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FEAST. Feed Assessment Tool. Feed Assessment: The Problem. Conventionally focuses on: The feeds Nutritive value of the feeds Ways of improving the nutritive value. What is FEAST? . A tool to assess feed resource availability and use at site-level
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FEAST Feed Assessment Tool
Feed Assessment: The Problem Conventionally focuses on: • The feeds • Nutritive value of the feeds • Ways of improving the nutritive value
What is FEAST? • A tool to assess feed resource availability and use at site-level • A systematic and rapid method • Broadens feed assessment to determine: • is livestock is an important livelihood strategy? • how important are feed problems relative to other problems? • What about labour, inputs, credit, seasonality, markets? • Helps in the design of site-specific strategies for feed supply and utilization through technical and organizational interventions
PRA • General description of farming system • range of farm sizes, • farm labour availability • annual rainfall pattern • irrigation availability • types of animals raised by households • General description of livestock production • the types of animals raised • the purpose of raising these animals • the general animal husbandry • Ease of access to credit • How available are necessary inputs • Problem identification and potential solutions
Individual Farmer Survey • Quantitative questionnaire • Land size of small, medium, large farmer • Animals – livestock inventory • Crops - yields and areas to derive crop residue availability • Cultivated forages – yields and areas • Collected fodder: proportion of diet • Purchased feed • Grazing: proportion of diet • Contributors to household income • Production • Milk production • Sale of livestock • Seasonality • Feed supply: overall seasonal availability • What is fed in different months?
Final Output • Feast report with some ideas for key problems and solutions • Better links and understanding between farmers, research and development staff