The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
THE Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) has urged farmers to start hay production before the onset of the dry season to feed their livestock and guard against losing them due to lack of sufficient pastures.
DLPD Matabeleland South provincial livestock specialist Mrs Simangaliphi Ngwabi said farmers should take advantage of the growth of grass following the rains received in February and March to produce hay so as to avert the loss of their livestock, especially cattle due to shortage of pastures later in the year.
Experts are of the view that most livestock losses resulting from the effects of drought could be avoided if farmers effectively prepare supplementary feed and water sources before commencement of the dry season.
“There is a lot of grass following the rains received last month and in February and as such farmers should take this opportunity to produce hay even if they don’t have hay bailers they should seek other alternatives to cut the grass and store it in sheds for feeding their livestock during the dry season which begins in June,” said Mrs Ngwabi.
Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing animals such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep.
Hay is also fed to smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Pigs may be fed hay, but they do not digest it as efficiently as more fully herbivorous animals.
Hay can be used as animal fodder when or where there is not enough pasture or rangeland on which to graze an animal, when grazing is unavailable due to weather (such as during the winter) or when lush pasture by itself is too rich for the health of the animal. It is also fed during times when an animal is unable to access pasture, such as when animals are kept in a stable or barn.
“Farmers should always prepare hay for the purposes of feeding their animals during the dry season. Normally in June, the grass or graze will be there but it will be dry to the extent that it will have lost most of its nutritious value and as such it won’t benefit animals in terms of growth,” Mrs Ngwabi said.
Renowned Bulawayo-based livestock production and management expert, Dr Ronny Sibanda of Dial-Honour Consultancy said it was important for farmers to produce hay while the grass was still to lose its nutritional value to guard against calamities in the event of a drought.
“In terms of principalities it’s important for farmers to produce their own hay as you are aware of the tragedy we almost faced, of losing livestock due to poverty, only for the situation to improve due to the rains received in March.
However, the practicality of it is that smallholders will face difficulties in making hay because of the fact that one needs the equipment, fuel and transport to ferry it to farms.
“In the event they are capable it is advisable for them to do so around this time of the year when the grass is still nutritious and dry it under proper conditions. They shouldn’t make hay when the grass is very dry because it will need to be mixed with other things such as molasses and urea of which might be a big task for them to properly apply,” said Dr Sibanda.
Another livestock specialist, Mr Mhlupheki Dube said the Government’s agricultural department should make it a priority to teach small holder farmers to prepare hay.
“It’s good animal husbandry practice for farmers to produce their own feed. In essence every meaning farmer should be practising that. Producing hay ensures that your animals are in good body condition throughout the year and that also ensures that they produce a calf at least once a year because they will always be on heat,” Mr Dube said.
