KNOWLEDGE SHARING ON
SUSTAINABLE FEEDS & FEEDING
SYSTEMS
Alex K Mwaura Nutrimix Limited, Kenya
Identifying investment opportunities for livestock feed resources development in the Eastern Africa
Sub-Region, ILRI Addis Ababa, 13-15 December 2017

PRIVATE SECTOR FEED SUPPLY-IS IT
NECESSARY?
 Smallholders in Kenya rely on supply from privately owned feeds
manufacturers bas it offers relief from the following would be constraints
were they to attempt on farm mixing of feeds; such as:-
 Quality raw materials availability/sourcing/Importation,
 Initial high set up costs/capital requirements v/s immediate benefits,
 The need to meet quality standards as set by the Kenyan regulator-KEBS
 The need to affiliate with & or employ a team of technically
competent/experienced/knowledgeable feeds formulator/nutritionist
 Adverse weather conditions like drought/torrential rainfall serve to increase
reliance on fodder, supplements etc. prepared by private entities.
 Better uniformity/quality control from one batch to another through possible
automation of processes.

Continued……..
 However, during harvest times, small scale holders can be able to process &
store feedstuffs that can be used to minimize over reliance on privately
produced feeds…such include silage, hay making, hydroponics farming for
fodder etc.

Do the private sector provides demanded
feedstuffs/products or not(Kenyan Scenario)
Starting with the NO answer….The Why
 By making reference to divergent emerging government policies/laws
informed by the cries of seemingly disenfranchised small scale holders ,as
well as large scale (who depend on them for inputs).
 Evidence of sampled poor quality mixes, counterfeited products,demixed
products and an apparent erratic movement of production over time- which
oscillates cyclically from good to bad and so on.
 Rations are not available for all livestock kinds-for other species,one ration is
offered as a ‘cure’ for all nutritional requirements irregardless of differing
stages of development.EG Range meal aka ‘Afya’ meals for growing
stock/bulls and “Kienyeji” Mash for indigenous chicken.

Yes Answer
 Due to affiliation to industry lobby group Akefema-(association of Kenya Feeds
manufacturers),members have been obligated to forthwith(w.e.f 2017)
implement a code of industry practice, as a prerequisite to acquisition of the
mandatory KEBS S-mark.
 Players in this sector have been receiving coveted certifications like the
Superbrands,Top 100 Companies,Diamond mark of quality,HACCP,and even
certain ISO categories.
 Increased competition has ensured that quality becomes a critical selling
poin;thus companies are employing new and exciting feedback mechanisms,in
order to timely respond to lots of the ever changing consumer needs-such
include Facebook interactive pages,twitter handles and toll free lines.

Yes Answer continues…
 Increased cooperation with research institutions and universities has ensured
players adopt newer and different production processes and ingredients too.
 Individual companies have started benchmarking their operations with their
counter parts in other parts of the world, such as South Africa,Eqypt,Europe
and the Americas.Knowledge transfer through employment of expatriates
from such places has been on the rise.

Systemic Differences in production of animal
feedstuffs based on their G.I tracts.
 Differing physical and biological characteristics of the gastro-intestinal tract
play a vital role in the inherent abilities and limitations of monogastric
animals versus ruminants.
 Such are seen at play during the stages of ingestion,digestion,absorption and
utilization of nutrients in feedstuffs.
 Different levels of fibrous cereals are used in rations due to the above
assertion. Existing standards are an embodiment of the same truth.
 For example: older Pigs are capable of utilizing more fibre, but less than
ruminants-thus can be reared on good quality pasture; but this cannot be
done commercially as growth would be greatly compromised.
 Ruminants being more suited to fibrous diets on the other hand, are often
times riddled with digestive disorders as a result of consumption of too much
concentrates, such like diarrhoea,bloating and constipation.
 Ruminants can handle non protein nitrogen sources(like urea) due to rumen
micro-organisms.

Major constraints faced by Kenyan
companies
 Unavailability of adequate quality raw materials
 Rising cases of bad debts from credit sales
 Inflated prices of raw materials especially during scarcity
 Multiple government regulations/policies and compliances required
 Inadequate factory spaces-occasioned by high rents charged
 Lack of sufficient incentives and subsidies to the whole livestock value chain
 Competition between human and animals for meagre resource such as maize
grains,peanuts,fish products-this effectively reduces the scope alternatives,
while shoring up prices.

Tools used in Kenya by feedstuff
manufacturers
 Basic operational flowcharts
 Pearson square methods of feed formulation
 Specifications for raw materials & Physical inspections before delivery acceptance
 Annual prequalification of raw material suppliers
 Traceability-such as through labelling,packaging,batching & dispatch records
 Use of FIFO (in material usage & finished goods sale)
 Random sampling and laboratory analysis; rapid testing kits-moisture,N.I.R
 Use of highly intergrated excels spreadsheets as a formulating tool
 Linear programming using computer based programs
 Trial & error-fine tuning (through experience)

Tools Lacking in Kenya
 Affordable rapid testing kits- for mycotoxins & anti-nutritive factors
 Inadequate reliable calibration partners(for NIR)
 Non availability of Vitamins testing facilities
 Simple linear programming softwares
Advantages and disadvantages of Centralized(Large) vs non centralized(small)
feed plans
 Can be summarized in terms of their cost benefit analysis…such as economies
of scale,capacities,excess capacities,inadequate demand,huge logistical
challenges,different needs across regions and idle stocks etc
END OF PRESENTATION