Global poultry production: Current impact and future outlook on the South African poultry industry

The study examined the effect of de-hulled sunflower meal (SFM) inclusion rate and exogenous enzymes (EE) on broilers production performance. A four-feeding phase of pre-starter (1–9 d), grower (10–20 d), finisher (21–28 d) and post-finisher (29–35 d) was used with SFM included as low (BSL) and high (BSH) in all phases. BLS inclusion was 3% throughout phases and BSH inclusion was 7.5%, 10%, 13% and 13.5% for the 4-phases. Each SFM had a negative control (NC) (BSL− and BSH−) and positive (PC) (BSL+ and BSH+) control with additional 80 kcal Apparent Metabolizable Energy. Enzymes: xylanase (X), xylanase + beta-glucanase (XB), xylanase + beta-glucanase + protease (XBP) and xylanase + amylase + protease (XAP) were added to the NC and PC to give 6 treatments. Pen body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) were determined at 9, 20, 28 and 35 d and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated accordingly. Diets were fed ad libitum to 1920 male Ross 308 broilers. Diet type, enzyme and diet by enzyme interactions were not significantly different amongst treatment diets. During the pre-starter and the grower phase, all studied parameters did not significantly differ from each other. All studied parameters were significantly influenced by enzyme addition and diet-type and enzyme interaction at 35 d except for diet type on FCR. Broilers fed BSH supplemented with XAP recorded the highest BWG (2.69 kg), whereas broiler chickens on BSL and supplemented with XBP recorded the lowest BWG (2.60 kg). SFM can be increased to 13% and 13.5% finisher and post-finisher diets without negatively affecting performance, and X and XAP enzymes can improve BWG of broilers grown to 35 d.

Animal feeds under ruminant production are a challenge, and ruminants are mostly fed on fibrous plants including high-moisture plant by-products (HMPBs). These HMPBs are available during the food processing periods and cannot be fed entirely in their fresh form. These resources are conserved in the form of silage for future feeding. Silage-making entails the anaerobic preservation of forages with the aid of additives that reduce the pH of the ensiled materials and preserve the forage. Most silage research work focuses mainly on the preservation of forages/plants, with less attention on HMPBs. This review focuses on the silage production from HMPBs (e.g., pulps/pomaces), challenges involved in the ensiling of these resources, use of additives (e.g., chemical additives), and growth performance of ruminants fed silage from these resources. This review will assist farmers from developing countries who rely on HMPBs as sources of animal feed.

A total of 2340 as-hatched Cobb500 chicks were allocated to 9 treatments, each with 13 replicate pens to evaluate the effects of either three phytase enzymes in a P-deficient diet. Starter and finisher diets consisted of a positive control (PC) and negative control 1 and 2 (NC1 and NC2, respectively). The PC, NC1, and NC2 diets had Ca:avP (available phosphorus) ratios of 0.50, 0.33, and 0.43 in the starter feed, and 0.46, 0.22, and 0.35 in the finisher feed, respectively; NC1 diets were then supplemented with Phytaverse, Quantum Blue, and Axtra-PHY at 500 and 1000 FTU/kg. Enzyme type had significant effects on body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and production efficiency factor during the 0–7-day period. Interactions between enzyme type and inclusion levels had a significant effect on feed intake (FI) at 1–21-day ( P = 0.02) and 1–35-day ( P = 0.031) age. While FI decreased as Axtra-PHY inclusion levels increased from 500 to 1000 FTU/kg feed, FI increased in birds supplemented with Quantum Blue, but with no effects on Phytaverse-supplemented birds. Increasing the enzyme dose to 1000 FTU/kg feed improved bone-breaking strength but did not affect growth performance, tibia ash, Ca, or P concentration of the birds.

Several interventions have been promoted in dry areas to improve food and nutrition insecurity. However, studies on the key drivers influencing adoption and uptake are limited. Therefore, research was undertaken to investigate farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and attitudes on an integrated crop–dairy goat farming system in Elgeyo Marakwet. A cross-sectional study entailing a household survey of 201 respondents, six key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions was undertaken. This study utilized a multi-stage sampling procedure to sample the farmers and calculated the sample size using Krejcie and Morgan tables. Quantitative data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 22, while qualitative data were analysed using N-vivo software version 10 through the Framework Analysis method. The findings show that drought (84.6%), change in rainfall pattern (77.6%), farm size (57.2%), unavailability of quality seeds (52.2%), fodder acreage (58.7%), diseases (69.7%) and pest severity (68.7%) are the principal drivers for adoption of the integrated crop–dairy goat farming system. Dairy goats are associated with women in this community since they are regarded as small animals and have no monetary value, hence increasing the participation of women in the access, control and decision making of agricultural resources. To increase adoption, strategies focusing on improving water supply, quality seeds, agro-veterinary services and production are advocated.

Enhanced food and nutrition security remains a primary goal for every community. Several interventions have been promoted in dry areas to improve issues on food and nutrition security. However, studies on the level of knowledge, cultural norms, perceptions and attitudes that are key drivers in adoption and uptake to highlight gaps and provide evidence for improvement are limited. This study investigated variables influencing the adoption and implementation of an integrated crop-dairy goat farming system in Elgeyo Marakwet. A descriptive cross-sectional survey entailing qualitative and quantitative approaches among farmers practicing integrated farming was undertaken. A thematic questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, while key informant interviews and focus groups discussions were used in qualitative research. This study utilized the multi-stage sampling procedure to sample the farmers and sample size was calculated based on Krejcie and Morgan table. Data analysis for quantitative data was done using SPSS software while qualitative data utilized N-vivo software The findings show that farmers have knowledge on the integrated farming system. Age, level of education, land size, gender, perceptions and attitudes influence adoption. Small animals like dairy goats are associated to women in this community hence increasing their participation in access, control and decision making of agricultural resources. The key findings of this study provide baseline data that can form evidence to help inform policy on the indicators contributing to adoption of integrated crop-dairy goat systems to enhance food and nutrition security