Summary

In all tropical livestock production systems characterized by defined wet and dry seasons, inadequate feeding in the dry season is a major constraint to productivity. Parasitic infections of the digestive tract also limit output. Smallholders rarely have the resources to purchase feed supplements or anthelmintics, especially for small ruminants such as goats.

The use of tree pods and fruits ( Acacia sp.; Prosopis juliflora ) as dry season supplements for goats is being investigated in three projects (R7424, Tanzania ; R7351, Zimbabwe ; R6953, India ). The projects in India and Zimbabwe are seeking to improve goat productivity through feeding protein supplements at critical times in the feeding/production cycle. The Tanzanian project is investigating beneficial effects of tannins, in controlling intestinal parasites.

Although these projects are separated geographically, there are common threads between them:

1. They address problems faced by crop/livestock farmers; specifically goat keepers
2. They are based in semi-arid conditions
3. The three environments are characterized by naturally occurring pod bearing trees.
4. Dissemination and uptake is the priority output.

Documents

	Use of Tanniniferous Feeds to Improve Smallholder Goat Production
	Added value of inter-project dialogue: a 'Link Project' on goat keeping in Africa and India
	Smallstock Keepers Enhance their Livelihoods: Improving Management of Smallholder Owned Sheep and Goats by Utilising Local Resources: Proceedings of the Second DFID Livestock Production Programme Link Project (R7798) Workshop for Smallstock Keepers. Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. 8-10 January 2002.
	The contribution of small ruminants in alleviating poverty: communicating messages from research: Proceedings of the third DFID Livestock Production Programme Link Project (R7798) workshop for small ruminant keepers. Izaak Walton Inn, Embu, Kenya, 4-7 February 2003.
	Small stock in development. Proceedings of a workshop on enhancing the contribution of small livestock to the livelihoods of resource-poor communities Masaka, Uganda, 15–19 November 2004

However, without the financial resource to generate linkages between the projects, each would continue in at least partial ignorance of the others. This link project represented an opportunity to break down these barriers, to the advantage of farmers, extension and research staff, through a 'value-added' component to each project.

A series of workshop proceedings were published and between them they contain a wealth of material relevant to the major issues facing poor farmers in the developing world who are dependent to a greater or lesser extent on smallstock for survival, subsistence, or for semi-commercial reasons.