Better utilization of crop residues and by-products in animal feeding: research guidelines - 1. State of knowledge,

Abstract

A Technical Consultation on New Feed Resources was held at FAO Headquarters, Rome in 1976. This Consultation paid special attention to the potentialities of poor quality roughages derived from agriculture, the quantities available, and the improvementof the nutritive value of such roughages by the use of physical, chemical and biological methods. Attention was also given to agro-industrial by-products such as molasses, pulps, processed cassava and potato residues, oilcakes, milling by-produc ts, etc. along with the by-products of wood and the cellulose industries and to the recycling of animal wastes. In order to support studies on increasing the rate of utilization of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products in animal feeding in Africa, the Animal Production and Health Division of FAO, in collaboration with several research institutes in that region, such as those in Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal, set up in 1973 a network or the subject of 'West Africa. This network was to assist the activities being undertaker. in connection with this subject in African countries and to promote the exchange of research experience and other related information between African countries. To support the African network on better feed utilization, FAO in 1981 in collaboration with the International Livestock Centre for Africa MCA) organized the FAO/ILCA Workshop on Crop Residues and Agro-Industrial By-products in Animal Feeding, at Dakar, Senegal. About 40 scientists from 15 different African countries attended this workshop. The Workshop made many recommendations and laid down guidelines for the future activities of the African network. It stressed the importance of appropriate support and encouragement being given to the scientists undertaking research work on the subject at various institutes in different countries of Africa. The Dakar 'Workshop of 1981 made a recommendation amongst others that an Expert Consultation should be organized in ord er to establish guidelines for research on crop residues and agro-industrial by-products and that this consultation should produce a booklet in which would be described the detailed methodology employed and which would contain a compilation of all the known appropriate methods of analysis. In 1983, the Animal Production and Health Division of FAO included this Expert Consultation in their regular programme budget for the period 1984-1985. As the subject features prominently in the pro gramme activities of ILCA the Director, Dr. Brumby, expressed interest in collaborating with FAO in organizing such an Expert Consultation at ILCA Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In the autumn of 1983, the Animal Production and Health Division of FAO sent a consultant (Dr. Preston) to review the present situation on research being undertaken on the utilization of crop residues and agro-industrial by products in selected African countries, nanely Carneroon, Nigeria and Senegal, and to ascertain how ILCA experts could cooperate in such research work. Dr. Preston's findings will serve as a background paper for the Expert Consultation. FAO and ILCA invited. scientists from various countries of the world to participate in the Expert Consultation, the main objectives of which were: to outline and discuss the present situation in regard to the kind of research going on in developing countries at the present time and the research methodologies which might suitabl y be employed in such research; to make recommendations and set down guidelines for research on crop residues and agro-industrial by-products for the guidance of research workers in developing countries in order that useful results can be achieved from their work.