A pragmatic approach to improving small ruminant diets in the Indonesian humid tropics

Research conducted since 1980 on the nutrition and feeding of Kacang goats and Javanese Thintail sheep for meat production in Indonesia is reviewed. Feeding practices in three villages were monitored, along with animal production criteria, to better understand the limitations imposed by feed resource availability. Village and experiment station data showed that native or cultivated tropical grasses fed alone did not support growth of young goats and that lambs fed napier grass alone grew at no more than 20 to 25 g/d. Supplementing these grasses with tree legume foliage or wilted cassava leaves at modest levels improved ADG to about 50 g for lambs and 20 g for kids. Faster gains were obtained with higher intakes of tree legume foliage, or with combinations of higher-energy supplements such as rice bran, cassava meal and molasses. A response to mineral supplementation also was shown. Reproductive performance of North Sumatran ewes grazing a native pasture under rubber trees also was improved with supplementation. These experiments show that economically effective options exist for improving small ruminant diets in the humid tropics.