Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-Animal Systems in ...

There is wide integration of animals (both ruminants and non-ruminants) in many differentcombinations with crops and aquaculture. Ruminants are grazed largely on native pastures in semi-intensivesystems, although dairy cattle in peri-urban situations are stall-fed in semi-intensive and intensive systems.Non-ruminants, cattle and goats are integrated into complex systems on small farms with annual and perennialcrops and aquaculture. Examples of integrated systems include:• Pigs–duck–chicken–vegetables–fruit–aquaculture.• Pigs–ducks–goats–rice–vegetables–aquaculture.• Pigs–ducks–cattle–vegetables–aquaculture.• Goats–fruit–pigs–aquaculture.The process enables diversified use of resources, increased food production and income, and thegeneration of biogas for household use. Risks are also reduced in such systems. Interviews with farmerssuggest that they believe in the sustainability of these systems which enhance their livelihoods and foodsecurity.In the peri-urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City, over 50,000 litres of fresh milk was produced in 1991,mostly by smallholders (87%). Some 30–40% of fresh milk was processed at farm level into various dairyproducts and sold directly to neighbours, local shops and markets. The remainder was sold through a networkof 15 cooling plants to government milk factories for processing and retailing. Some research has beeninitiated to improve feeding systems of dairy cattle (IAS 1995).Feed resourcesThe diversity of crops grown in the country is reflected in the range of crop residues and AIBP that areavailable, yet remain under-utilised. No accurate statistics could be found on the total volume produced, butdata are available on the chemical composition of various feeds. Notwithstanding the intensive dairy systems,where some 332,000 ha are in planted pasture (mainly Napier grass), most of the forages fed to ruminantscome from native pasture (one million ha) on roadsides and bunds, in rice stubble and in some grasslandareas. However, most of the best native grasslands have been reclaimed for crop production or re-settlement.Fallow land under shifting cultivation is dominated by I. cylindrica, whilst the prevalence of C. odorata isalso a problem in some areas. Available native pastures tend to be overgrazed and there is no formalmanagement of grazing. Legumes are used sparsely although increasing attention is being given tomultipurpose trees such as L. leucocephala. Locally produced oil cakes and meals from peanut, soyabean,coconut and fish are the main source of proteins, especially for non-ruminants and dairy cattle.Several bilateral aid agencies are working in Vietnam to improve feed utilisation with the NARS.Interventions such as urea-treated rice straw and multi-nutrient blocks for ruminants and sugar-cane juice forpigs are being tested, and are making collectively a significant improvement in the efficiency of use of locallyavailable feed resources.Animal health and diseasesTable A6 presents some animal diseases that have been diagnosed as being present in Vietnam. Animaldiseases have not been well studied, and there is uncertainty as to whether or not many of them actually occurin the country. Epidemiological data are not available, making it difficult to make the correct decisions.The lack of adequate veterinary inputs and services is a major constraint to the development of animalproduction in Vietnam, and must be greatly improved in the future. Some simple vaccines, antibiotics anddrugs are produced from imported ingredients but are generally in short supply and of low quality. Antibioticscan be obtained easily and many farmers treat their own animals. Priority in disease control and preventionis given to production zones, mainly in the south. Farmers in peri-urban areas receive good veterinary attentionfrom government services, whereas those in rural areas have less access to government veterinary services.