| 1. |
- Ruvuga, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Dry matter intake, dry matter digestibility and growth performance in goats fed grass-based diet (Brachiaria or Cenchrus) compared with a concentrate-based diet
- 2022
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Ingår i: African Journal of Agricultural Research. - 1991-637X. ; 18, s. 52-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dry matter digestibility (DMD), dry matter intake (DMI) and growth performance of concentrate- and forage-based diets were investigated using 24 growing Blended goats (12 males, 12 females) weighing 16.5±1.2 kg (mean±sd). Goats were blocked by sex and assigned randomly to three dietary treatments that were fed for 10 weeks, after two weeks of adaptation. Dietary treatments were MRG (40% maize bran, 40% rice bran, 20% Gliricidia leaf meal), BG (80% Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã, 20% Gliricidia leaf meal) and CG (80% Cenchrus ciliaris, 20% Gliricidia leaf meal). All diets contained sufficient nutrients to meet the requirements of growing goats. The MRG diet had lower DMI than CG, likely because MRG had small particle size and goats adapted slowly to that diet. Average daily weight gain was 10.7, 9.9 and 22.8 g/day for MRG, BG, and CG respectively, and did not differ among the diets. Goats fed MRG had lower overall live weight change than goats fed CG, while goats fed BG were intermediate. These findings indicate that B. brizantha cv. Piatã and C. ciliaris are equally useful as supplementary feedstuffs for growing goats during the dry season.
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| 2. |
- Ruvuga, Peter
(författare)
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Ecological Sustainability: Miombo Woodland Conservation with Livestock Production in Sub-Saharan Africa
- 2019
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Ingår i: Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience in Sub Saharan Africa. - Cham : Springer International Publishing. - 9783030129736 ; , s. 237-256
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Miombo woodlands cover approximately 3.6 million km(2) in sub-Saharan Africa and have been identified as one of the global priority areas for conservation. Nonetheless, it is debatable whether the presence of the pastoralists and livestock in Miombo woodlands is linked to the ecological degradation and resources use conflicts. Besides, the impact of Miombo woodlands utilization in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem service provision is not well understood. The current review describes the various concurrent issues underlying livestock production in Miombo woodlands and ecosystem resilience. Analytical review established that livestock in Miombo woodlands have a crucial role in enhancing food security and animal source protein requirement in the future. Ecologically, pastoralists' presence in the Miombo serves biodiversity conservation, enhances nutrient recycling, and regulates wildfires. On the other hand, pastoralists are faced with several challenges including pests and diseases and persistent drought that leads to scarcity of water and pasture resources. Other setbacks include high enteric methane emission due to poor livestock productivity, unsustainable rangeland management practices, land tenure, and poor water management. Observations of wildlife interactions with the natural ecosystem elsewhere provide crucial evidence for the potential of livestock-woodland beneficial symbiotic interaction. It is concluded that, since there is high ecological compatibility of livestock production in Miombo woodlands, there is need to reform management policy to promote livestock interaction on the Miombo woodlands.
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| 3. |
- Ruvuga, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of rangeland condition in miombo woodlands in eastern Tanzania in relation to season and distance from settlements
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-4797 .- 1095-8630. ; 290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Miombo woodlands sustainability in east and south-central Africa is threatened by human activities, including overgrazing. This study investigated seasonal variations in rangeland condition in three grazed areas in miombo woodlands in eastern Tanzania. Transect lines were established across the grazing areas, sampling points were identified and marked at every 10% of the length of transect line. Sampling points were categorised in different distances with respect to settlement. The line intercept method was used to collect data on vegetation cover and forage distribution, while herbaceous forage biomass was estimated using a disc pasture meter. A total of 118 different plant species were observed and grasses comprised 40.6% of all herbaceous species. Bothriochloa pertusa, Cynodon plectostachyus, Hyparrhenia rufa and Urochloa mosambicensis grass species dominated miombo grazed areas in various seasons and distances. These perennial grass species are desirable and indicated moderate grazing activities in miombo. Season affected grass cover, herbaceous forage biomass and nutritional composition. Grass cover and forage biomass were at the lowest during late dry season while forage nutritional quality was best during early dry season. Distance from settlement had no effect on grass cover and herbaceous forage biomass. Rangeland condition was generally fair, livestock stocking rate in continuously grazed drylands should be set at the lowest monthly forage biomass in order to ensure grazing land sustainability.
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| 4. |
- Ruvuga, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Indigenous Rangeland and Livestock Management Among Pastoralists and Agro-pastoralists in Miombo Woodlands, Eastern Tanzania
- 2020
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Ingår i: Rangeland Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 1550-7424 .- 1551-5028. ; 73, s. 313-320
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Indigenous rangeland management practices, forage quality and availability, and livestock production by pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in miombo woodlands were investigated in a study conducted in Kilosa district, Tanzania. The study methods comprised household interviews, key informant and focus group discussions, and forage laboratory analyses. Preferred forage species and indigenous rangeland and livestock management practices among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in miombo woodlands were identified, and the nutrient content of the forages was determined. In general, rangeland management in the study area faces challenges such as unclear or disputed land tenure regime and lack of technical knowledge. Moreover, the nutritional value of some native forage species identified in miombo was found to be too low to meet the nutrient requirements of livestock. Livestock in miombo contribute greatly to household livelihoods and food security, but forage scarcity was identified as a limiting factor. Overall, it was concluded that rangeland improvement practices are poor or nonexistent in allocated grazing areas in Kilosa's miombo woodlands. (C) 2019 The Society for Range Management. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Ruvuga, Peter
(författare)
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Rangeland and livestock management practices for improved herder livelihoods in miombo woodland
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Rangelands are valuable resources for livestock production and contribute positively to herders livelihoods. The shrinking of open rangelands used for grazing has led to utilization of miombo woodlands as alternative grazing resource. Miombo woodlands are biomes with both understory herbaceous species and relatively dense tree cover. It is therefore important that livestock and grazing management practices maintain both rangeland condition and tree cover in miombo. The current study was conducted to assess herders’ management and condition of assigned grazing land in miombo woodlands. Household survey was used to investigate indigenous rangelands and livestock management practices among herders. Seasonal miombo grazing land condition was evaluated in Ihombwe, Kigunga and Ulaya Mbuyuni villages using botanical composition, vegetation structure and forage condition. A feeding trial with goats was used to evaluate potential supplementary diets (Brachiaria brizantha cv Piatã, Cenchrus ciliaris and concentrates) for their intake and growth performance. Herders in studied miombo kept indigenous livestock species and relied on them mostly for food and income. The miombo grazing land had good tree cover (923-1136 trees/ha) and diverse herbaceous plant communities. Increaser 2a grass species were the most prevalent herbaceous plants in the studied Ihombwe village. These grass species indicated good rangeland condition and moderate grazing intensity. Poor grass cover during dry seasons and high prevalence of Increaser 2b and 2c in Ulaya Mbuyuni and Kigunga villages indicated poor condition and early stage of degradation in the two areas. Above ground herbaceous forage biomass varied seasonally and was at the lowest (299 kg DM/ha) during late dry period. Rangeland improvement practices such as use of forage reserves to enable forage availability during dry season were limited among herders in the studied miombo. Unclear land tenure system was mentioned as the major reason for neglecting rangeland improvement in miombo grazing land. Evaluated supplementary feeds to be fed during dry periods had enough nutrients to meet requirements of indigenous livestock species. Goats fed concentrates had lower feed intake and overall live weight change compared to those in C. ciliaris diet while B. brizantha cv Piatã fed goats were intermediate. C. ciliaris and B. brizantha cv Piatã were shown to be better supplementary diet for feeding livestock during late dry period when there is forage shortage. It was concluded that some studied miombo grazed areas were in poor condition and showed early sign of degradation, however, current livestock grazing in miombo supported herders livelihood without causing negative effects on tree cover.
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