scholarly journals Breeding strategies for improving smallholder dairy cattle productivity in Sub‐Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aluna R. Chawala ◽  
Enrique Sanchez‐Molano ◽  
Richard J. Dewhurst ◽  
Andrew Peters ◽  
Mizeck G. G. Chagunda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Breeding Strategies ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Sub Saharan

Instant Insights: Heat stress in dairy cattle

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Economic Constraints ◽  
The Impact

This specially curated collection features four reviews of current and key research on heat stress in dairy cattle. The first chapter outlines technologies to breed for more heat tolerant dairy cattle, exploiting either between or within breed genetic variation in the trait. It discusses future perspectives on the use of different tools to achieve accelerated improvements of this important trait. The second chapter discusses breeding goals and multi-trait selection to balance production and non-production traits. It considers newer breeding objectives such as ensuring that cattle can adapt to a changing climate, including breeding for heat tolerance. The third chapter reviews challenges facing smallholder dairy farmers in Asia. These include the impact of high temperatures and humidity on milk yield, reproductive efficiency and animal health. The chapter places these challenges in the context of the broader economic constraints faced by smallholders and how they can be overcome. The final chapter highlights constraints in improving smallholder dairy production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Issues include developing breeds balancing yield with resilience to local climatic conditions. The chapter reviews ways of Improving breeding and productivity, as well as broader organisational support.

Predicting energy and protein supply and milk production of dairy cows consuming high forage rations in the central highlands of Kenya

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 132-132
Author(s):  
F.V. Nherera ◽  
A.N. Pell ◽  
D.G Fox ◽  
L.O Tedeschi ◽  
D.M Mbugua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
East African ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
East African Highlands ◽  
High Forage

Level 1 of the Cornell Net carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) model has not yet been used to predict animal performance on smallholder dairy farms in African conditions. Over 60% of the smallholder dairy cattle in sub-Saharan Africa are in the East African highlands. Although the level of production is low, dairy cattle contribute significantly to the livelihoods of rural families. If the model predictions reflect animal performance, the CNCPS model could be a useful tool to develop feeding strategies to enhance animal production. The objectives of our study were to: (1) evaluate the accuracy of the predictions of dry matter intake, milk production and phosphorus excretion of the CNCPS model for dairy cattle on smallholder farms; (2) predict nutrient requirements and supply of confined and lactating crossbred cows consuming high forage rations and (3) determine the variation in feed quality and milk production.

Assessing and managing intensification in smallholder dairy systems for food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 2257-2267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizeck G. G. Chagunda ◽  
Agnes Mwangwela ◽  
Chisoni Mumba ◽  
Filomena Dos Anjos ◽  
Bettie S. Kawonga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Food And Nutrition Security ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Dairy Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Joint genetic analysis for dairy cattle performance across countries in sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-520
Author(s):  
O. Opoola ◽  
G. Banos ◽  
J.M.K. Ojango ◽  
R. Mrode ◽  
G. Simm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Germplasm Exchange ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Estimated Breeding Values ◽  
Seven Generations

This study assessed the feasibility of across-country genetic evaluation of dairy cattle in sub-Saharan Africa where data on livestock production are scarce. Genetic parameters were estimated for the 305-day milk yield in the first lactation and across five lactations, for age at first calving and for interval between first and second calving. Estimated breeding values of individual animals for these traits were calculated. There were records from 2 333, 25 208, and 5 929 Holstein cows in Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, and 898 and 65134 Jersey cows from Kenya and South Africa. Genetic gain from sire selection within and across countries. was predicted Genetic links between countries were determined from sires with daughters that had records in two or more countries, and from common ancestral sires across seven generations on both the maternal and paternal sides of the pedigree. Each country was treated as a trait in the across-country evaluation. The results showed that genetic variance and heritability were not always estimable within country, but were significantly different from zero in the across-country evaluation. In all three countries, there was greater genetic gain in all traits from an across-country genetic evaluation owing to greater accuracy of selection compared with within country. Kenya stood to benefit most from an across-country evaluation, followed by Zimbabwe, then South Africa. An across-country breeding programme using joint genetic evaluation would be feasible, provided that there were genetic links across countries, and would provide a platform for accelerated genetic progress through selection and germplasm exchange between sub-Saharan African countries.Keywords: across-country genetic evaluation, genetic connectedness, genetic progress

scholarly journals The Carbon Footprint Of Smallholder Dairy Farming In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 476
Author(s):  
Janvier HAKUZIMANA ◽  
Divin Jean Paul Munyambonera ◽  
Jean de Dieu Habimana
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Smallholder Dairy Farming ◽  
Sub Saharan

Agriculture sector is one of major sources of income and livelihood to many populations of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over the past years animal production has been playing a vital role not only in generating revenues to farmers but also as a source of high qualitative proteins and essential micronutrients (i.e iron, zinc and vitamins) and boosting the agricultural productivity due to its importance in farmyards organic fertilization (i.e manure). Livestock production and Milk market in SSA are dominated by smallholder dairy farming (SDF) which employ nearly 70% of all livestock farmers. Despite its positive impact on people and SSA countries’ economy, SDF has been the major fastest growing agricultural contributors of GHG emissions such as CH4, N2O and CO2 (i.e 9t CO2e per tonne of milk; the highest in the world compared to other regions) thus accelerating global warming effect.Although several articles have investigated the impacts of livestock production on climate change, to the best of our knowledge the existing literature doesn’t contain any studies that provide insight review of smallholder dairy farming’s carbon footprint (CF) in SSA. This review paper is therefore aimed at critical analysis of current knowledge in terms of CF of smallholder dairy farming in SSA and effective mitigation strategies (dietary, manure and animal management) recently proposed to reduce CH4 and N2O emissions from ruminants. SSA was selected because of rapid rise of SDF in the region therefore it is expected to rapidly increase its GHG emissions in future if no sustainable measures are taken.The critical analysis, what is known and gaps in SDF from this review will help to inform the farmers, researchers, decision and policy makers interested in GHG emissions thus to provide the next direction in research and improvement of the sector for sustainability. Capacity building for raising awareness among farmers was identified as paramount to better understand the issue and the options to mitigate emissions on-farm. As longer as adaptation and mitigation strategies become paramount on national and regional agenda, SDF will make significant contribution to economies, improved livelihood and become sustainable livestock production systems in SSA at large.

scholarly journals A Review of the Impact of Mycotoxins on Dairy Cattle Health: Challenges for Food Safety and Dairy Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 222 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chebutia Kemboi ◽  
Gunther Antonissen ◽  
Phillis E. Ochieng ◽  
Siska Croubels ◽  
Sheila Okoth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Aspergillus Species ◽  
Aflatoxin M1 ◽  
Tropical Condition ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that contaminate food and feed and have a significant negative impact on human and animal health and productivity. The tropical condition in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) together with poor storage of feed promotes fungal growth and subsequent mycotoxin production. Aflatoxins (AF) produced by Aspergillus species, fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin (T-2), and deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium species, and ochratoxin A (OTA) produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species are well-known mycotoxins of agricultural importance. Consumption of feed contaminated with these toxins may cause mycotoxicoses in animals, characterized by a range of clinical signs depending on the toxin, and losses in the animal industry. In SSA, contamination of dairy feed with mycotoxins has been frequently reported, which poses a serious constraint to animal health and productivity, and is also a hazard to human health since some mycotoxins and their metabolites are excreted in milk, especially aflatoxin M1. This review describes the major mycotoxins, their occurrence, and impact in dairy cattle diets in SSA highlighting the problems related to animal health, productivity, and food safety and the up-to-date post-harvest mitigation strategies for the prevention and reduction of contamination of dairy feed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document