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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Availability and Nutritional Quality of Feed Resources in Small Ruminant Systems of Chereponi, Northern Ghana},pdfauthor={Christian Bateki, Uta Dickhoefer},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2016: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Feeding, Ghana, small ruminants, women},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 18-21, 2016, Vienna, Austria}}\\[1ex] \Large{``Solidarity in a competing world ---\\fair use of resources''\\[2ex]}}
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\begin{center}
\Large{\textbf{Availability and Nutritional Quality of Feed Resources in Small Ruminant Systems of Chereponi, Northern Ghana\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Uta Dickhoefer, University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), Fruwirthstr. 31, 70599~Stuttgart, Germany, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{Uta.Dickhoefer@uni-hohenheim.de}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Christian Bateki$^{1}$, Uta Dickhoefer$^{2}$}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), }}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), Germany}}}
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\index[author]{Bateki, Christian}
\index[author]{Dickhoefer, Uta}
\begin{center}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Small ruminants (SR) greatly contribute to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially the rural poor and landless women. The increasing demand for livestock products creates an opportunity for these farmers to improve their livelihoods by intensifying production. Yet, intensification is limited in particular by the availability of (high"=quality) feeds.



This study was conducted to characterise the SR husbandry and determine the seasonal availability and nutritional quality of feeds used by female SR keepers in three communities of the Chereponi district, Northern Ghana.



Three focus group discussions and semi"=quantitative interviews were conducted with 51 purposively selected women farmers from July --- September 2014. Samples of important supplement feeds (n=18) and of the herbaceous rangeland vegetation (n=30) were collected and analysed for dry matter (DM), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF respectively) and crude protein (CP). Their \textit{in~vitro} digestible organic matter (DOM) and metabolisable energy (ME) concentrations were determined.



SR herd sizes varied between four to sixteen animals per household. Besides grazing the native rangelands, supplement feeds offered to SR included crop by"=products (e.g., cassava and yam peels, millet and porridge chaffs), maize and soybean grains, groundnut leaves, and collected tree and shrub foliage. Nutrient concentrations of these rainy season feeds ranged from (per kg of DM) 99---718 g NDF, 32--549 g ADF, and 40--472 g CP. The DOM and ME concentrations were 376---\unitfrac[868]{g}{kg} organic matter and 4.0--\unitfrac[13.2]{MJ}{kg} DM. The main constraints to SR husbandry mentioned by farmers were feed scarcity mid"=way into the dry season, rampant animal diseases, and their limited knowledge on good husbandry practices. 



Therefore, to intensify SR production, efforts should be made to improve nutrient and energy supply to the animals during the long dry season through feed preservation and treatment, improving access to veterinary services, and provision of on"=farm education on SR management practices.



}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Feeding, Ghana, small ruminants, women
\index[key]{Feeding}
\index[key]{Ghana}
\index[key]{Small ruminants}
\index[key]{Women}
\end{document}
