Ethiopian Livestock Feed (ELF) Project – introducing FEAST

By Alan Duncan, Inception meeting for the ‘Fodder and feed in livestock value chains in Ethiopia’ project

ILRI, Addis Ababa, 21-22 February 2012

FEAST

The problem

Feed assessment

Conventionally focuses on:– The feeds– Their nutritive value– Ways of improving nutritive value

FEAST broadens assessment:– Is livestock an important livelihood strategy? – How important are feed problems relative to

other problems?– What about labour, input availability, credit,

seasonality, markets for products etc.?

How does FEAST work?

PRA General description of farming system

– range of farm sizes,– farm labour availability– annual rainfall pattern– irrigation availability– types of animals raised by households.

General description of livestock production– the types of animals raised (% of households raising

these animals and average herd/flock sizes)– the purpose of raising these animals (e.g. draught,

income, fattening, calf production)– the general animal husbandry (including; management,

veterinary services and reproduction). – Ease of access to credit– How available are necessary inputs – plastic, urea,

concentrates etc Problem identification and potential solutions

Quantitative questionnaire Animals – livestock inventory Crops - yields and areas to derive crop residue availability Cultivated forages – yields and areas Collected fodder: proportion of diet Purchased feed Grazing: proportion of diet Contributors to household income Production.

– Milk production – Sale of livestock

Seasonality. – Feed supply: overall seasonal availability– What is fed in different months?

Sample output

32%

22%

20%

14%

6%

6%

Contribution of livelihood activities to household income (as a percentage)

Agriculture

Livestock

Remmitance

Labour

Others

Business

More sample output

Crop residues5%

Cultivated fodder

25%

Grazing30%

Naturally occurring and

collected33%

Purchased7%

DM content of total diet

Final output

Feast report with some ideas for key problems and solutions

Better links and understanding between farmers, research and development staff