Consistent access to high-quality feed including forage is crucial for the competitiveness of the dairy sector in East Africa. Use of quality forages in balanced rations can reduce the feed cost for the famer, increase margin above feed cost and reduce enteric methane emission intensity per Liter of milk. Milk processors and dairy cooperatives should, advice farmers to adopt improved forage production (Forage Finder), to conserve forage for the dry season and to feed balanced rations to their dairy cows. This is in their interest because it will reduce seasonal milk supply fluctuations, thereby improving operational profits.
Most of the milk in East Africa is produced by smallholder farmers but when producing forages for their dairy cows they face several challenges, including limited land space, labour shortages, inadequate access to quality seeds and planting materials and unawareness of the cost benefits of ration formulation. These constraints hinder their ability to establish and preserve enough forage for and feed their dairy cattle with cost-effective rations.
The SNV NEADAP project developed the forage finder a tool that guides farmers when selecting forage crops for their dairy cattle and the Forage cost calculator to calculate the cost of forage produced, to be used in rations for dairy or beef cattle.
A commercial forage sector is emerging to address the feed gap on smallholder farms in East Africa. This includes large-scale commercial forage producers, forage distributors, dairy cooperatives, out-grower models, and dairy processors establishing their own forage crops or cooperating with large-scale forage producers. Advisory services for forage production are also emerging, such as the Service Provider Enterprise (SPE) model, agricultural contracting services, and integrated services model farm, which are highlighted. There is growing interest in tools and software, including the handheld NIRS soil and feed scanners and Rumen8 ration formulation software application that link cost of quality forage production (Forage Cost Calculator) to cost-effective rations for dairy cattle.
In my opinion, effective farmer training and coaching models are essential to improve forage crop management practices among large-scale forage producers and smallholder farmers but also to incorporate quality forages in cost effective rations for dairy cows. We at ProDairy will train a new generation of Senior Advisors Climate Smart Dairy farming for the SNV BRIDGE+ and AGRITERA projects. The training takes an integrated approach of the mixed crop-livestock farm taking the future climate smart dairy farm advisors from seed to feed to milk and meat.
NEADAP and its partners recommend investing both the demand and supply sides of the emerging commercial forage sub-sector (link to ppt VIV Africa for NFP “Investing in a sustainable, low-carbon feed and livestock sector in East Africa”) This includes improved agronomic practices (soil, seed to feed) reduce inefficiencies (low yields), spoilage and waste in forage production, storage, and distribution as well as formal agreements between commercial forage producers, finance institutions (e.g. livestock insurance) and dairy societies to ensure value (quality) for money, consistency and use of balanced ration for dairy (and beef cattle). Additionally, the establishment of sector-led information platform to facilitate data sharing and market information regarding the feed and forage sector in East Africa.
To learn more
Contact Jos Creemers, Managing Consultant, ProDairy E.A. Ltd at jos@prodairy.co.ke
Author
Jos Creemers
Managing Consultant, ProDairy E.A. Ltd
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