The consultant has stressed the need (paragraph 88) to evaluate chemically-treated straw under field conditions in those countries of Asia, the Near East and Africa where straw presently constitutes the staple feed of livestock and also the need to demonstrate the treatment of straw on the farm (paragraph 89). In order to focus present livestock research and development effort in these countries on this important task, a coordinated field-testing and demonstration project is proposed.
Objectives
The objectives of the project will be
to compare existing proven methods of chemical treatment of straw in terms of effectiveness in increasing digestibility and suitability for village conditions;
to determine the economic value of treating and supplementing the straw fed to livestock in villages.
Plan of work
The project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase, to last two years would be carried out on experimental or development farms and would aim at comparing existing proven methods of straw treatment. Two or three methods would be selected at each centre. Straw treated by these methods would be fed to growing cattle or buffaloes and intake, digestibility and weight gains determined. If the standard methods need modifications to suit local conditions, these could be devised and tested. The second phase, to last 4 years, would be devoted to field testing and demonstration trials. The method of straw treatment decided upon as a result of the work of phase one would be used. Animals on small private farms would be used to determine the economics of straw treatment and supplementation in long-term feeding trials. Details of the programme could vary from centre to centre, but the general plan would be as follows.
Phase one
It will be necessary to decide at the outset on the scale of the straw treatment operation to be taken up. In some situations individual farm treatment only will be feasible, while in others a co-operative village treatment plant might be possible. If the latter were the preferred approach, the farm treatment and stacking method (see paragraphs 70 and 90) should be tried. The modified Beckmann method (Torgrimsby) (paragraphs 44–48) could also be set up on a village scale. The method of operation would be similar to that of the Norwegian co-operative treatment plants (paragraphs 90 and 131). On a farm scale, the same two methods are recommended, but the former would have to be done at harvest time when the farmer stacks his straw for the year. Farm treatment and direct feeding (paragraph 58) is also a possibility on individual farms, though it is a less effective method.
Once the methods are selected for comparison and the necessary equipment and tools are assembled or constructed, straw treated by each of the methods will be fed simultaneously to animals in a feeding trial lasting one year. Untreated straw will serve as a control. A total of about 30 young growing animals should be used to ensure sufficient replication. Food intake, digestibility and weight gain will be measured and feeding costs calculated. The supplements fed along with the straw might vary considerably from centre to centre, but should approximate closely to local small-farm feeding practice. The preferred method of straw treatment for phase two would be determined by the results of this experiment.
Phase two
The field testing and demonstration phase will be conducted on farmers' animals on the farm. The treatment and supplementation of straw will be superimposed upon the feeding and general management regime normally followed by each farmer. A standard experimental design will be used. The “herd” or statistical population from which the experimental animals will be selected will comprise all the heifers (or male calves) in the age group 6–9 months in a cluster of 4–6 villages. These animals will be grouped in groups of three on the basis of age and similarity of management conditions. Each one of these three will be randomly alloted to one of three dietary treatments. The resulting data can then be analysed statistically in the manner appropriate to a randomised block design. Since the variability in management will vary widely from farm to farm, and since this experiment will be a long-term one, about 60 animals should probably be taken at the outset in order to obtain statistically conclusive results. Heifers will be continued on the experiment from the age of 6 months until they complete their first lactation. Male calves reared for beef will be reared to slaughter weight or to an age when they go into an intensive fattening unit. The duration of an experiment with males would thus be shorter than one with females and two successive experiments at different locations might be undertaken in the specied time.
For each village or for each two villages one man will be employed to guide farmers in the feeding of the selected animals according to the experimental plan. He will weigh feeds offered and refused on one day in a month, measure the animal (to estimate weight), weigh milk produced by animals when they come into lactation, and record the dates of first oestrus, service and calving. Caustic soda, urea, minerals and any other supplement to be used will be supplied free of cost to the participating farmers.
The three experimental diets will be:
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|
| Existing farmer feeding practices | Existing farmer feeding practices except that urea is sprayed on straw and a mineral supplement is fed | Existing farmer feeding practices except that straw is treated, urea is sprayed on straw and a mineral supplement is fed |
Depending upon availability and price, various agro-industrial byproducts like molasses might also be added to diets B and C. If protein supply from grass or cultivated legume forage in some seasons is adequate, the use of urea would be discontinued in those seasons.
Workshops
Three workshops are envisaged at which the scientists incharge of the project at each centre would meet. At the first workshop the exact plan of work (in detail) at each centre will be discussed and agreed upon. The second one would be held 2–21/2 years later to review the results of phase one and to review the planning for phase two. By the time time this workshop is held, all scientists would have selected villages and farmers for the field experiment in phase two. The third workshop could be held at the end of the second phase to compare results.
Co-ordination
The job of co-ordinating the project could most conveniently be taken up by FAO.
Participating institutions
Institutions involved in livestock development programmes in the field will obviously be the best able to carry out this project effectively. Farmers usually do not have ready cash to purchase daily inputs like alkali, urea, mineral and other supplements. In successful livestock development projects such inputs are supplied on credit against current or future sales of milk or animals. While the project is in progress these inputs will be supplied free of cost, but since the project is also meant to demonstrate straw treatment and supplementation to farmers and thus motivate them to continue on their own after the project is completed, a situation in which they can get alkali, urea etc. locally and on credit is desirable. Wherever possible, therefore, the project should be taken up by institutions which have adequate research facilities and are involved in livestock development projects. A collaborative effort between a research institute and a livestock development project is another possibility. Institutions recommended for participation in this project are:
| India | 1) | National Dairy Development Board at its development farms and through one of the successful dairy co-operatives created by it; e.g., Jalgaon in Maharashtra, Erode in Tamil Nadu, Beldanga and Darjeeling in West Bengal |
| 2) | National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana | |
| 3) | Bhartiya Agro-industrial Foundation, Urlikanchan, District Poona, Maharashtra | |
| 4) | G.B. Pant University, Pantnagar, U.P. | |
| Sri Lanka | University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya | |
| Malaysia | The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Serdang, Selangor | |
| Egypt | The University of Alexandria, Alexandria | |
| Tanzania | The University of Dar-es-Salaam, Morogoro | |
| Kenya | The University of Nairobi, Kabete | |
Estimated costs
Cost of one centre for 6 years
| US $ | |
| Staff | 60,000 |
| Supplies | 60,000 |
| Equipment | 30,000 |
| 150,000 | |
| Cost of three workshops @ $ 25,000 (15–20 people for 4 days) | 75,000 |
| Cost of co-ordination | 25,000 |
| Total cost for 9 centres | 1,450,000 |
The funds to operate the project will have to be provided to the participating institutions. FAO might explore the possibilities of obtaining these funds and also those needed for workshops and for co-ordination.
