Endogenous Feeding Practices in Traditional Poultry Production and Local Feed Resources in the Western Plateau Region of Togo

Bougra Batimsoga, Essodina Talaki, Bifai Soule, Assota Kossoga, Abidi Bilalissi, Oyegunle Oke and Yao Lombo

Background and Objective: The profitability of a poultry farm mainly depends on the quality of the feed offered to birds and its cost. This quality of feed is closely linked to feed raw materials. The objective of this study was to inventory the local feed resources that can be used in formulating the diets of poultry in the western plateau region of Togo. Materials and Methods: Thus, a survey was carried out in the seven prefectures of the region among 210 farmers chosen on the basis of the importance of their poultry farm and distributed in 35 villages. Direct questions made it possible to collect information on the number of hens reared, the feedstuffs used, their availability during the year, the mixtures of feed made and the frequency of distribution of feed to chickens. Results: The results showed that the average number of hens was 121 birds per farmer. Thirty-three local feedstuffs, made up of agricultural products (corn, soybeans, sorghum etc.) and their by-products (corn bran, spent grain from Tchouk, termites etc.) and unconventional resources (Taro leaf, cassava etc.) were identified. The most feedstuffs used were white corn (95.71%), small smoked fish debris (77.14%) and roasted soybeans (70.95%). The majority (87.62%) of farmers mix these feed resources before feeding on average 3 times a day to chicks (67.62%) and 2 times a day to adult chickens (63.81%). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the western plateau region of Togo is rich in local feed resources that can be used in traditional poultry feed to reduce feed costs.

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