1. INTEGRATED LIVESTOCK FEED INTERVENTIONS
in the maize-based systems of Babati district.
Ben Lukuyu; Leonard Marwa, Gregory Sikumba and David Ngunga (ILRI)
***
Fred Kizito and Job Kihara (CIAT)

2. Rapid scoping exercise Feed assessments using the FEAST tool
2016
2012
2015
2014
2013
RESEARCH
Rapid scoping exercise
Survey for indigenous chickens
Introduced and tested local forage chopper and baler
Feed assessments using the FEAST tool
Purchased more efficient forage choppers and feed mills
On station testing of forage varieties
Tested forage choppers & feed mills
Chicken rations formulated
On farm testing of forage varieties
Chicken rations tested
Test business models - ongoing
Forage ‘best bets’ identified
2016
Tested various forage combinations on farm
Pilot chicken rations - ongoing
Forage ‘best best’ combinations identified
Identify forage champions
Develop a forage seed and planting materials supply system
Initiate integration on farms
Impact of forages on productivity
ON FARM DEVELOPEMENT

3. Findings from scoping study and FEAST assessments

4. Livestock functions Cattle Donkeys also used for draught
Savings – social capital
Draught power
Source of manure
Milk production for home consumption
No evidence of organized milk marketing
Milk sold locally retailing for Tsh 1,000/litre
Indication of high milk demand in the area
Donkeys also used for draught
Disease control appears dysfunctional
Cattle dips are currently not operating
Importance for livelihoods of production of milk, meat?

5. Feed resources used
Lack of forages in the system

6. Low quality pastures

7. Environmental impact by livestock

8. FEAST findings
The farmers meet up to a maximum of 65% of feed during wet season.
They reported severe dry season feed shortages.
Only % of the feed needs met.
Grazing and crop residues are the main feed resources.
Large areas are committed to crop production with limited areas of land committed to planted fodder.
Crop residues such as maize stover and bean haulms are commonly fed to livestock due to inadequate grazing land.
Crop residues are abundant but poorly stored and used.
Other local feed resources feed resources – waste grains, cereals by products etc. are also abundant.

9. Low feed utilization – crop residue feeding
Large areas committed to crop production
Low feed utilization – crop residue feeding

10. Crop residues from maize & beans

11. …… formed basis for selection of entry points
Integrate improved FORAGES as animal FEED and LAND MANAGEMENT strategy (ILRI/CIAT/)
Enhance use of CROP RESIDUES (cereals, legumes and vegetable waste) as animal FEED (ILRI/CIAT)
Exploit locally available feed resources to feed indigenous chickens (ILRI/AVRDC)

12. Activity 1: Improved forages for livestock feed and as a land management strategy.

13. 2013: On station performance of Napier grass accessions

14. Forages introduced on farm
Napier grass/ Leucaena leucocephala plot in Babati
A Napier grass plot in Babati
A Desmogium silver leaf plot in Babati
A Desmogium green leaf plot in Babati

15. Napier Forage yield (2015 long rain season )
High yield of stems
These stems go to waste due to poor processing. Results warrants the need to increase use of forage choppers.

16. Chemical Composition of Napier grass
Kakamega 1 had the highest amount of crude protein in the leaves.
Overall most amounts of crude protein are leaves of the plant.
However, during feeding, stems are not fully utilized besides having significant amounts of crude protein.
The leaves are more digestible than the stems.
Generally there isn't much difference between the digestibility of the leaves compared to the stems.

17. Rank by quality (leaf: stem ratio
Farmer variety preferences
Accession
Attributes
Ranking of attributes
Rank by total yield
Rank by quality (leaf: stem ratio
ILRI 16837
Large number of leaves /plant and shoots/stool 1 3
Resistant to drought
Rapid recovery after cutting 2
Late flowering 4
KK2
Fewer leaves/stem, shoots/stool and medium height stems
Resilient to drought
Fast recovery after cutting
Large size leaves and thick stems
ILRI 16835
Fewer shoots but vigorous
Tolerant to drought

18. Productivity-environment nexus
Analysis on selected species:
Higher runoff trends noted in control trials compared to plots with forages.
Forage combinations provided
sufficient and beneficial soil cover
to subdue runoff
Infiltration
Runoff measurements
Higher infiltration measurements were recorded along contour forage strips and below the contour strips in Seloto, Babati District

19. The productivity-environment nexus
Soil moisture storage monitoring
with Diviner 2000 Probes
Analysis on selected species:
Overall increment in water balance
Components with more soil moisture storage
within the forage species compared to control
-Critical here to assess tradeoffs
associated with labor, gains in the
resource base and feed productivity.

20. Impact of forages on productivity
(On-going)
An On-Farm assessment of improved forages on milk production in Sabilo and Long villages
To document the current feeding practices on 20 selected farms
Formulate diets based on improved forages and conduct feeding trials with milking cows on selected farms
Determine farmer perception of test diets
Determine the cost and benefits of test diets

21. Evolution in capacity building (% women in brackets)
Research Year
No. Mother trials
No. Baby trials
No. Farmer trainees
No. Other trainees (Extension Staff)
No. Field day participants
No. of ha under improved techs -
2.75
6 (Forages)
31 (26%)
8 (0%)
77 (9%)
6 (Forages) 17
18 (44%)
7 (0%)
78 (29%) 50
24 (Feed Ration Trial)
100>
111 (35%)
7 (0%)
50>

22. Key milestones
Selected suited improved forages for different agro ecological zones in Babati district
Established bulking sites for vegetative materials in each villages to support use of forages
Provided training to extension staff and farmers on how to establish, mange, harvest and use forages
Developed and produced extension briefs on these topics in Kiswahili.
Trained farmers on forage chopping to improve use and reduce feed wastage

23. Activity 2: Enhance use of CROP RESIDUES (cereals, legumes and vegetable waste) as animal FEED

24. Characterized the use of crop residues
Crop resides contribute 14-16% CP and 14-14% ME respectively.
There is poor harvesting, storage and use of crop residues on most farms mainly due to knowledge gaps and lack of appropriate technology.

25. Quantified Maize stover yields on farms in Babati; 2012-2013 cropping season

26. Introduced and tested forage choppers with farmers
Fuel driven forage chopper in Babati
Maize stover baler in Babati
Identified needs
Capacity development around forage choppers
Building business models around forages

27. Green Chop and Crop residues
Quantified production characteristics of forage choppers
Strainer (mm)
0.8 3 5 12
Flat
Production (kg/h)
Fine flakes
Fine broken grain
Broken grain
Coarse chunks
Green Chop and Crop residues
30/60
130/250
250/500
150/250
500/900
Broken grain
Fine flakes
Crop residues
Green Chop
Maize
Sunflower Cake
Beans/Rice straw
Maize Stover
Maize cobs
Napier grass
72 kg/h
51 kg/h
137 kg/h
53 kg/h
400 kg/h

28. Impact of crop residue based diets on productivity
(On-going)
An On-Farm assessment of crop residue based diets on milk production in Sabilo and Long villages
To document the current feeding practices on 20 selected farms
Formulate crop residue based diets and conduct feeding trials with milking cows on selected farms
Determine farmer perception of crop residue based diets.
Determine the cost and benefits of crop residue based diets.

29. Engendered farmer tastes and preferences
On going…. ILF and Gender team

30. Key milestones Evidence on use of crop residues
Formulated crop residue based rations
Training on use of crop residues
Introduced and tested feed choppers
Developed and tested a business module to support use of feed choppers
Links with local company to supply feed choppers
Evidence on impact of crop residues on productivity (on going).

31. Activity 3: Improved feeding of indigenous chickens using local feed resources

32. Characterization study
Key findings
Plenty cereal and legume grain products available on farms
Plenty of unutilized vegetable waste exist in vegetable growing areas
Poor processing of cereal and vegetable by products/waste (a lack of technology)
Poor storage of feed resources
Indigenous chickens comprise 96.5% of the chickens kept in Babati district.
Farmers own an average of 5 birds per HH.
A total of 53.2% of HH keep indigenous chickens under extensive system
There is high mortality rate (60%) mainly due to malnutrition, diseases, predators, and rough environmental conditions.

33. Formulated and tested chicken rations based on locally available feed resources
Five (5) feed rations tested in 3 production systems

34. Poultry: Evolution in capacity building (% women in brackets)
Research Year
No. Mother trials
No. Baby trials
No. Farmer trainees
No. Other trainees
No. Field day participants
No. of ha under improved techs 18
200 15 NA 60
300

35. Now and in the Future….. FORAGES
Integrated forage options mature for scaling
Pathways for putting forages into use
Gaps
Seed systems need to be strengthened
Pasture improvement
Animal husbandry
CROP RESIDUES
Forage chopping technology
Business model to support
Engendered farmer tastes and preferences
Promotion of crop residue based rations
Tools for scaling
CHICKENS
Improved chicken rations
Improved housing and management
Brooding and supply of chicks
Markets?

36. Thank you africa-rising.net
Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net