By: Nelson Kukundakwe

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Project-Affected Persons (PAP HHs) in Bunyoro are yielding to high hopes of improved boran bulls in their communities few months after receiving the first batch of the breeding bulls from Living Earth Uganda (LEU)

These boran beef bulls are part of the livestock improvement services support packages to the Project-Affected Persons/Households (PAPS/PAHs) by Living Earth Uganda under the Provision of Agricultural Support Services project in the Albertine/Bunyoro region.  This particular service targets 13 villages that lie within the cattle corridor               , which is mostly characterized by cattle keepers. Each village received one bull which serves more than 40 cows monthly.

“To date, 10 out of 13 bulls have been given out and we expect their offspring      by end of this year” says Dr.Polly Nagaba  the livestock specialist at LEU.

Julius Kworekya RAP 5-0693  one of the recipients of the boran bulls is excited to have been selected as a  host  farmer for Kigwera North East Village and a longtime livestock farmer says as a community they have longed to own such breeds , which are highly revered on market.

“This bull will help       us in cross-breeding   our indigenous short horn zebu cows to the improved cross breeds, which are  high on demand” he notes.

He is also expectant that the cross bred offsprings will give the community ability to meet the increasing demand for beef and its products within the region .

On top of being trained in improved methods of livestock management, Kworekya was also supported with the crush to enable him to restrain      the animals during routine management practices such as ecto-parasite, control, Endo-parasite control.

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Juius Kworekya at his walk rail in Buliisa district.

“After giving him a bull, we realized there was a need for him to have a crush to help him in restraining animals during routine management practices, and this is how we engage other farmers, ‘on the needs basis’” says Dr. Nagaba at Living Earth Uganda

The LC1 chairperson of the area says his community was particularly excited to benefit from these high breeds since the community can all benefit from them.

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Milton Mujuni, hosting officials from total and Living Earth Uganda at his farm in Kisimo, Buliisa district

Milton Mujuni, another host farmer in Kisimo, Buliisa district appreciated LEU for the support service, which has not only given them inputs but also trained them on how to look after their livestock.

Geographically, the project operates in semi-arid climatic conditions characterized by high prevalence of parasites and diseases, prolonged drought and low-quality pastures that pose challenges in feeding the animals both in terms of food and water in the dry season resulting in poor milk and beef yields. The characteristic short hair of the boran is for heat tolerance and the strong muscles help to move long distances in search of water in addition to its ability to digest low quality feeds which are abundant in the area.

As a result, the majority      of farmers keep low yielding local animal breeds & species especially goats and cattle that are resistant to diseases and water stress related challenges, which explains why extensive communal grazing is highly practiced to allow movement of animals in search for water and pastures during the dry spells.

The ASSP project is focusing on supporting the PAPs with livestock species i.e. goats and cattle that will equally match with the climatic conditions of the area but superior both genotypically and phenotypically to the available local breeds.  

Mujuni is one of the severely affected PAPs who benefited the various trainings mainly Crop and livestock management enterprises.

More than 50 cattle keeping households around Mr. Mujuni and Kworekya’s villages will benefit from the exotic bulls that are being hosted at their homes through cross breeding.

“As a host farmer, I understand that this bull will be accessed by all in the community who wish to cross breed their animals, and from what I have seen so far, they (Community) are very excited to have it (bull) in this village. He said.

The Agriculture Support Supervision Project (AgSSP) will target a total of 3,990 households (4901 PAPs) whereby 1,808 households will receive general level support while 2,182 households will receive intensive level support by the close of the project.