Feeding non-ruminant animals is a critical aspect of livestock management in Kenya, especially for agriculture and extension professionals who support smallholder farmers and commercial producers. Non-ruminants, such as poultry and pigs, have different digestive systems from ruminants and require specific feed formulations to optimize growth, health, and productivity. Understanding the types, importance, and terminology related to non-ruminant feeds enables better advisory services and improved animal performance across diverse farming setups, from county-level agricultural projects to cooperative farms.

2.1 Non-ruminant feeds

Non-ruminant feeds refer to the various feedstuffs formulated or provided to animals that do not have a four-compartment stomach, such as poultry, pigs, rabbits, and fish. These animals rely on simpler digestive systems and require feeds rich in digestible nutrients to meet their energy and protein needs. For agriculture and extension professionals in Kenya, knowledge of non-ruminant feeds is essential to recommend cost-effective, locally available feeding options that promote sustainable animal production.

2.1.1 Definition of terms

Clarifying terminology related to non-ruminant feeds is fundamental for effective communication and practice in livestock feeding. These terms are widely used in feed formulation, procurement, and advisory services across Kenya's agricultural sector.

Feedstuff

Feedstuff refers to any ingredient or combination of ingredients used in the manufacture of animal feed. Common feedstuffs include cereals like maize and sorghum, oilseed meals such as sunflower or cottonseed cake, and by-products like wheat bran. Example: a poultry farmer may use maize and cottonseed cake as the primary feedstuffs in a layer ration.

Nutrient

Nutrients are chemical substances in feeds that animals require for maintenance, growth, reproduction, and production. These include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Example: an extension officer advising a pig farmer stresses a balanced nutrient supply, because a shortage of one nutrient such as lysine or calcium reduces growth even when the pigs eat plenty of feed.

Feed formulation

Feed formulation is the process of combining different feedstuffs in specific proportions to meet the nutritional needs of animals efficiently and economically. This involves calculating the nutrient content and cost of each ingredient. Example: a chick-rearing unit formulates a starter ration with higher protein than its grower ration to support early growth and health.

Digestibility

Digestibility measures the proportion of feed nutrients that an animal can absorb and utilise after ingestion. Non-ruminants have simple stomachs and no rumen microbes to break down large amounts of fibre, so they need feeds that are highly digestible. Example: a rabbit farmer chooses tender, leafy forage and a good pelleted concentrate to improve feed conversion.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR)

FCR is the amount of feed required to produce a unit of animal product, such as live weight gain or eggs. A low FCR indicates efficient feed utilisation.

Formula: FCR = feed eaten (kg) ÷ weight gained (kg)

Substitution: a batch of broilers eats 90 kg of feed and gains 50 kg

Working: FCR = 90 ÷ 50

Result: FCR = 1.8 kg of feed per kg of weight gain

2.1.2 Importance of non-ruminant feeds

Non-ruminant feeds play a vital role in animal production systems by providing the essential nutrients required for growth, reproduction, and health. Their importance extends beyond individual farms to influence food security, income generation, and rural livelihoods in Kenya.

Nutrient supply tailored to digestive physiology

Non-ruminants require feeds rich in energy and protein that are easily digestible because of their monogastric digestive system. Proper feeding supports rapid growth and efficient production. Example: a commercial pig unit feeds separate weaner, grower, and finisher rations so that each stage receives the nutrients it needs.

Enhancing productivity and profitability

Adequate and balanced feeding reduces mortality and improves weight gain, egg production, or reproductive performance. Example: a layer farm that uses a properly formulated layer mash obtains higher egg output and a healthier flock than one that feeds only maize.

Promoting feed efficiency

Formulated non-ruminant feeds optimise feed conversion ratios, reducing feed costs per unit of product. Since feed is usually the largest single cost in a pig or poultry enterprise, a small improvement in FCR increases the net income of the farmer.

Supporting animal health and disease resistance

Feeds fortified with essential vitamins and minerals strengthen the immune system and reduce disease incidence. Example: adding a mineral and vitamin premix to pig diets helps prevent deficiencies such as weak bones and poor fertility.

Utilising locally available feed resources

Non-ruminant feeds can incorporate agro-industrial by-products and crop residues, lowering feed costs and promoting sustainability. Example: a poultry farmer may use maize bran and sunflower cake bought from nearby millers and oil pressers to reduce reliance on costly imported ingredients.

2.1.3 Types of non-ruminant feeds

Non-ruminant feeds are classified by their source, nutrient composition, and form. For this unit they are grouped into concentrates, forage, and pastures. Understanding these types helps extension professionals recommend appropriate feed resources under varying production systems and economic conditions.

2.1.3.1 Concentrates

Concentrates are feeds that are high in energy or protein and low in crude fibre, so they are highly digestible and supply nutrients in a small volume. They form the main part of the diet of poultry and pigs and are used to balance forage in rabbit diets. Concentrates may be single ingredients or mixtures formulated to complement a basal diet. Example: a broiler farmer feeds a compounded mash made of maize, sunflower cake, fish meal, and a premix.

The main classes of concentrates are:

• Energy feeds: These provide carbohydrates and fats that supply the bulk of the animal's energy requirements. Examples include maize, sorghum, cassava, and wheat bran. A broiler producer uses maize as the main energy source to support rapid growth.
• Protein feeds: These supply essential amino acids needed for tissue repair, growth, and egg or milk production. They include oilseed cakes (sunflower, cottonseed, soya), fish meal, and legume seeds such as cowpeas. A small-scale poultry farmer may add fish meal to raise the protein level of a chick ration.
• Mineral feeds: These provide macro and trace minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and zinc, needed for skeletal development, eggshell formation, and metabolic functions. Crushed limestone, bone meal, dicalcium phosphate, and common salt are typical sources in pig and poultry diets.
• Vitamin supplements: Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small quantities for metabolic regulation and immune function. Commercial premixes containing vitamins A, D, E, and the B-complex are added to non-ruminant feeds. A layer farm adds a vitamin premix to support egg production and shell quality.
• Feed additives: These include enzymes, probiotics, antioxidants, toxin binders, and growth promoters that improve feed utilisation and animal performance. For example, a probiotic in pig feed supports gut health and feed efficiency.

Concentrates are fed in different physical forms:

• Mash: A finely ground, mixed feed. It is cheap to make but animals can sort the particles and waste some.
• Pellets: Mash compressed into small cylinders. They reduce selective feeding and wastage and are common for rabbits and pigs.
• Crumbles: Pellets broken into small pieces, suited to chicks that cannot swallow whole pellets.

2.1.3.2 Forage

Forage is plant material, mainly leaves and stems of grasses, legumes, and fodder shrubs, that is cut and carried to animals fresh or conserved as hay. It supplies fibre, vitamins, and some protein and energy at a low cost. Forage is most important for rabbits, which need fibre for normal gut movement, and is a useful supplement for pigs and free-range poultry. Example: a rabbit keeper cuts Napier grass, sweet potato vines, and lucerne each morning and feeds them wilted alongside a small ration of pellets.

Important points about forage for non-ruminants:

• Types of forage: Grasses such as Napier grass and Rhodes grass supply fibre and energy. Legumes such as lucerne and desmodium, and sweet potato vines, supply more protein than grasses. Fodder shrubs such as calliandra and leucaena can be fed in limited amounts as protein sources.
• Use in rabbits: Forage is a main part of the diet. It should be fresh, clean, and slightly wilted to reduce the risk of bloat and diarrhoea.
• Use in pigs: Pigs digest fibre poorly, so forage is fed in limited amounts, mainly to sows and growing pigs, to reduce concentrate costs. Too much forage lowers growth rate in finishing pigs.
• Use in poultry: Chopped legume leaves or greens are given as a supplement to improve vitamin intake and yolk colour. They cannot replace the concentrate ration because poultry have very little ability to digest fibre.
• Conservation: Surplus forage is dried into hay, for example lucerne hay, to feed in dry seasons. Hay must be dried well and stored in a dry, ventilated place to prevent mould.
• Safety: Forage must be free of mouldy material, wet dew-laden growth, and plants treated with pesticides, since these cause poisoning and digestive upsets.

2.1.3.3 Pastures

A pasture is an area of land planted with grasses, legumes, or a mixture of both, on which animals graze directly. Unlike forage, which is cut and carried, pasture is eaten where it grows. For non-ruminants, pasture supplements concentrate feeding in free-range poultry, outdoor pig units, and rabbits or geese kept in movable cages or runs. Example: a free-range layer unit divides its paddock into sections, so the hens graze a green area and are moved when it is eaten down.

Key points on pastures for non-ruminants:

• Species used: Grasses such as Kikuyu, Rhodes grass, and Setaria are combined with legumes such as desmodium and clovers. The legumes improve protein content and soil fertility.
• Nutritive value: Young, leafy pasture is higher in protein and digestibility, while mature pasture becomes fibrous and low in nutrients. Non-ruminants therefore use pasture only as a supplement.
• Rotational grazing: Dividing the pasture into paddocks and moving animals regularly allows regrowth, reduces overgrazing, and breaks parasite cycles.
• Stocking rate: The number of animals per unit area must match pasture growth. Overstocking causes bare ground, mud, and a build-up of worm eggs.
• Pig paddocks: Pigs root and damage the sward, so paddocks may need fencing in small sections and resting between uses.
• Protection from hazards: Pastures need shelter, clean water, and protection from predators. Toxic plants must be removed before animals graze.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covered the essential aspects of feeding non-ruminant animals, beginning with the definition and importance of non-ruminant feeds. It detailed the various types of feeds including concentrates, forage, and pastures, highlighting their roles in animal nutrition. The chapter then explained feed formulation techniques, focusing on Pearson's square method and the trial and error approach for balancing rations. Factors influencing the nutritional requirements of non-ruminant animals were examined to ensure proper diet planning. Practical guidance was provided on preparing accurate feeding records, which are crucial for monitoring animal health and productivity. Students learned how to formulate appropriate feed rations tailored to the needs of different non-ruminant species. The chapter also discussed the actual feeding process, emphasizing correct practices to maximize feed efficiency. Finally, it reinforced the importance of maintaining detailed feeding records for effective management and evaluation of feeding programs.