Sustainable feed innovation for mountain livestock: reducing the need for imported feed with local resources first

Abstract

Introduction: Livestock farming in Nepal’s mid-hills, high hills, and mountain regions faces challenges including feed scarcity, high imported feed costs, and declining pastures. Developing locally sourced feed formulations offers potential to improve productivity, sustainability, and economic outcomes. Methods: A mixed-method approach was employed involving feed surveys, laboratory analyses, 120-day feeding trials, participatory workshops, and economic and environmental assessments. The study engaged 150 farmers, five cooperatives, and three institutions across diverse agro-climatic zones. Locally formulated high-, medium-, and low-cost feeds were compared with conventional feed. Results: High- and medium-cost local feeds significantly improved average daily gain, milk yield, body condition, and reproductive performance compared with conventional feed (p < 0.05). Post-hoc analyses indicated high-cost feeds outperformed control and low-cost groups, while medium-cost feeds generally exceeded low-cost feeds (Tukey test, p < 0.05). Feed costs decreased by 25–50%, greenhouse gas emissions by 20–30%, and energy use by 15–25%. Participatory workshops indicated high palatability and strong farmer willingness to adopt the feeds. Regional differences in feed availability highlighted the importance of context-specific strategies. Discussion/conclusion: Locally formulated feeds enhance livestock productivity, reduce environmental impact, and provide economic benefits. These findings suggest that scalable, sustainable feed strategies tailored to regional resources can support Nepal’s livestock sector across diverse agro-climatic zones.