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Feeding systems - ruminants

Marking scale: Pass with distinction = >80%; Pass with credit = 60-80%; Pass = 40-60%; Fail = <40%

Language: English

Prerequisites: English language test: 450 points in written International TOEFL test or 4.5 in academic IELTS test.

Duration: 1 week

Location: Cantho University

Objectives

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• describe the role of livestock in agriculture, food supply and poverty alleviation in tropical countries
• understand and critically evaluate different forms of ruminant animal production under tropical conditions, with a focus on small scale integrated systems, including pastoral systems
• be familiar with the use and limiting factors of the most common tropical feeds for the different animal species and how to compose feeding systems using these feeds
• understand the economical implications of different management measures

Content

Role and importance of livestock for tropical agriculture, human nutrition and poverty alleviation in tropical countries. Smallholder beef, dairy and dual purpose systems, in particular feeding and management strategies in zero-grazing systems, based on crop residues and agro-industrial by-products, and also peri-urban systems. Smallholder production systems for sheep and goats with particular attention on feeding and management strategies in “cut and carry” systems integrated with agro-forestry.

 Implementation

Scheduled activities Hours Compulsory
Lectures approx. 12 no
Exercises and discussions approx. 32 yes
Examination and evaluation approx. 8 yes

Individual studies, not scheduled

Literature studies approx. 8 no

Literature

Required reading

Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources in the Tropics and Sub-tropics. T R Preston and R A Leng, Penambul Books, Armidales NSW, Australia

Tropical Animal Feeding; Manual for Research Workers. T R Preston, APHP series No 126, FAO, Rome

Examination

Written examination and/or oral presentation of assignments