S~~LHOLDER MILK PRODUCTION · Confidence was expressed in the new manager (Mr L Mpofu). he joined...
Transcript of S~~LHOLDER MILK PRODUCTION · Confidence was expressed in the new manager (Mr L Mpofu). he joined...
P1.'ojec't R6138 (XO277)
S~~LHOLDER MILK PRODUCTION
(NRI)..Nat~1ral Resources Institute
and Specialist Services (DR&SS)Department of l~esea:r.'ch
(1..1cltOPOS F<.esearch Station)
Site 'J.isit, 15t.l1-18th January 1997by 'l' Snuth {former pI'oject leader) .
Background
In January 199]. an exotic (j,...i.ry bull (Jersey) was purchased, by
Matopos Research Station, to cr.oss with indigenous (Nkone and
Tuli) cows. The objective was to evaluate crossbred cattle, formilk,
draught and meat output, in readiness for an expected
interest by smallholders in dairying in semi-arid areas (with a
time lag of up to four years from first mating to the production
of milk from the Fl). Current shortages of cattle and feed are
reflected in shortaq(:;s ot' mil k alld other dairy products.
~
population growth suggest a doubling by
irnplicat.ions for the intensification of
ofRecent predictions
the year 2020. This has
livestock production systems
A preliminary report on .
1994 (Smith, t1oyo, Beffa,
Harare)
.
In the late 1980s SADC/ICRISI~T developed aprograrnme to evaluate
pennisetum hybrids as a potential forage source for semi-arid
the Department of Research and
1990s, with a strong input atThis was handed to
)verareas.
the earlySpecialist Services in
Matopos Research Stal.:ion
j. nvi ted to submi t a concept note
:or smallholder dairy production to
(NRI). The resulting project was
and 1995/1996. in March 1996 a
,
for 1996 1997for funds
for
torequest
accepted
wasrurming expenses
technologyused materials andmilking. All the i:
available to smallholders
nstallations
been submitted to NRI
Division of Livestock
andQuarterly and Annual Rep havert
and)f thethe Anr!L1al
Repo
appear in
Pastures Services
Africa
(Smith,
A.esearch and Specialist
at the Al;l.
in April 1996
(Department f
AnimalNdlovu
presented
Pretoria,
progress report vias
Agriculture Conference
and Mhere) (proceedings)
The reasons for thjs visj 'let
the projecthad been able to visitNo member1 of
NRI
994in
2)
since funding startecThree projects, tentatively approved for funding in 1997 to
2000, quoted this projec!:. as a foundation study for the new
ct;:: "vEc:;re -to a separate review
, '\', (Drs J Morton and T
subjected
1997)
work.
mission
Smith) .
These proje
(20th-24th Januar
3) The original project leader (T Smith) had left the site on
completion of his contract with the Government of Zimbabwe
(April, 1996).The manager of the dairy unit (K Ndlovu) resigned in
September 1996.
Direct funding (;:!I1C
4)
1-1arch 1997.5)
,n
st
Forage Programme
Details of agronomic stud:i ('::'-5 are reported by the researcher (0
Mhere) .Of the four lines I.-::stablished in late 1994 (Bana; SDPN
3, 29 and 38) two vJill now be dropped: SDPN 29 because of
insufficient yield; SDPN3[i bc~cause of signs of frost damage.
difficult,
because of the irregular
subsequent performance of Bana and
:Ln terms of yield and acceptability
is not available at this site (it is
but watering was
Although establishment was
rainfall pattern of 1994-95,
SDPN3 have been good, bot:h
to cattle.
on otherpossible.
Full irrj.<:J.ation
strategic
j-11e.., t~at.ion)sites on
ma(j(~ in March 1996, was readily eaten
there was some rat and
and greater compaction
repeated in 1997, with
silage in 1998 (this
A trial batch of s ilag"e,
Sept-Oct:
~>uggesti
However,
lined pit
be
by cattle in
insect damage,
,viiiTh isewere necessary. e:"
xperimentalmilking cows recei \7_i_119
programme is tentati'Te
~
~
Crossbred Cattle Proqramm.::~
Detailed reports have b(~E'ri ffi;-jde by the project leaders (T Smith
followed by Mrs S t1oyo). v!hi 1st at the site the reviewer took
part in discussjons of [!.It\1!:e management, and a number of
decisions were agreed .0
1
2)
3)
4)
Confidence was expressed in the new manager (Mr L Mpofu).
he joined Matopos staff (1991) as a certificate holder and
has recently (1996) completed his diploma in agriculture.
It is planned to evaluate three of the forage lines (Bana,
SDPN3 and 38) with dairy cows in two 3 x 3 latin square
design trials. The possibility of measuring intake and
digestibj.lity on t\'!o or three animals per forage, and
splitting the remainj.ng animals into tl;lree groups, one
group to receive each forage was discussed. Because of
good rains there is ample forage available.
The choj.ce of bul.l for };'2 hei fers: All F1 stock have been
bred to a Jersey bull. Because this class of stock (F1)
has proved capcible of surv.iving, both on and off station,
there is little point in producing females with less than
50% Jersey blood. The upper inclusion limit for Jersey
blood has not been established (with good management it
will be near 100~,) for smallholder cattle. The F3 would be
87.5% Jersey. This was the option decided upon (there is
no intention of producing a composite breed).
Seasonal production (bascd on a fixed breeding season) is
still practised, because of the forage deficit in the dry
season. Currently there are a total of 52 F1 and F2
females of various parities ready for bulling. Labour and
financial constraints suggest cutting the herd down, but it
was requested that all felrlales should be bred so that the
l~)r I:) Ball would have the option ofbyproject proposed
4
tIe.
This was agreed to. If Dr
surplus stock will be soldI-l:is
option,
to smallholders
During the current season peak yields of 11 litres/day have
been recorded. At present. it looks as though lactation
yield will be greatest in the third lactation animals,
:l and first respectively.followed by the sec
Outreach
belonging to
!emr)ers
of Ekuphileni, were visited: on::s
Ngwabi) has planted Bana on six of
Two farms,
the first, the r-11
farmer
four cows, surplus
current cash income
On the second farm, Mr
their plot of Bana and
day). Some of this
arid
1 .'
She milks
Her
3tore.~$15
per day.
ten contours in her arabl
milk being sold at the 1
from milk is approximat::el),
& Mrs Ncube are currently establishing
milking one cow (cash income +/-
milk is sold fresh and some soured.
Z$8 per
5
Reports for Ekuphileni and J'.1jela are attached. Mr Kempadoo
visits Matopos frequently and .is preparing his annual report (in
discussions he reports that the group now have nine cows in milk
and own Jersey bulls, \""hictl move between sites). Hlekweni
Training contacted by telephone and reporteda Dairy
~:)hase of this
report of the Review
Centre ...Jas
accepted
second 1
progress.
Irisvale is
Development Project (DDP) site,
progranune is approve() (for o11tline of DDP
Mission to Zimbabwe, J ~1orton and T Smith).
lj-kely to
if
bethe as
alternative, therebjl increasing shelf-life of the distance milk
can be transported. Sourecl m.l lk products are popular.
The Future
Current interest in milk [Jroduction suggests that the project
should continue and develop. If the facility is to be actively
involved in the projects of [)rs Ball and Titterton between 1997
and 2000, then the i~mediate ability to function is guaranteed
for the period. However, the outreach aspects of this programme
also need developing. The current project leader is also acting
head of station and is responsible for two large projects of herown.
There is little possibility of an extra research officer
in the near future.
It is reconunended, t:hat funding be sought to:theref::or~
1 (1100 man daysto milk and feed cows
2)
Support casua.l labour
per year).To employ outside tc;;chnic:al co-operation (part-time?)
support the project, fJr,:)ugh the head of station.
The outreach and studies should increase,
\~i th greater supervision
to
3) or1- farm the
approach to be formalised
extension and researc;h
Supply of a vehicle:
necessary.
A PhD project to be
from
4)
items (2) and (3) above make this
5) de'leloped. This could be in dairy
The student could be regarded as a
the end of the project. The
Officer would act as local
management or systems.
counterpart to take over at:
Technical Co-operatiofl
supervisor.
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Funding
Due to the changes in senior staff on the ground, the allocation
of funding has suffered during the 1996-97 financial year.
(£2870) is requested by theThe balance of the money held by NRI
station for the purchase of:
and notplanned for
1995-96,
and1 A computer printerpurchased, for the forage programme. This would release
funds to relieve budgetary constraints in Dr Titterton's
planned programme. lt~ would also be a contribution to
maintain.ing and upgri'lding the Matopos computer capacity.
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2) (-1:
_,tracts
(Forage and Pastures; Animal
Needed by NRI project staff (value
To purchase 1997 CAR
Breeding; Nutrition).to all research statOr
3) Balance for chemical~
~1cknowledged) .) to complete analysis of forage
progranune samples.
Conclusions aI!QSurnm~
1 Justification for tJ1e project is
by farmers
confirmed by increasing
in producing milk frominterest and awareness
cultivated forage
2) The Jersey crossbred has proved itself capable of surviving
and being producti~Je (milk; draught; meat) on and off
3)
4)
station. ..
Population increase predictj.ons make it imperative to seek
methods of increasing agricultural production from
smallholdings, especially from livestock, where there has
been little improvement since 1980. FAa figures suggest
that per capita consumption of protein of animal origin is
above 11g/day in Zirobabwe (developed world 28g).
The physical facilit:ies and expertise generated under this
project will contribute to planned NRI funded work (1997-
2000) .,",, '-L- r ,.
5) J:urcner Iundlng should be sought to continue the momentum
started under Project: 6138 (X6277). In particular outreach
activities need increasing and formalising.
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progranu-ne and People Consulted
Tuesday 14th January 19~!
T Smith flew to Zimbabwe.
visit,
!!ednesday 15th Ja~ua~
T Smith arrived in Zimbabwe
Discussions with:
Dr N R Gata (Director', DR&SS) (outlined purpose of
agreed to report back)
Mrs Nyazaume (Senior ~.c(;ounts Officer, DR&SS)
Dr M Titterorl
Mrs B Maasdorp
University of Zimbabwe. Progress of
forage work (current trial)
and registration of 0 Mhere at
University of Zimbabwa for MPhil
,tudies
Travelled to Matopos.
(EnkuphileniNcubefarms and Mr MrsVisited of :tvlrs &Ngwabi
Smallholder Dairy Project)
Discussions with 0 Mhere regarding 1996-97 prograrmne.
10
Friday 17th January
Discussions ~lith:
Ms S Ngwabi (Agritex
0 Mhere
r-fi e la proj ect)
Beffa/S Ncube
S Moyo (report bclC~}:
T Bmi th
for NRI
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