Livestock Intensification in Malawi: Challenges and Opportunities
Explore the livestock intensification efforts in Malawi, focusing on constraints, potential, and solutions discussed at the Africa Rising Annual Meeting. Discover the key factors affecting livestock production, such as feed availability, land size, and resilience. Learn about trends in feed resources, constraints to dairy production, and ways to enhance crop-livestock systems for sustainable agriculture.
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Presentation Transcript
Livestock intensification in Malawi Fanny Chigwa Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources fancchigwa@yahoo.com Africa Rising Project Annual Meeting 14 July 2015 Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 1
Presentation Outline Livestock Population Constraints to livestock production Potential of Crop-Livestock production Opportunities of Crop-Livestock production Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 2
Livestock Populations Species Total population Person/animal Goats 5,882,106 3 Cattle 1,316,799 17 Beef cattle 1,252,420 17 Dairy Cattle 64,379 266 Pure dairy cattle 14,710 1214 Dairy Crosses 49,699 340 DAHLD 2014 Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 3
Why an increase in Goats Interplay of:- Available Feed resources Land size Resilience: Ability to survive under environmental stress and utilize other feed resources Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 4
Trends in feed resources Shortage of grazing land as arable and dambo land is allocated to crop production Decline in feed quality and quantity in the dry season (Crude protein in grasses drop from 5.5% to 2.2%) Natural trees and multipurpose tree offer alternative feed resources Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 5
Constraints to livestock Production Low Productivity: Low milk production which result in low milk consumption 4 kg per capita in Malawi 28.5 kg in Sub-Saharan Africa 200 kg per WHO recommendations Dry season feed shortage Diseases Markets Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 6
Constraints to Dairy Production High feed cost Money for recurring expenses North Central South High veterinary charges Disease incidence High Investment 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% % Farms Selecting Item USAID Trilateral Dairy project 2014 Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 7
Potential of Crop-livestock Production Manure used as fertilizer in crop fields Crop residues can be used as livestock feed Livestock are sold to buy food in periods of food shortage Livestock are sold to buy fertilizer or pay for farm labour Integration reduces farmer s risk Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 8
Potential for Crop-Livestock - Agroforestry Fodder trees provide crops with: Leaves supply nutrients to crops Fodder trees provide livestock with: Dietary protein 20-30% whole year Anti-nutritional factors that reduce methane: energy loss in rumen fermentation Minerals: Calcium 1-3%, Phosphorus 0.3-0.5% Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 9
Rumen Methane production and Dry season livestock feeds Forages Methane ml/200mgDM Std Error 15.10a 0.35 Echinocloa pyramidalis Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) 12.23b 0.46 Sachrum offisinarum (sugarcane 14.53ab 0.35 leaves) Arachis hypogea (shells) 13.83ab 0.67 Arachis hypogea (hay) 2.77c 0.49 5.33d 0.65 Rechardia scabra 4.27cd 0.23 Acacia anguiststima 3.50cd 0.42 Leucaena leucocephala a, b, c, d: means on the same column with different superscripts are significantly varied (P < 0.05) Maselema and Chigwa 2015 Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 10
Opportunity for livestock intensification Resilience of goat under environmental and nutritional stress Ability to reduce mortalities with better management MPT s provides dietary CP to livestock whole year and reduce energy losses when fed at less than 30% Existing festivals when there is a high demand of livestock or products e.g Ramadan Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 11
Scope of Master research Establishment of drug boxes Goat husbandry training Evaluation of local goat feed resources Feeding trials using MTP to fatten goats for slaughter and sale in Ramadan festival Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 12
Take home Message Livestock trends show an increase in goats Striving livestock use alternative feed resources and are resilient There is a need to promote research on available feeds resources and emerging production systems Livestock production that targets better marketing channels and period will stimulate production Africa Rising Annual meeting 14 July 2015 13
