Erythrina foliage as an alternative feed for growing goats in Lao PDR

Foliages from some tropical plants and from different species of the legume Erythrina were examined in five studies assessing the characteristics of these foliages as feed for goats. Digestibility and feed preference studies showed that ad libitum feeding of foliage from Erythrina (Erythrina variegata), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and kapok (Ceiba pentandra) resulted in a longer time spent eating and more changes in diet selection, feed intake, crude protein (CP) digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention than foliage from jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill), fig (Ficus racemosa) and mango (Mangifera indica). Supplementation of low quality foliage with water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) increased intake and apparent digestibility. In a survey study, three different Erythrina spp., E. indica, E. subumbrans and E. variegata, were found in the north, centre and south of Lao PDR. These species were in limited use as an animal feed on smallholder farms. Erythrina variegata appeared to be a better option in terms of degradability than E. indica and E. subumbrans according to in vitro gas production and in sacco degradation studies. A cropping study showed that cow manure or mineral fertiliser significantly decreased shoot mortality and increased shoot height and fresh and CP yield of E. variegata foliage compared with no fertiliser. The nutritive value of the foliage did not differ significantly between the fertilised and unfertilised treatments. Studies on different degrees of processing (fresh or sun-dried) of E. variegata foliage showed similar CP, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre contents, and no difference in total voluntary intake, when either fresh or dry foliage was fed ad libitum to growing goats. Four levels of replacement (0, 20, 40 and 60%) of dietary CP with CP from E. variegata foliage resulted in similar dry matter intake, apparent CP digestibility, N retention and carcass characteristics, but total CP intake was significantly higher in goats fed the diet with 60% replacement compared with 20%. Thus CP from E. variegata foliage can replace up to 60% of CP in a mixed diet with soybean meal without any negative effects on animal growth performance

Effects of replacing grass with foliage on growth rate and feed intake in goats—a systematic review and meta-analysis

Small ruminants such as goats have a higher preference for browse species than cattle and sheep. In a meta-analysis of 42 papers describing 117 experimental treatments found by a search performed in June 2021 in PubMed and Web of Knowledge, we examined the general effect of including foliage in the diet of goats, replacing grasses, on dry matter intake and average daily weight gain. The inclusion requirement for a paper was that it described a controlled trial with a control diet of grass and with grass replaced by foliage in the experimental diet. Publication bias was estimated by calculating the Fail-safe n. Random effects analyses were conducted, using effect size calculated as Hedges’ d. The results showed that inclusion of foliage increased feed intake (Hedges’ d = 1.350, SE = 0.388) and average daily weight gain (Hedges’ d = 1.417, SE = 0.444) compared with a grass-based control. The positive effect of foliage inclusion on dry matter intake was associated with lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and higher crude protein (CP) in the foliage than in the grass it replaced. The positive effect on average daily weight gain was associated with higher CP concentration in the foliage than in grass. Foliage inclusion level showed a quadratic relationship with dry matter intake, with maximum dry matter intake achieved at a level of 50–60%. There was wide variation between the studies reviewed, and this variation was not reduced by subgroup analysis based on different kinds of foliage. In conclusion, the addition of foliage to goat diets can increase feed intake and daily weight gain, as an effect of the dietary preferences of goats and of generally higher nutritional value in foliage species compared with natural/semi-natural grass species

How can agricultural research translation projects targeting smallholder production systems be strengthened by using Theory of Change?

Sustainable development of smallholder agriculture production in low and lower middle-income countries are crucial for improving food security. To accommodate this science based evidence needs to bridge with agricultural practices and policy development, which requires coordinated actions and long term strategies involving multiple stakeholders. This paper argues that using a Theory of Change (ToC) approach, with strong emphasis on communication and stakeholder engagement, science based knowledge can be more effectively integrated in agricultural development, but also in policy development. Three projects addressing different challenges within livestock production are used to illustrate the use of and challenges with using a ToC framework. A key for reaching outcome was early involvement of relevant stakeholders in implementing teams and using the flexibility included in the ToC approach from design to implementation

Dynamic frontline knowledge mobilization for community-based primary animal health workers : smartphone app usage for farmer training; final technical report (1 March 2012 - 30 November 2013)

This project tested the effectiveness of smartphone-based knowledge mobilisation technology for building capacity of primary animal health workers (PAHWs). After consultations with PAHWs and project members the focus of the app became poultry production. A multi-partner project team derived appropriate content and developed the text and storyboard in English and Lao. PAHWs responded positively to the app, seeing it as a convenient, user-friendly tool for learning and reference, helpful for solving questions on poultry raising and shareable with farmers. Possible offshoots of the research would include development of further apps, centralised messaging systems, photo sharing, and market information updates

Gender issues in contemporary research on agriculture for food security - Knowledge gaps and key issues across the AgriFoSe2030 themes

Agriculture in low- and middle-income countries faces considerable challenges, ranging from increased food demand to climate change impacts, with rapidly evolving scope and complexity. At the same time, the opportunities to address these challenges are significant, which brings optimism that efforts in agricultural research can succeed. One major barrier, however, threatens to inhibit the impacts of agricultural research: the low level of gender equity in low- and middle-income countries. This is problematic on many levels and across entire crop and livestock value chains, all the way to landscape management. ContentsForewordGender dimensions of formal and informal land tenure systems in South Asia and sub--Saharan Africa by Srilata Sircar and Agnes Andersson-DjurfeldtWomen and food production in multifunctional landscapes by Lisa Westholm and Madelene OstwaldGender and sustainable intensification practises in smallholder crop production by Johanna Wetterlind, Jonna Wiklund and Håkan MarstorpGender research in relation to livestock production by Sofia Boqvist, Sofia Förster, Daovy Kongmanila, Maria Nassuna-Musoke and Ulf MagnussonConcluding remarks and future research needs</p

Gender issues in contemporary research on agriculture for food security - Knowledge gaps and key issues across the AgriFoSe2030 themes

Agriculture in low- and middle-income countries faces considerable challenges, ranging from increased food demand to climate change impacts, with rapidly evolving scope and complexity. At the same time, the opportunities to address these challenges are significant, which brings optimism that efforts in agricultural research can succeed. One major barrier, however, threatens to inhibit the impacts of agricultural research: the low level of gender equity in low- and middle-income countries. This is problematic on many levels and across entire crop and livestock value chains, all the way to landscape management. ContentsForewordGender dimensions of formal and informal land tenure systems in South Asia and sub--Saharan Africa by Srilata Sircar and Agnes Andersson-DjurfeldtWomen and food production in multifunctional landscapes by Lisa Westholm and Madelene OstwaldGender and sustainable intensification practises in smallholder crop production by Johanna Wetterlind, Jonna Wiklund and Håkan MarstorpGender research in relation to livestock production by Sofia Boqvist, Sofia Förster, Daovy Kongmanila, Maria Nassuna-Musoke and Ulf MagnussonConcluding remarks and future research needs</p

Gender issues in contemporary research on agriculture for food security - Knowledge gaps and key issues across the AgriFoSe2030 themes

Agriculture in low- and middle-income countries faces considerable challenges, ranging from increased food demand to climate change impacts, with rapidly evolving scope and complexity. At the same time, the opportunities to address these challenges are significant, which brings optimism that efforts in agricultural research can succeed. One major barrier, however, threatens to inhibit the impacts of agricultural research: the low level of gender equity in low- and middle-income countries. This is problematic on many levels and across entire crop and livestock value chains, all the way to landscape management. ContentsForewordGender dimensions of formal and informal land tenure systems in South Asia and sub--Saharan Africa by Srilata Sircar and Agnes Andersson-DjurfeldtWomen and food production in multifunctional landscapes by Lisa Westholm and Madelene OstwaldGender and sustainable intensification practises in smallholder crop production by Johanna Wetterlind, Jonna Wiklund and Håkan MarstorpGender research in relation to livestock production by Sofia Boqvist, Sofia Förster, Daovy Kongmanila, Maria Nassuna-Musoke and Ulf MagnussonConcluding remarks and future research needs</p