Livestock feeds in the developing world come from a range of sources including crop residues, planted forages, agro-industrial by-products, grazing and others. Improved feeding comes from producing more feed, improving feed quality, or smoothing seasonal imbalances in feed supply.
With 60% of the world’s arable land, Africa has the potential to not only feed itself, but to become a major food exporter. This enormous potential was demonstrated in an innovation by CGIAR scientists—processing cassava peels into animal feed—that was one of the many innovative technologies recognized at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), Africa edition, held in Durban, South Africa on 1-2 December 2015. Continue reading
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
Read an update of the project that uses models to help provide Tanzanian farmers with best-bet forage crop management techniques. Continue reading
We recently published a paper looking at how the Ethiopian dairy innovation system has functioned to support the development of the Ethiopian dairy sector and what have been the major technical, economic, and institutional constraints in the process. Continue reading
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
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
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
On 22 May 2015, the updated FEAST data application and e-Learning course were launched in Addis Ababa. Continue reading
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
During the December 2014 MilkIT project, we caught up with B.K. Bhatt who works in the Integrated Livelihood Support Project (ILSP) financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He reflects on some of the reasons why he worked with the project and what it has contributed to his work. Continue reading
Feeding innovation 