A review of studies on breed evaluation and genetic improvement of cattle in Ghana

A review of some major cattle breed evaluation and genetic improvement experiments, particularly in the post-independence period up to 1990, was made. There was no clearly defined policy on genetic improvement of livestock during the period; hence, breed improvement efforts were uncoordinated. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Faculties of Agriculture at the universities and the Animal Research Institute were the major organizations that showed interest in breed evaluation and genetic improvement of cattle in Ghana. The programmes involved the use of Zebu × Taurine (e.g. White Fulani × West African Shorthorn) crossbreds, exotic × local (e. g. Friesian × Sanga), or purebred exotics (e. g. Friesian). The exotics and their crossses had better growth rates and milk yields than the local or indigenous breeds. The former genetic groups also had pooreradaptation to the local environment. It was concluded that the very elaborate breed evaluation and genetic improvement experiments conducted by the universities were limited to stations, resulting in little or no impact on the production system. The experiments of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture were the most successful, as the Sanga progeny from the Zebu × Taurine crossbreeding projects was adopted by farmers in all cattle-rearing regions in the country. It was also concluded that, from point of view of adaptation and expenditure required for importation, genetic improvement of cattle should be based on the available adapted indigenous breeds, namely West African Shorthorn and the Sanga. Within breed selection and crossbreeding, including the use of exotics, were available options. The need for clear breeding objectives was emphasized

Did farmers’ livelihood improve? An impact assessment of incorporating forages into the crop-livestock system in the coastal savannah zone of Ghana

The study used programming methods to assess the farm-level impact of incorporating forages, including dual purpose Cajanus cajan (C. cajan), into the crop-livestock system in the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana. The system was modeled in GAMS and solved using linear programming. The optimal enterprise mixes and their resultant net revenues with and without the interventions and therefore the change in net revenue were obtained. The intervention was to grow forages as part of the crop-livestock system and feed them to milking cows and their calves for increased milk production and growth. The grain of the forage was used as food by the farmers, and manure from the animals was also used for crop production. The effect of policy options like educating farmers to accept and use C. cajan grain as food and thereby increase its production was analysed. The change in net revenue with incorporation of C. cajan into the system was 50 percent. A 5 percentage points change in the inclusion level of C. cajan grain in farmers’ diet and subsequent increase in its cultivation precipitated a 4 percent change in net revenue. C. cajan was not produced beyond the level required for household consumption and its main attraction seemed to be its food value. The addition of C. cajan into the crop-livestock system of the area improved farmers’ incomes. Increased cultivation of C. cajan may be dependent on the food value of the crop for the household.GAMS, Ghana, Grain, Forages, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Partial milking of cattle in smallholder herds on the Accra plains. 1. some factors affecting daily partial milk yield and milk composition

Presents a study undertaken to measure the partial milk yields of cows, the composition of milk and some environmental factors that influence partial milk extracted under smallholder agropastoral management conditions on the Accra plains in Ghana. Daily partial milk yield of Sanga cows in 13 smallholder agropastoralist herds at two locations on the Accra plains was recorded through monthly sampling. Estimates of mean daily partial milk yield and milk compostion were computed from 1266 observations. The unadjusted mean daily partial milk yield and milk composition were computed from 1266 observations. The unadjusted mean daily partial milk yield was 875 (s.e. 11)g. The composition of milk: total solids (TS), fat (F) and solid-non-fat (SNF) were 131 (s.e. 14), 41(s.e.11) and 90(s.e.7) g/kg respectively. Least square estimate of mean daily partial milk yield were 808.2 and 462.4g with average s.e. of 41.8 for wet and dry season respectively. The wet and dry season differences in daily partial milk yield, TS and F were highly signficant (p<0.01). Seasonal difference in SNF was not significant. Lactation curve parameters for partially milked cows were also estimated. The implications of the results for milk production in sub-Saharan Africa were discussed

Did farmers’ livelihood improve? An impact assessment of incorporating forages into the crop-livestock system in the coastal savannah zone of Ghana

The study used programming methods to assess the farm-level impact of incorporating forages, including dual purpose Cajanus cajan (C. cajan), into the crop-livestock system in the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana. The system was modeled in GAMS and solved using linear programming. The optimal enterprise mixes and their resultant net revenues with and without the interventions and therefore the change in net revenue were obtained. The intervention was to grow forages as part of the crop-livestock system and feed them to milking cows and their calves for increased milk production and growth. The grain of the forage was used as food by the farmers, and manure from the animals was also used for crop production. The effect of policy options like educating farmers to accept and use C. cajan grain as food and thereby increase its production was analysed. The change in net revenue with incorporation of C. cajan into the system was 50 percent. A 5 percentage points change in the inclusion level of C. cajan grain in farmers’ diet and subsequent increase in its cultivation precipitated a 4 percent change in net revenue. C. cajan was not produced beyond the level required for household consumption and its main attraction seemed to be its food value. The addition of C. cajan into the crop-livestock system of the area improved farmers’ incomes. Increased cultivation of C. cajan may be dependent on the food value of the crop for the household