Technical Guideline: Processing and use of rice straw and other crop by-products to improve traditional diet and waste management in beef farms for ghg emission reduction and circular economy

Cattle production in general and beef cattle farming in particular have been identified as an important sector in Viet Nam, providing highly nutritious food sources for humans. In recent years, this industry has grown 2-3% per year. Yet, the beef industry is estimated to emit up to 41% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) of the entire livestock industry.

Traditionally, cattle can be fed with dry rice straw as a low-cost feed source. However, rice straw is a poor protein feed source with high fibre content. Research has shown though that, if rice straw is treated in appropriate physical, chemical and biological processes, the feed quality and nutrient digestibility can be significantly improved.

VN-SIPA project supported Department of Livestock Farming/Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct a pilot on circular agriculture in beef cattle production. Based on these results, a technical guideline for the processing and use of straw and other crop by-products has been developed to improve traditional diets and manage manure in beef cattle production to reduce GHG emissions and enhance circular economy, contributing to the efforts of MARD to achieve the goals stated in the NDC and other commitments at COP26.

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