Evaluating Poultry Litter as a Feed Supplement: Perspectives of Ghanaian Livestock Farmers
Isaac Baidoo *
Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), P.O. Box LG 80 Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana.
Stephen Opoku-Mensah
Department of Agropreneurship, Kumasi Technical University, P.O. Box 854, Kumasi, Ghana.
Kingsley Odum Sam
Animal Research Institute Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Achimota, Accra, Ghana.
Mawumefa Akusika Diaba
Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana.
Edward Christian Brown-Appiah
Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana.
Yaa Pokuaa Akomea
Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana.
Eunice Adoma
Genspark, United State of America.
Evelyn Ama Otoo
Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), P.O. Box LG 80 Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana.
Theophilus Odame Saforo
Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), P.O. Box LG 80 Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cattle, sheep, and goats are crucial to human development, serving as major protein sources, income providers, and as a hedge against economic risk in Ghana. The demand for protein from these animals has significantly outpaced supply, partly due to insufficient or unavailable feed resources. This study investigates the use of poultry litter as a feed supplement for livestock. Data were collected from 125 livestock farmers raising cattle, sheep, and goats, using a simple random sampling technique and a structured questionnaire. Results show that cassava husk is the primary feed source, with all respondents (100%) unaware of poultry litter as a potential feed supplement. Interestingly, a majority were aware of irradiation as a decontamination method for food products. Logit regression analysis indicated that farmers’ likelihood of using irradiated poultry litter as feed is influenced by the number of animals they own. Based on these findings, it is recommended that farmers be educated on the nutritional and economic benefits of using poultry litter as a sustainable feed supplement.
Keywords: Livestock, poultry litter, feed supplement, irradiation, protein demand, Ghana, logit regression, farmer education