criteria+for+feed+interventions

By Steve Staal September 2009


 * __Criteria for feed interventions__**


 * The outline below is meant to detail some thinking on two sets of issues:**
 * a) Characteristics of the Feed/Fodder technology and how it is managed**
 * b) Characteristics of the Context, environment in which any Feed/Fodder technology is applied.**


 * The Context attributes can be used to map, project, and characterize the variety of locations and settings in which feed technologies may be considered.**


 * The interaction of these two sets of attributes, defined around any specific feed/fodder technology, will determine the appropriateness and success of that technology.**


 * __Attributes of feed/fodder technologies or interventions__**

//Feeding objective//

Milk production vs fattening vs herd growth vs calf feeding

//Type of feed/fodder technology// Planted fodder/feed vs crop residue High quality supplemental vs low quality high biomass Self produced vs obtained through exchange or purchase (or some element of it) Feed production vs feed improvement, mixing, enhancement (urea treatment, etc)

//Management characteristics// Individually managed vs collectively managed production Farmer propagated vs dependence on germplasm system (eg seed system) Batch production vs continuous production (if planted) Intercropped, or margin cropped vs sole stand (if planted) Limited season production vs all year production Amenable to large scale production (feed lots, etc) Risk of theft, animal damage to fodder

//Productivity characteristics// Bio-mass productivity/yield Tolerance to drought, salinity, poor soils, temperature (riskiness?) Quality, digestibility, palatability Ease of propagation

//Cost characteristics// Labour intensive vs non labour intensive (labour costs per unit nutrient) Timed/hassle labour vs flexible labour requirements Unit cost of production and its variability (aggregate attribute) Dependence on external materials (plastics, chemicals) and proportion of total cost


 * Attributes of determining factors**

//Resource base quantity, quality, variability and availability// Land value, scarcity, fragmentation Labour value, scarcity Private land access vs public/communal land and fodder access Land quality, fertility, salinity Agro-climate and rainfall, variability Access to irrigation, water

//Market environment// Livestock product/animal prices locally and variability Market access, volume limits and reliability, and growth trends Transport and communication infrastructure

//Feed resource environment// Local and seasonal availability and cost of feed materials Local availability and cost of other materials (plastic, etc), complementary inputs Value of/ returns to competing crops

//Household resource base// Education, management skills of practitioners/users Gender issues, and traditional child/adult labour roles Cash requirements, credit availability Producer risk aversion profile