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https://www.feedipedia.org/content/rice-straw-ground-after-harvest-central-vietnam
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) panicle
https://www.feedipedia.org/content/freedom-ranger-broilers
https://feedinamics.com
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https://www.feedipedia.org/content/bag-cotton-seeds-cattle

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Feedipedia news

Feedipedia is delighted to announce that Dr. Jacobo Arango has been appointed as the new Leader of the Tropical Forages Program. 

As we welcome Jacobo to this key role, we also extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Michael Peters, retiring after 25 years of exceptional service, whose vision and dedication have shaped the Tropical Forages Program and left a lasting legacy.

Let's congratulate Jacobo Arango and celebrate Michael Peters’ extraordinary contributions!

On 4 June 2025, we discussed how Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) systems and AI agents could enhance the future use of Feedipedia in a presentation at the 1st AI4AS Congress, which was held in Zürich by the EAAP.

Explore Feedipedia

Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) inflorescence

Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) is one of the 200 species of lupins, a genus of... Read more

Golden tree (Cassia fistula), habit

The golden tree (Cassia fistula L.) is a tropical and subtropical legume tree... Read more

Sunflower hulls

Sunflower hulls are the by-product of the dehulling of sunflower seeds before they are... Read more

Cow browsing cratylia (Cratylia argentea) foliage, Nicaragua

Cratylia (Cratylia argentea (Desv.) Kuntze) is a shruby perennial tropical... Read more

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica), habit

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. ex R. E. Fr.) is a cruciferous oil plant that... Read more

Chinese albizia (Albizia chinensis), habit and leaves

Chinese albizia (Albizia chinensis (Osb.) Merr.) is an almost evergreen... Read more

Cadaba (Cadaba farinosa) habit

Cadaba (Cadaba farinosa Forssk.) is an evergreen shrub found in Africa that is... Read more

Polished Thai jasmine rice

Polished rice (Oriza sativa L.) results from the complete milling of rice grain... Read more

Breadnut tree (Brosimum alicastrum), habit, Belize

The breadnut tree (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz) is a tree mostly grown in Central... Read more

Blue signal grass (Brachiaria leersioides), habit

Blue signal grass (Brachiaria leersioides (Hoschst.) Stapf) is an annual grass... Read more

Black medic (Medicago lupulina), foliage and flowers

Black medic (Medicago lupulina L.) is a creeping annual legume from temperate... Read more

Black-hooked acacia (Senegalia laeta) community, Burkina Faso

Black-hooked acacia (Senegalia laeta (R.Br. ex Benth.) Seigler & Ebinger,... Read more

Black cutch (Acacia catechu), habit

Black cutch (Senegalia catechu P.J.H. Hurter & Mabb., formerly known as ... Read more

Breads and bakery products

Bakery wastes are products obtained from the recycling of bakery and viennoiserie... Read more

American jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana), foliage

American jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana L.) is an annual tropical legume... Read more

Ahuhu (Tephrosia purpurea), leaves and flowers

Ahuhu (Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers.) is a multipurpose tropical legume mainly... Read more

Tropical kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.) is a vigorous, dense-... Read more

Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis)

Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis (Aublet) Sw.) is a tropical legume shrub widely... Read more

Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum), habit

Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb.) is a large perennial (... Read more

Coloured Guinea grass

Coloured Guinea grass (Panicum coloratum L.) is a tufted (erect, geniculate or... Read more

Opuntia, South of France

The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a cactus species widespread in... Read more

Pages

Broadening horizons

By Yanfen Cheng1, M. R. Garg2, Guanghui Hu1, Varijakshapanicker Padmakumar3, Harinder P.S. Makkar4

Crop residues form a significant portion of the diet in developing countries. However, they are deficient in nitrogen and have poor digestibility. Efforts are being made to improve their nutritional value. This article presents two case studies—one from China and the other from India—demonstrating the process of biofermentation of rice straw and its use as animal feed. This process enhances the utilization of rice straw as livestock feed. The approach could also be applied to other crop residues, such as wheat, sorghum, and barley.

Recent resources

Opinion paper: Phasing out of the aid provided to the livestock sector during expectedly recurrent emergencies - Makkar, 2024. animal

Open access opinion paper that makes a case that the emergency aid do more harm than good to African countries. It is valid for all the fields of agriculture but has direct consequence for animal agriculture. The context here is the aid provided during emergencies that are foreseeable recurrent.

The role of livestock in food security, poverty reduction and wealth creation in West Africa The role of livestock in food security, poverty reduction and wealth creation in West Africa - Molina-Flores et al., 2020. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Accra, 2020

Livestock is key to 377 million people in West Africa and in some countries, up to 60% of the population is involved in livestock production. The demand for animal products is increasing with population growth, urbanization, growing middle class, and due to shifting consumer preferences towards animal products. To meet this growing demand, countries in West Africa must engage in accelerated sustainable livestock production undertaking. Livestock development is key to eradicate hunger and poverty. This book attempts to provide up-to-date, and reliable information on the potentials, opportunities, and challenges of the livestock subsector in West Africa. 

Pulses and their byproducts as animal feed Pulses and their by-products as animal feed - Sherasia et al., 2017. In: Calles, T.; Makkar, H. P. S. (Eds), FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy

This document provides a state-of-the-art review of the recent research (published and unpublished) on the use of pulses and their by-products as animal feed. It aims at raising awareness on the use of pulses and their by-products. It highlights the nutritional role of pulses and pulse by-products as animal feed and is a contribution to the legacy of the 2016 International Year of Pulses. This document will further enhance the use of these feed resources in other continents, besides Asia, where many pulse by-products are simply dumped. It is also expected that the synthesis presented contributes to make the use of pulses and their by-products as animal feed more efficient. This document will be useful for extension workers, researchers, feed industry, policy-makers and donors alike.

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