Livestock feeds database | Livestock and Fisheries Management (Livestock Feeds)
Description of the technology or innovation
Knowledge of feed composition is vital for the nutritionists (toenable them to meet the nutrient requirements of livestock), feed manufacturers(to produce balanced compound feeds), farmers (to enable them to plan forforage production and economically use feeds) and policy-makers (to directstrategies that guarantee a competitive, sustainable, environmentally friendlysetting and food safety). Feed tables and databases of feed composition canprovide important information that can lead to a complete revolution inlivestock productivity. A feed database is a collection of data on the feedchemical composition and nutritive values, including a description of physicalcharacteristics and area of collection. The data is summarized in a userfriendly feed table, which could be used by farmers and advisors in rationoptimization to increase competitive ruminant productivity by feedmanufacturers, feed standard regulators, researchers and students. Data onchemical composition and nutritive values of feeds was collected fromuniversities, research institutions and centers, government ministries, publicand private companies. Data was collected from ASARECA countries and covers aperiod of 2005-2011. The total feed data entries collected were 12,461 whichwere later refined to 1,767 after collation. The data was classified andcategorized into five major feed categories namely: (i) roughages, (ii)concentrates, (iii) by-products of brewing industries, (iv) minerals, and (v)vitamins. These were later assigned standard units.
Assessment/reflection on utilization, dissemination & scaling out or up approaches used
Current situation and future scaling up
Feed tables and databases can be used to increase livestockproductivity. This database addresses a pertinent problem faced by livestockfarmers, which has a big influence on the productivity and profitability oftheir enterprises. Database enables feed efficiency, and in the processminimizes the undesirable effects of fodder shortages during the dry season. Feedtables and databases therefore are recommended for promotion with the intent ofimproving livestock productivity. The innovation should be disseminated withthe aim of reaching more practioners/stakeholders (farmers and advisors inration optimization, feed manufacturers, feed standard regulators, researchersand students) within the region and ensure that it’s widely adopted andutilized for day to day planning and decision making. Challenges associatedwith the operationalization of the database and feed tables should be addressedto ensure that there is no impediment to future scaling up/out of theinnovation.
Economic Considerations
The databases and feed tables are useful for enhancing livestockfeed efficiency, thus reducing costs associated with wastage. This in turntranslates into savings on feeds and improved profit margins for the livestockfarmers. Feed use efficiency is also likely to result in higher milk yields andbetter nutrition.
Gender considerations
The database is gender-neutral and isintended to benefit all members of the community, including vulnerable andmarginalized groups. The practice particularly addresses the context andsituation of women farmers, who constitute a majority of small scale livestockfarmers.
Contact details
Laswai, G.H;
Lead Scientist, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
P.O. Box 3004;
Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tel: +255-232604617
Fax: +255-232604562
Email: laswaig1@gmail.com; laswaig@suanet.ac.tz
Mtenga, L.A;
Scientist, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
P.O. Box 3004;
Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tel: +255-232604617
Fax: +255-232604562
Email: mtenga@suanet.ac.tz
Mgheni, D.M;
Scientist, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
P.O. Box 3004;
Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tel: +255-232604617
Fax: +255-232604562
Email: mghenidm@suanet.ac.tz; dynessm@yahoo.com
Bwire, J.M;
Scientist, Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TLRI);
P.O. Box 5016;
Tanga, Tanzania.
Weisbjerg, M.R;
Scientist, Aarhus University;
P. O. Box 50, AU Foulum, DK-8830;
Tjele, Denmark.
Email: martin.weisbjerg@agrsci
Hvelpund, Torben;
Scientist, Aarhus University;
P. O. Box 50, AU Foulum, DK-8830;
Tjele, Denmark.
Email: torben.hvelplund@agrsci
Kimambo, A.E;
Scientist, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
P.O. Box 3004;
Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tel: +255-232604617
Fax: +255-232604562
Email: kimambo@suanet.ac.tz
Hoza, W;
Scientist, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
P.O. Box 3004;
Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tel: +255-232604617
Fax: +255-232604562
Mwanga, H.J;
Scientist, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
P.O. Box 3004;
Morogoro, Tanzania.
Tel: +255-232604617
Fax: +255-232604562
Mutimura, M;
Scientist, Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB);
P.O. Box 5016;
Kigali, Rwanda.
Mob: +250-788884099; +250-728884099
Email: mupenzimutimura@gmail.com; mmutimura@yahoo.co.uk
Minani, Elias;
Scientist, Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU);
P.O. Box 795;
Bujumbura, Burundi.
Tel: + 257-722227352
Email: matara300@yahoo.fr
Bareeba, F.B;
Professor, Makerere University;
P.O. Box7062;
Kampala, Uganda.
Tel: +256-414532269
Email: fbareeba@agric.mak.ac.ug
Musalia, L.M;
Scientist, Egerton University;
P. O. Box 536;
Eldoret, Kenya.
Email: mugalavai@mail.com
Komwihangilo, D.M;
Scientist, Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI);
P.O. Box 202;
Mpwapwa, Tanzania.
Email: dkomwihangilo2001@yahoo.com
Additional information
Summary of challenges faced during development andoperationalization Feed Database and Feed Table are presented in the Tablebelow:
| Challenge | Explanation | Recommendation |
| Challenges during the preparation of current Feed Database and Feed Table | ||
| a) Physical infrastructure | Inadequacy of laboratory equipment and tools in universities and research institutions which led to limited parameters analyzed per sample. | 1. Efforts should be made to equip analytical laboratories with necessary equipment and tools for meaningful and up to date analyses. Due to costs of equipment, some regional reference laboratories should be designated/initiated to cater for more expensive analyses that cannot be undertaken in individual country laboratories. |
| 2. Absence of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in many laboratories in the region led to gross variations within countries. | 3. In future, inter- and intra- laboratory analytical works should be initiated to standardize most of the operations. There should be ECA rules for collecting and describing feed samples. Universities and research institutions should also develop and adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within their laboratory systems. | |
| b) Researchers and laboratory staff who handled the samples | 4. Inadequacy in labeling and identification of samples led to many samples having no description & no information on their sources | 5. There is need to train laboratory technicians and researchers in appropriate handling of feed samples and use of equipment and tools. |
| 6. Vested interests in analyses – since sample analyses are done depending on the interest of the individual (projects, researchers, students), some of the samples were more repeatedly studied than others. | ||
| Challenges during use and maintenance of the completed Feed Database and Feed Table | ||
| a) Institutional and policy frameworks | 7. Operation of the feed database. The current institutional and policy frameworks have not yet identified actors responsible for the operation of the developed Feed Database for ECA | 8. Institutional and policy frameworks should be worked out to enable smooth operations of the feed databases at NARS and regional levels. These include policies to be enacted for the establishment of a committee of experts and units both at national and regional levels for operation and regular updating of the information in the feed database. Apart from overseeing the feed database management, the committee should be funded for regular updating, publication and dissemination of the feed database. |
| 9. Updating the feed database: The current set up has not yet set modalities on how the Feed Database will be continuously updated – how to get country data and frequency of updating when new information becomes available. | ||
| b) Costs and channels for publication, dissemination and maintenance | 10. Financing: It’s not yet established how the feed database will be sustainably financed so as to yield desired benefits to the stakeholders in ECA. | |
| 11. Dissemination: Dissemination channels need to be clearly identified so that the benefits of the developed feed database are realized. | - Same as above- | |
| 12. Publications: Demand for sales of publications also should to be established in order to justify a need for any subsidies in the publications. | ||
| 13. Feed database website: There is a need to upload the feed database on the website to facilitate information sharing and scaling up. Modalities on how this will be done and who will maintain the website need to be thought out. | ||
Glossary
Laswai, G. H., Mtenga, L.A., Mgheni, D.A., Bwire, J.M., Weisbjerg,M.R., Hvelpund, T., Kimambo, A.E., Hoza, W., Mwanga, H.J., Mutimura, M.,Minani, E., Bareeba, F.B., Musalia, L.M. and Komwihangilo, D.M. 2012.Development and maintenance of East and Central Africa feed database and feedtable for ruminants. (In press).
Laswai, G.H., Mutayoba, S.M., Temu, A.A. and Musolwa, P.M. 2002.Feed Table 2002. Chemical Composition of Poultry Feedstuffs in Tanzania, pp 24.
MAFF. 1986. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Standing Committeeon Tables of Feed Composition. Feed Composition. U.K. Tables of FeedComposition and Nutritive Value for Ruminants, pp. 69.
McDonald, P., Edwards, R.A., Greenhalgh, J.F.D. and Morgan, C.A.2002. Animal Nutrition. Sixth edition, pp. 693.