Abstract
Asian-Australasian region comprises of 82 countries spread over varying agro economic zones, habitats and ecosystems varying from dry hot to humid tropics and cold deserts. The literacy standards vary from very low to almost 100 percent. On the basis of economic development there are 4 countries Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Korea which are developed countries, rest are in varying states of development and growing economically very rapidly. Based on Agro ecosystems and farming practices, we have chosen four countries for indepth study in this paper namely China, Thailand, Indonesia and India. They represent 70% of the bovine and poultry population of the region. This paper makes a comparative study of the grain and roughage production and utilization at present and in 2000 A.D. by examining information on feed rates demand patterns and feed requirements in these four countries keeping in view the size and growth of bovine and poultry population and dietary pattern of the people. It has been observed, there has so far been no country level detailed study on the livestock feed requirements. Apart from conceptual discrepancies, most of the estimates given in various reports brought out by the national governments and international agencies do not have any scientific basis. Hence an inter-country comparison is virtually impossible on the basis of the available information. We have however, attempted to analyse the dietary pattern in the different countries, feedgrains requirements, availability of feed based on the information available from the various published and unpublished reports. We have given an inter-country comparison of feed rate and feed requirements which, however, needs to be tested by carrying out a micro level study in each selected country.