Proposal Example 1

Project Proposal
1. Project information
Poultry feeding systems in PNG
Title:
Applicant Name and Organisation:

Dr Phil Glatz
Phone: 08 8303 7786
Fax: 08 8303 7689
Email: glatz.phil@saugov.sa.gov.au
Commissioned Organisation:
SARDI South Australian Research
and Development Institute (a Division
of PIRSA)
Project Type: Medium
2. 1.1 Funding request

Year 1
$1678,293
744
Year 2
$1468,055
744
Year 3
$75,
62783,297
Total
$399,9785
1.2 Duration of the project

Proposed start date:
Proposed finish date:
Duration:
Proposal stage:
1 July 2002
30 June 2005
3 years
Full
1.3 ACIAR information

ACIAR Research Program Area: Animal Science 2
Project number: AS2/2001/077
Geographic region and country: PNG
1.4 Key contacts

Project leader: Australian Commissioned Organisation
Title: Dr
Name: Phil Glatz
Phone: 08 8303 7786
Email: glatz.phil@saugov.sa.gov.au
Position: SRS
Fax: 08 8303 7689
Mobile: 0401 120 982
Postal Address: SARDI, Pig & Poultry Production Institute

Davies Building, Roseworthy Campus
Roseworthy, SA, 5371 Australia
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Administrative contact: Australian Commissioned Organisation/ IARC

Title: Mr
Name: Dennis OMalley
Position: External Funds Administrator
Phone: 08 83039323
Fax: 08 83039309
Email: omalley.dennis@saugov.sa.gov.au
Mobile: 0417835226
Postal Address: GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA, 5001
Street Address: Plant Research Centre, 2B Hartley Grove,
Urrbrae, SA, 5064
Project leader: Partner country
Title: Dr
Name: Pikah J Kohun
Phone: (675) : 475 1248

Email: pikah@global.net.pg
Position: Principal Scientist- National

Livestock Program
Fax: (675) 475 1034
Mobile:
Postal Address: National Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 1639, Lae,
Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
Partner country collaborating organization: Morobe Provincial Division of
Agriculture and Livestock
Title: Mr
Name: Geoving Bilong
Position: Provincial Agricultural Adviser
Phone: (675) 473 1659
Fax: (675) 472 1668
Postal Address: PO Box 73, Lae, Morobe Province, PNG
Partner country collaborating organization: Madang Provincial Department of
Primary Industries
Title: Mr
Name: Paschal Feria
Phone: ( 675) 852 3371

2737
Ph/Fax: (675) 852
Position: Provincial Agricultural Adviser

Fax: (675) 852 3038
Postal Address: PO Box 2108, Madang, Madang Province, PNG

Partner country collaborating organization: Salvation Army Agricultural
Development Program
Title: Mr
Name: Markus Muntwiler
Position: Agricultural Adviser
Phone: (675) 675 737 1279
Fax: (675) 675 737 1279
Email: salvo@datec.com.pg
Mobile:
Postal Address: Private Mail Bag 3, Kainantu, Eastern Highlands Province, PNG
Partner country collaborating organization: Lae Feed Mills (Associated Mills,

Goodman Fielder International)
Title:
Name: Andrew Smith
Position: General Manager, PNG,

Goodman Fielder International
Phone: (675) 308 2200
Fax: (675) 321 2732
Email: ajsmith@gfi.com.pg
Mobile:
Postal Address: P.O .Box 486, Port Moresby, PNG
1.5 Project summary

During 2001 NARI conducted a series of provincial consultations and a workshop to
determine the key livestock R&D issues for PNG. The workshop was supported by
ACIAR and involved smallholders, researchers, extension staff and other stakeholders,
including the private sector and NGOs. Reducing the cost of livestock feeding was
identified as the highest priority. In particular, the smallholder broiler chicken production
that produces about 6 million birds per year with a value of A$54M was identified as a
sector where feed costs could be reduced and profitability increased if there was greater
use of local feed resources.
This project arose from ACIARs involvement in the prioritizing activity. NARI is the
appropriate agency to conduct the research activity in PNG. Lae Feed Mills from the
private sector are the primary source of compounded feeds for independent smallholder
broiler producers. Two Provincial Government agencies and an NGO will be primarily
responsible for interaction with the smallholder farmers. The SARDI Pig and Poultry
Institute was chosen as the Australian partner because they operate a feed testing facility
for the poultry industry and are currently researching alternative broiler production
systems that are akin to smallholder systems.
Currently there is no national facility in PNG for the live bird testing of feedstuffs
for poultry. Establishment of such a facility is seen as essential for the systematic
evaluation of locally available feeds and for the formulation of rations using those feeds.
These rations will be specific to areas where the feeds are available, will take account of
seasonal changes in availability and quality, and the requirements of the birds during
their different growth phases.
The research approaches are to:
establish a quality assured feed testing facility to appropriate standards to enable
PNG to assess feeds available for broiler and layer production;
profile, according to feeding value, including seasonal and varietal variation,
availability and cost, a selected range of feeds abundant in PNG but not well
documented according to modern standards;
conduct on-station feeding trials at both Labu (NARI) and SARDI with broiler
chickens to determine production performance on rations derived from the tested
and (as necessary) other feeds; and
field-test and demonstrate on-farm in a participatory manner the use of
appropriate rations determined by the testing procedures and taking into account
regional availability of feeds.
It is intended that NARI and the other participating agencies will have the capacity to
sustain both the feed testing and extension activities post-project, due to the on-going
need and the capacity building included in the project. The project will serve as a model
for extension of activities to the provinces. Lae Feed Mills will be able to manufacture
broiler rations containing local feedstuffs based on the research outputs. It is expected a
greater number of smallholder farmers will purchase the cheaper feed.
In Australia, the egg and broiler sectors are diversifying into less intensive
production systems. These include more fibrous diets to slow growth, and free-range
systems to allow freedom of movement and so reduce physiological stress on birds
resulting from rapid growth. The Australian component of the project will investigate
alternative production systems that have some commonality with the smallholder
systems under study in PNG, particularly in the type and quality of diets.
2. Project justification
2.1 Issues addressed for partner country and Australia, and their priority
The production of cheaper or more appropriate feeds for livestock was one of the main
research opportunities identified by NARI during the nation-wide prioritizing activity
conducted during 2001 (see Healy, 2001). This ACIAR supported activity involved
smallholders, researchers, extension staff and other stakeholders, including the private
sector and NGOs. Reducing the cost of feeds was identified as the primary means of
improving or maintaining profitability of smallholder broiler chicken production,
particularly through greater use of locally available feed resources.
This investment opportunity arose from ACIARs involvement in the prioritizing
activity. NARI is the appropriate agency to conduct the research activity in PNG. Two
Provincial Government agencies and an NGO will be primarily responsible for interaction
with the smallholder farmers, while Lae Feed Mills is the major supplier of broiler feed to
these farmers. The SARDI Pig and Poultry Institute was chosen as the Australian partner
because they operate a feed testing facility for the poultry industry and are currently
researching alternative broiler production systems that are more akin to smallholder
systems.
PNG smallholders who operate independently from the vertically-integrated
commercial frozen carcass broiler industry currently produce about 6 million birds per
year for sale in informal local markets. The sale of chickens is the major source of
income from the livestock sector of traditional smallholder farming systems, with an
estimated 50,000 families currently producing broilers. Smallholders purchase day-old
chicks with high genetic merit from the commercial sector, usually in lots of 50, grow
them out for 6-8 weeks using commercial feeds and some locally available feedstuffs,
and sell them as live birds in local markets. The large-scale commercial producers do not
consider this sector as competitorsive forwith their fresh or frozen market in the urban
areas (personal communication - Mark Low, General Manager, Tablebirds, Lae, PNG).
Chicks are moved to remote communities by road, plane or boat, sometimes supported
by government and/or NGOs.
Profitability of raising broilers is primarily constrained by input costs. Commercial
feed costs continue to rise as most dietary ingredients are imported. For birds grown to
2.5 kg in 49 days, commercial feed costs are 7-9 Kina from a selling price of 12-14 Kina.
This margin continues to tighten, hence stimulating more interest in alternative cheaper
feed sources that may lengthen the grow-out period by 7-10 days, but increase the profit
margin. Lae Feed Mills representatives also consider development of cheaper broiler
diets as critical to viability of smallholder farmers and to maintain turnover of broiler feed
from the mill. Agro-industrial by-products such as copra meal and palm kernel meal are
available at some locations and could be used more widely. The high cost of transport
prohibits their use in small lots away from the source. However, the feed mills have
demonstrated that they can purchase and transport these products at reasonable costs
in bulk, as demonstrated by current use of byproducts in pelleted rabbit feed. Other
feeds that are or could be available within the villages, such as root crops and forages,
can be used as poultry feeds but farmers have limited or no information on how to
formulate balanced rations from these feeds. This project proposes to redress this
problem.
In Australia, the egg and broiler sectors are developing alternative less intensive
systems of production. These include more fibrous diets to slow growth, and free-range
systems to allow freedom of movement and reduce physiological stress on birds caused
by rapid growth. Intensive selection programs in broiler chickens to improve live weight
gain and meat yield has been very successful. Modern broilers grow 4 times faster and
have an 8-fold increase in breast muscle growth (Havenstein et al., 1994) compared to
layer and control lines. However, the rapid growth of broilers is accompanied by a
number of undesirable consequences that 00have raised ethical concerns (Savory,
1995).
One such problem in broiler production is the high incidence of skeletal disorders,
particularly leg problems, and research is being supported by RIRDC and key producers
from industry to address this problem. Options include feeding protocols for free-range
broilers and information for the intensive commercial industry on suitable higher fibre and
lower energy diets that ameliorate the effects of conventional diets. The Australian
component of the project will concentrate on aspects of these alternative production
systems that have some commonality with the smallholder systems under study in PNG.
2.2 Project strategy: relationship to previous ACIAR research and other
researchers.
Currently there is no national facility in PNG for the testing of locally available
feedstuffs to determine their value as components of poultry rations. Establishment of
such a facility is considered essential for the long-term viability of the smallholder
production sector through the development of lower cost rations utilizing local products to
replace high-cost imported components. NARI recognizes that this will be an ongoing
activity as only a limited number of feedstuffs and complete rations will be tested in the
course of this project and because the price and availability of individual feeds will
change over time, so requiring reformulation of rations. These formulations will be
designed specifically for use by smallholder farmers and by local feed mills and will be
specific to areas where the feeds are available, will take account of seasonal changes in
availability, quality and price, and the requirements of the birds during the different
growth phases.
The research approaches are to:
establish a quality assured live bird feed testing facility to appropriate standards to
enable PNG to assess locally available feeds for both broiler and layer chickens;
profile, according to feeding value, including seasonal and varietal variation,
availability and cost, a selected range of feeds abundant in PNG but not well
documented according to modern standards;
conduct on-station feeding trials at both Labu (NARI) and SARDI with broiler
chickens to determine production performance on rations derived from the tested
and (as necessary) other feeds; and
field-test diets manufactured by Lae Feed Mills and demonstrate on-farm in a
participatory manner the use of appropriate rations determined by the testing
procedures and taking into account regional availability of feeds.
The project is designed to achieve a balance of research and development with
the establishment of a feed testing service, on-station and on-farm testing and feeding
trials and the development of feeding strategies for village farmers. Preparation of
extension materials and extension officer training will assist in uptake of the research.
The training of scientific and technical staff from NARI at SARDI in Australia will
strengthen the linkages, communication and collaboration amongst the stakeholders.
The timing of the project is appropriate because NARI as an institution has the
capacity to use up-to-date facilities and methods to develop rations meeting farmer
expectations, making optimal use of local resources, and communicating this technology
to farmers either directly or through the range of extension providers. NARI is committed
to maintaining the bioassay facility and feed testing service. This commitment recognises
that there is an ongoing need for testing seasonal variation in quality in existing crops
and other feed sources and evaluating new crops and by-products as they become
available and as costs of ingredients change. A dual approach is being used to maintain
an ongoing capacity in PNG to service the important poultry smallholder production
sector. During the project, staff will be recruited and trained to operate and maintain the
feed testing facility. In addition the extension service capability and support activities with
Provincial partners will be further developed to ensure smallholder farmers are
continually encouraged to adopt the new feeding strategies. This is where some
additional words about NARIs long-term commitment to this activity is required.
Smallholder farmers are clearly expressing their needs, aspirations and
willingness to be more innovative in their approach to broiler feeding than in the past.
Early poultry research in PNG (1975-85) on smallholder commercial broiler production
was aimed at developing and demonstrating modern production systems using
conventional feeds (see Moat & Bilong, 2000). This work underpinned the current frozen
and live-bird broiler industries. However, the lack of an on-going systematic evaluation of
the nutritional value of local feedstuffs and reliance on imported feed ingredients has
resulted in the rapid escalation of feed costs. The AusAID funded project, Australian
Contribution to the National Agricultural Research System (ACNARS), working with
NARI, has identified local feed ingredients that could substantially lower the cost of
broiler feed in PNG.
The probability of success of the project is high because the demand for
appropriate technology has received strong support from the farmers and Lae Feed Mills.
The development of ana quality assured standard facility to test feeds and rations and
the development of teamwork in the dissemination of technology to farmers through
collaboration of scientists, extension providers, development agencies, feed millers, and
farmers will underpin the success of the project. It is anticipated that the availability of
cheaper feed will lead to rapid uptake of the technologytechnology, as many
smallholders will not have to change their current practices. The ACNARS project is
currently strengthening the NARI outreach and liaison capacity and this will support the
dissemination of the results from this project, particularly through the development of
procedures for field-testing of extension aids.
3. Project operations
3.1 Objectives
The aim of this project is to increase or maintain the profitability of smallholder poultry
production in PNG through the provision of information that will enable farmers or
commercial millers to formulate or use lower-cost poultry rations utilizing locally available
feeds, and in Australia to evaluate free-range production systems.
In PNG:
Objective 1: To establish a quality-assured research facility in PNG to determine the
quality of poultry feeds.
Objective 2: To formulate and evaluate low-cost milled and home mix rations based on
locally available feeds.
Hypotheses :
High quality, low cost poultry rRations can be formulated from locally available feeds in PNG.
Evaluation of rations in growth studies can demonstrate an improvement in profitability of

growing broilers to market age in PNG.
that reduce the cost of production of broilers.
etc
Objective 3: To establish a system for the exchange of information with smallholder
farmers about low-cost rations for poultry production.
Hypotheses:
An efficient and effective extension program can be established in PNG to train farmers to
prepare and/or use low cost rations.
Targeted extension activities can result in a 50% increase in PNG village farms adopting new
feeding strategies.
The profitability of smallholder broiler production in PNG can be improved by 50% using
rations formulated from local feed sources.
The profitability of smallholder broiler production can be improved by 50% through the
adoption of the new rations.
etc
In Australia:
Objective 4: To establish a free-range broiler production facility, evaluate local feeds and
communicate information to industry.
Hypotheses:
Low cost, high quality forage based rations to improve bird welfare can be formulated for
broilers from Southern Australian forage sources.
Evaluation of low cost rations can demonstrate an improvement in profitability of free-range
broiler production in Australia.
The sustainability of broiler free-range systems in Australia can be improved by integrating
broilers with pasture/cropping rotation systems.
3.2 Outputs
Objectives
1. Establish the
research facility.
2. Formulation and
evaluation of rations.
Outputs
Research facility
producing quality
assured results (P).
Assumptions
Equipment and facility built
on time and can operate
under local conditions (P).
Trial protocols
understood by local staff
(P).
Local problems can be

overcome simply, e.g.
environmental constraints
(P).
The nutritive value of

industrial by-products
and village feedstuffs
assessed (P)
Locally available feedstuffs

and forage sources are
suitable for broiler
production (P).
Complete rations
formulated and tested
(P).
3. Communicating with
farmers.
Applications
Facility functional and
useable for evaluating
feeds (P).
Broiler rations appropriate

for smallholder farmers (P).
Commercial feed mills use

more locally available
feeds (P).
A baseline study of
current feeding practices
in villages (P).
Farmers prepared to
change from current
rations and practices (P).
Evaluation study shows

uptake of new rations (P).
Provincial extension
agents and NGO staff
trained in communication
with smallholder farmers
(P).
Trainees willing and able to

develop new skills. (P)
High use of local feed

resources (P).
Establish demonstration
activities with farmers
(P).
Farmers willing to
participate in
demonstration trials (P).
Extension materials widely

used (P).
Produce information
leaflets suitable for
extension and NGO staff
and farmers (P).
4. Free-range facility,
feed evaluation &
communication
Ecoshelter functional (A).

Rations formulated and
tested (A).
Website established and
factsheets developed
(A).
P= Partner developing country
Local problems can be

overcome simply, e.g.
environmental constraints
(A).
Locally available feedstuffs
and forage sources are
suitable for broiler
production (A).
Farmers willing to use crop
and pasture sources (A).
Facility functional and

useable for evaluating
feeds (A).
Broiler rations appropriate
for free-range farmers (A).
Extension materials widely
used (A).
A= Australia
3.3 Research methodologies and project travel

3.3.1 Methods
1.
PNG Bioassay Facility
Rationale: The first phase of the project is to establish a poultry bioassay facility for accurate
evaluation of nutritional values of locally available feed resources.
Specific tasks:
A user brief (identifying the required infrastructure and new equipment required in an
existing building at Labu, NARI) for the poultry bioassay facility will be developed,
taking account of local conditions and long-term management and operation. A test
run using improvised equipment from Labu will provide the guidelines for the
operation and development of the new facilities at Labu.
NARI technical and professional staff will receive training at SARDI during the
development of NARIs bioassay facility.
The facility will be constructed and commissioned on the basis of best tender price
received either in PNG or Australia. QA protocols for operation of bioassay facility will
be prepared. Standardisation of bioassay facility will be achieved by comparison of
bird AME [Apparent Metabolisable Energy] (to 2.5% accuracy) at SARDI and PNG
site using a sorghum ration (internal standard) used at SARDI. The feasibility of
modifying AME procedures (eg. collection periods, sub-sampling), making it more
cost effective for servicing local needs will be examined. Technical and professional
staff from SARDI will assist in the onsite development and operation of QA protocols
at NARI during the standardisation phase.
2.
Formulation and evaluation of rations

Rationale: The feed evaluation at Labu (NARI) will cover feeds that are firstly suitable for
inclusion in milled, pelleted feeds and secondly those most suitable for small-scale
farmer mixing and feeding on site.
Specific tasks:
Design least cost poultry diets suitable for peri-urban and village chicken meat
production units.
In PNG, palm kernel expeller meal, wheat mill run, copra meal, fish meal and leaf
meal have been identified as potential feed sources of suitable quality and availability
for use by local feed mills to produce low cost feeds.
In addition, farmers who cannot source milled feeds have access to rice bran, root
crops, banana, sago and green vegetable for developing home mixed poultry feeds
(Quartermain, 2000).
The above ingredients will be sampled over two periods (6 monthly interval) from the
various provinces in PNG for evaluation of quality.
Metabolism trials will be conducted on these feeds to assess their AME quality, with
other quality factors, including specific amino acids, lipids, minerals and anti-nutrient
factors determined under contract, by the NARI chemistry laboratory or elsewhere as
appropriate.
A spreadsheet of nutritional values to enable least cost feed formulation of broiler
diets will be developed. Low and medium quality diets for chicken meat birds for both
milled and home mixed diets will be formulated.
The diets proposed will be compared to a standard milled commercial broiler diet in 2
major broiler grow out experiments conducted at Labu (NARI).
3.
Communicating with farmers
3.a
PNG Extension Officer Training and production of training materials

Rationale: Development of extension materials and training of extension staff to conduct
demonstration trials on village farms will involve researchers, policy makers, extension
agencies, millers, farmers and other stakeholders.
Specific tasks;
Posters and leaflets written in plain English, PNG Tok Pisin and Motu will be prepared
by NARI staff providing information to villagers on how to mix home feeds and
manage village chicken meat units.
10
Extension staff will be trained on best methods including radio talks to disseminate
information and conduct demonstration trials on village farms.
15 extension staff from each of the 5 sites (3 sites in Morobe Province and one each
in Madang and the Eastern Highlands) will attend 3-day workshops to demonstrate
feed mixing, and the feeding and management of broilers.
3.b
Village Monitoring
Rationale: Monitoring the economic impact of introducing least cost diets on village meat
production units will involve farmer surveys to collect initial and subsequent data on
broiler production. The survey will include current broiler producers, farmers with facilities
but not currently producing broilers, and farmers with similar resources who have never
produced broilers. The survey will be designed to determine the reasons for the
observed behaviour patterns and assess the resources available for broiler production.
The initial survey will be conducted before the on-farm and extension work.
Specific Tasks
Baseline economic, management and social data will be obtained before and after
introduction of new feeding strategies in the 5 regions of PNG. The initial survey will
establish farmers' current knowledge of poultry feeding, what feeding practices they
are currently using and the level of gross margins they are achieving. These data will
be compared with similar data to be collected in a follow up survey after new feeding
strategies are introduced.
Information will be used to select the farmers and villagers to be involved in the
village trials.
Results and implications drawn from this work (including short term progress and long
term prospects) will be disseminated to provincial extension personnel via workshops
and seminars. This information will include the economic benefits of adopting new
feeding regimes.
3.c
PNG Village Trials

Rationale: Demonstration of the most effective least cost diets (milled and home mix) on
village production units. Demonstration trials will be conducted on 5-10 village farms at
each site at no cost to the villagers.
Specific Tasks
The most suitable diets for the peri-urban and home mix village farms will be selected
on the basis of the production performance of broilers in grow out trials conducted at
Labu.
Milled diets will be prepared by Lae Feed Mills and evaluated on village farms.
Each evaluation trial will comprise 3 treatments (peri-urban milled, home mix, control
milled) with 5-10 village farms matched closely on the basis of housing and
management. Body weight, feed intake and mortality will be measured.
4.
Free-range broiler production systems SARDI
4.a
Free-range feed evaluation
Rationale: Construct a free-range chicken meat facility for demonstration to the free-
range chicken meat farmers; determine nutritional value of crop stubble, medic pastures
and vetch hay; and develop least costs diets suitable for feeding free-range poultry in
Australia.
Specific tasks:
Establish a free-range chicken meat facility at Roseworthy Campus

comprising a 100m2 field divided into 6 smaller paddocks. An ecoshelter enclosing 6
broiler pens each for 50 birds on litter will be built. (Ecoshelters comprise solid hardwood
11
walls 60 cm high, wire mesh to ceiling, aluminium/steel support frames, canvas blinds with the roof
area covered by high uv waterproof protective shade cloth.)
Crop stubble (wheat), 2 medic pastures and vetch hay will be sampled
during the early and latter part of the season and evaluated for AME value. In vitro
AME estimates of crop contents (pasture, stubble, insects, seeds, etc) or forage
samples may be required.
Forage intake of broilers given access to the free-range will be determined at
14 and 28 days for 10 individual birds at each age.
Nutritional profiles of the forage sources (protein, fibre, amino acids and
minerals) will be obtained.
A spreadsheet of nutritional values of crop and stubble forage sources will be
developed.
Formulation of least costs diets suitable for feeding free-range poultry.
Two least cost diets (one based on birds grazing crop stubble, the other on pasture)
taking into account the forage intake of broilers will be prepared.
Conduct 2 experiments to compare the growth of broilers feeding on crop stubble,
pasture based and a standard milled commercial broiler diet using the ecoshelter
facility.
4.b
Communication of free-range broiler production information.
Rationale: Recommendations to the Australian free-range chicken meat producers will
be provided on the SARDI website to assist in industry uptake of the R&D. Fact sheets
will be made available for distribution by the PIRSA Farm Information Centre at
Roseworthy.
Specific tasks:
Provide information to smallholder free-range chicken meat producers on housing
and management of broiler chickens.
Recommendations to smallholder chicken meat producers on supplementary diets
and feeding protocols for successful free-range chicken meat production.
Recommendations to intensive broiler industry on economic feeding strategies to
reduce growth and improve broiler welfare.
12
3.3.2 Flow Chart

Objective
1. Establish the
facility
2. Formulation
and evaluation
of rations
3.Extension and
on farm
evaluation
Activity
1. Train PNG staff in the
management of the testing facility
(A)
2..Infrastructure. Infrastructure
test runs, design, construction,
acquire equipment (P)
3. Testing the equipment and
protocols (P)
4. Develop written protocols and
procedures (P)
1. The nutritive value of industrial
by products and village feedstuffs
assessed (P).
Time (m/ yr)

2/1
3/1
5/1-8/1
10/1-3/2
1.
Spreadsheet of PNG
feed nutritive values
documented (P).
2.Complete rations formulated

and tested (P)
1. Baseline studies of current
feeding practices in study villages
(P)
2. Develop training materials and
conduct training activities. (P)
3. Establish demonstration
activities with smallholder farmers
(P)
4. Produce information leaflets
suitable for extension and NGO
staff and farmers (P)
4/2
2.
Rations validated (P).
3/1-9/3
1.
Training courses
conducted.
Feeding practices in
villages determined (P)
On-farm demonstration
trials completed (P&A)
Extension materials
distributed (P)
4. Free-range
feed evaluation
&
communication
1.Ecoshelter constructed (A)

2. Crop stubble and pasture
nutritive value assessed (A)
3.Complete rations formulated
and tested (A)
4. Prepare website and fact
sheets (A)
P = partner developing country A = Australia
3.3.3.
5/1-8/1
Milestone
1. Staff training completed.
2. Infrastructure completed
(P)
2. Quality control
established (P)
3. QA documentation
prepared (P)
2.
3/3-9/3
3.
1/3-9/3
4.
4/1
5/1 3/2
1. Ecoshelter functional (A)

2. Spreadsheet of
crop/pasture nutritive
values documented (A)
3. Rations validated (A).
4. Website established and
fact sheets available (A)
4/2
1/3-9/3
Travel table
Person
travelingPerson
traveling
Kohun
Approx.
m/yr
From where to
where
2/1
Lae - Adel
Quartermain
2/1
Lae - Adel
Schultz
2/1
Adel Lae
Hughes
Schultz
Hughes
PNG TO
Kohun
2/1
5/1
5/1
5/1
9/1
Adel Lae
Adel - Lae
Adel - Lae
Lae - Adel
Lae regional sites
Quartermain
9/1
Lae regional sites
Gwabu
10/1
Lae regional sites
Glatz
Feria
Muntwiler
10/1
10/1
10/1
Adel Lae
Madang Lae
Kainantu Lae
Purpose
Duration
(days TA)
Inspect facilities, project coordination,

design Lae facilities
Inspect facilities, project coordination,
design Lae facilities
Design of Lae facility. Participate in trial
runs
Trial runs to assess protocols for Labu
Establishment of Lae facility
Start research and QA procedures
Staff training at SARDI
Discussions with extension staff and
farmers re demonstration activities
Discussions with extension staff and
farmers re demonstration activities
Collect baseline data on farmers and
feeds
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
5
7
7
7
7
21
12
12
12
7
3
3
13
Hughes
Smith
Kohun
Quartermain
Bilong
Glatz
Hughes
Ru
Feria
Muntwiler
Smith
Glatz
2/2
2/2
9/2
9/2
9/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
4/3
Adel - Lae
POM - Lae
Lae regional sites
Lae regional sites
Lae regional sites
Adel Lae
Adel Lae
Adel Lae
Madang Lae
Kainantu Lae
POM - Lae
Adel Lae
Kohun
4/3
Lae regional sites
Quartermain
4/3
Lae regional sites
Bilong
4/3
Lae Morobe sites
Kohun
8/3
Lae Syd/Adel
Kohun
Quartermain
Gwabu
Glatz
Hughes
Ru
Feria
Muntwiler
Smith
10/3
10/3
10/3
12/3
12/3
12/3
12/3
12/3
12/3
Lae regional sites

Lae regional sites
Lae regional sites
Adel Lae
Adel Lae
Adel Lae
Madang Lae
Kainantu Lae
POM - Lae
Review research activities

Review AME results
Conduct extension staff training
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
Annual meeting
Assessment of demonstration and
extension activities
Attend conference, prepare for final
project meeting
Final assessment & farmer survey
Final project meeting
7
2
12
12
6
7
7
7
3
3
2
7
14
14
7
10
7
7
7
7
7
7
3
3
2
3.4 Intellectual Property and other legal matters

This project will generate information on how well various feed ingredients and feeds are
utilised by chickens. This information will be widely publicised in the public domain. This
information will also be used to formulate complete rations by project investigators.
These formulations will be tested and information on ration composition will also be
widelybe widely publicised in the public domain. For example it is anticipated that
newlettersnewsletters with information about rations will be sent to key extension
providers in other provinces in PNG. Details on diets will be placed on the NARI and
SARDI website to assist in the communication of information. Commercial feed
manufacturers or farmers may wish to use results from the project to formulate
proprietary rations. The project participants have no claim over such rations.
Methodologies transferred from SARDI to PNG are in the public domain. Lae Feed Mills
will have primary, but not exclusive, access to information on diets formulated during the
course of the project...his project will not involve the use or development of intellectual property. To the
contrary, the information generated will be widely publicized in a range of media. Methodologies transferred
from SARDI to PNG are in the public domain. Lae Feed Mills will have primary, but not exclusive, access to
information on diets formulated during the course of the project.
3.5 Project personnel

SARDI Pig and Poultry Production Institute operates a facility for evaluating the quality of
feeds and ration formulation for the poultry industry in South Australia, elsewhere in
Australia and internationally. They are also conducting research on novel feeds and
alternative production systems that have some similarity with those proposed for broiler
raising in PNG, particularly the use of more fibrous diets that have trade-offs in cost of
feeds and time to finishing the bird to market weight.
14
NARI is the designated national agency for conduct of strategic livestock research
in PNG and is the agency that has a mandate for the provision of information to
Provincial Government agencies on matters such as feed quality. They have the skills
(livestock science, economics, social sciences) and infrastructure (poultry sheds, drying
oven, chemical analyses service) that, with some development, will enable them to
continue to provide services to other agencies beyond the life of this project.
The Morobe and Madang Provincial Governments are two accessible and
progressive agencies with extension staff capable to assist with the on-farm research
and demonstration work and continue with the development and extension work postproject. Similarly the Salvation Army Agricultural Development Program is strategically
placed in the Eastern Highlands Province and has the required extension staff and
established training programs. Lae Feed Mills in Morobe Province is the main supplier of
feeds to smallholder broiler producers and have a demonstrated willingness to produce
feeds for low intensity livestock feeding if the demand exists, e.g. rabbit feed.
Australian commissioned organisation
Name
Gender
Agency
Position
Glatz
SARDI
Hughes
SARDI
Senior Research
Scientist.
Project Leader
Senior Research Scientist
Ru
Tba
Schultz
M
?
M
SARDI
SARDI
SARDI
Research scientist
Technical officer
Technical officer
Time in
project (%)
20
Funded by
15
7.5% ACIAR
7.5% SARDI
ACIAR
ACIAR
ACIAR
15
100
5 (Y1 only)
SARDI
Phil Glatz (BAgSc (Hons), PhD) has a lifetime involvement in the poultry industry in
South Australia, having managed his family commercial poultry farm for 15 years during
the early stages of his research career. More recently he has been involved in extending
the information from his RIRDC funded poultry housing systems, husbandry and welfare
research to the poultry industry through production of CD ROMs, videos, fact sheets and
training manuals for farmers. He has led numerous research projects and has been
Chairman of 4 industry research project management committees responsible for
implementing research outputs into the poultry industry.
Bob Hughes (BSc, MAgSc, Grad Dip Applied Statistics) has over 30 years experience in
poultry nutrition research, including collaboration with plant breeders to improve the
quality of cereal grains. He has successfully commercialised an AME bioassay in
broilers which has been used extensively by Australian and international companies.
Derek Schultz (BAgSc) has over eight years experience in development and modification
of equipment and procedures to support poultry research and in the conduct of nutrition
experiments designed by Bob Hughes. Currently, Derek manages staff engaged in
research, production and teaching activities on the PPPI poultry research unit and
associated analytical support in the PPPI Nutrition Research Laboratory.
15
Yingjun Ru (BAagSc, MAgSc, PhD) is an experienced researcher in feed evaluation for

pigs, poultry and ruminants. He is involved in the development of an
innovative free-range pig and poultry production system at Roseworthy
Campus and is managing the PPPI Nutrition Research Laboratory, which
offers a commercial feed evaluation service for national and international
clients.
16
Partner country institutions

Name
Gender
Agency
Position
Kohun
NARI
Quartermain
NARI
Mazi
Gwabu
F
M
NARI
NARI
Principal Scientist
Livestock program
PNG Project Leader
Livestock adviser. Project
coordinator.
Technical officer
Economist
Tba
Tba
?
?
NARI
NARI
Technical officer
Livestock scientist
Smith
Lino Moro
Paul Mondo
M
M
M
GF Int. PNG
Lae Feed Mills
Lae Feed Mills
Feria
Bilong
Muntwiler
Madang
Provincial Govt
Morobe
Provincial Govt
Salvation Army
General Manager
Site Manager
Feed Mill
SuperviserSupervisor
Provincial agricultural
adviser
Provincial agricultural
adviser
Agricultural adviser
Time in
project (%)
30
Funded by
20
ACIAR
15
10-40 over
time
100
40
ACIAR
5-20% NARI
5-20% ACIAR
ACIAR
20% ACIAR
20% NARI
Goodman
Fielder
5
5
5
NARI
Madang Prov
Govt.
Morobe Prov.
Govt
Salvation Army
Ag. Devel
Program.
Alan Quartermain (MAgrSc, PhD) has been involved with livestock research, tertiary
education and international development for over 40 years. He has had two 8-year terms
in PNG and is currently Livestock Research Adviser to NARI on an AusAID funded
project. His experience has included poultry research and development in 14 Pacific
Island countries as well as SE Asia and Africa.
Note that Quartermain is included in the project as a contractor. He will be retained by NARI on a
contractual basis after completing his current contract in September 2002. He will play an
important role in the project through intellectual input, mentoring of young research and technical
staff, and his contacts within the Provincial Government agencies, with the NGOs and with
commercial companies involved in the broiler industry.
Pikah Kohun (MAgric, PhD) has over 15 years of teaching and research experience at
tertiary level. During the last two years he has been the Principal Livestock Scientist with
NARI, concentrating on research with poultry, small ruminants, rabbits and pigs. He has
excellent computer skills and uses the SAS software in data analysis.
Monica Mazi (DipAgric) has seven years of experience as a livestock research
technician. Much of her work has involved the care of poultry, particularly broiler
chickens. She has excellent skills in running chicken feeding trials and entering data into
Excel data-basesdatabases for analyses.
Clifton Gwabu (BEcon) is a Junior Scientist with NARI attached to the Outreach and
Liaison Programme. He has some experience in survey questionnaire development and
use for collecting and interpreting livestock and crop information. Part of his work and
training to date has involved economic analysis of smallholder farm enterprises and
assessment of change impact on the livelihoods of rural households.
17
Geoving Bilong (BAgricHons, GradDipPoultryTech, MAgricStudies) has had 20 years of

work experience in the public service. Seven years of his earlier work was in poultry
research at the Labu Poultry Research Centre. Later experience has included six years
managing the Village Livestock Development Project, based in the Eastern Highlands,
and six years in charge of agricultural extension in Morobe Province.
Paschal Feria (DipTropAgric) has had 36 years of experience in the public service,
initially as smallholder cattle extension specialist, then veterinary laboratory technician,
Provincial Livestock Officer and Senior Rural Development Officer.SinceOfficer. Since
1996 he has been Adviser in the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Branch of the
Madang Provincial Government. He thus holds the most senior post in agriculture in the
provincial administration and is responsible for all aspects of agricultural development,
including smallholder poultry.
Andrew Smith (BComm, MBA, FCPA) has 22 years of experience in middle and senior
management roles within the stockfeed and poultry industries, including terms as
General Manager with Ridley Agriproducts 1994-1998 and Steggles Feeds 1992-1994.
While GM of Ridley Agriproducts he was involved in a number of collaborative research
projects with organizations including CSIRO, SARDI and livestock industry groups. He
has been General Manager for PNG with Goodman Fielder International Ltd for the past
3.5 years.
Markus Muntwiler (BSc, BA) has been responsible for the coordination and
administration of agricultural and development projects in the northern region of PNG for
the Salvation Army since 1997. Over the past 20 years he has worked in various
development roles, including 2 years as agricultural coordinator in Sri Lanka for the
Salvation Army, technical assistant in Haiti orphanage, training officer in Pratteln, and
agricultural adviser in Basel.
4. Project outcomes and adoption pathways

4.1 Communication and dissemination
Details of the communication and dissemination strategies have been outlined in the
methodology associated with Objective 3. In general, the approach adopted in this
project is to access farmers by working with community-based groups in areas where the
density of broiler production is greatest. Collaboration in this project with the Morobe and
Madang government extension agencies and the Salvation Army builds upon the current
good interaction they each have with NARI.
The proposed communication and dissemination strategies have been carefully
chosen to suit local needs. Information gathered in PNG by the extension agencies
indicates that farmers are influenced most by other farmers, on-farm demonstrations,
and advisers such as extension and NGO staff. Consequently, the strategy adopted in
this project has two main thrusts that reflect this model. First, the extension agencies are
involved as full partners from the outset to ensure ownership of outputs and relevance of
the rations to be tested. Up to 75 on-the-ground advice providers will receive training in
poultry management, including the use of lower-cost rations. Second, about 35 farmer
demonstration trials will be conducted in villages that compare currently utilized
commercial feeds with lower-cost rations. These trials will be managed by the advice
providers who attended the training courses, and will be located throughout the 3
18
provinces. They will utilize feeds that are relevant to each area, including any new
formulations from the Lae Feed Mills.
Information leaflets on feeds and ration formulation will be produced by NARI for
use by advice providers and leading farmers. NARI has recently acquired the capacity to
produce such material through the ACNARS project funded by AusAID. These leaflets
will initially be used during the training activities and thereafter will be produced on a
regular basis as new rations are developed and the quality and quantity of feedstuffs
change.
A baseline study will be conducted in several villages early in the life of the
project. Results of this study will be used initially to identify potential collaborating
villages and farmers, and at the end of the project to assess the extent of change and
attitude of the villagers toward the proposed new practices. Undoubtedly the social and
economic data obtained from the baseline study will have most value 2-3 years after the
end of this project when there has been sufficient time for adoption of project outputs, but
it is considered worthwhile to complete the cycle of evaluation during the life of the
project for the information per se and as a component of local capacity development.
In Australia SARDI staff receive numerous enquiries from smallholder farmers on
housing, management and feeding of birds in free-range production units. Information in
this area is scant and not well documented, particularly for the modern strains of birds.
Inclusion of free-range information on the website will provide a new source of
information for smallholder farmers operating in the emerging niche market in Australia.
Fact sheets will be prepared and made available for distribution in Australia and
worldwide from the PIRSA Farm Information Centre at Roseworthy Campus. Rapid
communication of information to industry is anticipated given the participation by key
producers on the current free-range Project Management Group at Roseworthy. In
addition diets devised in this research will be made available to the intensive broiler
industry if they choose to utilise feeding strategies to improve bird welfare.
4.2 Enhancing research and development capacity
The development of personnel capacity in this project is intended to improve the
sustainability of activities beyond the life of financial support from ACIAR. Activities
include:
The training of a senior NARI technician at Roseworthy in the operation of a
quality assured feed evaluation facility;
Involvement of Dr Quartermain to mentor new research and technical staff in the
conduct of quality research;
Training of Mr Gwabu in the conduct of village baseline and assessment studies.
Training of up to 75 advisory staff attached to the Morobe and Madang Provincial
Government agencies and the Salvation Army NGO.
The improved infrastructure and staff skills will provide a sound platform for NARI to
sustain activities beyond the life of this project. The evaluation of feeds and formulation
of rations, along with the associated production of extension materials and outreach
activities, are ongoing activities for NARI. Further, if impact is achieved in the three
Provinces involved in this project, NARI will have the skills to enable transfer and
adaptation of the technology to other Provinces.
4.3 Expected economic benefit
Currently the targeted smallholder broiler production system, involving an estimated
50,000 families, produces about 6 million birds each year. This production level has
19
remained static for the last 2-3 years against a general decline in total meat consumed
as the PNG economy has slowed. If the economy improves it is anticipated that demand
and production will increase. If the economy continues to decline, the cost of imported
inputs to the broiler sector will become prohibitive. The value of current smallholder
broiler production is about A$54 million.
Smallholder broiler production is widespread in PNG, but the main areas of
concentration are in Morobe, Madang and the Highland Provinces where the project will
concentrate its communication efforts. This geographic distribution of production is
largely in response to the cost and accessibility of inputs, mainly day-old chicks and
concentrate feeds, but distribution could expand with the successful development of
home mixed feeding systems.
The aim of this project is to improve profitability and arrest price increases through
a reduction in the cost of production rather than increasing production per se.
Smallholder farmers prefer to use concentrate feeds that make up the major proportion
of production costs of 7-9 Kina per bird, amounting to about 400 Kina per 50-bird batch.
We anticipate that the use of locally available feeds can reduce the cost per bird by up to
3 Kina, or 150 Kina (about A$100) per batch. Data from Lae Feed Mills indicate that such
a reduction is possible, as feeds formulated from local products (copra meal and millrun)
for rabbits are about half the cost of broiler concentrate made from imported ingredients.
A commensurate halving of production costs will not be achieved by farmers because
transport costs will be the same regardless of the price of the feed at the factory gate.
If the proposed reduction in feed costs can be achieved it would amount to almost
a doubling of profit per batch, provided that the sale price does not decline. The whole
sector benefit would be in the order of A$10 m additional profit. A decline in price to
benefit consumers is possible in response to improved profitability and thence supply, but
we believe that there is an unsatisfied demand at present that should moderate any price
decline. Consumers would benefit even if prices are maintained at current levels. Even if
the price drops, the lower cost of production would still leave higher levels of profitability
for producers.
The timeframe for the adoption of lower-cost rations is difficult to estimate. One
element can change quickly, i.e. rations provided by the mills. They have indicated a
willingness to produce rations using locally available products, as at present for the much
smaller rabbit sector, provided that there is a market. Their concern is that the sector of
broiler production supplied by their products is under threat from the increasing costs of
imported feeds. Getting farmers to formulate and prepare their own rations may be more
problematic as this would be a substantial change from current practices of using bagged
feeds as the main feed for broilers in the villages. The baseline study is intended to
provide insights into this issue.
There are potential spill-overs of outputs from this project to the commercial
broiler production sector. Lower cost ingredients could be used in diets for this sector to
offset rising costs of imported ingredients. This might help to restrict price increases to
consumers.
The evaluation of the alternative forage resources in Australia will offer
alternatives for the feed manufacturers and home mixers to prepare cheaper rations.
While these rations may not achieve current growth rates, the cost benefits may enable
sustainability of poultry businesses operating alternative production systems. Thus the
proposed studies in Australia will:
i) demonstrate a cheap housing and foraging system for free-range broiler production,
ii) identify supplementary diets and feeding protocols for free-range broilers, and
20
iii) provide the intensive commercial industry diets using Australian feed resources which
could ameliorate some of the physiological problems associated with feeding
conventional diets.
4.4 Social benefits
The primary beneficiaries of this project in PNG are the smallholder broiler producers
through increased profitability. The production of broilers is one of the few cash
generating activities for many of these farmers. Unfortunately, this production system is
under threat because of the rising cost of feeds and the livelihood of these family farmers
would be adversely affected if they were forced from the industry. Further, if the supply of
live birds into the informal market decreases there will be a decline in the provision of
one of the few sources of high quality protein for many people, particularly in inland
areas.
It is worth repeating that the initiative for this work arose from consultation with the
smallholder farmers and communities. They expressed concern about the threats to this
important sector posed by the rising cost of feeds and the potential negative flow-on
effects to the community at large if the problem is not resolved.
In Australia, ACIAR will support work at SARDI that aims to develop less intensive
poultry raising systems, including the use of free-ranging on high quality forages, and the
development of diets that slow the growth rate of birds and enable physiological capacity
of the birds to match growth and development. These initiatives are in response to
industry, fooeed sector and public concerns about these issues and industry support for
the less intensive egg and meat production systems that currently provide about 5% of
the market.
4.5.1 Environmental benefits
There are no anticipated changes to the environmental status of smallholder broiler
production in PNG from this project. Current smallholder broiler production systems are
well integrated with other feed production activities, with manure collected and mainly
used as fertilizer in the feed gardens. Feeds do not contain antibiotics and these smallscale systems are remarkably free of disease and pest problems.
The free-range system being investigated in Australia is a component of a larger initiative
at SARDI to develop sustainable crop/livestock systems. This initiative is directed by a
research management committee that includes free-range producers. Knowledge
developed from this project is intended to contribute to the development of
environmentally sustainable, lower stocking density, free-range systems that integrate
dryland cropping with broiler production, including the use of inexpensive mobile
housing.
21
4.5.2 Canvass any possible negative environmental outcomes.

There are no anticipated negative environmental outcomes if technologies developed by
this project are adopted by smallholder broiler producers.
22
5. References cited in submission

Havenstein, G.B. Ferket, P.R., Scheideler, S.E. and B.T. Larson (1994). Growth, Livability, and feed
conversion of 1957 vs. 1991 broilers fed typical 1957 and 1992 broiler diets. Poultry Science, 73: 17851794.
Healy, A.T.A. (2001). Developing Agricultural Research Priorities for Papua New Guinea. National
Consultation Workshop, 29-31 August 2001. Workshop Report. Mimeo 14pp.
Moat, M. and Bilong, G.P. (2000). Past Labu Poultry Research and Extension Efforts. In: Quartermain, A.R.
ed. Proceedings of the NARI Poultry Workshop held at the Forest Research Institute, 26 August 1999.
NARI Proceedings Series, Proceedings No. 1, National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New
Guinea, pp 8-16.
Quartermain, A.R. 2000. Non-commercial Poultry Production in Papua New Guinea. Asian-Australasian
Journal of Animal Science 13 Supplement July 2000 C: 304-307.
Savory, C.J. (1995). Broiler welfare-problems and prospects. Archiv fur Geflugelkunde, 6:48-52.
23

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Project Proposal

Applicant Name and Organisation:

2. 1.1 Funding request

1.2 Duration of the project

1.3 ACIAR information

1.4 Key contacts

Postal Address: SARDI, Pig & Poultry Production Institute

Administrative contact: Australian Commissioned Organisation/ IARC

Name: Pikah J Kohun

Phone: (675) : 475 1248

Position: Principal Scientist- National

Name: Paschal Feria

Phone: ( 675) 852 3371

Ph/Fax: (675) 852

Position: Provincial Agricultural Adviser

Postal Address: PO Box 2108, Madang, Madang Province, PNG

Partner country collaborating organization: Lae Feed Mills (Associated Mills,

Name: Andrew Smith

Position: General Manager, PNG,

1.5 Project summary

Evaluation of rations in growth studies can demonstrate an improvement in profitability of

that reduce the cost of production of broilers.

Local problems can be

The nutritive value of

Locally available feedstuffs

Broiler rations appropriate

Commercial feed mills use

Evaluation study shows

Trainees willing and able to

High use of local feed

Extension materials widely

Ecoshelter functional (A).

P= Partner developing country

Local problems can be

Facility functional and

3.3 Research methodologies and project travel

PNG Bioassay Facility

Formulation and evaluation of rations

Communicating with farmers

PNG Extension Officer Training and production of training materials

PNG Village Trials

Free-range broiler production systems SARDI

Establish a free-range chicken meat facility at Roseworthy Campus

3.3.2 Flow Chart

Time (m/ yr)

2.Complete rations formulated

Rations validated (P).

1.Ecoshelter constructed (A)

1. Ecoshelter functional (A)

Lae regional sites

Lae regional sites

Inspect facilities, project coordination,

Lae regional sites

Lae regional sites

Lae Morobe sites

Lae regional sites

Review research activities

3.4 Intellectual Property and other legal matters

3.5 Project personnel

Yingjun Ru (BAagSc, MAgSc, PhD) is an experienced researcher in feed evaluation for

Partner country institutions

Geoving Bilong (BAgricHons, GradDipPoultryTech, MAgricStudies) has had 20 years of

4. Project outcomes and adoption pathways

4.5.2 Canvass any possible negative environmental outcomes.