Feedipedia: an open access international encyclopedia on feed resources for farm animals

The demand for livestock products has been growing steadily in emerging and developing countries and with it the need for information about animal feeds. However, users of these countries often have to resort to feed data that are either obsolete or from temperate countries. The Feedipedia program led by INRA, CIRAD, FAO and AFZ aims to create an updated and comprehensive encyclopedia comprised of more than 600 datasheets on fodders and raw materials. The datasheets provide information such as physical descriptions, feed availability, potential constraints of use and environmental impact, as well as feeding recommendations and nutritional values for the main species of farm animals. The first goal of the project is to better identify and characterize the local feed resources in order to improve the technical and economic performance of farms. Nutrition modelling, collaborations between research teams and identification of gaps in knowledge are part of the scientific objectives. The datasheets are created by a group of 25 scientists and engineers, who rely on a massive collection of scientific literature and experimental data to write qualitative and quantitative reviews (via methods such as meta-analysis) and build representative and consistent tables of composition and nutritional values. The Feedipedia website opened in October 2012 with 200 updated datasheets and more than 600 tables of composition and nutritive value. Reception of the website has been very positive and Feedipedia is becoming a go-to reference for technical and scientific information about feed resources.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Heuzé, Valérie, Tran, Gilles, Bastianelli, Denis, Archimede, Harry, Sauvant, Daniel
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Wageningen Academic Publishers
Subjects:	L02 - Alimentation animale, C30 - Documentation et information, Q52 - Traitement et conservation des aliments pour animaux, L51 - Physiologie animale - Nutrition,
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/571533/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/571533/1/document_571533.pdf
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