| Sumario: | The case study conducted in the Savanna agro-ecological zone focused on two communities: Tindan in the Northern Region and Bussie in the Upper-West Region. Various biophysical, environmental, and climate impacts were assessed using the CLEANED tool, relying on interviews with farmers, literature, and expert knowledge.
The production characteristics revealed that milk production can reach up to 40,000 kg per year per farm in both communities. Manure production from large herds can nearly reach 100 tonnes, while liveweight gain (LWG) amounts to up to 2,000 kg per year in Tindan and up to 5,000 kg in Bussie. Additionally, the combined protein production from milk and meat can reach 1,500 kg annually.
Regarding feed sources and land requirements, natural vegetation serves as the primary feed source, providing 80% of energy in Tindan and 68% in Bussie, with crop residues accounting for 20 to 32%. The land requirements for crop residues correspond closely to the actual areas. Natural vegetation requires an average of 30 hectares, with some Fulani farms needing about 50 hectares.
Water requirements for milk production vary from 1 to 3.5 cubic meters per kg, with the majority needed for natural vegetation. The on-farm nitrogen balance is typically positive. Off-farm grazing shows deficits of 10 to 25 kg per hectare.
Total greenhouse gas emissions range from under 4 to over 11 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of milk. Enteric fermentation accounts for 80 to 90% of total emissions.
In conclusion, the livestock systems rely heavily on natural vegetation and crop residues, with protein being a critical limiting factor. Next steps include conducting extensive surveys to gather socio-economic data, organizing focus group discussions to validate assumptions, and assessing scenarios to improve productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.
The case study conducted in the Savanna agro-ecological zone focused on two communities: Tindan in the Northern Region and Bussie in the Upper-West Region. Various biophysical, environmental, and climate impacts were assessed using the CLEANED tool, relying on interviews with farmers, literature, and expert knowledge.
The production characteristics revealed that milk production can reach up to 40,000 kg per year per farm in both communities. Manure production from large herds can nearly reach 100 tonnes, while liveweight gain (LWG) amounts to up to 2,000 kg per year in Tindan and up to 5,000 kg in Bussie. Additionally, the combined protein production from milk and meat can reach 1,500 kg annually.
Regarding feed sources and land requirements, natural vegetation serves as the primary feed source, providing 80% of energy in Tindan and 68% in Bussie, with crop residues accounting for 20 to 32%. The land requirements for crop residues correspond closely to the actual areas. Natural vegetation requires an average of 30 hectares, with some Fulani farms needing about 50 hectares.
Water requirements for milk production vary from 1 to 3.5 cubic meters per kg, with the majority needed for natural vegetation. The on-farm nitrogen balance is typically positive. Off-farm grazing shows deficits of 10 to 25 kg per hectare.
Total greenhouse gas emissions range from under 4 to over 11 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of milk. Enteric fermentation accounts for 80 to 90% of total emissions.
In conclusion, the livestock systems rely heavily on natural vegetation and crop residues, with protein being a critical limiting factor. Next steps include conducting extensive surveys to gather socio-economic data, organizing focus group discussions to validate assumptions, and assessing scenarios to improve productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.
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