403
involves herders moving with high numbers of livestock animals. They do so to
access the scattered, ecologically specialised and seasonally varied grazing lands
and watering points. The system is vulnerable and may be among the drivers of
deforestation and land degradation. Some of the efforts to make pastoralism more
sustainable included making pastoralists more sedentary by providing watering
points in ‘rural villages. However, most of the rangeland is in a poor state due to
overgrazing and wildfires. Productivity is low and significant areas of pastures are
required to meet pastoral needs. During the dry season, the rangeland grasses lose
nutritive value to such a degree that it may not be suitable for supporting any cattle
production at all.
Cultural norms may in part explain why Tanzania’s pastoralists continue to keep
their cattle beyond the optimum point for slaughter. Cattle serve several roles as
they represent the accumulation of assets, security, prestige and status, defined as
wealth (Doran et al. 1979). To optimise income, efficiently rearing and selling cattle
at the optimum time is paramount. Livestock may also serve as a form of savings
account, which can be ‘cashed in’ to meet future planned or unexpected expenditures.
3.3 The Feasibility of Feeding Concentrates and Options
for Roughage-Based Supplementation
The results of this study support the conclusion that concentrate supplementation
has positive effects on farm income. One of the primary positive outcomes is the
shortening of the time taken to produce a steer of given carcass weight. Furthermore,
when we supplement young stock, heifers may give birth at a younger age, thereby
increasing efficiency. Improved feeding could also lead to reduced mortality rates.
Unfortunately, our dataset was not strong enough to validate such a claim. Currently,
calving occurs typically every second or third year at no specific time of the year.
Practising supplementation could also allow for annual calving when combined
with a fixed calving season, which would lead to increased productivity.
In the recent review publication, ‘Grazed and confused’, Garnett et al. (2017)
summarise current knowledge on red meat and its effects on global warming. The
report indicates an adverse impact of the high consumption of red meat in industrialised countries. On the other hand, options for improved sustainable management
of the vast global rangelands do exist. The natural pastures and crop residues, which
are the primary feed resources in most developing countries, including Tanzania,
cannot sustain effective animal production or even animal maintenance because of
their inherent nutrient deficiencies, low digestibility and limited intake capacity of
animals. Supplementation of the low-quality roughages with small quantities of
high-quality supplements could enhance productivity or at least avoid body weight
losses during critical feed shortage periods of the year. Supplementary forage
legumes significantly improve the voluntary feed intake and digestibility of lowquality roughages. Moreover, forage legume supplements would improve N metabolism and utilisation and increase energy availability to the animals, leading to
Profitability of Supplementary Feeding of Indigenous Cattle in Dry Areas of Tanzania
involves herders moving with high numbers of livestock animals. They do so to
access the scattered, ecologically specialised and seasonally varied grazing lands
and watering points. The system is vulnerable and may be among the drivers of
deforestation and land degradation. Some of the efforts to make pastoralism more
sustainable included making pastoralists more sedentary by providing watering
points in ‘rural villages. However, most of the rangeland is in a poor state due to
overgrazing and wildfires. Productivity is low and significant areas of pastures are
required to meet pastoral needs. During the dry season, the rangeland grasses lose
nutritive value to such a degree that it may not be suitable for supporting any cattle
production at all.
Cultural norms may in part explain why Tanzania’s pastoralists continue to keep
their cattle beyond the optimum point for slaughter. Cattle serve several roles as
they represent the accumulation of assets, security, prestige and status, defined as
wealth (Doran et al. 1979). To optimise income, efficiently rearing and selling cattle
at the optimum time is paramount. Livestock may also serve as a form of savings
account, which can be ‘cashed in’ to meet future planned or unexpected expenditures.
3.3 The Feasibility of Feeding Concentrates and Options
for Roughage-Based Supplementation
The results of this study support the conclusion that concentrate supplementation
has positive effects on farm income. One of the primary positive outcomes is the
shortening of the time taken to produce a steer of given carcass weight. Furthermore,
when we supplement young stock, heifers may give birth at a younger age, thereby
increasing efficiency. Improved feeding could also lead to reduced mortality rates.
Unfortunately, our dataset was not strong enough to validate such a claim. Currently,
calving occurs typically every second or third year at no specific time of the year.
Practising supplementation could also allow for annual calving when combined
with a fixed calving season, which would lead to increased productivity.
In the recent review publication, ‘Grazed and confused’, Garnett et al. (2017)
summarise current knowledge on red meat and its effects on global warming. The
report indicates an adverse impact of the high consumption of red meat in industrialised countries. On the other hand, options for improved sustainable management
of the vast global rangelands do exist. The natural pastures and crop residues, which
are the primary feed resources in most developing countries, including Tanzania,
cannot sustain effective animal production or even animal maintenance because of
their inherent nutrient deficiencies, low digestibility and limited intake capacity of
animals. Supplementation of the low-quality roughages with small quantities of
high-quality supplements could enhance productivity or at least avoid body weight
losses during critical feed shortage periods of the year. Supplementary forage
legumes significantly improve the voluntary feed intake and digestibility of lowquality roughages. Moreover, forage legume supplements would improve N metabolism and utilisation and increase energy availability to the animals, leading to
Profitability of Supplementary Feeding of Indigenous Cattle in Dry Areas of Tanzania