Motorized Crop Residue Processing for Animal Feed

Powered Crop Residue Processing for Livestock Feed Enhancement

This technology is a motorized crop residue processing solution designed for animal feed. It addresses the challenge of manual processing of millet and sorghum stem residues, which limits their utilization for livestock. This mobile processor is self-powered, cost-effective, easily transportable, and operated by just two people. It enhances resource efficiency, integrating crop and livestock enterprises. The machine is composed of four main parts, and its throughput capacity ranges from 1 to 1.5 tons of stover per hour.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 8/9

Positive or neutral impact

Adults 18 and over: Positive high
The poor: Positive medium
Under 18: Positive low
Women: Positive high

Positive or neutral impact

Climate adaptability: It adapts really well
Adaptability for farmers: It helps a lot
Biodiversity: It doesn't hurt them
Carbon footprint: It reduces emissions a lot
Environment: It makes a big difference
Soil quality: It doesn't harm the soil's health and fertility

Problem

Manual processing of millet and sorghum stem residues is time-consuming.
Unutilized residues are often burned, contributing to soil carbon depletion, local air pollution, and unnecessary CO2 emissions.
Traditional feeding methods lead to sub-optimal animal diets and reduced digestion.
Storage and preservation of feed products face difficulties.
Dryland areas in Sub-Saharan Africa experience feed biomass scarcity due to low rainfall.

Solution

Allows for chopping or crushing of residues, ensuring they are used effectively as feed or mulch, reducing wastage and maximizing livestock nutrition.
Provides animals with balanced and digestible diets, leading to improved health and productivity in livestock rearing.
The processed residues produce higher-quality manure, contributing to improved soil health and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Enables efficient compaction of feed materials in bags, improving their flavor and nutritive value.
Particularly beneficial for regions with low rainfall, offering a crucial solution for sustaining livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key points to design your project

The Motorized Crop Residue Processing technology efficiently transforms crop residues into animal feed, reducing the need for burning and supporting climate action. It aligns with SDGs 2, 5, and 13 by enhancing livestock nutrition, potentially easing women's workload, and mitigating environmental impacts.

To integrate this technology into your project, follow these steps:
1. Conduct demonstration sessions at the community level to promote the stover chopper/crusher.
2. Provide training to operators on machine maintenance and usage.
3. Facilitate connections between community-based organizations, youth groups, and animal feed producers.

When planning for implementation, consider the following:

Determine the size and quantity of units required for your project.
Budget for the purchase of equipment: Self-contained stover chopping and crushing machine costs USD 1,250 to USD 1,700, while alternative motorized cutters range from USD 1,000 to USD 1,500 in international markets.
Account for delivery costs and potential import duties and taxes based on the technology's source country (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria).

Ensure adequate training and support by allocating funds for training and post-training support.

Develop communication materials, such as flyers, videos, and radio broadcasts, to promote the technology's adoption.

Consider collaborating with agricultural development institutes and agro-dealers to facilitate technology implementation.

For optimal results, associate the technology with Dual-purpose Varieties for Crop and Livestock Integration.

Cost: $$$ 1250-1700 USD/unit

Self-contained stover chopping and crushing machine

10 years

Lifespan

22,000 USD

Production value in 6 months

1,000 - 1,500 USD

Alternative motorized cutters that can handle all types of cereals

IP

Unknown

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–Not tested	Adopted
Mali	–Not tested	Adopted
Niger	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–		–
Subhumid	–		–
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

Transport and Setup: Easily move the mobile processor between fields using a donkey cart or motorbike. Ensure the machine is properly positioned and stabilized.
Loading and Processing: Collect the crop residues from the field and feed them into the machine. Ensure a steady supply to maintain consistent processing.
Operational Checks: Regularly inspect engine oil levels and moving parts to prevent clogs or damage. This ensures the machine operates efficiently.
Adjustment for Desired Output: Fine-tune settings based on the desired size of feed material. This may involve modifying the size, number, and positioning of hammers for optimal operation.
Monitoring and Maintenance: Train operators in routine maintenance and safety practices to keep running costs low and prevent physical injuries.
Ensuring Uniform Processing: Ensure that the top and bottom rollers are functioning properly, turning in opposite directions to maintain a steady flow of stover through the machine.
Crushing Process: After chopping, materials enter the crushing chamber where hammers mounted on a rotating shaft revolve at high speed. Material is further ground through the beating action of the hammers.
Sizing and Screening: Material is pushed forward by the motion inside the chamber and passes through holes in an adjustable screen to achieve the desired size.
Collecting Processed Material: Gather the processed feed material and store it appropriately for feeding or mulching purposes.
Safety Measures: Educate operators on safety protocols to prevent accidents and ensure the technology is used efficiently and effectively