Enhancing on-farm fodder availability and utilization for sustainable dairy production in the smallholder farming systems of western usambara highlands, Tanzania
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology, Arusha, TanzaniaDairy cattle farmers in Tanzania experience a huge decline in milk production due to
insufficient feed supply to their animals particularly during the dry seasons. This poses a
great challenge to sustainability of smallholder dairy farming systems (SHDFSs) in the
country. The aim of this study was to evaluate fodder resources availability, utilization
practices and seasonal variations; as well as to assess potentials for improving pasture
production and utilization in the SHDFSs of Western Usambara Highlands (WUHs),
Tanzania. Integrated approaches were used in this study including review of literature,
household and farm surveys, planting and evaluating suitability of four Pennisetum
purpureum Schumach varieties (local Napier, Bana, Ouma and Kakamega 2) in improving
ruminant feed availability. In addition, an experiment was conducted during a dry season to
assess the potential of graded levels of homemade supplementary ration (HSR) consisting of
Calliandra calothyrsus leaf-meal, maize bran, molasses and mineral-vitamin premixes on
dairy cattle milk productivity. Results indicated that fodder scarcity was the major challenge
during the dry season (July-October). On-farm fodder resources contributed most of the cattle
diet. Natural pasture and Napier grass were the most important feeds in wet season and maize
stover in dry seasons. Processing and supplementation of poor roughages with protein-energy
concentrates were unpopular. Milk yields were 5.57 and 3.01 litres/cow/day in the wet and
dry seasons respectively. The findings also demonstrated that Ouma and Kakamega 2 can be
promoted in the WUHs for forage use due to higher biomass production. HSR improved the
dry season milk yields significantly (P<0.001). Nonetheless, simulated year-round daily milk
yields indicated that 4 and 6 kg HSR/cow/day would double the milk yields. There was
overall significant difference (P=0.02) in the income to cost ratios (ICR) across the HSR
levels. However, the ICR for 4 and 6 kg HSR/cow/day did not differ significantly (P<0.05).
In conclusion, the supplementation level of 4 kg HSR/cow/day to the fibrous basal diets is
suitable for profitable milk yields in the WUHs. It is therefore, recommended to increase
fodder production and adopt proper supplementation practices to meet sustainable dairy
production in the WUHs and elsewhere with similar environment
