A field study of target feeding forages to Bos indicus beef cattle in southern Cambodia

摘要

The growing middle class and increase in wealth across Asia has led to a change in dietary preferences, resulting in an increased demand for red meat. This presents an opportunity for Cambodian smallholder cattle farmers to meet this demand and, in doing so, increase their annual income through improved cattle husbandry practices and profitability. Nutrition has previously been identified as the biggest limiting constraint on cattle production. A feeding trial in three southern Cambodian villages was conducted to examine the use of established forage plots for targeted feeding to improve the value of animals for sale. Twenty-two cattle owned by seven smallholder farmers were enrolled in a 3-month study to assess if targeted feeding principles applied in a field setting could lead to measurable increases in cattle weights and improve value. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) linear mixed modelling indicated that weight gain was not significantly different between trial animals and control animals (P = 0.057). This was attributed to the inability of farmers to supply sufficient green fodder to the required target of 15% of body weight per day. On average, trial cattle were fed 8% of body weight in forage per day, and control cattle received 5% of body weight in forage per day. Using the REML model prediction function, the total weight gains in the trial cattle were 25.9 kg heavier than control cattle, and farmer assessment of cattle value was an additional US$61.29 in trial cattle than in control cattle at trial completion. Farmers indicated that they realised the benefits of growing forages and target feeding to fatten cattle, and planned to continue the practice to try to improve household income.