Pasture use and management strategies in the Ankole pastoral system in Uganda

Abstract

The Bahima ethnic group have been crossbreeding autochthonous Ankole with Holstein-Friesian cattle. Separate herds (pure Ankole and crossbreds) are common. A survey was conducted to characterize pasture utilization and management in the Ankole region to gain a better understanding of current and emerging practices. Herds are largely grazed by continuous stocking although there are efforts to establish paddocks. Factors considered for pasture allocation to cattle genotypes were high-quality feed, limited shrubs ⁄ weeds and close proximity to homestead for 80, 80 and 30% of farmers, respectively. Cross-bred cattle were kept on medium ⁄ high-quality, and Ankole cattle on medium ⁄ low-quality pastures. Pastures for crossbred cattle yielded 0AE17 t ha )1 more dry matter than pastures allocated to Ankole cattle. Crude protein (CP) content of Ankole pasture was significantly (P < 0AE05) lower than CP of cross-bred pasture (6AE3% compared with 7AE3%). Neutral detergent fibre content was similar (72AE8% vs. 69AE8%) for both pasture types. Farmers' perceptions of indicator plant species were important for allocation of pasture. Hyparrhenia rufa, Brachiaria spp., Themeda triandra and Chloris gayana were identified as the preferred pasture species. Sporobolus pyramidalis and Cymbopogon afronardus were the most undesirable pasture species. Brachiaria spp. offers an opportunity for utilization as hay for dry season supplementation.

Chemical composition and in vitro total gas and methane production of forage species from the Mid Rift Valley grasslands of Ethiopia

“…Grasslands of East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, support one of the highest livestock populations in Africa (FAO, ). However, the productivity of the grazing livestock in the region has remained low, mainly due to the critical feed shortages and inadequate quality of the pasture on offer, resulting from poor management, overgrazing and recurrent droughts (Coppock, ; Solomon et al ., ; Roschinsky et al ., ). The low digestibility and crude protein (CP) contents of such forages have been reported to limit dry‐matter and energy intakes (Schlecht et al ., ).…”

Forage conservation in sub‐Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities

“…In the northern region of Uganda where pastoralism is dominant, the natural pastures such as giant thatching grass [Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf], Urochloa spp., red oat grass (Themeda triandra Forssk.) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth), are preferred pasture species for standing hay (Roschinsky et al, 2012). A review of reports from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda indicated that the common methods of hay making are loose hay (53%), box baling (47%), and machine baling (6%) (Lukuyu et al, 2013).…”

Uganda’s rangeland policy: intentions, consequences and opportunities

“…Drought and heat-induced livestock mortality has increased in Uganda due to starvation and lack of water; this causes significant economic losses, and negatively impacts on livelihoods of pastoral communities and increases their impoverishment (Stites et al 2010, Mwaura andKatunze 2014). Increased bush expansion in Ugandan rangelands by several native species, including Acacia (Vachellia) hockii De Wild and Lantana camara L., and increasing non-palatable grass species such as Cymbopogon afronardus Stapf have contributed to a decline in rangeland productivity, especially for grazers (Mugasi et al 2000, Oba et al 2008, Roschinsky et al 2012. We posit that many of these aforementioned challenges can be traced back to land use and economic policies originating from the colonial era, which generally focused on the production efficiency of a small number of provisioning ecosystem services and failed to account for regulatory, cultural and supporting ecosystem services from rangelands (Muhereza 2001, Pulkol 1994, Kisamba-Mugerwa 1992.…”