One of the greatest challenges facing Africa is food security. Dr Godfrey Mhlongo, a recent PhD graduate in animal science from the North-West University (NWU), believes indigenous chickens, brown seaweed and oyster mushroom spawn could help feed the continent and preserve the environment.
He has conducted research on the use of oyster mushrooms to optimise brown seaweed in feed for indigenous chickens.
"My study focused on the intensification of indigenous chickens because they are overshadowed by exotic broilers and layer birds due to their lower feed efficiency and low productivity," Dr Mhlongo explains. "This necessitated exploring novel and cost-effective ingredients such as sea bamboo meal."
Sea bamboo meal (SBM) is rich in natural bioactive chemicals, including proteins, essential amino acids, polysaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and pigments such as carotenoids and chlorophylls. Known for its antioxidative, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, SBM has the potential to boost poultry production and health.
Feeding trials produce striking results
The study's broad objective was to assess the potential of oyster mushroom spawn (mycelium-producing lignin-degrading enzymes) in enhancing the nutritive and feeding value of SBM in the diet of Boschveld cockerels.
Two feeding trials were conducted as part of the research project and the experiments were published in high impact factor journals, Poultry Science and Scientific Reports.
In the first feeding trial, the inclusion of SBM in cockerels’ diets boosted overall feed intake and altered certain blood parameters but did not influence growth metrics.
In the second feeding trial, oyster mushroom spawn was added to offset the negative effects of fibre and improve growth metrics.
"The results from the second feeding trial demonstrated that feeding diets containing SBM-spent oyster mushrooms improved overall growth metrics, slaughter and breast weights in Boschveld cockerels," Dr Mhlongo notes.
He says the use of SBM and SBM-spent oyster mushroom substrate can reduce reliance on conventional feedstocks such as maize and soybeans. These require extensive land for cultivation and have negative environmental impacts such as water and air pollution and soil degradation.
“Therefore, this approach can contribute to meeting the growing demand for animal protein at a lower cost,” he concludes.
Dr Godfrey Mhlongo.
