Abstract
Increased production of smallholder dairy systems is needed to meet increasing demand for animal source
protein. Adoption of innovations depends on farming systems characteristics. We defined three typologies
based on interviews and discussions with stakeholders (farmers, input suppliers, service providers and dairy
experts). The peri-urban system (PUS) is located in peri-urban regions and is a high input high outputsystem,
using 5.0±2.5 kg of concentrates/herd/day (/h/d) to produce 26.5±23.4 kg of milk/h/d. The rural
commercial system (RCS) is located in rural regions and is a medium input medium output-system, using
2.9±1.4 kg of concentrates/h/d to produce 20.2±21.0 kg of milk/h/d. The rural subsistence system (RSS)
is located in rural regions and is a low input low output-system, using 2.4±2.9 kg of concentrates/h/d to
produce 15.5±7.7 kg of milk/h/d. Production strategies and marketing differed among system: PUS-farmers
kept 4.9±1.6 tropical livestock units (TLU) of exotic cattle, used artificial insemination (AI) with local and
imported semen, fed on Napier grass and stover and sold 19.4±16.6 kg of milk/h/d to consumers at a price
of 0.45±0.04 $/kg for cash income; RCS-farmers kept 7.1±4.5 TLU of exotic-zebu crosses upgraded using
AI with local semen, grazed their cows on open fields and sold 14.9±13.4 kg of milk/h/d to middlemen
at a price of 0.32±0.08 $/kg for cash to support crop production; RSS-farmers kept 7.0±8.3 TLU of zebu
crosses upgraded using unproven exotic crossbred bull mating, grazed their cows on paddocks, sold 9.9±6.1
kg of milk/h/d to middlemen at 0.31±0.04 $/kg and dairy played subsistence and cultural roles. Breeding
practices were suited to production strategies determined by resources, household priorities and market
situation. Dairy productivity increase through AI with semen of superior breeds may not be suitable in rural
systems with poor-functioning markets.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Book of Abstracts 66th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science |
Place of Publication | Wageningen |
Publisher | Wageningen Academic Publishers |
Pages | 342-342 |
Volume | 21 |
ISBN (Print) | 9789086862696 |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Event | EAAP - 66th Annual Meeting 2015 - Warsaw, Poland Duration: 31 Aug 2015 → 4 Sep 2015 |
Conference
Conference | EAAP - 66th Annual Meeting 2015 |
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Country | Poland |
City | Warsaw |
Period | 31/08/15 → 4/09/15 |