Cattle Production From Native Pastures in the Semi-Humid Grasslands of Uganda

The cattle population of Uganda, estimated at 6 million, consists of more than 95% indigenous stock, raised on the semi-arid and semi-humid grasslands that make up 48% of the total land area and which supply over 85% of the marketed milk and meat. Native grassland pastures, which vary seasonal in quantity and quality due to rainfall and temperature variations, are the sole feed resource for cattle (Mbuza et al., 1992). This study examined the effects of seasonal herbage mass (HM), dietary crude protein (CPd), detergent lignin (ADLd) and digestibility (DiG) on body condition scores of milking cows grazed only on natural grassland pastures

Ensiling Characteristics and Nutritive Value of Browse/Maize Forage Mixtures

The practice of growing fodder tree and shrubs is being advocated for and adopted in smallholder dairy production systems. In Uganda, Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, and Leucaena leucocephala have been identified and recommended as the most suitable species (Sabiiti, 2001). However tree foliage contains toxic compounds (Lowry, 1990), which may be alleviated by ensiling. The objective of the experiment was to study the ensiling characteristics of browse/ maize forage mixtures and their nutritive value when fed to lactating dairy cows

Use of Forage Legumes to Restore Overgrazed Natural Grasslands in Uganda

The natural grasslands of Uganda support over 95 % of the country\u27s livestock. They are also used by wildlife and protect soil resources from heat and erosion. Unfortunately, the pastoral/agro-pastoral communities which derive their livelihoods from these grasslands have in turn degraded them through overgrazing and uncontrolled burning, thus lowering their productivity (pasture and animal production) and biodiversity. The natural grasses (e.g. Panicum maximum, Brachiaria brizantha, Setaria anceps, Themeda triandra) mature rapidly and lose quality. Furthermore, the indigenous legumes (e.g. Neonotonia wightii, Desmodium adcsendens, Indigofera errecta) are less persistent and productive to maintain feed quality and hence animal production. There is a need to introduce into the grassland ecosystem alternative forage legumes that combine both persistence and productivity

The Effect of Fermentation of \u3cem\u3eCalliandra calothyrsus\u3c/em\u3e,\u3cem\u3e Gliricidia sepium\u3c/em\u3e,\u3cem\u3e Leucaena leucocephala\u3c/em\u3e and Maize Forage on Rumen Degradation and Microbial Protein Synthesis

Ensiling as a means of storing green fodder by acidification has a profound effect on the chemical composition of the resultant silage. Ensiling could therefore, ameliorate the effects of anti-nutritional factors associated with browses. The objective of the experiment was to determine fermentation characteristics and rumen degradation (D) of ensiled Calliandra calothyrsus (C), Gliricidia sepium (G), Leucaena leucocephala (L) and maize forage

Nutritional Evaluation of Banana Peelings from the Various Banana Varieties in Different Regions of Uganda

In Uganda, peri-urban agriculture is very important in sustaining livelihoods of the increasing population in urban and peri-urban (U & PU) areas. However, this form of agriculture has a number of problems, feed shortage being the most important. The agricultural produce brought in from the rural areas is marketed in raw form hence increasing the crop wastes in the market areas. The crop wastes, if properly sorted, can serve as alternative feeds for the animals kept in the U & PU areas. Banana (Musa spp) peelings (BP) constitute the largest proportion of all the crop wastes in most markets in areas where they are the staple food crop and have become a popular feedstuff. Unfortunately, there is scanty literature on their nutritive and feeding value. Different varieties are grown in the different banana growing areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of BP of the different banana varieties from central, eastern and western Uganda. In vitro dry matter digestibility (INDMD) of the banana peelings was also determined

Understanding the impact of waste disposal sites on soil quality for agricultural production : a case study of the Kiteezi landfill, Uganda

Leachate from waste disposal sites (WDS) can significantly affect the soil physical, chemical and biological qualities, reducing soil health and agricultural productivity. However, there is a paucity of data on soil quality for understanding soil health impact due to WDS in Uganda. This study's aim was to understand, using the Kiteezi landfill site, how WDS impact soil properties. Soil samples were collected over 4 months in and around the landfill from three locations, and the soil quality data of the nearby area were used as baseline data for assessing the impact on soil due to WDS in the area. There were significant increases in the concentration of all studied parameters at the landfill except total N. The concentrations of ammonium (14.84 ± 1.76 mg/kg), nitrate (127.96 ± 18.36 mg/kg), and pH (7.8) were above the optimum levels. The levels of available P (181.4 ± 28.9 mg/kg) and exchangeable bases; K (2.23 ± 0.24 mg/kg), Na (1.17 ± 0.14 mg/kg), Mg (3.35 ± 0.3 mg/kg) and Ca (14 ± 1.1 mg/kg) cmol (+)/kg were optimal for plant growth. The calculated CEC of 20.75 cmol (+)/kg) showed that soils have a good potential to supply plant nutrients. Heavy metal levels were still below the permissible limit. Hence, the study shows that although WDS may contribute to the increase of soil fertility, they can potentially reduce the overall productivity of soil by increasing nutrient levels beyond optimum levels

The Impact of Different CD4 Cell-Count Monitoring and Switching Strategies on Mortality in HIV-Infected African Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy: An Application of Dynamic Marginal Structural Models

In Africa, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is delivered with limited laboratory monitoring, often none. In 2003-2004, investigators in the Development of Antiretroviral Therapy in Africa (DART) Trial randomized persons initiating ART in Uganda and Zimbabwe to either laboratory and clinical monitoring (LCM) or clinically driven monitoring (CDM). CD4 cell counts were measured every 12 weeks in both groups but were only returned to treating clinicians for management in the LCM group. Follow-up continued through 2008. In observational analyses, dynamic marginal structural models on pooled randomized groups were used to estimate survival under different monitoring-frequency and clinical/immunological switching strategies. Assumptions included no direct effect of randomized group on mortality or confounders and no unmeasured confounders which influenced treatment switch and mortality or treatment switch and time-dependent covariates. After 48 weeks of first-line ART, 2,946 individuals contributed 11,351 person-years of follow-up, 625 switches, and 179 deaths. The estimated survival probability after a further 240 weeks for post-48-week switch at the first CD4 cell count less than 100 cells/mm(3) or non-Candida World Health Organization stage 4 event (with CD4 count <250) was 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94, 0.97) with 12-weekly CD4 testing, 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95, 0.97) with 24-weekly CD4 testing, 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.96) with a single CD4 test at 48 weeks (baseline), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.94) with no CD4 testing. Comparing randomized groups by 48-week CD4 count, the mortality risk associated with CDM versus LCM was greater in persons with CD4 counts of <100 (hazard ratio = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.3) than in those with CD4 counts of ≥100 (hazard ratio = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.8, 1.7; interaction P = 0.04). These findings support a benefit from identifying patients immunologically failing first-line ART at 48 weeks