|
Research Cooperation for
Livestock-Based Sustainable Agriculture in the Lower Mekong Basin |
|
|
Title: |
Testing a pilot scheme for fattening cattle with rice straw, cassava
foliage and an oil drench |
|
Institutions: |
NAFRI,
Lao University
of Tropical Agriculture – Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia) |
|
Lead
scientist and institution: |
Dr Bounthong Bouahom, NAFRI, Lao |
|
Starting
date: |
May
2001 |
|
Budget: |
USD
|
Research grant application
(SAREC Regional fund)
(2001-2003)
1.0 Applicant (or team of
applicants)
1.1 Name(s): Dr Bounthong Bouahom,
NAFRI, Lao 1.1.1 Name of Team leader (where appropriate)
1.2 Sex: Female [ ], Male [X]
Details for team leader only
1.3 Nationality :
1.4 Date of birth:
1.5 E‑mail address: bbouahom@laotel.com
1.6 Fax number:
1.7 Telephone number:
1.8 Name of institution: NAFRI
Name of immediate supervisors: Dr T R Preston
2.0 Languages: Easily (E);
Not easily (NE)
Read Comprehend Speak Write
E NE E NE E
NE E NE
English X X X
3.0 Academic record
(University only)
Name of University: Dates: 1995 - 2000
Degree obtained: Dates:
Degree obtained:
4.0 Work Experience`(give
dates and employer):
5.0 Previous and present
position:
6.0. Your publications
7.0 Scientific contacts
(e-mail adddresses)
8.0 References
Give the names and addresses (by e‑mail if possible) of three
referees
9.0 The target groups:
9.1 Improving the well-being of the Rural Poor
9.2 Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources
9.3 Increasing biodiversity
(Your research project should address one of the above issues)
The project aims to contribute in areas 9.1 and 9.2
10.0 The research you wish
to undertake.
10.1 The problem to be
addressed:
This proposal is based on farmer
practice in Vietnam where, in the central region, farmers have the custom to
drench their cattle with one litre of groundnut oil at the start of fattening
them on rice straw and roadside grass.
This practical observation was taken up by Mrs Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan) at
Cantho University, who showed that the oil eliminated the protozoa from the
rumen and that the cattle grew faster (Nguyen Thi Hong Nhan et al 2001). The findings from Vietnam were further
developed in work in UTA in Cambodia using fresh cassava foliage as a
farmer-produced protein supplement (annex 1).
As in the Cantho findings all the rumen protozoa were eliminated by the
oil treatment, however, there were differences
in the rate of re-infection. The small protozoa (mainly Entodinia)
were reestablished within one month of oil treatment but the large protozoa
(holtrichs and Isotrichs) were still absent 3 months later. Feeding cassava foliage raised the growth
rate of small local cattle (“Yellow” breed) from 27 to 97 g/day but the oil
drench further increased this to 346 g/day and the feed conversion rate was
dramatically improved.
These findings have great
significance for the more efficient utilization of rice straw in Lao as
strong efforts are now being made to
stop the burning of straw. Also farmers are accustomed to grow cassava for
forage.
The aim of
this project is to test this technology in Lao as part of a regional networked
project involving Cambodia and Vietnam as well as Lao.
10.2 What is the hypothesis
you wish to test?
10.2.1 Work plan
Thirty farmers will
be selected who have cattle and cassava (or have cattle and are ready to plant
cassava (about 200 m² area per animal). The farmer feeds untreated rice straw ad
libitum, limited amounts of a
supplement with 15% urea (300 g/head/day) and cassava foliage (6 kg fresh
foliage/day; or 3 kg for each 100 kg liveweight). The cattle are weighed at the start and dosed with the oil. Each farmer is visited one per month to weigh the cattle and take rumen samples to
moniter effects on protozoa (means that a researcher and assistant visits 3
farmers every day on each of 4-5 days each week of the 16 week trial. In this
way it is possible to have monthly
visits [5 in total per farmer] to all 50 farmers. Records will be kept by
farmers of the straw and cassava that are fed.
Samples of rice straw and cassava
foliage are taken from each farm at monthly intervals for determination of dry
matter and nitrogen. Rumen samples are
analysed for pH and ammonia and protozoal biomass. r
11.0 Summary
This proposal is based on farmer practice in Vietnam
where farmers have the custom to drench their cattle with one litre of
groundnut oil at the start of fattening them on rice straw and roadside
grass. It is now known that the oil
eliminates the protozoa from the rumen, more microbial protein is produced and
that this is why the cattle grow faster.
It is proposed to test this technology in a large scale on-farm trial in
Lao, as part of a regional project
network involving Cambodia and Vietnam.
12. Budget (Define the items and estimate as closely as possible the
approximate cost
|
|
|
|
USD |
|
12.1 |
Equipment |
Weigh scale |
250 |
|
Trailer for
motor cycle for weigh scale |
250 |
||
|
Plastic
buckets and containers |
50 |
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
12.2 |
Expendable
supplies |
Chemical
reagents |
250 |
|
Glassware |
250 |
||
|
Urea supplement
and oil |
1100 |
||
|
12.3 |
Literature / internet
and email |
Email and
internet costs |
600 |
|
12.4 |
Local travel |
250 visits by
motor cycle (60 km/farm) |
1000 |
|
12.5 |
Extra labour |
Two researcher /
technicians for 30 weeks |
1800 |
|
12.6 |
Other costs
(specify) |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
5550 |
13. Justification of budget items
Equipment
A weigh scale can
be purchased locally but needs to have a cage fitted and a trailer for
transport.
Supplies
Chemical analyses
are needed for monitoring feed composition and rumen parameters.
Literature / email:
There will be
frequent communication by email.
Labour:
Additional labour
is required for visiting the farms to weigh the animals and take records
Travel
Eachg farm is
visited monthly (5 visits) therefore 250 visits for 50 farms and average of 60
km/farm.
Other costs:
None
14.
References
Nguyen Thi
Hong Nhan, Nguyen Van Hon, Nguyen Trong Ngu, Nguyen Tien Von, Preston T R and Leng R A 2001 Practical Application of Defaunation of Cattle on Farms in
Vietnam: Response of Young Cattle fed Rice Straw and Grass to a Single Drench
of Groundnut Oil). Asian-Australasian
Journal of Animal Sciences (14) 4: 6pp
Mom
Seng, Preston T R , Leng R A and U. ter
Meulen 2001
Responses of Young Cattle Given Rice Straw
to Supplements of Cassava Foliage and to a Single Drench of Cooking
Oil. In preparation
Certified by the Head of
Department Applicant