Effects of nutritional management practices on milk production among dairy farners in selected sub-counties of Lyantonde district-Uganda

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of nutritional management practices on milk production among dairy farmers in four sub counties of Lyantonde district (Kasagama, Lyakajura, Mpumudde and Kinnuka). The specific objectives were to identify and characterize prevailing nutritional management practices, establish the levels of milk production and determine the effect of nutritional management practices on milk production. A crosssectional research design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Data were collected from 384 dairy farming households selected across the sub-counties. Structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation and binary logistic regression while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The average milk production was 6.5 litres. Nutritional management practices were generally poor, with farmers relying on grass-only feeding, lacking fodder conservation (91.6%), using contaminated water sources (84.7%), experiencing unreliable water supply and practicing inconsistent calf feeding. ANOVA results indicated that feed type, fodder conservation, water cleanliness, water supply and calf feeding practices significantly affected milk production (p<0.001) whereas steaming-up practices had no significant effect (p>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed positive relationships between milk production and the use of grass, fodder, and concentrates (r=0.3360), year-round fodder conservation (r=0.3395), clean water access (r=0.3443) and proper calf feeding (r=0.2578). Binary logistic regression results showed that farmers using grass, fodder and concentrates were nearly twice as likely to achieve higher milk production (OR=1.9472, p=0.018) while consistent fodder conservation, clean water access, reliable water supply and proper calf feeding significantly increased the likelihood of higher milk production. However, steaming-up practices had no significant effect on milk production (p > 0.05). The study recommends strengthening farmer extension services on improved dairy nutrition, promoting fodder conservation, improving access to reliable clean water sources and supplementary feeding to enhance milk production.