247
6 Conclusion
Milk and meat production in indigenous Zebu cattle can be intensified by supplemental feeding of leguminous leaves during the dry period. Implementing such
practices would reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of produced food and
represents a potential for improved livelihood of smallholder farmers in Malawi.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Malawian smallholder farmers, who
actively participated in this study. We are grateful to Dr. Liveness Jessica Banda and Dr. Fanny
Chigwa, Animal Science Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(LUANAR), for their help in laboratory analyses. This study was supported by the project:
“Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi (CABMACC)”, Norwegian
University of Life Sciences, Norway.
Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Funding This study was funded by Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi
(grant number CABMACC).
References
Akinnagbe O, Irohibe I (2014) Agricultural adaptation strategies to climate change impacts in
Africa: a review. Bangladesh J Agric Res 39(3):407–418
AOAC (2000) Official methods of analysis. AOAC International, Arlington
Aye P, Adegun M (2013) Chemical composition and some functional properties of Moringa,
Leucaena and Gliricidia leaf meals. Agric Biol J N Am 4(1):71–77
Banda LJ, Kamwanja LA, Chagunda MGG, Ashworth CJ, Roberts DJ (2012) Status of dairy
cow management and fertility in smallholder farms in Malawi. Trop Anim Health Prod
44(4):715–727
Bhatti MA (2016) Climate change resilience through enhanced reproduction and lactation performance in Malawian Zebu cattle. Masters Thesis: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås,
Norway, p 70
Cao Z, Anderson J, Kalscheur K (2009) Ruminal degradation and intestinal digestibility of dried
or wet distillers grains with increasing concentrations of condensed distillers solubles. J Anim
Sci 87(9):3013–3019
Chang’a JS, Løken T, Mdegela RH, Reksen O (2012) Factors associated with body weight attainment in calves on smallholder dairy farms in Tanzania. Open J Vet Med 2:66–73
Chauhan DS, Ghosh N (2014) Impact of climate change on livestock production: a review. J Anim
Res 4(2):223
Colmenero JO, Broderick G (2006) Effect of dietary crude protein concentration on milk production and nitrogen utilization in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 89(5):1704–1712
Gerber PJ, Henderson B, Makkar HP (2013a) Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock
production. A review of technical options for non-CO2 emissions. FAO, Rome
Gerber PJ, Steinfeld H, Henderson B, Mottet A, Opio C, Dijkman J, Falcucci A, Tempio G (2013b)
Tackling climate change through livestock: a global assessment of emissions and mitigation
opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
Keady T, Marley C, Scollan N, Kuoppala K, Rinne M, Vanhatalo A (2012) Grass and alternative
forage silages for beef cattle and sheep: effects on animal performance. In: Kuoppala K, Rinne
M, Vanhatalo A (eds) Proceedings XVI international silage conference. Hämeenlinna, Finland,
pp 152–165
Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive…
6 Conclusion
Milk and meat production in indigenous Zebu cattle can be intensified by supplemental feeding of leguminous leaves during the dry period. Implementing such
practices would reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of produced food and
represents a potential for improved livelihood of smallholder farmers in Malawi.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Malawian smallholder farmers, who
actively participated in this study. We are grateful to Dr. Liveness Jessica Banda and Dr. Fanny
Chigwa, Animal Science Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(LUANAR), for their help in laboratory analyses. This study was supported by the project:
“Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi (CABMACC)”, Norwegian
University of Life Sciences, Norway.
Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Funding This study was funded by Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi
(grant number CABMACC).
References
Akinnagbe O, Irohibe I (2014) Agricultural adaptation strategies to climate change impacts in
Africa: a review. Bangladesh J Agric Res 39(3):407–418
AOAC (2000) Official methods of analysis. AOAC International, Arlington
Aye P, Adegun M (2013) Chemical composition and some functional properties of Moringa,
Leucaena and Gliricidia leaf meals. Agric Biol J N Am 4(1):71–77
Banda LJ, Kamwanja LA, Chagunda MGG, Ashworth CJ, Roberts DJ (2012) Status of dairy
cow management and fertility in smallholder farms in Malawi. Trop Anim Health Prod
44(4):715–727
Bhatti MA (2016) Climate change resilience through enhanced reproduction and lactation performance in Malawian Zebu cattle. Masters Thesis: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås,
Norway, p 70
Cao Z, Anderson J, Kalscheur K (2009) Ruminal degradation and intestinal digestibility of dried
or wet distillers grains with increasing concentrations of condensed distillers solubles. J Anim
Sci 87(9):3013–3019
Chang’a JS, Løken T, Mdegela RH, Reksen O (2012) Factors associated with body weight attainment in calves on smallholder dairy farms in Tanzania. Open J Vet Med 2:66–73
Chauhan DS, Ghosh N (2014) Impact of climate change on livestock production: a review. J Anim
Res 4(2):223
Colmenero JO, Broderick G (2006) Effect of dietary crude protein concentration on milk production and nitrogen utilization in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 89(5):1704–1712
Gerber PJ, Henderson B, Makkar HP (2013a) Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock
production. A review of technical options for non-CO2 emissions. FAO, Rome
Gerber PJ, Steinfeld H, Henderson B, Mottet A, Opio C, Dijkman J, Falcucci A, Tempio G (2013b)
Tackling climate change through livestock: a global assessment of emissions and mitigation
opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome
Keady T, Marley C, Scollan N, Kuoppala K, Rinne M, Vanhatalo A (2012) Grass and alternative
forage silages for beef cattle and sheep: effects on animal performance. In: Kuoppala K, Rinne
M, Vanhatalo A (eds) Proceedings XVI international silage conference. Hämeenlinna, Finland,
pp 152–165
Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive…