NRU :: Browsing by Author "Tabuti, John Robert Stephen"

Browsing by Author "Tabuti, John Robert Stephen"

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Ameliorative effects of Ficus and Harrisonia diets on Small East African goat meat yield
(Small Ruminant Research, 2017) Kalule Nampanzira, Dorothy; Kabasa, John David; Bakyusa Katongole, Constantine; Okello, Sam; Tabuti, John Robert Stephen
The effect of supplements based on Ficus natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica foliages on intake, growth and carcass yield of tethered goats was assessed on-farm using fourty growing intact male indigenous goats. Five diets were tested, which included the control (tethering on natural pastures), tethering supplemented with molasses (CM) and the three diets whereby tethering was supplemented with molasses as well as F. natalensis and H. abyssinica as follows: Harrisonia⁄ molasses (HM), Ficus⁄molasses (FM) and Ficus⁄Harrisonia⁄molasses (FHM). The supplements were formulated to supply crude protein (CP) and energy levels required for an average daily gain of about 50 g/day. Four farms in the same geographical location were used. Each farm had all the five diets with two goats per diet. The goats were tethered during the day (10:00–18:00 h) and the supplements offered overnight (after tethering). The dry matter (DM) intake from tethering ranged between 124 and 162 g/day, and was not affected (P > 0.05) the basal DM intake. However, the total DM and CP intakes were increased (P < 0.05) by supplementation with the browse foliages. The total DM and CP intakes were highest (P < 0.05) for FM (572 and 91 g/day, respectively) and FHM (638 and 102 g/day, respectively). Compared with the control, supplementation with browse foliages increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage by up to 37.2, 2.3 and 6%, respectively. Average daily gain was 17, 34, 45, 52 and 54 g/ day for control, CM, FM, HM and FHM, respectively. The hot carcass weight was 6.9, 8.2, 8.8, 9.1 and 9.2 kg for control, CM, FM, HM and FHM, respectively. In conclusion, Ficus natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica foliages have the potential to be used as low cost protein supplements in low-input goat feeding systems. However, there is need to establish best presentation methods of the browse foliages to the goats.
Characterization of the goat feeding system among rural small holder farmers in the semi-arid regions of Uganda
(Springerplus, 2015) Kalule Nampanzira, Dorothy; Kabasa, John David; Nalule, Sara Agnes; Nakalembe, Immaculate; Tabuti, John Robert Stephen
Goats (Capra hircus) are widely distributed in Africa and Asia, and are important to the subsistence and economic livelihoods of many people in these areas. The goat feeding system among rural small holder farmers in Buyende district (Uganda) was characterised by determining the goat rearing practices, feed resources fed on by goats and availability of browse species mentioned by small holder farmers. Data was gathered using ethnobotanical and ecological approaches. Results from the ethnobotanical survey revealed that farmers were rearing indigenous goat breeds that are managed by tethering in natural pastures during the rainy season but free ranging during the dry season (i.e. when no crops are susceptible of damage). Major challenges facing goat production in the study area were diseases, shortage of land and inadequate pastures. The reduction of grazing land due to crop farming, has led to tethering of animals which in turn leads to restricted feeding. Goats were known to feed on 48 plant species distributed in 18 families and 39 genera dominated by trees and shrubs. Browse species were known to stay longer in the dry season when the grass and herbaceous species were no longer available. The most frequently mentioned browse species were Ficus natalensis, Harrisonia abyssinica, Acalypha psilostachya, Artocarpus heterophyllus and Lantana camara while Panicum maximum and Impeata cylindrica were the most mentioned herbaceous species. 31 browse species were encountered in the ecological survey. These were dominated by Combretum molle, L. camara, A. zygia, M. indica, and Albizia coriaria. In conclusion, the rearing practices of goats in Buyende district are comprised of indigenous goats tethered in natural pastures especially browses which stay longer through the dry season. However, most of the preferred browses are rare according to the computed IVI (i.e. less than 30%).
Community-based forest management promotes survival-led livelihood diversification among forest-fringe communities in Uganda
(Frontiers Media S.A, 2023-05) Mawa, Christopher;; Tumusiime, David Mwesigye;; Babweteera, Fred ;; Okwir, Eric;; Tabuti, John Robert Stephen
Livelihood diversification is a prominent feature of rural households in developing countries. It is a strategy commonly pursued by households to enhance their resilience to shocks and/or risks that affect their livelihood. While a common characteristic of Uganda’s community-based forest management (CBFM) is the promotion of alternative livelihood activities to reduce household reliance on natural forest resources from gazetted forests, it is unclear how livelihood diversification has been embraced by households engaged in CBFM. We explore livelihood diversification using cross-sectional survey data collected from 423 households in villages adjacent to Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) compartments and non-CFM compartments of Budongo Central Forest Reserve as well as two Community Forests (CF) in mid-western Uganda. We quantified the levels of diversification and fitted a Gini-Simpson Diversity Index as the response variable in two Tobit regression models to examine the determinants of livelihood diversification among forest-fringe communities in CFM and CF sites. Our results reveal high levels of survival-led household livelihood diversification in the area, with an average household engaging in five livelihood activities that were predominantly on-farm or involved the extraction of forest products for subsistence. In the CFM sites, livelihood diversification levels significantly increased with household heads’ duration of residence in the village and membership in other social groups in the village. In villages adjacent to the community forests, only the household dependency ratio positively influenced household livelihood diversification. Membership in forest conservation groups did not significantly predict the level of household livelihood diversification. Given the current survival-led diversification that these communities pursue, we recommended that development and conservation agencies in the area and other similar sites of CBFM deliberately enhance household access to high-return on-farm and non-farm livelihood activities to achieve meaningful transformations in rural livelihoods.
Extent and Rate of Deforestation and Forest Degradation (1986–2016) in West Bugwe Central Forest Reserve, Uganda
(International Journal of Forestry Research, 2021) Mutesi, Fatuma; Tabuti, John Robert Stephen; Mfitumukiza, David
Understanding the extent of land cover change and the forces behind land cover changes is essential in designing appropriate restoration strategies. Land cover changes at local scales or the factors that lead to cover change have not been documented for much of Uganda. We undertook this study in West Bugwe Central Forest Reserve (WBCFR) to fill this gap. We used remote sensing to determine land cover changes for a 30-year period, 1986–2016, and an interview survey to investigate the drivers of these changes. Our results show that the forest in this reserve has declined extensively by over 82% from 1,682 ha to 311 ha corresponding to an average change of −1.18% per year. &e wetland has also been extensively degraded. Both the forest and wetland have transitioned into shrub land. &e key drivers that have been highlighted by the survey are poverty (86%), population growth (56%), and associated harvesting of woody products (86%) for subsistence and income generation. We conclude that the forest in WBCFR has been extensively and rapidly deforested and degraded by humans.
Natural gastro properties of ficus natalensis, Rhuss natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica in native east african goats
(Livestock Science, 2016) Kalule Nampanzira, Dorothy; Kabasa, John David; Bakyusa Katongole, Constantine; Okello, Sam; Tabuti, John Robert Stephen
The natural gastro properties of Ficus natalensis, Rhuss natalensis and Harrisonia abyssinica was evaluated with the objectives of determining the rumen degradation properties. Results showed that H. abyssinica presented the highest DM disappearance from the nylon bags throughout the different incubation times followed by F. natalensis and R. natalensis showed the lowest. The DM readily available soluble fraction (a), insoluble but degradable fraction (b), degradation rate (c), potential degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) differed significantly (P<0.05) across the three browse species. The CP a, b, PD and ED fractions differed significantly (P<0.05) across the three browse species. The CP c fraction was similar across the browse species. The NDF a, b, PD, and ED fractions differed significantly (P<0.05) across the browse species. The NDF c fraction was not different across the browse species. In conclusion, Rhuss natalensis subsp. romantica has inferior rumen degradability properties, an indication of low nutritive value for goats 30 compared to Harrisonia abyssinica subsp. abyssinica and Ficus natalensis subsp. Natalensis.

Browsing by Author "Tabuti, John Robert Stephen"

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