Prioritization of Crop Residues for Improving Productivity on Smallholder Dairy Farming Households in the Lake Victoria Crescent, Uganda

Andrew Mwebaze Atuhaire, Swidiq Mugerwa, Samuel Okello, Kenneth Okello Lapenga, Fred Kabi, Jolly Mary Kabirizi

Department of Agricultural Production, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Department of Livestock and Industrial Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
National Agricultural Research Institute (NARO), National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), Tororo, Uganda.

DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2014.42014                

Abstract

Poor nutrition has been identified as a major constraint to productivity in smallholder dairy farming households in Uganda, particularly in Lake Victoria Crescent Agroecological Zone (LVZ). Clarification on nutritional potential of crop residues is central to formulation of sustainable dairy cattle nutrition strategies. Data were collected from 126 randomly selected respondents using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Farmers’ responses on crop residues utilization, handling, limitations, spatial and temporal variability were collected. Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences on utilization of available crop residues (X2 = 50.4, df = 4, p = 0.0001) among farmer’s rankings. It was established that maize stovers were major crop residues utilized and inadequate knowledge to process crop residues was ranked as a major limitation. The study provided basic information on the importance of crop residues. Further research studies should focus on improving the nutritive value of maize stover.

Keywords

Haulms; Stovers; Nutritive Value; Vine

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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