Waste to Wealth & Young Farmers: Using ensiled fish residue as a feed component

Waste to Wealth & Young Farmers: Using ensiled fish residue as a feed component.

1. Waste to Wealth Initiative for the Production and Utilization of Fish Silage-based Feed Resources Phillip Lashley PLA inc. 2024

2. What is Fish Silage? Fish silage is a liquid product produced from the whole fish or parts of it, to which acids, enzymes or bacteria are added, which over time, changes the mass from solids to liquid. PLA inc. 2024

3. HOW DO WE MAKE IT? Fish waste is ground, weighed and then mixed with molasses and a culture of micro-organisms, and then allowed to ferment. PLA inc. 2024

4. MIXING Mixing can be done in a bucket (small scale), or in a vacuum tumbler (large scale). PLA inc. 2024

5. HOW IS IT FERMENTED? After mixing, the bucket is then sealed. In the tumbler, a vacuum is made, and it is set to turn slowly, mixing the silage. In both cases, fermentation takes about 3 days. PLA inc. 2024

6. FINISHED PRODUCT The end result is a brownish red liquid, which smells like anchovies or fish sauce. PLA inc. 2024

7. WHAT USE IS IT? Mixed with water to make fertiliser. Mixed with other components (moringa, wheat middling, river tamarind, etc.) and pelletised to make feed. PLA inc. 2024

8. Feed Trials Feed Trials, with rabbits, Barbados Blackbelly sheep and pigs. PLA inc. 2022

9. Animals were randomly assigned as Control or Test. The animals were housed in identical pens with identical feed and watering systems. Test animals were transitioned over a one week period to their new diets. HOW DID WE TEST? Rabbit testing started in the third quarter of 2022, with three farms, including Oasis Blooms. Testing with sheep and pigs began in February of 2023, with Kirk Brown Farms facilitating the sheep, and Nebblet Farms facilitating the pigs. For each species, Control and Test animals were fed over six weeks, recording the weight of the animals each week. We statistically reviewed that data using STATA, with a T-test for each period, for Test and Control animals. PLA inc. 2024

10. THE RESULTS? PLA inc. 2024

11. PLA inc. 2024 THE RESULTS? For sheep our analysis of the data indicates that the silage based feed is at least as good as the stock ration. For rabbits, our study indicates that the silage based ration is at least as effective as the current commercial rations, and that for younger rabbits, it promotes weight gain and leads to a heavier fabricated carcass. Anecdotally, the data suggests that the silage based dressing supports difference in the weight gain of the animals. but not at a statistically significant level.

12. PLA inc. 2024 Cost to the Farmer (100lbs): Farmer Cluster CFPA (Purchased Fish Raw Material) CFPA (IN-KIND Fish Raw Material) Imported Equivalent Fish Silage $112.52 $453.22 $424.06 $0.00 Top-Dressing Pig Ration $112.52 $453.22 $424.06 $0.00 Rabbit Ration $43.21 $63.65 $61.90 $70.00 Sheep Ration $52.65 $96.94 $93.15 $65.00 Savings to the Farmer (100lbs):         Rabbit Ration $26.79 $6.35 $8.10   Sheep Ration $12.35 -$31.94 -$28.15   Key Considerations… The BRFS multi-stakeholder (farmer cluster) approach spreads the potential returns from this project. Cost of production is favourable, greater savings accrued to rabbit and sheep farmers, Environmental burden and use of scarce land resources for discarded fish raw materials is lessened, Fish loss and waste are reduced, Feed and fertilizer production capacity and affordability in Barbados can be improved alongside the inclusion of women and youth throughout the fish silage value chain. Next? Cost of Production Analysis: Small scale production is not financially viable!

13. WHAT CAME NEXT? Working with our young farmers, the FAO and the Ministries of Agriculture and Youth, to build their capacity, using the waste to feed pathway! PLA inc. 2024

14. LEARNING TO MAKE FEED Over the past year, PLA inc. has planned and implemented a series of workshops focused first on training people to make the fish silage and use it as a component in making livestock feed. PLA inc. 2024

15. LEARNING TO MANAGE THEIR BUSINESS The next series of workshops showed the young farmers how to use technology to better manage their crops, livestock farm and money: record keeping, breed management, social media marketing etc. PLA inc. 2024

16. FEEDBACK (from a parent of one of the young farmers) PLA inc. 2024 I must say again Phillip a very excellent job being done. It is doing much more than I thought it would do. It exposes the youth and others to a more experienced platform to the potential that can be reached now for a foreseeable, successful future. Farmer Browne is so in-depth in his presentations, that there is the courage to get moving, improve where you are and a wealth of knowledge that is shared unselfishly. Not the usual “you can succeed if you work hard”, full-stop . It is great to know the youngsters do not have to be mere backyard projects. Great job!

17. SO WHAT COMES NEXT? The Youth Agri-Business Incubation Center PLA inc. 2024

18. Thank you for your time & interest! PLA inc. 2024