Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology

Transferring new and advanced knowledge and skills acquired in the ITPDN, Ghent University (B)

Goal

The objective was, to transfer the advanced knowledge and skills acquired during the International Training Program on Dairy Nutrition, Belgium. Target audience were Technical and Vocational College (KATVC) lecturers in the department of animal sciences and Veterinary Medicine, third year students of the department of animal sciences, and development agents working with smallholder farmers at the grass root level. The reason for focusing on these target groups rather than on smallholder farmers per se was to reach a wider dairy farming community in a sustainable manner.

In doing so, the community service program aimed at putting its own share in the advancement of the smallholder dairy sector at micro level and at achieving the five years’ agricultural transformation plan of the country at macro level.

 

Description

Project Activities
Due to the various target groups, the knowledge transfer process had three parts where different target groups were trained in different level of focus for the below mentioned major training contents:

  • Feed Resources: Conservation & quality improvement options
  • Feed evaluation methods: Introduction to the Dutch system
  • Cross breed dairy cows in brief
  • Balanced ration formulation: using Solver / hand calculation for students
  • Dairy cow management
  • Lessons learned from intensive farming practices from Dutch farms: Environmental Perspectives

 

Results

Mainstreaming the newly acquired knowledge and skills through the academic tools of Wollo University and KATVC was one of the achievements of these knowledge sharing activities and with this effort we were able to train 19 lecturers and 31 students of animal sciences. On top, we were also able to train 13 extension agents working at the grass root level serving smallholder farmers in Dessie milk shed areas. From these, 40% were females.

These development agents are expected to serve more than 7000 smallholder dairy farmers in their mandate areas.