Intensifying forage legume strata system technology through dairy cattle production

Intensification of forage legume strata system technology (FLSST) through dairy cattle production was implemented in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the local government unit of San Jorge, Samar, Republic of the Philippines. The beneficiaries of the program were selected based on specific criteria and qualifications. Farmers were given training on dairy cattle production, and 10 beneficiaries in five communities received one ready-to-breed cow. Each farmer-beneficiary established a 500 sqm pasture area using FLSST. Abundant grasses and leguminous forages helped improve the health of the cattle. Cattle weighing an average of 150 kg grew to an average weight of 300 kg. The cows gave calves through artificial insemination. Evident impacts were observed as follows: Ground-Level Impact: Participants appreciated the transformation of their idle land into productive land, and farmers were motivated to purchase additional ruminants. Five hectares of idle land was utilized. Deep-Level Impact: Individuals developed a positive attitude toward venturing into ruminant production. Attitudinal transformation among family members was valued by the community, especially by the five farmer-adopters of FLSST. External-Level Impact: Nonparticipants of the project planted leguminous forages in their idle land and developed a positive outlook toward pasture development and dairy cattle production.


Introduction
A project to build awareness among participants on the importance of ruminant development and planting of various types of grass and legume plant using Food Leguminus Strata (FLSST) technology was implemented by NwSSU-San Jorge Campus, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 8-Livestock Program.
Effective agricultural and natural resource management can be achieved only if these components are developed together so that they synergistically influence the production of goods and ecosystem services required for food security and environmental health.
The integration between agricultural biodiversity, soil and water conservation, and other components of natural resource management has its big contribution to the well-being and sustainable livelihoods of people and communities (German et al., 2006). Received: April 22 nd , 2020 || Revised: July 7 th , 2020 || Accepted: July 29 th , 2020 Number 1, 2020 FLSST refers to a system of planting leguminous species, such as ipil-ipil, kakawate/madre de cacao, rensoni, flemingia, and indigofera, side by side in rows and columns. Fodder-yielding tree species may be planted at intervals ranging from 60 cm × 60 cm to 3 m × 3 m to achieve high-quality fodder production. Suitable management practices may help improve sustainable fodder production throughout the year. Labor costs may increase in the case of a cut-and-carry module, but the losses generated by the trampling of grazing/browsing animals are minimized, which may increase the quality of forage production (Sarvade et al., 2019).
It is important to ensure that milk animals are provided with good quality diets to optimize production. Dairying offers women regular daily income vital to household protection and well-being in the home. The efficiency of milking animals is affected by the lack of quality and quantities of feed and food. Local cows produce an average of 1,5 liter per day in cross-breeded cows, versus 5-8 liters per day, requiring better feeding mainly concentrates that farmers cannot afford. However, by raising crossed cows, farmers' incomes can be increased to twofold. Because feed costs are the key factor in the agricultural production of livestock, an significant factor in future development projects would be the increased independence in the feed production. (Khan, Peters, & Uddin, 2009).
In rehabilitating cattle production and preserving biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems, silvopastoral systems involving native trees and shrubs are instrumental.
The integration of trees, fuel and domesticated livestock is a sustainable agroforestry process that involves high-density fodder planting for livestock production (Murgueitio et al., 2011).
Enhanced per-animal efficiency, developing adequate animal production systems and increasing effectiveness on feed resources are important for improved future productivity. Ruminant production systems have decreased productivity as compared to demand-driven, intensive and privately managed non-ruminant systems because they are mostly left over by small, resource poverty-intensive farmers. (Devendra, 2000).
The choices for the animals' shelter are different and are taken according to the available space and cattle group size. In general, the farms are equipped with a shelter, built with various materials, and the animals are raised in one or more groups.
Cultivators with no cattle sheds tend to hold dairy livestock in chains while calves in a separate community are free. The beds that normally consist of sand or other soils are Number 1, 2020 not treated properly. We found, however, that the bedding in the barn was not properly treated and worked efficiently in all situations. As a result, dairy cattle are often submerged in the water, with adverse health effects and a detrimental effect on the consistency of their milk. (Rossignoli, Di Iacovo, Moruzzo, & Scarpellini, 2015).
The largest variable costs for modern livestock production is supplementary feed.
Additional feeding is needed, particularly during the gestation and/or lactation of mature animals, where the physiological demands of animals are higher than that of their forage. The period of the supplement can be extended by various gestation periods or livestock seasons (Muir et al., 2015).
The benefits derived from FLSST include higher grass yields, maximized land use, controlled transmission of diseases to sensitive foodstuff species, and increased soil fertility through drilling species' ability to fix nitrogen. Furthermore, legumes increase the overall feeding value of the forage available and prolong the ruminant cattle grazing time.
The creation of legume-based farming systems means that Australian agriculture is globally competitive. There is no political impetus for agriculture to take responsibility for the environmental effects off-site. The agricultural systems based on annual species are unsustainable due to a lack of balance between water and nitrogen supply and demand that leads to water or groundwater discharges of nitrogen (Ridley et al., 2004).
Many farmers install barbed wire free multi-strata or multifunctional fences. Some trees stand close to water sources on other farms. Livestock farmers are cattle grower; a small number of cattle are sold on the market and some produce milk and butter for family consumption. (MEMORIAL, 2010).
Grass legume technology is important to ensure that continuous livestock projects will contribute to economic development, alleviation of poverty and protection of the environment. Using participatory methods and enhanced integration between the beef and dairy production chains is recommended for overcoming the constant budget constraints of public research institutions and ensuring that the evolved grass-legum technology is compatible with current farm cultural, social and environmental conditions. (Valentim & Andrade, 2004). The higher nutritive value and intake of legumes relative to grass in animal digestive system may be attributed to several factors, this may include: faster rate of particle breakdown, faster digestion in the rumen, more Number 1, 2020 non-ammonium nitrogen reaching the small intestine, and higher efficiency of energy utilization despite the lower efficiency of nitrogen utilization (Laidlaw & Teuber, 2001).
Small-scale production of milk has been found to be important with the potential to alleviate poverty, food security, enhance family nutrition, and generate income and jobs.
In order to improve the lifestyle of small households by enhancing dairy production in this region, however, the diseases, volatile market conditions, high prices of drugs, feed concentrates, and lack of IA were the key constraints which were restricted by smallscales householders. (Uddin et al., 2012).
The key restrictions on production include the choice of species, breeds and animal availability; feed facilities and better feeding systems; better training, training and health services for animals; animal manure management; and coordinated promotion and marketing. (Devendra, 2000). Feeding forage legumes to ruminant pastures may boost the efficiency of animals and reduce the animal's reliance on a single species to meet all of their nutritional needs. Individual animals that graze forage usually have limited efficiencies due to their actual intakes of energy (because structural fibers can decrease digestion and clearance from the rumen). (Waghorn & Clark, 2004).
Increases in the size of a family have resulted in smaller plots of land for cultivation to accommodate each of the farmers in the family. Unfortunately, this practice has led to lower production and income among farmers. The kaingin farming system, which is widely practiced in Samar, causes land degradation. In this case, farmers abandon farm areas after several cropping seasons and the land eventually becomes idle. Grasscontrolled pastures are an interesting model for smallholders who would like to retain their land's recovery capacity, because for a couple of years, integrating livestock into grass-controlled pastures would not alter the fainting vegetation. (Hohnwald et al., 2006).
Farmers depend on their produce, which is often unable to meet the food needs of the family. Few farmers own livestock, especially cattle. Dairy cattle can be raised in the backyard if they are provided a shed and forage source. Because this animal requires only simple management, a farmer's wife (woman) or elder children can manage a dairy cattle project.
Specific farm sizes, intensification activities, and mechanization rates are subject to sustainable technologies and rely on local resources. Integrated systems (IS) combining animals and high-quality drilling can generate high productivity per unit area given that the mineral nutrients needed are available and continuously refurbished from the beginning of production. Perennial species have many energy advantages over other species since they last for several years once formed (Hernández & Sánchez, 2014).
Food and power sources combined with agricultural systems can be used and also regarded as a secure investment. When large concentration of animals is present, it is possible to extend land use to include lowland rainfed areas, uplands and even highlands. Improved crop production is a significant approach to growing and optimizing animal productivity. feed supply (Devendra, 1997).
The majority of nutrients in pastures on farms are from top-soil and their roots; mature forage resources help the fertility of soils by the supply of literally recycled nutrients. This finding indicates that the related nutrient stocks and the accumulation of drill mass are probably sustained mainly by the amounts of bovine excreta, dirt, organic matter and litter mineralization with little commercial fertilizer input (Rueda et al., 2020).
Tropical legumes contain the same amount of nitrogen as temperate. In herbaceous legumes in blends with grasses, the amount added to pasture systems can be between 30-290 kg / ha / yr and 575 kg / ha / yr for pure legume stand. The highest live-weight gain of livestock from cattle fed legumes (Lecture, 1997). Devendra and Chantalakhana (2002) concluded that improved systems for livestock production would contribute significantly towards improved human health, rural development and poverty reduction. Such systems offer household benefits to several levels, including medium-and long-term savings, improved mixed farm system efficiency, sustainability of agricultural and environmental systems and social stability.
Although big ruminants such as buffalo and cattly are valuable for agriculture and farm health, milk and beef, plowing and deer production are important for nutrition and household protection, small animals such as goats, sheep, chickens or pigs and ducks.
The drivers of intensification of milk production in smallholder farms have been established and the related changes at the farm and farming systems level quantified.
Intensification calls for greater use of external services, including animal substitution, feeding facilities, animal welfare and breeding, and recognition for the help of the livestock and development populations (Bebea et al., 2003).
The use of the available forage and the projected suitability of any particular method to raise livestock and the resulting degree of use are always enough to provide a short-term economic return to the sown forage by the livestock. The degree of utilization generally depends on the environmental quality, the duration of the growing and nongrowing seasons and the adaptation of plant species to the local climate. (Kemp & Michalk, 2007).
The availability of grassland drilling in tropical systems is almost wholly dependent on animal feeding. During long stretches of drought in most agricultural regions every year, growth and drilling efficiency are drastically reduced. This decrease in the production of food biomass is the main cause of low livestock productivity in the tropics (Cardona et al., 2014).

Objectives
The general aim of the project is to increase farmers' income from dairy cattle production and utilization of idle land. The specific objectives of this project are as follows: 1. Develop pasture areas by adopting FLSST and utilize idle lands for dairy cattle feeds 2. Provide 10 heads of dairy cows to 10 families in 5 barangays 3. Increase farmers' income by 40% from the sale of calves and processed cow's milk 4. Increase the numbers of cattle and family beneficiaries by 50% every 2 years after project implementation

Methods
The project began with consultations between the DA and Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Jorge, Samar, Republic of the Philippines. The beneficiaries were selected from pre-listed barangays with an excellent track record in previous projects implemented by the DA according to a set of criteria and qualifications established by the University and DA Region 8. After beneficiary selection, training needs assessment and economic profiling were conducted to establish baseline data on the status of the farmer-beneficiaries, including the size of their idle land and existing forages, farm animals owned, and average family income, among others. A consultative meeting was conducted with the beneficiaries to discuss their roles and responsibilities and the various conditions of the project. After the consultative meeting with all stakeholders, drafting of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) followed. This MOA was signed by Number 1, 2020 the University, the DA, San Jorge LGU, barangay captains (or a barangay LGU representative), and farmer-beneficiaries.

Strategy
The strategy implemented in this research could be divided into 12 steps as follows:

Project sustainability
Some of the terms and conditions that must be applied to sustain the project include: 1. The MOA must sign by the beneficiaries, partners, and University 2. Beneficiaries must establish a pasture area before the release of cattle 3. Beneficiaries must transfer one weaned calf to another qualified adopter 4. Beneficiaries must conduct regular deworming, vaccination, and animal treatment 5. The DA and University must closely and regularly monitor the project 6. The original beneficiary must transfer the mother cow to the next farmer beneficiary, including forage planting materials, after the first calf is weaned 7. Beneficiaries must immediately report to the University or DA-LGU San Jorge of any animal illness or any issue or problem related to the project 8. The progress of the project must be reported to the DA Region 8, Tacloban City,

Republic of the Philippines
The results framework shown in Figure 1 represents the strategy of the project stakeholders (e.g., farmers, implementers, and DA) to achieve specific objectives. This tool was used to help stakeholders identify and focus on the key objectives of the project. It was also used as a basis for the impact evaluation of the project. Details of the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of the framework were determined and agreed upon by all stakeholders.
The results framework was designed during the project identification phase and then improved and adapted throughout the project cycle. Prior to the development of a full-fledged results framework, the problem the project intended to solve was explained.
The result framework was an idea on how the project inputs could lead to the desired outcomes and the knowledge and skills required of the beneficiaries and measured the progress and results of the project. The results framework is the result of careful planning, communications, and management that seeks to emphasize the intended results of key project objectives. A good results framework is based on good analysis, standard theories in the technical sector, and the expertise of on-the-ground implementers. Such a framework would lead to the identification of performance indicators and risks that may impede the attainment of the goal. The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework shown in Table 1 was used by the implementer to monitor and evaluate the project. Farmers were also oriented about this framework. Farmers could report their accomplishments and the success of the project based on the given baseline data and targets.
The M&E framework provides a structured approach with advice on spatially explicit tools for hands-on tasks, such as cumulative project impact assessment. The practical steps to track and assess a project have been taken using proven mechanisms and approaches. (Stelzenmüller et al. 2013  Using the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework the beneficiaries were evaluated their process in dairy cattle production for a stable livelihood, eventually for a sustainable income. Documented their income derived from dairy cattle production, their pasture development based on the baseline data. Monitoring and evaluation were also conducted after the farmers received dairy cattle, biologics, and planting materials.
Farmers/beneficiaries have managed their animals based on their learning from the training on cattle production which was they attended.

Result and Discussion
The Groups provided many advantages for the dairy sector, such as financing, training courses, dairy livestock acquisition and involvement in the agricultural activities at local and national level. For women dairy farmers, more training should be available on animal health management, market, and networking with a view to improving their income from dairy agriculture. In order to further its growth and sustainability, and other development partners.
While farmers developed their pasture area, the cows were subjected to artificial insemination (AI) and injected with hormones to synchronize heat which was given by the Department of Agriculture (DA) staff. The weight of the cattle increased from 150 kg at the beginning of the program to 300 kg upon distribution. Farmers managed their feeding scheme through a cut-and-carry strategy during bad weather and tethering during good weather. The 10 cows were impregnated through AI and gave calves.
Milking was started shortly thereafter. inaccessibility of milk processing and support facilities, insufficient dairy production methods and minimal value addition of milk have been the major challenges in smallscale dairy production. Gil et al. (2015), reports that combining crops, animals and/or forestry in the same region, also known as IS, will increase soil organic matter content that favors the production of biomass and allows higher livestock stocks in pastured areas. Therefore, IS implementation being a promising strategy for sustainable intensification of agriculture. Odion et al. (2007) said that legumes should use nutrient from the depths of the soil profile and that at the beginning of the following growing cycle they should serve as green manure. Over-sowing legumes can be reduced, and the feed extracted from such plants can be included in the soil. The integrated legume forage has good liming effects, allowing soil acidity to be right, soil fertility improved, chemical fertilizer needs reduced and odorless weeds to be managed.
Evident ground-, deep-, and external-level impacts were observed in the community.
The ground-level impact was that farmers were motivated to purchase additional ruminants and utilized up to 5 ha of idle land. Atuhaire et al. (2014)  The research Rabbani et al (2004) of the Dairy Enterprise Participation study found that 65% of men, 19% of son, 10% of women, 1% of daughters and 4% of servants participated in feeding practices. Also, 78% of rural people milked their cows once a day, while 31% inseminated their cattle with artificial insemination. in the study areas.
Participation in healthcare activities such as the use of disinfectants and utensils in their milk houses, vacuum use, treatment with the veterinary surgeon of their ill cow. The largest of the indigenous cattle reapers were smallholder farmers. The obstacle to milk production and the creation of dairy companies in the area were numerous problems. In order to increase milk production and the establishment of milk companies, improves feeding technology, a proper hygienic and sanitation programme, appropriate treatment, a sound breeding policy, and more participation in managerial practices are necessary.
Farm women are the leading players in small-scale agriculture, performing most important work. Although women play an important role in dairy farming, they have very limited controls over animals and their products. The profit of dairy animals is not in women's hands and the decision to sell and buy is also not made. Technology is required urgently, which will promote the work of respondents because they are very unpleasant, retroactive and monotonous and have an effect on their lifestyle and psychological health, druggery and physical activity. Women in farming should be inspired by various extension techniques to gain more scientific knowledge for increasing livestock production. (Rathod, Nikam, & Landge, 2016).  Figure 2 shows the appearance of the dairy cattle upon hand over to the farmerbeneficiaries. Standard procedures, such as weighing, deworming, and giving of vitamins, were carried out before the animals were released. The farmers were also given a take-home dewormer, vitamins, and forage plant materials. The condition of the animals revealed deficiencies in their care and management.
Most of the issues in cattle management involved the provision of an exact, sustainable, and nutritious supply of feeds. To address this problem, beneficiaries were asked to establish a forage plantation to feed their cattle prior to receiving the animals. The farmer-beneficiaries ( Figure 5) developed pasture areas planted with superior leguminous trees and grasses. Each farmer plated 500 sqm of pasture, which is adequate for their cow. Continuous planting was observed in preparation to produce cattle; small ruminants were also purchased. The development of pastures or plantation of forages was stipulated in the agreement and one of the vital requirements for the beneficiaries to avail of a dairy cow.
Aside from having the animals and forages, they were also molded of their values, while care and management of the cattle and pasture area was a must. To meet minimum requirements, the beneficiaries had to allocate a parcel of land and establish a 500 sqm forage plantation. The implementer provided the beneficiaries with planting materials and training on how to plant forages, which should comprise leguminous plants and grasses. The beneficiaries established their forage plantations within 3 months by adopting FLSST and were ready to sign the MOA and accept their dairy cow.

Conclusion
Farmers' development of pasture areas by planting with forages is a vital requirement in livestock production, especially that of ruminants. The progress of the dairy cattle project will depend on the awareness and understanding of livestock raisers about the importance of the establishment of pasture in the community. Leguminous