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dc.contributor.authorKlapwijk, C.J.
dc.contributor.authorSchut, M.
dc.contributor.authorvan Asten, P.J.
dc.contributor.authorVanlauwe, B.
dc.contributor.authorGiller, K.E.
dc.contributor.authorDescheemaeker, K.
dc.date.accessioned2020-08-05T07:49:15Z
dc.date.available2020-08-05T07:49:15Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.identifier.citationKlapwijk, C.J., Schut, M., van Asten, P.J., Vanlauwe, B., Giller, K.E. & Descheemaeker, K. (2019). Micro-livestock in smallholder farming systems: the role, challenges and opportunities for cavies in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 52, 1167–1177.
dc.identifier.issn0049-4747
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/6905
dc.description.abstractLivestock play multiple roles for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Mixed crop-livestock systems are common in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo, but herd sizes are small and numbers of large livestock (i.e. cattle) have declined, due to high population density, recent conflicts and extreme poverty. Over half of the farmers keep cavies, a type of micro-livestock fitting the circumstances of smallholders and a valuable asset especially for the poorest households. To characterize cavy husbandry practices, detailed monthly on-farm data on cavy numbers, weights, herd dynamics and feeding practices were collected over 15 months and from households in two contrasting sites in South Kivu. Cavy herds contained on average 10 animals and strongly varied in size over time and between households. The main reasons for keeping cavies were meat consumption, especially for children, and the opportunity to generate petty cash. A large difference was observed in adult cavy live weights between the sites (an average of 0.6 and 1.0 kg per animal in Kabamba and Lurhala, respectively) and attributed to differences in cavy husbandry and genetics. In both sites, quantities of fresh fodder on offer were larger than fodder demand by 50–100%, but no correlation was found between amount of fodder on offer and cavy weight. Farmers faced several constraints to cavy production, including substantial declines in cavy herd size due to predation or theft and a lack of knowledge regarding breeding and feeding. Hence, the introduction of cages to limit mortality and fodder cultivation to improve feed quality were opportunities for improving cavy production. Overall, micro-livestock present a promising entry-point for development initiatives, also outside DR Congo, because of their potential to decrease poverty and improve human nutrition.
dc.description.sponsorshipDirectorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Belgium
dc.format.extent1167-1177
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectDemocratic Republic of the Congo
dc.subjectCavia
dc.subjectLivestock
dc.subjectSmallholders
dc.subjectFarmers
dc.subjectLivelihoods
dc.subjectFarming Systems
dc.subjectFodder Crops
dc.titleMicro-livestock in smallholder farming systems: the role, challenges and opportunities for cavies in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
dc.typeJournal Article
cg.contributor.crpMaize
cg.contributor.crpRoots, Tubers and Bananas
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationWageningen University and Research Centre
cg.contributor.affiliationOlam International Ltd., Uganda
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionCentral Africa
cg.coverage.countryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
cg.coverage.hubCentral Africa Hub
cg.researchthemeNatural Resource Management
cg.researchthemeSocial Science and Agribusiness
cg.identifier.bibtexciteidKLAPWIJK:2020
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research institute
cg.iitasubjectAgronomy
cg.iitasubjectCrop Husbandry
cg.iitasubjectCrop Systems
cg.iitasubjectDomestic Trade
cg.iitasubjectFarm Management
cg.iitasubjectFarming Systems
cg.iitasubjectLivelihoods
cg.iitasubjectSmallholder Farmers
cg.journalTropical Animal Health and Production
cg.notesOpen Access Article; Published online: 22 Nov 2019
cg.accessibilitystatusOpen Access
cg.reviewstatusPeer Review
cg.usagerightslicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 0.0)
cg.targetaudienceScientists
cg.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02112-9
cg.iitaauthor.identifierMarc Schut: 0000-0002-3361-4581
cg.iitaauthor.identifierPiet van Asten: 0000-0003-0584-3552
cg.iitaauthor.identifierbernard vanlauwe: 0000-0001-6016-6027
cg.iitaauthor.identifierKen E Giller: 0000-0002-5998-4652


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