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Livestock production plays in general an important role for the livelihood of farmers in rural areas in developing countries and this is also the case in Lao PDR. The main part of the cash income and the protein consumption in the households come from livestock, and livestock can also provide organic fertilizer for crop production. Farmers in the lowland and upland areas keep many animal species such as cattle, buffaloes, goats, pigs and poultry (Phengsavanh, 2003; Xaypha, 2005). Ruminants provide a large part of the cash income for smallholder farmers and can also be used for draught power. The production of meat and milk from ruminants is generally based on traditional management methods using free range grazing systems.
Goats can produce manageable amounts of meat, milk, skins and fiber for sale or family consumption. They have an ability to survive on low quality feeds or in difficult conditions on relatively small amounts of feed and they also have a higher reproduction rate compared to cattle (Steel, 1996), with 1.4 to 1.9 litters per year and 1.7 to 1.9 kids per litter (Xaypha, 2005). Goat production can be found everywhere in Laos at present, but the number of animals per household is small and the breeds used are local breeds with small body size, low growth rates and poor productivity (Phimphachanhvongsod, 2001).
According to Simbaya (2002) and Phengsavanh (2003) the major feed resources for the ruminants in Laos are native grasses, legumes and fodder tree leaves that are available around the farms and in the forest. These feeds generally have a high content of fiber and low content of protein, minerals and vitamins. Many researchers have found that foliages from fruit trees and other trees, legumes and some crops are important protein sources, with high intake and digestibility and offering them as feeds results in good growth performance in goats, e.g. foliage from Jackfruit (Duyen et al., 1996; Van et al, 2005; Phengvily-souk and Kaensombath, 2006); Leucaena, Erythrina, Gliricidia and Sesbania (Kibria et al., 1994; Dahlanuddin, 2001; Hao and Ledin, 2001; Phimphachanh-vongsod, 2001; Aregheore and Perera, 2004); Cassava (Hang, 2005; Xaypha, 2005) and Water spinach (Buntha and Ty, 2006; Pathoummalangsy and Preston, 2006).
In almost all provinces in Lao PDR, the main constraints to ruminant production are diseases and lack of feed, especially in the dry season (ADB, 2001; Phengsavanh, 2003; Phimphachanhvongsod et al., 2004; Xaypha, 2005). These problems in the ruminant systems lead to low production. If available feed resources such as fruit tree leaves, fodder trees and legumes could be used more efficiently by smallholder farmers the production would probably be much improved. There is a need to look at ways of extending the use of available feedstuffs of good nutrient quality produced on smallholder farms. One potential way of increasing the quality and quantity of feeds for smallholder ruminants in the dry season may be through increased use of fodder trees and shrub legumes.
To assemble information about local foliage resources used for goats as a background for the development of research activities in the future
To determine the chemical composition of some foliages available for goats
To compare intake, digestibility (in vivo and water extractable) and nitrogen retention when feeding these foliages
To study the effect of improving diets with foliage of low quality through supplementation with water spinach
To examine the feeding and selective behaviour of goats offered the same local foliages