Review of Valuable Local Feed Resources for Poultry Nutrition in Burkina Faso: The Cases of Cirina butyrospermi, Senegalia macrostachya Seeds and Parkia biglobosa Fruit Pulp

Abstract

This review examines three locally available feed resources from Burkina Faso as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to conventional commercial poultry feeds, which account for more than 70% of poultry production costs and are often characterized by high prices and inconsistent availability. The first resource, the shea caterpillar (Cirina butyrospermi), is widely harvested from June to September in the Sudanian and Sudano-Guinean zones. Rich in crude protein (50 to 65% of dry matter) and essential amino acids, it has a nutritional value comparable to that of fishmeal and has been reported to improve growth performance while enhancing poultry immune function. However, its utilization is constrained by seasonal availability and reduced digestibility associated with its chitin content. The second resource, Senegalia macrostachya seeds (Zamné), is obtained from a shrub well adapted to the poor soils of the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian regions. The seeds provide a valuable source of protein (30 to 40% of dry matter), particularly lysine but require heat treatment, such as boiling or roasting, to inactivate antinutritional factors, including tannins and trypsin inhibitors. The third resource, the fruit pulp of Parkia biglobosa (Néré), which is abundant in the southern and western regions of Burkina Faso, serves primarily as an energy source because of its high sugar content (60 to 80%) and also supplies important micronutrients, including vitamins C and A. Although, relatively low in protein, it enhances feed palatability and improves egg yolk pigmentation owing to its carotenoid content. Nevertheless, its quality may be compromised by moisture exposure and contamination during traditional processing and storage. Overall, the integration of these locally available feed resources has the potential to improve poultry production performance while reducing feed costs. However, their sustainable utilization will require improved organization of collection and supply systems, together with the standardization of processing methods to effectively eliminate biological hazards and antinutritional factors.