Evaluation of balance and possibility of large cattle development on the basis of roughage sources of Gia Lai province
This research was conducted in Gia Lai province from 12/2017 to 12/2019 to evaluate balance and possibility of large cattle development on the basis of local roughage sources. After 3 years of research, application of methods both in geography, botanical, ecological and animal sciences, the relationship between ruminant production and roughage sources has been reviewed in this paper. The results of the study identify the local sources of roughage for cattle in Gia Lai including natural grass, cultivated grass and agricultural by-products; The total amount of current roughages is generally sufficient to meet the needs of the large cattle herds but is not seasonal. There are many localities where lack of roughage, the most serious are Pleiku, An Khe, Chu Puh, Duc Co and Chu Se, to be safe when the hot and dry season lasts, these localities have to reduce the number of large cattle herds or take measures to reserve roughage, develop forage grass production, apply technical measures in processing and preserving of roughage for cattle. Even when using all cultivated grass resources, the risk of lack of roughage during the long hot dry season is still quite high in An Khe, Ia Grai, Ia Pa and Krong Pa, and if only using all resources of the easy-to-use agricultural by-products, localities with high risk of lack of roughage are still at risk: Pleiku, Duc Co, Ia Grai, Krong Pa, Chu Pưh, Chu Se, or they can only meet the level of near enough. like An Khe and Mang Yang. Only when they use all most of the agricultural by-products combined with cultivated grass will these localities ensure the safety of roughage for large cattle herds in the long dry seasons. Only K’Bang and Phu Thien can provide enough roughage and be able to develop the best cattle herds.
