Addis Asegid Admasu* and Ashenafi Mengistu
This study was undertaken to determine the proximate composition and variations of nutrient in commercial layer’s feeds produced and sold in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu. A total of 438 feed samples classified into two sampling categories were collected in 2022. The first category referred as premarket feed and comprises 240 samples collected from 12 licensed commercial feed producers, while the second referred as post market feed sample consist of 198 samples collected from 198 commercial layer farms who use feed produced by commercial feed producers. The samples were subjected to proximate analysis using non distractive method.
This research suggests that the nutrient composition of layers feed is highly variable among manufacturers to the extent that contain nutrients below or above the national feed quality standard. The noncompliance frequencies in crude protein and metabolizable energy varied between 39.3% to 43.8%, 33.8% to 48.3%, of the total sample population, with average total deficiency of 1.3% and 1.7%, 62.5 and 112.4 kcal/kg respectively.
The moisture and crude fiber contents in 5% to 10% and 2% to 7% of the total feed samples surpass the maximum limit respectively, while all crude fat all values were higher than the maximum recommended requirement. This may expose birds fed with feeds to under or over-feeding of essential nutrients and hence reduced bird performance, added input costs and increased environmental pollution. Statically significant (P<0.05) association between out of compliance frequencies and feed sample categories or study locations were apparent, which in part attributed to differences in ingredient source, quality and feed compounding practices across the study locations. To ensure quality and standardization of feeds, frequent monitoring and enforcement of standards in the preparation of feed is cardinal, this will ensure that nutritional feeds are formulated to meet production needs of poultry birds.
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