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Benchmarking smallholder goat enterprises and practices in Central Lao PDR and farmer response to a research and development program

Luisa Olmo , Ammaly Phengvilaysouk, Alison Colvin , Phonepaseuth Phengsavanh, Joanne Millar, Thaixiong Xaikhue, Stephen Walkden-Brown

Abstract

Context: In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) goat numbers are rapidly growing and have the potential to improve rural and economic development through income generation. Aims: To implement a goat research and development program and benchmark and evaluate smallholder practices. Methods: In the first year (2020), forage growing was facilitated through formal and on-the-job monthly training. In year 2 (2021), local staff were trained in inexpensive and locally available veterinary treatments of goats. Mineral blocks were introduced with a 50% subsidy following a two-month trial period. In year 3 (2022), metal roofing material was provided to households who constructed new goat houses with elevated and slatted flooring. Annualised farmer benchmarking surveys (BMS) and monthly household surveys (MHS) monitored farmer practice change between 2020 to 2023 and 2021 to 2022, respectively. Key results: The BMS and the MHS confirmed significant rises in the proportion of farmers using mineral blocks between 2020 to 2023 at 303% (p < 0.001) and between 2021 and 2022 at 53% (p < 0.001) respectively. The BMS and MHS also reflected an increase in the proportion of farmers growing forages between 2020 and 2023 (204%) and between 2021 to 2022 (9%), a decrease in the proportion of households treating sick goats with drugs between 2020 and 2023 (47%) and between 2021 to 2022 (53%), and an increase in the proportion of farmers providing concentrate feed between 2020 and 2023 (34%) and between 2021 to 2022 (increased from 0% to 4.2%) respectively. Conclusions: Mineral blocks have a high potential for adoption with a trial and subsidisation period. It is recommended to increase daily grazing duration from 6‒8 hours to as much as practical to reduce the impacts of late dry season feed shortages (April-May) which coincided with a natural peak in kidding. Average goat herd size increased by three goats over the course of the project which may reflect improved financial security as livestock are a form of asset storage. Implications: These trends show short-term practice change but further research is needed to verify if these changes increase goat growth rate, health and kid survival.

AN24343  Accepted 16 January 2025

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