Forage research and development for livestock production in Uganda

E.N. Sabiiti and J.S. Mugerwa
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Introduction
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References

Introduction

Review of forage research programme since 1900
Type of research
Descriptive research
Quantitative research
Forage Development Phases
Current Research Programmes
Major constraints in Uganda and possible remedies
Strategies to generate utilisable research data

The high potential for pasture productivity and subsequent animal production in Uganda has not been fully exploited mainly because the existing research data is not easily applicable to the livestock farmers. For example, virtually all the available data since the 1950's has come from research done on research stations with little relevance to farmers problems related to pasture management and utilisation. Even that portion of the data that could be utilised by the farmers is still locked-up on these stations, in libraries or with the individual scientists. But most important is that the overwhelming data is either descriptive or basic in nature probably because of the developmental stage in forage research in the country.

There are also several factors that have limited utilisation of some of the research data that has relevance to the farmers' problems. These include lack of emphasis by the Government to support the application of such research data, limited manpower to develop co-ordinated research and to conduct on-farm research and to extend the results to farmers, lack of the necessary inputs, type of data available and lack of continuity in the research programmes.

The objectives of this paper are to review critically the research data on forages with the view of identifying the major constraints that have limited their utilisation and to suggest appropriate approach for generating utilisable forage research data by the farmers.

Review of forage research programme since 1900

Until up to 1947, grass in Uganda was typically used for resting land in the crop rotation system or shifting cultivation. Emphasis was laid on soil conservation rather than grazing as this was considered detrimental to the soil fertility and subsequent crop production. Fortunately, Kerkham (1947) found that the grazing of the "resting" land was beneficial. Later on Stobbs (1969) and Stephens (1967) confirmed Kerkham's findings. Their data created a new awareness about pasture research that could be considered as a "true crop" (Henderlong, 1973).

Type of research

Considerable review of research work done in Uganda since 1900's has been given by Henderlong (1973), Ogwang (1974), Ochodomuge (1978), Sabiiti (1980) and more recently by Byenkya (1989). Most of these reviews did not bring out vividly the limitations or which research data "as not easily applicable.

The following types of research were highlighted namely, descriptive or exploratory, basic research (quantities) and applied.

Descriptive research

This was necessary because information was needed before forages could be introduced and this work began in 1906 up to 1954. During this period several grasses and legumes were identified and by 1958 about 8 grass and 9 legume species were recommended for further research Horrell (1958) and by 1970 a generalised recommendation of forages for different agro-ecological zones was produced (Table 1).

Quantitative research

The work which followed descriptive research emphasized quantitative data on establishment, seeding rates, fertilizer requirements, grass/legume mixtures, inoculation, intensity of grazing/defoliation, chemical composition and digestibility and grazing trials to determine acceptability and animal production.

In all, over 25 research projects of this type have been reported (see references). Since most of this data was basic, little of it could be utilised by the livestock farmers. For example, knowledge about chemical composition and digestibility which is abundant (Bredon and Horell, 1963; Bredon et al., 1963 (ab, Ogwang, 1974; Reid et al, 1973; Soneji et al., 1980; Mugerwa and Bwabye, 1974; Odwongo and Mugerwa, 1980) although very useful in forage evaluation, has no direct meaning to a local farmer and as such a lot of these data are purely academic and could not be utilised. A few examples of basic data are given in Tables 2-4 and that have no relevance to solving our farmers problems.

However, to an educated farmer, some of these data may be useful since one could see easily the trend in crude protein and digestibility with age.

The most useful quantitative research data available have, unfortunately, been provided by a few research workers in Uganda between 1965 and 1978 (Stobbs, 1965; 1966; 1969; Bareeba, 1977; Odwongo 1976; Mugerwa et al, 1973; 1974; Musangi, 1965; 1969; Soneji, 1970; 1971; Tiharuhondi, 1970; Olsen, 1971; 1972; Olsen and Tiharuhondi, 1972; Mugerwa, (unpublished data). These researchers related forage production and animal responses. A few examples are shown in Tables 5-6. Such data have a real practical meaning to the farmer because the farmer is able to see the final product in terms of milk, beef or crop yields and the costs when he utilises the results on his/her farm.

Table 1: Species recommended for planted grasslands in the different ecological zones of Uganda

x where the species are adapted

Table 2: Percentage crude protein in the major grasses in Uganda.

Source: Bredon and Horell (1961).

Table 3. Effect of age on protein, fibre content and digestibility of Hairy Indigo.

Source: Sabiiti (1979).

Table 4. The in vitro digestibility of Panicum maximum in pure stand and in legume association

Means with the same superscript was non-significant at the 5% level.
* Centro was slow to establish so over 80% of the pasture was made up of Panicum maximum.
+ Desmodium intortum was equally sensitive to drought like Panicum maximum

Source: Otim (1973).

Unfortunately, for the Uganda case, this type of research came to a halt in mid 1970's with the onset of political instability. Much of the research was done on the research stations under high technology so there is no indication of how such technology would produce under farmers' conditions of poor management. We are not aware of any published work done at farm level. Furthermore, most of the research was of short duration and the conclusions always recommended further research to generate more knowledge about the forage responses to various management practices. Such data would be considered as preliminary and this would limit their utilisation.

However, one big advantage we have achieved from some of the research findings was to produce a handbook on pastures for farmers (Wendt et al., 1970) although it is written in English and as such has limited audience. Also there is hardly any copy now available for the farmers and scientists.

Forage Development Phases

We are convinced that the research results to-date are extremely important because of the developmental phases that have to be followed in forage evaluation programmes. There is generalised data on most of forage species under different agro-ecological conditions in the country so it was and will be necessary to continue with basic data generation on research stations and then move to the farm-level studies. There is also a need to develop or introduce new forage species to replace the less productive ones with changing farming practices.

Current Research Programmes

Reactivation of forage research began in 1986 with aid from USAID following 15 years of no effective research. There is a need to continue forage evaluation (Sabiiti et al. 1989). Since the previous research programmes were terminated prematurely and there is still too general or no information on the potential of these forage species (both native and exotic) in terms of animal productivity. The studies are based at Makerere University Farm, Kabanyolo and Agricultural research stations in the country. The new approach is collaboration at both national and regional levels, e.g. with the Pastures Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (PANESA) as this generates quicker and more useful data.

We intend to extend our research programmes to the farm level after generating adequate data and when funds do permit.

Table 5. Estimated milk producing potential of some Uganda forages, based on results from indoor digestion trials with sheep and assuming an average cow weighing 450 kg and consuming the forages at the same rates as the sheep.

Source: Mugerwa (unpublished data)

Table 6. Estimates of pasture TDN and milk production in Uganda based on US-NRC nutrient requirements

* Suplemented with a low protein concentrate (17.7%).
** Suplemented with a high protein concentrate (21.6%).
*** Low dairy meal supplementation.
**** High dairy meal supplementation.

Major constraints in Uganda and possible remedies

(i) Manpower

Forage research and development for animal production was predominantly in the hands of expertriates; about 20 of them up to 1973. Firstly, they were located on research stations where there were the necessary facilities so there was hardly any involvement with the farmers. Secondly, following the 1971 military government, all of these researchers left the country and this marked the deterioration of forage research programmes. From the literature, considerable publications were done between 1965 and 1973 and thereafter publications more or less ceased. This led to discontinuity in research and eventual collapse. The few Ugandan scientists who remained lacked facilities to continue with research either on research stations or at farm level. In short, there is limited forage and animal scientific personnel in Uganda to be effective in forage research. For example, there is one qualified pasture agronomist working in collaboration with three animal nutritionists at Makerere University. There is a poor linkage between researchers and extensionists and this is partly due to limited qualified forage/animal extension personnel. People in the extension tend to shy away from researchers and this has tended to limit dissemination of research data to the farmers.

There is a need to train several forage, animal and extension personnel so as to create confidence between the researcher and the extension staff and increase interaction.

Furthermore, there has been lack of co-ordination in our research programme for several years. Some research scientists have quietly taken all their data leaving no publication behind and have changed jobs since research does not pay well here. The Government should create good conditions for researchers to remain dedicated in their jobs by providing research funds, promotion prospects and other incentives.

(ii) Government Policy

There is no clear-cut Government policy on how to implement research data generated by the scientists. There is no full-fledged department of Animal and Pasture production headed by qualified personnel in the Ministry of Animal Industry and fisheries. Forage scientists who work with this Ministry are generally ignored by the Veterinarians. A situation of this kind is not productive for any researcher.

(iii) Lack of inputs

This is a very crucial factor both from the researchers and the farmers point of view. Researchers lack the necessary inputs such as funds, transport, equipment to conduct applied research or even to reach the farmers; there is a poor extension system with poor or no facilities to disseminate results; and the farmer does not have the recommended inputs. For example, elephant grass hybrids and forage legumes which have been recommended by researchers have remained at the research stations because of lack of planting materials. Pasture seed is not available and if available it is too expensive. A kilo of legume seed costs about Ug. Sh.1700/= (US$ 12) and this is prohibitive to the farmers. The use of nitrogen fertilisers to increase grass pasture under irrigation is too expensive because of the high cost of nitrogenous fertilizers.

(iv) Type of technology

Most of the existing results were generated by using complicated experimental designs and this would limit their utilisation. Also a very important aspect is to try and indicate the economics of such technology because a few of the studies have incorporated this (Stobbs, 1967; Tiharuhondi et al., 1973) in Tables 7 and 8 respectively.

(v) Socio-economic constraints

The majority of our livestock farmers are rural (over 90%) and have produced cattle in their traditional systems and seem to be contented with that system because the new technology involves high expenses to utilise. One farmer in 1976 found me (senior author) studying forages at the University Farm and commented that "I was wasting Government's money". Many farmers take pastures for granted and this hinders adoption of research findings. However, the progressive dairy farmers seem to understand the importance of research.

Strategies to generate utilisable research data

We have indicated some of these strategies in our discussion above and here we are emphasizing them once again.

i. Research must be geared toward solving farmers problems if it has to be utilised. To overcome this constraint, there should be collaborative research so that several problems are solved at once and a full technological package developed. Farmers should be involved; i.e. scientists should visit farmers when planning their research in order to see or be told those problems at the farm level.

ii. Training of personnel (research and extension) cannot be overemphasized. This is lacking here and in other African countries. Also farmers should be educated through mass media, holding of field days or during workshops.

iii. There should be a clear-cut policy by the Government on application of research data; otherwise the information will remain where it was developed.

Table 7: Animal production under different grazing management systems.

Source: Stobbs (1967)

Table 8: Treatment cost and grain in beef production

Source: Tiharuhondi et al (1973).

iv. Publication of research information should be done in a language which farmers understand. We are suggesting farming bulletins or use of local newspapers.

v. The Government should create incentives for researchers to stay in their jobs so as to keep continuity and this of course, includes provision of research inputs. The inputs should be available for the farmer.

Conclusion

Almost all the available data in Uganda has come from research stations with better technology compared to the local small-scale farmers. Secondly, most of the findings are descriptive or basic in nature. This coupled with the above reason tends to limit their utilisation.

Several constraints which have tended to limit their utilisation have been discussed and strategies suggested. When there limited data on forages, basic data is essential and in order to generate a complete research package, collaborative research is the best approach.

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge USAID for funding our current forage research programmes and the senior author is thankful to PANESA for providing the sponsorship to present this paper.

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