Croton seedcake, the other source of protein for poultry

Croton nut is traditionally underused despite the rapid growing market demand in East Africa for its products like biofuel, animal feeds and fertiliser. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Croton nut is traditionally underused despite the rapid growing market demand in East Africa for its products like biofuel, animal feeds and fertiliser.
  • Croton seedcake offers several key advantages to traditional poultry feeds. It is a high-protein source for poultry growth, it is locally produced in a zero-waste manufacturing process, and it is an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources.
  • Unlike much of the seedcake produced from other ground nuts, which are highly susceptible to mould growth, croton seedcake ensures the safest quality feed for your poultry.
  • Croton seedcake offers several environmental benefits as well. For instance, Eco Fuels has a zero-waste manufacturing process, where every part of the croton nut is used.

Protein is a key component in animal feeds, with the annual shortfall being thousands of tonnes due to reliance on ingredients like maize germ, wheat bran, sunflower and fishmeal.

But now farmers have a reason to smile as they can also use croton nuts, derived from the Mukinduri trees.

Croton nut is traditionally underused despite the rapid growing market demand in East Africa for its products like biofuel, animal feeds and fertiliser.

In Kenya, Eco Fuels, a company based in Nanyuki is pioneering the use of croton nuts for various functions.

The company purchases the nuts from collectors to add value and create various farming products and generate income for rural farmers.

Croton seedcake offers several key advantages to traditional poultry feeds. It is a high-protein source for poultry growth, it is locally produced in a zero-waste manufacturing process, and it is an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources.

The composition of croton seedcakes is the ideal natural blend of nutrients for proper poultry development, enabling faster weight gain and supporting egg production.

Croton seedcake boasts a highly concentrated source of protein with balanced levels of fat and fibre; that is 25 per cent protein, 10 per cent fat, 27 per cent crude fibre, 10 per cent moisture and 202 Energy (kcal/100g).

LONGTERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This protein content is 39 per cent higher than canola (18 per cent protein) and 25 per cent higher than sunflower (20 per cent).

Unlike much of the seedcake produced from other ground nuts, which are highly susceptible to mould growth, croton seedcake ensures the safest quality feed for your poultry.

Additionally, several scientific studies support the nutritional benefits of croton seedcake. The Kenya Wood-fuel and Agroforestry Programme has, in fact, termed the nut a “poultry feed tree”.

For years, locals have fed mashed up croton seeds to their poultry, and croton seedcake can be used at an inclusion rate of 7-10 per cent with no adverse side effects on the production or hatching of eggs.

This shows that even at this low inclusion rate, the product is very effective, making it affordable.

Therefore, croton seedcake is a promising locally-sourced solution to the increased demand for livestock feeds. The feed industry consistently suffers from high costs and a lack of available raw materials for quality feeds.

Traditional protein sources like soybean meal and fishmeal are often imported, discouraging the growth of domestic production.

Currently, Kenya is importing 30,000 tonnes of plant-based seedcakes, a market that takes jobs out of the hands of Kenyans.

In Kenya’s increasing emphasis on locally-produced raw materials, croton seedcake is helping to grow the private sector and encouraging long-term national development.

HIGH DEMAND FOR PRODUCT

Croton seedcake offers several environmental benefits as well. For instance, Eco Fuels has a zero-waste manufacturing process, where every part of the croton nut is used.

The seedcake is made as a by-product of biofuel production, while the croton husks are used as a soil conditioner.

In leaving nothing to waste, Eco Fuels Kenya also ensures that local resources are being used most effectively.

According to them, there is a high demand for the product, as users are motivated to cut costs with guaranteed quality.

So far, the company says it has sold over 70 tonnes of seedcake over a short time to Kenyan farmers, whose testimonies consistently show strong and healthy poultry and high levels of customer satisfaction.

They are also actively involved in planting croton seedlings with farmers who are interested in making it Kenya’s newest cash crop.

Currently priced at Sh22 per kilo, croton seedcake offers a cheaper, healthier, and locally-produced solution to the challenges of the poultry feed market.

The article was revised by Felix Opinya of Egerton University.