Comparative Analysis of Pasture Productivity and Nutritive Value Among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Muheza District, Tanzania

Résumé fourni par la source

Low pasture productivity and poor forage quality remain major constraints to smallholder dairy production in Tanzania, particularly during the dry season, when feed shortages reduce milk yield and animal performance. Although farmer training is widely promoted to improve pasture management, empirical evidence linking training to measurable improvements in pasture productivity and forage quality under field conditions remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of structured pasture management training on pasture productivity and forage nutritive value among smallholder dairy farmers in Muheza District, Tanzania. A comparative cross-sectional design was employed, using eighteen representative pasture plots selected from trained (n=9) and untrained (n=9) farmers. Forage samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons and analysed for biomass yield, dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, and total digestible nutrients using proximate analysis and ANKOM technology. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results showed that trained farmers produced significantly higher forage biomass (7.28 vs 6.32 t DM ha -1 ; p < 0.001) and recorded significantly greater crude protein, total digestible nutrients, ether extract, and ash contents than untrained farmers. Training, season, and farm size were identified as significant factors influencing pasture productivity and forage nutritive value, whereas sex had no significant effect. The findings demonstrate that structured farmer training promotes the adoption of improved pasture management practices, resulting in higher forage yield and enhanced nutritional quality. The study concludes that strengthening pasture-focused training and extension programmes can substantially improve feed availability, livestock productivity, and the sustainability of smallholder dairy production systems in Tanzania and similar tropical environments.

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