Survey on quality management practices in the animal feed industry in Ghana
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Date
2000-02-05
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Abstract
A survey was conducted to evaluate the quality management practices adopted by commercial feedmills and on-farm mixers in the animal feed industry in Ghana.
Three types of questionnaires were designed for poultry farmers, feedmillers and analytical laboratories in the country. Respondents were 348 poultry farmers (193 of whom also responded to the questionnaire on feedmillers as on-farm mixers), 17 commercial feedmillers and 9 analytical laboratories.
Layer feed samples from 18 commercial feedmillers and 21 on-farm mixers were also collected for proximate analysis as well as sodium chloride (common salt), calcium and total phosphorus analyses. In addition, a set of 4 samples of a reference feed material were each given to 10 analytical laboratories for Proficiency Testing.
It was discovered from the survey that 59.20% of the 348 poultry farmers interviewed mixed their own feed whilst the rest used feed from the commercial feedmills. It was, however, observed that about 40.30% of this number of farmers interviewed prepared their own feed in addition to buying commercially prepared feed. The survey further showed that as high as 84.46% of the on- farm mixers used the floor and shovel method of mixing and this number is mostly made up of small and medium scale farmers.
From the survey the commercial feedmills were found to be better equipped in terms of personnel and machinery than the on farm mixers despite their shortcomings. They also followed better feedmill management practices.
Chemical analysis indicated high variations in salt and total phosphorus content of feeds from both commercial feedmillers and on farm mixers for similar feed types.
The results of the Proficiency Test indicated that analytical laboratories in Ghana are also well equipped in terms of personnel and equipment. Except for some few laboratories a large number (70 -80%) showed little variations, both within and between laboratories in crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) values.
Though the bulk of feed manufacturing Is in the hands of on-farm mixers, the feed Industry can make an Impact on the animal industry If commercial feedmlllers improve their relationship with farmers in terms of quality prices and customer services. On the other hand, since the on-farm mixers cannot be entirely done away with, their impact can be felt in the industry, In terms of better production performance, if they adopt better quality management practices in their operations.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Philosophy in Animal Science, 2000