Global assessment of soil carbon in grasslands

Global assessment of soil carbon in grasslands
Author: Dondini, M., Martin, M., De Camillis, C., Uwizeye, A., Soussana, J.-F., Robinson, T., Steinfeld, H.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2023-02-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 925137550X

Soils contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through carbon sequestration. By enhancing soil health and fertility, soils can play a crucial role in climate action, land degradation neutrality, and alleviating hunger. The present study provides a spatially explicit report on the state of grassland soils and can be used as a baseline for future work to explore the impacts of livestock management on soil carbon at regional, country and farm levels. Assessing the current state of grassland systems and their potential to sequester carbon in the soil is of key importance to understand the trade-offs between grassland services on food security, biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.

The economics of pastoralism in Argentina, Chad and Mongolia

The economics of pastoralism in Argentina, Chad and Mongolia
Author: Wane, A.; Cesaro, J.D.; Duteurtre, G.; Touré, I.; Ndiaye, A.; Alary, V.; Juanès, X.; Ickowicz, A.; Ferrari, S. and Velasco, G.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 92
Release: 2020-10-19
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9251333777

Pastoralists make the most of resources distributed unevenly over space and time to provide a range of goods and services. Operating in a shock-prone environment, pastoralists deploy endogenous strategies such as mobility, diversification in agriculture or in non-agricultural activities, management of social networks, etc. However, accurate and reliable knowledge about the economics of pastoralism is yet to be understood and absorbed at the local, regional and national levels, based on reliable data. In the absence of such knowledge, governments and private firms neglect investment that would allow those systems to better connect to markets, and are unable to provide appropriate services, infrastructure and tenure security. With Argentina, Chad and Mongolia as pilot cases, this study by CIRAD, commissioned by FAO, funded by IFAD and facilitated by pastoralist associations (Fundación Gran Chaco, Réseau Billital Maroobé, and the National Federation of Pasture User Groups), aimed to fulfil this knowledge gap through a multifunctional assessment of pastoral production systems and their economic contribution. Importantly, incorporating self-consumption of pastoralist households’ productions themselves as an key component of gross revenue shows a significant increase in their contribution to national GDPs. The diversified sources of revenue and the importance of self-consumption also indicate that pastoral systems fulfil a range of functions (income, food security, flexible labor, etc.). Further, the study promotes close cooperation between pastoralist associations, research institutions and development partners. Such new partnerships allow strengthening the capacity of those pastoralist associations in collecting and managing their own data, as well as using this data in policy dialogue.

Feed Supplementation Blocks

Feed Supplementation Blocks
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 268
Release: 2007
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9789251054383

In facing ever more limited resources and changing market conditions and in the attempt to enhance productivity for strengthening livelihoods, many technologies have been used to improve feed use and animal performance at the faro level. A particularly successful example, in terms of both geographic range of use and relative simplicity in formulation and preparation, is the urea-molasses multi-nutrient block technology. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of development and use of the block technology in countries around the world and it might be of great practical value to extension workers, students, researchers and those thinking of using such feed supplementation technology or of starting commercial production.

Mulberry for Animal Production

Mulberry for Animal Production
Author: Manuel D. Sanchez
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2002
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9789251045688

Mulberry, the feed of silkworm, was one of the first domesticated forages in the world and has been the subject of intensive research over the last few decades. Its intensive cultivation and use specifically for animal production only started during the last two decades. This publication presents a number of articles given at the first electronic conference on mulberry for animal production, held during 2000. This conference was organised in response to the growing interest in the cultivation and use of mulberry to feed various domestic animals. Issues discussed include: germplasm resources in various countries, agronomic aspects, chemical composition, nutritive value and animal performance.

A Technology Review

A Technology Review
Author: D. J. Alexander
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2004
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9789251050804

Previously released in June 2004 and temporarily withdrawn. Now available!) Keeping poultry contributes substantially to household food security throughout the developing world. One of the principal constraints to increasing small-scale poultry production is Newcastle Disease. This acute viral disease can typically kill up to 80 percent of unprotected poultry in rural areas and is found throughout the developing world. This technology review presents the latest understanding of Newcastle Disease, its characteristics, epidemiology, symptoms, and control. It will be of practical value to state and private veterinarians, and to all those involved with rural poultry production who wish to control this disease.