Page 20 - Think Grain Thin Feed Oct 2025

www.benisonmedia.com ARTICLE Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 12 | Oct 2025 Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 12 | Oct 2025 and essential micronutrients. www.benisonmedia.com

Nutritional Perspectives and
protein and essential amino
ingredients protects
Studies show that including
against market volatility
acids.
Innovations in Alternative Feed
and supply chain
Azolla up to 10–15% in
Benefits:
disruptions.
Improves growth and
·
to fishmeal and soybean
Resources for Sustainable Poultry These innovations not only · Comparable or superior poultry diets:
feed conversion
support productivity but also
meal in amino acid
improve the sustainability
efficiency.
profile.
Production and resilience of poultry · Support circular economy · Enhances yolk
food systems.
pigmentation and egg
through waste recycling.
Categories of Alternative
· Offer high feed production.
Feed Resources · Reduces feed costs with
2
1
2
2
by TR Bhosale , SA Dhage , US Gaikwad , SB Adangale , DR Birari 3 conversion efficiency and
1. Plant-Derived minimal land and water
1 low carbon footprint.
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Muktainagar, Jalgaon, Maharashtra
Ingredients use.
2
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra Challenges include
3 Plants remain the foundation Azolla cultivation aligns well
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, Krishi Vidnyan Sankul, Kashti, Malegaon, Nashik, Maharashtra regulatory restrictions, high
of poultry nutrition. However, production costs, and scaling with smallholder and
competition between feed backyard poultry systems
Introduction alternative feeding systems include: issues. However, with
and human food crops ongoing research and seeking low-cost, sustainable
The global poultry industry is · Lowering dependence on
necessitates new options. infrastructure investment, feed solutions.
expanding rapidly due to rising conventional crops.
demand for affordable and high- Alternative plant sources insect protein has strong Impact on Poultry
· Reducing feed costs and include: potential as a mainstream Performance
quality animal protein. However, feed
production risks. poultry feed.
accounts for 60–70% of total · Legumes: Lupins, faba Inclusion of alternative feed
· Enhancing nutrient efficiency and
production costs, primarily dependent beans, chickpeas, and 3. By-Products and Waste- ingredients can maintain or
poultry health.
on maize and soybean meal. This peas offer rich protein Derived Ingredients enhance poultry
heavy reliance creates economic strain · Promoting eco-friendly, regionally and amino acid content Agro-industrial residues such performance:
and ecological pressure, including sourced diets. with a lower as fruit peels, vegetable Apiaceae family (e.g.,
deforestation, biodiversity loss, and Alternative feed ingredients—such as environmental footprint trimmings, and food carrot leaves, coriander,
greenhouse gas emissions from crop legume by-products, oilseed meals, than soybeans. processing wastes can be parsley): Improves egg
cultivation and transportation. fruit pomace, and herbal · Oilseed Meals: Canola, converted into valuable feed quality and immunity.
To reduce this dependence, supplements—can improve digestion, flax, and rapeseed meals materials. They supply · Asteraceae family (e.g.,
researchers are exploring alternative immunity, and overall performance. provide high-quality essential nutrients—proteins, chicory, calendula):
feed resources that are nutritionally Sustainable feeding also contributes protein and energy. carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, Reduces abdominal fat
balanced, cost-effective, and to resource efficiency and reduces · Agricultural Residues: By- and minerals—required for and enhances meat
environmentally sustainable. waste generation, strengthening local products like rice bran poultry growth. quality.
Promising candidates include plant- agricultural systems. and wheat bran reduce Typical nutrient needs for · Brassicaceae family (e.g.,
based residues, insect meals, agro- Novel Feeding Approaches for food waste and support poultry include: rapeseed, hempseed):
industrial by-products, and food Sustainable Poultry Production circular economy goals. · Protein: 16–23% Improves fatty acid
waste, all of which support the
Sustainability-oriented feeding Processing methods such as · Lysine: 0.9–1.3% profiles and antioxidant
principles of a circular economy. practices integrate non-conventional fermentation, enzyme capacity.
· Methionine: 0.4–0.6%
The focus of modern poultry nutrition feed sources to reduce costs and treatment, and genetic · Fabaceae family (e.g.,
is shifting toward such sustainable environmental pressures. Studies selection can improve · Fats: 3–6% alfalfa, peas): Lowers yolk
feeding strategies that maintain highlight the potential of materials like nutrient availability and · Vitamins & Minerals: cholesterol and mortality
productivity while minimizing legume residues, oilseed by-products, digestibility, making these Balanced levels to rates.
environmental impact. algae, and insects as replacements for feeds viable substitutes. support growth, egg
· Allium and Zingiberaceae
Objectives of Developing conventional ingredients. 2. Insect-Derived production, and health. families (garlic, ginger):
Alternative Poultry Feeding The advantages include: Ingredients Repurposing agricultural Support gut health and
Practices residues supports circular
· Economic efficiency: Agricultural Insects like black soldier fly immune function.
Traditional poultry diets use corn and by-products are inexpensive and larvae, mealworms, and food systems, reduces These examples show that
soybean meal as main energy and reduce waste. crickets are gaining global disposal costs, and mitigates diverse plant-based
protein sources. While nutritionally attention as sustainable environmental pollution.
· Nutritional diversity: Alternative ingredients can provide
effective, their high price volatility and feeds can meet poultry protein sources. They 4. Azolla – A Promising nutritional, functional, and
environmental footprint pose efficiently convert organic Fodder Source
requirements for energy, protein, economic benefits while
challenges. and micronutrients. waste into nutrient-rich Azolla, an aquatic fern, is rich supporting sustainable
The key objectives of developing biomass containing 30–80% in crude protein (20–30%) production.
· Resilience: Using diverse
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