Tropical Forages Program

• Michael Peters• Brigitte Maass• Rein van der Hoek

Annual Program Review 2011Nairobi, Kenya

10 May 2011

• Feed for animals - ruminants and monogastrics

• NRM – soil fertility maintenance, reversing land degradation

• Mitigating climate change – reducing GHG emissions, carbon sequestration

• Providing smallholders with higher value options in stressed environments

• Forages are central to CIAT’s strategic directions towards eco-efficiency, achieving resilient and productive agricultural systems with a reduced environmental footprint

Tropical Forages

Program Goal and Objective

• The goal of the Tropical Forages Program is to improve livelihoods of poor rural crop-livestock producers while contributing to eco-efficiency of production systems

• The objective of the Tropical Forages Program is to explore the benefits of multipurpose forages for improving agricultural productivity while reducing the ecological footprint of crop-livestock systems

Two Outputs• Forage germplasm developed through collection, selection

and breeding

oGrass and legume development, phenotypic evaluation for stress adaptation, genotyping for stress tolerance

• Forages as high value products developed and forage options integrated into smallholder crop-livestock systems to realize livelihood and environmental benefits

o Inclusion of forages into systems to increase resilience, mitigate climate change, generate income and reduce labor, supported by knowledge tools and seed systems

Linked mainly with three CRPs• CRP 1.2 Humid Systems

o Integration of forages into crop-livestock systems, including NR integrity

• CRP 3.7 Livestock and Fish

oGrass and legume development, integration of forages in livestock value chains (cattle and pigs)

• CRP 7 Climate Change

o Exploring the contribution of forages to mitigate climate change

o CRP 5 through Systems Integration

Three Priority Regions• Latin America and the Caribbean

o Germplasm Development, High Value Opportunities, Livelihoods and Environment

o Focus countries: Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Haiti

• Southeast Asia

o Livelihoods, High Value Opportunities (Environment)

o Focus countries: Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand

• Eastern, Central and Southern Africa

o High Value Opportunities, Livelihoods

o Focus countries: DR Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

Tropical Forage Program R&D Strategy

Forage germplasm development

Productivity and

nutritive value

Seed production

Adaptation to biotic/abiotic

stresses

High value forages to capture

differentiated markets

Forages included into crop-livestock systems

to realize livelihood and environmental

benefits

Eco-efficient agriculture

Releases of stress adapted and productive

forages

Increased income and

reduced labor

Increased smallholder

competitiveness

Reversing land degradation

Mitigation of climate change

Management

Processing

Business planTargets 2010 and 2011 (so far)

Target 2010: Brachiaria hybrids commercially available

• A new Brachiaria hybrid BR02/1752: several hundred kg of seed multiplied and tested in a range of countries via private sector in early 2011

• An additional Brachiaria hybrid (BR02/1794) for testing under grazing in several locations Seed of two Brachiaria hybrids

(Mulato and Mulato II) is currently on the market

Target 2010: Supplementation of village pigs with the legume Stylosanthes guianensis (Laos)

• Adoption of Stylo 184 was successful due to a well-coordinated extension approach facilitated through a Learning Alliance, created by CIAT-Asia

• By the end of the project it was used by at least 1000 small farm households for pig production

0

200

400

600

800

1000

2009 2010

Num

ber o

f far

mer

sNGOs

District extenstion

Cont.

A joint scaling-out process helped adoption to take place from the project intervention area in 3 districts and 2 provinces (yellow) to 18 new districts and 7 additional provinces through NGOs and governmental extension offices

Target 2010: Supplementation of village pigs with the legume Stylosanthes guianensis (Laos)

Target 2011: Two new forage options for smallholder pig and poultry systems identified• Up to 33% and 20% herbage meal of Vigna unguiculata 9611 in the total diet

to fatten pigs and chicken, respectively, can replace costly concentrates because no significant effect on live weight gain was found when compared to a balanced control

• Herbage meal of Canavalia brasiliensis CIAT 17009 was highly palatable for both pigs and chicken. Therefore, this legume can be included in the diet in a lower percentage than cowpea, as feed conversion was affected

Target 2010: Production versus environmental trade-offs determined in use of cover legumes

Major attributes • Deep rooting ability contributes to efficient use

of resources (nutrients and water) keeping the crop green throughout the dry season

• Fixes 20-50 kg N/ha until well into the dry season as green manure in the traditional maize-bean system

• Increases animal feed availability and quality leading to 5 kg/day/ha more milk

Perspectives • Tolerant also to waterlogging

conditions and shade

• Farmers engaged in validation and seed production

• Submitted for cultivar release in Nicaragua 2011 (Colombia 2013)

Canavalia brasiliensis: a climate hardy covercrop

Target 2011: Brachiaria hybrids with combined resistance to spittlebugs and tolerance to

waterlogging developed

3 hybrids of BR02NO series (1752/1794/1372) 3 hybrids of BR05NO series (0563/0760/1467) 3 hybrids of BR06NO series (0387/1000/1175)

• We identified a total of 9 hybrids with combined resistance to spittlebugs and tolerance to waterlogging

Target 2011: Brachiaria hybrids with combined resistance to spittlebugs and tolerance to waterlogging

tested in 2 contrasting regions in LAC

• A set of 10 germplasm accessions of B. humidicola and 10 hybrids of Brachiaria are being tested for tolerance to waterlogging conditions by NARS partners (Corpoica, INTA, IDIAP) at 3 locations in Colombia, 2 locations in Nicaragua and 1 location in Panama

Target 2011: Tropical forage legumes identified that combine high productivity, nutritional value and

tolerance to waterlogging

• Canavalia brasiliensis (CIAT 905/7648/17009)• Stylosanthes guianensis (CIAT 11995/178/146)• Arachis pintoi (CIAT 22268/22342/22233)

• Three accessions each of 3 legumes were identified as promising

Target 2011: Diversity and agronomic value of world collection of Tadehagi triquetrum assessed

• Large morphological and phenological diversity, e.g., growth habit (prostrate - erect) and maturity (45 - 299 days to first flower)

• Dry matter production up to 111 and 370 g DM/plant/8 weeks in dry and wet season, respectively

• Nutritive value low

Target 2011: Alternative forage options for feeding monogastrics tested in tropical LAC, Asia and Africa

• Stylo was adopted by more than 1,000 farmers in Laos as a green feed for pigs – why?

o Green feeds are essential to supply protein and minerals to pigs, and farmers use a broad spectrum of leafy species

o Feeding Stylo increased growth rates of growers and finishers from 100 to 200-300 g/day

o Time needed to feed pigs reduced (women saved 1–1.5 hours each day)

o Farmers only needed small areas of Stylo, 150-200 m2 per pig

o Stylo could be fed fresh – no cooking required

0

50

100

150

200

250

100% cereals0% cowpea

75% cereals 25% cowpea

50% cereals 50% cowpea

livew

eigh

t ga

in (

g/da

y)

Target 2011: Alternative forage options for feeding monogastrics tested in LAC, Asia and Africa

Cont.

• Evaluation of protein-rich forages, e.g., Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Lablab purpureus, Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea)

• Strategies aimed at smallholders for production/use to improve productivity and profitability of monogastrics

• Farmer managed trials with pigs

• Substitution of 50% of maize or sorghum by forage legumes maintains or increases growth at low performance level

• High interest from smallholders, especially women

Target 2011: Forage processing/conservation options evaluated and optimized for enhanced nutrient

availability in monogastric animals

• For all 11 forage species tested (10 legumes), it was possible to achieve at least an acceptable silage quality, using adequate additives

1 - Control

2 - 2% Sugar

3 - LAB

4 - LAB+Sugar Satisfactory

Poor

Good

mean

median

Points on fermentation quality (DLG 1997) (n=44 per treatment)

Treatment

1 2 3 4

Po

ints

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Target 2011: Forage processing/conservation options evaluated and optimized for enhanced nutrient availability in monogastric animals

Cont.

Specie Additive For non-ruminants

Cratylia argentea L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) + sucrose (2% of FM) or molasses (4% of FM)

Centrosema brasilianum

L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) + sucrose (2% of FM) or molasses (4% of FM) Beware: TIA!

Canavalia brasiliensis

Can be ensiled without additives; however, the additives reduced DM losses significantly by 5-6 %

Add L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (+ possibly sucrose at 2 % of FM) to reduce ammonia formation and oxalic acid content

Clitoria ternatea If wilted rapidly to > 45 % DM, no additive necessary for conservation

Lablab purpureus Can be ensiled without additives Inoculation of L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) reduces ammonia formation

Vigna unguiculata Add sucrose (2% of FM) or molasses (4% of FM) Additionally inoculate L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) to reduce ammonia formation

Stylosanthes guianensis

Add sucrose (2% of FM) or molasses (4% of FM), if possible L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) Beware: TIA!

Flemingia macropylla can be ensiled without additives Beware: extremely high in TIA and CT!

Leucaena diversifolia

Add sucrose (2% of FM) or molasses (4% of FM) or L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) Beware: very high in TIA and CT!

Desmodium velutinum Inoculate L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) Additionally include sucrose (2% of FM) or molasses (4% of FM)

to reduce oxalic acid /ammonia formation

B. hybrid Mulato II Inoculate L. plantarum CIAT S 66.7 (10^5 cfu/g FM) Beware: TIA!

Recommendations for ensiling tropical legume species and Mulato IIGeneral rule: all herbages should be wilted to a DM content ≥ 30 % !!!

Degradation of anti-nutritive compounds by fermentation

• Ensiling decreased condensed tannins in forages• Moreover, the combined additive of Lactobacillus sp. CIAT S 66.7 with

sugar helped decomposing oxalic acidFlemingia macrophylla

Condensed tannins before and after ensiling

Treatments

AM C SU LAB LAB+SU

% i

n D

M

0

5

10

15

20

25

Sol. CT Insol. CT

Oxalic acid content in FM before and after ensiling

Treatment

AM C SU LAB LAB+SU

% in

FM

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Desmodium Leucaena Canavalia Centrosema Mulato Caupi Cratylia Clitoria Lablab Flemingia

AM before ensiling; C Control silage; SU 2% sugar; LAB Lactobacillus sp.; LAB+SU combined

And more highlights

Advances Brachiaria humidicola

• A bi-parental, hybrid mapping population (n=135) has been produced for genetic marker studies of BNI trait

• Broad-based, sexually reproducing breeding population is being synthesized

• 118 putatively apomictic novel hybrid genotypes being multiplied and evaluated for BNI, seed set, etc.

Crossing block at CIAT-Popayán, of sexual B.

humidicola hybrid clones

Evaluation of sexual material (SX08NO) – 2010

Z.carbonaria A.variaP.simulans A.reducta Rhizoctonia solani

• 292 hybrids screened for resistance to Rhizoctonia solani

• 182 hybrids screened for resistance to spittlebug nymphs

• 109 hybrids screened for resistance to spittlebug adults

Multiple resistance screenings: BrachiariaB.

hum

idic

ola

spittlebug nymphs

Z.carbonaria A.reducta P.simulans A.varia

Z.carbonaria A.reducta P.simulans A.varia0

102030405060708090

100

spittlebug adults

Z.carbonaria A.reducta P.simulans A.varia

Z.carbonaria A.reducta P.simulans A.varia

B. B

rizan

tha

x de

cum

bem

s

Resistant Intermediate Susceptible

Agroforestry practices with forage components

• Integration of livestock component into “Quesungual” (Nicaragua/Honduras) slash and mulch agroforestry system with maize and beans as major crops (Nicaragua-Honduras)

Forage components

• Brachiarias hybrid cv. Mulato II and B. brizantha cv. Toledo to increase animal production in combination with forage legumes (for animal feed and crop rotation)

• Shrub legumes (i.e., Cratylia argentea, Leucaena leucocephala)

Value-Chain Analysis of Monogastrics in LAC

• Nutritional balance shows a diet deficient in both energy (45% for laying hens and 14% for growing pigs) and protein (57% for laying hens and 45% for growing pigs), with protein being the greatest constraint

• Forage legumes to supplement poultry and pigs can be highly profitable to increase both the production of pigs for additional income and the production of poultry meat and eggs for improved family nutrition

• Meat price is the most important attribute for consumer preference in both Nicaragua and Colombia

• Thus, reducing feed costs by including legumes in feed rations can increase the competitiveness of smallholder producers of monogastrics

Cont.

Value-Chain Analysis of Monogastrics in LAC

System change through forages (example Vietnam)

Market opportunity: Farmers plant forages to improve animal

productivity

Move animals from free grazing to confinement

Change in perception: What do traders want to buy, how to supply this specific product?

Interest in improved breeds

Penning system allows AI and controlled breeding activities, improves biosecurity, manure

collection

New breeds: ‘smart feeding’

Farmer clubs: forum for technical advice and tool of empowerment

Traders get interested in reliable and constant animal supply:

contract fattening

Change from asset-based, low-input system to a commodity-based intensified production system

Opportunities

Growth Areas/New Initiatives

• Reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture (mitigation of climate change, restoration of degraded lands)

• Forage options for small and monogastric livestock species emphasizing livelihoods of women farmers

• Forage conservation

• Africa (strategy review forthcoming)

• Latin America consolidation and reengagement

• Asia consolidation and realizing new opportunities

Key elements of forage Africa strategy

• Select regional priorities in relation to market opportunities and drivers

• Define needs for (participatory) evaluation of forage options, and integration of improved forages to contribute to livestock and crop production and eco-efficiency of crop-livestock systems

• Define avenues for institutional innovation, capacity building, and dissemination of forage technologies

• Indicate needs and develop an approach for forage seed systems

• Indicate partnership and linkage opportunities, such as NARS, NGOs, FBOs/CSOs, CG centers

• Link the strategy to the CGIAR Strategic Results Framework, in particular to CRPs 1.2 and 3.7

Advances SSA

• EADD (East Africa Dairy Development project) – Collaboration (with ILRI) in KEN, RWA, UGA

• N2Africa – legumes for integrated soil fertility management (with TSBF) – collaboration in KEN, RWA, DRC

In the pipeline

• Tanzania – dairy value chain

• Uganda – pig systems

Advances LAC

• Agreement Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarollo Rural (MADR) and Corpoica Colombia – Orinoquia

• Cuba, Haiti, Amazonas

• Platform for forage research in Central America and the Caribbean

• Strengthen collaboration with CATIE and non-traditional partners, e.g., international NGOs

Advances Asia

• Rice based systems Southern Laos

• Intensifying linkages with China (sub-tropical region)

Issues – maintaining capacity

• Issues of critical mass, with expressed need for work in regions

• Succession Plan (NRS and IRS)

• Fund raising

Thank you

Neolithic Revolution: About 8500 years ago agriculture emerged, including small animals. Cattle production emerged about 6500 years ago. These crop-livestock systems had tremendous effects on the evolution of societies

Algeria

Altamira, España