About this Research Topic
“Equip–Strengthening smallholder livestock systems for the future,” a project that is at the feed the future innovation lab for livestock systems aims to improve livestock productivity by improving the supply of quality feed to dairy cows in Ethiopia and sheep and goats in Burkina Faso. This is achieved though interconnected activities that involve inventory of feed resources using landscape analysis, testing improving yield, quality and preservation of forages , determining and meeting nutrient requirement of local dairy and sheep and goat breeds , improving the capacity to analyze nutritional value of livestock feed using NIRS (ILRI) and, examining Effects of Synergizing Feed, Management and Genetic Interventions on Milk Production and Health of Dairy Cows.
Project activities have been implemented since 2018 and most of the components have generated data or evidence that has mostly been analyzed and is now ready for publication. In 2019, studies that mostly focus on forages have been published in special issue at the Agronomy journal. The are other studies that have results, but not yet published. These include include agronomic testing of improved forages, mainly from Ethiopia, the use of improved forage, or preserved forage to improve animal productivity, estimating and testing nutrient requirement of local animal breeds.
The purpose of this proposed special issue is to share the results of the EQUIP-FEED project with a wider academic, research and development community and stakeholders that focus on improvement of animal productivity in developing countries.
Livestock productivity in developing countries is constrained by complex biophysical, social, policy and market challenges. Among the many problems feed is usually the most cited problem across many developing countries, for example in all six African countries that the LISL works. The problem with feed is not just a limited supply of quality feed, but also span problems ranging from low quality forage, underdeveloped forage conservation technologies to more indirect problems such as underdeveloped maker and commercialization of forages/feeds, lack of knowledge and skills on improving forage quality, animal genetics that does not respond to improved feeding and generally limited adoption of available technologies that improve productivity. This proposed special issue welcomes research results that demonstrate the improvement of animal productivity or farm profitability due to feed and other interventions in developing countries and discussions on theoretical and policy matters of improving livestock productivity.
The proposed special issue will cover topics that directly or indirectly relate to the following;
1. Impact of improved feeding, improved management, and genetics on animal productivity and farm profitability in developing countries
2. Review of successful experiences in improving animal productivity in developing countries
3. Gender and inclusivity issues in improving livestock productivity in developing countries
4. Policy issues in improving animal productivity in developing countries
Project activities have been implemented since 2018 and most of the components have generated data or evidence that has mostly been analyzed and is now ready for publication. In 2019, studies that mostly focus on forages have been published in special issue at the Agronomy journal. The are other studies that have results, but not yet published. These include include agronomic testing of improved forages, mainly from Ethiopia, the use of improved forage, or preserved forage to improve animal productivity, estimating and testing nutrient requirement of local animal breeds.
The purpose of this proposed special issue is to share the results of the EQUIP-FEED project with a wider academic, research and development community and stakeholders that focus on improvement of animal productivity in developing countries.
Livestock productivity in developing countries is constrained by complex biophysical, social, policy and market challenges. Among the many problems feed is usually the most cited problem across many developing countries, for example in all six African countries that the LISL works. The problem with feed is not just a limited supply of quality feed, but also span problems ranging from low quality forage, underdeveloped forage conservation technologies to more indirect problems such as underdeveloped maker and commercialization of forages/feeds, lack of knowledge and skills on improving forage quality, animal genetics that does not respond to improved feeding and generally limited adoption of available technologies that improve productivity. This proposed special issue welcomes research results that demonstrate the improvement of animal productivity or farm profitability due to feed and other interventions in developing countries and discussions on theoretical and policy matters of improving livestock productivity.
The proposed special issue will cover topics that directly or indirectly relate to the following;
1. Impact of improved feeding, improved management, and genetics on animal productivity and farm profitability in developing countries
2. Review of successful experiences in improving animal productivity in developing countries
3. Gender and inclusivity issues in improving livestock productivity in developing countries
4. Policy issues in improving animal productivity in developing countries
Keywords: Improved forage, dairy, small ruminants, forage conservation, nutrient requirement
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
