Milk production and calf rearing practices in the smallholder areas in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa |
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| Authors: | M Mapekula M Chimonyo C Mapiye K Dzama |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Livestock and Pasture Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa;(2) Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; |
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| Abstract: | Farmer perceptions on milk production and calf rearing practices on communal rangelands in the smallholder areas of the Eastern
Cape Province, South Africa were evaluated on a total of 218 cattle farmers using structured questionnaires, semi-structured
interviews with key informants and personal observations. Nearly 70% of the households in the small-scale areas milked twice
a day compared to 60% in the communal areas. About 62% of the interviewees weaned calves between 6 and 12 months of age. Milk
yield/cow/day (7.5 ± 0.5 litres), fresh milk consumption/household/day (3.2 ± 0.5 litres) and sales/household/day (3.1 ± 1.1 litres)
were highest in the sour-veld, small-scale farms (P < 0.05). Sour milk consumption/household/day (2.6 ± 0.2 litres) and sales/household/day
(0.8 ± 0.2 litres) were significantly high in communal farms with a sour-veld. It was concluded that, calf rearing practices
were poor and milk yield, consumption and sales were generally low and varied with production system and rangeland type. Further
research is required to improve calf management practices, cow nutrition, milk yield and quality and how milk production can
be used as a toll for rural development in the smallholder areas of South Africa. |
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| Keywords: | |
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