The main constraint to livestock development in developing countries is the scarcity and fluctuation of the quality and
quantity of the year-around animal feed supply. There is a serious shortage in concentrated animal feeds such as soybean,
cottonseed and groundnut meals, etc. In addition, the human population is increasing rapidly and arable land is decreasing,
due to soil degradation, urbanization and industrialization. Production of grain in developing countries is mostly for human
consumption. For sustainable development of livestock sector it is essential to secure sufficient supply of balanced feeds
from resources, which do not compete with human food. Novel approaches through the utilization of tree leaves, agro-industrial
byproducts, and aquatic sources are required to bridge the gap between supply and demand of feeds. Other advantages of these
approaches are that they enhance biodiversity and soil fertility and turn byproduct-associated disposal problems into
opportunities for development.
Our objective is to enhance the efficiency of utilization of locally available feed resources such as tree and shrub leaves, agroindustrial byproducts and other lesser-known and new plants adapted to the harsh conditions and capable of growing in poor, marginal and degraded soils. It is being achieved through development of new and improved methods for determination of nutritional value of these feed resources and development, adaptation and use of economically viable and 'simple-to-use' feeding strategies.
