Reproduction is a key parameter determining the level of production and profitability in a dairy herd. Low fertility leads to productivity losses which can be directly translated into economic loss of great magnitude, and it is also the major reason for involuntary culling of dairy cows. The project focuses on cows in the period around calving, a time associated with health disturbances that are decisive for the economy of dairy producers. Metritis, inflammation of the uterus, is common after calving with consequences for the cow’s future fertility and milk production level. The main cause is lacking management and nutrition in this critical time period. Better knowledge of risk factors for metritis and their economic consequences is necessary for the motivation of farmers to adopt preventive measures. Farms will be visited for gathering of information about management routines around calving. Newly calved cows will be examined for diagnosis of metritis. Practical recommendations will be suggested, adapted to prevailing circumstances. The aim is to keep the cows healthy through the calving process, during the transition from non-lactating to lactating state, for future successful breeding, optimized milk production and longevity. Capacity-building activities like teaching of university staff (veterinarians) in diagnostic tools like gynecological ultrasonography for diagnosis of reproductive disorders will be performed. A course will be run for farmers on connection between nutrition and reproduction and management of the cow around calving. Workshops for researchers and stakeholders will be arranged.

1. Dairy cattle performance in
agro-pastoral production
systems of Uganda
Christina Johansson1, Denis Mpairwe2, Eva Spörndly1, Sylvester
Katuromunda2, Elly Sabiiti2 & Ewa Wredle1
1 Dept. Animal Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala,
2 Dept. Agricultural Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Makerere
University, Kampala,

2. Background

3. Background
• 95 % of population within agriculture
• 85 % of meat and milk from livestock on rangelands
• Climate changes, degradation, access to land, increasing
population, changing eating habits
• Feed shortage, especially during dry season

4. Background
• 35% of Ugandas milk production from the southwest
• Pastoralists → agro-pastoralists
• Exotic breeds to improve milk yield - but their nutritional
demand is higher
• Pasture used as the only feed source, often low quality

5. Aim of projects
• Analyse factors of importance
to improve milk production
• Suggest management
improvements based on results

6. • Quantity and quality
of pasture during
rainy and dry season
• Animal management
routines
• Cattle performance
Study I

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Protein(%)andEnergy(MJME/kgDM)
Pasture(kgDM/ha)
Pasture
Protein (%)
Energy (MJ
ME/kg DM)

10. • Calves born in early dry season
had low growth
• Cows calving in late and early dry
season had high loss in weight
• Milk yield decreased with days in
dry season

11. • Cows in lactation 3 or higher had
higher milk yield (8.7 kg/day)
compared to cows in first lactation
(6.9 kg/day)
• Milk yield increased with degree of
exotic breed
• Milking twice per day gave +2 kg milk
• Cows on pasture during night had
higher milk yields

12. • Evaluate effect of protein-rich
(~ 17%) supplements to
calves in wet season
• A: pasture
B: pasture + lablab hay
C: pasture + concentrate
Study II

13. Supplementation of concentrates improved calf growth performance significantly

14. Treatment
Benefit per calf
and month
A: pasture 38 345 UGX (~98 SEK)
B: pasture + lablab hay 26 288 UGX (~67 SEK)
C: pasture + concentrate -14 852 UGX (~38 SEK)
Concentrate supplementation is not cost effective in the short run.
UGX = Uganda shillings

15. Workshop and farm visit in Kazo, Uganda, November 2012
Dissemination

16. Future research/work
• Feed conservation techniques
• Possibilites to introduce milk
machines
• Farmers cooperatives

17. THANK YOU!