Modelling the feed mix for poultry production, the case of Adama Musa farms, in Ghana

  • Authors

    • S. K. Amponsah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, Kumasi, Ghana
    • Dominic Otoo University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
    • A. K. Peprah
    • S. D. Ampofo
    2015-05-18
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijamr.v4i2.3630
  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Poultry Feed, Deterministic Linear Programming Model, Rule of Thumb, Blending Problem.

  • Abstract

    The poultry industry has a significant importance on national economy. It is a popular industry for the small holders with tremendous contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment creation. Poultry feed cost represents over sixty (60) percent of the total cost of poultry production; consequently, efficient feed formulation practice is required for a sustainable poultry industry. Many Ghanaian poultry farmers, however, employ inefficient methods like rule of thumb, experiences, and intuition to handle feed formulation problem. This paper presents a deterministic linear programming model to solve blending problem facing poultry farmers, using locally available feed ingredients from the Ghanaian poultry industry. In the model, we shall minimize cost of producing a particular diet and maintain the ingredient. Over 3% reductions in the cost of producing broiler starter and finisher feed formulation compared to the existing method on the farm was achieved.

  • References

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      [2] Dantzig (1998) and Martin, (1999). Analysis of Mathematical Programming Problems Prior to Applying the Simplex Method. ‘Mathematical Programming, 54 – 83.

      [3] Ghana Poultry and Products Report, (GPPR), (2011). USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

      [4] Hiller, F. S., Lieberman G. J. and Liebeman G., (1995). Introduction to Operations Research, New York: McGraw Hill.

      [5] Mohammed N. H. J. and Said F. (2001). A Mathematical Programming Approach to Crop Mix Problem. African journal of Agricultural Research, 6(1), 191-197.

      [6] Munford, A.G. (1996). The Use of Mathematical Programming in Practical Applications of Animal Diet Formulation. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 42: 255-261. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-4754(95)00115-8.

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  • How to Cite

    Amponsah, S. K., Otoo, D., Peprah, A. K., & Ampofo, S. D. (2015). Modelling the feed mix for poultry production, the case of Adama Musa farms, in Ghana. International Journal of Applied Mathematical Research, 4(2), 404-410. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijamr.v4i2.3630

    Received date: 2014-09-21

    Accepted date: 2014-10-27

    Published date: 2015-05-18