Objetivo
The objective of the programme is to complete the data bank created by the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) by implementing a laboratory network that will assure the coherence among the teams from the North and South countries of the EEC to the purpose of standardizing and, if possible, improving the estimation methods of the nutritional value of feeds for livestock, taking into account the particularities of the composition of the plants produced in the Mediterranean climate.
The object was to increase the data bank of the nutritional value of livestock feeds, which had already been created by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM). The feeding value of forages and plant byproducts were studied; 12 woody species were covered in Greece and 9 forage species in Italy. An inventory was made of forage resources of arid zones of southeastern Spain and 52 forage species were selected. A technique has been established which allows the degradability of forages to be estimated and evaluation of their content in terms of soluble fractions, degradable insoluble fractions and nondegradable insoluble fractions, in comparison with a gas production method (in vitro) and the in sacco method (in vivo). In order to harmonize methods, 2 analysis chains have been set up on feeds and foliages respectively.
A deeper knowledge of the local food resources seems to be an important performing element to improve productions of the Mediterranean area and become independent from costly imports. A reliable data bank is an asset to decrease the profitability loss, with respect to highly productive livestock farms, in an area where livestock farming constitutes the only way to sustain the rural population, avoiding desertification and environment degradation (especially fires).
After inventorying the Mediterranean forages and by- products, which nutritional value is not as yet well known although they are widely used in animal feeding, the different laboratories involved will carry out all necessary studies. The analyses chains and the experts meetings permit to reach an agreement on the reference methods adapted to the Mediterranean forages.
Ámbito científico
Tema(s)
Data not availableConvocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
Data not availableCoordinador
50080 ZARAGOZA
España