Abstract:

The aim of the study was to assess dairy farmers’ knowledge on forage production and utilization in the Lake
Victoria crescent and Eastern Highlands Agro Ecological Zones (AEZs) of Uganda. Semi-structured questionnaires
were administered to a total of 208 small holder dairy farmers in Masaka (100) and Mbale (108) districts. Data was
analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists. While the main source of forage is on farm (67.2%), forage
growing is not taken as a tradition among small holder dairy farmers. The most prominent forage species used for
feeding livestock are Pennisetum purpureum, Calliandra calothyrsus, Musa paradisiacal (peelings and stems), and
Leucaena leucocephala. Milk production increases during months of forage abundance (March to May and
September to November) and the observed trends are generally comparable to the seasonal rainfall patterns in
Uganda. Forage production among dairy farmers is significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by location, household size,
land ownership, forage source and livestock feeding system. Apart from chopping before feeding the animals,
minimal processing is done to forage. The study provides a basis for designing interventions for improving fodder
production and utilization among Uganda’s smallholder dairy farmers.