INVITATION
On behalf of Cantho University and the Organizing Committee, I am very pleased to extend an invitation to you to attend the International Rabbit Workshop which will be held at Cantho University, Cantho City, Vietnam from 25 to 27 November, 2008.
The theme of the Workshop is Organic Rabbit Farming based on forages: An opportunity to enhance food security for the poor farmers in response to the crisis of high grain prices.
The aims of this Workshop are:
to provide an opportunity to exchange research results and experiences of rabbit production following the outbreaks of bird flu in the Asian Countries,
to suggest short and long-term strategies for organic rabbit development for meat, to build up a Rabbit Network for research and development collaboration and
to produce a leaflet of recommendations for organic rabbit farming based on forages
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Workshop in Cantho University, Cantho City of Vietnam and we also hope that you will have the opportunity to enjoy Vietnam.
With my best wishes
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan
Rector
Cantho University
Rabbit production has recently undergone rapid development in Vietnam and Indonesia, countries that were badly affected by the outbreaks of bird flu and the resultant shortage of meat for human consumption. With the advantages of fast and prolific reproduction and herbivore style of feeding, rabbit production can be a solution also to the increasing prices of traditional concentrate feeds. Thus the rabbit can become an important source of organic meat production for the poor producers in the tropical developing countries.
However, some constrains exist, for the producers as well as researchers, such as lack of information on feeding technologies, local feed utilization, diseases, marketing and processing for consumption. It was therefore considered that a Regional Workshop on organic rabbit farming based on forages was necessary in order to share experiences of research and development among researchers, producers and consumers and to make this information available for enhancing the production.
The goals of the International Rabbit workshop under the MEKARN project are:
To share scientific results and experiences of rabbit production and development during the bird flu outbreak in the South East Asian Countries.
To suggest short and long-term strategies for organic rabbit development for meat when present and future trends indicate increasing prices for concentrate feeds.
To build up the a Rabbit Network for research and development collaboration
To produce a leaflet of recommendations for organic rabbit farming
The first announcement: 10 Aug 2008
The Second announcement: 25 Sep 2008
Calling on titles and full text of papers:
- Titles: deadline Aug 25th 2008
- Full text: deadline Sep 25th 2008
Invitation letter: Dead line 1st Oct 2008
Presentations of Overview and Scientific papers on rabbit production with forages, posters and films
Round table discussion on long-term strategies for organic rabbit development for meat in the face of the grain price crisis and producing recommendation leaflet on organic rabbit farming
Visit experimental rabbit farms and small-scale rabbit farms in rural areas around Cantho city.
Round table discussion on building the Regional rabbit network
Duration: 3 days
Tentative progam
24 Nov 2008
18.00 Welcome buffet dinner
25 and 26 Nov 2008
- Presentations of overview and scientific papers
27 Nov 2008
- Visit experimental and production rabbit farms
- Round table discussion:
* Regional network
* Producing recommendation leaflet
18.00 Farewell dinner
25 Nov 2008
8.00 8.10 Welcome speech (Dr. Nguyen An Tuan, Rector)
8.10 8.20 Inauguration speech (Dr. Huynh Kim Giao Director of Dep. Of animal productiont, Ministry of Agric and Rural Dev)
Introduction: Dr. R Leng Dr. Nguyen Van Thu
8.20 8.45 First keynote lecture: The trend of animal production adapted to the World food crisis (Dr. T R Preston, MEKARN Scientific Adviser).
8.45 9.10 Second keynote lecture: The advantages of herbivore production in response to the feed crisis (Prof Dr R Leng, Australia)
9.10 - 9.40 Coffee break
9.40 10.05 Third keynote lecture: The role of the organic rabbit farming for poverty alleviation (Prof Dr. Steven Lukefahr , WRSA President, USA)
10.05 10.30 Rabbit production development under bird flu situation in Indonesia (Yono .)
10.30 10.55 Rabbit production development, new strategies to avoid the conflict between use of natural resources for food and feed.(Dr. A. Finzi)
10.55 11.20 The rabbit production network in Colombia for poverty alleviation and food security (Mr Juan Gonzalo Londoρo, Aurelio Llano Foundation, Colombia)
11.20 11.45 Experiences of rabbit research and development in Vietnam (Assoc Prof Dr Dinh Van Binh, Goat and Rabbit Center, Bavi, Vietnam)
11.40-12.05 Activities of research and transfer technology of rabbit production at Cantho University (Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Dong).
12.05 13.30 Lunch
13.00 17.30
Introduction: Dr. TR Preston, Dr. Steven Lukefahr
- Country and scientific papers relevant to organic rabbit farming presented (15min for presentation + 5 min for discussion)
- Coffee break (20min)
- General questions and comments (30 min)
26 Nov 2008
Introduction: Dr. A Finzi, Dr. Dinh Van Binh
8.00 11.45
- Scientific papers relevant to organic rabbit farming presented (15min for presentation + 5 min for discussion)
- Coffee break (20min)
- General questions and comments (30 min)
11.45 13.30 Lunch
Introduction: Dr. Yono, Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Dong
13.00 17.30
- Scientific papers relevant to organic rabbit farming presented (15min for presentation + 5 min for discussion)
- Coffee break (20min)
- General questions and comments (30 min)
27 Nov 2008
7.00 11.45
A visit of rabbit farms by smallholder farmers and demonstrations
13.00 17.00
Round tables
13.00-15.00 - Round table 1: Recommendation leaflet of the workshop
15.00-16.45 - Round table 2: building up the Regional Rabbit network
17.00-17.00 Closing the Workshop (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Xe, Vice Rector)
18.00 Farewell dinner
Contact person: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thu
Head of Dept of Ani. Sciences
Fac. Of Agriculture & Appl. Biology
Cantho University, Cantho City
Email: nvthu@ctu.edu.vn
Tel: 84-710830786 8311 (ext), Mob: 0918549422
Fax: 8471 830814
Scientific consultant: Dr. T R Preston (trpreston@mekarn.org)
Scientific committee:
- Prof. Dr. Steven Lukefahr - USA
- Dr. A. Finzi Italy
- Prof. Dr. Ron Leng Australia
- Dr. T R Preston UK
- Dr. Ngo Van Man - Vietnam
- Prof. Dr. Brian Ogle - UK
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thu Vietnam
- Dr. Ho Quang Do Vietnam
Workshop finance: Mr. Nguyen Van Cong Nong Lam University
Guide to preparation for MEKARN Workshop Proceedings
Guidelines are given on the MEKARN Web site