KOCHI: What if hens lay low-cholesterol and therefore, healthier eggs, cows produce 30% more milk with cheaper cattle feed and butter chicken becomes more nutritious? There must be something fishy about this, or someone’s been drinking, right? Right – and true.
India’s poultry and dairy industries have discovered that fish residue and brewery waste as poultry and cattle feed, respectively, make eggs healthier and milk, more plentiful. The science is this: If hens are fed with fish residue, the healthy cholesterol-battling Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil easily move through the hen’s digestive system to the yolk of the egg, which is otherwise a cholesterol bomb. Even butter chicken will be relatively healthy if the bird is fed this diet.
For dairies, the brewery waste is full of nutrients – only starch from the grain is used to make alcohol – lacking in traditional cattle feed like rice husk. And there’s nothing fishy or boozy about the economics either. Beer waste is now so much in demand that it is booked in advance and the number of contractors in this business is rising every year.
The price difference and the better yield make beer waste a compelling proposition. The leftovers at breweries cost around Rs 5 a kg compared with Rs 17-18 a kg for the regular cattle feed. Substituting 30-40% of the cattle feed with beer waste leads to 20% better milk productivity. Farmers and businessmen are already seeing the benefits of the new brew. “A farmer using regular cattle feed will have to spend Rs 150 a day for a single cow or buffalo. Substituting a part of it with beer waste can bring down the cost effectively to around Rs 60.
And you get more milk,’’ says Siva Chandra, a contractor based in Chennai, who has been supplying beer waste to farms in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The only drawback is that brewery waste has a shelf life of a few days. For the poultry business, feed mixed with oil from fish waste, particularly from sardines, enrich the diet and the cost is comparable to regular feed.
“The intestines and other parts of fish are rich in such oil which is easily absorbed by the bird…the egg yolk will be rich in Omega 3,” said Dr Anandan, scientist at the Central Institute of Fish Technology, which has developed the new technology that is now ready for commercial use after five years of research under the National Agricultural Innovation Project. The institute has produced such eggs experimentally in a farm and is now waiting for entrepreneurs to adopt the technology and ultimately pave the way for branded Omega 3 eggs.
The brewery-to-milk business production chain obviously involves big liquor manufacturing companies that produce lots of brewery waste. Kerala Livestock Development Board, a government body that manages several farms in the state, buys beer waste from United Breweries at Palakkad. Farmer and dairy owner C J Skaria Pillai supplies beer waste from the Palakkad brewery to several farms.
“There are around 45 contractors vying for nearly 700 tonnes of beer waste a month from the brewery,” he said. The spokesperson of UB Group declined to divulge the details on the quantity of beer waste the group sells from its breweries and how much it earns from it.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of sustainable agriculture and innovative animal feed practices, I can confidently affirm the groundbreaking nature of the concepts presented in the article. The integration of fish residue and brewery waste into poultry and cattle feed, respectively, marks a significant advancement in enhancing the nutritional profile of eggs and milk while optimizing production costs.
Let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
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Fish Residue in Poultry Feed:
- Benefit: Fish residue, particularly from oil-rich sources like sardines, is utilized in poultry feed to enhance the health profile of eggs. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, known for their cholesterol-battling properties, are absorbed by hens and transferred to the egg yolk. This results in eggs with a higher Omega-3 content, making them healthier for consumers.
- Scientific Backing: The article mentions the Central Institute of Fish Technology, which has developed the technology over a five-year research period under the National Agricultural Innovation Project. Dr Anandan, a scientist at the institute, explains the process of enriching the egg yolk with Omega-3 through the incorporation of fish waste into poultry feed.
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Brewery Waste in Cattle Feed:
- Benefit: Brewery waste, a byproduct of beer production, is introduced into cattle feed to replace traditional ingredients like rice husk. The waste is rich in nutrients, with the starch from the grain used for alcohol production. This substitution results in cost savings and increased milk productivity, making it a financially appealing option for farmers.
- Economic Impact: The price difference between brewery waste and regular cattle feed is highlighted, with the waste costing significantly less. Substituting 30-40% of traditional cattle feed with beer waste leads to a 20% improvement in milk productivity, making it a compelling proposition for farmers.
- Market Dynamics: The demand for beer waste is so high that it is booked in advance, and the number of contractors in this business is increasing. The article mentions the involvement of big liquor manufacturing companies in the production chain.
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Economic Considerations:
- Cost Savings: The article emphasizes the economic advantages for farmers adopting these innovative feed practices. For example, using beer waste in cattle feed can substantially reduce costs, bringing down the daily expenditure for feeding a cow or buffalo.
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Central Institute of Fish Technology, having successfully experimented with Omega-3 enriched eggs, is now seeking entrepreneurs to adopt the technology. This could pave the way for the production and marketing of branded Omega-3 eggs.
In conclusion, the article showcases a symbiotic relationship between industries—such as fisheries, breweries, and agriculture—resulting in healthier food products, economic benefits for farmers, and a sustainable approach to animal feed. These innovations have the potential to reshape traditional practices in poultry and dairy farming, leading to a more efficient and nutritious food production system.
