Technology and Animal Feed Connect Highland Livestock Farming Between Ecuador and Colombia

• A cooperative effort between AGROSAVIA and the Prefecture of Pichincha aimed at closing technological gaps in forage management and animal nutrition for the high tropics.

 

Mosquera, Cundinamarca. July 3, 2025. In a technical cooperation effort, the Directorate of Popular, Solidarity Economy and Agricultural Development of the province of Pichincha (Ecuador) and AGROSAVIA (Colombia) are implementing La Comixta – Improvement of Livestock Production Systems for the Province of Pichincha—a space for sharing experiences and technologies focused on strengthening high tropical livestock farming.

This initiative is centered on animal feed, considered by both countries a key component in achieving sustainable livestock systems in cold-climate zones. For Ecuador, Colombia’s experience in this area represents an opportunity to bridge technological gaps that still hinder productivity and competitiveness in its livestock sector.

During a virtual meeting held on June 25, AGROSAVIA presented characteristics of livestock farming in the Cundiboyacense region and advances in animal nutrition and feeding strategies aimed at improving the productivity of dairy farming in the High Tropics. The session included an overview of laboratory services and the physical-chemical characterization of soils to improve dry matter production and the nutritional quality of pastures, as well as a general overview of available technologies to support technical decision-making. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Popular and Solidarity Economy of Pichincha shared the agricultural reality of its region and ongoing initiatives to strengthen livestock systems across various cantons.

One of the topics of greatest interest was the technical analysis of Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus), the main component of the forage base in both regions. Although widely used in highland livestock systems, its study has been limited in Ecuador. In this context, AGROSAVIA shared its experience using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to accurately characterize the nutritional value of forages. This information is integrated into tools such as AlimenTro—a platform that supports the design of locally adjusted diets—and the DieTro software, which enables strategic ration balancing. The combined use of these technologies marks a key step toward more efficient, sustainable, and economically viable feeding systems.

The knowledge exchange will continue through hands-on workshops and field visits, where Ecuadorian and Colombian technicians will jointly explore methodologies and productive models adaptable to their shared agroecological conditions.

This cooperation effort, managed with the support of the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC), has yielded significant institutional learnings for AGROSAVIA, while also strengthening ties with institutions in the neighboring country and promoting new regional alliances in agricultural science and technology.

This technical cooperation effort makes a significant contribution to the development of shared agendas for binational rural development, fostering knowledge exchange between territories with similar agroecological challenges that can accelerate technology adoption, enrich institutional experience, and open new pathways for innovation in the Andean livestock sector.

Thanks to this technical cooperation effort, promoted by the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC), AGROSAVIA is making steady progress in building shared agendas for binational rural development (Colombia – Ecuador), where the exchange of knowledge between territories with similar agroecological conditions allows for faster technology adoption, strengthens local capacities, and opens new routes for innovation in the sustainable development of the Andean livestock sector.