Abstract
BackgroundUrban/peri-urban dairy production and sales has evolved as an adjustment to cope with food security and economic needs for urban dwellers in low-income countries and created an opportunity to transform from subsistence rural lifestyles of dairy farming to commercial engagement in towns. However, urban/peri-urban dairy farms differ in challenges from rural dairy farms and reproduction is important and critical for assuring sustainable economic output in both environments. Here we recorded for the first time differences between two geographically and economically different cities corresponding to different settings within the same country in managerial factors influencing reproductive performance in urban/peri-urban dairy cowherds.ResultsThe urban/peri-urban dairy farmers in the capital Kampala were more often male (P = 0.002) and commercialized (P = 0.0025), more experienced (P = 0.0001) and practiced zero-grazing more often (P = 0.05) than in the regional municipality Gulu. Also, the milk production per herd and cow (P = 0.0005) and calving rate were (P = 0.0001) higher in Kampala and artificial insemination was more commonly (P = 0.002) used than in Gulu. There was no difference in abortion nor neonatal mortality rate between the two locations. Overall, calving rates were higher (P = 0.0003) in smaller (≤3 dairy cows) and open grazing (P = 0.003) herds. Abortion rates were higher among dairy herds practicing late (≥5 months) (P = 0.003) calf weaning and in herds with commercial purposes (P = 0.0001). Neonatal calf mortality was lower (P = 0.01) in small herds.ConclusionThe study showed significant differences between Kampala and Gulu in reproductive performance and related husbandry factors for cows in the urban/peri-urban dairy farming systems. For several reproductive performance traits we found associations with husbandry and production traits, which should be taken into account when providing advice to the urban and peri-urban dairy farmers in the tropics.
Highlights
Urban/peri-urban dairy production and sales has evolved as an adjustment to cope with food security and economic needs for urban dwellers in low-income countries and created an opportunity to transform from subsistence rural lifestyles of dairy farming to commercial engagement in towns
Differences in socio-economic factors and dairy husbandry between Kampala and Gulu The educational level among cow owners was higher (P = 0.002) and the care for dairy cows was more of a male than female activity (P = 0.002) in Kampala compared with Gulu (Table 1)
There was a tendency towards a higher frequency of large herds (P = 0.08) in Gulu compared with Kampala (Table 1)
Summary
Urban/peri-urban dairy production and sales has evolved as an adjustment to cope with food security and economic needs for urban dwellers in low-income countries and created an opportunity to transform from subsistence rural lifestyles of dairy farming to commercial engagement in towns. In sub-Saharan Africa, demographic predictions indicate a tremendous urban population growth rate [2] This in turn implies that various forms of urban agriculture will be relied upon as essential transitional strategies for feeding and employment of rural–urban immigrant populations in this region [3]. Uganda is experiencing such a rapid rural–urban migration in the two major urban centers, Kampala in the central region and post-conflict Gulu in the north In and around both these two cities, dairy production and sale have evolved as adjustments to cope with food security and economic needs for farmers [4]. There were no differences in the distribution of neither abortion nor neonatal mortality rates between the two locations
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