Improving Local Feed Resource to Increase Nutrient Availability to Support Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

In temperate zones in so- called developed countries much of the agricultural land is used directly for animal feed e.g. grazing.Other crops are grown for winter feed e.g. grass for silage and hay, barley for grain and straw and also turnips and fodder beet. In so-called developing countries in subtropical and tropical zones the main product is human food and the by-products are used are animal feed. In some work it has been shown that it may be possible to improve the quantity and quality of by-products such as straw without affecting the quality and quantity of the primary products. More work is needed on this aspect as plant breeders need to be involved. Also methods of using other means to increase nutrient availability for animals have been discussed such as using duck and fish in rice fields , manure for biogas and composts e.g. total resource management.