Use of tanniniferous feeds to improve smallholder goat production: Project to link R7424 (Tanzania), R7351 (Zimbabwe) and R6953 (India) to increase dissemination, outputs and impact (R7798).

Project R7798 links projects R6953 (India), R7424 (Tanzania) and R7351 (Zimbabwe), through a series of workshops, exchange of publications and a newsletter. Exchange of technical information and methods of dissemination will enhance local impact of each project, thus benefiting smallholder smallstock owners. The first workshop took place in India, in September 2000. Background In all tropical livestock production systems characterized by defined wet and dry seasons, inadequate feeding in the dry season is a major constraint to productivity. Parasitic infections of the digestive tract also limit output. Smallholders rarely have the resources to purchase feed supplements or anthelmintics, especially for small ruminants such as goats. The use of tree pods and fruits (Acacia sp.; Prosopis juliflora) as dry season supplements for goats is being investigated in three projects (R7424, Tanzania; R7351, Zimbabwe; R6953, India). The projects in India and Zimbabwe are seeking to improve goat productivity through feeding protein supplements at critical times in the feeding/production cycle. The Tanzanian project is investigating beneficial effects of tannins, in controlling intestinal parasites. Although these projects are separated geographically, there are common threads between them: • They address problems faced by crop/livestock farmers; specifically goat keepers • They are based in semi-arid conditions • The three environments are characterized by naturally occurring pod bearing trees. • Dissemination and uptake is the priority output. However, without the financial resource to generate linkages between the projects, each would continue in at least partial ignorance of the others. This link project is an opportunity to break down these barriers, to the advantage of farmers, extension and research staff, through a ‘value-added’ component to each project. Objectives • More efficient and targeted research associated with the three projects to increase their impact • Additional extension messages and dissemination pathways for use of tanniniferous feeds as anthelmintics and protein supplements for goats in semi-arid regions • Additional dissemination pathways resulting from the link project workshops. Use of Tanniniferous Feeds Sustaining livestock in challenging dry season environments 118 Beneficiaries Resource-poor goat owners in the semi-arid regions of the three countries. Research and extension staff and NGOs will also benefit. Activities • Workshops will be held in each of the participating countries (the first has already taken place in India, in September 2000). These workshops will include site visits and discussions with all stakeholders • A newsletter will be prepared and circulated to stakeholders within the three countries and other interested parties • Experimental protocol and publications will be circulated between the projects. Meeting in India A group of six (three each from projects R7351 and R7424) joined the Indian group at Udaipur, and attended the ‘Workshop on Participatory Research on Goat Feeding Systems and Silvipastoral Development on Common Lands in North-West India’ (11-13 September 2000). The participatory onfarm research project in which Prosopis juliflora is being used as a supplement for breding goats was discussed, with emphasis being given to the institutional and socio-economic aspects of this type of intervention. This was followed by two days of field visits and discussions. The three projects address issues relevant to crop/livestock farmers in semi-arid areas. Wealthier farmers own cattle (also buffalo in India) as well as goats. At the sites visited the following points were noted: • Land pressure appeared high • Composition and role of local committees/institutions was important • Farmers were classified both by wealth and caste • Women farmers appeared to be disadvantaged • Goats milk was very acceptable, especially for use by the household (market value was less than cow or buffalo milk, probably because the fat content was lower) • Purchased concentrate feeds for goats were common among the wealthier livestock owners, concentrates often being fed in conjunction with P. juliflora and A. nilotica. All projects are addressing areas of common concern in all three target countries. Topics in which we can work together include: • Processing pods (using appropriate technology for grinding and treatment to mitigate possible adverse effects of tannin/linkages)to maximise the nutritive value of these feed resources • Estimations of pod yield, both within (specific trees/soil type)and between species and across years (fruiting pattern/climatic variation) • Agreement on chemical, in vitro and in vivo assessments of pods • Difficulties of on-farm research, both in setting up and monitoring, together with ensuring the active participation of the relevant disciplines. The complexities of communication across two or more languages should not be under estimated • Methods and pathways for dissemination, especially at the farmer/village level.