A decline in feed availability for cattle during Timor-Leste's dry season may be having a severe impact on the region, but a new research project exploring alternative feeding methods, specifically silage, aims to minimize its impact on farmers and cattle
The project, which began earlier this year, will evaluate silage as a feeding alternative for farmers to use during the region's dry season.
Silage is made from crops or pastures, which are fermented in the absence of oxygen to maintain feed quality, to then be provided to cattle as a source of food.
The project is being led by Maria Paula Ortiz-Rodriguez, who this year began her PhD journey with the Research Institute for Northern Agriculture (RINA) at Charles Darwin University (CDU).
Cattle are a crucial economic and cultural asset in Timor-Leste but the productivity of Bali cattle during the region's dry season, from June to November, may be hindered due to various factors, including decrease availability of feed.
It is a strategic priority for the region's government to increase its food production and exploring this alternative feeding method alongside animal husbandry changes could play an important role in improving livestock productivity.
"Livestock is of great cultural importance, and they bring money to the tables of farmers, but there isn't a lot of infrastructure systems or extension services to support farmers in making the best decisions for their livestock production systems," Ms Ortiz-Rodriguez said.
"Farmers are faced with not having a lot of food during the dry season. It's a challenging time for everyone. The lack of feed available for cattle during this time may be contributing to weigh loss and overall condition of the animals.
