Overcoming the challenges of small ruminant feeding in the tropics: An opportunity to sustainable livelihoods

Abstract

Small ruminants are second only to poultry in their importance in the farming systems of West Africa. In Ghana over 50% of the rural households are known to keep goats. For majority of sheep and goats keepers who are primarily crop farmers, small ruminants provide a means to diversify and sustain their livelihoods. Notwithstanding its importance, small ruminant production is constrained by several challenges among which feeding is widely recognised as a major one. Traditionally, the major challenge with feeding of small ruminants had been the seasonal decline in feed availability associated with the dry season. However, in recent times other challenges are emerging among which are urbanisation and increasing area of land for crop production. Urbanisation and population growth are creating an increasing demand for food. To respond to this, more land which hitherto was used for grazing animals is being put under crops, thus pushing animal production to marginal lands. This paper looks at how these events affect feed availability to ruminant livestock, coping strategies of farmers and some technologies available for adoption to help mitigate the effects of these challenges. Key words: Small ruminants, feeding, challenges, sustainable, livelihoods.