Training on

Broiler Management &

Marketing

Misba Alewi (Associate Researcher)

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

December 17 & 19, 2016

Welcome
Topics
Introduction
 LMP & Poultry Sector Development Roadmap
Important Considerations to Start a Broiler Farm
 Site Selection
Broiler chicken management
 Breed selection
 Chick Quality Assessment
 Chick Holding and Transportation
 Brooding Requirements
 Feed and Water
 Housing and Equipment
Topics (cont’d)
 Liter Management
 Chick checking
 Monitoring Live weight
 Uniformity
Marketing
 Market Survey
 Value Addition and Packaging
 Promotion
Record Keeping
INTRODUCTION
 What is a Broiler Breed?

A broiler is tender meat producing young chicken

of either sex that grows from a hatch weight of 38-40g

to a weight over around 2.0kg in about 6-7 weeks’
time.

42 days (6 weeks)

40 g
(DOC wt.) 2.0 kg
(live wt.)
 Broiler Breed (cont’d …)

Modern broiler hybrids groing mhine

 Inredible potentil to gro

 More thn 2.5 kg in less thn 6 eeks
 Just required 4 kg of qulity feed

In the US – the average slaughter age is 47 days at a weight of 2.6kg

In the EU – the average slaughter age is 42 days at a weight of 2.5kg
Broiler Breed (cont’d …)
 What is Broiler Production?

Broiler production is the raising or keeping of

chickens (broilers) primarily for meat
production.
 Broiler Production (cont’d…)

In the world, the broiler industry has grown

tremendously due to consumer demand for
affordable poultry meat.

The key to successful broiler production depends on

a efficient management program the farmer has
adopted.

In addition, proper planning and preparation for the

arrival of chicks on site.
 Broiler Production (cont’d…)

Therefore, In order to get maximum benefit from

the broiler industry, a proper knowledge on its
technicality:

 breed,

 housing,

 feeding,

 management etc. is

essential
The Poultry Sector Development Roadmap (2015/16 – 2019/20)
LIVESTOCK SECTOR ANALYSIS RESULTS

(THE BROILER SECTOR IN ETHIOPIA)

 Livestock Sector Analysis Result

Table 1. Total chicken meat production (2015 Vs. 2020)

Meat production
Production System (in thousand tonnes)

2015 2020
TFP 45.6 26.9

IFP 2.9 10.2

SPP (Layer ) 0.140 14.5
SPP (Broiler) 0.255 112.2

Total 48.9 163.9

Contribution of the broiler sector 68.5%

 Livestock Sector Analysis Result (cont’d…)

Table 2. Number of broiler units and average flock size

(2015 Vs. 2020)

Production System 2015 2020

Specialized Broiler:

 Number of broiler units 30 2,415

 Av. Flock size/unit 6,400 35,200

 Livestock Sector Analysis Result (cont’d…)

Table 3. GDP contributions from poultry (in ETB millions)

(2015 Vs. 2020)

2015 2020

Poultry Sector  Egg & Chicken meat 4,172 15,631

Chicken meat (TFP, IFP & Specialized) 3,177 5,577

Broiler meat 7.1 3,143

Contribution of the broiler sector:

 From total (poultry sector) = 20.1%
 From chicken meat production = 56.4%
 Challenges

Major challenges identified:

 Breed

 Limited options

 Feed

 Quantity, Quality and Cost

 Marketing,

 Processing & value addition

 Product quality and food safety

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS TO START
A BROILER FARM
 Site selection

Before setting up a farm, one should consider:

 Sufficient area of land

 Good water supply
 Electricity
 Preferably higher land to avoid water logging
 Considerably far from housing estates and human
activities
 Good road connection for easy transportation
 Market access for procurement of inputs and selling of
farm produces
 Important considerations

1. Land
 Adequate land to house poultry structures and for
carrying out various farm operations.

 An assessment on the suitability of the land for broiler

production should be conducted.

 Poultry house should not be located closer to rivers or

streams as that may result in the pollution of water by
chicken wastes during rainfall periods.
 Important considerations (cont’d…)
Land specifications:
 Different specifications on the minimum land size required for broiler
production depends on the size of the business the farmer wants to
run.
For Example:
 For a broiler production project with 4000 chickens,
 A land measuring 150m x 150m will be required to accommodate
structures and buildings needed.
- These are 2 poultry houses each measuring 25m x 8m,
- manager’s house 8m x 4m,
- toilet 2.5m x 3m and
- 4m x 4m storeroom.
 The distance between the poultry and residential houses should be at
least 50m to 100m.
 Where the farmer intends to have an abattoir, an extra land measuring 40m x
40m will be needed but not adjacent to the rearing farm.
 In addition, the abattoir should be a kilometer away from poultry farms.
 Important considerations (cont’d…)

2. Water:
 adequate clean water is needed for consumption and
cleaning
 it is imperative to identify a reliable source of portable
water.
 Important considerations (cont’d…)

3. Electricity:

 Reliable source of power supply – specially for brooding.

4. Skills and experience:

 Intensive basic training and relevant experience in

poultry management is essential for running the farm.
5. Capital:

 A source of potential funding for acquiring inputs and

equipment to run the farm
 Requirements and policies of financial institutions ought
to be known prior to loan acquisition..
 B RO I L E R
CHICKEN
M A N AG E M E N T
What Does It Take?
Haile Gebrselassie
 Two times Olympic Champion

 Eight times World Champion

 Broke 27 World records

 World record holder on marathon from 2007 to

2011

Required talent, commitment and plenty of

preparation
“Doro Wat”
 Probably best known and most popular food in
Ethiopia.

 Needs chicken, salt, garlic, lemon, ginger, pepper,

berberé paste, water, onions, eggs & niter kibbeh.

Takes several hours to

prepare and just twenty
minutes to consume
Modern broiler “growing machine”

 May grow from 40 gr. to 2.4 kg in less than 6 weeks

 May require just 4 kg of quality feed

But, needs optimum conditions, excellent

management and commitment to achieve
these results.
 Keywords for top achievements

 Optimum conditions

 Dedication

 Preparation

 Committed

management
Breed Selection

 Fast Growth

 High Feed Efficiency (Low FCR)

 Fast Feathering

 Low Mortality
Broiler breeding companies

Hubbard Classic
Hubbard Flex
Hubbard Yield
Hubbard Males
Hubbard Color
ISA COMPANY
CHICK QUALITY
ASSESSMENT
 Chick Quality Assessment

A good quality chick should be clean after

hatch.
 It should stand firmly and walk well
 Be alert and active
 It should be free of deformities,
 The yolk sac fully retracted and have a healed
navel.
 Chick Quality Assessment

Chicks can flip Chicks flip Over 10

Reflex over with in 3 back over b/n 4 seconds or fails
seconds - 10 seconds to flip over

Closed but Not closed/button

Navel Clean and well
slight attached or
healed discolored
abrasiveness
Chick Quality Assessment (cont’d…)

Some Dehydrated with

Legs Clean, waxy leg
dryness/pale vein protruding

Red color, heavy

Hocks Clean, no
Slight blushing
blushing
blemishes
Chick Quality Assessment (cont’d…)

In addition

 Flat, supple and not hard - Ok

Belly
 Full belly - Bad

 Clean light color - Ok

Beak
 Deformed - Bad
 Possible explanations for defects
Navel defect  black spot
Cause:
 Too hot or too cold in the hatcher
 To much weight loss in the setter

Hocks defect  red hock

Cause:
 Too much heat in the hatcher

Belly defect  full belly

Cause:
 High humidity in the hatcher
 Poor yolk absorption

Quality day-old chicks should be selected!!!

CHICK HOLDING AND
TRANSPORTATION
 Chick Holding & Transportation
Chick internal temperature should be maintained at 40.0
- 40.6°C.
Chick internal rectal temperature can be measured at
take-off or in the chick holding room.

Chick internal temperature above 41°C will lead to

panting.

Chick internal temperature below 40.0°C is too cold.

Chick Holding & Transportation (cont’d…)

Ideal holding room temperature should be maintained

between 24 - 26°C and RH 65%.

Temperatures in plastic boxes should be maintained at 32°C

for the chicks

The vehicle cargo hold should maintain a stable temperature

of 25°C
 BROODING
MANAGEMENT
 What do we mean by Brooding?

This is a term which means, keeping chicks warm

and comfortable.
 Replacing its mother’s
care!

 The chicks are placed in a

brooding area inside the
brooding ring/ chicks
guard

The management in this period is

so essential for
optimum flock performance!
Brooding Fundamentals to maximizing
performance
 Pre-Placement Preparation

‒ Hygiene

 Temperature management

 Feed management

 Water management
Comfort, care,
 Light management comfort, care
 Ventilation
To keep in mind
 Chicks are vulnerable and easily stressed

 Avoid sudden changes in temperature, light,

feed, water, noise, …
 Check on their well-being several times a day

Every day is important in broiler production;

The first week is extra important!

A poor brooding period often leads to reduced

performance!
PLANNING AND PREPARATION FOR THE
ARRIVAL OF DAY OLD CHICKS
 Preparation for Chick arrival
Activities prior arrival of day old chicks include:
 Houses, surrounding areas and all equipment must be
cleaned and disinfected
 Individual sites should manage birds of a single age
(managed on the principles of ‘all-in, all-out’).
 Litter material should be spread evenly to a depth of 8-
10cm.
 Where floor temperature is adequate (28-30°C) litter depth can be
reduced
 Houses must be pre-heated for a minimum of 24 hours
before the arrival of chicks.
Preparation for Chick arrival (cont’d…)

 Monitor temperatures regularly to ensure uniform

temperatures throughout the brooding area

 Ensure that adequate clean water at room temperature is

available.

 Provide fresh starter feed in the brooder area.

 Ensure chicks have easy access to feed (i.e. use flat pans, trays
or paper sheeting).

 Do not place feeders or drinkers directly under or near

brooders.
Preparation for Chick arrival (cont’d)
Preparation for Chick arrival (cont’d)
Preparation for Chick arrival (cont’d)

For the best broiler performance, the chicks

should be delivered to the broiler farm as soon as

possible and fed immediately.

 Hygiene
 Once the house is cleaned and disinfected,
prevent pathogens from entering the unit
 Disinfect boots thoroughly, or have separate footwear
for inside and outside
 Avoid animals entering the unit (birds, rodents, cats, ..)
 Avoid visitors as much as possible
 Brooder ring
Constructing a ring for the reception of chicks in
which heat, water, feed, light can be Provided

At arrival 5 m2 is enough for 500 chicks

 Circumference 7.9 m, diameter 2.5 m

After a week 10 m2 is required for the 500 chicks.

 Circumference 11.2 m, diameter 3.6 m

Plywood or hardboard sheets of approx. 45 cm are

suitable
 Brooder ring (cont’d)

Avoid brooding ring corners making 90o.

 Brooder ring (cont’d)

Avoid brooding ring corners making 90o.

 Brooder ring (cont’d)

Avoid brooding ring corners making 90o.

 Brooder ring (cont’d)

Avoid brooding ring corners making 90o.

 Brooder ring (cont’d)

Avoid brooding ring corners making 90o.

 Brooder ring (cont’d…)

Place feeders and drinkers in a circular manner

 It is important that the chickens can find feed and

water very easy in the first days

 Place at least 1 chick fount per 75 chickens and 1 feed

plate per 75 chickens

 If long feeders are used the eating space should be at

least 2.5 cm per chicken.

Don't place feeders and drinkers under the heater!

Brooding area arrangement
Brooding area arrangement
 Stocking Density

 Quality of housing and the

environmental control system
determine the best stocking
density.

 Floor area needed will depend

on:
 Target wt. & age at processing
 Climate and season
 Type and system of housing
 Local legislation
 Quality assurance certificate
requirement
 Stocking Density (cont’d)

 In tropical conditions where

temperatures during the day
rise over 30°C:

 the maximum stocking rate for

broilers should depends on the
target final weight

 If birds are to be marketed at

1.4 kg final weight, then 18–20
broilers can be placed per m2

 But if the birds are to be  In temperate regions,

marketed at 2.2 kg, then 11-13 stocking density could

broilers/m2 is enough. reach up to 24 birds/m2.

 Temperature
 Chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature until
they are around 12-14 days of age.
 Upon arrival chicks like a high temperature of about 32°-
34°C (at chick level!)
 Recommended values are:
 Air temperature of 30°C (measured at chick height in the
area where feed and water are positioned).
 Litter temperature of 28-30°C.
 Relative humidity of 60-70%.
Note: Start heating the unit more than one day in advance
to make sure also the floor and the rest of the
environment gained that temperature!
 Temperature (cont’d…)
 Temperature should be monitored regularly to ensure a
uniform environment throughout the whole brooding
area.

Note: Check by removing the litter a bit and feel with your
hand on the floor.
 Brooding temperature; Broiler chicks
Aslo at night!

Chick behaviour is the best indicator of correct

temperature!
Spot brooding – area of temp. gradient
 Checking thermometer or checking chick?

 Temperatures given are just indications

 Smaller chicks need higher temperatures
 Weaker chicks need higher temperatures

Check chicks if comfortable!

Spot brooding - Temperature too high

 Chicks make no noise

 Chicks pant, head and

wings droop

 Chicks away from heat

source
Spot brooding- Temperature too low

 Chicks crowd to
brooder

 Chicks noisy, distress-

calling
Spot brooding- Temperature correct

 Chicks evenly spread

 Noise level signifies

contentment
Spot brooding - Draught

 This distribution requires

investigation

 Influenced by draught,

uneven light distribution

and/or external noises

What can you say about these chickens?
What can you say about these chickens?
Chickens in correct spot brooding condition!
Whole-House brooding – Temp. too high

 Chicks make no noise

 Chicks pant, head and wings droop

 Chicks away from each other

Whole-House brooding – Temp. too low

 Chicks crowd to each other

 Chicks noisy, distress-calling

Whole-House brooding – Temp. Correct

 Chicks evenly spread

 Noise level signifies contentment

Whole-House brooding – Behavioural Response
What can you say about these chickens?
What can you say about these chickens?
Chickens in correct whole-house brooding
condition!
 Effect of Brooding Temperature

Concrete temperature has a big impact on

early performance especially mortality,
weight gain and flock uniformity
Temperature vs. Feed Intake
Temperature vs. 1st week weight
Temperature vs. Final Body Weight
Temperature vs. 1st week mortality
Relative Humidity
 Ideal relative humidity first week
 should be 60 to 70%
 If falls below 50%:
 the environment will be dry and dusty
 dehydration and respiratory problems
Action: increase relative humidity
 If the house is fitted with high-pressure spray nozzles
(foggers or misters) for cooling in high temperatures
 Using a backpack portable sprayer to spray the walls
with a fine mist.
Relative Humidity (cont’d …)
 High RH (above 70%), from 18 days onwards can cause:
 Wet litter & its associated problems
 Less evaporative heat loss
 Heat stress
Action: reduce relative humidity
 Good ventilation is the best solution to control high
RH
 The main aim of controlling relative
humidity is to maintain dry friable
litter.
Relative Humidity (cont’d …)

What would happen if both

temperature and relative humidity
levels are high???
Ventilation

 Ventilation without drafts is required:

 To maintain temperature and relative humidity at the
correct level
 To allow sufficient air exchange to prevent
accumulation of harmful gases (carbon monoxide,
carbon dioxide and ammonia)
Light
 Provide 23 hours light and 1 hour darkness per day
 Broilers need to grow fast
 make sure chicks are accustomed
to darkness and do not panic
when lights off

 If broilers tend to grow too fast and

related disease problems occur:

 reducing light hours is a feasible

option to reduce these problems,
as broilers will eat less then
Water
 Water has been called “the invisible player”: is an
essential nutrient that impacts virtually all physiological
functions.
 It is essential to provide easy access to fresh and clean
water
 Water must be available to broilers 24 hours per day.
 Inadequate water supply (in volume or in the number of
drinking points):
 will result reduced feed intake and growth rate
 Supplemental drinkers are highly recommended at
placement at the rate of 1 per 100 chicks from day old to
7 days.
Water (cont’d…)
 Water consumption measurement can be used to assess
performance.
 there is a high correlation between feed and water
consumption.
 At 21oc, the ratio of water volume (liters) to feed weight
(kg) remains close to  1.8:1
 Water requirement increases by approximately 6.5% per
degree centigrade over 21°C.
 Water consumption for the first 24 hours should be
approximately 24 ml.
 On average water intake from day old to slaughtering (6
- 7 weeks) is 12L/chicken
Water (cont’d…)
 Ideal water temperature is between 10-14°C (50-57°F),
 However birds can tolerate a wide range of water
temperature;
 water temperature should never be allowed to be less
than 5°C (41°F) or
 greater than 25°C (77°F).

 If this occurs the drinking system must be flushed

Water (cont’d…)

 Place drinker lines at a height that the birds have to

stretch slightly to reach.!
Water (cont’d…)

 Place drinker lines at a height that the birds have to

stretch slightly to reach.!
Feeding (Yolk absorption)
Egg yolk provides a protective store of antibodies
and nutrients for the first three days.
Yolk sac absorption is rapid during the first 48 hours
Chicks have not started to eat for one or two or even
three days will be uneven and the average flock
weight at slaughter will be significantly reduced.
Feeding (cont’d…)
 Broilers must have continuous access to feed in properly-
adjusted feeders
 Feed space using paper covering minimum 50% of the floor
area at placement.
 Having found feed at floor level in the first days, the chick
has then to find it again in the automated/manual feeding
system.
Feeding (cont’d…)
 The feeding system should be set on overflow/ have pans
flooded for chick at placement.
 On each entry to the house during brooding the feed lines
should be manually run to stimulate feed intake.

 Make access to the feeding system as easy as possible for

the chicks!
Percentage of floor area & effect on ADG
Feeding program
Nutrient composition
Age (week) Feed Type CP, % ME, kcal/kg feed
0-10 days Starter 22 3000

11-21 days Grower 19 3200

22 days till
Finisher 18 3250
marketing

Note:
 Provide 23 hours of light
 Provide feed minimum 3 times a day
 Empty feeders ones per day
 Ad libitum feeding!
 Heat production (Finisher)!  fresh air, air movement
Options of feeding program
Feeding (cont’d)
 The feeding time should be consistent from day to day
 Feed should be distributed evenly to all birds throughout the
house in less than 3 minutes
 The height of feeders should be adjusted so that the lip of
the trough or pan is level with the birds’ back at all times
 Feed increases should be based on body weight targets.

 Make access to the feeding system as easy as possible for

the chicks!
Feeding (cont’d)
 Feed gets spoiled easily in the hot brooder
environment
 Don’t fill feeders before chicks arrival

 Don’t place feeder directly under heat source

 Feed frequently small quantities

Feed Offer_Broiler.docx

 Make access to the feeding system as easy as possible for

the chicks!
 Chick start assessment – crop fill
 Objective?
 to achieve as much intake of both feed and water in as many
chicks as possible.
 Failure to achieve this objective
 irreversibly compromised flock performance (poor growth, poor
feed conversion and poor flock uniformity)
 Check a sample of chicks eight and 24 hours after arrival
to make sure that all the chicks have found feed and
water.
 Take 2% or a minimum of 50 chicks should be collected at three
different places in the house.
 Each chick’s crop should be felt gently.
 Target crop fill at eight hours after delivery is 85% and at 24
hours after delivery 95% (minimum!).
Chick start assessment – crop fill
HOUSING AND EQUIPMENT
 Housing Design
 Good ventilation
 The house should be designed with cross ventilation to allow
fresh air to circulate inside the house by providing wire mesh net
on two opposite sides

 Avoid sun light entering the unit

 Lengthwise direction - east to west

 Prevent draught – using curtains

 Good Ventilation
 Open roof – much better ventilation

 Closed roof – limited ventilation

 Housing System

Broiler Battery Cages (not allowed in E.U.; limited welfare)

 Max. no. of birds per unit, often 40 kg per m2 and may be 4
tiers high

 Potentially very high production; approx. 2.5 kg in 35 days

 Complex flock management, expensive

 Housing System (cont’d)

Broiler Deep Litter

 10 - 15 birds per m2, depending on climate.
 Increased health risks;
 Demanding flock management
 Relatively cheap investment
 Equipment

Feeders and drinkers should be:

 Suitable to feed and drink

 Suitable to clean and disinfect

 Circular feeders are more preferable than linear

feeders

 Appropriate size at different developmental stages

 If automatic – adjust the height

 Doc ID

Brooding Equipment

Canopy Brooder Infra-red bulb

114
 Doc ID

Drinker-manual

Manual (Chick) Manual (Mature)

115
 Doc ID

Drinker-automatic

Automatic (Mature) Automatic (Chick)

** One drinker is enough for 50 birds

116
 Doc ID

Nipple Drinker-automatic

Automatic (Mature) Automatic (Chick)

** 10 – 12 chickens per nipple drinker

117
 Doc ID

Feeder-manual

Manual (Mature) Manual (Chick)

118
 Doc ID

Long feeder-automatic

Chain feeder Pan feeder

119
Litter Management
 Floor
 Floor must be flat and smooth - easy to clean and
disinfect

 have a good depth of litter cover

 Litter materials (wood shavings, dried grass, chopped

straw, rice hulls, crushed coffee hulls, peanut hulls, etc.)

 Litter
 Should not be wet and dusty

 should be raked weekly

 changed every batches

 Litter Management (cont’d)

 No matter what type of litter material is used,

good litter should provide:
 Good moisture absorption

 Bird comfort

 Low dust level

 Free from contaminant

 Consistent availability from a bio-secure source

Note:
 Concrete floors are washable and allow for more effective
biosecurity and management.
 Earth floors are not recommended.
 Ultimate Performance Indicators

A. Body weight at seven-day

 Generally, improper brooding practice leads to high
mortality, poor flock uniformity and overall poor
performance.

 Therefore, obtaining a body weight at 7 days is an excellent

indicator of how successful the brooding management has
been.

 The objective is to achieve 4 to 4.5 times the day old

weight at seven days of age-minimum.

 Failure to achieve good seven-day weights mean an

inferior result at the end ...
 Ultimate Performance Indicators (cont’d)

B. Seven-days mortality
 Seven-days mortality percentage is also a good indicator
of chick quality, early brooding management.

 Maximum seven day mortality should not exceed 1%

cumulative.

 Normal/acceptable mortality rate for broilers is 0.1% per

day.

i.e. 3 - 5% mortality at the age of slaughter

 Uniformity
 Uniformity is a measure of the variability of bird size
in a flock.
1. Visual and subjective evaluation
2. By weight +/- 10%.
3. Coefficient of Variation (CV%)
1. By weight +/- 10%: Procedure
 Divide the house into three sections
 Take a random sample of 2% or a minimum of 50 birds
 Weigh and record the individual weights.
 It is important to weigh all birds within the catch pen
 Count the number of birds 10% either side of the average body
weight
 The number as a percentage of the sample represents the flock
uniformity percentage
 Uniformity (cont’d)

2. Coefficient of Variation (CV%):

 Used to describe population (flock) variability.
 CV% = [standard deviation (g) ÷ average body weight (g)] x 100
 A low CV indicates a uniform flock.
 A high CV indicates an uneven flock.
 The broiler production cycle

The length of one production cycle is 6 - 7 weeks

Between each production cycle, houses are
cleaned, disinfected and allowed to rest for 2
weeks.
 broilers reach an average live weight of 2 kg
in 6 weeks
A complete cycle is therefore 8 - 9 weeks long,
 making it 6 to 7 complete cycles annually.
 Marketing

 A proper market survey is essential to identify the

current and emerging markets where broiler meat can
be sold at a better price.

 Marketing should be planned.

 Figuring out your market
 Who are your local buyers?

 Will you sell to consumers directly from your farm (and if so,
how will they know where to find you)?

 Will you sell to restaurants?

Marketing (cont’d)

 Options to sell the chickens:

 Alive on a bird or on a weight basis
 Through a middle man who will take some of your
profit for himself

 Processed:
 It is advisable process the product (broiler) before
selling because the product will attract better prices
than relatively unprocessed meat.

 Sell to an abattoir for processing

Marketing (cont’d)
 To have good and sustainable market for our
broiler products :
 Value addition:
 Processing (slaughtering, cutting chicken portions,
grading, weighing and packaging)
 attract better price than relatively unprocessed
meat
 Promotion:
 Advertising to identify and attract potential customers
 As well as well as build good relationship with them
 Increases the demand for our broiler products
 Record Keeping
Record keeping assists the farmer to calculate an accurate
gross margin and make informed decisions about the farm.

Recording data and processing it into technical parameters is

an excellent tool to assess:

 What is going on?

 How does the flock compare to previous flocks?
 How does the flock compare to published parameters for this hybrid?
 How does the flock compare to my neighbor's flock?
 What is the result of the change I made in husbandry?
 What are the weak points and what are the strong points?
 Record Keeping (cont’d)

In case of broilers, one needs to record:

 Daily:
o number of chicks died
o amount of feed supplied
 Weekly:
o Average weight of the birds; randomly collect 2% of the flock or at
least 50 birds every week, always on the same day at the same
time and weigh them to find the average weight.
 Periodically:
o Arrival date
o Initial weight
o Number of birds arrived
o Vaccination dates Recording Sheet

o Marketing weight
o Number of birds marketed
 Record Keeping (cont’d)

To be compared with the guide:

 Weight (g)
 Daily gain (g) – needs body wt. record on daily basis (not practical)
 Av. daily gain per week (g)
 Feed Conversion Rate cumulative
 Daily feed intake
 Cumulative feed intake
 Remarks

 Keeping broiler is not easy.

 It is a learning process.
 You should start slowly and expand as you
gain experience.
 Seek advice when you have problems and
need help.
 If you are kind to your birds and treat them
well they will respond.
 Remarks

 Every time you enter a poultry house you

should always observe the following
activities:
 Birds eating
 Birds drinking
 Birds resting
 Birds playing
 Birds “talking”
 Birds should never be huddling
EXERCISES ON UNIFORMITY
& FCR CALCULATION
 Exercises 1

 A broiler chick (40 g) grows to 2.4 kg in less than 6

weeks consuming around 4 kg of feed. What is the
FCR value?

 which one is the correct answer?

a. 4 kg/(2.4 – 0.04) kg = 1.69
b. 4 kg/2.4 kg = 1.67
 Exercises 2

 A sample of 10 birds has a total live weight of

31,480 g and they have consumed a total feed
amount of 36,807 g. What is the FCR value?

Ans. FCR = 36807 g/31480 g

= 1.16
 The lower the FCR, the more efficient a bird (or sample of birds)
is at converting the feed consumed into live body weight.
 Exercises 3

 A flock has an average body weight of 2550 g with a

standard deviation around that average weight of
250 g. Calculate the Coefficient of Variation (CV%).

Ans. CV % = (250 g/2550 g)* 100 = 9.8

 The lower the CV%, the more uniform and less variable the
flock is.
 Exercises 4

 Sample body weight of 30 broiler chickens was taken

to calculate the uniformity of the flock. Sample body
weights are: Uniformity Exercise_Broiler.xlsx

 Calculate the uniformity using:

a. By weight +/- 10%

b. Coefficient of Variation (CV%)

 Doc ID

I t i s p o s s i b l e t o h a v e c h i c ke n m e at i n o u r d a i l y m e a l ! ! !

140
 Doc ID

Thank you

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