INTEGRATED LIVESTOCK FEED INTERVENTIONS in the maize-based systems of Babati district. Ben Lukuyu; Leonard Marwa, Gregory Sikumba and David Ngunga

the Livestock angle!  Integrating improved FORAGES as animal FEED and LAND MANAGEMENT strategy (ILRI/CIAT)  Enhancing use of CROP RESIDUES (cereals, legumes and vegetable waste) as animal FEED (ILRI/CIAT)  Exploiting locally available feed resources to feed indigenous chickens (ILRI/AVRDC)

Pilot chicken rations RESEARCH DEVELOPEMENT Scoping visits Feed assessments using the FEAST tool Survey for indigenous chickens On station testing of forage varieties On farm testing of forage varieties Forage ‘best bets’ identified Tested various forage combinations on farm Introduced and tested forage choppers Purchased more efficient forage choppers and feed mills Forage ‘best best’ combinations identified Initiate integration on farms Develop business models around forage choppers & feed mills Identify forage champions Develop a forage seed and planting materials supply system Chicken rations formulated Chicken rations tested

 Pilot testing improved forages in Seloto, Sabilo and Long villages of Babati district.  Conducted participatory preference assessments of introduced forage varieties with communities Activity 1: Introduce improved forages for livestock feed and as a land management strategy into existing farming systems.

Forages technologies…. Napier grass/ Leucaena leucocephala plot in Babati A Napier grass plot in Babati Desmodium green leaf plot in Babati Desmodium/Napier grass intercrop plot in Babati

Performance of Napier grass accessions

Farmer variety preferences AccessionAttributes Ranking of attributes Rank by total yield Rank by quality (leaf: stem ratio ILRI )Large number of leaves /plant and shoots/stool 1 3 1)Resistant to drought31 1)Rapid recovery after cutting2 1)Late flowering4 KK2 1)Fewer leaves/stem, shoots/stool and medium height stems 1 1 1)Resilient to drought43 1)Fast recovery after cutting3 1)Large size leaves and thick stems2 ILRI )Fewer shoots but vigorous1 2 1)Tolerant to drought32 1)Late flowering2

Growth Results 2015 Long Village AccessionILPT (cm) Average Height (cm)# LPT# TPP# IPT LA (cm -2 ) SC (cm) Kakamega Kakamega ILRI ILRI ILRI ILRI Total Growth Results 2015 Sabilo Village Accession ILPT (cm) Average Height (cm)# LPT# TPP# IPTLA (cm -2 )SC (cm) Kakamega Kakamega ILRI ILRI ILRI ILRI Total Note: LPT=Number of Leaves per Tiller, TPP=Number of Tillers per plant, IPT=Number of Internode per Tiller, ILPT=Internode length per tiller (cm), LA=Leaf Area (cm2), SC=Stem Circumference (cm)

Napier Forage yield (2015 long rain season )  High yield of stems These stems go to waste due to poor processing. Results warrants the need to increase use of forage choppers.

NIRS and Wet chemistry laboratory results for Stem and leaf for 6 Napier accessions. Note: Samples of crop residues and other available feed and forages have been sampled and analyzed for quality to formulate rations for both livestock and poultry. There is no much difference in nutritional quality (CP%), and True In vitro Organic Matter digestibility percent (TIVOMD).

 Large areas are committed to crop production with limited areas of land committed to planted fodder.  Crop residues such as maize stover and bean haulms are commonly fed to livestock due to inadequate grazing land.  Crop residues are abundant but poorly stored and used. Activity2: Crop residue utilization

Availability of major types of crop residues in Long, Sabilo and Seloto villages, Babati district Type of crop residues JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDec Maizestover Beans haulms Pigeon pea haulms Sorghum straw Chick pea haulms Finger millet straw

Maize stover yields observed in selected villages in Babati during the cropping season

 Post-harvest forage processing technologies offer potential to enhance use of crop residues for livestock feeding through; o Improved storage o Handling o Transportation o Increased feed intake Enhancing crop residues use

Tested forage choppers with farmers Fuel driven forage chopper in Babati Maize stover baler in Babati Capacity development around forage choppers Building business models around forages Emerging needs

Key findings Plenty cereal and legume grain products available on farms Plenty of unutilized vegetable waste exist in vegetable growing areas Poor processing of cereal and vegetable by products/waste (a lack of technology) Poor storage of feed resources Indigenous chickens comprise 96.5% of the chickens kept in Babati district. Farmers own an average of 5 birds per HH. A total of 53.2% of HH keep indigenous chickens under extensive system There is high mortality rate (60%) mainly due to malnutrition, diseases, predators, and rough environmental conditions. Activity 3: Improved feeding of indigenous chickens using local feed resources

 Chicken feed rations based on locally available resources being tested with farmers  Vegetable based rations (2)  Cereal by product based rations (2)  Introduction of three (3) feeds mills for chicken feed  Piloting ‘best bet’ rations with farmers Ongoing work…

Next steps….Integration and sustainability of the technologies Test a business model around feeds mills for making chicken feed Pilot ‘best bet’ chicken feed rations

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