P6: Validating the potentials of unconventional feeds on meat and egg production and qualities of poultry for enhances food security through supply of high value protein in Ethiopia

Description

Livestock production plays a key role in food security in many sub-Saharan African nations. Nevertheless, livestock in particular ruminant animals are considered as the major contributors of enteric methane emission adding to global climate change. Conversely, non-ruminant animals such as poultry are environment friendly with the lowest carbon and water footprint. Moreover, promoting the productivity of poultry would be beneficial in alleviating the inherent food security problem of the community by providing animal protein of high value and other essential nutrients such as irons and vitamins in the form of meat and eggs to the rural and urban communities. However, the productivity poultry in Ethiopia has been limited by the high prices of conventional feed ingredients due to competition with humans. Thus, searching for alternative cheap feed resources that are locally available and nutritionally suitable for poultry is essential. Based on their better nutrient compositions (chemical, mineral and amino acids) and low anti-nutritional factors, leaves of Moringa stenopetala, Leucaena leukocephala, Cajanus cajan, Ipomea batatas and Prosopis juliflora; pods of M. stenopetala, Milletia ferruginea and P. juliflora and seeds of Mangifera indica and M. stenopetala were reported to be potential candidates in non-ruminant nutrition such as poultry. It would be thus justifiable to validate the suitability of these feed materials through animal-based experiments.

The aim of the proposed research project is to further consolidate the previous research findings through evaluation of the suitability of the identified plant materials with the following objectives: (i) to investigate the feeding potentials of leaves of M. stenopetala, P. juliflora, C. cajan, I. batatas and L. leucocephala on egg production and egg quality parameters in layer hens of two chicken breeds, (ii) to evaluate the feeding values of pods of M. stenopetala, P. juliflora and M. ferruginea on egg production and egg quality parameters in layer hens of two chicken breeds, (iii) to assess the response of broiler chickens to various levels of seeds of M. indica and M. stenopetala on growth performances, carcass components, and meat quality parameters in two broiler chicken breeds.

Involved persons

Prof. Dr. Aberra Melesse Ayenew
Kibru Beriso Tungamo

Involved institutions

School of Animal and Range Sciences, College of Agriculture

Sponsors

Supported by the DAAD program Bilateral SDG Graduate Schools, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)