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Collaborating
Scientists:
U.S.:
Mitchell R. Tuinstra, Plant Breeding and Genetics,
Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
IN 47907, USA
Bill Rooney, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Dept. of Soil and
Crop Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
77843, USA
Tesfaye Tesso, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Dept. of
Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
Leland McKinney, Feed Science, Department of Grain Science
and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506,
USA
Keith Behnke, Feed Science, Department of Grain Science and
Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
Lloyd Rooney, Food Science and Cereal Chemistry, Texas A&M
University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
John Sanders, Economist, Department of Agricultural
Economics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
El Salvador:
René Clara, Sorghum Breeding, Centro Nacional, de
Technologia, Agricola de El Salvador, San Salvador, El
Salvador
Nicaragua:
Francisco Vargas, Sorghum Production and Utilization,
National Sorghum Producers Association (AMPROSOR), Managua,
Nicaragua
Miguel Rios, Animal Production, National School of
Agriculture (UNA), Managua Nicaragua
Niger:
Salissou Issa, Animal Nutrition and Husbandry, INRAN Rainfed
Crops Program, INRAN, Niamey, Niger
Tahirou Abdoulaye, Economist, Department of Agricultural
Economics, INRAN Rainfed Crops Program,
INRAN, Niamey, Niger
Mali:
Bantieni Traore, Animal Nutrition and Production, Centre
Régional de la Recherche Agronomique (CRRA) de Sotuba,
Bamako, Mali
Burkina Faso:
Ollo Hien, Nutrition and Production, Institut de
l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA),
Bobo- Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Mamadou Sangare, Animal Nutrition and Production, CIRDES,
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Senegal:
Ayao Missohou, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Nutrition,
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine (EISMV), Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar,
Senegal
Ababacar Ndoye, Food Science and Cereal Chemistry, Institut
de Technologie Alimentair, Dakar, Senegal
Costa Rica:
Carlos Campabadahl, Animal Nutrition and RAPCO Director for
Central America,Centro de Investigaciones en Nutricion
Animal, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
Nigeria:
Iro Nkama, Food Science and Cereal Chemistry, University of
Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Borno State, Nigeria
Summary:
The dramatic growth
of the poultry industry around the globe is one of the most
notable changes in agriculture during the last three
decades. Several factors have been proposed as contributors
to this remarkable advent but probably none are as important
as growth of the world economy. Throughout human history,
as economies have grown and people have experienced greater
wealth, consumption of animal products has increased.
Poultry production is particularly well suited to a rapidly
growing demand for animal products because of relatively low
expenditures for facilities, equipment, and land area to
enter into the industry. Additionally, the short production
cycle (less than two months of age at slaughter for a
broiler vs six months for a pig vs 18 months for a feedlot
steer) and extreme efficiency of growth (feed to gain ratios
of less than two in a broiler vs just under three in pigs vs
just under six in feedlot cattle) make poultry attractive to
growers that need minimal input of capital and rapid return
on their investment. With appropriate technical support and
technology transfer, much of the developing world, and
especially West Africa, is poised to take advantage of this
model for expansion in animal agriculture.
There are several
beneficial aspects to the phenomenon of explosive growth in
global production of poultry. These benefits include (but
are not limited to) diversification of farm enterprises to
include animal production in addition to crops, development
of alternative/stable markets for cereal grains, and
transition of cereal production from a subsistence activity
to a cash crop (when sold to livestock producers) that
yields disposable household income. Even more important are
the contributions of a healthy livestock feeding sector to
the nutritional status of humans that consume the resulting
animal products and to a general increase in quality of
life. It is our objective to ensure that sorghum and millet
enjoy a prominent position in the development of animal
agriculture in West Africa.
Our strategy for
this project thus far has been to assemble a team of U.S.
and host country collaborators to focus on educational
programs, promotional programs, and continual improvements
in sorghum grain quality. We have integrated research
projects involving pathology/grain weathering, breeding for
improved nutritional value (e.g., large seed size, high
protein/fat content, and improved digestibility), and feed
processing (e.g., proper grinding, mixing, and hydro-thermal
technologies) with poultry nutrition/production. Findings
from these programs have been presented at professional
meetings and short courses and developed into outreach and
education programs designed to support the flourishing
poultry industry in West Africa. Finally, effort has been
used to interact/collaborate with colleagues in Central
America to ensure the sustainability of accomplishments in
our previous INTSORMIL activities and to obtain
information/inputs pertinent to our activities in West
Africa. Objectives and Implementation Sites: Our ultimate
goal is to support the explosive growth in the global
poultry industry as a means to diversify farm enterprises in
West Africa. A healthy animal feeding sector will provide
stable markets for cereal grains and transition sorghum and
millet from subsistence crops to cash crops (when sold to
livestock producers) that yields disposable household
income. The even more important result of a thriving animal
industry is improved nutritional status of humans that
consume the resulting animal products and a general increase
in quality of life for rural Africa. This has been a
successful model in North America and Asia and it is our
objective to ensure that sorghum and millet enjoy a
prominent position in similar developments for Africa.
Specifically, the
objectives of this project have been, and will continue to
be: 1) interaction with plant breeders in Niger, El
Salvador, Kansas, Indiana, and Texas to screen, identify,
and evaluate genetic materials with superior agronomic and
nutritional merit; 2) interaction with cereal chemists in
West Africa, Texas, and Kansas to elucidate seed
characteristics (endosperm type/texture/chemistry, tannin
type and concentration, and molds/mycotoxins) that affect
nutritional value of sorghum grain; 3) interaction with
economists in West Africa and Indiana to identify economic
constraints on the poultry industry and factors that might
impact acceptance of sorghum and millet as a major
contributor to a viable poultry feeding industry across West
Africa; 4) interaction with feed scientists to establish
best manufacturing practices for feed processors dealing
with sorghum in West Africa and the Americas; 5) interaction
with animal nutritionists in West Africa, Nicaragua,
Honduras, Costa Rica, and Kansas to establish and complete
protocols for farm visits, short courses, development of
grower associations, and conduct of demonstration projects
to support a viable poultry industry; and 6) development of
human capital through collaboration with research scientists
and training of undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D. students at
host country institutions and Kansas State University.
Objectives:
Improve the
stability and performance of pearl millet by identifying and
preserving germplasm with superior agronomic traits and
resistance or tolerance to diseases, pests, and
environmental stresses.
Enhance the
production and marketability of pearl millet by improving
pearl millet for yield, stability, consumer nutrition, and
other market-driven quality traits.
Enhance the
improvement of pearl millet genetic resources through the
application of molecular genetic technologies.
Develop effective
partnerships with national and international agencies, and
other partners engaged in pearl millet improvement and the
betterment of people who depend upon pearl millet for their
livelihood. |
