University of Parakou (UP)
Benin
Problem Statement
Feed limitations and poor nutritional knowledge reduce cattle productivity in West Africa, causing income loss, feed waste, and methane emissions. Dr. Assani's project aims to create a mobile app for low-cost, climate-sensitive rations in Benin, Togo, and Niger.
Progress Highlights
The SmartBov app prototype developed features cattle categories (beef cattle in growth, non-pregnant dairy, pregnant dairy) and a favorites menu for saved feeds.
Key Findings
Low-cost balanced rations have enhanced milk and meat production. A software tool in local languages was developed. It aims to sustainably boost cattle productivity, improve farmers' livelihoods, and reduce carbon footprints.
Potential Impact
This project will contribute to Africa's transformation into a knowledge-based continent, improve food security, reduce poverty, and lower GHG emissions. It will also promote stakeholder learning and better decision-making in Benin, Niger, and Togo.
Summary
Feed is the main limiting and most expensive factor in the livestock production system in developing countries. Poor knowledge of the nutritional requirements of local cattle breeds limits the formulation of balanced rations for these animals in West Africa. In fact, even where quality feeding stuffs are available, rations are not well formulated. Thus, local cattle breeds are not properly fed, resulting in lower milk and meat productivity, potential income losses for small-scale farmers as well as feed wastage. In addition, poor feeding of animals causes greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, particularly methane, which contribute to further global warming.
Dr Assani’s research project will develop mobile application to formulate low-cost, climate-sensitive balanced rations from locally available feed resources for small-scale cattle farmers in Benin, Togo and Niger.
Grantee Description
Dr Alassan Assani Seidou is an ARISE fellow and Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Production at Faculty of Agronomy (FA), University of Parakou (UP) in Benin. He obtained his Ph.D. in Animal Science and Livestock Systems Modeling from UP in 2017 and his doctoral work focused on sustainable management of pastoral resources in Upper Alibori forest in Northern Benin.
Dr. Assani expects that the ARISE programme will help to develop his career and his becoming an independent leading scientist in Africa. He hopes to contribute to the training of young African scientists. With outputs from his work, he intends to inform policymakers to enforce regulations on the sustainable livestock sector in sub-Saharan Africa.
Project: Developing mobile application for formulating cost-efficient balanced and climate sensitive rations for improving livelihood of smallholder cattle farmers in West-Africa
Lack of appropriate feeding standards for developing countries is one of the main constraints for further development of feeding management. It is therefore important to study the nutritional requirements of indigenous cattle accurately and to develop an efficient usage method of local feed resources that do not compete with human consumption. This research project will develop a low-cost and climate sensitive balanced ration formulation mobile application from locally available feed resources for small-scale cattle farmers in Benin, Togo and Niger. In addition, this mobile application will be available in the local languages to facilitate its adoption by local livestock farmers. Feeding animals with balanced rations to meet the actual nutrient requirements of beef and dairy cattle at different stages of production will increase milk and meat yields and incomes for small-scale cattle farmers and reduce feed wastage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This innovation will improve the living conditions for millions of farmers in West-Africa.
