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Mitigating the effects of drought on cattle production in communal rangelands of Zimbabwe

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Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine strategies employed by farmers to mitigate the effects of drought on cattle production in communal rangelands of Zimbabwe. Data were collected from a total of 316 communal cattle farming households selected from semi-arid and sub-humid environments (158 each) using structured questionnaires. Farmers in sub-humid environments mostly resorted to controlled migration in search of pastures during drought whilst those in semi-arid environments mainly supplemented their cattle (P < 0.05). Travelling long distances to centralized water tanks was ranked first as a strategy to counter water shortage in sub-humid environments whilst in semi-arid environments farmers mostly resorted to use of boreholes (P < 0.05). Farmers in sub-humid environments were more than twice more likely to supplement their cattle than those in semi-arid environments (P < 0.05). Crop residues were the main type of feed used to supplement cattle during drought periods (P > 0.05). Mashona cattle were the most preferred breed (P > 0.05). Conformation traits were less preferred in both environments (P < 0.05). It was concluded that communal cattle producers in both environments use dietary supplementation with crop residues and controlled migration in search of pastures and water to mitigate drought effects. Given the shortcomings associated with drought mitigation strategies being used by communal cattle farmers, current findings suggest the need to design and implement sustainable strategies such as breeding cattle for drought resilience and selective supplementary feeding.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Bindura University of Science Education Research and Postgraduate Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag, 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe

    Alphonce Matope & Marshall Dhliwayo

  2. College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, PO Box 7222, Suva, Fiji

    Titus J. Zindove

  3. Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa

    Michael Chimonyo

Authors
  1. Alphonce Matope
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  2. Titus J. Zindove
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  3. Marshall Dhliwayo
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  4. Michael Chimonyo
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Correspondence to Titus J. Zindove.

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Matope, A., Zindove, T.J., Dhliwayo, M. et al. Mitigating the effects of drought on cattle production in communal rangelands of Zimbabwe. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 321–330 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02020-y

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