During a series of DFID Livestock Production Programme (LPP) workshops on smallstock, it became apparent that there was a need to improve the effectiveness of nutritional studies designed to support the contribution of smallstock to the well-being of resource-poor farmers and communities in developing countries. At the fourth LPP workshop on small stock held in Masaka, Uganda the delegates identified the need to produce a precise and easy-to-use aide memoir, or checklist. This checklist, 'a decision-making checklist for animal nutrition studies in livestock", is intended to help researchers at the planning stage of nutrition experiment or feeding trial with farm livestock, especially ruminants.