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
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