Improved feeding system for beef production through the utilization of sweet potato

One of the major constraints to increasing farm productivity is the farmers' lack of knowledge on various farming options. In the province of Tarlac [Philippines], beef fattening has been practiced for decades; however, productivity remains low. Assessment reveals that problems of feed availability and seasonality as well as marketing problems were tied to the farmers' lack of technical know-how. During the dry season, when much of the rice lands are underutilized, the farming areas have the potential for production of other crops like sweet potato (SP), yam bean, and corn. These also serve as valuable feed resources for ruminants. Cattle are traditionally tethered for 5-8 hours a day in fields and roadsides with scarce feed resources. These are supplemented with rice bran once a day only when this milling by-product is available. This practice thus leads to long fattening period of 6-18 months and a meager income of P1,000. Farmers therefore felt the need for a better system whereby the average daily gain (ADG) could be increased and the fattening period shortened to about 4 months. To address this concern, Valdez et al. (TCA), through the active participation of farmers, developed a feeding system for beef production integrating SP as a major component. A season-long livestock farmer field school (FFS) was employed to promote the technology among farmers in four barangays [villages] in Paniqui, Tarlac. This project was implemented from July 2003 to December 2004. The effectiveness of the FFS as a learning approach was manifested by the farmers' actual application of 12 out of 19 skills acquired. These skills were on stock judging, housing, deworming, liveweight and dressed weight estimation, forage identification, forage gardening, sweet potato chipping, silage making, record keeping, cost and return analysis, and action planning. Along with skills, farmers' knowledge likewise improved. From a mean pretest score of 54 percent, posttest score rose up to 77 percent. As farmers were given the liberty to choose the feed resource to give, ADG of cattle varied from 367 g to 1.57 kg. The lowest ADG monitored was higher than the 300 g to farmers previously experienced before the project. Thus, this made them realize that given the right quality and amount of feed, cattle can gain enough to be productive. Moreover, traders paid a higher price for fattened stocks. Positive linear correlations were obtained for SP vine intake and ADG (r=0.382) and total feed intake and ADG (r=0.430). This means that as intake increases, ADG in weight also increases. Association between ADG and SP root intake was low (r=0.005). This was because the amount of SP root consumed was low, as it was given as mere supplement unlike the vines and leaves that comprised a big chunk of the dietary allowance. Moreover, SP roots were given fresh; hence, moisture was high. The outcomes of this project identified some clear implications on several aspects. Technically, it showed the farmers the value of having alternative farming options. The feeding system developed with the farmers showed the need to maximize feed resources particularly SP residues without compromising the nutrient levels needed by the animals. It provided better management of farm wastes, efficiently converting residues into high value and nutritious meat and earning for the farm family's additional revenues. The project also proved that by empowering the farmers with knowledge of the various options to increase farm productivity, much could be reaped socially, economically, and ecologically.