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Improving productivity of tropical crop-livestock systems through optimal utilisation of crop residues and supplementary feeds

Objetivo



Tropical, integrated, smallholder farming systems are often constrained by natural resources (land,water,climate,disease resistant crops and animals) and socio-economic conditions(little capital,less educated labour,high input cost and low produce prices). Ruminant productivity (meat, milk, wool, draught) is usually low.Production level depends on low quality roughages, increasingly on fibrous agro-industrial by-products,of which (rice) straws in Asia are abundantly available, and supplementary feeds are expensive (cocentrates, minerals or require space (legumes,tree fodders).(1) The nutritive value of rice straw differs significantly between cultivars, of which a few show a nutritive value sufficiently high to support maintenance requirements.This variation exceeds the increase in nutritive value brought about by costly,urea-ammonia treatment.The accuracy of prediction of this variation bY in-Sacco or in-vitro digestibility parameters showed to be quite lOW,and requires further lab work on factors effecting feed intake. (2)For moderate production levels,available protein and minerals are major constraints,and the efficiency of utilisation of the crop residues largely depends on availability,type,quality and cost of supplements and minerals. Growing or purchasing of supplements and mineral supply require further socio-economic studies of logistics and cost for different beneficiaries. (3)Within (rice) straw cultivars,irrespective of seasons and locations, a significant variation prevails.Additional information is needed on the extent to which this variation is related to the stage of senescene during harvest.(4)Within livestock species,a significant variation in feed intake capacity emerged.The heritability of this trait remains to be established. (5)A positive relationship was found between rice straw intake and the level of excess feed.Sheep showed preference to those parts of rice straw with the lesser nutritive value.The impact of this aspect requires further study in comparion with other straws,and in cattle considered to be less selective.(6)Further,attention will be paid to control of those parasites(worms, flukes,ticks,fleas)that cause considerable losses of production depending
on the animal's age,grazing and environmental conditions.(7)The adoption of technologies and the formulation of future basic research priorities are evaluated in connection with economic outcome as constrained by farmer

Tema(s)

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Convocatoria de propuestas

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Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen
Aportación de la UE
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Dirección
40,Marijkeweg
6709 PG Wageningen
Países Bajos

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Coste total
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Participantes (6)