Browsing by Author "Raju, D. V. N."

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    Public-private partnerships for unlocking the potential of dairy cattle productivity in Uganda for improved livelihoods
    (Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2013) Kabi, F.; Bareeba, F. B.; Kwizera, M.; Walekhwa, P.; Prasad, V. D. S. R.; Raju, D. V. N.; Rubaramira, J.; Ssekitoleko, A.
    Complementary synergies between the private sector endowed with agro-industrial sugar cane molasses and university scientists equipped with scientific knowledge and skills were used to convert sugarcane molasses into a commercial dairy feed supplement. Scientists from Makerere University in partnership with Kakira sugar Works Ltd., Kakira Out-growers Rural Development Fund (KORD) and Dairy Development Authority (DDA) in a participatory manner tested the effect of molasses urea supplement (MUS) on dairy cattle productivity among zero grazing farmers. One hundred Friesian dairy cows were used to evaluate the effect of graded levels of MUS on milk productivity using four treatments: 1) Control, representing farmers’ dairy management practice without the MUS supplement intervention, 2) control + 0.5 kg/animal /day MUS 3) control + 1 kg/animal/day MUS 4) control + 2 kg/animal/day MUS. Data was analysed using polynomial contrasts with linear and quadratic functions. Adoption of the intervention was also tested among the zero grazing farmers to find how farmers embraced the innovation. Milk yield increased linearly with a quadratic trend. Increasing response in milk production at a decreasing rate suggested that MUS supplementation was optimal at 1 kg/animal/day. The dairy supplement has now been commercialized as “milk booster”. Adoptability analysis of the innovation indicated existence of variations in milk yield across different farms even when the farms were supplied with similar levels of supplementation of MUS. It was concluded that complementary synergies between public and private sector is crucial in translating science into tangible commercial molasses urea supplement for improved dairy cattle productivity in Uganda.