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FEAST: Feed Assessment Tool

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Applications (why, when & where)

Feed for livestock is often cited as the main constraint to improved productivity in smallholder systems. Overcoming this constraint often seems an elusive goal and technical feed interventions tend to adopt a scattergun or trial and error approach which often fails to adequately diagnose the nature of the feed problem and opportunities and therefore the means to deal with problems and harness opportunities. The purpose of the Feed Assessment Tool is to offer a systematic and rapid methodology for assessing feed resources at site level with a view to developing a site-specific strategy for improving feed supply and utilization through technical or organizational interventions. The tool is aimed at research and development practitioners who are working in the livestock sector and need a more systematic means of assessing current feed-related strategies and developing new ones. The Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) is a systematic method to assess local feed resource availability and use. It helps in the design of intervention strategies aiming to optimize feed utilization and animal production (Source: [[1]]).

Brief description

The tool comprises two main elements:

• A focused PRA exercise which provides an overview of the farming system with particular emphasis on livestock feed aspects.
• A simple and brief quantitative questionnaire, designed to be completed by experts under the guidance of the Feast facilitator. Output from 'feast' consists of a short report in a defined format along with some quantitative information on overall feed availability, quality and seasonality which can be used to help inform intervention strategies

The FEAST methodology comprises a 'guide and questionnaire', a 'data template', and a 'data template (Source: [[2]]).

Spatial scale

Community and village

Extractive/non-extractive

• Relatively extractive
• Not very participatory, more extractive method

Complexity

Complex.

Complex systems and issues requires some expertise, training and computer software knowledge for those applying the tool.

For participants:

Outcomes

• Diagnostic tool

Strengths

• Visual feedback
• Output is a discussion tool that leads to action of farmers
• Documented, structural approach creates database for research, comparison and scaling up

Drawbacks

• Expert knowledge required for referencing
• ‘’Black boxes’
• Isolated options, not systemic

Issues

• Low explanatory power
• The diversity in strategies not well captured
• Method could be useful as a final step in an analysis

Resources

Time:

Human resources:

Costing:

Conditions for use and dissemination

None.

Contacts

Alan Duncan ILRI [a.duncan@cgiar.org]

Learn more about this topic

Download the FEAST manual

Read Alan Duncan’s blog post on FEAST

View Alan Duncan’s presentation: Rapid livestock feed assessment tools to support intervention strategies: FEAST and Tec fit

References