An evaluation of adoptability of alkali treatment of rice straw as feed for growing beef cattle under smallholders' circumstances

摘要

AfeedingtrialwithparticipationofbeefcattlesmallholderswasconductedinaricegrowingvillageinthecountrysideofHanoitoevaluateadoptabilityofureatreatmentofricestrawasfeedforgrowingbeefcattle.Atotalof40householdswereselectedanddividedinto2groups,oneraisingtheirgrowingcattleasusuallypracticed,andtheotherapplyingurea-treatedricestraw.Resultsconfirmedthepositiveeffectofricestrawtreatment:thecattlefedonurea-treatedstrawatemoreandgrewfasterthanthoseraisedasusual.However,followingthedemonstrationtrial,farmersinthestudiedvillagedidnotcontinuetoapplythetechniqueduetoanumberofreasonssuchasinconvenienceinreorganizationofroutineactivities,psychologicalissuesandsocio-economicconcerns.Overall,toosmallascaleofcattleproductionisthemainreasonfornotadoptingthetechnique.