The studies on which this thesis is based were carried out at the Integrated Farming Demonstration Centre, Champasack University, Champasack province, Lao PDR. The author gratefully acknowledges the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) for financial support through the MEKARN regional program.
I would like to thank the Faculty of Agriculture, Champasack University, Champasack Province. Lao PDR, for allowing me study leave and facilitating the conduct of the research.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr Preston my main supervisor, Director of the University of Tropical Agriculture (UTA) for his support, guidance, and valuable advice in many different ways.
I would like to express thanks to Dr Vanthong Phengvichith, my associate supervisor, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), for his guidance, discussion, encouragement and much good advice.
I would like to express my appreciation to all professors and lecturers who gave the theoretical lectures and supervised the practical work in the MSc course.
My sincere thanks to Dr Ngo Van Man and Mr. Cong, the regional coordinator of Sida-MEKARN project, Dr Sikhamtat Mitalay, the Rector of Champasack University, Dr Bhounmy Phonesavanh, the Dean of Champasack University and Dr Phetsamay Vyraphet, the head of Researching and technician service office of Champasack University, for their help and encouragement.
Special thanks to all teachers of Faculty of Agriculture, Champasack University, Champasack Province, Lao PDR, for their help, suggestion and comments.
I would like to thanks the students of the Faculty of Agriculture of Champasack University for their help in the management and feeding of the animals.
I would like to thank my parents, all my family members, and best friends for always supporting me through the good and difficult stages of this MSc and overseas experience.
Many thanks to my classmate in the MSc course for their contributions, suggestions and friendship.