Alternative ingredients and their feeding in swine and poultry production

Abstract

With the increase in global human population, people living longer, and relocating from the countryside to urban centres, it is expected that the demand for animal food products will increase. Animal production competes with humans for basic grains. However, humans only consume ~30% of crops directly, therefore animal production is mostly complementary. This overview with a Canadian perspective provides a superficial look at on how we use non-food cereals, oilseeds, pulses and their coproducts and fractions to sustainably convert them into edible protein for human nutrition reducing waste streams. Feeding low-grade grains and coproducts may indeed increase the environmental footprint of animal agriculture. Nonetheless, it is undeniable the role ruminant and monogastric animals play in converting inedible plant material and coproducts into wholesome meat, milk, and eggs. Finding what to feed that is locally grown or sourced, even thought it may be of limited quality and(or) availability, seems a daunting challenge despite that it reduces feed cost and supports the local economy. We should evaluate diets more based on what non-human edible coproducts are included that could become meat, milk, and eggs for human nutrition rather than placing great emphasis on animal performance parameters. Fear of antinutritional factors and mycotoxins on animal performance limits our feed cost advantage. Increased feed and food safety risk is indeed part of getting more out of compromised feedstuffs to reduce waste. Policy changes are required to embrace a circular bioeconomy that would contribute to prevent climate crisis.