The effect of different diets on growth rate and meat quality of the indigenous chickens

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 95-96

Utilisation of semi-arid scrubland by goats in the dry season

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 93-94

Chemical composition and physical characteristics of cowpea haulms as forage for ruminants

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 87-88

Factors affecting the growth and survival of Matebele goat kids in a semi-arid environment under smallholder management

A research article on factors affecting effective goat rearing in Zimbabwe's rural areas.Performance of 631 kids belonging to seven smallholder farmers in southern Zimbabwe was monitored over a two-year period. Least square mean live weights at 14,150 and 360 days (d) of growth were 4.3 + 0.04,11.5 + 0.11 and 19.9 + 0.19 kg, respectively. Exit rate between birth and 150 days was 35 percent. Live weight at all the three stages of growth and pre-weaning exit rates varied significantly (p<0.001) between birth months and between flocks (p<0.001). Pre-weaning growth rates tended to be relatively faster for kids born between September and January (dry to early wet seasons) but were depressed post-weaning as a result of dry season feed shortages. Consequently, kids born in September-January tended to weigh less at 360 days compared to kids born in February-July. Male kids and singles were significantly heavier (p<0.001) at all ages than female kids and twins, respectively. Age of the doe significantly affected kid weight at 150 d, with kids born to does of 1 to 2 years of age being 13-25 percent lighter (p<0.01) than kids born to older does. Exit rates were highest (33 percent) in July, the month where maximum births occur. Exit rates were significantly higher (p<0.001) in year 1 (52 + 0.22 percent) than in year 2 (48 + 0.31 percent). Kid survival was not influenced by age of the doe, sex or birth type of the kids. It is concluded that growth and survival of Matebele kids could be improved through strategic management of seasonal effects and better understanding of local management

Socio-economic aspects in draught animal-crop linkages: a diagnostic study of Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko smallholder farming areas of Zimbabwe

A research paper on Zimbabwe's small-holder farmers' constraints in crop production due to shortages of draught animal power during the 1994/95 agricultural season.A survey was conducted on 451 households in Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko smallholder areas to understand farmers’ crop production constraints in relation to draught animal power (DAP) during the 1994/95 agricultural season. Farmers without DAP constituted 48.6 percent in the three districts. Of these, 54.5 percent had access to neighbours’ or relatives’ animals. The rest hired or worked in others’ fields in exchange for draught animals. Animal diseases and shortage of grazing land were noted as the major constraints in animal production. Both farmer education and experience as well as household head were found to be associated with district (p<0.001). Tsholotsho had the largest number of farmers (52.8 percent) with more than 10 years experience while Mutoko had the largest proportion (43.3 percent) of Master farmers. Farmer education and experience were found to be independent of sex. The average land holdings per farmer for Tsholotsho, Chinyika and Mutoko were 6.21 ha, 4.22 ha and 1.62 ha, respectively. Tsholotsho is a dryland communal area whilst Chinyika is a relatively wet area. Mutoko is a typical communal area with a high population pressure. Maize is the main crop in Chinyika and Mutoko whilst millet is the most common in Tsholotsho

Reproductive performance of indigenous goats in traditionally managed flocks in north-east of Zimbabwe

A study was conducted to define kidding intervals and identify causes for long kidding intervals in communal area flocks. Two flocks were selected in the north-eastern part of Zimbabwe and were monitored over two years. Flock entries and exits were recorded, body-mass changes measured fortnightly and blood samples collected in five consecutive weekly intervals in August-September 1988 and March-April 1989. The average kidding interval for does that kidded in August-December (382 ± 90 days) was longer (P<0.01) than that for does that kidded in March-April (265 ± 48 days). The overall average kidding interval was 370 ± 122 days. Serum progesterone levels also indicated that of the 26 goats that kidded in October-December 1988, 65% were non-pregnant 5-6 months after kidding. It is suggested that nutritional stress could be the cause of these long kidding intervals

Crop-livestock interactions: considerations of direct and indirect utilisation of MPTs and/or herbaceous biomass in soil fertility management.

In smallholder farming systems, crops and livestock complement and compete with each other in terms of natural resource use. Supply of manure to the cropping system and use of resultant crop residues are an example of this interaction. Tree forages are valuable sources of nutrients for livestock and they are also important in soil amendment. The dilemma is whether to apply the tree forages directly to the soil or to pass them through animals ( as feed) and apply the manure to the soil. Legume tree foliage tends to contain tannins that regulate nutrient release and affect distribution of nitrogen (N) in animal excreta. Most urine N is lost through volatilisation whilst N excreted in faeces could be mobilised for plant uptake. Manure has been shown to be higher in content of phosphorus (P), lignin and nitrogen and to result in faster mineralisation of N and P than leaves. However this is based on a limited number of studies and there is a need for well-designed studies that compare manure from animals fed specified tree forages of the same plants incorporated directly into the soil as part of the same experiment. Transactions of the Zimbabwe Scientific Association Volume 72 (Supplement) 1998, pp. 27-3

Research on small ruminant production systems in Zimbabwe

In 1980, very little was known about any aspect of communal area small ruminant production and productivity, even though small ruminants were an integral component of communal area farming systems. The Departement of Animal Science, in line with the government policy of prioritizing communal area agriculture, embarked on a research programme to study the existing production levels of communal area small ruminants. This information was to be used to design appropriate technologies for interventions to improve this production. A grant was obtained from an external donor to carry out the research programme. The research was carried out with the assistance of Research fellows registered for higher degree. In this way the project enhanced the development of human resources. The programme consisted of both on-station and on-farm research. On-station work emphasized biological components of small ruminant production whilst on-farm work mainly consisted of monitoring studies with minor interventions such as the introduction of new forage species and multipurpose trees. On-station work showed that indigenous small ruminants had a high genetic potential and responded positively to increased nutrients supplies. Monitoring studies identified management as the major constraint to goat production in communal areas. The limitation of the study was long interval between data collection and data analysis which resulted in few recommendations being introduced on-farm. Personnel training was a major success of the programme as it helped produce two research officers for the Departement of Research and Specialist Services, a principal and lecturer of an Agricultural College, a lecturer of the University of Zimbabwe and a development researcher for a non-governmental organization

Effect of season of birth and sex of kid on the production of live weaned single born kids in smallholder East African goat flocks in North East Zimbabwe

An amalgamated flock of traditionally managed Mashona Small East African goats was monitored over a 6 year period. Kids born in the hot dry season were heavier (p 0.05) on weight increase. There was a steady decline in growth rates from age 15 d (60.2 g/ d) to weaning age of 180 d (41.7 g/d). Overall, 19.4% of the 294 kids born during the study period exited the flocks before age 180 d. Major causes of exits were lost kids and predation, which together accounted for 61% of exits by kids. Seasonal effects on exits were mainly at ages below 30 d where 10.3% of kids born in the hot dry season exited compared to 4.3% and 4.6% for the hot wet and cool dry seasons. Kidding intervals were 321 (s.e. 23.6), 325 (s.e. 30.9) and 259 (s.e. 50.1)d for does kidding in the hot dry, hot wet and cool dry seasons, respectively. Due to the slow growth rates and long kidding intervals the flock productivity in terms of weaned live kid weight (kg) per doe per year was low