Abstract
Understanding the utilisation patterns of milk assists in designing appropriate dairy development schemes in rural communities. The objective of the study was to determine milk utilisation patterns in different smallholder farming systems in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected through the administration of recording sheets to 130 randomly selected households in Alice, Fort Beaufort and Queenstown districts. Amounts of milk produced per household ranged from 9 to 21 l per household per day. Milk consumption/household/day was similar among the three districts. Milk consumption in the early lactation doubled the amount consumed in late lactation (P < 0.05). Milk in the communal areas was largely utilised as fresh or sour milk. Fresh milk was mostly used in tea/coffee or to make porridge for children. Sour milk was consumed with thick boiled maize meal. Fort Beaufort (10.2 ± 1.37 l/day) had the highest sour milk sales whilst Queenstown had the highest fresh milk sales (9.7 ± 5.57 l/day). It was concluded that quantities of milk consumed or sold as fresh or sour were generally low and varied across smallholder farming systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chinogaramombe, G.N.C., Muchenje, V., Mapiye, C., Ndlovu, T., Chimonyo, M., Musemwa, L., 2008. Challenges for improving smallholder dairy production in the semiarid areas of Zimbabwe. Livestock Research and Rural Development, 20 (3). http://ftp.sunset.se/wmirrow.www.cipav.org.co/Irrd20/3/chin20034.htm.
Delali, B.K., Dovie, D.B.K., Charlie, M., Shackleton, C.M., Witkowski E.T.F., 2006. Valuation of communal area livestock benefits, rural livelihoods and related policy issues. Land Use Policy, 23, 260–271.
Grobler, S.M., Scholtz, M.M, Bester, J., Mamobolo, J.M., and Ramsay, K.A., 2008. Dairy production systems in emerging and communal sectors of South Africa. Results from a structured survey. Applied Animal Husbandry and Rural Development, 1, 25-30.
Mapekula, M. 2009. Milk production and calf performance in Nguni and crossbred cattle raised on communal rangelands of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. PhD Thesis, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.
Mapekula, M., Chimonyo, M., Mapiye, C., and Dzama, K., 2009. Milk production and calf rearing practices in the smallholder areas in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41 (7), 1475–1485.
Mapiye, C., Chimonyo, M., Muchenje, V., Dzama, K., Marufu, M.C., Raats, J.G., 2007. Potential for value-addition of Nguni cattle products in the communal areas of South Africa: a review. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2 (10), 488-495.
Mapiye, C., Chimonyo, M., Dzama, K, Raats, J.G., Mapekula, M., 2009. Opportunities for improving Nguni cattle production in the smallholder farming systems of South Africa. Livestock Science, 124, 196-204.
Marufu, M.C., Chimonyo, M., Dzama, K., Mapiye, C., 2009. Sero-prevalence of tick-borne diseases in communal cattle reared on sweet and sour rangelands in a semi arid area of South Africa. The Veterinary Journal, doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.02.014.
Muchenje, V., Chimendza-Graham, R., Sikhosana, J.L.N., Assan, N., Dzama, K., Chimonyo, M., 2007. Milk yield of Jersey X Nguni and Jersey X Tuli F1 and F2 cows reared under smallholder farming conditions. South African Journal of Animal Science, 8. http:/www.sasas.co.za/Popular/Popular.html.
Muchenje, V., Dzama, K., Chimonyo, M., Raats, J.G., Strydom, P.E. 2008. Meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Aberdeen Angus steers raised on natural pasture in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Meat Science, 79, 20–28.
Mutukumira, A.N., Dube, D.M. J., Mupunga, E.G., Feresu, S.B., 1996. Smallholder milk production, milk handling and utilization: A case study from the Nharira/Lancashire farming area, Zimbabwe. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 8 (1).
National Department of Agriculture, 2008. Directorate: Agricultural Statistics of the national Department of Agriculture, Republic of South Africa. pp. 58-67. http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Abstract_08.pdf
Ngongoni, N.T., Mapiye, C., Mwale, M., Mupeta, B., 2006. Factors affecting milk production in the smallholder dairy sector in Zimbabwe. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 18 (5). http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd18/5/ngon18072.htm. Accessed 18 July 2008.
Ngongoni, N.T., Mapiye, C, Mwale, M., Mupeta, B., 2007. Effect of supplementing a high-protein ram press sunflower cake concentrate on smallholder milk production in Zimbabwe. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 39 (4), 297-307.
Nqeno, N., Chimonyo, M., Mapiye, C., Marufu, M.C., 2009. Ovarian activity, conception and pregnancy patterns of cows in the semiarid communal rangelands in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Animal Reproduction Science, 118, 140–147.
SAS, 2003. Statistical Analysis System Institute Inc. Users Guide, Version 9, Carry, NC, USA.
Acknowledgments
We thank the farmers from Queenstown, Fort Beaufort and Alice for providing the data. We also acknowledge the funding from National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mapekula, M., Chimonyo, M., Mapiye, C. et al. Milk utilisation patterns in the low-input production systems in South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 1413–1419 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9575-5
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9575-5