VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Dairy and Meat Goat Production

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Who we are Goat and Rabbit Research Centre in Vietnam (VGRRC) located in Ha Tay Province founded in scientific and extension staff 64,9 ha 50 ha for trials fodder production, trial fields intercropping, forest and fish ponds VGRRC demonstrates the advantages of integrated farming on site

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Ha Tay Province in northern Vietnam km² 14 Districts Ba Vi National park 7000 ha Population: Kinh Muong & Dao (ethnic Minorities) Main sources of income: Agriculture, Small Business, Tourism Average per capita income per annum: 70 bis 120 US$ Ha Tay Province Hanoi

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Ha Tay Province Son Tay and Ba Vi district Son Tay & Ba Vi

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo What we do: What we do: Research Extension Training Integrated Farming Systems Improving small animal husbandry techniques Breeding programme Fodder production

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Results achieved so far are based on simple low-cost technologies and on training. The main beneficiaries are small-scale women farmers who not only carry out much of the work at farm level but who were and continue to be the processors and marketers of their high quality products. Goat husbandry is responding rapidly to market demands and opportunities in the form of milk, milk products and meat. This approach enabled the provision of a high rate of return to farmers and has resulted in the successful and sustainable operation of the farms. This approach also attracted significant attention from other donors. Stressing the role of tree foliage as the preferred feed for goats acts as a stimulus to reforestation with multipurpose trees and shrubs, with obvious benefits to the environment.

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Commodity prices 2002 GoatRabbitCattlePigChickenSheep Meat (VN Dong/kg live weight) Milk (VN Dong/litre) Rice (VN Dong/1kg) Cassava leaves (VN Dong/1kg) Over the years, prices for goat and rabbit meat as well as goat milk have risen steadily. Goat and rabbit production offer high rates of returns for farmers.

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Breeding programme Preserving the national gene pool: Cross breeding: Bach Thao and Bach Thao Goat indigenous to Vietnam hardy, proliferous Saanen: Milk Alpine Jamnapari Meat & Milk Barbari Texas Boer Meat Co Goat

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Model farm: Goat Production Meat goats in semi confinement on a model farm in Minh Quang village, Ba Vi district

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Goat keeping Goats are kept in semi-confinement: Stable plus courtyard no free grazing is permitted, thus reducing the risk of parasitic infections and protecting the environment from damages through uncontrolled browsing Ideally, a tree is providing shade for the animals, while they roam in the courtyard

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne HugoCourtyard Feeding mangers and drinkers are placed within at the courtyard The ground is regularly treated with lime to kill parasites Mating takes place here, when the females are in heat The drinkers are hard plastic containers, locally available, easy to refill and clean. In this farm, the mangers are made from bamboo.

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne HugoHousing Various materials and designs exist Here the stables are constructed within an old house The concrete made slope under the stable facilitates the collection of feces for further use within the farm

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne HugoHousing Many farmers use bamboo, wood and rice straw to build the stables Plastic sheets are used to cover the walls and protect animals from wind and rain during the winter and the rainy season

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo On-farm production of feedstuff All FEEDSTUFF NEEDED FOR A BALANCED RATION IS PRODUCED ON THE FARM Shrubs and trees: Leucaena, Giganthea, Fleminigia, Jackfruit, etc. Grasses: mainly Pennisetum and Guinea grass Crops: Sugar cane and cassava leaves Pennisetum Purpureum

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Fighting Erosion Fodder plants such as Flemingia congesta syn. macrophylla and Pennisetum ssp. are planted on deforested slopes, field edges and along contour lines. The cultivation of appropriate fodder plants (Leguminosae ssp. in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria) improves the soil-quality, reducing the need for additional fertilizer. Fodder crops (Pennisetum purpureum) are planted at fields edges and minimize erosion through run off

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Animal feedstuff This simple cutter for biomass at a price of VN Dong makes life easier for the farmer Cutting through young branches easily, it can cut through all on farm produced animal feedstuffs and reduces the workload of the farmer considerably

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Fodder conservation Here cassava leaves have been cut and dry in the sun They will be stored later and contribute to a balanced ration during the dry season Simple low-cost technology reduces the work load of farmers Biomass can dry evenly, thus, a higher quality is achieved; storage and feeding is made easier

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne HugoExtension The extension team with a successful goat farmer inspecting goat kids Regular extension visits are made VGRRC provides assistance and advise VGRRC assists farmers in marketing milk and meat VGRRC offers a buck exchange programme VGRRC has a veterinary laboratory, offering farmers diagnostic facilities

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo Training courses for subsistence farmers in their villages VGRRC offers training courses for subsistence farmers at VGRRC at their villages lectures are given on all aspects of goat husbandry, including disease prevention through management and disease control strategies Participants of a training course in Van Hoa, November 2002

VGRRC: Dairy and meat goat production by Susanne Hugo You can find us in the WWW: For example at: or contact by by Telephone: 0084 (0) via Fax: 0084 (0)