Current status of cattle production system in Nyagatare District-Rwanda

Abstract

A study was conducted to characterize the cattle production systems in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province of Rwanda using pre-tested questionnaires, interviews with key informants as well as focus group discussions in a period of 2 months. The respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling at sector and cell levels. Based on the procedure of Krejcie and Morgan (Educational and Psychological Measurement 30:607-610, 1970) to determine the overall sample size, the result indicated that the majority (98.3%) of farms were privately owned by large families of five to seven members, and most farmers (53.9%) had only primary education. Most respondents (52.6%) were in the age bracket of 41-50 years and were mainly (48.3%) located within 3 km from trading centers. The farm size averaged 6.5 ± 0.8 ha and most farms (64.7%) were fenced except in Rukomo Sector (50%) where zero grazing prevailed. Natural pastures (savanna grass land) were the main feed resource; tethering (9%) and communal grazing had diminished. Napier grass was the main planted forage (93.2%), followed by Chloris guyana (3.1%) and Brachiara (1.2%). Leguminous forages were rarely (2.5%) reported. Vita-mineral and salt block supplements, hay, and crop residues were the predominant supplementary feed stuffs used except in Karangazi and Rwemiyaga Sectors where only vita-mineral block predominated. However, maize and rice brans were reported to be the main feed stuffs used in supplementary feeding of lactating cows. Most farmers (89.7%) reported shortage of water as most of the farmers trekked their cattle to the nearest valley dams (59.2%), rivers (21.1%), and a few 6% had water on farms. Indigenous cattle were predominant (67.03%) followed by cross-breeds (28.37%) and exotics (4.6%) while all farmers kept small ruminants. Natural breeding predominated (74.9%) and most farms (60.6%) had animal houses most of which were temporary (52.8%). The reported mean age at first calving (AFC) was highest (40.2 ± .33) for Ankole and the lowest (29.1 ± .50) months for exotic cattle. Calving interval was shorter in local breeds than 65.7 ± 3.0 in exotic. The mean dairy milk yield was lowest for Ankole cattle 2.4 ± .08 as compared to the exotics (10.42 ± .36) and their crosses (7.2 ± .34). The main challenges were diseases, shortage of water, feeds, and inadequate extension services. Same observation was reported by Okello (African Journal of Range and Forage Science 22(3), 2005) in Uganda.

Characterization of Smallholder Beef Cattle Production System in Central Vietnam–Revealing Performance, Trends, Constraints, and Future Development

“…Feeding is an important factor in livestock production (Mazimpaka et al, 2017). Grazing is the most extensive form of production, on the other hand stall-feeding is based on feeding such feeds as grass, crop residues, concentrates, and rice straw.…”

Characterization of Antibiotic and Biocide Resistance Genes and Virulence Factors of Staphylococcus Species Associated with Bovine Mastitis in Rwanda

“…Many other substances with antimicrobial effects, including metal-containing compounds, are used in food-animal production, where they can contribute to the selection of isolates among staphylococcal species [30]. According to a study from 2017 on cattle production in East Rwanda, only 3.6% (n = 13) of the farmers practiced supplementary feeding [2]. However, in the present study, conducted in Northern parts of Rwanda and Kigali, 51 (31.5%) of the bacterial isolates carried at least one heavy metal resistance gene.…”

“…Bovine mastitis is an important disease that affects the dairy sector and is one of the economically most important diseases worldwide [1]. In Rwanda, it has a significant relevance because livestock production is rapidly increasing [2]. One reason is that milk consumption and the demand for dairy products are increasing with the rapid growth of the human population, from 3 million to 12 million people [3] in the last 60 years.…”

“…Reduced milk production, high veterinary costs, as well as prolific bacterial and antimicrobial contamination are the consequences of mastitis which can result in significant economic losses for the farmers [8]. Recently, the Government of Rwanda launched a development program, called Rwanda Vision 2020, with the main goal of transforming the country into a knowledge-based middle-income country by modernizing its agriculture and livestock production [2]. Public veterinary services in Rwanda are provided by district and sector veterinary officers.…”

“…Origin: M = Musanze Farm, K = Kigali Farm 2. Phenotype: PEN = penicillin; CIP = ciprofloxacin; CHL = chloramphenicol; CLI = clindamycin; ERY = erythromycin; SXT = trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; TET = tetracycline; FOX = cefoxitin, TEC = teicoplanin.…”