Commercialised Dairy Farming in Peri-urban Areas Through Zero-grazing of Cattle

Meat and Dairy Division

Department of Animal Production and Marketing

Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

P.O. Box 513, Entebbe

Tel: 041-321040/320864

E-mail: eddpm@ultonline.com

1. What is zero grazing?

Zero grazing also called ‘stall feeding’ is an intensive dairy production system in

which cattle do not graze but are confined in shed or stall where feed and water are

brought to them

2. What are the advantages of zero grazing?

• You can keep more cattle per unit area of land (higher stocking rate). This is

achieved by growing high yielding fodder crops such as elephant grass,

Guatemala grass, giant setaria an lablab

• You can utilize forage form areas not accessible for grazing such as road sides and

steep slopes

• The cattle are less exposed to environmental hazards such as diseases, parasites

and heat stress

• The cows conserve the energy that is usually wasted in moving during grazing

turning it into more milk and meat production

• The manure can be collected easily

3. Important points to note

• Zero grazing is labour intensive. The feed and water must be taken to the cow in

the shed. However, you save time as you cannot need to herd the cows

• You require capital for fodder establishment, construction, equipment and buying

quality cows

• You have to ensure that there is enough feed at all times. Here you need to plan

properly before you start.

4. Steps in managing dairy cattle under zero grazing

i. Establish a fodder bank

The first thing should be t establish a fodder bank by growing elephant grass,

Guatemala or giant setaria. This should be supplemented with legumes such as

lablab. You should plant at least one acre of fodder per cow.

ii. Construct the zero grazing unit

The basic parts of the unit include: cubicles (resting areas), the walking area,

feed and water troughs, the roof and milking place. Others include the calf pen,

store, and fodder chopping area, manure storage, holding crush and water tank.

iii. Choose right cow

It is important you choose a cow whose milk production will be profitable under

the available resources on the farm

If the management is good and you have a good supply of fodder and other

feeds, a pure exotic heavy producer such as Friesian is suitable. If the fodder

acreage is small and the climate hot, choose smaller hardy breed such as Jersey

or Guernsey or crosses of exotic with local.

In general, cows producing less than 10litres of milk a day are uneconomical for

zero grazing

iv. Give the cow the right feed

Ensure that your cow is given as much fodder, as it wants to eat – that is a

mixture of grass and legumes in a ratio of 3 parts of grass to 1 part of legumes.

In case of the elephant grass, it should be harvested when it is 60 to 90 Cm (2 to

3 feet) and chopped into small pieces 2 to 5Cm long.

Supplementary feeding such as concentrate should be given to cows producing

more than 8 litres of milk. Other feed include garden wastes such as potato

vines, maize flour, banana peels and agro industrial by products such as maize,

rice, whet bran or brewer’s mash. Give the cow mineral supplements in form of

powder mixed with any of the feeds mentioned above.

v. Other important activities

To ensure profitability of the enterprise, you should also pay special attention to

the following:

• Control of diseases and parasites to minimise deaths and other economic

losses

• Proper milking and milk hygiene

• Good calf rearing methods such as artificial insemination

• Keep records to help you in planning and decision making

• Ensure environmental protection for sustainable production.

For more information contact the nearest Veterinarian