Kavana et al., 2005. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 17 (1)

A study on grazing pattern and sustainability of feed resources was conducted in selected pastoral areas of eastern zone of Tanzania from 1999 to 2003. Discussion with pastoralists indicated that pastoralists traditionally identify different soil types and relate to presence of dominant pasture species. Grazing pattern is established such that animals graze near homesteads with short grazing duration during rainy and cold seasons. Animals are transferred to distant grazing areas during the dry seasons. Quality of forage is normally related to animal performance as well as height and colour of dominant grass species available in grazing areas. The study indicated that there are hierarchical steps that are followed in decision making before shifting herds of cattle to distant grazing areas. Further studies indicated that native multipurpose trees namely, Dichrostachyscinerea, Acacia tortilis and Acacia nilotica thrive well in pastoral areas. These multipurpose trees reported by pastoralists as useful feed resources during the dry season. However, these multipurpose trees have multiple uses that sometimes result in resource user conflicts. The conflicts were reported to occur between pastoralists and charcoal producers because the trees are also valued for good quality charcoal. Other pasture species valued by pastoralists for dry season feeding were Commelina benghalensis, which is considered as water supplier to ruminants, and Enteropogon macrostachyus which is valued as potential feed for weaned calves. The carrying capacity in the study areas was concluded as 0.3 TLU/ha/yr.