Assessing the influence of maintenance strategies and feed formulation practices on operational efficiency in African poultry feed manufacturing

Abstract

Africa’s population is growing rapidly. The consequence is an increased in the demand for affordable protein sources. Within this rising demand, poultry meat remains the preferred choice, due to its affordability compared to red meat and its freedom from most cultural or religious restrictions. However, local production volumes continue to be insufficient. This creates reliance on imports to meet the increasing demand. As a result, Africa cedes a substantial part of the market share. Central to this challenge is the poultry feed manufacturing industry, which underpins the poultry value chain. Since feed represents about 70% of total poultry production costs, improving operational efficiency within feed mills is vital to reducing costs, enhancing competitiveness, and supporting food security across the continent. This study aimed to examine the influence of maintenance strategies, feed formulation accuracy, and technology adoption on operational efficiency in African poultry feed manufacturing. The study was of a quantitative, non-experimental correlational design, using structured surveys distributed to mid-level and senior managers across eight African countries. The analysis was guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV), which emphasises strategically developed internal capabilities as drivers of sustainable competitive advantage. Although literature highlights strong positive relationships among the three constructs, empirical results revealed that only feed formulation accuracy had a statistically significant influence on operational efficiency. While maintenance strategies and technology adoption did show positive correlations, their effects were not statistically significant. This divergence between theory and practice highlights the complexity of operational environments in African feed mills. This study critically contributes to the African poultry feed industry by integrating these three constructs into a single framework, despite traditionally being examined in isolation. The study provides empirical and practical insights which can be used to guide managers, engineers, and policymakers in improving productivity, reducing operational costs, and strengthening the poultry sector’s role in achieving Africa’s long-term food security goals.