This is the first post in an enlightenment series I’ve decided to progressively publish on my Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas. Other posts in the series will follow, for Broiler Finisher Ration, Chicks Starter Ration, Growers’ Ration and Layers’ Ration.
NB: The series will be based – in part – on excerpts from my Feed Formulation Handbook.
Efficiency of Feed Utilisation Is Critically Important
A key area to watch when looking to improve your broiler operation’s efficiency and profitability is the efficiency of feed utilisation. This is determined to some extent by the genetic strain of the birds used in your broiler production process. Once you get the birds on site however, you’ll have to make do with whatever performance they can deliver.
That’s why you will need to pay serious attention to supplying the birds with feed that facilitates optimal feed to flesh conversion by your birds.
With respect to the above, broiler chicks differ from layer chicks in that they have relatively higher protein (between 22 – 24%)* and energy (3,000 – 3,200 kcal/kg of ration)* requirements. To achieve proper amino acid profile balance, fish meal is required at 5 to 7%* of broiler feed. And an energy booster may sometimes be added in form of oil, to the feed, but this should not generally exceed 5%*.
The obvious reason for this is their need to achieve rapid growth to table size within a short period of 8 weeks or less.
The broiler’s need for high feed utilization necessarily implies that feed it consumes be fairly low in fibre content. The foregoing greatly enhance digestibility of the feed for broilers – as does a calcium level kept between 0.6 to a maximum of 0.8%*, and a phosphorous level of 0.4 to 0.6%*.
Avoid Costly Mistakes: Formulate Your Own Broiler Rations
As can be seen from the above, quite a number of parameters need to be tracked towards achieving productive feeding of commercial broilers. And given the time sensitive nature of this venture, it goes without saying that you cannot afford to make avoidable mistakes especially where it relates to feeding.
Apart from feeding the birds with the right ration formula, you also want to avoid spending more than you should. Otherwise, when it’s time to go to market with your market ready birds, you may be looking at slimmer and less profitable margins – or indeed a loss.
You can take care of the above concerns by doing what more profit and performance conscious farmers now do: Start making your own feed for your animals. That way, you can be sure they’re getting the nutrients you want them to get, in the quantities they need to get them.
Aim For Least Cost Rations: Use Automation To Reduce Errors And Save Time/Effort
However, because feed formulation and compounding can be a tasking exercise, you may wish to employ some automation in doing them repetitively. For instance, to achieve the twin desirable goals of balanced feed for your broilers, and the least cost, a mathematical programming model would come in handy.
Some people use linear programming. Others use the diagrammatic Pearson Square Computation method. Both these methods have been successfully incorporated into spreadsheets that make their use less intellectually demanding.
The idea here is to use the computer to generate the cheapest possible broiler ration that has all the key features mentioned above. That kind of ration is called a Least Cost Ration. And it is quite different from a lowest priced ration. Read more about it in my article titled “A Key to Livestock Farming Success”.
Final Words: To Feed Them Right, Know Your Broilers’ Actual Nutrient Needs!
What you need to keep in mind is that successful use of the above methods and relevant automation will depend greatly on your sound knowledge of the “essential features of YOUR broiler starter ration”!
Like I have said elsewhere, no two farms will ever function exactly alike. There will always be differences in modes of operation, and standards of performance.
Your farm will be equally unique in that regard. So, you must do your homework and ensure the data you use for your planning and computations towards feeding and managing your broilers are accurate and reliable. Otherwise, your broiler farm’s output will be disappointing in the long run.
*PS: The nutrient values mentioned in this article are general estimates based on the author’s observations and experiences. It goes without saying that they are not representative of what obtains for feed used on all broiler farms.
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This new version allows you to:
1. Include 7 EXTRA feed ingredients in your rations.
2. Store 3 FORMULAS you derive for future recall/refinement
3. Export your stored formulas into a separate workbook!
A new PRO VERSION goes even further to allow you specify target values for your ration’s protein, energy, calcium, fibre etc. After that, a single click automatically generates a Least Cost Ration Formula for you. I call it the "Least Cost Ration Formulator". (To understand why you should use a least cost ration and NOT a lowest-priced ration, read this article: www.tinyurl.com/leastcostration)
Send your enquiry, along with your name, and mobile phone number to tayo at tksola dot com. If you already own the basic Ration Formulator, you get the new upgrade version FREE.
Get in touch: Call 234-803-302-1263.
Fig 1 Above: Extended data form with currency specification, and a button for initiating addition of 7 extra ingredients (ADD INGR)
Fig 2 – Above: New data entry form for adding 7 extra ingredients loaded by clicking "ADD INGR" button in Fig 1.
Fig 3 – Above: New data form for STORING, RECALLING and EXPORTING derived ration formulas.