Sustainable Small-Scale Poultry Production: Are Local Feeds a Viable Option for the Pacific

Region?
P! "lat#$ Science Leader, Pigs and Poultry, South Australian Research and Development Institute,
Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, South Australia !"#, Australia
Summary
$here has %een a &&' and !&&' increase in per capita consumption of eggs and meat, respectively,
over the last & years, lin(ed to the rapid increase in poultry production in developing countries
worldwide) Poultry products are popular sources of high*+uality protein, reflecting their high
efficiency and relatively low cost of production) $he greatest increase in livestoc( production in
developing countries in the future is e,pected to %e in poultry, eggs, por( and mil( -Delgado et al),
#.../)
A significant proportion of poultry meat and eggs produced in some developing countries comes from
small*scale family units, either from small semi*scavenging floc(s of indigenous %irds or from small
commercial floc(s of %roilers or layers reared in confinement and provided with commercial feeds)
0ne of the ma1or impediments to the efficiency and profita%ility of production is a lac( of (nowledge
on poultry nutrition, health and management) $he ma1or constraint is often the feed supply)
Commercial feed may not %e availa%le or must %e imported or transported over long distances in*
country) It is also very e,pensive and accounts for a%out "&' of the total cost of production) $he
via%ility of small*scale producer operations has %een threatened %y rising costs of imported feeds)
2ffective rations for poultry can %e developed from local sources) 3our feeding strategies could %e
adopted %y smallholder farmers depending on feed resources availa%le in the region4 -a/ complete
ration formulation using local feed ingredients4 -%/ free choice of feed ingredients4 -c/ mi,ing a
concentrated diet with local feed ingredients and -d/ dilution of a commercial diet with locally
availa%le food products) Adoption of such feeding systems is considered a solution for ensuring the
via%ility of poultry farming)
5ini*mill e+uipment is %ecoming progressively more availa%le and these could %e esta%lished where
appropriate local feed ingredients are readily availa%le and cost*competitive) $he esta%lishment of
small*scale regional feed manufacturing centres -producing *#& tonne6wee(/ in areas where local
feed supply is plentiful has the potential to achieve feed cost savings of up to !&')
%ntroduction
Smallholder poultry farming ma(es an important contri%ution to the livelihoods of rural households in
Pacific countries -Daghir, #../) In the traditional rural setting dominated %y smallholder farms,
poultry have little shelter, are allowed to scavenge for feed, and are free to wander) $his system is
cheap as little hus%andry and few management s(ills are re+uired) $here are considera%le pro%lems
with this system, including slow growth and poor productivity %ecause of energy and protein
deficiencies, poor %ird genetics, losses %ecause of predators and theft and damage to gardens)
7owever, many smallholders have changed from producing poultry solely for household purposes to
farming meat %irds and layers to produce eggs for sale in local mar(ets) $hey have adopted improved
housing and nutrition and use modern genetic strains fed on commercial feeds) $he via%ility of these
semi*commercial operations has %een threatened %y the rising costs of imported ingredients and feeds)
8hen transport pro%lems are added -and these are also made worse %y the rising real cost of fuel/, the
smallholder poultry industries that rely on imported ingredients struggle financially) Smallholder
operations will %e su%stantially improved if feeding regimes %ased at least in part on local ingredients
can %e developed as an alternative to imported complete feed or feed ingredients from overseas)
Feed Resources
It is widely recognised that Pacific countries have feed resources that are either unutilised and wasted
or used inefficiently) 5ost of these alternate feedstuffs have potential, %ut their use has %een limited
%y varia%ility in nutrient +uality, high fi%re content and anti*nutritional properties and unrelia%le
supply) 9evertheless, the local feed resources that are availa%le in the Pacific countries -AL3ID, :&&:4
3A0, :&#:/ could %e utili;ed more effectively for feeding poultry) 3armers could also introduce new
crops for humans and livestoc( -Latham, #.."/ and use pasture species with higher nutritional value)
2nergy sources include cereals, cereal milling co*products, roots and tu%ers, fruits and fruit co*
products -Ravindran and <lair, #..#/) Protein sources include oilseed meals, grain legumes, green
meals, distillery co*products, fish silage, fish meal, copra meal, feather meal, poultry %y*product meal
plus alternative resources such as insects, maggots, earthworms, termites and snails -Ravindran and
<lair, #..: = #..!/) $he immediate prospect for the use of alternative feedstuffs is in the semi*
commercial poultry units, which employ some degree of on*farm feed mi,ing and in family poultry
units) In these sectors, where profita%ility rather than ma,imum production is the o%1ective,
alternative feedstuffs can ma(e a useful contri%ution in poultry feeding)
Rations for poultry using local feed resources
2ffective rations for poultry can %e developed %ased on feed resources availa%le) 3our feeding
strategies for poultry could %e adopted %y smallholder farmers4 -a/ complete ration formulation using
local feed ingredients4 -%/ free choice of feed ingredients4 -c/ mi,ing a concentrated diet with local
feed ingredients and -d/ dilution of a commercial diet with locally availa%le food products)

&a' (e)elopment of poultry rations for )illage farmers in the Solomon %slands
$here is a wide variety of local feed resources availa%le that could %e utili;ed more effectively such as
root crops, fruit, forages, %ush plants and vines) 3armers in remote areas can introduce new crops
-sorghum, mung %ean, pigeon pea, sunflower, amaranth and others/ with higher nutritional value for
poultry and provided they have the appropriate tools and growing technologies) 3or e,ample, in the
Solomon Islands, three feeding trials with village hens were conducted using local feed resources)
Composition of diet #> Corn -?'/, cassava -@)!#'/, ripe paw paw -'/, mung %eans -!&'/,
fishmeal -'/, lime -A'/, premi, -&):'/, lysine -&)&.'/, methionine -&)&'/ and salt -&)!'/)
Specifications of diet4 A52 #&)A 5B6(g4 CP #?" g6(g4 fat :@ g6(g4 fi%re ::g6(g, Ca !& g6(g and P
g6(g -calculated values/) 8here additives are not availa%le, the %irds foraging outdoors o%tain some
minerals and vitamins %y pec(ing from the environment)
Composition of diet :> Corn -:'/, pigeon pea -#'/, ripe paw paw -'/, mung %eans -!&'/, fresh
grated coconut -)A#'/, cassava -#&'/, lime -A'/, dicalcium phosphate -&)'/, premi, -&):'/,
lysine -&)&.'/, methionine -&)&'/ and salt -&)!'/) Specifications of diet4 A52 .)! 5B6(g4 CP #!@
g6(g4 fat !! g6(g4 fi%re !&g6(g, Ca !& g6(g and P ): g6(g -calculated values/)
Composition of diet !> Pigeon pea -:/, sorghum -?'/, ripe paw paw -A'/, cassava -A)!#'/,
fishmeal -'/, lime -A'/, premi, -&):'/, lysine -&)&.'/, methionine -&)&'/ and salt -&)!'/)
Specifications of diet4 A52 #&): 5B6(g4 CP #: g6(g4 fat :" g6(g4 fi%re !@g6(g, Ca !& g6(g and P )
g6(g -calculated values/)
$he trials compared the performance of %irds fed the local home mi, layer ration with an
imported commercial layer feed) $he feeding trials were conducted in a naturally ventilated %arn at
the Solomon Islands College of 7igher 2ducation comprising #@ pens -#) C #)m/ each with perches,
nest %o,es, drin(ers and feeders) A total of @? local hens were used for each trial which included ?
replicates of a control commercial layer diet -as the gold standard/ and ? replicates of the local feed
diet) $he %irds were of a mi,ed age and o%tained from local farmers) Corn and mung %eans were
included as whole grain in the rations) Cassava and paw paw were chopped, weighed, mi,ed and fed
fresh twice daily) 9um%ers of eggs laid were recorded daily) 2gg production was significantly lower
in %irds fed the local mi, ration compared to the commercial ration -3igure #/) 7owever, the cost of
using the imported commercial feed is too e,pensive for village farmers to consider purchasing -Dlat;
et al), :&&./)
3igure #) 2gg production ' of village hens in the Solomon Islands fed a commercial ration vs
three local diets)
&b' Free-choice feeding
$here is evidence that %oth wild and domesticated poultry are a%le to ad1ust their nutrient inta(e %y
selecting from a range of feedstuffs a diet that matches their physiological re+uirements -Pousga et al),
:&&/) In village layers, Drayson and Camp%ell -:&&?/ reported that free*choice feeding system can
%e used successfully for village poultry in the Solomon Islands) 3eed from the three food groups4
protein, car%ohydrate and minerals and vitamins are provided separately every day so the %irds can
choose feed according to their re+uirements) Provided with choice, %irds have a capacity to regulate
their separate inta(es of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins to meet re+uirements) If feed from the
three food groups are provided in separate containers, the %irds will choose feed according to their
re+uirements) If one of the food groups is eaten +uic(ly, then more of that food should %e provided)
&c' (e)elopment of a concentrated diet that can be blended *ith local feed ingredients
Dlat; -:&&@/ reported on a feeding strategy where high*energy and low*energy concentrates were
supplemented with local ingredients -e)g) sweet potato/ to ma(e up the whole ration) $he composition
and calculated nutrient specifications of high*energy and low*energy concentrate were as follows>
-a/ 7igh*energy concentrate -##)@5B6(g/4 Composition -g6(g/, sorghum ##A4 soya ?A).4 meat =
%one meal :A@4 tallow @4 L*lysine #:)4 DL*methionine ##)A4 L*threonine #)!4 salt 4 mycocur% #4
choline cloride ?)4 %oiler premi, .4 Specification -g6(g/4 Protein -?#.)"/, Arg -:A)./, Isoleu
-#)./, Lys -!:)A./, 5eth -#")?#/, 5EC -:!):/, $hreo -#@)A/, 3i%re -:!)@:/, Ca -:")@/, Ptot
-#@)"!/, AvP -.)?/, 9A -!)A/, F -#&)?A/, CI -@)&A/)
-%/ Low*energy concentrate -.)?5B6(g/4 Composition -g6(g/ mill run :?@4 soya !A.)?4 meat = %one
meal !&.4 E tallow A4 L*lysine #!)A4 DL*methionine #:)?4 L*threonine #)"4 salt 4 mycocur% #4 choline
chloride ?)4 rono;yme phytase &)#4 %roiler premi, .4 Specification -g6(g/4 Protein -?#")A"/, Arg
-:A)#./, Isoleu -#?).#/, Lys -!!)&#/, 5eth -#A)&#/, 5EC -:?)&!/, $hreo -#@)?/, 3i%re -!A)?"/, Ca
-!&):./, P tot -:&)#A/, AvP -##)??/, 9a -!)"/, F -#&)/, CI -@)?!/)
$he diets tested were4 -#/ &' sweet potato plus &' low*energy concentrate4 -:/ "&' sweet potato
plus !&' low*energy concentrate4 -!/ &' cassava plus &' high*energy concentrate and -?/ "&'
cassava plus !&' low*energy concentrate) $he feeding demonstration activity was underta(en at !
different sites in Papua 9ew Duinea -P9D/4 Christian Leaders $raining Centre -CL$C/ in the
highlands, Lutheran Development Service -LDS/ in the lowlands and 0F $edi Development
3oundation -0$D3/ in the remote 8estern Province) $he grow out facilities at each of these sites
comprised A floor pens in a naturally ventilated shed with two replicates of each diet)
3igure : demonstrates the simple method of preparing the sweet potato and mi,ing with the
concentrate)
3igure :) Preparing sweet potato %ased diet for meat chic(ens
Collect and wash tu%ers
<oil
Drain and Cool
5ash the %oiled tu%ers
5i, one part of concentrate with ! parts of sweet potato
$a%le #a CL$C site4 wee(ly %ody weights of meat chic(ens fed on com%inations of
concentrate, sweet potato and cassava)
2,perimental Diet Day :# Day :A Day ! Day ?:
Commercial finisher &)A#& #)!"#
a
#).AA
a
:)":?
a
&SP E & L2C &)A#! #):"@
a
#)"!
%
:):A!
%
&C E & 72C &)A#! #)::#
a
#)@@
%
:)&A:
c
"&SP E !& L2C &)A#& &).&@
%
#)#"
c
#)#?
d

P*value &)A&! &)&&? G&)&&# G&)&&#
LSD &)&&. &)#?" &)#"? &)##
SP&H&' sweet potato4 SP"&H"&' sweet potato4 C&H&' Cassava4 L2CHlow*energy concentrate4
72CHhigh*energy concentrate) 5eans with a common letter within a row are not significantly
different -P I &)&/
$a%le #% LDS site4 wee(ly %ody weights of meat chic(ens fed on com%inations of concentrate,
sweet potato and cassava)
2,perimental diets Day :# Day :A Day ! Day ?:
Commercial finisher &)A&# #)?""
a
:)&##
a
:)":?
a
&SP E & L2C &)A&& #)!#A
%
#)A&:
%
:)!?:
%
&C E & 72C &)A&# #)!:"
%
#)A@&
%
:)!""
%
"&SP E !& L2C &)A&# #)#?
c
#)??
c
#)"A
c

P*value &)@# G&)&&# G&)&&# G&)&&#
LSD &)&&: &)&@" &)&.. &):&&
SP&H&' sweet potato4 SP"&H"&' sweet potato4 C&H&' Cassava4 L2CHlow*energy concentrate4
72CHhigh*energy concentrate) 5eans with a common letter within a row are not significantly
different -P I &)&/
$a%le #c 0$D3 site4 wee(ly %ody weights of meat chic(ens fed on com%inations of a
concentrate, sweet potato, potato and cassava)
2,perimental diets Day :# Day :A Day ! Day ?:
Commercial finisher &)A"& #)!@
a
:)#A#
a
:)"&
a
&SP E & L2C &)A"A #)!@
%
#).#@
%
:)?@!
a
&C E & 72C &)A"& #)!!.
%
#).#.
%
:)?"
a
"&SP E !& L2C &)AA& #)#"?
c
#)@:"
c
:)&#&
%

P*value &).A &)&#: G)&&# &)&&A
LSD &)&:? &)#?. &)### &)::?
SP&H&' sweet potato4 SP"&H"&' sweet potato4 C&H&' Cassava4 L2CHlow*energy concentrate4
72CHhigh*energy concentrate) 5eans with a common letter within a row are not significantly
different -P I &)&/
$he results -$a%les #a, #%, #c/ from the three climatic ;ones in P9D showed that %irds fed the &'
sweet potato with &' low*energy concentrate and &' cassava with &' high*energy concentrate
diets were a%le to reach mar(et weight of : (g or more at ?: days of age) 7owever, %irds fed the "&'
sweet potato with !&' low*energy concentrate did not reach mar(et weight for %oth the CL$C and
LDS sites) At the 0$D3 site, %irds achieved mar(et weight when fed higher amounts of sweet potato,
possi%ly %ecause of a more suita%le environment for the %irds)
&d' (ilution of a commercial diet *ith locally a)ailable food products
In some Pacific countries, copra meal is availa%le for use in poultry feeds) Pandi -:&&/ e,amined the
growth rate of village %roilers that were fed with a commercial finisher feed diluted with :&*A&' of
copra meal) In 3igure !, diet # was #&&' %roiler finisher -<3/4 diet :, A&' <3 E :&' copra meal
-C5/4 diet !, @&' <3 E ?&' C54 diet ?, ?&' <3 E @&' C54 diet , :&' <3 E A&' C5 and diet @,
#&&' C5) Diluting a %roiler finisher diet with :&*?&' copra meal resulted in similar growth as the
control diet and inclusion of @&' copra meal resulted in accepta%le growth) $he e,tent of dilution that
is practiced depends on the availa%ility and cost of copra meal)
3igure !) Dilution of commercial %roiler finisher over the period :#*! days -from Pandi, :&&/)
!ost of imported feed
$he ma1or issue restraining the development of the smallholder poultry sector in some Pacific
countries is the lac( of regional small*scale feed manufacturing plants and the high cost of imported
feed as well as cheap imports) Despite this, there are ade+uate supplies in some regional areas of
fishmeal, cassava, sweet potato, fresh coconut and mai;e, which could form the %asis of the feed
industry) Poultry production is an important smallholder industry) $he growth and e,pansion of this
smallholder industry is dependent on reducing the reliance on imported complete feed or feed
ingredients from overseas) Smallholder poultry production has %een hampered or a%andoned due to
increased feed costs) Cheap diets %ased on locally availa%le ingredients and agricultural %y*products
will encourage new poultry farmers into the industry and encourage others %ac( to poultry production)
Use of local feeds will provide an opportunity to develop a sustaina%le system that will support
smallholders who have not %enefited from such production systems) Fnowledge and s(ills in poultry
feed diet formulation %ased on locally availa%le ingredients and agricultural %y*products have
improved) Smallholder poultry farmers in several locations, particularly in the Pacific, appear to have
demonstrated that they can ma(e a profit from these farming systems using imported complete feeds
supplemented with local feed ingredients or in some cases, using only local formulated diets)
+illing e,uipment
8here feed mills have %een esta%lished, they have relied on the use of imported feed ingredients, %ut
many commercial mills have closed as a result of the escalating costs of imports) Currently, only
small amounts of local feed resources are used in commercial rations %y the larger feed mills, owing
to the high cost of transport, storage difficulties, relia%ility of supply and constraints in feed
formulation %ecause of varia%le +uality) 7owever, the esta%lishment of small*scale regional feed
manufacturing centres -producing *#& tonne6wee(/ in areas where local feed supply is plentiful may
overcome some of these issues) $he lac( of suita%le feed*ma(ing e+uipment is the ma1or constraint
limiting the development of the small*scale feed industry) 7owever, such e+uipment is %ecoming
more availa%le) In the Pacific, progress is %eing made in esta%lishing small*scale feed manufacturing
centres that use local feed ingredients to produce lower*cost pig and poultry feed)
!ost benefits of small-scale feed mills
Smallholder %roiler farmers in P9D purchase day*old %roilers usually in lots of : and grow them out
for @ wee(s using commercial feed and then sell them as live %irds in local mar(ets) $he cheapest
car%ohydrate source to feed %roilers in the highlands is sweet potato, while in the lowlands cassava is
preferred) Comparisons were made of the costs of the following feeding options4 -a/ lowlands mini*
mill 72C -&'/ supplemented with cassava -&'/4 -%/ lowlands commercial 72C -&'/
supplemented with cassava -&'/4 -c/ lowlands commercial feed -&'/ diluted with copra meal
-&'/ and -d/ lowlands commercial feed) In the highlands, the costs of the same feeding options were
determined e,cept sweet potato was used instead of cassava) $he lowland %roiler farmers are close to
the commercial mills, while the highland farmers have e,tra costs associated with transport of
commercial feed) $he feeding costs in %oth the highlands and lowlands show advantages when
concentrates -72C and L2C/ are fed with sweet potato or cassava compared to use of commercial
finisher %roiler feed %ased on imported ingredients -<lac( and Jalu, :&#&/ K $a%le :)
$a%le : P9D village feeding costs in Fina per %atch of : meat chic(ens grown to @ wee(s of
age
P9D feeding system Fina
Lowlands mini*mill 72C E cassava :"@
Lowlands commercial concentrate E cassava !#A
Lowlands diluted commercial feed !!?
Lowlands commercial feed ?!#
7ighlands mini*mill L2C E sweet potato !##
7ighlands commercial concentrate E sweet potato !&
7ighlands diluted commercial feed !.
7ighlands commercial feed ?A#
$he proportion of the costs of the concentrate and dilution feeding system relative to using
commercial feeds alone show that there is a strong cost reduction incentive at the village level to
adopt alternative feeding strategies %ased partly or wholly on local feed ingredients -$a%le !/ )
$a%le ! Alternative P9D village feeding systems costs as a proportion of the commercial
feeding costs
P9D 3eeding system Proportion
Lowlands mini*mill 72C E cassava6lowlands commercial feed &)@?
Lowlands commercial concentrate E cassava6lowlands commercial feed &)"?
Lowlands diluted commercial feed6lowlands commercial feed &)""
7ighlands mini*mill L2C E sweet potato6highlands commercial feed &)@
7ighlands commercial concentrate E sweet potato6highlands commercial feed &)"!
7ighlands diluted commercial feed6highlands commercial feed &)"
It may %e possi%le to achieve feed cost savings of up to !', with the mini*mill concept %eing the
most advantageous) $he mini*mill concentrate was %ased on costs of local copra, fishmeal, coconut
oil and mill run)
!onclusion
Local feed resources are availa%le that could %e utili;ed more effectively for feeding poultry in Pacific
countries) $o further develop cheap %alanced diets and save the industry, technical and financial
assistance are needed to encourage the esta%lishment of small*scale feed mills to ma(e cheaper
concentrate diets %ased mainly on locally availa%le feed resources and reduce dependence on costly
imported ingredients) 2conomic modelling suggests there is a significant reduction in costs when
poultry diets are manufactured %y mini*mills using local feed ingredients) 2nsuring the +uality, cost
competitiveness, and relia%ility and efficiency in supply of locally produced feed can contri%ute to
improving the profita%ility and sustaina%ility of the small*scale poultry sector) $he use of locally
availa%le feed resources should %e considered a high priority in most Pacific countries)
Ac-no*ledgement
$hese studies were supported %y the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research)
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