Evaluation of Effects of Feeds and Feeding Practices on Calf Growth and Survival in Wenje, Tana -river County

Abstract

Livestock production plays a key role in the Kenyan economy. Beef, which is majorly produced in the ASALs (80%), has drastically dwindled over the years following the recurrent droughts among other climate variabilities. Increase in livestock productivity is dependent on feeds and feeding practices, which accounts for more than 70% of the total cost of production. On the other hand, the continuity/exponential growth of a livestock herd depends on the successful birth, growth and survival of calves. Feeds and feeding practices contribute upto 70% to growth and survival of calves. Therefore, to increase the beef production, there is need to assess the diversity of feedstuffs available to the beef calf in order to inform/recommend the best feeds and feeding practices for effective growth and survival. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the feeds and feeding practices and their effect on beef cattle calf growth and survival in Tana River County (TRC). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wenje where 60 semi-structured questionnaires were administered to calf rearing households through structured random sampling. The feeding practice was characterised by restricted suckling at 93.3%. Majority (83.3%) of farmers weaned their calves at 12 months and fed colostrum and transition milk to their calves for 7 days before initiating milking for human consumption. About Fifty-six percent of the calves were introduced to dry feeds between the age of one and two months. High calf mortalities (23.8%) were recorded during the last two years (2020 &2021) preceding the study. The mortality was attributed to deprivation of colostrum and malnutrition. The categories of feeds used for pre-weaned calves were natural pastures (100%), crop residues (28.3%), fodder (13.3%) and concentrates (1.7%). The most commonly utilized natural feedstuffs were Dactyloctenium aegyptium (92%), Panicum virgatum (87%), Panicum maximum (42%),

Commelina africana (52%), Cyperus rotundus (33%), Cyonodon dactylon (7%) and Typha angustifolia (1%). Crop residues were used by 28.3% of farmers with green gram haulms and maize stovers being the most preferred. Only 1.7% used concentrates (sorghum grain meal) to supplement their calves. Among the most preferred fodder were sweet potato vines and green banana leaves. Nearly three fourths of farmers provided supplemental feeds (73%) and watered (77%) their calves once daily while others fed randomly depending on fodder availability. Feeding of post-weaned calves was via grazing on dry natural pastures. To increase calf survival and growth rates, there are various methods which can increase feed supply, among them conservation of surplus feed during times of plenty, fodder production via irrigation and supplementation with protein and energy concentrates. This is more important in the wake of climate change variabilities which is a major constraint to calf feeds and an enemy to herd growth