Draught
Animal Power Research
Research Project 6: Matching feed energy resources to animal power requirements in semi-arid
crop/livestock systems to develop feeding strategies for animals used for
work (1996-9)
Purpose
The main objectives of
this project were:
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to improve the understanding of
farming
families' practices, perceptions and constraints in relation to draught
animal husbandry and farm power issues in Eastern Cape province of South
Africa; |
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to test some of the hypotheses behind
the feeding standards which have been developed for animals used for work |
The results will enable recommendations on
feeding practices for draught animals to be developed and promoted to improve
their effectiveness in crop-livestock systems on smallholder farms.
Activities
Activities took
place on-farm and on-station. On farm, a survey followed by a monitoring
programme were carried out with the assistance of farmers keeping draught
animals in small-scale communities in Eastern Cape Province. On station, a
total of four experiments were undertaken at Fort Hare Research Farm to test the
following:
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whether predicted energy inputs and
outputs, from the feeding standards, are valid for animals working in
semi-arid areas; |
|
whether there are measurable effects of
quality/level of feeding on work done; |
|
whether time of feeding limited
resources in relation to working season has an effect on work output and
live weight changes during work; |
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whether identified local feeds are
useful supplements for working oxen. |
Additional information has also been
obtained on:
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whether performance is more dependent on
live weight or body condition; |
|
whether net energy expended during work
declines in a consistent and, therefore, predictable way during the working
day. |
Capacity for DAP research in Eastern Cape
was also increased, with several people obtaining training during the project.
Collaboration
The project was
funded by DFID. Scientists from the CTVM,
the Animal Traction Centre, University of Fort Hare (Eastern Cape, South
Africa), the Silsoe Research Institute
and the Dept. of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University
of Pretoria (South Africa) collaborated on the project.
Outputs
As well as the
scientific publications, a book and workshop proceedings were produced during
the project and also a number of internal reports, for local circulation, and a
thesis:
|
O'Neill, D.H., Sneyd, J., Mzileni, N.T.,
Mapeyi, L., Israel, S. and the late Njekws, M., 1999, The management and use
of draught animals by smallholder farmers in the former Ciskei and Transkei,
Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. CTVM Draught Animal Power
Technical Report 1, CTVM, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin,
Midlothian EH25 9RG |
|
Israel, I., Mzileni, N.T., Pearson, R.A.
and O'Neill, D.H., 1999, Season contributions of draught animals to
activities in small-scale "emerging" farming in the Eastern Cape
of South Africa. CTVM Draught Animal Power Technical Report 2, CTVM,
University of Edinburgh |
|
Taylor, D., 1999,
The use of donkeys,
horses and mules in the former Ciskei region of the Eastern Cape, South
Africa. CTVM Draught Animal Power Technical Report 3, CTVM,
University of Edinburgh |
PhD
|
Israel,
S.H. (University of Edinburgh), Matching feed energy resources to energy
requirements of working cattle in semi-arid areas |
MSc
|
J.A.
Kneale, 1996 (CTVM, University of Edinburgh), An investigation of the
issues for donkey users in a rural and urban area of the eastern Cape region
of South Africa using participatory appraisal |
|
D.
Taylor, 1998 (CTVM, University of Edinburgh), The use of donkeys, horses
and mules in the former Ciskei region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
M.
K. Lombe, 1998 (CTVM, University of Edinburgh) Gender-draught animal power interactions in sub-Saharan Africa
with particular reference to the Northern Province of Zambia |
Within South Africa material, information and
recommendations for the project have been used on farmers' days at the Animal
Traction Centre, in the popular press (NuFarmer and Farmers Weekly),
in demonstrations at agricultural shows, in short courses and lectures to
students and presented at the ATNESA workshop 'Empowering Farmers with Animal
Traction into the 21st Century', 20-24 September 1999, Loskop Dam, South
Africa.
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