CSA Symposium 2016 - Khalil Brown - Day 2 Session 1B

Research and Development DivisionLivestock Research and Improvement Unit

“Bodles Fodder Pellet”

Title: Developing a feed supplementation strategy to enhance livestock production

under prolonged drought conditions, in the humid tropics.


Research and Development Division: Livestock Research and Improvement Unit

• Objective- Unlock potential through developing technology and Innovation • Current Research (feeding trials, forage

studies, by product processing, genetic conservation)• Projects (Silvopastoral, Hay, CFC, NZ)


Impact of Climate Change on Livestock Production

• Problems Identified: Impacts on animal physiology and impact on forage-based feeding systems.

• Focus: Interventions to mitigate against fluctuating forage quality and availability


Impact of Prolonged Drought and Heat on Livestock Production

• Heat Stress• Reduced Dry Matter

Intake • Reduced Growth Rate• Reduced Milk Production• Decreased Fertility • Increase Disease

susceptibility• Death


Climate Smart Strategies for Implementation

Awareness Strategies• Pay attention to : 1. Weather Forecast 2. Animal Behavior

Mitigation Strategies• Silvopastoral System• Ventilation• Water• Increase feed digestibility and quality• Increase Vitamin C or Niacin level• Selective Breeding for improved resistance


R&D Mitigation Strategies:

• Increase feed digestibility and quality

• Selection of heat and drought tolerant breeds of animals

• Fodder conservation• Cultivation of drought

tolerant forages• Establish harmony between

animals and the available resources.


Research Specific Strategies • Measure specific impacts on livestock systems • Future research into the nature of animal responses

to changes in the environment.

• Very little can be done to change the environment BUT!!!!

• Management interventions can minimize the impact of changing climate on livestock productivity


Silvopastoral System• Systematic tree, shrub, grass and

livestock combination• Improving livestock(ruminant)

performance and its compatibility with the climate variability through the design and development of silvopastoral systems at paddock and livestock farm scale

• Sustainable Pasture management and improvement activity


Demonstration Sites


Project and Research Scope• Design site specific systems for farmers• Increase, diversify fodder availability and income• Promotion of a simple sustainable pasture

management system• Measure the impact on production and animal

performance• Measure cost benefits to assess the impacts on the

socio-economic climate that affects the livestock producer ($$).


Colombia Silvopastoral System

Eucalytus-TimberPanicum Maximum

Challenge-Farmers in Colombia are now entering the cattle production, the reverse is applied for Jamaican Farmers

Long term Crop- TimberShort term Crop- Livestock


Economic Benefit

Mulberry

Moringa

Timber

AckeeMango


Fodder ConservationDuring period off excess our objective is to ensure

quality fodder is stored. Harvesting and storage strategy is a must. Live storage – fodder bankDrying - HayEnsiling Pellet


Fodder Pelletizing Project• Formulate a forage based pellet utilizing grass and shrubs

harvested at optimal stage of development. • This experiment evaluated the effect of year, seasonal variation

and cutting interval on the nutrient content, determined by proximate analysis, of five grass forages.

• The objectives of the study were to evaluate the performance of various forage species and varieties and to determine the best utilization strategy for conserving fodder by creating a forage pellet.

• Quality evaluation was done via proximate analysis


Dwarf Napier (Pennisetum purpureum)

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) var. Green

PanicDwarf Elephant var. Mott (Pennisetum purpureum)

Elephant var. Merkeron grass (Pennisetum

purpureum)

King Grass (Pennisetum purpureum)

Investigative parameters:Cutting Intevals-4,6,8 weeksSeason Variation- Quarterly

Nutrient Profile: Crude Protein, Fibre, Dry matter,

Organic Matter


Results• Average crude protein for selected forages was 8% over the

three year period, dry matter and neutral detergent fibre were 70% and 48% respectively.

151413

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

Year

ND

F

Boxplot of NDFSpecies = King Grass

151413

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

Year

DM

Boxplot of DMSpecies = King Grass

151413

13

12

11

10

9

8

7

YearCP

Boxplot of CPSpecies = King Grass


The nutritive value of forages varied significantly over cutting interval and time of year (P < 0.05). Interactive effects that showed significant (P<0.05) impact on crude protein were evaluated to determine ideal harvesting times for good quality forage.

10.0

9.5

9.0

8.5

8.0

Species

Mean o

f CP

Interval Quarter

Main Effects Plot for CPFitted Means


Benefits of Fodder Pellet

• Increases dry matter intake • Increase utilization of ingredients• Reduce storage capacity • Sustainable Practice – Raw

materials are available


Benefits of Fodder Pellets• Can be fed to many classes of livestock– Poultry– Horses– Pigs– Sheep – Goat – Rabbits – Guinea pigs


Conclusion• The “Bodles Fodder Pellet” is a viable option for

feeding livestock in the tropics. • Optimal harvesting strategies can maximize the

quality of forage obtained for pelletizing. • Cost benefits of feed cost as well as alternative

products from silvo-pastoral system realized. • Further research into in cooperating high protein

plants into the fodder pellet.


Thank you !!!!!

Environment

CSA Symposium 2016 - Khalil Brown - Day 2 Session 1B