PROCESSING OF CROP RESIDUES AS FEED RESOURCE FOR RUMINANTS. A REVIEW

Abstract

Crop residues and their biomass are generated as by-products of crop cultivation. Its availability is linked to factors that affect crop production. They are characterized as wastes and have low nutritive content when used as feed in livestock production. On-farm strategies have been developed to maximize the potential of crop residues in livestock production. Due to the characteristic low nutrient content of crop residues which impeded their efficiency in livestock production, processing of these crop residues will enhance nutrient content, digestibility, minimize feed wastage, maximize profitability through efficient feed processing and reduce the moisture content of feedstuffs, thereby, improving the general well-being of these animals. Improving the nutrient content of crop residues and their digestibility can be achieved through different processing methods such as physical (grinding and chopping amongst others), chemical treatments (alkaline treatments using sodium hydroxide, sulfur dioxide, urea or chlorine) and biological approaches (fungal treatments, inoculants, enzymes or alternative additives) either individually or in combination. It is concluded that processed crop residues are ideal feed ingredients in ruminant production.