The FEAST template

Bernard A. Lukuyu1, Alan Duncan2, Isabelle Baltenweck1 and Emmanuel Kinuthia1

1International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya 2International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Presented at the 13th KARI Biennial Scientific Conference, 22-26 October 2012, Nairobi, Kenya

The problem Dairy production is rapidly developing in East Africa, but smallholder farmers are often faced with the

challenge of inadequate feed resources especially in the dry season.

Conventionally, feed assessments focus on the types of feeds, their nutritive value and ways of improving nutritive value. The demand side is often overlooked when planning feeds and feeding interventions.

Why FEAST? It broadens feed assessment to cover:

o the importance of livestock as a livelihood strategy; o the importance of feed problems relative to other problems; o key factors such as labour, input availability, credit, seasonality and

markets for products. It identifies feed gaps and improves targeting of feed-related solutions

How does it work?

Livestock holdings of the farmers in tropical livestock units (TLU) Shows whether livestock

is an important source of income

Shows the various sources of household income

Shows the percentage contribution of various sources of income

Sample outputs

Displays annual distribution of rainfall in the area

Shows seasonal available feed resources throughout the year

Shows quantities of purchased feed over 12 months

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Ava

ilab

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Available Feed Resources

Concentrates Crop residues Grazing Green forage

Legume residues RHODES HAY SILAGE Rainfall Pattern

Feed availability

Shows crops grown Shows fodder crops grown Shows the various feed

resources that contribute to dry matter (DM) content, crude protein and metabolizable energy

Final report FEAST report with some ideas for

key problems and solutions Better links and understanding

between farmers, research and development staff

Dietary composition

• Overview of farming system and livestock feed aspect

• Milk marketing, veterinary services

• Major problems for livestock production

1. Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA)

• Quantitative information on crop-livestock production, feed availability and feeding rations

• Qualitative information: perception on feed quality

2. Individual farmer survey

• Stakeholder write-shops to enter data in FEAST template and summarize PRA findings

• Based on result, jointly develop ideas for intervention and implementation plans

3. Participatory data analysis and developing interventions