Reproductive performance of indigenous Lao pigs reared by small-scale farmers in northern provinces of Laos

Abstract. Indigenous pigs are essential domestic animals for rural life and meat supply in Laos, especially for ethnic people in remote areas. Northern provinces have the most numerous indigenous pig populations, i.e. covering 84 % of the total pig population. This study was conducted in northern Laos, where 164 pig-raising households, 325 sows and 1246 piglets were included. The study aimed to observe the general trend of change in indigenous pig utilization and the altered reproductive performance regarding village location and rearing systems. The semi-structured questionnaires were a key tool for gathering data required through personal interviews and field observations. Two types of indigenous Lao pig breeds (locally named Moo Lath and Moo Hmong) were found in study areas. The village locations were not influencing on reproductive performance of indigenous Lao pigs. Larger litter size and birth weight (P<0.004–0.000) was found in the second cluster (15 to 30 km away from downtown) with an average of 8.24 heads and 0.88 kg, while the first (<15 km) and third (>30 km) clusters had 7.72 versus 7.12 heads, and 0.70 versus 0.63 kg, respectively. Conversely, the second cluster had lower litter per year (P<0.001) by 1.04, compared to 1.38 for the first and third clusters. The free-scavenging rearing system (FRS) had a higher litter size (8.5) than the confinement (CRS) and semi-scavenge (SRS) rearing system (7.36 versus 7.54). The FRS had a marginally smaller litter per year (0.87) that differed from the CRS and SRS (1.45 and 1.41). The CRS had a shorter suckling period (2.38 months) with a lower weaning weight (6.74 kg), while the FRS and SRS had longer (2.72 versus 2.8 months) and higher weaning weight (7.76 and 7.57 kg). The mortality before weaning was 15 %, and no difference was found related to the villages' location or rearing systems (P>0.070 versus 0.839). Around 56 % of the piglet's deaths were due to poor management that caused piglets to be crushed/injured by sow or starvation. More than 54 % of farmers did not keep sows in pens before the farrowing, and 53 % of sows gave birth near forests. In conclusion, the village locations and rearing systems did not influence the reproductive performance of indigenous pigs in northern Laos. However, pre- and post-farrowing management had a strong effect on it. During the whole study, we took into consideration the successful example of Hungarian Mangalica pig, which could find a proper new role in the global premium markets. Our results suggest that similar complex semi-intensive farm operations as indigenous Mangalica pig farms in Hungary should be a great option for introducing and adapting to improve indigenous pig performance in Laos.

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269 Effects of high phytase supplementation in lactation diets on sow and litter performance

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa054.175 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 101-102

Author(s):

Kelsey L Batson ◽

Hilda I Calderon Cartagena ◽

Robert D Goodband ◽

Jason C Woodworth ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Litter Size ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Control Diet ◽

Small Scale ◽

Body Weight Change ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Commercial Trial ◽

Quadratic Response ◽

Dietary Treatments

Abstract A total of 109 sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used in a study to evaluate the effect of increasing phytase concentration in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. On d 107 of gestation, sows were blocked by body weight and parity and allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments of increasing phytase concentration (0, 1,000, or 3,000 FYT/kg; Ronozyme HiPhos 2700; DSM Nutritional Products, Inc., Parsippany, NJ). The control diet contained no phytase and was formulated to contain 0.50% standardized total tract digestible phosphorus (STTD P; 0.45% available P) and 0.62% STTD calcium (0.90% total Ca). The same STTD P and Ca concentrations were formulated for the phytase diets considering a release of 0.132 STTD P and 0.094 STTD Ca in both diets. Diets were fed from d 107 of gestation until weaning (d 18 ± 2). Litters were cross-fostered within treatment until 48 h post-farrowing to equalize litter size. Linear and quadratic response to phytase concentration was evaluated using the lmer function in R. There was no evidence for difference in sow body weight change, farrowing performance, wean-to-estrus interval, or litter size among dietary treatments. Sow average daily feed intake from farrowing to weaning tended to increase (linear, P=0.093) as phytase increased. Although not significant (linear, P =0.226), farrowing duration decreased as phytase increased. Litter weaning weight increased (quadratic, P=0.039) and overall litter gain increased (quadratic, P=0.047) with 1,000 FYT of phytase. In summary, sow feed intake tended to increase linearly with increasing phytase; however, feeding 1,000 FYT/kg maximized overall litter gain and weaning weight. This small-scale study suggests sow and litter performance benefits due to high inclusions of dietary phytase; however, a commercial trial with more sows is warranted to confirm these results.

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MOTIVATIONS AND RESOURCES OF SMALL-SCALE FARMERS FOR STAYING IN THEIR VILLAGE IN NORTHEAST THAILAND

Journal of Asian Rural Studies ◽

10.20956/jars.v3i1.1713 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 35

Author(s):

Masatoshi Uehara

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Small Scale ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Worth Living ◽

Northeast Thailand ◽

Simple Question ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

Decision To Stay ◽

Profit Maximisation ◽

The Village

This study aims to examine one simple question: Why do some small-scale farmers in rural, northeast Thailand keep staying on in their villages despite the fact that they could earn a much higher income if they worked in urban areas? To answer this question, this study which is based on first-hand observations from nine years of intensive fieldwork in rural, northeast Thailand provides a detailed description of the small-scale farmers’ resources that enable them to sustain a living and also provides them motivations to stay in their village. The decision to stay on in the village and forgo the option to move out in pursuit of a higher income may seem irrational in the opinion of economists. However, the author, by employing the “capability approach” argument by A. Sen, argues that their behaviour could be understood as efforts of pursuing “lives worth living” (as expressed in his later work as an architect of the UN’s “human security” program) and not solely profit maximisation. Their efforts include establishing “community groups” and practising “sustainable agriculture” including “organic farming” and “integrated farming”. These activities are well-suited to their natural environments and economic conditions and, at the same time, give them autonomy in their villages.

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Who and what set the price of walnuts for small-scale farmers in Southwest China?

Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies ◽

10.1108/jadee-10-2015-0047 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 135-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mei Yan ◽

Anne Terheggen ◽

Dagmar Mithöfer

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

Food Systems ◽

Tree Planting ◽

Small Scale ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Data Set ◽

Content Type ◽

Village Level ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

The Village

Purpose Domestic demand for walnuts has been on the rise for the last decades. Consumption outstrips domestic production capacities, which led to increasing prices until recently. Small-scale farmers are at the centre of walnut tree planting and walnut collection efforts. Farmers are now integrated into rapidly expanding agrifood value chains. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the walnut value chain originating in Yunnan (the dominant producer of walnuts in China). The authors are especially interested in the position of small-scale farmers in the chain and the factors affecting the price that they receive. Design/methodology/approach Price and intra-chain governance information were collected through structured interviews with value chain actors like certified and conventional small-scale farmers, traders, processors, food manufacturers and wholesalers. The resultant price data set was analysed using a multiple regression analysis. Findings Timing of harvest, distance to market and sales volume are correlated with the village-level price. Farmers are in a market governance segment of the chain. Lead firms (e.g. supermarkets) are price-setters and determine the value distribution, with farmers receiving a smaller share relative to downstream actors’ shares. Research limitations/implications Improved connectivity to markets, transparency of standards and price (formation), processing and certification could improve farmers’ profits. Originality/value The authors contribute to the growing literature of value chain studies focussing on farmers’ integration into food systems at different scales. The authors investigated the price determinants at the village level and additionally provide information on an organic marketing arrangement.

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Identification of strategies for enhancing member commitment in Greek agricultural cooperatives: The opinion of cooperative experts

Revista Nacional de Administración ◽

10.22458/rna.v12i2.3777 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. e3777

Author(s):

Tilemachos Manousakis ◽

Panagiota Sergaki ◽

Gert Van Dijk

Keyword(s):

Small Scale ◽

Agricultural Cooperatives ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Quality Of Information ◽

The Past ◽

The Poor ◽

Member Commitment ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

Poor Management

In the era of globalization, where competition is growing intensively, the cooperation between small scale farmers can assist them to be sustainable and survive. However, the situation with cooperatives in Greece is found to be on a downward trend due to their poor economic performance, which is later expressed by the diminished commitment of their members. In order to address the described problem we employed a qualitative study consisted of 10 guided interviewees with “cooperative experts”. Through the interviews the participants were asked to clarify their opinions on two major themes: 1) Common Greek cooperative issues, and 2) Suggestions on strategies employed by cooperatives to enhance members’ commitment. Through our analysis we identified the issues related to the poor management of the cooperatives of the past as the major problems of cooperative in Greece. Regarding the strategies for enhancing commitment of members, the majority of participants highlighted the importance of improving the communication and quality of information provided by the coop to its members for building strong bond of trust and ultimately enhancing their commitment. Although, the improvement of communication takes time and requires consistent effort. Hence, cooperatives may act on employing the appropriate experts in order to improve their process of production and marketing. Strengthening the levels of expertise in the economic activities of the cooperative may assist on the satisfaction of members and enhance their commitment to the coop.

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Village Environment, Capital Endowment, and Farmers’ Participation in E-Commerce Sales Behavior: A Demand Observable Bivariate Probit Model Approach

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11090868 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 868

Author(s):

Xiaojing Li ◽

Apurbo Sarkar ◽

Xianli Xia ◽

Waqar Hussain Memon

Keyword(s):

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Probit Model ◽

Small Scale ◽

Practical Training ◽

Bivariate Probit ◽

Bivariate Probit Model ◽

Capital Endowment ◽

Sales Behavior ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

The Village

With the recent developments in widespread internet usage and digital technology, an ultimate worldwide transformation in information and communications technology has occurred. Especially, how people engage in the virtual market for buying and selling goods has changed dramatically, which flourished the playground of electronic commerce (EC). Interestingly, it has become crucial to create an ample opportunity for farmers to utilize a more comprehensive market range for selling their products. However, farmers participating in e-commerce sales platforms may be interrupted by various internal and external factors. Therefore, the study’s primary goal is to evaluate the impacts of various external and internal factors on shaping farmers’ behavior in participating in e-commerce sales platforms. The study utilized a demand observable bivariate Probit model to analyze the village environment and capital endowment effects to craft the findings. The study utilized micro-survey data from 686 households in the leading kiwifruit-producing area as the empirical setup. The findings illustrated that the village environment is the main factor that restricts farmers’ e-commerce sales behavior, among which the infrastructure and policy environments have a significant contribution to farmers’ e-commerce sales intention and behavior. However, the effect of capital endowment on farmers’ e-commerce selling behavior has been found as significant. The village environment significantly affects both large- and small-scale farmers, and the capital endowment has a higher binding effect on small-scale farmers. Therefore, the paper suggests that improving the village environment for e-commerce development and laying the foundation for e-commerce development should be fostered. A differentiated incentive mechanism to improve the capital endowment of farmers should be constructed. A well-structured capital endowment triggering small farmers to capture the benefits of e-commerce sales should be imposed. The government should extend the support of the agricultural demonstration zone to facilitate practical training among the smallholder farmers. The formal and informal risk-sharing and financial institutions should prioritize building infrastructure to support farmers’ short- and long-term investments. Farmers should realize the importance of e-commerce for integrating the agricultural value chain.

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Agricultural Decisions after Relaxing Credit and Risk Constraints *

The Quarterly Journal of Economics ◽

10.1093/qje/qju002 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (2) ◽

pp. 597-652 ◽

Cited By ~ 294

Author(s):

Dean Karlan ◽

Robert Osei ◽

Isaac Osei-Akoto ◽

Christopher Udry

Keyword(s):

Northern Ghana ◽

Small Scale ◽

Index Insurance ◽

Basis Risk ◽

Demand For Insurance ◽

Rainfall Index ◽

Small Scale Farmers ◽

Investment Patterns ◽

The Village ◽

To Receive

Abstract The investment decisions of small-scale farmers in developing countries are conditioned by their financial environment. Binding credit market constraints and incomplete insurance can limit investment in activities with high expected profits. We conducted several experiments in northern Ghana in which farmers were randomly assigned to receive cash grants, grants of or opportunities to purchase rainfall index insurance, or a combination of the two. Demand for index insurance is strong, and insurance leads to significantly larger agricultural investment and riskier production choices in agriculture. The binding constraint to farmer investment is uninsured risk: when provided with insurance against the primary catastrophic risk they face, farmers are able to find resources to increase expenditure on their farms. Demand for insurance in subsequent years is strongly increasing with the farmer’s own receipt of insurance payouts, with the receipt of payouts by others in the farmer’s social network and with recent poor rain in the village. Both investment patterns and the demand for index insurance are consistent with the presence of important basis risk associated with the index insurance, imperfect trust that promised payouts will be delivered and overweighting recent events.

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Researching Alternative Cash Crops for Small Scale Farmers in Southern Ohio

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.530a ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 530a-530

Author(s):

Brad Bergefurd ◽

Gary Gao

Keyword(s):

Applied Research ◽

Small Scale ◽

Extension Agents ◽

Research Projects ◽

Cash Crops ◽

Grant Program ◽

Culinary Herbs ◽

Small Scale Farmers

Speciality crops are great alternative cash crops for small scale farmers. Small scale farmers are constantly searching for viable economic crops to grow. We have been conducting applied research on the production and marketing of culinary herbs, oriental vegetables, colored peppers, and muskmelons to name a few. These crops show excellent potential for southern Ohio. Field demonstration, seminars, and surveys were used to gather and disseminate information on these speciality crops. More than 230 people attended our seminars on alternative cash crops. More than 150 people attended our field days. In addition, we had identified many chefs that are willing to purchase from local speciality crop growers. It will be a win-win situation for both chefs and growers. Growers will be able to maximize their profitability while chefs will receive fresh and unique produce. As a result of our research, we were able to show small scale growers what they can grow successfully and how they can market their crops for most profit. These applied research projects received a combined funding of $10000.00 from OSU Extension-Innovative Grant program. These projects are a great way to establish credibility among clients. We would also like to demonstrate how other extension agents can help their clients. A lecture utilizing slides and overhead transparencies will be the format of the seminar.

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