We use cookies on our website. Some are necessary for the operation of the website. You can also allow cookies for statistical purposes. You can adjust the data protection settings or agree to all cookies directly.
Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
SFB 564: D2.2 - Efficiency of smallholder animal husbandry depending on intensity of management and genetic potential of livestock in mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam, development of community driven breeding programmes using genotypes with high productive adaptability
Project
Project code: DFG SFB 564: D2.2
Contract period: 01.07.2003
- 30.06.2006
Purpose of research: Applied research
During the first project phase a comprehensive analysis of smallholder livestock production systems with a special focus on pig production has been carried out. In a juxtaposition of the smallholder pig production system of “demand driven” (close to town) and “resource driven” (farer from town), different production intensity levels have been described and resource limitations have been identified. Production and breeding objectives were identified. The results suggest that the resource driven small-holder pig production can be improved through specific breeding programmes, which utilise genotypes with high productive adaptability in order to make most efficient use of the available local resources, and by integrating breeding between different intensity levels in a stratified approach.
At present, no breeding programmes exist for resource poor smallholder systems, because of infra-structural shortcomings and the limited knowledge on the 'productive adaptability' (i.e. performance under harsh production conditions) of the locally avail-able livestock. Therefore in the next step it is required to determine the productive adaptability of different genotypes under field conditions. Special emphasis will be given to disease tolerance/ resistance traits (SP D4.1 Parasitology)). Priority is given to pigs, however further attention will be paid also to ruminants specially in the resource driven systems, whereas under demand driven conditions resource competition between pig and poultry production will be considered.
Therefore in the second project phase the emphasis is placed on:
Determination of the productive adaptability of different livestock genotypes and their resource use efficiency (specifically feed, labour and capital efficiency).
Valuation of farmer breed and trait preferences, as well as the trade-offs farmers are willing to make between such breeds or traits, in order to support the definition of breeding goals.
Development of appropriate, cost-effective and sustainable village breeding programmes incorporating these genotypes.
Identification and assessment of the relative importance of the principal policy and market factors determining trends in the utilisation of indigenous breeds
“Demand driven” and “resource driven” livestock systems will be assessed in parallel and comparatively. The juxtaposition of these systems producing at different intensity levels and coping with different resource limitations is further used as a principal analytical tool of the study. Methods to conduct on-farm performance testing will be further developed. Appropriate parameters for on-farm performance testing selected for genetic and economic suitability and feasibility of reliable recording (supported by the results of the farmer trait preference work) will be used for regular herd monitoring by farmers (short term benefit). In the long-run they will be fed into a data base and pro-vide a basis for village breeding programmes (long term benefit).
In order to rank the different husbandry systems according to their efficiency of factor use, livestock performance is aggregated into herd productivity indices using a bio-economic herd model. Hence, efficient systems can be identified and production strategies to increase efficiency of other systems can be derived. At the same time, an assessment of the policy and market environments (including current and potential interventions), together with the socio-cultural compatibility of the proposed improvement options will be determined in order to assess adoption chances by local farmers. Trade-offs between alternative ruminant livestock production systems will be determined in order to establish profitable and sustainable production alternatives in the more remote areas of the region, focusing on the household level on the one side. On the other side, sustainable grazing management systems will be developed jointly with SP C2.2 (Communal grazing lands) on the basis of comparisons between cattle, buffaloes and goats.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
Collaborative Project
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics (490h)
