Approaches to research on draught animal power in Indonesia, Ethiopia and Australia

Activities focused on the following topics: animal health (2), cropping (2), economics (2), engineering (7), feed (9), farming systems research (6), physiology (7), and work output (2). The different approaches taken by scientists in the three countries and the apparent strengths, weaknesses, and relevance of various types of research are examined. The report also cites types of research that have been lacking in these countries which may warrant higher priority in the future. To date, the results of draft animal power in these countries have provided a greater understanding of: how working animals are used in various farming systems; the effect of work on intake and digestion; how various metabolites are used during work; how work affects body condition and reproductive cycling; how to interest farmers in participating in research; ideas for on-farm testing; and promising areas for future experimentation. A concluding sections stresses the importance of, inter alia, strengthening linkages between academic and applied scientists, striking a realistic balance between on-farm and on-station research, developing simpler animal traction implements, and assessing alternative uses of draft animal power.