Presented by Jane Wamatu (ICARDA) at the Training Workshop on Feed Assessment Tools, ILRI, Addis Ababa, 18-21 November 2013

1. FEAST
Feed Assessment Tool
Jane Wamatu (ICARDA)
Training on Feed Assessment Tools, ILRI, Addis Ababa,
18-21 November 2013

2. Feed Assessment: The Problem
Conventionally focuses on:
 The feeds
 Nutritive value of the feeds
 Ways of improving the nutritive value
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3. What is FEAST?
 A tool to assess feed resource availability and
use at site-level
 A systematic and rapid method
 Broadens feed assessment to determine:

is livestock is an important livelihood strategy?

how important are feed problems relative to other problems?

What about labour, inputs, credit, seasonality, markets?
 Helps in the design of site-specific strategies for
feed supply and utilization through technical and
organizational interventions
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4. Components of the FEAST Tool
PRA
Exercise
Individual
Farmer
Survey
Data
Analysis &
Developing
Interventions
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• Overview of Farming System
• Description of the Livestock Production System
• Major Problems, Issues and Opportunities within
the livestock system
• Quantitative Information on crop-livestock
production, feed availability, feeding rations
• Qualitative Information - perception on feed
• Enter data into FEAST Template
• Based on result, develop ideas for Intervention

5. PRA
 General description of farming system





range of farm sizes,
farm labour availability
annual rainfall pattern
irrigation availability
types of animals raised by households
 General description of livestock production
 the types of animals raised
 the purpose of raising these animals
 the general animal husbandry
 Ease of access to credit
 How available are necessary inputs
 Problem identification and potential solutions
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6. Individual Farmer Survey
 Quantitative questionnaire
 Land size of small, medium, large farmer
 Animals – livestock inventory
 Crops - yields and areas to derive crop residue availability
 Cultivated forages – yields and areas
 Collected fodder: proportion of diet
 Purchased feed
 Grazing: proportion of diet
 Contributors to household income
 Production
o
o
Milk production
Sale of livestock
 Seasonality
o Feed supply: overall seasonal availability
o What is fed in different months?
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7. Data Analysis - FEAST Template
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8. FEAST Sample Output
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9. FEAST Sample Output
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10. FEAST Sample Output
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11. Final Output
 Feast report with some ideas for key problems and
solutions
 Better links and understanding between farmers,
research and development staff
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12. Project partners -Ethiopia

13. Thank You
Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net
The presentation has a Creative Commons licence. You are free to re-use or distribute this work, provided credit is given to ILRI.