A comparative analysis of livestock farming in smallholder mixed crop-livestock systems in Kenya: 1. Livestock inventory and management

摘要

Thispaperpresentacomparativeanalysisoflivestockownershipandmanagementinfourdiversefarmingsystems;coastallowlands,mid-altitudeeasternregion,centralhighlandsandnorthwesternhighlandsofKenya.Despitestherelativelysmalllandsizes,farmersownedseveralspeciesoflivestockbutthenumbertheykeptwerefewandvariedacrossregions.Amongtheruminants,thedairyandthezebucattlewerethemostwidelykeptfollowedbysmallruminants.Inthecoastallowlands,cattlewereownedby71.3%offarmersfollowedcloselybylocalgoats(70.9%)andpoultry(65.3%).Inthemid-altitudeeasternregion,thehighestproportionoffarmersowneddairycattle(69%)andzebu(61.4%),withanaverageherdsizeof3.1±2.1and4.7±4.5animals,respectively.Incentralhighlandsandnorthwesternhighlands,ahighproportionoffarmersowneddairycattle(81-100%)comparedwiththezebu(2-17%).Grazingsystemwasprevalentinthecoastallowlands(57.5%)whilestallfeedingwaspredominantinthemid-altitudeeasternregion(65%).Incentralandnorthwesternhighlandsalmostanequalproportionoffarmers(45-50%)kepttheirdairycattleundersemi-intensiveandgrazingsystem.Overallmilkproductionwasgenerallylowbutthedairycattleproducedmoremilk(7.8#8211;11.8litres/cow/day)thanthezebucattle(4litres/cow/day).Lowmilkproductionwasattributedtoinadequateandlowqualityfeeds.