RATIN

Taliri discovers animal feeds for use in dry season

Posted on January, 15, 2021 at 09:03 am


TANZANIA Livestock Research Institute (Taliri) at Kongwa Centre has discovered cattle feeds for use during the dry season that can boost beef and milk production.

It has been established that the feeds that come from a plant known as Cenchrus Ciliaris tolerate the dry season where grass harvest can last for a long time if well stored by famers, according to Taliri Acting Director-Geneal, Dr Jonas Kizima.

“Once planted, Cenchrus Ciliaris keeps sprouting every rainy season for up to 20 years, where it takes only 70 days to harvest and feed cows directly or stored for future use,” he said in a telephone interview with ‘Daily News’.

Dr Kizima said the plant would add value to both farmers and livestock keepers while a number of cows could be increased tremendously especially in semi-arid regions.

“This is great revolution for cattle keepers in Dodoma, Manyara, Singida, Shinyanga and Simiyu regions and some parts of Mwanza which experience drought. We encourage them to plant Cenchrus Ciliaris,” he explained.

For his part, Taliri Researcher George Fupi encouraged livestock breeders to embark on pasture farming for profit maximisation of meat and milk products.

Mr Fupi said pasture would reduce the movement of livestock over long distances in search of grazing, which lowered meat quality, weakened livestock and reproductive efficiency.

“My advice to farmers and pastoralists is to resolve disputes and cooperate for good animal husbandry,” he said.

Tanzania has 33.9 million cattle, making it the second country after Ethiopia on the African continent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The higher number of cattle raises opportunities in meat and dairy trade and the establishment of modern abattoirs and industries which are potential for the realisation of the industrial economy.

It also raises business opportunities for leather products.

Source: Daily News