1. Successful small ruminant feeding strategies: Lessons from elsewhere and their application in Ethiopia Bill Thorpe Ethiopian Livestock Feed Project Synthesis workshop, Addis Ababa, 28- 29 May 2012

2. Synthesis Workshop May 28th2 Identifying successful SR feeding strategies Three-pronged approach: 1.Our knowledge of current & past R&D activities and the related literature + 2.Electronic search of the SR literature + 3.Asked key informants in LAC, Africa, Asia for: - advice - info’ about undocumented examples - links to grey literature

3. Synthesis Workshop May 28th3 Identifying successful SR feeding strategies Recent FAO electronic conference: “ Successes and failures with animal nutrition practices and technologies in developing countries ” Many theoretical options but limited uptake; Failure of research to involve farmers; Failure to demonstrate convincing benefit : cost ratios; Weakness of extension services

4. Synthesis Workshop May 28th4 Identifying successful SR feeding strategies Need for farmer participatory, action- research based approach Examples from CIAT’s SE Asia prog., Horne & Stür; often labour-saving important Understand livelihood systems including gender issues Understand SR value chains: input and output markets - increasing demand for meat driving adoption?

5. Synthesis Workshop May 28th5 Identifying successful SR feeding strategies: entry points in the production cycle? For Ethiopia’s SR meat prod. systems, what entry points responsive to better feeding? Whole cycle thro’ better grazing management and better crop residues? Fattening/finishing phase? Post-weaning growth? Ewe/doe fertility? Opportunities to exploit beneficial nutrition x health interactions?

6. Synthesis Workshop May 28th6 Identifying successful SR feeding strategies: what technologies and approaches? Smart feeding: targeting to improve efficiency of utilization of available feeds Community-based management of CPRs? Food-feed crop improvement and cropping systems (e.g. legume intercropping)? Planted forages for stall-feeding: grasses, herbaceous legumes, MPTs? Others?