WELCOME TO MAGADU ANIMAL FARM

Magadu animal farm is part of the department of  Model Training Farm under the College of Agriculture at Sokoine University of Agriculture, it is made up of three units which are the Dairy Unit, Sheep and goats Unit and Pasture farm Unit. All three units work in tandem in providing hands on practical experience to students but also in Research and consultancy.

Cattle grazing at Magadu animal farm

The diary Unit has a large number of cattle with different breeds mostly dairy breeds which includes Fresian, Ayrshire, Boran and crossbreeds. These animals are used in production of milk which is available at the Model Training Farm shop but also key in practicals for students studying animal related courses. The dairy Unit has a feed mill section used for milling and processing livestock and fish feeds.

Sheep and goats Unit

The sheep and goats unit has a substantial number of animals of different breeds which are also used to train students, research and some for milk production which is available for the SUA community. The available goat breeds are Norwegian and Toggenburg  as for sheeps there is only one breed which is Blackhead Persian Sheep.

Juncao grass at the pasture farms

The pasture farms has established pastures used for students practicals, feeding the available animals at Magadu animal farm and also available to the public for learning and sourcing seeds for different grass species. The grass species available include Cenchrus Ciliaris (Buffel grass), Chloris gayana ( Rhodes grass), Brachiaria cv ruziziensis hybrid, Brachiaria cv cobra hybrid, Brachiaria brizantha cv piata (Congo grass).

There is also Napier grass species including Penicetum purpureum ouma hybrid, Penicetum purpureum ILRI 16835, Penicetum purpureum Juncao hybrid. The pasture farms also have some legume species which include Medicago sativa (Alfalfa grass), Desmodium intortum and macroptilium atropupureum.

 

Students weeding the pasture grasses

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