9 0 HUSBANDARY – 9.5 - ANIMAL FEEDING

  

ORGANIC FARMING COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

9 0 HUSBANDARY – 9.5 - ANIMAL FEEDING

 

The availability of fodder is one of the limiting factors in animal husbandry. Unlike landless systems in conventional farming, organic husbandry should be mainly based on the fodder produced on the farm itself. As is the case with humans, there is a direct link between the quantity and composition of the food and the health status of the animals.

 

FOOD REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS

If farm animals are to be productive (milk, eggs, meat etc.), it is important that they get suitable food in enough quantities. If the fodder production of one‘s farm is limited (which usually is the case), it might be economically valid to keep less animals but supply them with sufficient food. 

The appropriate quantity and the mix of feed items will of course depend on the type of animal, but also on its main use (e.g. chicken for meat or egg production, cattle for milk, meat or draft etc.). In milk production for example, cows producing milk should be given fresh grass and possibly other feed items of enough protein content. On the same diet, draught animals would rapidly become exhausted.

A balanced diet will keep an animal healthy and productive. Whether or not a farm animal receives the appropriate amount and kind of fodder usually can be seen by the shine of its hair or feathers. For ruminants, a majority of the fodder should consist of roughage (grass, leaves). If concentrates or supplements are used (e.g. agricultural by-products and wastes), they should not contain growth promoters and other synthetic substances. Instead of buying expensive concentrates, there are a variety of leguminous plants rich in protein which can be grown in the farm as cover crop, hedges or trees. If mineral content in the available fodder is not sufficient to satisfy the animal‘s requirements, mineral salt bricks or similar feed supplements can be used as long as they do not contain synthetic additives.

 

TIPS of the pictur

A variety of fodder grasses, both for shed feeding and pasturing

Leaves and twigs of leguminous trees are rich in protein and available also in dry season

VARIETIES OF FODDER GRASSES AND LEGUMINOUS TREE PLANTS USED AS FODDER FOR CATTLE AND GOATS

 

KOZI YA KILIMO HAI KILIMO-UCHUMI

9 0 UFUGAJI – 9.5 - KULISHA WANYAMA

 

Upatikanaji wa malisho ni mojawapo ya mambo yanayokwamisha ufugaji. Tofauti na mifumo isiyo na ardhi katika kilimo cha kawaida, ufugaji wa kikaboni unapaswa kutegemea lishe inayozalishwa kwenye shamba lenyewe. Kama ilivyo kwa wanadamu, kuna uhusiano wa moja kwa moja kati ya wingi na muundo wa chakula na hali ya afya ya wanyama.

 

MAHITAJI YA CHAKULA KWA WANYAMA

Ili wanyama wa shambani wawe na tija (maziwa, mayai, nyama n.k.), ni muhimu wapate chakula kinachofaa kwa wingi wa kutosha. Ikiwa uzalishaji wa malisho ya shamba la mtu ni mdogo (ambayo kwa kawaida ni hivyo), inaweza kuwa halali kiuchumi kufuga wanyama wachache lakini kuwapa chakula cha kutosha.

Kiasi kinachofaa na mchanganyiko wa vitu vya malisho bila shaka itategemea aina ya mnyama, lakini pia juu ya matumizi yake kuu (k.m. kuku kwa ajili ya uzalishaji wa nyama au yai, ng'ombe kwa maziwa, nyama au rasimu nk). Katika uzalishaji wa maziwa kwa mfano, ng'ombe wanaotoa maziwa wanapaswa kupewa nyasi safi na ikiwezekana malisho mengine yenye maudhui ya protini ya kutosha. Katika mlo huo huo, wanyama wanaovuta ndege wangechoka haraka.

Lishe yenye usawa itaweka mnyama mwenye afya na tija. Iwapo mnyama wa shambani anapokea au la kiasi kinachofaa na aina ya lishe inaweza kuonekana kwa kung'aa kwa nywele au manyoya yake. Kwa wanyama wanaocheua, sehemu kubwa ya lishe inapaswa kuwa na ukali (nyasi, majani). Ikiwa mkusanyiko au virutubisho vinatumika (k.m. bidhaa za kilimo na taka), haipaswi kuwa na vikuza ukuaji na vitu vingine vya syntetisk. Badala ya kununua vikolezo vya bei ghali, kuna aina mbalimbali za mimea ya jamii ya kunde yenye protini nyingi ambayo inaweza kukuzwa shambani kama mazao ya kufunika, ua au miti. Ikiwa maudhui ya madini katika malisho yanayopatikana hayatoshi kukidhi mahitaji ya mnyama, matofali ya chumvi ya madini au virutubisho sawa vya malisho vinaweza kutumika mradi tu havina viambajengo vya sintetiki.

 

VIDOKEZO vya picha

• Aina mbalimbali za nyasi za malisho, kwa ajili ya kulishia na kulisha mifugo

• Majani na matawi ya miti ya jamii ya kunde yana protini nyingi na hupatikana pia wakati wa kiangazi

 AINA ZA NYASI ZA LISHE NA MIMEA YA MITI KUNDE INAYOTUMIWA KAMA RISHA KWA NG’OMBE NA MBUZI.