Evaluating Poultry Litter as a Feed Supplement: Perspectives of Ghanaian Livestock Farmers

Abstract

Cattle, sheep, and goats are crucial to human development, serving as major protein sources, income providers, and as a hedge against economic risk in Ghana. The demand for protein from these animals has significantly outpaced supply, partly due to insufficient or unavailable feed resources. This study investigates the use of poultry litter as a feed supplement for livestock. Data were collected from 125 livestock farmers raising cattle, sheep, and goats, using a simple random sampling technique and a structured questionnaire. Results show that cassava husk is the primary feed source, with all respondents (100%) unaware of poultry litter as a potential feed supplement. Interestingly, a majority were aware of irradiation as a decontamination method for food products. Logit regression analysis indicated that farmers’ likelihood of using irradiated poultry litter as feed is influenced by the number of animals they own. Based on these findings, it is recommended that farmers be educated on the nutritional and economic benefits of using poultry litter as a sustainable feed supplement.