Inclusion of Lablab Bean (lablab purpureus) in Dairy Cows’ Diets among Southern African Smallholders: Effect on Milk Production- A review

The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal effects on quantity and quality of fodder resources and associated utilization practices among smallholder dairy farmers in Western Usambara Highlands (WUHs) in Tanzania. The WUHs are among the major milk producing areas under smallholder dairy farming systems (SDFS) in Tanzania. Dry season fodder scarcity is a widespread problem affecting the East African SDFS and has been shown to contribute to over 40% reduction in milk yield. There is limited information with regard to seasonal fodder fluctuation and its effects on productivity of dairy cows in different landscape levels of Tanzania. Field and household surveys were conducted in 150 dairy cattle farming households from five villages in three wards located in WUHs. Survey data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. In addition, remote sensing techniques were employed on gap-filled and smoothed Landsat data to generate land cover maps and bimonthly normalized difference vegetation index-time series for the 2009-2016. SDFS landscape was highly heterogeneous typified by crops, bushes, and forests. On average, the household landholding was 1.3ha, while herd size was three cattle. About 87% of household land was devoted to crop growing with limited pasture along the farm margins and contour strips. Fodder scarcity was the major challenge during the dry season (July to October) as indicated by 87% of the respondents. On-farm fodder resources contributed most of the cattle diet (73%) while rangeland, forest, and purchased feed provided small amount. Natural pasture and napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were the most important feeds in wet season while maize stover was most significant during the dry season. Maize stover was profusely stored for dry season feeding and neither silage nor hay making was practiced. The nutritional values of the fibrous feeds declined during the dry season, whereby the metabolizable energy and crude protein contents were 6.0MJ/kg and 10.1% dry matter, respectively, during wet season compared to 4.8MJ/kg and 7.8% dry matter, respectively, during the dry season. Consequently, milk yield drops from 5.6l per cow per day in the wet season to 3.0l in the dry season. It is concluded that dry season fodder scarcity is a major problem in the WUHs and it hinders sustainable dairy production. It is therefore suggested that increase in fodder production as well as adoption of fodder conservation and feeding technologies are inevitable if sustainable dairy production is to be met in the Western Usambara Highlands and elsewhere with similar environments.

This study assessed the effects of grazing and feeding management on the extent of commercialization among the smallholder dairy farmers in Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 225 smallholder dairy farming households selected randomly across 11 smallholder dairy cooperatives in Zimbabwe, data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the ordinary least squares regression method. The study used milk yield as a proxy for commercialization. Farmers whose cows produced higher yield were considered more commercialized than farmers whose cows produced a lower yield. The results indicated that access to better pastures, better feed types, more area under fodder and more feeding frequency positively impact on milk yield. This result indicates that smallholder farmers with better access to enough, appropriate and consistent feed obtain better milk yield from the dairy cows while the poor quality and quantity of feeds are the primary reasons why most smallholder dairy farmers in developing countries like Zimbabwe continue to produce low/uneconomic milk yields. Since purchased dairy feed concentrates are essential in enhancing milk yield, the study recommends that farmers who can afford these should continue using them and where applicable agro-dealers selling these inputs should be supported to establish selling outlets within the farmers reach. However, given the cost of the commercial dairy feeds visa the economic capacity of smallholder milk producers, the study recommends farmer to consider producing their feed by putting more area under fodder than buying commercial feed.

Dairy farming plays a major role in the Kenyan agricultural sector as it is dominated by smallholder farmers who contribute approximately 80 per cent of the total milk production. In Kinangop Sub County, there are many credit service providers however, not all smallholder dairy farmers have benefited from such services, instead smallholder dairy farmers have continued to experience challenges such as limited access to financial services. This study therefore analyzed the determinants of credit access among smallholder dairy farmers in Kinangop Sub-County using a binary logistic regression model. Following this, the marginal effects of the predictor variables on the likelihood of accessing credit were estimated. A total of 230 respondents were sampled from a population of 35,840 smallholder dairy farmers using both stratified and simple random sampling techniques and both structured and semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Descriptive analysis revealed that majority: 59.57% of smallholder dairy farmers were males, 69.57% were married and had a mean age of 39.4 years. The average household size was 4 members per household. Formal schooling was also attained by the respondents, majority having an average of about 8 years of schooling. On average farmers had 2 dairy cattle per household, produced 341litres of milk per month and had 11 years of farming. The binary logistic regression analysis and the marginal effect calculation revealed marital status, years of schooling, savings frequency, dairy farming, primary occupation, financial education, association membership and number of dairy cattle as the significant determinants of credit access. The study therefore concluded that there were significant determinants of credit access in the study area and recommended that formulating policies geared towards enhancing educational attainment of farmers would be vital in enhancing credit accessibility to farmers in the study area. There is also need for the Government and other stakeholders to encourage dairy farmers to join farmer based associations and eliminate stringent collateral barriers and bureaucracies that tend to discourage smallholder dairy farmers from accessing and participating in different credit schemes. KEY WORDS: Credit access, Determinants, smallholder dairy farmers, Kinangop Sub-County.

This study assessed the extent of seasonal fodder scarcity influence on milk production in smallholder farms (n=130) in the north rift region of Kenya. A cross-sectional survey to obtain primary data was conducted through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Data processing was done in excel, thereafter, data was analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). Results indicated that the farms experienced 60.5% fodder deficit and milk yield gap of 117%. The deficit was greater during the rainy season (77.6%) than in the dry season (37.4%) but milk yield gap was relatively smaller in the rainy season (113%) than in the dry season (131%). Seasonal fodder scarcity was associated with low milk production, with an increase in fodder deficit resulting in a decline in milk yields (β=-6.33, p=0.007). The results indicate a persistent fodder scarcity and overstocking in these farms. Interventions on fodder scarcity will need empowering farmers to plan fodder production and conservation and to match their stocking with fodder supply, especially for those with diminishing landholdings. The farmer organizations have a role in fodder improvement for their members by investing in bulk fodder production utilizing improved varieties of certified seeds and offering storage facilities. Key words: Feed requirement, feed supply, fodder scarcity, milk yield gap

Dairy farming is an important livelihood source for most smallholder farmers in Kenya. However, most smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya face various challenges in selecting profitable market outlets, and their choices are influenced by various factors. Understanding these determinants is crucial, as market outlet decisions directly impact farmers’ income, livelihoods, and the overall growth of their agrienterprises. However, there is limited empirical evidence on the determinants influencing market outlet choices among smallholder farmers in Kenya specifically Narok County which is an emerging dairy hub in the country. In this context, this study analyses the determinants influencing market outlet choices (Farm gate, Milk bars, Traders, Cooperatives, and Processors among smallholder dairy farmers in Narok County, Kenya using a multivariate probit model. Data was collected using a multi-stage sampling procedure from the 384 smallholder dairy farmers. Some of the key factors that shape smallholder dairy farmers’ milk market choices, based on the results of the study include household head occupation, farm size, production cycles, milk volumes, market distance, and group membership. Policy interventions should aim to strengthen cooperative structures, support group memberships, invest in transport infrastructure to mitigate distance barriers, encourage prompt payment systems, and enhance market information access to support sustainable participation of smallholder dairy farmers in diverse market channels.

Smallholder dairy farms face enormous challenges in increasing milk production while mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby enhancing climate resilience. The carbon footprint (CF) of smallholder milk production is expected to increase with increasing demand for dairy products under the business-as-usual scenario. This study estimates the carbon footprint of smallholder milk production and examines variation across farms using data from 480 households to identify viable options for mitigating GHG emissions. We applied a cradle to farm-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to examine the effects of farming systems on GHG emission intensities across intensification gradients of smallholder farms (SHF) from four potential dairy districts in the central highlands of Ethiopia. According to our findings, enteric fermentation was the primary source of GHG emissions, and methane(CH4) emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management accounted for the majority of total emissions across farms. The estimated average CF varies depending on farming systems, global warming potential (GWP), and allocation methods used. When GHG emissions were allocated to multiple products using economic allocation and based on IPCC (2007)and IPCC (2014)GWPs, the overall average CF of milk production was 1.91 and 2.35kg CO2e/kg fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), respectively. On average, milk accounted for 72% of total greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of farm typology, rural SHF systems produced significantly more CF per kg of milk than urban and peri-urban SHF systems. Variations in milk yield explained more than half of the variation in GHG emissions intensity at the farm level. Feed digestibility and feed efficiency had a negative and significant (P < 0.01) association with CF of SHF. Our findings suggested that improving feed digestibility and feed efficiency by increasing the proportion of concentrate and improved forage as well as chemically upgrading straw and crop residue could provide an opportunity to both increase milk yield and reduce the CF of milk production of SHF in the study area. Supporting SHF to realize strategies contributing to climate-resilient dairy development require interventions at several levels in the dairy value chain.

The purpose of the study was to analyse the economic efficiency of smallholder dairy farmers in Swaziland. Specifically, the study sought to describe the socio-economic characteristics of dairy farmers in Swaziland. The smallholder farmers are classified into: smallholder farmers, medium-scale farmers, and large-scale dairy farmers. The specific objectives of the study were to: estimate the economic efficiency of smallholder dairy farmers in Swaziland; identify factors affecting the economic efficiency of smallholder dairy farmers; and determine the profitability of the smallholder dairy enterprise. This was a descriptive and quantitative survey and the target population was all smallholder dairy farmers registered with the Swaziland Dairy Board (N = 444). A purposive and random sampling techniques was used to select the respondents (n = 111). Three methods of data analysis were used, namely; descriptive statistics, econometric analysis (Stochastic Profit Frontier Function) and gross margin analysis. The mean level of Economic Efficiency (EE) for the famers was 79.8%. The farm’s location, pasture size, soil fertility, water availability, the farmer’s years of experience in dairy farming, membership to dairy farmers’ association and training on dairy farming are factors that influenced the level of EE for smallholder dairy farmers in Swaziland. The smallholder dairy farmers were economically efficient. The institutional factors, socioeconomic and farm characteristics do affect the level of EE among smallholder dairy farmers. The dairy farming enterprise is a profitable enterprise.

Influence of access to extension services on milk productivity among smallholder dairy farmers in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya

Determinants of utilization of agricultural technologies among smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya

Purpose: This study sought to assess the level of adoption of supplementary feeding, associated socioeconomic factors and the relationship between supplementary feeding and dairy cattle production among smallholder dairy farmers in Mbarara District.&#x0D; Methodology: The study adopted a mixed approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from 198 smallholder farmers and 12 key informants using a semi-structured interview guide and key informant interview guide respectively. Cluster sampling was used to divide the target population into clusters and then selected elements from each cluster using Simple Random Sampling technique. Collected data was compiled, sorted, and entered into Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSSv26.0) for analysis.&#x0D; Findings: The study revealed that 81.3% of smallholder farmers adopted supplementary feeding. However, the level of supplementary feeding varied among smallholder farmers of different socioeconomic characteristics. Basically, there was low level of adoption of supplementary feeding among farmers with few household members, having little knowledge about supplementary feeding and little funds to finance the costs involved in application of supplementary feeds. In relation to dairy cattle production, there was a positive significant relationship between the level of adoption of supplementary feeding and milk yield.&#x0D; Unique contribution to practice and policy: This study suggests to policy makers and other relevant authorities to formulate polices that emphasize adoption of supplementary feeding among dairy farmers in order to increase milk production in cattle.

In Tanzania, smallholder dairy farmers mainly rely on natural pastures as the primary feed source for their livestock; however, pasture productivity and forage availability remain major challenges, particularly during the dry season. This study aimed to assess the role of training in enhancing pasture management among smallholder dairy farmers in Muheza District. Specifically, it evaluated the adoption of improved pasture management and forage conservation practices by trained versus untrained farmers. A cross-sectional research design was used, and data were collected from 210 dairy farmers (105 trained and 105 untrained) selected through stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered, and qualitative information was also gathered from key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using STATA version 17. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests were used to examine group differences and associations between categorical variables, while multivariate probit model was employed to identify socio-economic factors influencing adoption of improved practices. Findings revealed that trained farmers were more likely to implement improved pasture management strategies such as rotational grazing, pasture rest and recovery periods, and efficient water use. They also adopted superior forage conservation techniques, including drying, baling, and the use of additives. In contrast, untrained farmers primarily relied on traditional and less efficient practices. The multivariate analysis showed that factors such as age, education level, household income, farm size, and access to institutional support significantly influence the adoption levels. The study concludes that training interventions, when combined with supportive socio-economic and institutional frameworks, play a key role in enhancing the adoption of improved pasture and forage conservation practices. Scaling up such training efforts is recommended to boost livestock productivity and sustainability among smallholder dairy farmers in Tanzania.

Promoting compliance with food safety measures among smallholder dairy farmers is critical for public health, market access, and the overall profitability and sustainability of the dairy sector. However, smallholder dairy farmers face challenges related to the implementation of food safety measures (FSMs) on their farms. To devise interventions to overcome these challenges, it is necessary to identify and understand the drivers of compliance with food safety measures among smallholder dairy farmers in Central Uganda. Therefore, this study investigated the factors influencing food safety compliance among smallholder dairy farmers in Central Uganda. Data were collected from 757 randomly selected smallholder dairy farmers using face-to-face interviews. The farmers were classified as low, middle, and high adopters of FSMs. The study employed an ordered Probit model to identify the determinants of compliance with FSMs. The results indicate that significant variables positively influencing the probability of being in the higher adopter class include level of formal education, type of livestock breed, number of cows milked, familiarity with FSMs, compliance perception, awareness of HACCP, standard operating procedures (SOPs), milk contamination, and the government&amp;rsquo;s role in FSMs. Conversely, factors negatively influencing the probability of being in the higher adopter class were farming experience, land size, herd size, and the cost of compliance with food safety. These issues call for policy interventions to enhance FSM knowledge through capacity-building programs for safer milk production. This will improve farmers&amp;rsquo; perceptions and awareness of FSMs at the farm level. Considering the cost implications of FSM compliance, financial incentives are needed, such as higher premium prices for a quality-based milk payment system. Finally, the government should take a leading role in supporting smallholder farmers to adhere to FSMs through legislation and policies tailored to the farmers&amp;rsquo; needs.

The aim of this study was to examine breeding objectives and the impact of production systems and breed types on dairy cattle performance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A total of 64 research studies published between 1980 and 2018 were used for qualitative analysis (qualitative synthesis) of farmers’, scientists’ and institutional dairy trait preferences. Meta-analysis was conducted to examine the production and reproduction performance of dairy cattle in smallholder and large-scale dairy production systems. Most data used were from smallholder farmers (60%), with the remainder from large-scale farms. Linear mixed-effect models were used to estimate marginal means of production and reproduction traits for different breed types in both production systems. Overall, the results showed that there was a higher emphasis on breeding for improved fertility, increased milk yield and disease resistance. Milk content (fat and protein percentages), temperament, body conformation and total milk cell count (a mastitis indicator) were rarely mentioned in published literature, mainly because of milk pricing policies being volume based. Frequency and multivariate analyses (cluster data analysis) for desirable animal traits suggested that multiple breeding objectives are needed, based on the perceived goals of different farmers and institutions towards genetic improvement for production, reproduction, disease resistance and functional and animal welfare traits. Regardless of the breed type, commercial large-scale farms had a higher milk yield (2857.0 ± 233.3) compared with smallholder dairy farms (2419.8 ± 617.39). Estimated marginal means for lactation milk yield of the three breed types Holstein-Friesian, non-Holstein-Friesian dairy breeds (Jersey, Guernsey, Red Dane, Brown Swiss and Ayrshire) and cross-breds ( Bos taurus x Bos indicus ) were 3148.5 ± 433.00, 2995.6 ± 456.36 and 1771.1 ± 328.52, respectively. Significantly shorter age at first calving and shorter calving intervals were observed in large-scale farms in comparison to smallholder farms ( p &lt; 0.05). No significant differences were noted for age at first calving, calving interval, days open and number of services per conception between the breed types. In conclusion, the present study suggests that (i) improvement of dairy cattle has focused on reproduction, production and disease resistance traits, reflecting the breeding objectives of farmers, scientists and institutions involved in dairy production; (ii) genetics plays a large role in increased dairy productivity in SSA and (iii) future dairy research should emphasise on the interactions between improved feeding, disease control and genetics at a production level to inform profitable combinations of dairy traits.

Access to credit is crucial for the economic development and sustainability of smallholder farmers in rural areas. In the context of Malang, East Java, Indonesia, this study delves into the factors that influence smallholder farmers' access to credit. Smallholder farmers play a pivotal role in ensuring food security, agricultural, and livestock productivity in Indonesia, making it imperative to understand the determinants of their credit access. This research was conducted between July and August 2023, employing a Probit Model and descriptive statistics to analyze data collected through a survey questionnaire. A multistage random sampling technique was employed, encompassing 70 smallholder dairy farmers in Malang. Findings from the Probit Model unveiled that several factors significantly affect the decision of smallholder farmers to adopt credit access. These factors include education levels among farmers, cattle ownership, access to the internet, participation in livestock training programs, and the employment of family members. The positive influence of these factors emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions to enhance smallholder farmers' credit access. To promote the adoption of credit access among smallholder dairy farmers in Malang, collaborative efforts between stakeholders and government entities are essential. These efforts should focus on improving the availability of livestock-related training programs and enhancing internet accessibility, particularly to bolster the sustainability of the livestock sector, with a specific emphasis on dairy farming. Such measures can help uplift the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, foster agricultural growth, and contribute to overall rural development in the region.

The Kenya dairy sub-sector has been undergoing developments since the 1980s, these has been in the areas of adoption of intensive dairy farming especially zero grazing. There have been concerted efforts to commercialize the sub-sector so as to make it more profitable to farmers, especially smallholder farmers. Despite the development, the profitability in the sector has not been consistent among the smallholder farmers; some farmers realize very dismal profits and even losses. The causes of the varying profits have not been empirically established with the influence of institutional arrangements and financial factors contributing to this inconsistency not fully established. The main objective of this study was to establish the critical institutional arrangements and financial factors that constrain the profitability of small-holder dairy farmers in Nakuru County. A sample of 129 smallholder dairy farmers was selected from Rongai, Baruti, Ngata and Mbogoini divisions of the County. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents and the data was collected by the use of structured interview schedules administered by enumerators. The work employed the Data Envelopment Analysis to come up with profit efficiency rankings among the farmers, and the Frontier Model was used to establish the factors that constrain profit efficiency. The data was processed using STATA and DEA frontier packages. The mean efficiency according to the results was 86%. The factors that were significant in explaining profitability efficiency according to the frontier results were: feeding systems (-0.38), breed type (-0.11), gender (0.37), debt amount (-0.0002) and debt asset ratio (21.43). Issues of trust were also found to have effect on profitability, and they included trust on local buyer price (0.52), trust on institutional buyer unit of measure (-0.1.77), and trust on middlemen unit of measurement (-0.05). The positive sign signifies that the factor increases profit inefficiency while the negative sign indicates that the factor reduces profit inefficiency. These findings will be useful to the stakeholders of the dairy industry sub sector to formulate policy pertaining to dairy enterprise inputs, marketing issues and financial products and also provide smallholder dairy farmers with a package of critical factors to enhance and stabilize their profitability