Agricutlture|Livestock
Sector|Natural Resources
Livestock Sector
Introduction|Constraints|
Introduction
Sales from livestock are a second major source of cash
income for many households in the Region. The importance of livestock
in the economy of Dodoma Region is evident in the sense that, livestock
is a major source of protein derived from products (meat and milk),
and form a social of insurance and medium for settlement of social and
cultural commitments. Suitable grazing land is 1,377,000 Ha. (33.3%)
of the total area of the Region) The region has an estimated total of
1,600,000 cattle, 954,000 goats, 274,000
sheep and 23,000 pigs and about 1,400,000 poultry
Constraints limiting
Livestock Development:
Low livestock production coefficients:-
Livestock are of local breeds with low production co-efficients, with
cattle producing approximately 2-3 litres of milk per day. The average
age of slaughter (cattle) ranges between 6 and 8 years, and the average
live slaughter weight range between 200 and 300 Kg during the wet season
and 150-250 Kg in the dry seasons. Sheep and goat kept by the rural
people are generally not for milk purposes and they grazed extensively
with cattle.
• Overgrazing and lack of pasture management:
Pasture and water are scarce particularly during the dry period. Some
livestock keepers are forced to move their livestock outside the Region
during the dry spell. In some locations there is overstocking particularly
in the suitable grazing areas. The situation is further aggravated by
poor range management and burning of rangeland and pastures.
• Prevalence of diseases of Economic Importance
• Poor marketing Network and lack of processing.
Measures to improve livestock production include;
• Pasture improvement by demarcating pastureland
and planting improved pastures.
• Rehabilitation of Veterinary Infrastructures
specifically Dips, Animal health
centres and water points.
• Upgrading the local breeds to
increase productivity by Selection,
• Crossbreeding and use of artificial insemination (AI)
• Multiplication and distribution of Mpwapwa breed, a dual purpose cattle
well adapted to prevailing climate and level of management
• Promoting the use of appropriate livestock husbandry practice with
• emphasis on proper feeding and disease control
• Enhancing participatory research and extension to meet the real needs
of
• livestock keepers
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