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Characterisation of smallholder dairy production systems using animal welfare and milk quality

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Abstract

The aim of the current study was to characterise and evaluate production system of smallholder dairy farmers using an index based on combined score of animal welfare and milk quality. Farms were grouped into three categories, tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3. To test the robustness of the characterisation, milk yield (MY), calving interval (CI) and body condition scores (BCS) were used. In the study area, the majority (66.3%) of smallholder dairy farmers practiced cut-and-carry as compared to 15.3% who grazed their cows. The rest combined cut-and-carry and grazing. Cows of farmers in tier 1 had the lowest mean MY (5.4 kg/day, SE = 0.4), lowest mean BCS (2.1 kg/day, SE = 0.09) and longest mean CI (603 days, SE = 27) than farmers in tier 3, mean MY (10.8 kg/day, SE = 0.6), mean BCS (2.6, SE = 0.06) and mean CI (404 days, SE = 17). The study demonstrated that a simple and yet novel method based on farm level indicators can be developed and could assist to timely identify specific problems on the farm.

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Acknowledgement

This study was conducted as part of the Optimising Smallholder Dairying project portfolio. The financial support from the Scottish Government through the International Development Fund (IDF) is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Science Department, Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

    Bettie S. Kawonga, Timothy N. Gondwe & James W. Banda

  2. Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, SAC Research, King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK

    Mizeck G. G. Chagunda

  3. Agribusiness Management Department, Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

    Sera R. Gondwe

Authors
  1. Bettie S. Kawonga
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  2. Mizeck G. G. Chagunda
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  3. Timothy N. Gondwe
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  4. Sera R. Gondwe
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  5. James W. Banda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mizeck G. G. Chagunda.

Additional information

As we were finalising this manuscript, the project team lost a trusted teacher who was a colleague and a colleague who was our teacher. Professor James W. Banda departed from our midst. “Hamba Kahle James! You taught and you mentored and you guided. Rest in His Peace; rest James, rest.”

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Kawonga, B.S., Chagunda, M.G.G., Gondwe, T.N. et al. Characterisation of smallholder dairy production systems using animal welfare and milk quality. Trop Anim Health Prod 44, 1429–1435 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0083-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0083-7

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