introduction
As one of the DAR divisions, consists of the following five key performance areas (research sections): animal production, animal nutrition, animal breeding, and animal health and forages.
The objectives of the division
- To generate solutions and stimulate growth in livestock production performance in Lesotho through improvement of technologies and generation of new production options by conducting responsive research.
- To address livestock feeding requirements in the country by improving technologies and broadening the scope of choices in the context of animal nutrition by implementing relevant research activities.
- To support enhancement of livestock performance in the country through genetic improvement and conservation for sustainable production, productivity and beneficial livestock utilization by undertaking responsive research activities.
- To address livestock and public health challenges in the country for improved livestock performance and enhanced state of public health through the implementation of relevant research activities.
- To improve forage security for the national livestock populations by conducting research activities aimed at enhancing the husbandry and performance of forage resources in the country.
key performance areas
1
Livestock Production
Mandated to conduct research in all pertinent issues aligned to livestock production and management in an attempt to solve production problems.
2
Animal Nutrition
Bears the mandate of conducting research in animal nutrition to facilitate the development of appropriate low-cost animal nutrition practices/technologies that are responsive to nutrition oriented constraints face by livestock producers.
3
Animal Breeding
Carries the mandate of conducting research in an effort to improve genetic performance of livestock.
4
Animal Health
Mandated to conduct research aimed at resolving health related challenges for improved livestock performance.
5
Forages
Mandated to conduct research in forage production and management to enhance forage security for national livestock populations.
i. On-farm wool quality improvement trial
Responding to production limitations in the face of changing climatic conditions, the overall objective of the study was to determine the effect of the introduction of high genetic value rams to optimize genetic performance for wool quality and production in Maputsoe flocks. The study was conducted at Maputsoe in the Thaba-tseka district from May 2014 to April 2016.
The results showed that introduction of better breeding rams resulted in an improvement of wool quality of Maputsoe flocks. The study revealed that introduction of superior genotype on the desired traits (e.g. wool quality and meat production) to the locally adapted genotype would lead to breeds that withstand harsh environments while providing the farmers with adequate products.
ii. On-farm Potchefstroom Koekoek nutritional trial
The objective of the trial was to establish an appropriate feedstuff that could be used on Potchefstroom Koekoek dual-purpose chickens. The trial was conducted at Ha Ntanyele in Mafeteng and Ha Rakhomo in Quthing in the southern lowlands of Lesotho, from 2015 to 2016. It was concluded, based on the results, that soya bean meal mix was an appropriate feedstuff and it was recommended to be fed Potchefstroom Koekoek dual-purpose chickens.
iii. Estimation of live body weight from linear body measurements of Boschveld chickens
The general objective of the study was to determine the relationship between morphological traits and live body weight of Boschveld dual purpose chickens. The study was conducted from May to October 2020 at The Department of Agricultural Research Maseru main station. It was concluded that linear body measurements of Boschveld chickens had positive and high correlation with body weight indicating that body measurements can be used for estimation of body weight and indirect selection for live body weight on homesteads where weighing scales are usually not available.
v. Live body weight estimation using body measurements in Toggenburg goats
The general objective of the study was to determine the efficiency of multiple regressions to estimate live body weight of Toggenburg goats using body measurements. The study was conducted from May to October 2020 at The Department of Agricultural Research Maseru main station. It was concluded that body measurements of Toggenburg goats had positive and high correlation with body weight indicating that body measurements can be used for estimation of body weight and indirect selection for live body weight at homesteads where weighing scales are usually not available.
vi. Performance of grass fodder species in the southern drier areas of Lesotho
The general objective of the study was to establish performance of different fodder species which were planted under dryland conditions at Ha Ntanyele and Ha Lekhari in Mafeteng district. Five species which were; Perennial fodder sorghum, Panicum coloratum, Setaria anceps, Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum were planted between the 2015 to 2016 agricultural years. It was established that all species can do well on low crop production potential soils of the drier southern lowlands of Lesotho. Perennial fodder sorghum and Panicum coloratum outperformed the rest of other species, in terms of their higher wet biomass production, which was 2.6t/ha for both species, whilst the other three yielded 1.7t/ha.
The use of planted pastures, concentrate feedstuffs, minerals and non-protein nitrogen in the supplementary feeding of small ruminants (sheep and goats) in four agro-ecological zones of Lesotho
The general objective of the study is to compare three dietary factors and determine the effect of supplementary feeding (legumes, non-legume forages (planted fodder materials), concentrated feed materials, minerals and non-protein nitrogen on productive performance of small ruminants. The study is being conducted at Machache, Leribe, Quthing and Mokhotlong, representative of four agro-ecological zones of Lesotho, namely; foothills, lowlands, Senqu River Valley and highlands, respectively, during the period March 2018 to July 2022. The study is mainly looking at the effect of the dietary factors on small-stock at three phases of production which are flushing, steaming-up and lactation.
log your complaints about this division below
We are committed to providing the best service to our users and clients. Feel free to bring any dissatisfaction you may have experienced to our attention.