Snack bags for cows boost smallholder dairy farms' milk production. Validated RNRRS Output.
Abstract
This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Summary for Project title: R7010: The production of silage from mixed drought resistant real and legume crops for milk production from cross-bred cows in the semi-arid region of Southern Africa.
In Zimbabwe, work has identified ways in which smallholder dairy farmers can grow enough feed on farm to ensure that their cows produce as much milk as possible. Intercropping forage sorghum or pennisetums with lablab or cow pea produced up to 8 tons of dry matter per hectare over a three year period—despite at least one severe drought. Intercropping with legumes means that the fodder produced contains good levels of protein. Plus, the feed produced can easily be chopped and stored in plastic bags, providing silage that will help poor producers to get through the dry season.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Current Promotion, Impacts On Poverty, Environmental Impact. Attached PDF (15 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
LPP03, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p 66.