Chicken Snippets

Poultry farming (…in an egg-shell…) is a game of:

Feed conversion.

That’s the root aim of the discipline.

Nothing more.

And certainly nothing less.

However, feed conversion has limits.

And also its factors of influence.

The primary limit of poultry feed conversion is genetic potential.

i.e. the physical growth limit of any particular breed of bird.

According to heritage, a bird can only grow so big as determined by its ancestry.

The goal:

To turn as much of the lovely golden feed into marketable eggs or meat.

(Whilst making the most of selling or using side products, like manure or spent hens, also.)

As every poultry breed is different…

…so too is its feed conversion ratio and physiological response to rearing factors like space, heat, ventilation etc.

So depending on your desired outcome of quantity and quality of meat or eggs,

Along with the rearing conditions that will apply to your project,

Your selection of the perfect poultry breed for your project must be diligently considered.

Let’s take Cobb 500.

According to the breeder’s (Cobb Vantress) manual,

Cobb 500 broilers have an average FCR (feed conversion ratio) of 1.65.

This can be interpreted to mean that for every 1.65 kg of feed given,

The Cobb 500 will produce 1 kg of carcass weight.

The FCR is seen as the optimal result for the poultry farmer.

The best he could hope for.

Where he earns his stripes is managing the farm to bring out of the birds their peak potential.

And this involves everything from the farmer’s choice of land or housing to stockmanship and processing labour.

With a unique blend of farm management inputs,

The poultry farmer hopes to yield an optimal harvest.

But is the topic of poultry feed conversion really that elementary?

According to this article by Poultry World called,

“Data capture and genetic progress in feed conversion”

In this article, two important considerations were raised regarding calculating FCR:

1. flock feed conversion (averaged over all birds)
2. liveability

Flock feed conversion

Averaging flock feed conversion is too broad a brush stroke to use.

Mainly, because there is no chance of pinning down causes related to outcomes calculated.

The analytical water is muddied. Unclear.

Liveability

When birds die, you get a net downgrading of FCR.

i.e. feed consumed by the dead bird will never contribute to the end-stage harvested meat on the processing date.

So, the question remains – how do we sidestep these inconsistencies for a more accurate FCR analysis:

Answer: We need a tighter controlled FCR test environment.

But…

“Just how should I practically capture reliable data for poultry feed conversion calculation?”

There are two proposed methods within this Poultry World article:

Analog and digital.

In both cases, FCR is a direct cause-and-effect relationship,

And therefore input and output must be directly tied.

You can’t take arbitrary flock averages here. It dilutes the meaningfulness and reliability.

Short term – Analog feed conversion testing

Quite lo-fi.

1. Each test bird is separated into its own pen.
2. The bird is given solitary access to its own feed and water supply.
3. Testing only happens over a number of days.

Pros – relatively low cost, direct cause and effect, close monitoring

Cons – short term data collection,

Digital feed conversion testing

Leans upon the modern Internet of Things (IoT) advancements.

1. Small cohorts of test birds are kept in pens.
2. They have shared feed and water.
3. Computer technology is used to track the weight and feed consumption of birds, individually.
4. Testing happens over many weeks.

Pros – birds test environment is shared not isolated, less manual work because of IT solution, long term

Cons – expensive

In conclusion

Feed conversion ratio is your primary poultry farm key performance indicator (KPI).

Coupled with your key cost inputs and price outputs (feed cost, labour cost, product pricing),

FCR is a fundamental building block for eveluating your poultry farm ROI.

A viable method of data capture and measuring FCR is critical to judging if your agri-venture is paying off or not.

Also, understanding the hidden influencers of the FCR equation helps us establish figures we can depend on.

Are you currently looking for a practical method to calculate feed conversion ration for your poultry farm?

Are you interested in performing digital data capture and need recommendations on equipment?

Write me back in the comments below.

I read every one.

Speak soon.

What’s your leaning on the free-range vs. caged debate?

Which side do you support?

Whilst we are aware of most points of contention on the matter,

Here are some considerations that might NOT have crossed your mind before.

The results in this document prove our current understanding of the pros and cons in this debate – as simplistic.

So, if you are still undecided on the matter – I recommend reading this study before making a commitment either way.

Quick highlight:

In this study, researchers closely examined parameters of egg quality between a caged flock of layer hens vs. free-range counterparts (Hyline Brown).

Here’s what they found:

• “…free-range environment hens were significantly lighter in body weight than their caged counterparts”
• “…caged hens had better overall egg production and quality characteristics compared with free-range hens”
• “…free-range hens experienced a reduction in nutrient partitioning devoted to egg production”

The rationale behind WHY this is could be argued.

However, it seems apparent that free-range environment taxes the hen’s bodies more to fuel additional movement.

And where there is a greater energy expense/demand, the resources from other functions, like egg production, will be drawn upon to suffice.

So, egg weight and production will be less in such cases.

HOWEVER, what can’t be ignored is the free-range hen’s access to a much broader range of nutritional input which will naturally give rise to a more nutrient diverse egg.

That said, the artificial fortification of layer hen feed given to caged birds, will produce artificially enhanced eggs.

The difference?

Whatever a discerning customer can pick out.

Ultimately, whatever the consumer values will reign supreme at the end of the day.

For more information on this study:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272758570_A_comparative_examination_of_rearing_parameters_and_layer_production_performance_for_brown_egg-type_pullets_grown_for_either_free-range_or_cage_production/fulltext/58faec6c0f7e9ba3ba50472d/A-comparative-examination-of-rearing-parameters-and-layer-production-performance-for-brown-egg-type-pullets-grown-for-either-free-range-or-cage-production.pdf

If you are considering milling your own layer feed, or sourcing layer feed from a local miller…

…then, this study teaches is a valuable addition to your reading library.

Now, it’s no news to you that corn contributes the main food source in layer feed.

Until now you might have applied more planning focus on calculating your feed consumption – for cost planning purposes.

However, HOW the corn is prepared can also have a significant impact on your:

• cost-effectiveness
• product regularity
• & ultimately profit

And here’s how…

Quick highlights:

This study features a cohort of caged layer hens who were fed 3 different grades of corn grain within their feed preparation.

Grain sizes were as follows:

• 638 micron/micrometres
• 870 micron/micrometres
• 1079 micron/micrometres

The hens were in 10 cages – 4 hens per cage.

They were monitored for:

• feed intake
• weight gain
• egg production
• egg weight
• mortality
• egg quality

What were the results of the varying sizes of feed?

Interestingly, the lower particle sizes of corn grain resulted in:

• less feed intake
• greater uniformity of – egg weight, egg yolk colour and egg white weight

…but no difference was noted in either body weight gain, egg production, egg weight or mortality rate.

To sum up, by saving roughly 1/3 of the corn particle size (638 – 870 microns vs. 1079 microns), your caged layer hen farm could save on feed consumption and produce more uniform eggs (in weight, egg yolk colour and albumen weight).

Greater profitability all round.

To view this study in detail:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Seksom-Attamangkune/publication/242241027_Effects_of_Corn_Particle_Size_in_Layer_Diet_on_Laying_Performance_and_Uniformity_of_Egg_Quality_under_High_Stocking_Density/links/56eb655a08ae9dcdd82ab4c2/Effects-of-Corn-Particle-Size-in-Layer-Diet-on-Laying-Performance-and-Uniformity-of-Egg-Quality-under-High-Stocking-Density.pdf

 

A largely misunderstood technicality in the rearing of layer hens for profit is:

Moulting (molting).

It’s yet again another physiological hurdle to cross in your race to egg production profits.

But handled well,

It can lead to profit improvement,

Rather than profit interruption.

This study showcases a method for doing exactly that.

Ever come across hen molting before?

About layer hen moulting

It’s a natural physiological process in which laying hens (adults) will shed all feathers and cease to lay(!).

It occurs approximately once a year – and it’s a way of nature allowing the hen to replenish her feather coverage…and stay airborne/safe.

The cost of moulting

Whilst it has it upside for the hen, just like any process which gives benefit…

…it costs.

For the hen, it costs nutritional reserve to replace lost feathers.

Nutritional expense diverted to feather production must come from somewhere.

And in the case of moulting, the opportunity of new feathers…

…comes at the cost of egg production, for a short period.

The timing of moulting

Interestingly enough, this entire process tends to happen in the Autumn.

And closely mirrors the equivalent process within trees,

Where they shed leaves in an effort to gear up again for maximum productivity next year.

In chickens, moulting amounts to a similar thing.

It actually improves the subsequent cycles of productivity.

Moulting – the technical points to remember

That said, there are some technical difficulties to observe:

• approx. 12 weeks downtime if your flock are good layers
• purchase of point of lay hens to fill in the production gap (but fewer to buy next batch)
• environmental stressors can induce moulting
• moulting occurs spontaneously – perhaps irregularly
• you still have the cost of feeding moulting hens good quality nutrition during their moult (plus PoL hens, if you buy them)

So, what is the commercial layer farmer’s response to this uncertainty?

Inducing (forcing) the moult

Force moulting.

This is when layer poultry farmers force or induce moulting to occur in their flock at a time of their choosing.

And by doing that, better controling their management of the occurence.

But how EXACTLY does a layer farmer induce moulting in his flock?

By physiological stressors.

When birds become stressed for prolonged periods, it can thrust their bodies into a cycle of moulting – forcibly.

Feed withdrawal

One common method that farmers have adopted to achieve this has been feed withdrawal.

This naturally puts laying hens into moult phase.

However, the method has come under fire mainly for 2 reasons:

• animal welfare (food deprivation)
• nutritional depletion (undercutting future productivity)

Alternative to feed withdrawal

So, what are the alternatives?

That is exactly where this study fits in.

It provides an alternative to the feed withdrawal method of moulting, giving birds…

…adequate feed and nutritional intake whilst STILL forcing them to moult.

Here’s how:

Quick highlights

In this study, the researchers used Alfalfa as a layer feed substitute to replace the hens usual feed.

Alfalfa being “…insoluble, high fiber feedstuff with low metabolizable energy,” left the hens incurring a dietary stress – yet in a healthy way.

The stress of having a significant dietary shift – led to the hens being forced into moult.

But how does the Alfalfa method fare against:

• feed withdrawal?
• fully fed?

The Alfalfa method produces:

• an earlier moult, just as with feed withdrawal hens
• less body weight loss that feed withdrawal hens
• higher egg production than feed withdrawal hens – equivalent to fully fed in medium ration mixes
• higher albumen height than fully fed hens

In summary, moult induction using Alfalfa rations – speeds up premoult transition and improves post moult egg prodcution and egg quality.

You’ll have to calibrate the most advantageous balance of Alfalfa vs. layer feed.

But once you achieve a good mix – this practice should literally pay your layer farming business back in greater returns.

This is great news for areas where the natural occurance of Alfalafa is already high.

It works out very economoical.

To view this study in full, click this link:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7952031_Utilizing_different_ratios_of_alfalfa_and_layer_ration_for_molt_induction_and_performance_in_commercial_laying_hens/fulltext/0e5fea72f0c404bcbfbcf663/Utilizing-different-ratios-of-alfalfa-and-layer-ration-for-molt-induction-and-performance-in-commercial-laying-hens.pdf

Wouldn’t it be good if BEFORE you started your broiler farming enterprise,

You could get tipped off by an experienced broiler farmer? [Read more…] about Which Factors Most Affect Broiler Farm Profit?

These are two distinctive schools of thought among us poultry people.

(…yes, that’s even beside the broiler vs. layer debate…)

The head-to-head showcased by this study is organic vs. conventional poultry farming.

Each undoubtedly has its pros vs cons on either side of the fence.

But surely there’s got be an outright answer on this one?

Sadly, the answer is:

No, there never could be.

(You can never definitively put organic over conventional, or vice versa.)

Why?

Because the variables involved are too many.

• Which breeds will you use?
• What type of climate is your flock subject to?
• What type of feed will you choose?
• What consumer attitudes are at play within your market?

All of the above (and MUCH more) actually help to determine how much profit is likely to be earned.

But, that aside…

…there are some common themes that become apparent when you examine the 2 systems by comparison.

And these themes give the rationale for why organic and/or conventional poultry farming should be considered.

The key is to become familiar with the economic profile of each method.

This will help you understand how each behaves respectively.

With this at hand…

…you can begin to make the most profitable decisions given your circumstances and commercial outlook.

Quick highlights:

This study organic poultry farming proves:

• more costly,
• takes longer,
• has fewer completed rearing cycles, and;
• certification overheads,

BUT…

…the rewards (if you can achieve the premium price sale) is worth every extra effort and cost.

This study shows that:

Organic poultry farming can actually earn as much as 125% more profit!

The biggest contributing factor being the premium on the organic sales price.

In this case, the organic sales price achieved was 60% more than conventionally reared chicken.

The big question is – if you were to go the organic route…

Are you confident of achieving that kind of premium price?

And could you sustain that price for the long run?

This study will help you get a better insight into organic and conventional profits in poultry:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270485461_Comparing_the_Profitability_of_Organic_and_Conventional_Broiler_Production/fulltext/57be3d4e08aed246b0f730f9/270485461_Comparing_the_Profitability_of_Organic_and_Conventional_Broiler_Production.pdf?origin=publication_detail