E R Ørskov
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland
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.
Was the work presented driven by real problems?
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.
Were livestock considered as an integrated part of sustainable rural development?
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.
Was attention paid to effect of changes in livestock on soil plants and socioeconomics.
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.
Did the target groups participate in problem identification and testing of solutions.
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.
Were new potential feed resources identified and evaluated?
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.
Were the right laboratory techniques used in problem solving?
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.
Were the best designs used for the experiments?
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.
Were papers presented efficiently and clearly?
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.
More positive involvement with plant, soil and veterinary scientists.
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.
We need even more emphasis on resource efficiency.
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.
Involve plant breeders in improving value of crop residues in feeding.
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.
Pay more attention to post harvest losses in nutritive value and upgrading of crop
residues.
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.
Attention to experimental design.
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.
Development of feed evaluation technologies.
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 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.
Sustainable Livestock Production on Local Feed Resources
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PTS. DỦỎNG QUANG DIỆU
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In 500 bản khồ 19 × 27 cm tại Công ty In Bao bì và Xuẩt Nhẩp Khâu Bồ Thủy Sản. Giẩy phồp sồ 84 - 123/CXB, Cẩp ngày 31/1/1997. In xong và nồp lủu chiếu tháng 6/1997.
