Philippine E-Journals

Assessment of Backyard Livestock Production in Rosario, Batangas Applying Land Use System Approach

E. E. Victorio | Rodrigo B. Badayos

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

The study evaluated the performance and constraints of backyard livestock production in Rosario, Batangas using the land use system approach. The study used farmers' interview and land resources survey to generate needed data and information. Two soil series with four soil types, namely: Guadalupe clay loam and Ibaan clay loam, sandy clay loam and sandy loam were found associated with the eight land units (LUs) that covered the entire study area. The low suitability rating of many of the crop-livestock integration units was attributed primarily to the limited on farm production of roughage for ruminants. The swine production which uses commercial feeds was obviously not affected by the said limitation of roughage supply. The study established that the current crop-livestock integration units in Rosario, Batangas particularly the crop ruminants were marginal to unsuitable land use option. Ruminant raising was found to be regularly experiencing serious limitations on roughage supply particularly during the dry season. However, Rosario, Batangas had adequate land resources to accommodate the planting of suitable and improved forage grass and legume species to support cut and carry and/or grazing requirements of livestock. Therefore, planting of suitable forages, including more tree legumes is recommended to increase roughage supply particularly during the dry season.