Recent unconventional feedstuffs for economic poultry production in India: A review

Abstract

Poultry industry is the fastest growing sector in Indian agriculture. Poultry feed accounts-58% of total feed market in India. Current annual growth rate of poultry and agriculture sector are around 8 and 1.8% respectively in the country. Overall growth in human, livestock and poultry populations has outpaced the growth in cereals production leading to severe feed shortages and consequent rise in feed cost. Feed costs are primarily driven by the cost of protein sources. Maize and soybean meal are most commonly used conventional feed ingredients in poultry diets. Maize at the inclusion level of 55%-65% and soybean meal at the inclusion level of 25%-30% based diets mostly fed to poultry. Their cost and availability determines the cost of feed.As there is scarcity of conventional feed ingredients at reasonable price, there is need to utilize locally available alternate feed sources. Use of alternate feed ingredients or unconventional feeds based on their price, availability, incriminating factors and nutritive value. Thus, there is need for identifying, evaluating locally available alternative feed resources and augmenting their feeding values for economical and sustainable poultry production.