Fibrous feeds mostly of crop residues, green grasses, and tree foliages and leaves support bulk diets of farm animals being raised mostly by smallholders. The roughage DM produced (51056 million kg) surpasses its demand (49200 million Kg) by 3.77%, but losses and otherwise uses result in production deficit of 44.5%. An average 56.2% deficit of roughage DM and 80.0% of concentrate DM results in a very poor plane of nutrition for farm animals. It supports an average diet containing 6.75 MJME/Kg DM and 1.63% DCP with the feed produced or 7.74 MJME/Kg DM and 2.32% DCP with the feed available, while a miserly calculation demands an average diet of at least 6.50 MJME/ Kg DM and 4.50% DCP.Brans and oilcakes sharing the bulk amount of concentrate feeds, except cereal maize being produced recently, often limit options for formulation of diets of higher metabolizability and quality protein including balancing of micronutrients essential for supporting nutritional planes for high yielding animals.Annual biomass demand and supply mismatch, harvest loss, bulk transfer problem, and otherwise uses of fibrous residues further limit feed supply to animals irrespective of their quality. Commercial poultry, on the other hand, is largely based on imported feeds except a part of corn. Different form of premixes, steroids, antibiotics and enzymes with or without knowing their quality and residual impacts on human health also used for poultry and bovine animals posing threats to food safety sometimes. The present poor plane of nutrition is not conducive to support an increased production of local or crossbred animals.Diversification and production of quality feeds and fodders, synchronization of feed production and availability to animals, strengthening feed milling capacity, conservation and improvement of new pasturage systems, mitigation of climate change impacts and domestic protection to feed safety and quality feed import are some of the options forward to increased supply of feeds and fodders help increased production and productivity of farm animals in the country.

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Five varieties of napiergrasses (Pennisetum purpureum) were fractionated botanically into leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem and head. Chemical composition of each of whole napiergrass and their botanical fractions were determined. Correlation, linear and multiple regressions between botanical fractions and nutritive value of varieties of napiergrass were also estimated. All botanical fractions differed due to the effect of variety. Napier Pusha contained the highest proportion of leaf blade and internode, but the lowest proportion of leaf sheath. Napier Hybrid contained the lowest proportion of leaf blade, but highest proportion of node. Consequently, napier Pusha contained the highest (p<0.01) crude protein (CP, 9.0%), but Napier Hybrid had the lowest CP (7.0%). Chemical composition of whole plant differed significantly (p<0.01; except NFE, p>0.05) due to the variety. Not only the whole plant, chemical composition of most botanical fractions of whole plant differed (p<0.05 to 0.01) due to the variety. The intrarelationships between leaf blade and leaf sheath was negative (r=-0.43). Leaf sheath was also negatively correlated to CP, but positively correlated to ash of whole Napier or their botanical fractions. Leaf blade, on the other hand, increases CP but decreases ash content of whole plant or their fractions. These results, therefore, suggest that napiergrass varieties differ widely in terms of botanical fractions and nutritive value, which may have important implications on intake and productivity of animals. Furthermore, napiergrass varieties should be selected for leaf blade only for a better response.

The poultry feed, meat and egg samples were collected from the major poultry raising areas of the country to know the presence of heavy metals especially arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr). A total of 360 elemental samples for As, Pb and Cr were analyzed in the laboratory. The heavy metal contents (As, Pb & Cr) of all the tested samples were found positive. But, the levels were below the Maximum Permitted Concentration (MPC) in most cases. The layer and broiler ready feed samples found safe from those elements; On the other hand, the “Cr” and “Pb” content in 14% and 11% loose feed samples were 7-70 and 3 times respectively higher than that of MPC. Notes worthy, the egg samples were also found safe from those elements. Of the tested samples 14% broiler meat and 50% spent hen samples found slightly higher level of “As” and 4-6 times “Cr” respectively than the MPC. In conclusion, the poultry farmers are suggested to buy poultry feeds from the reputed feed company and discourage to use loose feeds. Moreover, feed marketing channel particularly loose feed marketing should be monitored properly by the regulatory authority. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2018, 2(1), 1-5

Efficient utilization of crop residues is an alternative way to overcome feed shortage for livestock feeding. Hence, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect on nutrient intake, milk yield, nutrient digestibility and rumen parameters of total mixed ration (TMR) as mash or block form in comparison to conventional feeding system for a period of 45 days. Accoding to CRD 18 RCC early milking cows (Bos indicus) having average daily milk yield of 3.20±0.14 L/d and divided into three treatment groups. Existing feeding practice at the farm was considered as control group (T0) fed Napier-3 adlib. and concentrate mixture. In another two groups, animals fed TMR, where one fed as block (T1) and another as mash form (T2) with the same roughage and concentrate combination (50:50). All diets contained 16% CP. To determine digestibility of supplied feed, a digestibility trial at the middle of the feeding trial was conducted and also to study the rumen environment (pH, TVFA, NH3-N), rumen liquors were collected at post feeding intervals of 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36h. Study revealed that fresh feed intakes were significantly (p<0.001) higher in T0. DMI and CPI were significantly (p<0.001) higher in T1 group. Significantly (p<0.05) highest milk yields were obtained in T1 (3.6 l/d) and T2 (3.49 l/d) and lowest in T0 (3.35l/d). Milk fat (p<0.001) and SNF (p<0.05) were significantly higher T1 and T2. Except ADF, digestibility for most of the nutrient was significantly higher in T1 and T2 than T0. Total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) were significantly (p<0.01) higher in T1 and T2 groups than that of T0 group. Finally, it may be concluded that TMR, either in block or mash form gives better results in terms of milk yield, milk composition, digestibility and concentration of TVFA and NH3-N. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2019, 5(1): 71-77