagery. The reduction of vegetation cover and increase of organic material following boma installation result in typical spectral changes when contrasted against its surroundings. Based on these spectral changes we devised an empirical approach to infer approximate boma installation dates from PlanetScope's near infrared (NIR) band and used our reference dataset for setting optimal parameter values. A NIR spatial difference index resulted in clear temporal patterns, which were more apparent during the wet season. At landscape scale our approach reveals clear spatio-temporal patterns of boma installation, which could not be revealed from less frequent sub-meter resolution imagery alone. While further improvements are possible, we show that small-sized (150–500 m2) temporary surface changes, such as those that occur when pastoralists use mobile bomas, can be detected with dense image time series like those offered by the PlanetScope constellation. In future, this could lead to better assessment of a) spatio-temporal livestock distribution, b) the contribution of bomas to N2O emissions and soil fertility at landscape scale, and c) the uptake of enclosure rotation practices at large spatial scales.
Effects of livestock and wildlife grazing intensity on soil carbon dioxide flux in the savanna grassland of Kenya
(Journal Article, 2022-02) Wachiye, S.; Pellikka, P.; Rinne, J.; Heiskanen, J.; Abwanda, Sheila O.; Merbold, Lutz
Although grazing is the primary land use in the savanna lowland of southern Kenya, the effects of grazing on soil carbon dioxide flux (RS) remain unclear. A 12-month study was conducted from January to December 2020 on the effects of six grazing intensities sites (overgrazed (OG), heavily grazed (HG), moderately grazed (MG), moderately to lightly grazed (M-LG), lightly grazed (LG) and no grazing (NG)) on RS on. A camera trap was used to monitor the total number of animals at each site, indicating the grazing intensity. Weekly measurements of RS were taken using static greenhouse gas chambers along with simultaneous measurements of soil temperature (TS) and volumetric soil water content (WS) (depth of 5 cm). Mean RS at HG, MG, M-LG and LG sites was approximately 15–25% higher than at NG and OG sites (p < 0.001). Mean WS increased with decrease in grazing especially in the dry season, while TS increased with increase in grazing. We observed bimodal temporal variation in RS and WS due to two wet seasons in the year. Thus, variation in RS across the study period followed the changes in WS rather than those in TS. Mean values of RS in the wet seasons were significantly higher (> 45%) than those in the dry seasons, and WS accounted for 71% of the temporal variability in RS (p < 0.05). In addition, the enhanced vegetation index (EVI, interpreted as a proxy for vegetation cover) explained 60% of the variance of RS, and WS and EVI together explained 75%. EVI showed a negative relationship (p < 0.05) with animal intensity, indicating that more grazing reduced vegetation cover and, consequently, soil organic carbon and biomass. Soil bulk density was lower at less grazed sites. While RS variability was unaffected by total nitrogen content, pH, and texture, correspondence analysis demonstrated that the main factors influencing RS dynamics across the year under different grazing intensities were WS and vegetation cover. Our results contribute to closing the existing knowledge gap regarding the effects of grazing intensity on RS in East Africa savannas. Therefore, this information is of great importance in understanding carbon cycling in savanna grassland, as well as the identification of the potential consequences of increasing land pressure caused by rising livestock numbers, and will assist in the development of climate-smart livestock management in East Africa.
Cattle ranching in Colombia: A monolithic industry?
(Journal Article, 2022-08-16) Campuzano, Lorena; Triana Ángel, Natalia; Burkart, Stefan
This article analyzes literature on the history of cattle ranching and agricultural innovation adoption in Colombia to understand how livestock production systems have evolved from the 1950s until today. Departing from new scholarship that has questioned the idea that cattle ranching has been only a land-grabbing strategy dominated by few elites, this article focuses on the adoption of improved pastures and the role of key institutions such as the CIAT on the transformation of practices and the shortcomings of technification. It shows that Colombia has had big transformations with the introduction of improved pastures, particularly Brachiaria, but these transformations did not translate into a radical change in the dominant extensive livestock production systems. Instead of promoting intensification, the adoption of Brachiaria has allowed producers to expand more, often resulting in large deforestation. One of the main contributions of this article is the analysis of economic, developmentalist, and institutional reports that are not often used to construct historical analysis. It can also serve to scholars interested on adoption of agricultural techniques.
Understanding gendered trait preferences: Implications for client-responsive breeding programs
(Journal Article, 2022-08-30) McDougall, Cynthia; Kariuki, Juliet; Lenjiso, Birhanu Mergesa; Marimo, Pricilla; Mehar, Mamta; Murphy, Seamus; Teeken, Béla; Akester, Michael J.; Benzie, John A.H.; Galiè, Alessandra; Kulakow, Peter A.; Mekkawy, Wagdy; Nkengla-Asi, Lilian; Ojango, Julie M.K.; Tumuhimbise, Robooni; Uwimana, Brigitte; Orr, Alastair
Client-responsiveness is a foundation for effectiveness of public sector breeding programs in agriculture, aquaculture and livestock. However, there remains a considerable lack of clarity about what this means, specifically in terms of how programs can be gender-responsive. This study contributes to addressing that need. It does so through sharing higher-level insights emerging from the combined experiences of eight gendered trait preference cases from across nine countries in Asia and Africa. The cases spanned crops, fish and livestock. This study inquires into the nature of gendered trait preference information that can be generated, if there are systematic gendered preference differences and how to understand these, and implications for breeding programs seeking to be more gender-responsive. Key findings include that while not all data are immediately usable by programs, the information that is generated through mixed method, intersectional gender preference assessments usefully deepens and widens programs’ knowledge. The study evidences differences in trait preferences between women and men. It also reveals that these differences are more complex than previously thought. In doing so, it challenges binary or homogenous models of preferences, suggesting instead that preferences are likely to be overlapping and nuanced. The study applies a novel ‘Three models of gendered trait preferences’ framework and sub-framework and finds these useful in that they challenge misconceptions and enable a needed analytical nuance to inform gender-responsive breeding programs. Finally, the study highlights implications and offers a call to action for gender-responsive breeding, proposing ways forward for public breeding programs, teams and funding agencies. These include investments in interdisciplinary capabilities and considerations for navigating trade-offs while orienting to sustainable development goals.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccination cost estimates in Burkina Faso
(Journal Article, 2022-08-22) Ilboudo, Guy S.; Kane, P.A.; Kotchofa, Pacem; Okoth, Edward A.; Maiga, Assoumane; Dione, Michel M.
Every year the government organizes country-wide vaccination campaigns targeting peste des petits ruminants (PPR) for small ruminants (sheep and goats). Despite the heavy investment in vaccination, no study has either rigorously estimated or described the cost of vaccine delivery. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing and describing the cost of delivery of vaccines against PPR using the 2020 vaccination campaign data. The microcosting approach based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to construct comprehensive multiyear plans (cMYP) for human immunization programs was used. The cost data is presented for the public and private vaccine delivery channels separately and analyzed using three approaches considering activity lines, inputs, and nature of cost (fixed versus variable). Results show that the unit cost of vaccinating a sheep or goat is estimated at XOF 169 (USD 0.3) and XOF 103 (USD 0.18) through the public and private channels, respectively. Using the activity line framework, we found that the field activities including charges for vaccinator, cost of vaccination materials, and field transportation account for more than 50% of the vaccination cost. In terms of inputs, the personnel cost is the most significant contributor with 65%. Fixed costs are higher in the public sector with up to 46% compared to the private sector which is estimated to take 26% of the cost. This study informs veterinary services’ investment decision options for a better allocation of resources in implementing PPR and other small ruminant disease control efforts in Burkina Faso and the Sahel.
A systems thinking approach to understand the drivers of change in backyard poultry farming system
(Journal Article, 2022-10) Aboah, Joshua; Enahoro, Dolapo K.
Abstract CONTEXT Drivers of change in farming systems are not static, they evolve. Yet, there is an underlying assumption in the literature that drivers of change are static. OBJECTIVE This paper seeks to understand how drivers of change in Ghana's backyard poultry farming system evolve within a calendar year and examine how different production strategies contribute to the incomes of farm households. METHODS A system dynamics model, comprising production, financial, consumption, and epidemiological modules, was developed, validated, and simulated for a 52-week period using a weekly timestep. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Results of the loops that matter analysis showed that from the onset of the poultry production, disease prevention at different growth stages of the chicken (especially for day-old chicks) via vaccination is a critical driver of change that has a high but short-lived dominance. Beyond the grower stage, the changes in the unit price of eggs have a relatively higher and longer influence on production dynamics than changes in the unit price of poultry meat. Moreover, the results suggest that a focus only on meat production is the most profitable strategy compared to production strategies that focus only on egg production or a mix of egg and meat production. SIGNIFICANCE The findings of this paper extend the literature on drivers of change in the farming system by stressing the need to assess how these drivers evolve. The application of the loops that matter analysis in system dynamics modelling provides a framework for analysing the evolution of drivers of change in farming system.
Effects of replacing Brachiaria hay with either Desmodium intortum or dairy concentrate on animal performance and enteric methane emissions of low-yielding dairy cows
(Journal Article, 2022-08-17) Korir, Daniel; Eckard, Richard; Goopy, John P.; Arndt, Claudia; Merbold, Lutz; Marquardt, Svenja
In Africa, cattle are often fed low quality tropical roughages resulting in low-yielding animals with high methane (CH4) emission intensity (EI, g CH4/per unit of product). Supplementation with protein is known to improve the nutritive value of the otherwise low-quality diets. However, animal nutrition studies in East Africa that are accompanied by CH4 emission measurements are lacking. Thus, an animal experiment was conducted to quantify the effect of supplementing cattle fed mainly on low-quality Urochloa brizantha hay (control diet; CON; crude protein (CP) = 7.4%) or supplemented with either a tannin-rich leguminous fodder, Desmodium intortum hay (DES) or a commercial dairy concentrate (CUBES) on voluntary dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient apparent total tract digestibility, nitrogen (N) retention, enteric CH4 production and animal performance (milk and average daily gain). Twelve mid-lactating crossbred (Friesian × Boran) cows (initial liveweight = 335 kg) were used in a 3×3 (Period × Diet) Latin square design with each period running for four weeks. Compared to CON, DES decreased nutrient (DM, OM, CP) intake, apparent total tract digestibility and daily milk yield. In contrast, CUBES increased nutrient intake and animal performance compared to CON, while nutrients’ apparent total tract digestibility was not different, except for CP digestibility that increased. Compared to CON, DES and CUBES improved overall N retention by the animals as a proportion of N intake. The DES diet compared with CON and CUBES, shifted the proportion of N excretion via urine to the fecal route, likely because of its tannin content. Both DES and CUBES, compared to CON, reduced methane yield (MY, g CH4/kg DMI) by 15% and 9%, respectively. The DES diet reduced absolute enteric CH4 emissions by 26% while CUBES increased emissions by 11% compared to CON. Based on the present findings, high supplementation levels (>50%) of Desmodium intortum hay is not recommended especially when the basal diet is low in CP content. Supplementation with lower levels of better managed Desmodium intortum forage however, need to be investigated to establish optimal inclusion levels that will improve animal productivity and reduce environmental impact of livestock in smallholder tropical contexts.
Effect of processed sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) grain supplementation on growth performance and socioeconomic feasibility of Doyogena sheep in Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2022-09) Tilaye, Habite; Asmare, Bimrew; Meheret, Fentahun; Bezabih, Melkamu; Wamatu, Jane
Background The experiment evaluated the effect of supplementing sheep fed natural pasture hay with processed sweet lupin grain on growth performance and its economic feasibility. The finding revealed that use of steamed lupin shown to improve the nutritive value of the grain and sheep performance. Methods The experiment was carried out using 24 yearling lambs with initial body weight of 27.53 ± 2.67 kg (mean ± SD) for 126 days (21 days quarantine, 15 days of adaptation and 90 days growth trial followed by 7 days digestibility trial). The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design consisting of four treatments and six blocks. Treatments comprised the feeding of natural pasture hay ad libitum + concentrate mix 440 g (T1), natural pasture hay + 440 g/day roasted, coarsely ground sweet lupin grain (T2), natural pasture hay + 440 g/day sweet lupin grain soaked in water for 72 h (T3), natural pasture hay + 440 g/day steamed sweet lupin grain (T4). Results There was improvements in total dry matter intake and digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in sheep supplemented with processed sweet lupin grains compared (T4) by 58.49%, 24.66%, 39.39%, 22.97% and 39.68%, respectively, over the control group. Specifically sheep supplemented with T4 had significantly higher (p < 0.001) average daily gain (by 51.04%), feed conversion efficiency (46.34%) and daily weight gain (144.78 g/day) compared to the control treatment, respectively. All processing methods resulted in favourable average daily gain and net return, thus can be employed in feeding systems depending on their availability and relative cost. Conclusions Supplementing sheep fed natural pasture hay with 440 g/day steamed sweet lupin grains improved growth performance and fattening economics of Doyogena sheep compared to T2 (roasted sweet lupin grain), T3 (soaked sweet lupin grain) or the control (T1).
Gender inequalities in the Colombian cattle sector: an econometric analysis
(Journal Article, 2023-05-19) Pirela Rios, Ana Milagros; Díaz, Manuel Francisco; Enciso, Karen; Triana Ángel, Natalia; Burkart, Stefan
Differences in access to productive resources, education, and credit can affect the productive capacity of cattle producers, especially women. This document analyses gender inequalities in the Colombian cattle sector using census information on the cattle activity, disaggregated at the territorial level. The econometric analysis evidences a negative relationship between the participation of women producers and cattle production at the municipal level. Our findings underscore the importance of improving access to quality education, credit, and technical assistance for rural women, which can benefit agricultural production and national economic growth at large.
Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya
(Journal Article, 2022-12) Radeny, Maren A.O.; Rao, E.J.O.; Ogada, Maurice Juma; Recha, John W.M.; Solomon, Dawit
This paper analyses the impact of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies on household dietary diversity and food insufciency as indicators of food and nutrition security in Kenya. Using a combination of Propensity Score Matching and endogenous treatment efect approaches, we found that adoption of stress-tolerant varieties of several crops (such as bean, pigeon pea, cowpea, maize and sorghum) improved household dietary diversity score by 40% and reduced food insufciency by 75%. Adoption of improved and resilient livestock breeds (including Red Maasai sheep and Galla goats) improved household dietary diversity by 38% while reducing household food insufciency by 90%. We also found that stress-tolerant crop varieties were more efective in improving food security outcomes among households with large landholdings and with more educated and younger to middle-age heads. Efects of resilient livestock breeds on household food security were much stronger for households with large landholdings and with young and/or much older heads that have low levels of education. Given the large, demonstrated benefts from the use of the CSA technologies, policies and programs aimed at their promotion should apply appropriate targeting to ensure wider uptake of the technologies and maximum returns on investment.

Browse

Recent Submissions