Browsing by Author "Wambulwa, L.M."
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Item Arid and Range Lands Research Institute Annual Report 2022-2023(Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, 2023) Katiku, P.N.; Bett, C.; Ogillo, B.P.; Manyeki, J.K.; Wambulwa, L.M.; Kuria, S.G.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationThe Arid and Range Lands Research Institute (ARLRI) is one of the Institutes created under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act No 17 of 2013 to drive the research agenda and provide technical support to the livestock sub-sector with a focus on the rangelands of Kenya. The mandate of the ARLRI is to develop appropriate Technologies, Innovations and Management Practices (TIMPs) geared towards increased livestock productivity and sustainable management of landscapes that guarantees living income and quality life to communities living in the rangelands of Kenya. The Institute headquarters (HQ) is in Kiboko, Makueni County and has range grass ecotypes testing sites in Katumani (Kambe Mawe), Buchuma, Mariakani, Lanet and Alupe and Perkerra. The institute does basic, applied, adaptive research and facilitate the use of improved TIMPs in priority agricultural products value chains including beef, goat, range grass and fodder legume hay, range grass and legume seed in order to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency in feeds and food among the rangeland communities. The institute partners and collaborates with individual farmers, producer organizations, national and county governments, international development and research organizations in undertaking its research and technology transfer programs. Through these links, the institute is currently implementing 3 research projects funded to the tune of KES. 19 million for 2 years mainly by the EU, Government of the Kingdom of Netherlands and the World Bank. The main areas covered by these projects are; registration and release of range grass varieties, development of agronomic packages for the grasses, development of beef finishing and dairy improvement feeding innovations, commercial production of range grass and fodder legume seeds and technology transfer.Item Promoting Improved Forages for Increased Livestock Productivity in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya: A Case of Kajiado, Narok, and Taita Taveta Counties(International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, 2023) Maweu, A.N.; Korir, B.K.; Kuria, S.G.; Ogillo, B.P.; Kisambo, B.K.; Wambulwa, L.M.; Kubasu, D.O.; Musyimi, D.M.; Manyeki, J.K.; Chege, P.W.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationInadequate nutrition is a major constraint that negatively impacts the growth and viability of cattle farming in Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). This is hastened by the adverse effects of climate change that lead to feed scarcity and poor-quality feed. However, these impacts can only be checked with the use of improved technologies hence the need to disseminate adaptation strategies and technologies. In an attempt to resolve the situation, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) in partnership with SNV Netherlands Development Organization agencies instituted a research program; Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agro-Pastoralist Economies and Landscapes Kenya’s (ICSIAPL) and established demonstration plots across highlands and lowland regions in Kajiado, Narok and Taita Taveta counties. This paper focused on evaluating forage nutritive value and its impact on livestock productivity through testing changes in milk yield and animal acceptability for selected grasses and legumes that were promoted. All the grasses established in the lowland regions (Brachiaria camello, Nutrifeed, Sugar graze, Foxtail, Panicum maximum var Maasai) and legumes (cowpea, dolichos lablab and crotalaria) had crude protein above the critical level of 70kg/Dm except Sugargraze which had a Crude protein of 48 kg/Dm. The test animals showed high acceptability to Nutrifeed (83%) relative to the sugar graze (50%) and recorded 33% and 25% increase in milk when fed on nutrifeed and Sugargraze respectively. The highland grasses (Brachiaria cobra, Brachiaria cayman, Boma rhodes, Panicum maximum var Siambaza) and legumes (Desmodium, Lucerne, purple vetch, sweet potato vines and Mucuna) were also high in nutritive quality with Panicum maximum var Siambasa having high animal acceptability of 75% relative to Brachiaria cobra with 20%. Desmodium had animal acceptability rate of 80%. and recorded 23% increase in milk yield. The results inform that legume species promotes animal performance and should thus be included while feeding to boost the production for sustainable ruminant productivity under ASALs ecosystems.
