The Potential of Animal By-Products in Food Systems: Production, Prospects and Challenges

Babatunde O. Alao, Andrew B. Falowo, Amanda Chulayo and Voster Muchenje
Additional contact information
Babatunde O. Alao: Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Andrew B. Falowo: Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Amanda Chulayo: Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Voster Muchenje: Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X314, Alice 5700, South Africa

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: The consumption of animal by-products has continued to witness tremendous growth over the last decade. This is due to its potential to combat protein malnutrition and food insecurity in many countries. Shortly after slaughter, animal by-products are separated into edible or inedible parts. The edible part accounts for 55% of the production while the remaining part is regarded as inedible by-products (IEBPs). These IEBPs can be re-processed into sustainable products for agricultural and industrial uses. The efficient utilization of animal by-products can alleviate the prevailing cost and scarcity of feed materials, which have high competition between animals and humans. This will also aid in reducing environmental pollution in the society. In this regard, proper utilization of animal by-products such as rumen digesta can result in cheaper feed, reduction in competition and lower cost of production. Over the years, the utilization of animal by-products such as rumen digesta as feed in livestock feed has been successfully carried out without any adverse effect on the animals. However, there are emerging gaps that need to be further addressed regarding the food security and sustainability of the products. Therefore, the objective of this review highlights the efficacy and effectiveness of using animal by-products as alternative sources of feed ingredients, and the constraints associated with their production to boost livestock performance in the industry at large.

Keywords: animal by-products; environmental pollution; feed; livestock; rumen digesta; utilization; food security; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/7/1089/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/7/1089/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:7:p:1089-:d:102315

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().