Boitumelo, 1993. In: Kategile J. A.; Mubi S., Future of livestock industries in east and southern Africa: Proceedings of the Workshop held at Kadoma Ranch Hotel, Zimbabwe, 20-23 July 1992: 89-95

Inadequate nutrition, particularly in the dry season, was identified as a major constraint to sustainable milk production on small-scale farms. Feeding strategies using locally available resources were initiated with the aim of increasing milk yield. This involved the use of the considerable quantities of crop residues produced for dry-season feeding of lactating and pregnant cows. Since the nutritional quality of crop residue-based diets can be improved by providing a high-quality (i.e. high-protein) legume fodder and/or combining with other available milling by-products such as sorghum bran (moroki), farmers were encouraged to conserve crop residues and integrate fodder crops into their farming systems. 46 farmers participated in this project using crossbred and Tswana cows. Despite health problems, Simmental crossbred cows were as promising as a dairy breed for small-scale farms, producing about twice as much milk per lactation as Tswana cows. For 4 lactations in 1985-89, milk yield per lactation averaged 760, 890, 818 and 988 litres respectively for the Simmental crossbreds and 338, 319, 474 and 420 litres for the Tswana cows. It was concluded that the system is less intensive than that required for purebred dairy cows and retains flexibility in terms of increased milk yield and sale of animals for beef.