Technological constraints and opportunities in relation to class of livestock and production objectives; Trhe influence of socioeconomic factors on the availability and utilization of crop residues as animal feeds; Crop residues in Tropical Africa: trends in supply, demand and use; Cowpea and its improvement: key to sustainable mixed crop/livestock farming systems in West Africa; Dynamics of feed resources in mixed farming systems in Southeast, South Asia; West/Central Asia-North Africaand Latin America; Crop residues as a strategic resource in mixed farming systems; Alternatives to crop residues as feed resource in mixed farming systems; Alternatives to crop residues for soil amendment; Crop residues for feeding animals in Asia: technology development and adoption in crop/livestock systems; The national perspective: a synthesis of country reports presented at the Workshop.

Technical papers. Setting the scene. Interactions between animals and plants. Interactions between animals and soils. Interactions between plants and soils. Nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems. Modelling nutrient cycles in plant/animal/soil systems.

Conference summary; Summary of plenary sessins; Opening session; Interactions between animals and plants; Interactions between animals and soils; Interactions between plant and soils; Nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems; Modelling nutrient cycles; Closing session; Summary of focus group sessions; Introduction; Animal-plant interactions; Animal-soil interacions; Socio-economic dimensions in nutrient cycling.

At the request and with the support of the Japasese Government, FAO has compiled experiences of livestock keeping from different parts of the world, categorized by production systems, to make it easier for interested people to select ideas for their own conditions. This document presents a sample of technologies for livestock keeping in rural mixed crop-livestock farming systems, with emphasis on describing the livestock production systems in the traditional sector and identifying constraints. Suggestions for improving production in the livestock sector are given throughout the publication and a literature list is included for further reference.

Livestock Play An Important Role In Human Society. Demand For Meat And Milk Is Soaring, And The World S Livestock Sector Is Growing At An Unprecedented Rate. The Greatest Constraint To Livestock Productivity Is The Shortage Of Feeds And Forages. Some Countries Import Cereal Grains In An Effort To Increase Livestock Production Meet The Ever-Increasing Demand For Animal Products. Higher Livestock Productivity, However, Should Be Sought Through Better Use Of Locally Available Feed Resources. Crop Residues, Agro-Industrial By-Products And Animal Wastes, Which Are Available In Appreciable Quantities, Can Play A Significant Role In The Nutrition Of Ruminants. The Purpose Of This Book Is To Assist Researchers In Developing Countries, To Develop Livestock Feeding Systems Based On The Available Resources Which Are Mainly Crop Residues, Dry And/Or Mature Pasutres And Agro-Industrial By-Products. It Will Be Of Great Interest To Research Scientists, Extension Workers, Students, Farmers And Agricultural Managers. Contents Chapter 1: Potentials Of Crop Residues As Animal Feed; Chapter 2: Crop Residues And Agro-Industrial By-Products; Chapter 3: Nutritive Value Of Crop Residues; Chapter 4: Upgradation Of Crop Residues; Chapter 5: Ensiling Crop Residues; Chapter 6: Ammoniation Of Crop Residues; Chapter 7: Utilisation Of Crop Residues Agro-Industrial By-Products; Chapter 8: Safe Use Of Plant And Animal By-Products; Chapter 9: Crop Residues As Feed Resources In Crop/Livestock Farming Systems; Chapter 10: Crop Residues And Agro-Industrial By-Products In Developing Countries; Chapter 11: Organic Crop Production.

While a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture is important, it is equally essential for all those involved in agriculture to understand the functioning of the farming system as a whole and how it can be best managed. It is necessary to re-assess and understand rain-fed farming systems around the world and to find ways to improve the selection, design and operation of such systems for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. The components of the system must operate together efficiently; yet many of the relationships and interactions are not clearly understood. Appreciation of these matters and how they are affected by external influences or inputs are important for decision making and for achieving desirable outcomes for the farm as a whole. This book analyses common rain-fed farming systems and defines the principles and practices important to their effective functioning and management.