Browsing by Author "Mupangwa, Johnfisher"

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    Climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder livestock farmers in Namibia's Omaheke Region, Namibia
    (Discover Sustainability, 2025) Siririka, Ndjipua Avihe Tjaondjo; Charamba, Vonai; Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Shipandeni, Maria N. T.; Kahumba, Absalom
    The challenges of climate change are continuously increasing, constituting a major threat to livestock production, which is more than a socio-economic cornerstone in Namibian rural communal farmers, contributing approximately two-thirds of the country’s agricultural GDP. Climate variability, which may be in the form of drought, very high temperatures, floods and frosts has been reported to have detrimental effects on feed and water availability, leading to reduced livestock weight, growth, production and reproductive performance, and ultimately high mortality. Understanding smallholder farmers’ socio-psychological antecedents such as knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and the way they influence their level of adaptation to CC mitigation strategies needs to be assessed, as it guides CC policy formulation and intervention programmes. The study investigated CC perception and adaptation strategies for livestock farmers in Omaheke Region. Data were gathered from (n=80) purposively sampled farmers in Epukiro and Otjombinde constituencies based on livestock ownership. The study revealed that 93.8% of the respondents were aware that the climate is changing, with attributes such as very high and very low temperatures, high and low rainfall, and drought having been noticed. Climate change has been attributed to both human and natural activity. The study observed that the implementation of CC adaptation strategies in livestock agriculture is low, thus recommends that the improvement of adaptation techniques involving employing extension services, promotion of farmer-to-farmer extension, and utilization of various information sources of climate knowledge, such as farmers’ associations and social organizations, should be the future policy priority
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    Effects of feeding incremental levels of Spirulina platensis on feed intake and growth performance of Boschveld and Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken breeds
    (Discover Agriculture, 2024) Nambahu, Aino; Petrus, Ndiilokelwa Patricia; Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Charamba, Vonai; Lutaaya, Emmanuel
    spirulina is increasingly being used in feed manufacturing because of its high nutritional value, especially proteins, for humans and animals. This study examined the feed intake and growth performance of Boschveld and Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken breeds when soybean meal was substituted with incremental levels of Spirulina platensis. The experimental design was a 2×4 factorial with repeated measures over a 12-week period, with breed and diet as factors. The experimental unit was a cage holding 3 birds, with 3 cages allocated to each breed-diet combination, hence 36 birds per breed. The diets were: 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% using dried Spirulina platensis powder to replace soybean meal per 100 kg of feed. Chickens fed control diet consumed more (P<0.05) feed than those fed Spirulina-containing diets. Diet affected (P<0.0001) final weights (g) of the birds which were 1093.2, 921.6, 762.8 and 771.2 for 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% inclusion levels of Spirulina platensis, respectively. Boschveld chickens had better average daily gain compared to Potchefstroom Koekoek at week 15–16. Averaged over the 12 weeks, the control diet gave better (P<0.0001) average daily gain (9.42 g/d) than the Spirulina-containing diets. Over the 12 weeks, the control diet had a more desirable (7.79 vs. 8.17, P=0.01) feed conversion ratio than the Spirulina-containing diets Spirulina at a level of 5–10% can be used as a protein supplement in indigenous chicken feeds because it resulted in growth performance close to control diets
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    Feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics of Damara lambs fed bush-based rations from four encroacher bush species
    (Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2025) Shiningavamwe, Katrina Lugambo; Lutaaya, Emmanuel; Mupangwa, Johnfisher
    The effect of feeding bush-based finishing rations on the performance of Damara lambs was studied. Thirty weaned lambs weighing 16.7 ± 1.9 kg were allocated to five treatments in a completely randomized design over a 90-day feeding period. The control diet (T1) consisted of Lucerne (10%), grass hay (30%) and concentrate mix (60%). The other diets consisted of roughage (40%) from the milled bushes Senegalia mellifera (T2), Dichrostachys cinerea (T3), Terminalia sericea (T4) and Rhigozum trichotomum (T5) and concentrate mix (60%). At the end of the feeding trial, the lambs were slaughtered and carcass characteristics were evaluated. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) was affected (P < 0.05) by sex, treatment, week and treatment x week interactions. The ADFI for T1 exceeded (P < 0.05) that for T2 and T3, at most time points. The ADFI of T1 and T4 were similar (P > 0.05) at weeks 6 to 10, but differed (P < 0.05) at other time points. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were affected (P < 0.05) by sex and treatment. The ADG (g/day) least squares means (± S.E) for T1 – T5 were 148.0 ± 6.9, 156.4 ± 6.9, 124.2 ± 6.9, 133.7 ± 6.9 and 133.7 ± 6.9, respectively. Treatment T2 had a better (P < 0.05) FCR compared to other bush-based treatments. Males had heavier (P < 0.05) final, hot and cold carcass weights than females. Lambs fed T4 had greater (P < 0.05) rib eye area than T1 (8.3 ± 0.5 vs. 5.9 ± 0.5 mm2). Bush-based diets can serve as production diets for weaned sheep and result into acceptable weight gain and carcass quality
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    Foliar nutrient content responses to bio-inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium on three herbaceous forage legumes
    (Frontiers, 2023) Mpongwana, Sanele; Manyevere, Alen; Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Mpendulo, Conference Thando; Mashamaite, Chuene Victor
    Smallholder livestock production in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa has been hampered by a lack of high-quality feed. As such, improving ruminant nutrition using optimized production of herbaceous forage legumes has been suggested. However, the production of forage legumes for livestock feed is poor in communal areas in the province due to the necessity to use high levels of chemical fertilizers to provide high-quality feed that meets animal nutrient demands. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium inoculation on the chemical composition of three herbaceous forage legumes, namely, Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Lablab purpureus (lablab), and Mucuna pruriens (mucuna). The field trials were established over two growing seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) at the University of Fort Hare Research Farm (South Africa) and were carried out as a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 12 treatments that were replicated 4 times. The 12 treatments included three legume species (cowpea, lablab, and mucuna), two AMF (with and without AMF inoculation), and two Rhizobia inoculations (with or without). The results showed that the dual inoculation of AMF and Rhizobia bacteria significantly (p < 0.05) increased the contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, ash, magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) of three herbaceous forage legumes. Furthermore, solo inoculation with AMF or Rhizobia bacteria resulted in substantially higher potassium (K), Ca, and Mg cation ions, and Ca/P, Zn, manganese (Mn), and Fe concentrations in forage legumes than in other treatments. In conclusion, the dual inoculation produced optimal nutrient accumulation in both growing seasons when compared to single inoculation and uninoculated forages. Therefore, this could assist in alleviating livestock malnutrition in smallholder farming
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    Improving soil fertility through dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium on a eutric cambisol cultivated with forage legumes in a semi-arid region
    (ScienceDirect, 2024) Mpongwana, Sanele; Manyevere, Alen; Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Mpendulo, Conference Thando; Mashamaite, Chuene Victor
    The Sub-Saharan region of southern Africa is characterized by high temperatures, low rainfall, and poor land-use management practices such as continuous cropping without replenishment of soil nutrients. The combination of these factors has resulted in nutrient depletion and land degradation. The current study aimed at investigating the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium bacteria inoculation on soil chemical properties in field-grown forage le gumes, namely, Mucuna pruriens (mucuna), Lablab purpureus (lablab) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), in the semi-arid region of the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa). Forage legumes were inoculated with the AMF species Paraglomus occulum and the Rhizobia bacteria species Bradyrhizobium strain and grown for 120 days. Soil samples were collected in the following sequence: prior to planting, before flowering and after harvesting the forage legumes in each of the two seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) and soil chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. The results showed that the addition of dual inoculation over time greatly improved soil chemical properties when compared to the control treatment. This was advocated by the significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in soil pH, soil organic carbon, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur and iron in soils. The concentration of cation exchange capacity was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in cowpea treated with Rhizobium as compared to other treatment combinations. The control treatment of mucuna forage greatly improved the concentrations of manganese, boron, copper, molybdenum, and zinc over other treatment combinations only before the flowering stage. However, the concentrations of micronutrients were significantly higher on the treatment combination of lablab and single inoculation of AMF after harvesting. Generally, dual inoculation with AMF and Rhizobia enhanced soil properties when compared to a single inoculation or untreated control
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    Indigenous knowledge of browse species and nutritional quality of dominant indigenous browse species in the Kavango West Region of Namibia
    (Discover Sustainability, 2024) Hamukwaya, Rosa N.; Charamba, Vonai; Kahumba, Absalom; Shipandeni, Maria N. T.; Mupangwa, Johnfisher
    Livestock production is crucial to the livelihoods of rural Namibians but highly constrained by feed shortages due to climate change and bush encroachment. The study investigated the grazing and feeding practices and indigenous knowledge of browsable and non-browsable species by interviewing 30 small-scale farmers in the Kavango West Region. It assessed the nutritive value for the three most commonly identified browsable species. The study observed that livestock relies on communal rangeland, roadside, and riverside grazing, with supplements from crop residues during the dry seasons. However, most farmers experience feed shortages mainly in the dry season, which results in decreased livestock productivity. Farmers are knowledgeable on browsable and non-browsable woody species in their locality, but most do not harvest pods, leaves and twigs to supplement their animals in the dry season, citing labour shortage, and they are not aware that the bush species resources can be harvested and be used during seasons when feed resources are scarce. The nutritive value analysis indicated that there is a need for strategic supplementation of the browsable species for them to be effectively utilised as livestock feed, thus farmers must be capacitated on when and how to utilise these species when herbaceous pasture grasses and legumes are senescent as well as how to harvest forage alongside rivers and roads for stall feeding to avoid accidents. Our findings will be important for policy formulation in trying to come up with better ways of mitigating the consequences of climate change
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    Phytochemical content, antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, of leaves extracts of Eucalyptus globulus, Peltophorum africanum and Vangueria infausta
    (Discover Agriculture, 2024) Moshidi, Portia Mamothaladi; Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Muya, Claude Mukengela; Washaya, Soul
    This study aimed to determine the extraction yield, phytochemical content, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of leaves extracts from Eucalyptus globulus, Peltophorum africanum, and Vangueria infausta. Leaves were harvested, separated from the stems, and dried for chemical analysis. Crude and oil extraction, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and minimum inhibitory concentration were determined, and tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids were quantified by standard protocols. The phenolic, flavonoids, and condensed tannin contents were higher (P < 0.05) in V. infausta extract than in E. globulus and P. africanum. The radical scavenging activities were higher (P < 0.05) in V. infausta, E. globulus than in P. africanum. The antibacterial activity was lower (P < 0.05) for P. africanum and E. globulus oil, and was strongly related to the presence of phenolics and flavonoids. The lack of toxicity of plant extracts suggests that extracts can be used as animal feed additives with no risk of toxicity. Vangueria infausta, Eucalyptus globulus had the highest antioxidant capability and can thus modulate nutrient metabolism in animals
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    Quantification and characterization of nutrients in Senegalia mellifera milled biomass, feed intake and nitrogen balance in female Boer goats fed with Senegalia mellifera bush-based feeds
    (International Journal of Agricultural Research and Review, 2024) Epafras, A.; Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Charamba, Vonai; De la Puerta, M. L. F.
    The objectives of this study were to quantify and characterise the nutritional content of milled Senegalia mellifera milled biomass obtained from nine blocks at Neudamm Farm and to determine the dry matter intake (DMI), apparent digestibility and nitrogen retention in female Boer goats fed with Senegalia mellifera bush based feeds. Wood ash (WA), polyethylene glycol (PEG, 6 000) and biochar were evaluated as tannin deactivation methods. The milled biomass of S. mellifera was mixed using a clean concrete mixer with the following ingredients: yellow maize meal, liquid molasses; Marula oil press cake and coarse salt to formulate a complete diet with 14% CP and 11MJ ME/kg. Detannification treatment methods were added at a level of 5 g per day during feeding time. We used eight (8) female Boer goats weighing an average of 31.5 kg (± 2.5 kg) for the feeding experiment. We penned the goats individually in metabolic cages. Clean water was available ad libitum to the goats during the entire feeding experiment. The goats were fed in a 4x4 cross over Latin square design with four periods of experimental feeding. Each period lasted for 17 days, resulting in 68 days of experimental feeding. The goats were fed twice daily at 09:00h and 16:00h. The level of dry matter (DM) of feed offered was 4% of body weight. The results obtained in this study showed that there was a significant difference (p <0.05) in the chemical composition of Senegalia mellifera milled biomass harvested from the nine blocks at Neudamm Farm. The CP content of Senegalia mellifera milled biomass ranged from 9.39 to 9.68 %DM while the NDF and ADF ranged from 59.17 to 64.33%DM and 43.77 to 48.01%DM, respectively. The condensed tannins (CT) content from all blocks did not differ (p >0.05) and had a mean of 0.02 to 0.03%DM as leucocyanidin equivalent (LE Absorbance at 550 nm). The apparent digestibility coefficients of DM, OM and NDF were not significantly different among treatments and the control diet (p >0.05). Goats fed biochar treated diet had the highest nitrogen intake of 13.74g/d (p <0.05), faecal nitrogen of 8.43g/d (p <0.05) and nitrogen retention of 5.11g/d (p <0.05), while goats fed the control feed (CNT), PEG and WA were similar (p >0.05). All treatments resulted in a positive nitrogen retention (p >0.05) with mean values ranging from 3.79 to 5.11 g/d. The study concluded that, there was a significant difference (p <0.05) in the chemical composition of S. mellifera milled biomass collected from nine blocks at Neudamm Farm. Given the high CP content of the S. mellifera, this fodder resource can be considered a suitable supplement for poor quality (low N content) natural pastures and crop residues such as grass hay, straw and stover. The study also concluded that, there was a significant difference (p <0.05) in the DMI, and nitrogen balance in Boer goats fed with A. mellifera feeds treated with Wood ash (WA), Polyethylene glycol (PEG, 6 000) and Biochar (BIO). The study therefore recommends that each detannification method should be tested at different rates of inclusion in S. mellifera bush based feed resources
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    Utilising encroacher bush in animal feeding
    (Springer, 2023) Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Lutaaya, Emmanuel; Shipandeni, Maria Ndakula Tautiko; Kahumba, Absalom; Charamba, Vonai; Shiningavamwe, Katrina Lugambo
    Livestock production is a major economic and livelihood activity in Namibia which contributes at least 75% to total agricultural output. The industry faces challenges including prolonged droughts, increased production costs, bush encroachment, variable climatic conditions and disease outbreaks. Bush encroachment and prolonged drought spells pose a major concern as they result in reduced carrying capacity of rangelands. The encroacher woody browse plants are potential animal feeds as they provide considerable amount of biomass from leaves and small twigs as well as pods that provide nutrients to ruminant livestock during the long dry season. Converting the biomass from the encroacher bushes into livestock fodder is one best management practice of controlling bush encroachment while increasing the availability of ruminant feeds sustainably without competing with human food production. Our chapter provides data on the nutritional content of encroacher bushes in different seasons and feeding value of bush-based feeds as an alternative feed resource for ruminant livestock. The chapter presents the opportunity and evidence that shows that utilising encroacher bush-based feeds in ruminant livestock feeding results in animal growth and the production of quality carcasses that contribute to human protein food. We conclude that the utilisation of rangeland encroacher bush species in sub-Saharan Africa in bush-based feeds provides sufficient nutrients to support improved ruminant livestock production and contributes to rangeland ecosystems restoration