Smallholder dairying: better marketing or better feeding – which comes first?

The milkIT project hypothesis was that improvements in milk markets would lead to increased productivity by farmers. This video explains the approaches followed: linking farmers to markets (using market ‘pull’ to drive productivity increases) and farmers’ productivity increases which will attract the market to them. Continue reading →

Working out how to improve livestock feeding: The FEAST feed assessment tool

The Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) was one of the key tools used in the milkIT project to assess local feed resource availability and use, guiding targeting and appropriate intervention strategies. This video explains how FEAST was used in the project: Continue reading →

Improving livestock production and productivity: the potential of Napier grass

For better livestock production and productivity, it is essential to assess the genetic diversity of the food which is fed to livestock. One of the main food sources for livestock in East Africa is Napier grass. Continue reading →

Enhancing livestock productivity through feed and feeding interventions in India and Tanzania

This report shares results and lessons on productivity-enhancing feed interventions developed through MilkIT, a project to promote milk production in India and Tanzania. Continue reading →

Modeling forage intercropping and best bets for farmers in Tanzania

Read an update of the project that uses models to help provide Tanzanian farmers with best-bet forage crop management techniques. Continue reading →

Nutritional value of feed ingredients for pigs in Uganda

This brief highlights findings from observational and experimental studies on pig diets in East Africa. It will help researchers design trials to develop diets for local pigs. It provides information for extension workers on local feeds that are high in energy, fat and protein. Continue reading →

Dairy development in Tanzania with local innovation platforms: When and how can they be useful?

This brief seeks to answer what role can local innovation platforms play in helping Tanzania dairy producers solve these problems? Under what conditions are they useful, and what are the factors for success? Do we need innovation platforms at the village level, or can we work with producer groups? Continue reading →

Innovation platforms to improve smallholder dairying in India and Tanzania

This report reflects on the potential role of innovation platforms as spaces to identify and spread useful
innovations associated with dairy production and feeding. It draws examples from MilkIT, a project to promote milk production in India and Tanzania. Continue reading →

Doing feed assessments with FEAST: Why, what, when and where

On 22 May 2015, the updated FEAST data application and e-Learning course were launched in Addis Ababa. Continue reading →

Assessing the environmental performance of animal feed supply chains

ILRI scientists Ben Lukuyu was part of the team that produced a set of draft guidelines to assess the environmental performance of animal feeds supply chains. Continue reading →