Nutritional Valorisation and Safety Validation of Corn-Mill Sweepings as Swine Feed: Perspectives and Practices of the Ejisu-Juaben Pig Farmers and Processors Association, Ghana

Abstract

A 2-phase study was undertaken to investigate the viability and safety of utilizing corn-mill sweepings (CMS) as a sustainable agro-industrial by-product (AIBP) in swine nutrition. The research
characterized the usage patterns, incidence, and types of contaminants present in these materials to
determine their potential for effective integration into local feed systems. In the first phase, 20kg of
CMS were collected from three (3) different mills each in ten different suburbs of the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region of Ghana for physical examination. Phase 2 involved a field survey
specifically targeting the Ejisu-Juaben Pig Farmers and Processors Association. Nineteen semistructured questionnaires were administered to association members to capture data on their demographic characteristics and livestock inventory, as well as to evaluate their professional perceptions of the practical challenges and benefits of CMS as a feed resource. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.
Physical examination of CMS samples was conducted to quantify contaminant weight and percentage across the study area. Results showed that a 20 kg sample of CMS contains a 1.34% mean contaminant load (0.292 kg), requiring an average of 40 minutes of manual sorting for safety utilisation. These contaminants primarily consist of caked or mouldy feed items (67%), wood (15%), plastics (7%), metals (4%), and miscellaneous debris (7%). Economically, CMS prices fluctuated between GH₵4.00 and GH₵6.00 per 20 kg, predicated on mill proximity to livestock hubs. The survey
of the Ejisu-Juaben Pig Farmers and Processors Association revealed that 95% of farmers utilize
CMS, with 84% managing stock sizes exceeding 100 pigs. Key utilization challenges identified included high contaminant incidence (52%), product deterioration (29%), and erratic supply (17%).
It was concluded that while CMS offers a strategic opportunity for nutritional valorization, its safety is compromised by extraneous materials that increase labor costs and animal health risks. Consequently, mill operators must implement improved collection and storage protocols to enhance the
ingredient's reliability for the livestock industry.