FEAST Feed Assessment Tool

Feed Assessment: The Problem Conventionally focuses on:  The feeds  Nutritive value of the feeds  Ways of improving the nutritive value 2

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 3

Components of the FEAST Tool Overview of Farming System Description of the Livestock Production System Major Problems, Issues and Opportunities within the livestock system PRA Exercise Quantitative Information on crop-livestock production, feed availability, feeding rations Qualitative Information - perception on feed Individual Farmer Survey Enter data into FEAST Template Based on result, develop ideas for Intervention Data Analysis & Developing Interventions 4

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 5

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 o Milk production o Sale of livestock  Seasonality o Feed supply: overall seasonal availability o What is fed in different months? 6

Data Analysis - FEAST Template 7

FEAST Sample Output 8

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Final Output  Feast report with some ideas for key problems and solutions  Better links and understanding between farmers, research and development staff 11