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Research
Cooperation for Livestock-Based Sustainable Agriculture in the Lower Mekong
Basin |
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Title: |
Testing a pilot scheme for fattening cattle with rice straw, cassava
foliage and an oil drench |
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Institutions: |
NAFRI, Lao University of Tropical Agriculture – Royal University of Agriculture
(Cambodia) |
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Lead scientist and institution: |
Dr Bounthong Bouahom,
NAFRI, Lao |
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Starting date: |
May 2001 |
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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
Fifty 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
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USD |
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12.1 |
Equipment
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Weigh
scale |
250 |
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Trailer
for motor cycle for weigh scale |
250 |
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Plastic
buckets and containers |
50 |
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12.2 |
Expendable
supplies |
Chemical
reagents |
250 |
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Glassware |
250 |
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Urea
supplement and oil |
1100 |
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12.3 |
Literature
/ internet and email |
Email
and internet costs |
600 |
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12.4 |
Local
travel |
250
visits by motor cycle (60 km/farm) |
1500 |
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12.5 |
Extra
labour |
Two
researcher / technicians for 30 weeks |
1800 |
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12.6 |
Other
costs (specify) |
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Total |
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3550 |
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