enhancing livelihoods of poor livestock keepers through increasing use of fodder: vietnam report on...

National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS)

Tay Nguyen University (TNU)

IFAD TAG 853 - VietnamFodder Adoption Project

Options for effective delivery systems including innovative communication strategies and on farm

interventions to improve fodder supply

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Dr. Nguyen Thi Mui (NIAS)

Ms. Vo Thi Thin, Mr. Hoang Dinh Hieu (Ky Anh, Ha Tinh)

Dr. Truong Tan Khanh, Mr. Van Tien Dung (Tay Nguyen University)

Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, Mr. Hoang Van Nhien (Ea Kar, Daklak)

Dr. Tassilo Tiemann (CIAT)

Dr. Werner Stür (Consultant, former CIAT)

Enhancing livelihoods of poor livestock keepers through increasing use of fodder (IFAD Technical Assistance Grant 853)

Vietnam Report on Project Output 2

Presentation to the FAP End of Project WorkshopLuang Prabang, Laos, 15-19 November 2010

National Institute of Animal Husbandry (NIAH)



Output 2: Activities

• Innovative approach for evaluation of year-round feed inventory

– Introducing promising forage species to improve smallholder cattle feeding systems

– Development of a decision support tool for feed availability assessment (FEAST)

• Collection of baseline data– Participatory evaluation of feed options around the year

and identification of opportunities for improvement

– Introducing improved feeding and management systems for fattening and cow-calf production




Output 2: Activities

• Evaluation of fodder and seed delivery/input supply mechanisms

– Adjusting and refining improved feeding and management systems with stakeholder feedback

– Expanding technology through village learning activities and cross visits




1) Introducing promising forage species to improve smallholder cattle feeding systems

• 30 key farmer for species evaluation in 2 communes• From 15 offered forage species, 5 were selected by

farmers:– Cooler, more humid low land with acidic soils (Ky Anh):

Paspalum atratum, Mulato, Elephant grass, Guinea, Stylo

– Warmer and dryer upland area (Ea Kar):

Guinea, Elephant grass, Mulato, Paspalum atratum, Stylo




2) Development of a decision support tool for feed availability assessment

• Contributing relevant information to develop a FEed ASsessment Tool (FEAST)

• Evaluation of FEAST in an Asian context

• Feedback to improve assessment performance and viability




3) Participatory evaluation of feed options around the year and identification of opportunities for improvement

0

20

40

60

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

% f

eed

su

pp

ly c

om

mp

ared

to

dem

and

Supply

Demand

Feed supply relative to demand throughout the year




3) Participatory evaluation of feed options around the year and identification of opportunities for improvement

Opportunities for improvement• Increased use of agricultural by-products• Production of feeds and forages for the dry season• Feed preservation techniques

Introduction of apt forage species to overcome problems resulting from high rainfalls at the end of the wet season




4) Introducing improved feeding and management systems for fattening and cow-calf production

Changing from traditional cattle management to refined cattle production systems:

• Naturally available feed resources planted forage • Free grazing penned or confined animal keeping• Extensive production defined production (fattening etc) • Production not linked to markets market orientation• No breeding concept intention to improve breeds• Natural fertilisation AI• Cattle as assets cattle as commodities (income )




4) Introducing improved feeding and management systems for fattening and cow-calf production

Concrete suggestionsUsing cassava waste and legume leaf meal as protein source for

fattening cattle

Recommendations for diet composition with the available feed options depending on cattle age and breed

Silage production very successful but adoption low due to high labour requirements

Recommendations for breeding strategies




5) Adjusting and refining improved feeding and management systems with stakeholder feedback

• Households with different income levels face different constraints due to lack of investment capacity and no access to bank credits

• High protein concentrate too expensive for poorer smallholders

• Low forage availability during high rainfalls and flowering• Some not palatable species (e.g. Gliricidia) can be used

as protein supplement if they were included in the diet finely chopped or as leaf meal.

• Centrosema-Maize inter-cropping very successful as dry season feeding option




5) Adjusting and refining improved feeding and management systems with stakeholder feedback




6) Expanding technology through village learning activities and cross visits

Ea Kar• >1000 farmers participated VLA organized in 4 communes

by partners and local extension staff• The adoption of new technologies was fostered through

cross visits organized by partners and local extension staff• Facilitating the establishment of 40 self-managed farmer

clubs as knowledge sharing tool• Predominantly fattening systems because of good

connection to high value markets




6) Expanding technology through village learning activities and cross visits

Ky Anh• Cross visits to farmers which have successfully adopted

the new technologies in Ea Kar• Motivating farmers to visit project sites ANYTIME• Crosslink with other projects (IMPP), NGO’s (VSF) and

local programs to facilitate up-scaling of improved forage technologies

• Forage based multipurpose cattle production systems• 200 farmers attended training courses on forage

technologies and animal management

enhancing livelihoods of poor livestock keepers through increasing use of fodder: vietnam report on...

Technology

management systems

fattening systems

improved feeding

improvement feed

systems development

available feed options

traditional cattle management

promising forage species