Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities

Forage conservation is an important potential solution to seasonal variation in feed quality and quantity and herder‐farmer conflicts in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Considerable variations exist in the type of forages conserved and the preservation methods across SSA. Hay from cultivated forages is co...

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Autores principales: Balehegn, Mulubrhan, Ayantunde, Augustine A., Amole, Tunde A., Njarui, Donald, Nkosi, B.D., Müller, F.L., Meeske, R., Tjelele, T.J., Malebana, I.M., Madibela, O.R., Boitumelo, W.S., Lukuyu, Ben A., Weseh, A., Minani, E., Adesogan, Adegbola T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118215
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author Balehegn, Mulubrhan
Ayantunde, Augustine A.
Amole, Tunde A.
Njarui, Donald
Nkosi, B.D.
Müller, F.L.
Meeske, R.
Tjelele, T.J.
Malebana, I.M.
Madibela, O.R.
Boitumelo, W.S.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Weseh, A.
Minani, E.
Adesogan, Adegbola T.
author_browse Adesogan, Adegbola T.
Amole, Tunde A.
Ayantunde, Augustine A.
Balehegn, Mulubrhan
Boitumelo, W.S.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Madibela, O.R.
Malebana, I.M.
Meeske, R.
Minani, E.
Müller, F.L.
Njarui, Donald
Nkosi, B.D.
Tjelele, T.J.
Weseh, A.
author_facet Balehegn, Mulubrhan
Ayantunde, Augustine A.
Amole, Tunde A.
Njarui, Donald
Nkosi, B.D.
Müller, F.L.
Meeske, R.
Tjelele, T.J.
Malebana, I.M.
Madibela, O.R.
Boitumelo, W.S.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Weseh, A.
Minani, E.
Adesogan, Adegbola T.
author_sort Balehegn, Mulubrhan
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Forage conservation is an important potential solution to seasonal variation in feed quality and quantity and herder‐farmer conflicts in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Considerable variations exist in the type of forages conserved and the preservation methods across SSA. Hay from cultivated forages is commonly made with mechanical mowers and balers by large‐scale commercial farms. In contrast, smallholder farmers, who dominate farming on the continent, make hay from natural pastures and straw from crop residues or stockpiled forage. Mechanized harvesting and storing of silage are also practiced by commercial farmers in various countries including South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Smallholder farmers rarely make silage, despite repeated recommendations about its potential to bridge the dry season feed gap. This is due to the limited resources, knowledge, and skills. Hay and silage produced by smallholders is typically poor in quality due to use of lower quality forages, improper storage methods, and lack of an economic incentive because feed prices do not reflect quality in most regions. This paper discusses the status of forage conservation across SSA and recommends strategic interventions and technologies to improve the quantity, quality, safety, pricing, and utilization of preserved forages in SSA. Key deductions include the need to raise awareness about their role in bridging the feed gap, to build capacity and invest in appropriate technology, to optimize their production and use, to develop mechanisms to relate prices to quality, and to incentivize women and youth and the private sector to engage further in making and selling preserved forages.
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spelling CGSpace1182152024-08-27T10:36:14Z Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities Balehegn, Mulubrhan Ayantunde, Augustine A. Amole, Tunde A. Njarui, Donald Nkosi, B.D. Müller, F.L. Meeske, R. Tjelele, T.J. Malebana, I.M. Madibela, O.R. Boitumelo, W.S. Lukuyu, Ben A. Weseh, A. Minani, E. Adesogan, Adegbola T. animal feeding forage feeds livestock Forage conservation is an important potential solution to seasonal variation in feed quality and quantity and herder‐farmer conflicts in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Considerable variations exist in the type of forages conserved and the preservation methods across SSA. Hay from cultivated forages is commonly made with mechanical mowers and balers by large‐scale commercial farms. In contrast, smallholder farmers, who dominate farming on the continent, make hay from natural pastures and straw from crop residues or stockpiled forage. Mechanized harvesting and storing of silage are also practiced by commercial farmers in various countries including South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Smallholder farmers rarely make silage, despite repeated recommendations about its potential to bridge the dry season feed gap. This is due to the limited resources, knowledge, and skills. Hay and silage produced by smallholders is typically poor in quality due to use of lower quality forages, improper storage methods, and lack of an economic incentive because feed prices do not reflect quality in most regions. This paper discusses the status of forage conservation across SSA and recommends strategic interventions and technologies to improve the quantity, quality, safety, pricing, and utilization of preserved forages in SSA. Key deductions include the need to raise awareness about their role in bridging the feed gap, to build capacity and invest in appropriate technology, to optimize their production and use, to develop mechanisms to relate prices to quality, and to incentivize women and youth and the private sector to engage further in making and selling preserved forages. 2022-01 2022-02-22T10:51:19Z 2022-02-22T10:51:19Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118215 en Open Access Wiley Balehegn, M., Ayantunde, A., Amole, T., Njarui, D., Nkosi, B.D., Müller, F.L., Meeske, R., Tjelele, T.J., Malebana, I.M., Madibela, O.R., Boitumelo, W.S., Lukuyu, B., Weseh, A., Minani, E. and Adesogan, A.T. 2021. Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities. Agronomy Journal
spellingShingle animal feeding
forage
feeds
livestock
Balehegn, Mulubrhan
Ayantunde, Augustine A.
Amole, Tunde A.
Njarui, Donald
Nkosi, B.D.
Müller, F.L.
Meeske, R.
Tjelele, T.J.
Malebana, I.M.
Madibela, O.R.
Boitumelo, W.S.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Weseh, A.
Minani, E.
Adesogan, Adegbola T.
Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities
title Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities
title_full Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities
title_fullStr Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities
title_short Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities
title_sort forage conservation in sub saharan africa review of experiences challenges and opportunities
topic animal feeding
forage
feeds
livestock
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118215
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