Impact of Forage Programme on Cattle Body Condition Score of Smallholder Farmers in Cambodia

Abstract

: The survey was conducted in the target provinces, Kampong Cham and Pursat province, of Beef for Market Project funded by ACIAR, Australia, in January and July 2016. Survey was designed with three different types of farmers such as adopted farmer, exposed farmers and non-exposed farmers. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the introducing forage on cattle production of smallholder farmers supported by the project. The adopted farmers, who have involved in the project, planted the forage to supplement their cattle, got higher BCS (Body Condition Scoring) and total income than exposed and non-exposed farmers. However, the BCS varied with season and gender of cattle as well, when in the raining season male cattle produced higher BSC than dry season and female cattle respectively. However, further study on impact of converting cropland into forage planting should be deeply analyzed, since there was competition of land use.