Cut-and-Carry Fodder Systems

Low-cost fodder system for livestock

"Cut-and-Carry Fodder Systems" technology is a method of feeding confined livestock where fresh feed, typically grass, is harvested and directly provided to animals, a practice often termed as zero-grazing. This system entails the collection and direct delivery of feed to the animals rather than allowing them to graze freely on rangelands. It requires appropriate animal housing equipped with feed and water troughs, and a continuous supply of fresh vegetation, usually sourced from various grasses or crop residues. The technology involves labor-intensive daily harvesting of fresh vegetation, which is then distributed to the contained livestock. It's applicable for various livestock, including dairy cattle, goats, and sheep raised for milk and meat production. This approach requires specific infrastructure, such as feed and water troughs designed to be durable, stable, and resistant to trampling. The Cut-and-Carry method requires the use of manual or power equipment for cutting and transporting vegetation. Essentially, the Cut-and-Carry Fodder System revolves around the daily collection and direct provision of fresh vegetation to confined livestock, playing a vital role in livestock feeding strategies, particularly in regions where feed resources are limited or where efficient feed management is essential.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Problem

Feed Management Challenges: Under free-grazing systems, large proportions of feed are lost due to trampling, contamination with urine and feces, and inefficient utilization by animals, leading to feed wastage.
Inefficient Livestock Fattening: Traditional grazing systems often result in longer timeframes required to fatten small ruminants, leading to delayed returns on investment, especially after weaning.
Limited Use of Crop Residues: Valuable resources like crop residues and seasonal vegetation are underutilized under traditional grazing methods.

Solution

Maximizing Crop Residues: It allows for optimal utilization of crop residues and seasonal vegetation, utilizing resources that might otherwise go to waste.
Improved Farm Asset Management: The system facilitates the collection and utilization of manure as a valuable farm asset, contributing to improved soil fertility and agricultural productivity.
Adaptability in Grazing Methods: Animals can be entirely confined (zero-grazing) or partially confined, allowing intermittent grazing around the homestead, offering flexibility in implementing the system.

Key points to design your project

The Cut-and-Carry Fodder Systems technology efficiently feeds confined livestock, minimizing feed wastage and improving overall feed management. It may impact gender roles depending on who handles the labor-intensive task of fodder harvesting. The technology can positively contribute to climate resilience by reducing overgrazing and soil degradation, aligning with SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), and 13 (Climate Action).

To integrate this technology into your project and outline the necessary activities and requirements, follow these steps:

Ensure availability of sufficient vegetation for Cut-and-Carry fodder systems implementation.
Prepare for moderate expenses associated with implementing the system.
Be prepared for labor-intensive daily tasks to supply fresh feed.
Ensure access to improved breeds for enhanced efficiency.
Acquire skills in animal diets, health care, and market intelligence for optimal operation and capitalization on investment.

A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

To implement the technology in your country, you could collaborate with agricultural development institutes.

50—100 USD

Feed and water troughs for 20 to 50 animals

20 USD

Suitable shed per m2

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Niger	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–		–
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 5: gender equality

Establish Suitable Infrastructure: Ensure the availability of a suitable livestock shed for confining animals and protecting them from adverse weather conditions.
Access to Land and Vegetation: Secure access to appropriate land where vegetation suitable for feeding can be grown or sourced.
Allocate Required Labor: Ensure sufficient labor is available to facilitate daily cutting and transporting of fresh fodder to feed the confined animals.
Access to Additional Feed and Veterinary Supplies: Acquire necessary additional feed, such as high-quality supplementary feeds and veterinary supplies, to ensure well-balanced diets and proper animal health.
Determine Animal Dietary Preferences: Recognize that goats prefer leaves of herbaceous plants, while sheep favor grass, and plan feed accordingly to suit their preferences.
Estimate Feed Consumption: Understand the varying feed requirements for animals at different stages of development, with consumption ranging up to six kilograms of fresh fodder per day.