Performance of growing cattle on poor‐quality rangelands supplemented with farm‐formulated protein supplements in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Farmers use different non-conventional protein supplements and different feeding strategies to aid their animals survive the dry season in Zimbabwe. The strategies can be giving supplements once a week or once every other day up to very little supplement daily. Supplements are either legume crop residues or forage legumes. However, the efficacy of the use of non-conventional protein supplements in promoting growth and at the same time lowering the age at first calving is little understood. The study tested whether supplementing with farm-formulated non-conventional feeds could reduce live weight loss during the dry season and promote live weight gain as well as early development of sexual maturity in beef cattle. In a completely randomized design, thirty dams with calves on hooves were allocated to five different treatments which were repeated during the dry season for 3 years. The 3-year study results show that weight loss can be controlled, resulting in positive growth in both the pre-weaning and post-weaning phases of growing cattle. Yearlings fed solely on natural pasture lost significant weight during the dry season as compared to supplemented groups. The period to puberty and first calving was achieved at 18 and 27 months, respectively. Using non-conventional protein supplements could thus improve livestock productivity in resource-poor farming communities. It was concluded that smallholder farmers can supplement cattle with a kilogram per day of low-cost farm-based non-conventional legume meal to improve livestock productivity in semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe.

Promoting the use of home-mixed supplements as alternatives to commercial supplements in smallholder beef production systems in the subhumid region of Zimbabwe

“…Partial or complete substitution of feed ingredients with forages or poultry litter as protein sources enabled farmers to source feed locally, utilise what is available at the farm, whilst getting more or less the same animal perfomance as with commercial feed. Several studies have also concluded with recommending use of alternative protein sources to reduce feed and associated costs, thereby increasing overall profitability (Jokthan et al 2013;Mhaka 2014;Gusha et al 2015b). Fluctuations in the pricing of beef in Zimbabwe generally follow seasonal availability of beef quality and quantity.…”