The role of alley farming in African livestock production

The incorporation of livestock into alley farming systems, in which food or forage crops are grown between hedges of multipurpose trees that are regularly pruned for mulch and/or forage, has been studied for over 10 years in Africa. Prunings from leguminous trees such as Leucaena and gliricidia can...

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Main Authors: Reynolds, L., Jabbar, M.A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 1994
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29320
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author Reynolds, L.
Jabbar, M.A.
author_browse Jabbar, M.A.
Reynolds, L.
author_facet Reynolds, L.
Jabbar, M.A.
author_sort Reynolds, L.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The incorporation of livestock into alley farming systems, in which food or forage crops are grown between hedges of multipurpose trees that are regularly pruned for mulch and/or forage, has been studied for over 10 years in Africa. Prunings from leguminous trees such as Leucaena and gliricidia can be used for mulch, increasing crop yields, but the trees may also be pruned for fodder, especially during fallow periods. The major benefit from supplementing the diet of free-roaming small ruminants in West Africa with the foliage of leguminous trees is increased surivial, and the forage is best directed at late pregnant and lactating females. In East Africa crossbred dairy cows show a significant response in milk production to supplementation with Leucaena. Economic analyses of livestock production show that continuous alley farming in more profitable than alley farming with fallow, or conventional no-tree farming, even when the cost of clearing trees at the end of their useful life is included. Data presented show: effect of prunnings from Leucaena and Gliricidia as mulch with and without fertilizer on maize grain yield, dry matter intake and lactation performance of Ayrshire/Brown Swiss X Sahiwal cows, characteristics and performance of village goat herds receiving or not receiving Leucaena and Gliricidia browse in southwest Nigeria, and present value gross margins from three alternative farming systems in southwest Nigeria.
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spelling CGSpace293202022-01-29T16:03:33Z The role of alley farming in African livestock production Reynolds, L. Jabbar, M.A. alley cropping animal production mulch zea mays leucaena gliricidia dry matter intake farming systems productivity The incorporation of livestock into alley farming systems, in which food or forage crops are grown between hedges of multipurpose trees that are regularly pruned for mulch and/or forage, has been studied for over 10 years in Africa. Prunings from leguminous trees such as Leucaena and gliricidia can be used for mulch, increasing crop yields, but the trees may also be pruned for fodder, especially during fallow periods. The major benefit from supplementing the diet of free-roaming small ruminants in West Africa with the foliage of leguminous trees is increased surivial, and the forage is best directed at late pregnant and lactating females. In East Africa crossbred dairy cows show a significant response in milk production to supplementation with Leucaena. Economic analyses of livestock production show that continuous alley farming in more profitable than alley farming with fallow, or conventional no-tree farming, even when the cost of clearing trees at the end of their useful life is included. Data presented show: effect of prunnings from Leucaena and Gliricidia as mulch with and without fertilizer on maize grain yield, dry matter intake and lactation performance of Ayrshire/Brown Swiss X Sahiwal cows, characteristics and performance of village goat herds receiving or not receiving Leucaena and Gliricidia browse in southwest Nigeria, and present value gross margins from three alternative farming systems in southwest Nigeria. 1994 2013-06-11T09:23:10Z 2013-06-11T09:23:10Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29320 en Limited Access Outlook on Agriculture;23(2): 105-113
spellingShingle alley cropping
animal production
mulch
zea mays
leucaena
gliricidia
dry matter intake
farming systems
productivity
Reynolds, L.
Jabbar, M.A.
The role of alley farming in African livestock production
title The role of alley farming in African livestock production
title_full The role of alley farming in African livestock production
title_fullStr The role of alley farming in African livestock production
title_full_unstemmed The role of alley farming in African livestock production
title_short The role of alley farming in African livestock production
title_sort role of alley farming in african livestock production
topic alley cropping
animal production
mulch
zea mays
leucaena
gliricidia
dry matter intake
farming systems
productivity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/29320
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