Cattle feeding and production in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
Mbwile, R.P|Mwakilembe, A.P|Maro, J.K|Madata, G.S / 1992

The Southern Highlands region is being given particular attention in a thrust to increase dairy production in Tanzania, with an emphasis on the use of improved cattle. For the past 15 years, most of the livestock research programmes at Uyole Agricultural Centre (UAC) have been aimed at increasing milk production in the region. In this paper, research on improved cattle production, particularly that on feeds and feeding, is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the effect of weather conditions, season and age of plants on the nutritive value of forages, the problems of dry season feeding, and the use of supplementary feeding. The constraints faced by smallholder farmers in the region are discussed. In addition, an attempt is made to prioritise the sequence of innovations for introduction to farmers. Future research priorities are highlighted.