Project final report

Best Practice Health and Husbandry of Cattle and Buffalo, Lao PDR - final report

Date released
01 June 2019
ISBN
978-1-925747-07-2
Publication Code
AH/2006/159
Authors

Luzia Rast, Australian Project Research Officer Sonevilay Nampanya, Lao PDR Research Associate Syseng Khounsy, Lao PDR Project Peter Windsor, Australian Project Leader

Overview

Cattle and buffalo are an important part of agricultural systems in Lao PDR, accounting for approximately 20% of agricultural GDP.

Ninety five percent of the two million cattle and buffalo in Lao PDR are owned by rural households that farm on a subsistence basis. Livestock provide these families with draught power, nutrition and cash income. However production increases to help smallholders access markets servicing the growing 3% annual demand for livestock meat across Asia are constrained by entrenched diseases, poor feeds and subsistence-based husbandry practices.

By examining current practices and knowledge for livestock diseases and husbandry, including through farmer participation, and with reference to complementary projects on disease control in the Mekong, a best practice approach was developed to improve livestock productivity, potentially increasing marketing opportunities for smallholder livestock producers.

Project activities were also operated in conjunction with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, and collaborated with the Asian Development Bank's Northern Region Sustainable Livelihood through Livestock Development Project.