Ramie and kenaf as feed crops

Meeting the food needs, both as quantity and quality, and conserving natural resources and biodiversity simultaneously, represents a continuously increasing challenge. Food of animal origin, as an important part of these needs, creates also increasing feed demands, the most expensive part of its production, and drives to the necessity of a more complete evaluation of some feed sources, deriving from crops traditionally used in various other uses. Some fiber crops appear very promising in this direction and especially two of them, Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) and kenaf (Hibiscus canabinus), show a serious potential for use, besides all other uses, in animal feeding. Their contents in main nutrients, as protein, carbohydrates, fats and minerals appears very satisfactory, combined to good palatability and digestibility, all prices being compatible to those of the most widely used animal fodders, soya bean meal, and alfalfa hay. Taking in consideration the potential of these plants for various other uses and their adaptability to a wide variety of environments, we are directed to the necessity of a more efficient use of them, using effectively all their potential for feed production, besides all other uses. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.