Fodder trees for improving livestock productivity and smallholder livelihoods in Africa

Franzel, Steven; Carsan, Sammy; Lukuyu, Ben A.; Sinja, Judith; Wambugu, C.

doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2013.11.008

Cited by 144 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Higher protein diets tend to increase productivity of livestock through improved digestibility and intake of crude protein (Bekele et al 2013) and decrease emissions intensity from milk and meat production (Barton et al 2004). However, the potential to plant legume species is often constrained by factors as varied as seed availability, access to knowledge, and land rights (Franzel et al 2014). …”

Section: Nutrient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Evaluation of CSA Options in Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems in Developing Countries

Thornton

Rosenstock

Förch³

et al. 2017

Climate Smart Agriculture

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The mixed crop-livestock systems of the developing world will become increasingly important for meeting the food security challenges of the coming decades. The synergies and trade-offs between food security, adaptation, and mitigation objectives are not well studied, however. Comprehensive evaluations of the costs and benefits, and the synergies and trade-offs, of different options in developing-country mixed systems do not exist as yet.Here we summarise what we know about the climate smartness of different alternatives in the mixed croplivestock systems in developing countries, based on published literature supplemented by a survey of experts. We discuss constraints to the uptake of different interventions and the potential for their adoption, and highlight some of the technical and policy implications of current knowledge and knowledge gaps.

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Section: Nutrient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Evaluation of CSA Options in Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems in Developing Countries

Thornton

Rosenstock

Förch³

et al. 2017

Climate Smart Agriculture

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show abstract

“…However, in the last four decades, exotic (mostly from Central America) leguminous trees have been introduced because of their fast growth rates, acceptability to livestock and tolerance to frequent pruning and drought [18,19]. In addition, these trees are long lived, require less maintenance and are palatable [20].…”

Section: Use Of Tree Forage Legumes As Protein Supplementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Acacia angustissima, C. calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, L. leucocephala and Sesbania sesban have been successfully introduced to smallholder dairy farmers in Zimbabwe [23]. Tree legumes are also referred to as multipurpose trees because they provide other products such as irewood and services such as soil erosion control [18].…”

Section: Use Of Tree Forage Legumes As Protein Supplementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Insight into Current and Future Production of Forage Crops in Zimbabwe

Sebata¹

2018

New Perspectives in Forage Crops

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In Zimbabwe, most livestock are reared by smallholder farmers who live in marginal areas with low rainfall and hence poor forage production. As a consequence, livestock productivity is low and intermitent droughts result in animal mortalities. Forage crops have been widely promoted to provide feed resources to livestock, particularly during the dry season and in years of low precipitation. However, production of forage crops among the smallholder farmers remains low, especially in areas that receive low rainfall (<600 mm per annum). This chapter reviewed work on the production and promotion of forage crops in Zimbabwe in the past 50 years. The production and adaptation of diferent forage crops viz. improved grasses, herbaceous, and tree legumes to low and high (>800 mm per annum) rainfall areas is highlighted. Planting of improved grasses and herbaceous legumes in fallows and tree legumes as hedges and on contours hold the best promise in terms of improving the availability of forage crops for livestock feeding. Shortage of moisture remains the greatest constraint to increasing the area planted to forage crops. Therefore, the development of irrigation facilities needs to be encouraged to allow for the growing of forage crops.

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“…This tree management system is still found in Greece, Crete and Sicily (Eichhorn et al, 2006). Harvesting of multi-purpose tree species to feed livestock has been reported in Asia (Thakur & Thakur, 2007;Rawat & Everson, 2013), Africa (Alemu et al, 2013;Berhe & Tanga, 2013;Franzel et al, 2014;Geta et al, 2014;Guyassa et al, 2014), South America (Argentina, Chile and Southern Brazil) (Peri et al, 2016), and in USA (Burner et al, 2006). Pollarding of oak trees (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A quantitative study of pollarding process in silvopastoral systems of Northern Zagros, Iran

et al. 2018

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Aim of study: This research attempts to quantitatively describe the pollarding process in the northern Zagros, western Iran. Material and methods: An inventory of all trees was conducted in three representative stands in the pollarded section (DBH ≥ 5 cm): DBH, total height, trunk height and crown diameters were measured. At the time of pollarding, 10% of the foliage stacks were randomly selected and weighed. The positions of each store tree (i.e. special trees capable of enduring the weight of a certain number of leafy branches (average 600 kg)) and horizontal distance of pollarded trees associated with each store tree was recorded.Main results: The number and weight of foliage stacks resulting from pollarding of each tree correlated (0.48 and 0.43, respectively) with their crown diameter. The average dry weight of leaf biomass was 1,525.6 ±108.1 kg/ha and there was a significant difference between the selected stands. The average pollarded area and the average number of trees in the pollarded area of each store tree was 501.1±210.4 m 2 and 9.4±3.5 trees, respectively. Research highlights: The number of pollarded trees associated with each store tree and the weight of stored foliage stacks on them are determined by the distance between pollarded trees and store trees, the number of trees around the store trees and the ability of selected store trees to bear the weight of foliage stacks.

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Fodder trees for improving livestock productivity and smallholder livelihoods in Africa

Cited by 144 publications

References 19 publications

A Qualitative Evaluation of CSA Options in Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems in Developing Countries

A Qualitative Evaluation of CSA Options in Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems in Developing Countries

An Insight into Current and Future Production of Forage Crops in Zimbabwe

A quantitative study of pollarding process in silvopastoral systems of Northern Zagros, Iran

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