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Second FAO Electronic Conference on Tropical Feeds
Livestock Feed Resources within Integrated Farming Systems
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Abstract of second paper, from Lylian Rodriguez and TR Preston.

Questions that might stimulate discussion on this topic
include:

1. Are there more examples of where indigenous breeds are
better adapted to local feed resources?

2. Are there further models of local crop-livestock-energy
systems adapted to local conditions?

3. Are there further examples of participatory development
which have led to the development of such systems (rather than
proposals such as 'milk improvment'as here)?

4. Does the approach described constitute progress in
research and extension of sustainable systems?

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LOCAL FEED RESOURCES AND INDIGENOUS BREEDS: FUNDAMENTAL
ISSUES IN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS

Lylian Rodriguez J and T R Preston

University of Agriculture & Forestry, Thu Duc
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
E-mail: lylian%sareclr%sarec%ifs.plants@ox.ac.uk
        thomas%preston%sarec%ifs.plants@ox.ac.uk

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ABSTRACT

The tropics present great opportunities for sustainable
development thanks to the enormous cultural and biological
riches of these regions. The rational exploitation of local
feeds and local breeds of livestock will support much more
sustainable production systems in the medium and long term.
These have received insufficient attention in the past and
have not been considered seriously because of the introduction
of "exotic" systems based on high inputs, high technology and
"breeds of high genetic merit". As a result, local breeds of
pigs and cattle in many tropical countries have disappeared or
their population is decreasing drastically. 

On-farm research has shown that small scale farmers in Vietnam
and in many parts of the tropical world continue to work with
local breeds because of their good adaptation to the
prevailing conditions. A project was carried out in two
villages in a rainfed hilly region in Central Vietnam,
involving the use of local Mong Cai pigs, local feeds
supplemented with duckweed, and plastic biodigesters to
produce energy for cooking and the nitrogen-rich effluent as
fertilizer for the ponds in which the aquatic plants were
grown. A study of the nutrition of Mong Cai, Large White and
crossbred pigs showed that the indigenous breed would eat
greater quantities of duckweed and use it more efficiently
than the exotic breed. Local sows fed duckweed were also more
prolific than exotic breeds on small farms with feed resources
of low nutrient density.

The studies were carried out with a participatory approach
which identified the importance of the local pigs and feed
resources and the enthusiastic adoption of the biodigester
technology and the production of duckweed based on the
fertilized ponds. The priorities of the farmers were
identified and a proposed intervention based on restricted
milking of local cattle abandoned because it was considered
too long term. 

Parallel studies in Cambodia led to the development of pig
feeding based on juice from the sugar palm (Borassus
flabillifer) supplemented with boiled soya bean seed and water
spinach. Biodigesters were also integrated into the farm. 

The various studies demonstrate that the appropriate use of
local feed resources and indigenous livestock breeds requires
the close integration between crops and livestock within the
system. The excreta is recycled on the farm to produce energy
and effluent used for fertilizer to produce protein
supplements for the livestock. 

KEY WORDS: Local feed resources, on farm research, recycling,
biodigesters, genotype-environment interactions, indigenous
knowledge, local breeds, integrated farming systems

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FAO ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE:
LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES WITHIN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS
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