Target feeding for improved smallholder beef production in the Mekong region: lessons from Cambodia and Lao PDR
R. D. Bush A E , B. Page A , T. Macdonald A , J. R. Young A , S. Nampanya A , S. Suon B , S. Khounsy C , L. A. Henry D , P. C. Thomson A and P. A. Windsor AA Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
B Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
C Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Regional Office, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
D Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney, Eveleigh, NSW 2015, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: russell.bush@sydney.edu.au
Animal Production Science 54(9) 1219-1223 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14133
Submitted: 3 March 2014 Accepted: 30 April 2014 Published: 10 July 2014
Abstract
Increased demand for red meat throughout the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) presents smallholder cattle and buffalo farmers with an opportunity to supply better quality animals to expanding regional markets. Cattle were target-fed in Cambodia with introduced forages to achieve gains of 0.19 kg/day over a 104-day period and this practice was compared with traditional cut-and-carry feeding practices where animals lost on average 0.04 kg/day. Target-fed animals were predicted to gain, on average, 25.9 kg more weight than animals fed in a traditional manner (P = 0.057), and to improve their estimated value by more than US$60. These outcomes were similar to outcomes in Lao PDR, where cattle and buffalo in fattening stalls gained 0.32 and 0.22 kg/day, respectively, over a 4-month period, and 0.04 and 0.09 kg/day when free-grazing. Greater weight gains are possible if farmers feed forages at the recommended 15% of bodyweight on a fresh-weight basis per day. Lack of knowledge of animal weights by farmers and traders was addressed by the creation of an accurate weight tape to provide a cheap and easy tool to monitor animal production and health, and to assist in negotiating a fair sale value. However, increased knowledge of appropriate forage plot size and feeding requirements of animals to be target-fed is required for farmers to change from being livestock keepers to livestock producers. To increase supply for the growing demand for red meat, an ongoing, multi-disciplinary extension program should be a priority for livestock improvement programs in the GMS.
Additional keywords: buffalo, cattle, forages, marketing, weight tape.
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