Breed diversification in south western Uganda: characterization of a new cattle farming system
Date
2009-06Author
Galukande, E
Mulindwa, H
Wurzinger, M
Mwai, AO
Solkner, J
Type
Book chapterLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
keeping different genotypes (Holstein-Friesians or their crosses and pure Ankole) is emerging in
South Western Uganda. In this system the Ankole, cattle are being crossed with Holstein-Friesian
and the two genotypes are being kept in separate herds on the same farm. This is in response to
the rapidly growing population, new land policies that favour individual land ownership [1, 2]
high demand of livestock products in the urban centres and improved rural infrastructure.
As part of a larger research program that aims at evaluating the ecological and economic
sustainability of the new pastoral systems, a survey was undertaken of sixteen farmers selected
from 3 sub-counties in Kiruhura District in South West Uganda. Two sets of detailed structured
questionnaires were used to collect information from the farms. The 1st set was administered at the
beginning of the study in April 2007, and the 2nd one was administered on a monthly basis for a
period of the last 12 months. On each farm visit performance traits such as milk yield (MY), heart
girth measurement (HG) and Body Condition Score (BCS) of the animals were recorded.
Comparative MY, BCS and body weight performance for mature cows for the different genotypes
are considered here.
Majority (53.3%) of the farmers interviewed stated that they kept the two cattle types (genotypes)
because the crossbreds gave them more marketable milk, while the Ankole provides security in
case diseases or prolonged drought affected the crossbreds. Another group (19.9%) stated that
they still prefer to keep Ankole cattle besides the crosses because they are hardy, while others
(13.3%) stated that they kept Ankole for beef production because they were easier to sell off for
this purpose and the crosses for milk production. Another 13.3% stated that the crossbreds were
kept for income through milk sales and Ankole were kept for cultural reasons.
URI
http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/bookofextendedsynopses.pdf#page=101http://hdl.handle.net/11295/44653
Citation
Galukande, E., Mulindwa, H., Wurzinger, M., Mwai, A. O., & Solkner, J. (2009, June). Breed diversification in south western Uganda: characterization of a new cattle farming system. In FAO/IAEA Symposium on Sustainable Improvement of Animal Production and Health, Vienna, Austria.Publisher
University of Nairobi. Department of Animal Production