Status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in southern Africa and priorities for ILRI’s support

One of the five objectives of ILRI’s Capacity Strengthening Strategy is to facilitate building sustainable capacity of institutes to build capacity. This could only be achieved through building the capacity of the agricultural higher learning institutes and by facilitating the effective integration of research-based learning outputs (tools, methods and approaches) into the curricula of the learning institutes. In order to establish the priorities for collaborative capacity strengthening activities of the learning institutes in the areas of animal production and veterinary services, ILRI commissioned five studies covering the following subregions: Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA region); Southern Africa (SADC region), West Africa (CORAF region); South Asia; and Southeast Asia. This report summarizes the findings of the gap analysis study for the Southern Africa (SADC) region. ILRI will make every effort to share and validate these findings and use this information in designing and implementing capacity strengthening activities in this region

Centre Commissioned External Review (CCER) of pastoral systems

This report reviews key issues in pastoral systems research in tropical areas of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with the goal of identifying a ten-year research strategy for pastoral systems research for ILRI. It summarizes current work (ILRI and non-ILRI) on topics related to pastoral systems and identifies a focused set of recommendations for ILRI where the institute has a comparative advantage relative to the numerous other organizations conducting research on pastoralism; a proven or potential track record;‘ important set of productive partnerships (current or planned); and/or the existing or potential capacity to contribute to important pastoral systems research and policy in the future

A model for adaptive livestock management on semi-arid rangelands in Texas

A stochastic, compartmental Model for Adaptive Livestock Management (MALM) was developed for cow-calf enterprise for Rolling Plains of Texas from an existing model, Simple Ecological Sustainability Simulator (SESS). The model simulates forage and animal production. It runs on a monthly time step. Two stocking strategies, flexible and fixed, were evaluated at seven stocking levels for effects on forage and animal production, range condition, and net ranch income. Evaluation data were obtained from published and unpublished data from Texas A&M Agricultural Experimental Station at Vernon for Throckmorton. The model adequately simulated forage and animal production. Light fixed stocking rates and flexible stocking strategies resulted in cows of median body condition score (BCS) 5, compared to low BCS of 4 under moderate fixed stocking rate, and BCS of 3 under heavy fixed stocking. BCS declined from autumn to early spring and peaked in summer. Cows under light fixed stocking rates and under flexible stocking were heavier (460 kg) compared to those under heavy fixed stocking (439 kg). Replacement rates were lower under light stocking (22 %), compared to flexible (37 %) and heavy stocking (56 %). Calf crops were all above the reported 90 % expected for bred heifers because of the replacement policy. Flexible stocking strategy resulted in higher net income ($19.62 ha-1), compared to fixed light ($5.93 ha-1) or fixed heavy ($-17.35 ha-1) stocking strategies. Coefficient of variation (CV) in net income was highest under heavy stocking (90%) compared to light stocking (60%) and flexible stocking (50%). Maximum net income was obtained between 0.05 AUM·ha-1 and 0.13 AUM·ha-1 when fixed stocking strategy was used but when flexible stocking strategy was used maximum net income was obtained between 0.1 AUM·ha-1 and 0.17 AUM·ha-1. Range condition rapidly declined under fixed heavy stocking, increased under fixed and light flexible stocking, and remained constant under moderate flexible stocking. Heavy fixed stocking decreased range condition rapidly over a 20-year period. MALM was an effective tool to demonstrate effects of different management strategies. The model can function as a strategic or a tactical decision aid. It is concluded that there is potential for this model to assist managers in improving the sustainability of agriculture

The agronomy and use of Mucuna pruriens in smallholder farming systems in southern Africa

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Researc

The agronomy and use of Lablab purpureus in smallholder farming systems of southern Africa

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Researc

Is the soil seed bank a reliable source for passive restoration of bush-cleared semi-arid rangelands of South Africa?

BACKGROUND : Bush clearing of encroached rangelands is crucial for restoration of herbaceous cover and diversity. Regeneration after bush clearing depends largely on the soil seed bank (SSB) size and composition. To assess the potential of the SSB to facilitate post-clearing herbaceous restoration, we examined the SSB density, composition and diversity and similarity between SSB and aboveground vegetation (AGV). METHODS : The study was conducted in semi-arid rangelands of Maseding and Kgomokgomo in North-West Province of South Africa. In each rangeland, all woody plants in three 1250 m2 plots were cut using saws and loppers, with the stumps treated with picloram. Paired observations were conducted in cleared and uncleared microsites. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) in each microsite in April (pretreatment), August, October and December 2016 and in April and August 2017. SSB was assessed using seedling emergence method, whereas pre- and post-clearing surveys of AGV were conducted in February 2016 and 2017, respectively. RESULTS : Cleared microsites had significantly (p < 0.01) higher seed bank densities (1872 and 693 seeds m-2 at Maseding and Kgomokgomo, respectively) relative to uncleared microsites in August 2017, with grasses accounting for higher densities than other plant functional groups in the upper 0–10 cm. Pioneer grasses (Aristida congesta subsp. barbicollis, Brachiaria eruciformis and Tragus berteronianus) and invasive forbs (Bidens pilosa and Schkuhria pinnata) dominated the SSB in cleared microsites at Maseding, whereas succulents (Portulaca spp.) and pioneer grasses (T. berteronianus and Urochloa mosambicensis) were abundant at Kgomokgomo in August 2017. SSB and AGV were dissimilar until December 2016; thereafter, similarity increased significantly (p < 0.05) in cleared microsites (Sørensen’s coefficient = 0.60 to 0.66 at Maseding and 0.43 to 0.52 at Kgomokgomo) compared to uncleared microsites. Species diversity was highest in August 2016 and April 2017 at Maseding, but it did not differ between two microsites (p > 0.05). At Kgomokgomo, SSB was more diverse in cleared than uncleared microsites in April and August 2017. CONCLUSION : High seed bank densities in the upper soil layer in cleared microsites would promote passive restoration, but regeneration is likely to be initiated by early successional species. However, close monitoring and eradication of invasive forbs and succulents is necessary following bush clearing. The tendency of SSB resembling AGV over time in cleared microsites signifies that seed production from AGV is important for passive restoration following bush clearing.Fig. S1. A diagram showing the layout of the experiment and the distribution of plots at Maseding and Kgomokgomo rangelands. The small white shaded squares are 1.7-m2 quadrats used for herbaceous vegetation assessment. Table S1. Species abundance (%) of the AGV during pre-treatment (PTT) in 2016 and in cleared and uncleared microsites in 2017 at Maseding. Table S2. Species abundance (%) of the AGV during pre-treatment (PTT) in 2016 and in cleared and uncleared microsites in 2017 at KgomokgomoThe Agricultural Research Council (MMN 3014) and National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.https://ecologicalprocesses.springeropen.comam2020Plant Production and Soil Scienc