Analysis of chicken feed ingredient handling and feed compounding on commercial farms and feed mills in selected districts of Uganda

Abstract

Adequate chicken feed in terms of quantity and quality are foundations of successful chicken production. A cross sectional survey was conducted in 10 districts of Uganda. Data was collected on socio demographic characteristics, feedstuffs used in chicken feed production, seasonal availability of feedstuffs, mixing of feed stuffs, challenges faced in chicken production and perception of chicken producers and feed millers on feeds quality. Results revealed that 54.7% of the farmer respondents were female, while 62.7% of the feed miller respondenst were male. Broiler birds followed by layers and kroilers were the major type of chicken reaed by both groups of respondents. White maize and maize bran were the major energy sources while fishmeal was the main protein source in chicken diets. About 59.7% of the producers used commercially compounded feeds while 71.4 of the millers used self-compounded feeds. Gender significantly influenced methods used to check for quality, particularly asking fellow farmers (X2 = 4.01, P<0.0045). Education significantly influenced the understanding of good quality feed among the farmers. Farmers that had attained a high level of education, understood quality as no foul smell (X2=9.72, P<0.017). Unstable prices and low quality of feeds and feed ingredients were the major feeds challenges faced by the respondents. Organoleptic tests and farmer peer-to-peer information sharing were the major methods used to check the quality of feeds. Quality chicken feed meant different things to producers and millers. Both producers and millers were aware of Feed and feed ingredients adulteration.