HIGH-PROTEIN ANIMAL FEED FROM KENAF

Looks a promising crop and a more promising downstream use than most! Need to trace this guy and see if he has the relevant contacts to carry this thru.. but if he wants to find me – he can leave a comment to this post.. ;-) Perhaps something to do at the 8ac+ land after all.

 

From http://www.mardi.my/main.php?Content=home&FolderID=172&CurLocation=106

 

Key Researchers:      

Project Leader: Mat Daham Mohd Daud

Collaborators: Dr. Wong Choi Chee, Mohd Najib Mohd Amin, Wan Zahari Mohamed  

 

Recent R & D shows kenaf to be a viable candidate for forage production as it meets all the basic requirements.  It has the potential to be a high quality feed for ruminants.  Kenaf possesses superior digestibility and utilization value. MARDI can provide a production technology package for kenaf to be developed into downstream value-added activities for animal feed production in the country.  The development of a kenaf fodder industry in Malaysia will be able to create more rural jobs and promote sustainable agriculture.

 

 

A brief description of the technology

Commercial ruminant production has been a cherished objective of Malaysia. Producing forage for cattle, sheep, goats and others has been attempted mainly by livestock farmers themselves.  Scientists in Malaysia have worked on forages for many years with little success because tropical forages are known to have low quality which declines significantly with age.  By contrast, kenaf grows easily â€" its growth is vigorous and the crop does not require high fertilizer rates â€" and it has good feed quality.  Kenaf leaf crude protein ranges from 19.5 to 24.3%, and this is comparable to that of alfalfa.  Kenaf is also fairly tolerant of multiple harvests under favorable climatic conditions.

 

Kenaf production technology begins with the selection of proven adapted varieties and the adoption of efficient mechanized production systems, covering operations from sowing to harvesting, to reduce labour and other cost inputs. This has a real economic advantage in feed production for livestock.

 

 

 

Kenaf can be fed to ruminants in various forms, such as extruded cubes, meal pellets, wafers, chaff or hay, silage and mixed in chicken litter.  The possibility of pelletizing and cubing kenaf is important as both processes increase the density of the herbage material, thus reducing both transportation and storage costs.  Moreover, pelletized and cubed kenaf are suitable for large-scale production, being comparatively easier to handle, store and transport,  Hay and silage-making are suited to local or in situ production because these processes are cheaper,

 

           

 

General remarks relevant to commercialization

 

Commercialization will be done through joint ventures with MARDI, providing that the technologies are needed in the form of improved germplasm material, seed supplies and crop management practices on a long term basis.

 

Kenaf Production Technology for Animal Feed