Cooperating countries: Pakistan, Austria

Coordinating institution: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Project coordinator: Ratchaneewan Khiaosa-ard

Partner institution: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS)

Project duration: 

Budget: 39.760,00 €

The project forms a team of young female and male researchers of different disciplines from two institutions namely University of Veterinary Medicine (Vetmeduni), Vienna, Austria and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Pakistan. Applying a circular economy approach, the team aims to explore the maximum potential of using by-products from the food industry to improve goat milk production. To increase the impact and sustainability of the project, we focus on both resource efficiency and safety of our approach. We will find a strategic solution to turn different local food and crop wastes abundant in Pakistan into safe and low-cost feed suitable for dairy goat farming. The solution will not only ease farm dependency on commercial grain and oilseeds but also alleviate the need for growing fodders to feed animals. We choose ensiling of citrus pulp with wheat straw to create an alternative fodder and use pulse and legume by-products as alternative energy and protein ingredients in diets. With more feed alternatives, rural dairy goat farmers can be more independent and resilient in their productivity. The project will start by addressing a solution for overcoming laboratory limitations in the analysis of silage quality. Next, we will survey and analyze the silage and by-products for their nutritional composition and safety related to microbial and mycotoxin contamination. Diets will be formulated and tested in dairy goats, being assessed for their health, production, and milk quality. Lastly, a workshop will be given to disseminate the project to multiple stakeholders. The sustainability of this project lies in its long-term applicability and transfer of knowledge into practice.