Chronic animal feed deficits resulting from increasing competition for grains between an ever increasing animal and human population as well as diminishing land for animal feed production represent a major constraint to animal production in many developing countries. Expanding the feed resource base through utilisation of non-conventional feed resources, especially those that do not compete with human food and can grow in marginal lands has become a compelling task. The Non-conventional feed resources include a variety of feeds from perennial crops, multipurpose trees and shrubs, and feeds of industrial origin or agro-industrial by-products. A wide range of agro-industrial by-products are available in Africa and Asia (olive cake, citrus pulp, grape marc, etc.), however, these sources are still not fully and appropriately integrated into livestock feeding. Pursuant to these, we intend to carry out several studies concerning nutritional improvement of livestock with emphasis on the use of non-conventional feed resources applying different feeding strategies. To this end, the aim will be to develop, test, apply and adapt optimization models for the estimation/prediction of nutrient requirements of different livestock (monogastrics and ruminants) under commercial or small holder production system.
The aim of this research theme will be to develop, test, apply and adapt optimization models for the estimation/prediction of nutrient requirements of different livestock (monogastrics and ruminants) supplemented with non-conventional feed resources under commercial or small holder production system as well as make a contribution in creating knowledge to a wide range of audiences such as scholars, postgraduate students, farmers and livestock extension officers.
| Members | Field of specialisation | |
|---|---|---|
| Prof K Mbatha (Group Leader) | mbathkr@unisa.ac.za | |
| Dr Owoahene Acheampong-Boateng | Ruminant nutrition | acheaa@unisa.ac.za |
| Dr Gloria Mokolopi | Animal nutrition/health | kgobebg@unisa.ac.za |
| Prof. Mary M Masafu | Feed and fodder, pasture science and ethnoveterinary | masafmm@unisa.ac.za |
| Dr Mosima R Masekoameng | Food security | masekmr@unisa.ac.za |
| Dr Christian A Mbajiorgu | Monogastric nutrition | mbajica@unisa.ac.za |
| Prof. Khanyisile R Mbatha | Animal nutrition and rangeland ecology | mbathkr@unisa.ac.za |
| Mr Leonard Mogoje | Poultry nutrition | mogojbl@unisa.ac.za |
| Dr James J Oguttu | Veterinary public health and food safety | jogutto@unisa.ac.za |
| Mr Johan Oosthuizen | Animal Health | Oostej@unisa.ac.za |
Last modified: Mon Aug 07 18:01:22 SAST 2023