KAbV completed a Virtual Industry Project in collaboration with students from Loughborough University (UK) through Practera. The 2 weeks project commenced on the 16th of March and ended on the 29th March 2026.
The multidisciplinary consulting group, comprising students from Economics, STEM, and International Relations backgrounds, supported KAbV in researching and assessing feed sourcing strategies for the company’s integrated circular agribusiness model.
Feed costs remain one of the largest operational expenses in livestock production, particularly in Zambia, where high and volatile feed prices continue to affect profitability and scalability for many farmers.
As part of the project, the student team evaluated four potential feed sourcing models:
- Full reliance on commercially manufactured feed
- Purchasing maize from local farmers combined with commercial feed concentrates
- Using farm-grown maize combined with commercial feed concentrates
- Full on-farm feed formulation based on the Ministry of Agriculture’s recommended formula
The research contributed valuable analysis on identifying cost-efficient, reliable, and scalable feed sourcing strategies to support the sustainable growth of KAbV’s circular farming system, which integrates piggery, aquaculture, and crop production.
