A presentation made at the WCCA 2011 event in Brisbane, Australia.

1. Improving cattle profitability in mixed crop-
livestock systems in south central coastal
Vietnam using an integrated modelling approach
Parsons D, McDonald C, NX Ba, DT Tuan, Lisson S,
Corfield J, LD Phung, NH Quan, NH Van, LD Ngoan,
Lane P

2. Q. Can we use modelling tools to design
improved farming systems for smallholder
beef producers in Vietnam?
TIAR – research • development • extension • education • training

3. “Better Integration of Beef
Cattle Production with Crop
Production Systems in South-
Central Coastal Vietnam”
•4-year ACIAR funded project
•Commenced in 2009
UTAS/TIAR
CSIRO
Hue University
Research and Development
Centre for Animal Husbandry
TIAR – research • development • extension • education • training

4. Background
•Farming systems are based on livestock, subsistence rice crops,
and cash crops (e.g. cassava, peanuts, and cashews)
•Increasing demand for beef in the major urban centres and
consequent high beef prices
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5. Constraints
low fertility sandy soils
high temperatures, long dry season, flooding
limited quantity and quality of feeds
poor livestock production
long calving intervals
high calf mortality rates
low growth rates
low cattle productivity and efficiency
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6. Objective
Use a farming systems research approach to explore the
opportunities and constraints to increasing the profitability of
smallholders in south central coastal Vietnam.
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7. Defining the Farming System
•Detailed household surveys (~60 households/commune)
•On-farm biophysical monitoring (~10 households/commune)
cattle were weighed regularly
inventories of local feedstuffs
Trialled potential suitable forage varieties
•Workshops with farmers and other stakeholders (~20 people/
commune)
•Interviews with leaders, officials
•Focus group discussions (~5 people/commune).
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8. Seasonal farming calendar for Cat Trinh
Commune, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Rainfall Drizzling rain Dry Season Very high rainfall Rain
Main crops
Winter – Spring rice Summer-Autumn rice
Rice crop crop Third rice crop
Cassava Growing season
Peanut Winter - Spring crop Summer - Autumn crop
Cashew Harvesting Planting Harvesting
Cattle activities
Breeding Calving Mating
Grazing Grazing Less grazing More grazing
Rice Straw use More in ration Less in ration
Cultivated grass use
Cut and carry grass
Peanut vine use
Body condition Low High Low
Prices High
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9. The Integrated Analysis Tool (IAT)
•IAT was used to simulate crop, forages and livestock activities
within local farming systems and assess their economic and
social feasibility.
•‘Best-bet’ options were chosen based on analysing the system
and experience with application of practices that have been
successful in other similar situations.
TIAR – research • development • extension • education • training

10. Integrated Analysis Tool
Livestock
Livestock yield Economic
Inputs
Climate model model
Outputs
Soil Herd structure Cattle,
Management Forage yield
& management
Crop, forage yield crop,
Price forage,
Costs profit,
Labour labour
Machinery
APSIM
(Crop/forage model)
Feasible / most profitable strategy

11. Baseline
Scenario Cut & carry Animals sold Cattle sale Fodder Gross Margin Final cash
kg/day over 10 years weight (kg) surplus (M VND/year) balance (M
(kg/month) VND)
Baseline: 0.2 ha rice (3 crops); 0.1 ha cassava on upland; 0.2 ha peanut on upland; 1 cow; fed cut &
carry of 20 kg/day plus supplements; 90 % retention of rice and peanut straw.
Baseline 20 5-6 200 -1600 10 48
•Farmers were making sufficient income to cover their living costs
•Forage deficit of around 1600kg
•3 years to get animals to a marketable size.
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12. Scenario 1 - Elephant grass
Scenario Cut & carry Animals sold Cattle sale Fodder surplus Gross Margin Final cash
kg/day over 10 years weight (kg) (kg/month) (M VND/year) balance (M
VND)
Baseline 20 5-6 200 -1600 10 48
Scenario 1 Grow 0.1ha grass on upland, plus 0.1ha in backyard; increase cut & carry to 25kg/day
25 5-6 225 0 10 51
•Improved the feed supply to animals, increased the animal sale weight, and
eliminated the forage deficit.
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13. Scenario 2 – tree legumes
Scenario Cut & carry Animals sold Cattle sale Fodder surplus Gross Margin Final cash
kg/day over 10 years weight (kg) (kg/month) (M VND/year) balance (M
VND)
Baseline 20 5-6 200 -1600 10 48
Scenario 2 As above, and grow 100m of tree legume
25 7-8 300 4000 10-15 79
•Improved forage quality and increased calving rate and
liveweight gain, as well as providing a forage surplus.
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14. Scenario 3 – improved husbandry
Scenario Cut & carry Animals sold Cattle sale Fodder surplus Gross Margin Final cash
kg/day over 10 years weight (kg) (kg/month) (M VND/year) balance (M
VND)
•Introduction of controlled mating (annual calving) and early 48
Baseline 20 5-6 200 -1600 10
weaningAsof calves increased cattle sales to 9 over the 10-year
Scenario 3 above with seasonal mating and early weaning
period (Scenario 4). 8-9
25 350 3500 10-20 95
•increased animals sales, sale weight
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15. Scenario 4 - extra cow
Scenario Cut & carry Animals sold Cattle sale Fodder surplus Gross Margin Final cash
kg/day over 10 years weight (kg) (kg/month) (M VND/year) balance (M
VND)
Baseline 20 5-6 200 -1600 10 48
Scenario 4 As above, increase number of cows to 2, cut & carry to 35kg
35 14-15 300 -1500 15-20 154
•increased animals sales and cash balance
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16. Implementing ‘Best-bet’ options
•Using a farming systems approach we identified numerous
possible options to improve livestock production and
household welfare.
•The simulation results suggest that the following management
practices can greatly improve the profitability of a household:
•improved forages
•introduction of tree legumes
•improved cattle management
•herd size
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17. Results so far
These options are currently being tested in collaboration with
15 farmers in each study commune.
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18. Thanks!
Particularly to
the farmers
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