Utilisation of Norwegian Expertise in Indochina

Liv Lønne Dille

New methods for the treatment of agricultural by-products in Vietnam and Laos will significantly benefit livestock production in Indochina.

In Vietnam and Laos, agricultural by-products play a significant role in livestock production. Vietnam is about the same size as Norway, but has more than 80 million inhabitants (compared to Norway’s 4.5 million). All available land in Vietnam is used as farmland. Rice is the main crop, but there is also a considerable production of maize, sweet potatoes, cassava, soybeans, and commodities such as coffee, tea and rubber. The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences coordinated two extensive research projects funded by the Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU) for a 10-year period. These projects developed and tested methods for increasing the nutritional value of the vast amounts of agricultural by-products. Numerous feeding trials were carried out on poultry, pigs and ruminants. Vietnam is now the world’s second largest exporter of rice, and thus, the treatment of rice straw has received most attention. Using simple, inexpensive methods that are adapted to conditions in the rural areas the nutritional value of rice straw can be considerably improved.

In November 2006, the results from the last 5-year period were presented at a final workshop in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Of the project’s 37 different feeding trials, 20 were presented at the workshop. Results from nine different methods for treating by-products were also presented. In addition to R&D activities the project also conducted an extensive training programme. The aim was to transfer know-how obtained in Vietnam to the lesser developed neighbouring country of Laos, as well as to transfer knowledge and technology to farming communities in Vietnam. In order to disseminate the results to the farmers, courses were held for the agricultural extension service, textbooks and brochures were written and an instructional film produced in cooperation with Vietnamese TV. These measures have resulted in the introduction of know-how and methods in Laos, and the increasing adoption of the new methods by Vietnamese farmers.

Based on the results achieved in the previous NUFU-funded projects, a new NUFU project was granted and will commence in 2007. The new 5-year project aims to apply the previously gained knowledge and experience regarding the treatment of agricultural by-products to increase the production of beef throughout Indochina. The project includes Laos, Cambodia and three provinces in Vietnam. Due to an increasing standard of living, especially in Vietnam, and the development of the tourist industry throughout Indochina, the demand for high-grade beef is growing. Presently, most beef is imported from such countries as Australia and New Zealand at three times the price of domestically produced meat.

Since the natural conditions (climate) and the agricultural structures vary somewhat between the different countries and between the three Vietnamese provinces, a total of five different beef production trials will be carried out: one in Cambodia, one in Laos and three in Vietnam. Challenges include the composition of feed rations based on locally produced feed (treated by-products), with high enough energy and protein contents to ensure sufficient weight gain, and satisfactory carcass and meat quality. To perform these comprehensive trails, the project will engage five PhD students, of which three will be trained at UMB, and several MSc students. At UMB’s Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, three staff members are linked to the project: Jan Berg (project coordinator), Lars Olav Eik and Nils Petter Kjos. Furthermore, the department has initiated cooperation with the University of Florida to broaden the project’s competence base. The University of Florida has longstanding traditions and extensive experience in the field of meat production in subtropical and tropical areas via numerous joint projects with researchers in Central and South America.

Published: 12.03.07
Updated: 14.05.09
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