Local cattle production with free range system which depends on seasonal available feed resources and lack of health care may result in low productivity, the average daily weight gain at around 120-150 g/day. In this experiment, aiming to demonstrate farmers how to improve the cattle production through the improvement of feeding and husbandry such as health care management. Onfarm feeding trials of local cattle conducted in total of 28 households in 5 districts, 4 provinces such as Phonexay and Phonethong Districts of Luangprabang province; Nalea District of Luangnamtha  Province; Houn Distict of Oudomxay Province and Pha Oudom District of Bokeo Province. The experiment consisted of 3 treatments which are: (1) free graizing system (T0), (2) confined system (T1) and (3) fattenning system (T2). Feeding systems under treatment 2 and 3 were under advices of project technicians including farmers planting foarge and using forage for feeding their animals and practicing health care such as vaccination and parasite control. Data collection period started  from 9/2009 to 3/2011 by using local cattle in total of 60 heads. The result shows that the average daily body weight gain of each treatment (T0, T1 and T2) were significant different (P<0.001) with the mean value of 101.6 g, 165.0 g and 282.2 g/day respectively. In conclusion, the productivity of local cattle production could be improved by improving management which includes the improvement of feeding and health care management. The results from this experiment is clearly showed that a better daily weight gain of local cattle in the project  target villages could achieve by improved feed and animal health care. From the PM&E results indicates that many farmers in these districts are adopting this technology.

Fulltext