Established in 2005, the selection of Forages for the Tropics (SoFT) tool enables users to identify forage species suitable for specific climates, soils, and farming systems such as cut and carry, agroforestry, erosion control, beef, and dairy. Users can also view images of the plants and their use, search a database of scientific references with abstracts, and consult a glossary of botanical and management terms. Continue reading
Category Archives: Animal Feeding
Livestock and livelihoods: boosting incomes and productivity in South Asia
Livestock provides an important complement to cereal farming-based livelihoods in South Asia and can increase incomes for millions of crop-livestock farmers. Continue reading
What’s the beef? Giving livestock a break in Colombia
Cows are regularly portrayed as evil: four-legged, four-stomached, greenhouse gas machines chomping through forests and destroying the planet. It’s no wonder the idea of a climate-smart livestock system sounds like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, you can get a glimpse of these systems in Colombia’s mountainous, Cauca Department. Patía is also a microcosm of Colombia’s livestock conundrum. … Continue reading
WorldFish feed experiments to increase nutritional value of tilapia
WorldFish scientists will begin to experiment with feed ingredients that can increase the nutritional value of tilapia as part of a new project. Continue reading
CIAT seeks applications for a qualified Plant Breeder – Tropical Forages
CIAT is seeking applications for a qualified Plant Breeder – Tropical Forages; a visionary and innovative breeder with interest in tropical forages recognizing their importance in agricultural systems for livelihoods and environmental benefits. The position is internationally recruited with a posting in Palmira, Colombia. Continue reading
Grain legume crop improvement to support increased productivity in crop-livestock systems
This week, the International Conference on Pulses for Health, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture in Drylands takes place in Morocco. ILRI and ICARDA scientists from the Livestock and Fish program are sharing experiences on the opportunities and limitations of multidimensional crop improvement in grain legumes to support increased productivity in mixed crop-livestock systems. Continue reading
Climate-smart sustainable intensification: a business strategy for small cattle farmers in Central America
Silvopastoral systems provide a broad range of environmental and productive benefits. The presence of trees in farm plots stabilizes hillsides, minimizes erosion, improves the soil’s water retention and nutrient balance, and provides feed and shade for cattle. These practices generate higher milk and meat yields while contributing to the resilience of production systems in the face of climate variability, which is manifesting in increasingly extreme ways in Central America. Continue reading
Pig and maize value chains in northwest Vietnam: Trends and opportunities for smallholders
This research brief provides some insights into the pork and maize value chains in northwest Vietnam, highlighting the collaboration taking place between business partners in response to the lack of public support services for pig and maize production, processing and marketing. Continue reading
Capacity development to strengthen Nicaragua’s dual purpose cattle sector
In Nicaragua, te program has produced five manuals (in Spanish) on dual purpose cattle production. Continue reading
‘Base of the Pyramid’ initiatives in the feed industry: targeting smallholder animal farmers in Vietnam
Would ‘Base of the Pyramid’ (BoP) marketing work in agricultural input markets? Here are some insights from the pig value chain in Vietnam, uncovered during a field trip of the REVALTER project. Continue reading