Browsing by Author "Lukuyu, B."

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    The Concentrate Feeds Supply chain in Uganda: emerging trends and implications on quality and access to smallholder farmers and chain efficiency
    (East Africa Dairy Development, 2013) Lukuyu, B.; Baker, D.; Baltenweck, I.; Poole, J.; Kabi, F.; Katongole, C.; Nadiope, G.; Byarugaba, A.; Kugonza, J.; Wabwire, R.
    The increasing effective demand for livestock products such as milk, meat and eggs in Uganda drives farmers to supplement their livestock with concentrates to improve on their productivity. In Uganda about 33% of the dairy farmers use compounded dairy concentrate feed while a sizeable percentage of households nearly 56% use feed ingredients such as maize bran and rice bran as straights (EADD, 2010). The annual production of compounded feeds by the commercial feed millers is estimated at about 75,000 tons with small scale mixers producing 40,000 ton (Graffham et al. 2003). In some areas farmers often supplement with compounded feeds aimed at maintaining the animals’ condition and sustaining production during the dry season (Lukuyu et al. 2009). However, Uganda is faced with serious problems related to availability of well formulated and balanced rations for adequate dairy cattle feeding. Despite an abundance of cereal grains and their by products such as maize and maize bran, sorghum, millet, rice bran and root crops (e.g. cassava) as energy concentrates as well as protein concentrates such as soybean, sunflower cakes, cottonseed cakes, peas and groundnuts, farmers have continued to lament about the high prices of commercial feeds and poor quality feeds (Nakiganda et al. 2005).
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    Perception and practices of farmers on the utilization of sweet potato, and other root tubers, and banana for pig feeding in smallholder crop livestock systems in Uganda
    (Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2015) Dione, M. M.; Pezo, D.; Kyalo, G.; Mayega, L.; Nadiope, G.; Lukuyu, B.
    Limited access to quality feeds and reliable feed supply are amongst the priority constraints of smallholder pig production in Uganda. Among the feeds given to pigs, sweetpotato (SP), banana and other root tubers residues are common. However, information on farmers’ perceptions and practices on the proper use of these residues for pig feeding is limited. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing those aspects, as well as to identify opportunities for better use of these residues in the pig-SP systems. A qualitative survey was undertaken in Masaka and Kamuli, two districts of Uganda with high pig population and SP production. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were undertaken with 80 small scale pig and SP producers and 24 key informants. Results from this study revealed that the majority of pig farmers in those districts use SP and other RTB crop residues as animal feed. During the rainy season, farmers scored high the utilization of SP crop residues, with the latter being the leading contributor to the pig diet especially in the rural area. SP crop residues are usually fed to pigs fresh without processing. Among the residues, fresh raw vines represent the largest part fed to pig (70%), as compared to roots and peels. The way these residues are offered vary, for example in peri-urban areas with easier access to commercial feeds, farmers feed the crop residues mixed with concentrates; whereas in rural areas with limited access to commercial feeds, crop residues tend to be given without supplementation. However, the full potential of SP and other RTB crop residues for pig feeding is not yet fully exploited as farmers accept that a large amount is wasted (37% in Masaka and 40% in Kamuli). In Masaka, the proportion of SP crop residues utilized at household level mostly for pig feeding was 40%, while in Kamuli was 52%. This study demonstrated that there is potential for better use of SP and other RTB crop residues as pig feed in the smallholder pig farming systems in Uganda, but the major constraint as pointed out by farmers is the poor access to technologies for preserving these resources. Therefore, there is a need for further exploration of strategies for conserving SP and other RTB crop residues during the harvesting period for use in pig feeding during times of feed