Zero-Grazing unit constructed at University of Education, Winneba under DAIRYCHAIN project
A zero grazing dairy unit has been
established at the Department of Animal Science Education of UEW, Mampong-Campus, Ghana through the financial support from DairyChain project and UEW. DairyChain provided funds for the constructionof the unit while UEW financed the purchase of dairy animals into the unit.
The unit will serve as a model dairy farm to provide practical training to students in CBL in dairy production. it is expected that the unit will also serve as a model farm for stakeholders in the dairy The dairy cattlewere crosses between the local West African Shorthorn (WASH) and the exotic Holstein Friesian cattle.
Crossbreeding was achieved t h r o u g h a r t i f i c i a l insemination f a c i l i t a t e d bythe Amrihia Dairy cattle farm under the Animal P r o d u c t i o n Department of the Ministry of Food and Agr i c u l tu r e (MoFA), Ghana. The initial stock comprised of four heifers and one young bull.
The zero-grazing unit is currently serving its intended purpose of a model dairy unit and has been host to students as well as visiting farmers who have gone further to replicate this on their respective farms. The project in conjunction with theAnimal Production Department of the MoFA has established a linkage between the farmers and the Amrihia Dairy cattle farm thus giving farmers a source of breeding stock for the farms.
As part of the requirements for zero-grazing dairy production, pasture has been established with Bracheria and elephant grass around the zero-grazing facility and at a near distance to sensitize students and farmers about the need to cultivate pasture for dairy animal feeding.
