Improved Extension for Livestock Production

Responsibility for the transfer of information to farmers on livestock production has often fallen between extension services, which are geared to the extension of crop messages, and livestock services, which are geared to animal health concerns. However, there is now an increasing demand for livestock production extension, not least where the integration of formerly separate farming and herding systems is proceeding, and indigenous knowledge cannot be relied on. Some of the relevant topics are:

- cultivation of fodder crops
- storage of hay, fodder and crop residues
- integration of soil conservation with livestock feed supply
- strategic use of concentrates within extensive systems
- storage and use of manure
- draught animal power use

Most livestock production extension in the near future is likely to be delivered under large-scale extension services, usually with a primary mandate for crop extension. Some of these will be operating to varying degrees under a "Training and Visit" system. Besides generic problems of sustainability, such services will have problems dealing with the less seasonal basis of livestock production compared to crop production, and the greater inter-household variation in information needs. To better deliver livestock production extension, such services could and should:

- decentralise extension planning and management
- cross-train crop extensionists in livestock production and livestock extensionists in crop production
- introduce participatory needs assessment methodologies
- draw up extension priorities at a local level
- treat extension calendars as a general guide, not as a strict framework
- empower extensionists to deal with variations between households
- ensure direct links between livestock research and extension
- develop adaptive and participatory methodologies for livestock research.

Such incremental reforms should not distract attention from the need for more fundamental reforms of extension services, both to ensure financial sustainability and to maximise farmer participation.

Animal health services may be in a position to deliver livestock production extension, particularly with wealthier and/or peri-urban producers. This will require:

- training in livestock production and communication techniques
- changing professional reward systems to recognise the value of information transfer
- considering cost-recovery measures.

Special projects and services dedicated to livestock production extension can be invaluable in pioneering participatory approaches, but should:

- be designed for replicability and sustainability (unless they are specifically intended as time-limited campaigns)
- plan to disseminate their achievements widely
- be well networked to research
- avoid over-identification with a small number of messages.

Under certain conditions the private sector can deliver livestock production extension, but this is less likely to be the case where livestock messages are closely linked to environmental conservation.

Key References

Morton, J. and Matthewman, R. 1998. Extension of Livestock Production Messages: Guidelines for Policy and Implementation in Developing Countries NRI , Chatham

Morton, J. and Matthewman, R. 1996. Improving Livestock Production through Extension: Information Needs, Institutions and Opportunities. ODI Natural Resource Perspectives, No.12 http://www.oneworld.org/odi/nrp/12.html

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