The network, executed by FAO and financed by the Government of Japan, began operations
in February 1994. It will end this year.
Two events have been held since the last news letter was published. The first was a
seminar-workshop sponsored jointly by SAREC, the regional FAO project (GCP/RAS/143/JON)
and IFS (International Foundation for Science) held in the University of Agriculture and
Forestry, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam from 10 to14 September 1996. The second event was the
annual regional seminar of the project held in Cambodia from 21 to 24 January 1997.
The proceedings of the seminar held in Vietnam are available on diskette and in booklet
form. The contents page is presented below:
Contents
International Cooperation for Sustainable Livestock Production on Local Feed
Resources; Luu Trong Hieu, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam 1
The path towards progress - appropriate technologies which are accepted by
farmers; Le Viet Ly, NIAH, Vietnam 6
The role of livestock in integrated farming systems in the tropics; T
R Preston, UTA, Vietnam 11
Effect of management practices on yield and quality of sugar cane and on soil
fertility; Nguyen Thi Mui, , Dinh van Binh, Le Viet Ly and T R Preston, GRRC,
Vietnam 17
Biomass production and feed quality of multi-purpose trees; Nguyen
Phuc Tien, Dinh van Binh, Le Viet Ly, Nguyen Thi Mui and T R Preston, GRRC, Vietnam 27
Effect of planting season and type of fertilizer on biomass yield and quality
of sugar cane; Nguyen Thi Mui, T R Preston, Dinh van Binh, Le Viet Ly and Ngo
Tien Dzung, GRRC, Vietnam 33
Effect of shade on biomass production and composition of the forage tree
Trichanthera gigantea; Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan, Nguyen Van Hon and Vo Van Son,
Cantho University 39
Effect of management practices and fertilization rates with biodigester
effluent on biomass yield and composition of duckweed; Nguyen Duc Anh and T R
Preston, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam 44
Use of Trichantera gigantea leaf meal and fresh leaves as livestock
feed; Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan, T R Preston and Frands Dolberg, Cantho University,
Vietnam 50
Effect of level of local supplements for fattening muscovy ducks by poor
farmers in remote villages in Mekong delta of Vietnam; Nguyen Thi Kim Dong, B
Ogle and T R Preston, Cantho University 55
Effect of dietary protein level and duckweed (Lemna spp) on
reproductive performance of pigs fed a diet of ensiled cassava root or
cassava root meal; Le thi Men, Bui Hong Van, Mai Thi Chinh and T R Preston,
Cantho University 59
Duckweed (Lemna spp) as protein supplement in an ensiled cassava root
diet for fattening pigs;Bui Hong Van, Le thi Men, Vo van Son and T R Preston,
Cantho University 64
Effect of housing system (cage versus underground shelter) on performance of
rabbits on farms; Nguyen Quang Suc, Dinh Van Binh, Le Thi Thu Ha and T R Preston,
GRRC, Vietnam 67
Chemical composition of cashew apple waste ensiled with poultry litter; La
Van Kinh,T R Preston, Vu Van Do and Dang Duc Phuong, IAS, Vietnam 71
A study of feed degradability and rumen environment of swamp buffaloes;
Nguyen van Thu, Cantho University 79
The nutritive value of sun-dried and ensiled cassava leaves for growing pigs;
Bui Huy Nhu Phuc, R B Ogle, J E Lindberg and T R Preston, University of Agriculture and
Forestry, Vietnam 83
Cottonseed meal supplementation of dairy cattle fed rice straw; M
Wanapat, K Sommart and K Saardrak, Khon Kaen University, Thailand 90
Protein supplementation of traditional diets for crossbred pigs under village
conditions in Central Vietnam; Nguyen Thi Loc, Brian Ogle and Thomas R Preston,
Hue University, Vietnam 93
Cassava root silage for crossbred pigs under village conditions in Central
Vietnam; Nguyen Thi Loc, R Brian Ogle and Thomas R Preston, Hue University,
Vietnam 97
Feeding pigs by sugarcane juice and introducing biodigesters to small scale
farmers in Caobang province; Mai Van Sanh, Vien Thi La, Le Viet Ly and T R
Preston, NIAH and Women's Union, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam 105
Egg production and economic efficiency of Khaki Campbell ducks reared on
locally available feedstuffs in the coastal land stretch of the Red River Delta;
Luong Tat Nho and Hoang Van Tieu, NIAH, Vietnam 111
Bac Thai women's acceptance of the technology of pig production with sugar cane
juice and agricultural by-products; Hoang Thi Tham, Hoang Thi Tao, Le Viet Ly and
Bui Van Chinh, Bac Thai Women's Union, Vietnam 115
The role of the sugar palm tree (Borassus flabellifer) in livestock
based farming systems in Cambodia; Khieu Borin, Than Soeurn, T R Preston and
Kenji Sato, Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia 119
Local feed resources and indigenous breeds: fundamental issues in integrated
farming systems; Lylian Rodríguez and T R Preston, UTA, Vietnam 125
Evaluation of farmer knowledge and their composition on the use of
non-cultivated plants for livestock feed in the Mekong delta of Vietnam; Nguyen
Nhut Xuan Dung, Britta Antonsson-Ogle and P Udén, Cantho University, Vietnam
131
The introduction of low-cost polyethylene tube biodigesters on small scale
farms in Vietnam; Bui Xuan An, Thomas R Preston and Frands Dolberg, University of
Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam 136
Evaluation of the seminar on "Sustainable Livestock Production on Local
Feed Resources"; E R Orskov, Rowett Research Institute, Scotland, UK 145
The evaluation of the seminar as presented by Dr rskov of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland, is reproduced below:
**************
Introduction
First of all I like to say what a pleasure it is to be here and listen to the many
interesting papers you have presented and the enthusiasm with which you presented them. It
is the enthusiasm and belief in what you do that must be the driving force in your
research and not the possible economic rewards which may never come. I therefore expect
great things from you in the future. There are so many fascinating problems here in
livestock production which need to be solved.
Conclusions
In evaluating the contributions you have made I have attempted to make a checklist
taking into account the tittle of the meeting and have tried to evaluate each point
separately.
On this aspect almost all of you deserve a very high score. At so many meetings
research problems are driven by western technologies and donor interest. You have not
fallen into this trap which indicates a degree of self-confidence and maturity which you
must continue to apply to make a contribution to relief of rural poverty in Asia in
general and Vietnam in particular.
Yes most of you clearly did consider them. Livestock were not seen as specialistic but
attempts were made to see livestock adapted to the available feed resources rather than
changing the environment or feed resources to match the animals which has implications for
unwise use of imported or so called upgraded stock.
Here there is still a weakness I believe. We must involve soil science, plant science
and socio-economics even more. Sometimes the best animal product may be the positive
effects on plants and soil as observed for instance when cattle graze under coconut trees
where increase in coconut yield was more important than meat and milk. These effects need
to be evaluated more closely. What is the effect on soil and yield of rice when fields are
grazed by ducks. This should be evaluated in more detail. Animals can be used in
fire-fighting, pest control, soil improvements and many other activities which need to be
given a value and can turn so called low-producing into high-producing animals.
More than at any other meeting on livestock I have attended they did so. You have a
very high score on this point. This is a very positive contribution which also ensures
that solutions are adapted to the circumstances of the farmers. The development of
different types of biogas installation is a good example of this. If you continue this way
then there never will be a gap between research and practice.
Yes many, but no doubt more to come. Making silage from shrimp heads and molasses is
one example of bringing wasted production into the food chain. Many new types of trees and
tree leaves were evaluated and new problems identified such as why pigs love to eatleaves
of Trichantera gigantea but goats do not.
Yes - in most instances, but sometimes tools were used because they were there and
somebody had the skills to use them! It is very important for efficiency to use the
correct tools in analysing feeds for instances. Many analyses are done which contribute
little to knowledge of feed value.
Here there is room for considerable improvement but some of you did very well. In too
many instances replacement of a conventional feed item with another was done at one level
of replacement and conclusions made from that. This is not a valid method. In most
instances it is necessary to describe response curves covering the whole or most of the
spectrum even if the extreme points may not be practicable, so that the limits are
understood and it also allows replacement to be manipulated according to changing economic
circumstances.
Yes on this criteria you must get the maximum score. I have never attended a meeting in
developed or developing countries which could beat you on that. It was excellent you made
good use of new computer technologies and colours to illustrate your results and many of
you showed slides of the practical problems. You provided an excellent model of what
efficient paper presentations should be like.
Recommendations
I will attempt to make a few suggestions of potential improvements even though I feel you are doing well.
It is clear that we need to involve experts of interacting disciplines. We need them
and they need us. Farmers need holistic advice. Intervention in livestock technologies can
positively or negatively affect plants, soil and disease aspects. We need more positive
interactions in our system-based approach.
There is a huge potential for further increase in resource use and efficiency. More
emphasis needs to be given to methods of using poultry and pig manure as feed resources
for ruminant and there is a need to look into resource budgeting in feed efficiency
studies, so that there is no waste only resources. Excreta are considered as resources for
varying uses, feeds, fertiliser, substrate for biogas, fertilising fish ponds etc.
A great deal of work has shown that the feed value of crop residues (eg: rice straw)
can be improved by breeding without affecting yield of the primary product.There is a
great need to involve plant breeders since crop residues are such an important source of
feed for livestock in most of Asia. Nutritionists can help in providing tools for
measurement of nutritive value at an early stage in the selection process.
There is much to be gained by appropriate methods of feed preservation and using
harvesting methods which ensure that crop residues can be preserved to maintain the
highest nutritive value. New upgrading methods need to be found which can increase feed
value without incurring high losses in organic matter.
As mentioned before, many designs can be improved so that the maximum information can
be extracted from the data without more cost of the trials. It is particularly important
to describe response curves with 3 to 4 levels of inclusion etc. so that the problems and
its limits can be understood.
Feed evaluation using western standards is often not very helpful and a new approach is
needed which not only expresses the energy value but the amount the animals will consume
so that farmer and planners of livestock production can have helpful data which can
provide real exchange rates of feeds for farmers and provide livestock planners with
values which help them to assess the most appropriate livestock production to promote in
different areas depending on the feed potential.
Acknowledgements
I must finally say to those who have been responsible for sponsored this meeting such
as SAREC, FAO and IFS and MARD and MET from Vietnam that they have every reason to be
proud of the work presented. This I believe has been good return on investment. What is
more important however is the contribution you have made to human resource development as
many of those whom you have supported will become future leaders in agricultural
development.
You have fostered an attitude to research and development in which livestock are seen
in their holistic interaction with plants and soil integrated into the environmental and
socio-economic circumstances of the different regions. This must be the model for the 21st
century.
This took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 22 to 24 January 1997. The meeting was
hosted by the Department of Animal Health and Production of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries.
Pilot projects were visited the most important of which were:
An innovatory feature was the presentation of short communications by students from the
University of Tropical Agriculture (UTA), participating in the Master of Science course in
Sustainable Use of Natural Renewable Resources. The proceedings of the meeting have been
edited and are available on diskette and also in book form. The contents page is
summarized below:
Feed resources in sustainable livestocked-based agriculture in SE Asia (Phnom
Penh, Cambodia from 22 to 24 January 1997)
Contents
The estimation of Brix, water extract and in vitro gas production in leaves
from tropical trees and shrubs; Le Diep Long Bien, UTA, Vietnam 1
Impact study of livestock-based interventions in villages in Bavi district in
North Vietnam; Dinh Van Binh and Nguyen Thi Mui, GRRC, Vietnam 5
Evaluation of protein quality in duckweed (Lemna spp.) using a
duckling growth assay; Nguyen Duc Anh, UTA, Vietnam 12
Promotion and utilization of polyethylene biodigester in smallholder farming
systems in the Philippines; F A Moog, H F Avilla, E V Agpaoa, F
G Valenzuela and F C Concepcion, BAI, Philippines 17
Effect of inclination and recycling the effluent on gas production of plastic
biodigesters; Pham Thi Thanh Binh, UTA, Vietnam 22
Cassava hay: A new strategic feed for ruminants during the dry season;
M Wanapat, O Pimpa, A Petlum and U Boontao, Khon Kaen University, Thailand 26
Effect of level of application of biodigester effluent on growth of bananas and
soil fertility; Le ha Chau, UTA, Vietnam 30
Heat treated whole soya bean andsugar cane juice/muscovado sugar as feed for growing-finishing pigs; F G Valenzuela, A M Samiano, S G Raymundo, E V Agpaoa and R S Rosales, BAI, Vietnam 34
Ground shelters or raised cages for rabbits with basal diet of fresh leaves of Trichantera
gigantea and sugar cane stalk with or without supplement of rice bran; Le
Thi Thu Ha, UTA, Vietnam 40
Storage and use of groundnut vines as animal feed; Bui Van Chinh, Le
Viet Ly and Nguyen Huu Tao, NIAH, Vietnam 44
The potential of cassava leaves as protein supplement for pigs; Nguyen
Van Lai and Du Thanh Hang, UTA, Vietnam 48
Pig raising with molasses versus concentrate; Bounthong Bouahom, and
Phaivan Vilideth, Ministry of Agriculture, Laos 52
Nitrogen digestion and metabolism in Mong Cai pigs fed sugar cane juice and
different foliages as sources of protein; Du thanh Hang and Nguyen van Lai, UTA,
Vietnam 54
Impact of mineral block on the performance and reproductive quality of the
cattle in Xieng Khouang province; Novaha Soulivanh, Ministry of Agriculture, Laos
58
Effect of sugar cane juice on milk production of goats fed a basal diet of
jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus) leaves; Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan, UTA,
Vietnam 62
Preliminary result from use of Cow pea (Vigna Unguiculata Unguic. L)
as protein source for growing-fattening pigs fed sugar palm juice; Borin Khieu,
Sem Chou and T R Preston, Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia 66
Effect of breed (local versus exotic hybrids) on selection of dietary
ingredients in a scavenging system for growing hens; Hong Samnang, UTA, Cambodia
73
The effects of pig manure and biodigester effluent on fish growth in ponds; Hong
Samnang, UTA, Cambodia 77
Jackfruit and Gliricidia sepium leaves as sole feeds on intake, growth
and rumen environment in growing goats; Tran Quoc Viet, UTA, Vietnam 82
Results of a participatory rural appraisal survey and on-farm evaluation of
using ensiled cassava roots; Nguyen Thi Loc, Le van An and Le Duc Ngoan, Hue
University, Vietnam 85
Editors: Thomas R Preston and Kenji Sato
**************