Cattle and buffaloes are an important component of northern Laos upland farming systems since they provide saving facilities, draft power, manure, and cash income. Cattle and buffalo are raised under extensive systems with grazing patterns influenced by the cropping season. During the rainy season when crops are grown, large ruminants are either confined in makeshift housing near cropland areas where they provide draught power and manure or are otherwise sent to distant forests to prevent crop damage. The main identified constraints related to big livestock raising are: high mortality rates, lack of feed during the dry season, lack of feed at critical times during the wet season (e.g. at planting and harvesting, when labor is limited to care for animals), loss of animals due to thieves, fall and predators, and damage to other farmers’ fields. Integrated approaches including animal health improved management, increased and improved fodder resources for the wet and the dry season, and a better valorization of animal dejections are necessary to improve large ruminant’s livestock productivity and profitability.

In 2015, the EFICAS project supported activities related to large ruminant livestock system improvement in 9 villages.