Celebrating International Women's Day with Farmers...Zero-grazing dairy cattle system was...

Celebrating International

Women's Day with Farmers

Supported by: The International Potato Center (CIP)

Brazafric Enterprises Ltd.

Kyakuwa Farm

Impact TV

Bukedde TV

Bulemezi agro-vet Limited

Bavubuka Twekembe Group

Seguku Yesu Akwagala Worship Center

You are all welcome

Dr. Jolly Kabirizi

Tel: 0777912716

Email: jmkabirizi@gmail.com

Profitable Zero Grazing Dairy Enterprise

About Dr. Jolly Kabirizi

Worked with NAR0

Livestock Consultant.

Director, Kyakuwa Farm,

Seguku, Kla-Entebbe Rd.

42 years of research on dairy

cattle nutrition.

Dairy farmer for 35 years

Trained farmers for 43 years.

8 national & 4 international

awards

Zero-grazing dairy cattle system was

introduced in mid-1980s because of:

Land shortage,

Improve household nutrition & income and,

Provide manure for soil fertility improvement

High-yielding improved cows are kept inside &

fed with fodder cut and carried to them daily.

Currently, there are over 2 million farmers

practicing zero grazing in Uganda.

Zero grazing dairy cattle farming in Uganda

Advantages of zero grazing system

Animals are kept inside---- more secure.

Feeds are utilised well-- reduces pasture damage.

Maximum use of land

Urban & peri-urban farmers can keep cattle

Many animals can be fed from a small area.

Easy collection of manure----crop & biogas prodn.

Easier animal health management.

Easy detection of heat.

Disadvantages of zero grazing system

Requires cattle of higher genetic potential to make

economic sense----- more expensive.

Shortage of land --------inadequate feeds.

More resources (capital, land & labour) required.

Large amounts of pasture & supplements.

Spread of diseases in the same enclosure

because stalls might be too close.

Animals might be stressed due to confinement.

It might not be easy to detect signs of heat.

(1) Site selection

Locate the unit near a source of fodder to

reduce labour costs of carrying fodder to the

cows & carrying manure back to the farm.

(2) Safety & protection

Malicious poisoning by jealous people.

Rain, strong wind and hot sunshine

Thieves.

(3) Comfort

Poor cow comfort causes lameness

Requirements for a good zero grazing unit

(3) Good manure handling plan

Manure must be properly disposed of without

being an odour nuisance to neighbours.

(4) Ventilation

Good ventilation for maximal milk production.

(5) Bio-security

A footbath prevents the spread of disease.

(1) Cubicles

Cubicles form the resting area for the cow.

The recommended measurement is 4 ft wide by

7 ft long.

Cubicles must be covered with soft materials like

saw dust, dry grass, sand or rubber mats

Components of a good zero grazing unit

A lay out of a simple zero grazing unit

Centimetres

(2) Walking area

The floor should be made of concrete for ease

of cleaning.

Should have a gradual slope towards the dung

pit and be about 1 metre wide.

Feed & water troughs raised above the ground

to avoid contamination from the walking areaand to ensure easy feeding by the cow.

(3) Resting area

Should be roofed to provide shelter against

rain and sunshine.

A mineral box fixed in each cubicle for

individual mineral supply to each cow.

Water must always be available and must

have an outlet to drain before refilling.

(4) Feed and water troughs

Low cost feed trough

Old tractor tyres for water trough

Old bathroom water bath

(5) Milking area

Must have a feed trough for feeding

concentrates to the cows during milking.

Constructed next to

the cubicles.

The floor is flat, made

of firm concrete and

slope towards the

walking area.

(6) Calf pens

Reduce the risk of

disease transmission

between calves.

Prevent sucking on

each other.

Calves are able to feed

individually.

Able to monitor calves

better.

1

2

3

Side view of the calf pen;

1. Welded wire mesh

2. Plastic nipple bucket

3. Exercise area

Requirements for a calf pen

Item Quantity

Seasoned timber

(pieces)

10

Iron sheets (pieces) 2

Papyrus mat (pieces) 1

Nails 1 kg

Hinges 6 pairs

Bolts and nuts 5 kg

Plastic nipple bucket 1

Locks 5

Welded wire mesh 2

Plastic bucket

with a nipple

(7) Holding crush

(8) The fodder chopping area

Fixed knife chopper

Motorized forage chopper

Chopping fodder improves

forage intake & reduces

feed wastage.

Chopping forages using a

panga results into injuries.

(9) A store

An area where inputs (concentrates, minerals,

milk utensils etc.) are kept

Well-ventilated and free from rodents.

(10) Manure disposal

Collect manure daily from the grazing unit.

Store manure in a cemented pit for about 2

weeks to decompose.

Remove manure from the pit and apply on food

and fodder crop fields.

(1)Fixed costs

Cost of breeding stock (shs 3.5 to 6 million)

Construction of cow shed

Feed boxes

Water troughs

Equipment (dairy utensils)

Machinery (wheel burrow, hand tools, forage

chopper)

Major costs to start a zero grazing dairy cattle enterprise

(2) Variable costs

Establish 2 acres of a mixture of Napier grass &

forage legumes & 500 fodder trees

Dairy meal

Mineral licks

Acaricides

Artificial insemination (AI) services

Vaccinations

Veterinary treatment

Deworming

Milking salve

Repair of cow shed and feed boxes

Labour & transport

(3)Revenue from sale of:

Milk

Bull calves

Manure

Culled animals

Live animals

Income from farmer training sessions

Item Qty Cost Total (Ushs)

Land preparation (acres) 2 200,000 400,000

Elephant grass cuttings

(bags)28 20,000 560,000

Fertilizer (manure) (loads) 3 70,000 210,000

Centrosema (kgs) 4 30,000 120,000

Calliandra seedlings 500 300 150,000

Planting Napier grass &

legumes2 100,000 200,000

Planting calliandra seedlings 1 100,000 100,000

Weeding (4 times/year x 2

acres)8 100,000 800,000

Total (Ushs) 2,540,000

Estimated cost of establishing & managing a

mixture of elephant grass & forage legumes (for

1 cow & its calf)------1st year

A hybrid between

elephant grass & millet

Introduced from Thailand

by The Green Elephant

(U) Ltd.

Herbage biomass yield=

200 tons/acre/year of

fresh material.

Protein content= 14 to

18 percent

A bag of cuttings costs

shs 30,000.

Recommended Napier grass varieties

Pak Chong Napier

Pak Chong super

Napier grass variety

Introduced from Kenya

by NaLIRRI in 2011.

Looks like sugarcane

Has thick sweet stems

Herbage biomass yield

is 70 tons/acre/year.

Protein content is 12-14

percent.

Cutting interval is 4

months

79 Napier grass x Sugar cane variety

Negative environmental aspects in zero grazing system

1. Loss of local cattle breeds

Crossbred & exotic cows require intensive use

of pesticides which spill into the environment

with a negative effect on humans & insects.

2. Plastic waste

Death of animals due to ingestion of polythene

bags.

Contaminate soil & water sources

3. Changes in pasture management

Large amounts of artificial fertilizers & manure

are applied to the fields to improve crop

production--------causing pollution of ground

water and soil.

4. Harvesting or cutting forages

Continuous harvesting without fertilizer

application causes desertification, soil

erosion & spread of invasive species &

weeds.

5. Manure accumulation

The bad smell and flies from manure not properly

disposed of, is a serious environmental concern

for the neighbours.

Large herds of confined cows means lot of

manure to dispose of.

Large quantity of greenhouse gases contribute to

climate change, water pollution & spread of

diseases.

6. Effects on animal health and welfare

Lameness due to the effects of concrete floor

on hooves.

A cow living in a dirty shed is uncomfortable; --

----affect level of production due to mastitis.

Effect on fertility---poor heat detection due to

silent heat.

Sustainable zero grazing dairy farming –Good for you, good for the environment

1. Proper disposal of cattle manure

Develop a simple waste management plan -----

-biogas production

2. Harvest and conserve water

Harvest rain water from roofs for humans, crop

& livestock use.

3. Appropriate use of chemicals, drugs &

fertilizers

Use recommended agricultural & veterinary

chemicals according to the directions.

Ensure safe storage & disposal of chemicals.

Consider biological approaches to controlling

farm pests e.g. eliminate pest breeding sites.

Careful application of fertilisers will minimise off-

farm impacts and boost productivity.

4. Prevent snakes and pests on your farm

Remove bushy areas to keep snakes away.

Control rats, frogs & lizards which are the

staple diet of a snake.

A small sprinkling of sulphur powder might

prove effective at keeping snakes from

sneaking in.

5. Plants that can repel snakes naturally

Tobacco plants

Onions Gallic

Lemon grass

Insect repellent cards keep

flies away

6. Keep flies & bad smell away from the farm

Used to disinfect

the floor

7. Proper disposal of plastic waste

Sell used plastic bags to

recycling centers.

Innovative uses (bricks,

plastic gardens).

,

plastic gardens

Tips to boost dairy business profitability

Prepare a dairy investment plan to outline

the finances required.

Source animals from reputed farms using

records-----.a good crossbred dairy cow

should produce over 20 litres of milk per

day during its 2nd lactation.

Produce your feeds to ensure quality &

quantity.

Use the right breeding techniques.

Create a waste management plan---biogas.

Have good mutual working relationship with

farm workers.

Work with professionals.

Involve all family members in farm activities.

You are the first manager ----”Telephone

farming does not pay” & “A farmer’s foot is

the best manure”.

Keep your cows in top health condition------

ensure cow comfort.

A good fence keeps away intruders & other

livestock from the farm & controls breeding.

Loud noise & stress

can inhibit the release of

a hormone responsible

for releasing milk---

making the cow to hold

back milk.

Slow music can

mitigate stress in cows

and increase milk yield

by 3 percent.

Milking to Music

Important contacts for dairy inputs &

services-------(1)

Input Contact

Hiring silage & hay

making equipment

Jersey semen &

embryos

Liquid Nitrogen

Director, National

Livestock Resources Res.

Institute (NalIRRI),

Nakyesasa, Busukuma

sub-county

(07842660295)

Quality pasture seed Mr. Lutwama

Bavubuka Twekembe

(0774550349) Making sweet potato

silage for pigs & cattle

Important contacts -------(2)

Input Contact

Motorized forage

choppers/hammer mill

BrazAfric, Bugoloobi

(0774112810)

Molasses Patel (0751253847)

Breweries waste Ms. Carol Busingye

(0772616524)

Pelleting equipment and

motorized mixers

Musa Body Machinery

Ltd (0702917518/

0700215475)

Good crossbred dairy

cattle breeds

Mr. Busingye

(0705167067/

0786430790)

Input Contact

Training on dairy cattle

farming

Kyakuwa Farm

0777912716

Calliandra seedlings Mr. Odoi

(0782568822)

Silage bags Allan (00784268061)

Yellow maize rich in

carotene

Major Kigozi Kawesa

(0772343150)

Insect repellents Muyenga, Kironde

Road (0706230892)

Pak Chong super

Napier grass variety

Aidah (0757759911)

Important contacts -------(3)

Dairy Farmers Network (DAFAN)

DAFAN was established in February 2015.

Registered as an association with over 250

dairy farmers.

Activities

Monthly study meetings

Farm visits/trainings

International dairy tours

Embryo transfer programs

Membership fee: shs 150,000

Contact: Denis Semugera 0778496096

Acknowledgements

International Potato Centre (CIP)

Brazafric Enterprises Ltd.

Impact TV

Kyakuwa Farm

Bulemezi Agro-Vet Ltd.

Bavubuka Twekembe Group

Seguku Yesu Akwagala Worship Centre

Participants

Members of organizing committee

Organizing committee members

Dr. Jolly Kabirizi, Kyakuwa Farm (Chairperson)

Mr. Vincent Lutwama, Bavubuka Twekembe

(BTG)

Ms. Zainah Nampijja BTG)

Mr. Joshua Kisubika (BTG)

Mr. William Kirumira (BTG)

Mr. Perezi Segawa (BTG)

Ms. Robina Nakiryowa

Mr. Yusufu Bazibumbira

Pastor Stuart Kuunya (SWC)

Ms. Doris (SWC)