Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles

THAILAND

by
H.M. Shelton and Chaisang Phaikaew
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FAO 2006
 3

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 5

2. CLIMATE, PHYSIOGRAPHY AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES 6

2.1 Climatic influences 6
2.2 Agro-ecological zones 6
2.3 Soils 7

3. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS 7

4. THE PASTURE RESOURCE 7

4.1 Pastures in plantation crops 8
4.2 Forage resources in lowland rice paddy systems 8
4.3 Pasture resources in upland cropping systems 9
4.4 Pasture resources in cooler highland areas 9
4.5 New initiatives in forage improvement for smallholders 9

5. SEED PRODUCTION FOR PASTURE SPECIES 10

6. ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN PASTURE RESEARCH 11

Key research institutions and personnel 11

7. REFERENCES 11

8. CONTACTS 12
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 5

1. INTRODUCTION
Thailand is a land of 60 M people
(According to the World Factbook by
July 2006 the population had reached
64631595 with a growth rate of 0.68%)
covering an area of approximately 51.3M
ha and lying between 6o N and 20o N
latitude. Eighty percent of the country
lies below 500m altitude, with only 5%
above 1 000 m (Donner, 1978). Real
GDP in 1996 was US$2 750 per capita
with 8.8% growth including 3.2% in
agriculture.
Average farm size is 4.2ha/household
(Kreethapon, 1994). Of 20 M ha desig-
nated as farm land, 18 M ha (93%) is
used for cropping and can be divided into
paddy rice (55%), field crops (34%), veg-
etables and permanent crops (11%). Only
0.7Mha is classified as grassland or idle
land. Therefore, the ruminant population
of approximately 1.8 M water buffaloes,
4.6 M cattle, 37 300 sheep and 144 200
goats (Table 1) are largely grazed or
hand-fed in conjunction with the cropping
enterprises. Dairy cattle are mainly situ-
ated in the Central and Northeast regions
and their numbers are still relatively small Figure 1. Map of Thailand
although they are rapidly increasing.
In 2003 beef and veal production reached 183000tonnes (but dropped to 115000tonnes in 2005),
buffalo meat production was 62300tonnes in 2005 and cow milk production 900000tonnes in 2005.
Milk production has increased since 1991, however large quantities of dairy products, specially dry milk
are imported as well as live cattle and buffalo and beef+veal (Table 1).
Table 1. Thailand statistics for ruminant numbers, beef, veal, buffalo meat and milk production, cattle
imports and beef and veal imports for the period 19962005.
Item 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Cattle nos. (,000,000) 6.4 5.8 5.2 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.8 5.1 5.3 5.5
Buffalo nos. (,000,000) 3.3 2.9 2.3 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.8
Goat nos. (,000) 97.8 125.3 130.9 132.9 144.2 188.5 177.9 213.9 250.1 270.0
Sheep nos. (,000) 42.3 41.9 40.4 39.5 37.3 42.7 39.3 42.9 47.8 50.0
Beef & veal prod. (,000 tonnes) 231.8 206.0 183.5 169.9 171.5 176.3 182.9 190.4 114.7 115.0
Buffalo meat prod. (,000 tonnes) 90.9 79.1 69.3 60.4 51.9 57.7 58.2 59.1 60.2 62.3
Cow milk prod. (,000 tonnes) 343.4 385.7 437.1 464.5 520.1 587.7 660.3 731.9 842.6 900.0
Cattle imports nos. (,000) 2.6 17.7 79.3 138.3 90.3 164.7 121.0 76.9 152.5 n.a.
Buffalo imports nos. (,000) 0.6 1.4 21.7 60.0 55.1 69.5 61.1 37.5 35.0 n.a.
Beef & veal imports (tonnes) 1176 1476 1846 1442 1323 987 1148 1028 1220 n.a.
Milk equivalent imports (,000
1 130.5 1 392.1 1 008.0 1 077.5 1 140.0 1 126.9 1 291.9 1 307.3 1 278.4 n.a.
tonnes)
Source: FAO Database 2006
n.a. = not available
6 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

2. CLIMATE, PHYSIOGRAPHY AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES

2.1 Climatic influences
Four seasons are recognised in Thailand. These are the Southwest Monsoon season from May to
September (the rainy season); the Post-Monsoon season during October (transitional period); the
Northeast Monsoon season from November to February (the cool season); and the Pre-Monsoon season
during March and April (the hot season) (Eelaart 1973). These influences create four agroecological
zones which are briefly described below and are shown on the map, namely:
The Equatorial zone (Southern Region), which receives 19004700mm per annum with 8.011.0
humid months.
Three Monsoon zones (Central Plains, Northern and Northeast Regions) which receive 9402150mm
per annum with humid months ranging from 4.58.0 depending on region (Eelaart, 1973).

2.2 Agro-ecological zones

(a) The Southern Region
The topography of the Southern Region comprises the Phuket range in the west and the Nakorn Si
Thammarat range in the east. Soils are derived from a variety of parent materials such as limestone,
bedded sediments and granites, and vary from clay loam to sandy loam. There are also large areas of
alluvial soils, beach sands and acid peats (Donner, 1978).
The region is dominated by plantation agriculture principally rubber, oil palm, fruit trees and coconuts
occupying almost 2Mha, although rice and horticultural crops are also grown. Cattle and goats are used
as weeders in oil palm and coconut plantations, however the majority of the cattle and buffalo in the
region are integrated in the rice growing areas (Sophanodora, 1997).

(b) The Central Plains Region

The Central Plains Region lies in the lower watershed of the Chao Phraya River and comprises fertile
alluvial soils which are seasonally flooded.
The region receives an average annual rainfall of 1 260 mm and over 90% of farm holdings are
cropped principally to rice. Hence the region is known as the rice bowl of Thailand. Since there is limited
land available for grazing ruminants in the region, livestock rely heavily on rice straw.

(c) The Northern Region

The Northern Region comprises 3 physiographic zones (Topark-Ngarm and Gutteridge, 1986):
1. The lowlands (15% of the area), which are relatively flat with fertile alluvial basins, and which
produce paddy rice.
2. The uplands (45% of the area) which are undulating to hilly in terrain to 500ma.s.l. Principal land
use is upland rice, maize, grain legumes and other field crops.
3. The highlands (40% of the area) which range in altitude from 5002500m, and comprise rugged
steep sided mountains which are dissected by high valleys. Crops include upland rice, maize and
opium which are cultivated in swiddens.
Soils of the uplands and highlands are mostly derived from granites, gneiss, shales, limestones and
sandstones.
In the Northern Region, rainfall varies from 900 to 2 000 mm. At Chiang Mai (300 m altitude),
temperatures vary from 29 oC/13 oC in January to 36 oC/21 oC in April. Temperatures decrease at
approximately 0.5oC per 100m altitude and frosts occur in sheltered highland locations.
The majority of the ruminant population are in the lowlands and uplands, with few in the highlands.

(d) The Northeast Region

The Northeast Region is a slightly elevated plateau of 17Mha 100300ma.s.l. Khon Kaen in the centre
of the Northeast, receives an average of 1250mm rainfall per annum with 85% falling mid-April to mid-
October. Average monthly temperatures range from 30oC/17oC in December to 36oC/24oC in April.
Principal land use in the region is rainfed paddy rice, upland field crops, forest lands and grazing
lands. The Northeast Region has the highest ruminant population and therefore the greatest potential for
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 7

forage improvement. A typical Northeastern household cultivates 14ha of upland crops (cassava, sugar
cane, maize, horticultural crops) and raises 13 head of buffalo for draft. Many households also own a
few head of cattle for draft and commercial sale.

2.3 Soils
Studies of legume crops in farmers fields in Thailand have shown that a high proportion suffer from one
or more deficiencies of the macro-elements phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), nitrogen (N)
and the micronutrients boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) (Bell et al,. 1990). These low nutrient levels
would undoubtedly reduce productivity of forage legumes according to species, site and management.
Upland soils in the Northeast region are largely podzolics, latosols, and regosols characterised by
sandy texture, acid reaction, low organic matter content and low cation exchange capacity. They are
characterised by a low level of plant nutrients particularly of N, P, K and S while Cu, and Mo are limiting
in some soils (Topark-Ngarm and Gutteridge, 1986).
In the South, most soils are infertile and deficient in the major nutrients N, P, K, S, Mg and
micronutrients Zn and Cu (Sophanodora, 1995, 1997).

3. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Livestock numbers are given in Table 1.
There are four main ruminant production systems in Thailand. These can be briefly described as:
Ruminants integrated into plantation crops. Integration of ruminants into plantation crops is
potentially a major production system in the Southern Region. The principal plantation crops are
rubber, oil palm and coconuts and occupy almost 2 M ha. There is considerable scope for grazing
of ruminants on the understorey cover legumes, planted for weed control, and on the naturalised
grass species.
Ruminants integrated into lowland rice paddy production systems. This system of feeding
ruminant livestock can be found in all regions. Since 55% of all cropping lands are planted to rice,
vast areas of land and large quantities of rice straw are available for feeding ruminant animals.
Ruminants integrated into upland cropping systems. This system is found extensively in the
Northeast, Northern and Southern Regions. Seasonal cropping practices influence feed supply, and
community grazing lands and crop residues are the principal source of forage during the wet and
dry seasons respectively.
Cooler highland areas. The highland areas of Thailand are occupied by Hilltribe peoples and
displaced lowland Thai. Small numbers of ruminants are raised for draft and ceremonial occasions.

4. THE PASTURE RESOURCE

Fenced and grazed improved pasture systems are not used to any great extent in Thailand. Large-scale
ranch grazing of pastures is inappropriate for smallholders due to socio-economic limitations. These are:
limited land areas available, lack of capital for such high cost developments, and lack of experience with
the management of grazing ruminants leading to poor pasture and animal production outcomes. Most
ruminants are raised in small numbers by smallholder villagers in conjunction with small-scale food and
cash crop production. Feed supply for ruminants is mainly cut and carried. Cropping systems therefore
have a marked impact on forage supply although cropping systems vary from region to region.
The amount of improvement that can be expected in liveweight gains and milk supply will depend
on the success of the pasture improvement programmes, the productive potential of the animals, and
animal husbandry measures such as disease control. However, the key limitation is poor nutrition of the
animals due to:
Poor productivity and quality of existing native and naturalised pastures;
8 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

Seasonality of production of the pastures related to rainfall patterns already described;

Low awareness and uptake of improved pasture technology, particularly of legumes which are
important if availability of high quality protein for grazing ruminants is to be increased;
Lack of staff in Government agencies with knowledge of the opportunities, and understanding of
the extension methodology, for improving pasture and animal production in village systems.
Pasture resources in the four ruminant production systems are now discussed.

4.1 Pastures in plantation crops

Livestock graze volunteer species including Axonopus compressus, Paspalum conjugatum and
Imperata cylindrica. However, these pastures are not productive and even with pasture improvement
may not be highly productive. Manidool (1983) reported liveweight gains (LWG) of cattle grazing
Brachiaria decumbens / Centrosema pubescens pastures under coconuts of only 50100kg LWG/head
at 11.5animals/ha. There are also extensive areas of leguminous cover crops principally Centrosema
pubescens, Pueraria phaseoloides, Calopogonium mucunoides and C. caeruleum which have been
planted in rubber and oil palm plantations to control weeds. They provide a high quality source of forage
for livestock until year 5 when canopy closure greatly reduces productivity (Mullen and Shelton, 1995).
Work in Malaysia has shown that the improved grasses Brachiaria humidicola and Panicum maximum
cv. Vencedor are very productive but strongly competitive with young rubber. The Malaysians have
recommended a hedge row system of planting rubber in which double rubber rows are planted 20 m
apart allowing pasture grasses and legumes to be grown in between in a more sustainable system (Mullen
and Shelton, 1995).

4.2 Forage resources in lowland rice paddy systems

In this system, there is a shortage of forage in the wet season, when the best land is not available to
livestock, a surfeit of straws just after rice harvest and another shortage of feed at the end of the dry
season as forage supplies dwindle. Cattle are also supplemented with cut-and-carry naturalised grasses
from roadsides, paddy bunds and community lands. Productivity of livestock in such traditional systems
is limited by the variable availability of forages and the low quality of grasses and crop residues obtained
in this manner.
The beef and dairy industries are often associated with lowland rice paddy systems and have grown
rapidly since the early 1970s in areas such as the upper Chao Phraya River, the Northeast and Southern
regions where there are large areas of lowland paddy rice production. Feed costs represent the largest
proportion of total costs, especially for dairy farming where the use of concentrate feeds is mandatory
to achieve high levels of milk production. The need for high quality pastures to reduce dependency
on expensive concentrates and to contribute to sustainable farming systems has never been greater.
Consequently there is increasing interest in developing small areas of paddy land for use as back-yard
pastures in which improved species are planted, sometimes fertilised, and hand-cut for feeding to stalled
animals.
Para grass (Brachiaria mutica), Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), napier grass (Pennisetum
purpureum) and guinea grass TD 58 are the principal pasture species used to boost feed supply
(Phaikaew et al., 1997). Leucaena leucocephala is used in cut-and-carry systems to supplement poor
quality rice straw.
Most ruminants in Southern Thailand are grazed in the rice growing areas by smallholder farmers
owning only 22.5ha of land per household. Species which have been successful elsewhere in Thailand
such as Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and Verano stylo
(Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano) are not well adapted to the seasonally flooded alluvial soils of the
South (Sophanodora, 1997). Para grass (Brachiaria mutica) and plicatulum (Paspalum plicatulum) are
well adapted, but the palatability of plicatulum is poor and improved species for this environment are
required (Sophanodora, 1997). The aquatic plants hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) and aleman
grass (Echinochloa polystachya) which are successful in Northern Australia in flooded situations have
not been extensively tested in Southern Thailand. Recent studies have shown that B. humidicola is well
adapted to areas which experience seasonal flooding.
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 9

4.3 Pasture resources in upland cropping systems

In this system, seasonal cropping practices influence feed supply. During the wet season much of the
paddy land and upland is cropped so that livestock are grazed on remaining communal lands such as
roadsides and fallow areas. Cut and carry feeding is important. During the dry season, after rice harvest,
rice straw is the principal diet. But other crop residues such as cassava leaves, sugar cane tops as well as
cut and carry naturalised grasses from roadsides, paddy bunds and community grazing lands are important.
Naturalised species on community grazing lands contributing to the grazing resource include the
grasses Eragrostis spp., Axonopus compressus, Panicum repens, Dactyloctenium aegypticum, Digitaria
spp., Perotis indica and Chrysopogon aciculatus; and the legumes Desmodiun triflorum and Alysicarpus
vaginalis. However, these species, although adapted to heavy grazing on poor sandy soils, have poor
productivity and low quality. Gutteridge et al. (1983) reported the results of a grazing trial at Khon
Kaen, and at 3.2 weaner steers/ha, measured only 52 kg LWG/ha from native pastures compared
to 213 kg LWG/ha from improved pastures comprising a mixture of Urochloa mosambicensis, B.
decumbens, Stylosanthes humilis, S. hamata and Macroptilium atropurpureum.
Public and private grazing lands have been targeted for planting with ruzi grass, guinea grass TD 58,
para grass, and signal grass (B. decumbens ) and the herbaceous legumes Verano stylo, S. guianensis cv.
CIAT 184, S. humilis cv. Khon Kaen and the tree legumes leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), gliricidia
(Gliricidia sepium), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and sesbania (Sesbania grandiflora). Udchachon and
Boonpakdee (1993) conclude that forage tree legumes have great potential for use as animal feed for
smallholder dairy farmers during periods of feed shortage such as in the dry season.
There has been promotion of the concept of ley pastures in some villages. Greatly improved cassava
yields have been demonstrated following fertilised Verano stylo pastures in upland areas (Gibson,
1987). However, whilst there is considerable interest in backyard pastures there has been only limited
adoption of crop-pasture rotation techniques. This is due to strong competition for limited land area for
cash-cropping. Due to declining crop yields, ley farming may become popular in future (Foppes, 1993).
Particular strategies which have been promoted are:
Small areas of backyard pastures for cut-and-carry feeding of household livestock;
Fence lines or hedge rows of tree legumes to provide high quality leguminous forage;
Improvement of communal/public grazing lands by oversowing exotic legume species such as
Stylosanthes humilis and S. hamata. These species can be commonly found growing along the
roadsides of Northeast Thailand.

4.4 Pasture resources in cooler highland areas

The main forage resource is the large area of Imperata cylindrica which supports low stocking rates of
0.1 beast per ha and which is of low quality.
Research in the highlands has shown that subtropical species such as the legumes desmodium
(Desmodium intortum and D. uncinatum), lotononis (Lotononis bainesii), axillaris (Macrotyloma
axillare), Kenya white clover (Trifolium semipilosum), white clover (T. repens); and the grasses setaria
(Setaria sphacelata), guinea grass and signal grass are productive.
Weed invasion is a major technical problem in highland pastures, particularly Chromolaena spp., but
this can be controlled by adequate fertilisation and frequent slashing.

4.5 New initiatives in forage improvement for smallholders

The Department of Livestock Development with support from the Feed Resources for Smallholder
Livestock Production in Southeast Asia Project has embarked on an ambitious programme of forage
improvement based on the following programme (Phaikaew, 1997):
Introduction and evaluation of new species and especially accessions in the species Arachis spp.,
Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, Panicum maximum. New species are sought for upland crop-
ping systems, rainfed lowland rice systems, and agroforestry systems.
Training of Department of Livestock personnel in Participatory Research methodology to improve
their capacity to identify opportunities to introduce forages into village systems and to increase
farmer involvement in the testing process thereby increasing likelihood of uptake of the new
tevhnology.
10 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

5. SEED PRODUCTION FOR PASTURE SPECIES

Thailand is unique in Asia for its Table 2. Seed production (tons) of grass and legume
development of a highly successful species in Thailand,
forage seed production industry. A 19901995
pasture seed scheme for village farmers Grass species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
B. ruziziensis
started in 1976 and since 1984 more Station 125 105 195 184 198 164
than 8200 tonnes of forage seed (Figure Farmer 83 262 437 426 824 740
P. maximum
1) have been produced under the Station 7 11 8 13 5 48
management of the Thai Department Farmer - - - 5 23 90
of Livestock Development (Phaikaew, P. plicatulum
Station 8 19 6 14 18 19
1994, Phaikaew, 1997, Phaikaew and Sorghum
Hare, 1996). Most of this production Station 11 3 21 16 15 20
has been in Khon Kaen Province Other grasses 0.6 4 0.3 1 4 19
in Northeast Thailand and has been Total 235 404 667 660 1 085 1 110

distributed to the farmers of Thailand Legume species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
S. hamata cv. Verano
at nominal cost. Details of species Station 35 31 11 17 10 20
produced are given in Table 2. The two Farmer 325 296 173 231 140 130
Total 360 327 184 248 150 150
main species are ruzi grass (Brachiaria S. guianensis cv. Graham
ruziziensis) and stylo (Stylosanthes Station 9 4 4 13 2 0.2
Farmer - - 5 5 - -
hamata cv. Verano). Substantial Total 9 4 9 18 2 0.2
quantities of purple guinea grass Leucaena leucocephala
(Panicum maximum T 58) and smaller Station 6 6 11 9 8 9
Centrosema pubescens
quantities of Stylosanthes guianensis Station 4 6 7 14 14 7
cv. Graham, Centrosema pubescens, Other legumes
Desmanthus virgatus, Macroptilium Station 1 1 2 1 1 12
Total 380 344 213 290 175 179
atropurpureum, Leucaena
(Phaikaew 1997)
leucocephala, Cajanus cajan, Panicum
maximum cv. Hamil and Common, Paspalum plicatulum, Setaria sphacelata, Andropogon gayanus,
Brachiaria decumbens, and forage sorghum have also been produced. Programmes of investigation into
seed production of promising new species Paspalum atratum BRA 9610, Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo,
Cassia rotundifolia cv. Wynn, Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184, Macroptilium gracile cv. Maldonado,
and Aeschynomene americana cv. Lee and Glenn (Phaikaew, 1997) are now underway.
Forage seed production programmes in Thailand have evolved through research, pilot projects and
a Government supported village seed production enterprise. Village farmers were guaranteed purchase
at a predetermined price for seed which was produced and cleaned on farm. Factors contributing to the
success of the programme were favourable climate for seed production, extensive preparatory research,
intensive initial supervision, realistic price incentives, and good market demand.

Figure 1. Pasture seed

production in Thailand
(Phaikaew 1997).
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile 11

6. ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN PASTURE

RESEARCH
Key research institutions and personnel
Hare, Dr Michael. Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon. Pasture agronomist with
special interest in seed production programmes and research.
Khemsawat, Mr Chirawat. Director of Animal Nutrition, Department of Livestock Development,
Bangkok 10400. Interest in pasture improvement and fodder conservation.
Manidool, Mr Chanchai. consultant to Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation. 97 Sukhumvit 53,
Bangkok 10110. Pasture agronomist with special interest in the integration of pastures in plantation
crops.
Phaikaew, Mrs Chaisang. Division of Animal Nutrition, Department of Livestock Development,
Bangkaen, Bangkok 10400. Interest in all aspects of forage production and research in Thailand but
has been especially involved in the seed production programmes.
Satjipanon, Ms. Chureerat. Khon Kaen Animal Nutrition Research Centre, Tha Pra, Khon Kaen 40260.
Pasture Management Section.
Sophanodora, Dr Pravit. Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla
University, Hat Yai. Pasture agronomist involved in research and extension.
Topark-Ngarm, Dr Anake. Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen. Plant breeder
with broad teaching and research interests in improved pasture species evaluation for Thailand.
Tudsri, Dr Sayan. Department of Agronomy, Kasetsart University, Bangkok. Pasture agronomist with
interest in pasture improvement.
Udchachon, Mr. Supachai. Khon Kaen Animal Nutrition Research Centre, Tha Pra, Khon Kaen 40260.
Pasture management and modelling section.
Wanapat, Dr Metha. Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen. Ruminant nutritionist
with research interest in strategies for use of low quality crop residues. Interest in forage tree legumes.
Wilaipon, Prof. Boonrue. Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen. Pasture agronomist
with broad teaching and research interests in improved pastures for Thailand.

7. REFERENCES
Bell, R.W., Rerkasem, B., Keerati-Kasikorn, P., Petchawee, S., Hiranburana, N., Ratanarat, S., Pongsakul, P.
and Loneragan, J.F. (1990). Mineral Nutrition of Food Legumes in Thailand. ACIAR, Canberra. 52 pp.
Donner, W. (1978). The Five Faces of Thailand. University of Queensland Press. 930pp.
Eelaart van den, A.L.J. (1973). Climate and crops in Thailand. Soil Survey Division Report SSR-96, Bangkok. 27 pp.
Foppes, J. (1993). Ley farming: From theory to practice - extension of crop-pasture rotations in North-east
Thailand. In: Chen, C.P. and Satjipanon, C. (eds). Strategies for suitable forage-based livestock production in
Southeast Asia. Proceedings of Third Meeting of Regional Working Group on Grazing and Feed Resources
of Southeast Asia. pp. 207-215.
Gibson, T.A. (1987). Legume ley farming a low cost method of overcoming soil fertility limitations in an
upland agricultural system. In: Wallis, E.S. and Byth, D.E. (eds). Food legume improvement for Asian
farming systems, ACIAR Proceedings No. 18. pp. 236-237.
Gutteridge, R.C., Shelton, H.M., Wilaipon, B. and Humphreys, L.R. (1983). Productivity of pastures and responses
to salt supplements by beef cattle on native pasture in North-east Thailand. Tropical Grasslands, 17: 105-114.
Kreethapon, I. (1994). Future legume production development in Thailand. In: Helge Brunse and Pipob
Jarikpakon (eds). Tropical Forage Legume Seed Production and Processing. Lectures and Findings of
Symposium and Workshop, Muak Lek, Saraburi, February 1994. pp. 92-99.
Manidool, C. (1983). Pastures under coconuts in Thailand. In: Junag, T.C. (ed). Asian Pastures. Teipei, FFTC
Book Series No. 25. pp. 204-213.
Mullen, B.F. and Shelton, H.M. (1995). Integration of ruminants into plantation systems in Southeast Asia.
ACIAR Proceedings N0. 64. 115 pp.
12 Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile

Phaikaew, Chaisang (1994). Forage legume seed production in Thailand: Background review and present
status. Paper presented at Symposium on Tropical Forage Legume Seed Production/Processing at Dairy
promotion Organisation of Thailand.
Phaikaew, Chaisang (1997). Current status of and prospects for tropical forage seed production in Southeast
Asia: Experiences and recommendations from Thailand. In: Str, W.W. (ed). Feed Resources for Smallholder
Livestock Production in Southeast Asia. Proceedings of regional meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR. CIAT
Working Document No. 156. pp. 57-63.
Phaikaew, Chaisang and Hare, M. (1996). Thailands experience with forage seed supply systems. Regional
Workshop on Forage Agronomy, Seed Production and Seed Supply, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Phaikaew, Chaisang, Nakamanee, Ganda, and Klum-em, Kiatisak (1997). FSP Activities in Thailand. In: Str,
W.W. (ed). Feed Resources for Smallholder Livestock Production in Southeast Asia. Proceedings of regional
meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR. CIAT Working Document No. 156. pp. 49-50.
Sophanodora, P. (1995). Forage research in Southern Thailand. In: Mullen, B.F. and Shelton, H.M (eds).
Integration of ruminants into plantation systems in Southeast Asia. ACIAR Proceedings N0. 64. pp. 104-
108.
Sophanodora, P. (1997). Crop-livestock integration in Southern Thailand: prospects and constraints. In: Str,
W.W. (ed). Feed Resources for Smallholder Livestock Production in Southeast Asia. Proceedings of regional
meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR. CIAT Working Document No. 156. pp. 77-82.
Topark-Ngarm, A. and Gutteridge, R.C. (1986). Forages in Thailand. In: Blair, G.J., Ivory, D.A. and Evans,
T.R. (eds). Forages in Southeast Asian and Pacific Agriculture. ACIAR Proceedings No. 12. pp. 96-103.
Udchachon, S. and Boonpakdee, W. (1993). Demonstration trial on suitable backyard pasture utilisation for
small dairy farm in Khon Kaen. In: Chen, C.P. and Satjipanon, C. (eds). Strategies for suitable forage-
based livestock production in Southeast Asia. Proceedings of Third Meeting of Regional Working Group on
Grazing and Feed Resources of Southeast Asia. pp. 49 57.

8. CONTACTS
For further information on forages in Thailand, seed sources (eg. ruzi grass, guinea grass, Verano stylo)
contact:
Dr. Chaisang Phaikaew,
Division of Animal Nutrition,
Department of Livestock Development, Phyathai Road, Rajthewee, Bangkok,
10400, Thailand.
Fax No.: (662) 2511941
E-Mail: < chaisangp@dld.gov.th>
Assoc. Prof. Max Shelton
School of Land and Food,
University of Queensland,Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Fax No.: (617) 33651188
E-mail: <m.shelton@uq.edu.au >

This forage resource profile was prepared in 1998 by Chaisang Phaikaew and Max Shelton. Livestock
data were updated in November 2003 and October 2006 by S.G. Reynolds.

Thailand has been a member of the (FAO sponsored) Working Group (WG) on Grazing and Feed
Resources of South-east Asia since the inception of the WG in 1989. For more details of the WG and
papers from Thailand see the WG Meeting Proceedings.