Livestock drought mitigation measures

01 Mar, 2015 - 01:03 0 Views

The Sunday News

THE second month of the year has just ended without significant rains in most parts on the southern region and this is a clear sign that it will be another drought year. This week’s article therefore intends to walk the farmers through drought mitigation measures all over again. I say all over again because extension workers are always preaching this gospel to farmers more so in a year like this.

The first thing to agree to is that the signs are there but farmers just don’t read them, if they do they foolishly ignore the message in a typical “burying the head in the sand” approach.

I am therefore saying to farmers that it is no longer in dispute that 2015 is a drought year, therefore the need to start implementing measures that will protect your four legged bank.

While there are a number of drought mitigation strategies in livestock production the first and fundamental principle to grasp is that there is a direct link between the performance of the survival as well as performance of your livestock.

This in turn has a linear relationship with the amount of precipitation received. Therefore the most logical thing to do after appreciating that you have received low rainfall for the season is to try and manage the little available veld as effectively as possible.

Low rainfall reduces both the quality and quantity of the rangeland. The grass usually dries prematurely and this compromises both its nutritive value and its resilience.

Consequently if the rangeland is not properly and effectively managed during a drought situation it will deteriorate very fast and in no time you find yourself having run out of grazing land.

Rangeland management does not only relate to paddocked areas, even in communal areas it is possible albeit supported by strong community by-laws.
I know for example that at Dakamela in Nkayi District there is a vlei area along Shangani River where farmers are prohibited from grazing animals during certain times and this helps to preserve the area as relief grazing land during drought. This is rangeland management. Instead of communal farmers letting their animals roam all the rangeland and finish all the grass, reserves are established through setting out grazing off limits to some areas which will then be used later in the season.

Secondly as a drought mitigation measure it is wise to start culling out animals. This means you have to look at your herd and see which one you can dispose.

When conducting a drought induced culling it is prudent to take out older animals first before you look at other parameters like non-productive ones.
Older animals can easily succumb to drought stress compared to young animals. Culling needs to be done at the right time when it is still possible to sell the animal and get some value out of it.

Farmers because they are usually poor speculators, tend to watch the animals deteriorate and then try to sell when it is too late and the animal is now worn out. Let us avoid this reactionary mode of always waiting to count a couple of cadavers before taking action.

Believe you mean this year might be worse than 1992!
A third and important strategy to adopt is to start mobilising and storing feed to supplement during the dry season.
This may be through hay bales, maize and other cereal stover as well as commercial feeds.

Even if a drought destroys crops there is usually stover left in the fields and this can be collected and stored for later use. Farmers tend to rush to commercial feed suppliers at the 11th if not 13th hour and you definitely face two challenges.

First you may fail to get the feed due to demand surpassing supply as everyone from everywhere will be looking for feed and secondly if you do get the feed and your animals are already lying down it may not help much especially if they are not accustomed to commercial feed as they will resist the feed for some days and one day may prove to be too long.

The counsel to procure feed in time is not only provided to farmers but also organisations that support farmers during drought.
They should also not be reactionary as farmers, they are professionals, and they should plan ahead and send assistance in time not to wait to be jump started by carcasses littering the veld.

The fourth drought mitigation measure is to seek relief grazing land.
The relief grazing lands are usually found in newly resettled areas where the stocking densities are still low. It is better to take your 60 head there and pay two heifers than run the risk of losing the whole herd.

Finally another drought parameter to manage is the drinking water for your animals.
Admittedly there are no easy answers for this one but the rule is either you take your animals to the water or you take the water to your animals. You do the maths after all but just read the signs and understand what they mean to your investment.

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