Climate-smart livestock feeding strategies for smallholder farmers in Uganda: A review in the context of climate change

Climate change is affecting the livestock sector in Uganda by reducing feed quality and availability. In response, various feeding initiatives have emerged to enhance the sector’s productivity and sustainability. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives remains inadequately documented, necessitating a systematic review to provide lessons for the future. This review aimed to compile existing literature on livestock feeding initiatives in response to climate change and assess their outcomes. An online survey identified 44 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 concerning livestock feeds in Uganda. The findings revealed that diverse feeding initiatives were being implemented across various regions, primarily in mixed farming systems, despite agro-pastoral and pastoral systems hosting larger livestock populations. The initiatives were categorized into innovative and traditional methods. Most initiatives focused on increasing feed quantity rather than improving feed quality. However, these initiatives had not been evaluated for large-scale adoption. The study highlights three critical knowledge gaps for further research: a) exploring the feasibility of using crops and crop residues for livestock feed, b) evaluating the sustainability of intensified fodder production in pastoral systems, and c) analyzing the economic viability of emerging feed initiatives. The implications of these results for sustainable livestock production amidst climate change are discussed.