Abstract
Feed shortage in urban and peri-urban areas has triggered the emergence of feed markets in Northern Ghana. These markets were surveyed at three locations (Tamale, Bolgatanga, and Wa markets) to determine types and prices of feedstuffs sold across seasons; early dry (November–January), late dry (February–April), early wet (May–July), and main wet (August–October). Semi–structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Three samples of each feed type in the markets were bought from three different sellers per market in each season. The samples were oven dried to constant weight and price/kg DM of each feed determined. The total respondents were 169. Out of this number, 41% were feed sellers, 46% buyers, and 13% retailers. The feedstuffs found were crop residues (groundnut haulm and cowpea haulm), agro-industrial by-products (bran of maize, rice, and sorghum), fresh grasses (Rotteboellia cochinchinensis), and local browses (Ficus sp. and Pterocarpus erinaceous). Prices of feeds differed (P < 0.05) among markets and were higher in Bolgatanga than Tamale and Wa markets. Prices of cereal bran were not different (P > 0.05) in all seasons but that of crop residues were higher (P < 05) in early to late dry season than the wet season. Majority (90%) of respondents opined that the feed market will expand due to increasing number of livestock population in the peri-urban areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amankwah, K., Klerky, L., Oosting, S.J., Sakyi-Dawson, O., Van der Zijpp, A. and Millar, D., 2012 Diagnosing constraints to market participation of small ruminant producers in northern Ghana: An innovation systems analysis. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Science, 60, 37--47.
AOAC. (2003). Official methods of analysis: association of official analytical chemists, 17th edition, 134-158.
Ayantunde, A.A., Blummel, M., Grings, E. and Duncan, A.J., 2014. Price and quality of livestock feeds in sub-urban markets of West African Sahel: Case study from Bamako, Mali. Revue d’elevage et de medecine veterinaire des pays tropicaux. Ressources alimentaires, 67, 13-21.
Genstat. 2011. General statistics. Discovery edition (version 4) VSN International Ltd., Rothamsted Experimental Station.
GSS, 2012. Ghana Statistical Service 2010 population and housing census summary report of final results, pp, 45-103.
Husseini, R., Belko, R. and Baatuuwie, N.B., 2011.Survey of browse plants trade in the Upper East region of Ghana. Agricultural and Biology Journal of North America, 2, 546-551.
Lukuyu, M., Njehu, A., Mwilawa, A., Lukuyu, B., Omore, A. and Rao, J., 2016. A study to understand fodder markets and fodder trading patterns in More MilkiT sites and other selected regions in Tanzania. Nairobi, Kenya. ILRI, pp, 35-46.
NRC (National Research Council), 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. Seventh revised edition. NRC, National Academic Press, Washington, DC, USA. 381 pp.
Oppong-Anane, K., 2013. Cassava as animal feed in Ghana: Past, present and future. B. Berhanu,. L. Cheikh, and P.S. Harinde (eds.), FAO Country report Accra, Ghana, pp, 42-56.
SNV. 2013. Study on the Kenyan animal feed and fodder sub-sector. SNV/Kenya Netherlands Development Organisation, pp, 19-38.
SPSS. 2007. Statistical package for social sciences version 17. Windows Microsoft Inc., USA.
Tilley, J.M.A. and Terry, R.A. 1963. A two stage technique for in vitro digestion of forage crops. Journal of British Grassland Society, 18, 104--107.
Van Soest PJ. 2002. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. O&B Books, Corvallis, Oregon, USA. 374 pp.
Van Soest, P.J. and Robertson, J.B., 1985. Analysis of forage and fibrous foods: laboratory manual for animal science. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA, pp 57-106.
Acknowledgements
This study acknowledges the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding this study under Africa RISING West Africa project as part of the US Government’s Feed the Future Initiative.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Konlan, S.P., Ayantunde, A.A., Addah, W. et al. Emerging feed markets for ruminant production in urban and peri-urban areas of Northern Ghana. Trop Anim Health Prod 50, 169–176 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1418-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1418-1