Chapter 6
Quantification of herd performance

Part III of the livestock productivity model (Figure 2.1) quantifies livestock productivity potential of each livestock system by quantifying herd performance in acceptable climatic zones.

The thermal zone suitablity ratings for livestock systems are given in Table 6.1. The moisture zone screen, indicating which livestock systems can be considered in which growing period zones, is presented in Table 6.2.

Livestock products per reference herd TLU for cattle, goat, sheep and camel systems at low, intermediate and high levels of technology are presented in Table 6.3 for zones that are considered as S1 for these livestock systems. Where a thermal zone rating is S2, S3 or S4, reference output must be decreased by 25%. 50% and 75% respectively. Where a thermal zone rating is N, the zone is either deemed not suitable because of temperature constraints (and therefore not considered further), or it is deemed not applicable for further consideration because the zone has not been selected for assessment within a particular planning scenario.Where the thermal zone rating is S, as in the case of poultry and pig under intensive system, it represents a screening device to indicate that the zone is deemed suitable for further consideration.

The herd performance calculations for cattle, goat, sheep and camel system are given in the Appendix in Tables A6.1 to A6.24, and these Tables show how output performance values set out in Table 6.3 are derived.

6.1 Cattle Systems: Dairy and Meat

For the cattle systems producing milk and meat, herd performance parameters for the low, intermediate and high technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.1. The herd performance calculations for the low, intermediate and high technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.2, A6.3 and A6.4 respectively. These systems are considered in thermal zones Tl, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 (Table 6.1) in growing period zones of more than 120 days (Table 6.2).

For the low technology system, output performance per TLU is 264.8 litres milk and 24.6 kg meat. If draught animals were desired then up to 0.09 TLU of draft animals per TLU could be produced but there would be up to 45% proportional reduction in the meat output (Table 6.3).

TABLE 6.1
Suitability ratings for livestock systems by thermal zone

¹ N for wool production in T1 ,T2,T3,T4 and S2 in T5 and T8 and S1 in T6 nd T7.

TABLE 6.2
Suitability ratings for livestock systems by LGP zone

1    Nomadic

1,2 Semi-nomadic

S — Suitable for consideration

N — Not suitable for consideration

For the intermediate technology system, output performance per TLU is 768.4 litres milk and 26.0 kg meat. If draught animals were desired then up to 0.10 TLU of draught animals per TLU could be produced but with up to 49% proportional reduction in meat output (Table 6.3).

For the high technology system, output performance per TLU is 901.5 litres milk and 19.8 kg meat. If draught animals were desired then up to 0.02 TLU of draught animals per TLU could be produced but there would be up to 13% proportional reduction in the meat output (Table 6.3).

TABLE 6.3
Output of livestock products per herd TLU

¹    Milk in litres; Meat in kg dressed weight; Draught animals in TLUs.?

²    Reduce meat output by 45%, 49% and 13% in low, intermediate and high input systems respectively when considering draught animal output.

³    Wool production in thermal zones T5, T6, T7 and T8 (Table 6.1).

6.2 Goat Systems: Dairy and Meat

For the dairy and meat goat systems, herd performance parameters for the low, intermediate and high technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.S. The herd performance calculations for the low, intermediate and high technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.6, A6.7 and A6.8 respectively. These systems are considered in the thermal zones T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 (Table 6.1), and in growing period zones of more than 120 days (Table 6.2).

For the low technology system, output performance per TLU is 92.6 kg meat. For the intermediate technology system, output performance per TLU is 263.7 litres milk and 114.6 kg meat. For the high technology system, output performance per TLU is 2166.7 litres of milk and 132.7 kg meat (Table 6.3).

6.3 Sheep Systems: Meat and Wool

For the meat and wool sheep systems, herd performance parameters for the low, intermediate and high technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.9. The herd performance calculations for the low, intermediate and high technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.10, A6.ll and A6.12 respectively. These systems are considered in thermal zones Tl, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 (Table 6.1), and in growing period zones with more than 120 days (Table 6.2).

For the low technology system, output performance per TLU is 70.5 kg of meat and 11.9 kg wool. For the intermediate technology system, output performance is 123 kg meat and 20.8 kg wool. In the high technology system output performance per TLU is 145.0 kg of meat and 25.0 kg wool (Table 6.3).

6.4 Pastoral Systems: Meat and Milk

6.4.1 Cattle: meat and milk

Cattle herd performance parameters for pastoral systems (nomadic distant, nomadic with market access and semi nomadic) are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.13. The herd performance calculations for the low (nomadic distant), intermediate (nomadic with market access) and high (semi-nomadic) technology herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.14, A6.15 and A6.16 respectively.

These systems are considered in thermal zones Tl, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 (Table 6.1), and in growing period zones less than 119 days (Table 6.2) except for the semi-nomadic herd (high technology) which is considered only in growing period zones 60–89 days and 90–119 days (Table 6.3).

For the nomadic distant herd (low technology), output performance per TLU is 59.3 litres milk and 15.4 kg meat. For the nomadic herd with market access (intermediate technology), output performance per TLU is 60 litres milk and 18.6 kg meat. For the semi-nomadic herd (high technology), output performance per TLU is 67.9 litres milk and 24.6 kg meat (Table 6.3).

6.4.2 Goat: meat

Goat herd performance parameters for pastoral systems (nomadic distant and semi-nomadic) are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.17. The herd performance calculations for the nomadic distant and the semi-nomadic herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.18 and A6.19 respectively.

These systems are considered in thermal zones T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 (Table 6.1). The nomadic distant herd is considered in growing period zones with less than 120 days. The semi-nomadic herd is considered in growing period zones 30–59 days, 60–89 days and 90–120 days (Table 6.2). The nomadic distant and the semi-nomadic herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.18 and A6.19 respectively.

The nomadic distant herd is assumed to represent the low technology system, and its output performance per TLU is 7.6 kg meat. The semi-nomadic herd is assumed to represent the high technology system, and its output performance per TLU is 19.8 kg meat (Table 6.3). The output performance per TLU for the intermediate technology system is assumed to be half-way between the low and the high technology performance (i.e. 13.7 kg meat).

6.4.3 Sheep: meat

Sheep herd performance parameters for pastoral systems (nomadic distant and semi-nomadic) are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.20. The herd performance calculations for the nomadic distant and the semi-nomadic herds are presented in the Appendix in Tables A6.21 and A6.22 respectively. These systems are considered in thermal zones Tl, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and 17 (Table 6.1). The nomadic distant herd is considered in growing period zones with less than 120 days. The semi-nomadic herd is considered in growing period zones 30-59 days, 60–89 days and 90–119 days (Table 6.2).

The nomadic distant herd is assumed to represent the low technology system, with an output performance per TLU of 8.9 kg meat. The semi-nomadic herd is assumed to represent the high technology system, with an output performance per TLU of 19.4 kg meat (Table 6.3). The output performance at the intermediate level is assumed to be half-way between the low and the high technology performance (i.e. 14.2 kg meat)

6.4.4 Camel: meat and milk

Camel herd performance parameters for pastoral system (nomadic) are presented in the Appendix in Table A6.23. The herd performance calculations for this nomadic system are presented in the Appendix in TableA6.24.

The system is considered in thermal zones Tl and T2 (Table 6.1), and in growing period zones less than 90 days (Table 6.2).

The output performance per TLU for the nomadic herd is 96.2 litre milk and 1.9 kg meat (Table 6.3) This output performance per TLU is assumed to apply at the low inputs level. The output performance per TLU at the high inputs level is assumed to be 50% greater (i.e. 144.3 litre milk and 2.9 kg meat), and the intermediate level performance is assumed to be half-way between the low and the high level performance (i.e. 120.6 litre milk and 2.4 kg meat).

6.5 Poultry and Pig: Meat and Egg

Poultry and pig production has been considered to apply only under the intensive system. The feed conversion ratios for poultry meat and eggs and pig meat are given in Section 7. Performance parameters have not been explicitly formulated for poultry and pig system at this stage of the model development but it is envisaged that these would be incorporated at a later stage.

6.6 Pests and Diseases

Major diseases of cattle include rinderpest, trypanosomiasis, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, dermatophilosis (streoto-thricosis), east coast fever and other tick-borne diseases, and foot and mouth disease. Brucellosis occurs widely and parasitic gastro-enteritis is common, and takes a heavy toll of calves under low management level. Fairly satisfactory control measures for a number of these diseases are available but continued vigilance is necessary to ensure that herds receive protection.

Foot and mouth disease is not important at a low level of production although its occurrence may prevent the export of meat. Ticks can be controlled by dipping or spraying but the provision of facilities and supervision is sometimes difficult.

Sheep and goats are susceptible to a variety of diseases including bacterial pneumonia, internal parasites, foot-rot and in the case of goats caprine pleuropneumonia and in sheep, sheep pox. Treatment is not normally available or sought and losses can be heavy although sick animals are killed and the carcases utilized.

Camels are very susceptible to tick-borne disease and trypanosomiasis. However, they are rarely kept in zones with more than 90 days growing period.

The distribution of trypanosomiasis and tse-tse vector in Kenya has been mapped and is included in the land resources data base (Technical Annex 1.1). It has been assumed that in the thermal zones 1,2,3 and 4, loss in livestock production performance would be of the order of 75% in the low technology systems 50% in intermediate and high technology systems due to trypanosomiasis.