Livestock Research for Rural Development 13 (6) 2001

Citation of this paper

Farmers' knowledge in the utilisation of indigenous browse species for feeding of goats in semi arid central Tanzania#

 

D M Komwihangilo,  D S C  Sendalo*, F P Lekule, L A  Mtenga* and V K Temu* 

Department of Animal Science and Production,
Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3004, Morogoro
*Livestock Production Research Institute, PO Box 202, Mpwapwa, Tanzania
dkomwihangilo2001@yahoo.com
# Earlier communicated to TSAP August 2001, Tanzania and SEAAFSR, August 2001, Nairobi

 

Abstract

Studies with a farming systems perspective in view were conducted in agro-pastoral areas of semi-arid central Tanzania to investigate feeding values of indigenous browse species as described by goat keepers based on their accumulated knowledge. A significant difference was observed between men and women respondents in relation to the number of trees each gender identified. Seventy-seven percent of male respondents (N = 81) were found to know 11 to 20 tree and shrub species as compared to 44% of female respondents (N = 18) for this range of trees. On the other hand, 56% of female respondents could identify 5 to 10 species compared to 18% for male in this range of trees. However, the number of trees known by respondents was not significantly associated with age of respondents.

Fast stomach fill, palatability and promoting growth for kids were some of the most prominent qualities or “advantages” of trees and shrubs. Response of fast stomach fill as observed in trees / shrubs such as Ecborium spp, Faitherbia albida, Allophylus africana  and Commifora africana were 78, 72, 63 and 57%, respectively.  It was found that less prominent qualities or “disadvantages” included more water intake of animals after feeding and physical characteristics of faeces. Ninety two percent of respondents noted that Dichrostachys cinerea would make animals thirsty. Moreover, it was reported that goats have hard faeces when they eat most of the trees producing pods like Acacia tortilis (64% of respondents) Acacia senegal (57%) and Faitherbia albida (33%). Further studies are still needed for profitable utilization of diverse forage materials.

Key words: Indigenous knowledge, goats, feeding, browses, semi-arid

 

Introduction

Trees and shrubs are important feeds for grazing and browsing ungulates. These forage species contain appreciable amounts of nutrients that are deficient in other feed resources such as grass. In areas where the dry season lasts a long time, like in semi-arid and arid lands, trees and shrubs are a good source of supplementary nitrogen. Some studies conducted in different farming systems have generated information on the various types of trees and shrubs fed to livestock (Komwihangilo et al 1995; Fenna et al 1998). Other studies have indicated tree and shrub species used for treatment of various livestock diseases and disorders (Ole Lengisugi 1995).  

In order to improve household economies and increase food security in smallholder farms governmental institutions (e.g. Livestock Production Research Institute Mpwapwa, LPRI) and non-governmental organizations (e.g. Dodoma Microproject Programme, DMPP) have introduced improved goat breeds in the different farming systems of semi-arid central Tanzania. These goats along with indigenous ones will continue to rely on abundant indigenous feed resources available. Nevertheless, documented information on specific qualities of different forages fed to different classes of livestock based on indigenous or farmers’ knowledge is scanty (Fenna et al 1998; Thorne et al 1999). Studies are, therefore, underway in semi-arid central Tanzania so as to explore the potential and contribution of locally available feed resources for livestock in semi-arid agro-pastoral systems. This paper dwells on studies, with a farming systems perspective in view, that sought to identify, together with agro-pastoralists nutritional qualities these farmers attach to specific trees and shrubs.


Materials and methods

Location of the study

Formal surveys were conducted in Behelo, Ng’hambo, Ving’hawe and Mang’hang’u villages of Mpwapwa District (Latitude: 06º20'S; Longitude: 36º30'E) in Tanzania during the 2000/2001 cropping season. The villages are in a semi-arid climate zone characterized by a consecutive four months rainy period from November, but with 90% of the rain falling between December and April. Rainfall ranges from 500mm to 700mm per annum. Maximum and minimum temperatures are 27.5oC and 15.5oC respectively. The altitude of these villages ranges from 900 to 1036 meters above sea level.

Research design, data collection and analysis

A cross sectional research design (Casley and Kumar 1988) was adopted. One hundred (100) respondents, twenty-five from each village were selected based on their experiences in goat keeping or herding. A structured questionnaire was administered focusing on awareness, use and management of locally available trees and shrubs in feeding of local goats mainly the small East African goats. After data collection, the information was coded and analyzed with the aid of the SPSS (1998) version 9.0 software.

 

Results

Of the total number of respondents interviewed (Table 1), 82% were male and the rest were female. Age of respondents ranged from 18 to 80 years (mean 43.0 and standard deviation 16.9). Table 2 shows that farmers know different types and numbers of trees and shrubs fed to goats. However, the number of trees known by respondents was not significantly (P > 0.05) associated with age of respondents.

Table 1. Characteristics of respondents in surveyed villages

Characteristic

Frequency

Age (years)#

 

15 – 30

25

31 – 45

28

46 – 60

31

> 61

14

Gender

 

     Male

81

     Female

18

Goat:household ratio per village

Ng’hambo

0.595

Ving’hawe

0.107

Behelo

1

Mang’hang’u

0.854

#Mean ± standard deviation = 43.0 ± 16.9

 

There was a difference (P<0.05) between male and female respondents in the number of trees each gender identified (Table 3). Seventy seven percent of male respondents were found to know 11 to 20 tree and shrub species as compared to 44% of females, whereas 56% of female respondents could identify 5 to 10 species compared to 18% of males in this category.  

Table 2.  Farmers’ knowledge of trees and shrubs as related to age of respondents

 

Total number of trees / shrubs identified by respondent

 

 

5 – 10

11 – 15

16 – 20

> 21

Total

Age of respondent (years) 15 - 30 

 

 

 

 

 

Count

9

10

6

 

25

 %

36.0

40.0

24.0

-

100

Age of respondent (years) 31-45

 

 

 

 

 

Count

8

9

8

3

28

 %

28.6

32.

`28.6

10.7

100

Age of respondent (years) 46-60

 

 

 

 

 

Count

6

11

13

1

31

 %

19.4

35.5

41.9

3.2

100

Age of respondent (years) > 61

 

 

 

 

 

Count

2

7

5

 

14

 %

14.3

50

35.7

 

100

Total 

 

 

 

 

 

Count

25

37

32

4

98

 %

25.5

37.8

32.7

4.1

100

c2 = 9.44 ;  df = 9; P = 0.398

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 3. Farmers’ knowledge of trees and shrubs in relation to gender

 

Number of trees / shrubs identified by respondent

 

 

5 – 10

11 – 15

16 – 20

> 21

Total

Males

Count

15

32

30

4

81

%

18.5

39.5

37.0

4.9

100

Females

 

 

 

 

 

Count

10

6

2

 

18

%

55.6

33.3

11.1

 

100

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Count

25

38

32

4

99

%                  

25.3

38.4

32.3

4.0

100

c2 = 12.098 ;  d.f. = 3; P = 0.007

Fast stomach fill, palatability and promoting growth for kids were some of the most prominent qualities of trees and shrubs locally found in central Tanzania as shown in Table 4. Response of fast stomach fill as observed in trees / shrubs such as Ecborium spp, Faitherbia albida, Allophylus africana and Commifora africana were 78, 72, 63 and 57%, respectively.

Less prominent qualities included water intake of animals after feeding and physical characteristics of faeces (Table 5). It was reported that goats have hard faeces when they eat a lot from trees producing pods like Acacia tortilis (64% of respondents), Acacia senegal (57%) and Faitherbia albida (33%). Ninety two percent of respondents reported that Dichrostachys cinerea would make animals thirsty.

Table 4. Frequency# for response on the most prominent qualities of some trees and shrubs fed to local goats in central Tanzania

 

Supports fast growth

Fast stomach fill

Facilitate intake of other forages

Palatable

High milk yield

Ecborium spp (N = 73)

8 (11)

56 (77.8)

12 (16.7)

9 (12.5)

1 (1.4)

Tamarindus indica (n = 23)

1 (4.2)

8 (34.8)

12 (52.2)

2 (8.7)

1 (4.3)

Acacia tortilis (N = 88)

44 (50)

38 (43.2)

20 (22.7)

6 (6.7)

3 (3.4)

Delonix elata (N = 64)

6 (9.4)

36 (56.3)

22 (34.4)

4 (6.2)

3 (9.7)

Morus alba (N = 19)

2 (10.5)

9 (47.4)

4 (21.1)

5 (26.3)

-

Combretum guenzii (N = 6)

1 (16.7)

1 (16.7)

2 (33.4)

3 (50)

-

Grewia similis (N = 40)

1 (2.5)

22 (55)

16 (40)

2 (5)

-

Grewia spp (N = 36)

3 (8.3)

20 (55.6)

14 (38.9)

2 (5.6)

1 (2.8)

Acacia senegal (N = 23)

3 (13)

7 (30.4)

12 (52.2)

2 (8.7)

-

Commiphora africana (N = 7)

6 (85.7)

4 (57.1)

2 (28.6)

2 (28.6)

-

Grewia bicolor (N = 31)

1 (3.2)

15 (48.4)

14 (45.2)

1 (3.2)

-

Dichrostachys cinerea (N = 14)

1 (7.1)

7 (50)

6 (42.9)

14 (100)

-

Faitherbia albida (N = 18)

4 (22.2)

13 (72.2)

2 (11.1)

-

-

Allophylus africana (N = 8)

-

5 (62.5)

2 (25)

1 (12.5)

-

Acacia nilotica (N = 26)

3 (12.0)

7 (26.9)

16 (61.5)

1 (3.8)

-

Lannea schweinfurthii var Stuhlmanii (N = 26)

2 (7.7)

15 (57.7)

10 (38.5)

1 (3.8)

-

Albizia harveyii (N = 10)

1 (10)

2 (20)

1 (10)

1 (10)

-

Markhamia zamzibarica (N = 6)

-

3 (50)

3 (50)

-

-

# Number of respondents about the quality (Numbers in parentheses show percentage of respondents). This excludes the total number of  farmers (N) who know and can identify the tree or shrub

 

Table 5. Frequency # for response on the less prominent qualities of some trees and shrubs fed to local goats in central Tanzania

Trees / shrub

Faeces hard

Faeces soft and watery

Thirsty animal; drinks more water

Ecborium spp (N = 38)

3 (7.9)

31 (81.6)

4 (10.5)

Tamarindus indica (n = 11)

1 (9.1)

1 (9.1)

8 (72.7)

Acacia tortilis i

47 (64.4)

1 (1.4)

27 (37)

Delonix elata (N = 30)

3 (30)

1 (3)

21 (70)

Morus alba (N = 16)

4 (25)

10 (62.5)

-

Combretum guenzii (N = 4)

-

-

3 (75)

Grewia similis (N = 13)

-

6 (46.2)

7 (53.8)

Grewia spp (N = 12)

-

3 (25)

10 (83.3)

Acacia Senegal (N = 7)

4 (57.1)

1 (14.3)

2 (28.6)

Commiphora africana (N = 4)

1 (25)

1 (25)

1 (25)

Grewia bicolor (N = 10)

1 (10)

5 (50)

4 (40)

Dichrostachys cinerea (N = 12)

2 (16.7)

-

11 (91.7)

Faitherbia albida (N = 12)

4 (33.3)

2 (16.7)

6(50)

Allophylus africana (N = 3)

2 (66.7)

-

1 (33.3)

Acacia nilotica (N = 7)

1 (14.3)

3 (42.9)

2 (28.6)

Lannea schweinfurthii var Stuhlmanii (N = 13)

-

10 (76.9)

3 (23.1)

# Number of respondents about the quality (Numbers in parentheses show percentage of respondents). This excludes the total number of farmers (N) who know and can identify the tree or shrub


Discussion

Gender roles significantly influence acquisition and utilization of indigenous knowledge in agricultural activities as was evident within the agro-pastoral communities in this study about fodder for goats. Our findings agree with those of Kajembe et al (2000) who asserted that division of labour among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, such as sending animals to pasture-lands, makes one gender group (male) more familiar to many types of pastures and forages than the other (female). Nevertheless, females in some other pastoral communities are sometimes more skillful than males in other aspects. Ole Lengisugi (1995) pointed out that Maasai women are more knowledgeable in selecting cows with high milk yields and those with good mothering characteristics than men. This is because they are so involved in the care and handling of calves and milking animals. Discussion with informants on gender roles in management and care of livestock showed that adult females are less involved in grazing than are adult males, young boys and girls. However, they are actively concerned with milking or processing of milk. 

Operations related to management of animals are key factors that also influence practices of accumulated knowledge of farmers in a farming system. Free ranging of goats in agro-pastoral systems of central Tanzania offer these browsing animals a wider chance of feed selection and is good time for farmers to observe as many species as possible. Frequencies or percentages of respondents recording “fast fill” as a criterion of quality were generally higher than on palatability as a criterion for most of the trees identified. This was due to the fact that the primary interest and quick observation by farmers is on animal satisfaction. In other words, it was revealed that many goat keepers are interested in species that are leafy or pods from trees which could give fast fill when browsed in situ or offered to goats. Ecborium species, Grewia species, Acacia tortilis and Dichrostachys cinerea are prime examples. Fenna et al (1998) reported that stomach fill is a criterion used by goat keepers in the Tanzanian Uluguru mountains whereby some forages ranked by farmers in descending order were Hyperrenia spp, Pennisetum purpureum and maize stover. Mtenga et al (1992) noted that understanding palatability of tree species could increase dry matter intake in zero grazing systems by offering the least palatable first and the most palatable species last. Such views concur with those of Forbes (1995) that palatability is not an important issue when one forage type is available but it becomes more important when two or more forages are available. Therefore due to the fact that goats are free grazing in semi-arid areas, herdsmen would lead goats to areas where plant species that they consider palatable are readily available. Nevertheless, the general poor response in aspects of palatability for many trees (except for Dichrostachys cinerea where there was 100% response) requires further attention. In this study, however, many goat keepers reported that the goat knows better which tree / shrub is more palatable than the other is. Probably the picture would have been different in the cut and carry system in the practice of zero grazing. This is because apart from consideration of fast stomach fill, farmers selectively carry forages to stall-fed animals while considering aspects of their palatability.

The small East African goats that are kept in semi-arid areas of central Tanzania are valued for meat. Thus farmers are interested more in growth of kids and good condition of adults that are sold to open markets in rural areas and beyond (minada). Hence their greater emphasis is on growth as reflected in their views in evaluating the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, the agropastoral communities in central Tanzania are not so used to milking of goats. Therefore, farmers’ response on value of the surveyed feed resources and effect of these feeds on milk yield was also limited due to the current practices and operations in goat enterprises.

Farmers recognize the importance of watering their animals and hence their perspective of looking as disadvantaged trees and shrubs which demand more drinking water by goats when they consume them. Tamarindus indica leaves are “salty”; Dischrostachys pods are “coarse and dry” were some of the remarks by respondents for characteristics of some feeds. These characteristics are associated with more demand for drinking water if consumed by animals (Forbes 1995). However, inherent climatic conditions and the fact that many areas in semi-arid lands are short of watering points are issues of concern. Shayo et al (1996) have advocated that unconventional feed resources such as water melons (Citrullus vulgaris) could provide additional water to animals. Agropastoralists in central Tanzania could therefore be encouraged to optimize the use of these available resources.

On the other hand, the physical characteristics of faeces may depend on among other things, the dry matter content of the feed at the time of intake. To the farmer, however, the physical characteristics of faeces could be an important aspect for example in cases where kraals are cleaned and manure collected for fertilizing cropping areas. Farmers in the hilly farming systems of Nepal (Thorne et al 1999) are very concerned with this aspect as they collect manure to their farms. The study revealed that farmers’ knowledge could be a valuable resource on aspects related to crop-livestock interaction such as manure production, conservation and use.

 

Conclusion

The study has shown that most of the goat keepers are knowledgeable of the vast resources available in their localities. Thus research and development agencies can bring notable impact to farming systems if they consider farmers’ (indigenous) knowledge about locally available resources such as feeds. While this study concentrated mainly on farmers’ views and experiences about the use of tree and shrub forages, validation of some of the raised issues using other laboratory methods or live animals is essential. Therefore, for improved goat production and increased household food security in semi-arid central Tanzania further studies are still needed for profitable utilization of diverse forage materials.

 

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful for the co-operation they obtained from farmers and extension staff. DMK acknowledges generous funding from IFS for Project (B/2983 –1).

References

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Received 23 October 2001

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