Mapekula M, Chimonyo M, Mapiye C, Dzama K
Department of Livestock and Pasture Sciences, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Oct;41(7):1475-85. doi: 10.1007/s11250-009-9336-5. Epub 2009 Apr 7.
Farmer perceptions on milk production and calf rearing practices on communal rangelands in the smallholder areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa were evaluated on a total of 218 cattle farmers using structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews with key informants and personal observations. Nearly 70% of the households in the small-scale areas milked twice a day compared to 60% in the communal areas. About 62% of the interviewees weaned calves between 6 and 12 months of age. Milk yield/cow/day (7.5 +/- 0.5 litres), fresh milk consumption/household/day (3.2 +/- 0.5 litres) and sales/household/day (3.1 +/- 1.1 litres) were highest in the sour-veld, small-scale farms (P < 0.05). Sour milk consumption/household/day (2.6 +/- 0.2 litres) and sales/household/day (0.8 +/- 0.2 litres) were significantly high in communal farms with a sour-veld. It was concluded that, calf rearing practices were poor and milk yield, consumption and sales were generally low and varied with production system and rangeland type. Further research is required to improve calf management practices, cow nutrition, milk yield and quality and how milk production can be used as a toll for rural development in the smallholder areas of South Africa.
通过结构化问卷、与关键信息提供者的半结构化访谈以及个人观察，对南非东开普省小农地区共有218位养牛农户关于社区牧场牛奶生产和犊牛饲养方式的认知进行了评估。小规模地区近70%的家庭每天挤奶两次，而社区地区这一比例为60%。约62%的受访者在犊牛6至12月龄时断奶。在酸性草原的小规模农场中，每头奶牛每天的产奶量（7.5±0.5升）、每户家庭每天的新鲜牛奶消费量（3.2±0.5升）和销售量（3.1±1.1升）最高（P<0.05）。在有酸性草原的社区农场中，每户家庭每天的酸牛奶消费量（2.6±0.2升）和销售量（0.8±0.2升）显著较高。研究得出结论，犊牛饲养方式较差，牛奶产量、消费量和销售量总体较低，且因生产系统和牧场类型而异。需要进一步开展研究，以改善犊牛管理方式、奶牛营养、牛奶产量和质量，以及如何将牛奶生产用作南非小农地区农村发展的手段。
