Feed takes a massive 70% as the cost of production in poultry venture. It is therefore, important to purchase feed from a reputable feed miller with an assurance of consistent quality and performance. AKEFEMA members have a self regulatory mechanism to assure adherence to good manufacturing practices and esthetical of commercial procedures.
Variation in nutrient composition and quality of feed ingredients result in variations in feed composition and texture. This is due to variation in raw materials from season to season and even shipment to shipment.
It is essential to avoid
diluting feed by mixing feed from different manufactures or adding feed materials from other sources, e.g. fish meal or minerals like DCP. This changes the original composition and may affect performance. Fish meal in excess of 5% inclusion rate will lead to fish taint in eggs and fishy flavor in broiler meat.Broiler starter should be administered in the first 4 weeks of growth. When changing from starter to finisher feed, mix the two rations from 3.5 weeks so that the changes are gradual and therefore less stressful to the birds. Anti-stress vitamins may be given during this transition period.
|
Age in weeks |
Feed type |
Feed intake gms/bird/week |
Average life weight |
|
1 |
Starter mash or crumbs |
158 |
150 |
|
2 |
|
328 |
400 |
|
3 |
|
535 |
750 |
|
4 |
|
778 |
1200 |
|
5 |
Finisher-crumbs or pellets |
1028 |
1600 |
|
6 |
|
1305 |
1900 |
|
WATER CONSUMPTION IN LITERS FOR BROILERS |
||||
|
Age in weeks |
Number of birds in flock |
|||
|
|
100 birds |
1000 birds |
||
|
|
Temperature |
Temperature |
||
|
|
21◦c |
32◦c |
21◦c |
32◦c |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
30 |
34 |
|
2 |
6 |
9 |
61 |
98 |
|
3 |
9 |
20 |
95 |
197 |
|
4 |
13 |
27 |
132 |
273 |
|
5 |
17 |
36 |
174 |
356 |
|
6 |
22 |
42 |
216 |
416 |
LAYER FEEDING AND PERFORMANCE
|
AGE IN WEEKS |
MLS PER BIRD |
AGE IN WEEKS |
MLS PER BIRD |
|
1 |
30 |
11 |
165 |
|
2 |
50 |
12 |
170 |
|
3 |
60 |
13 |
175 |
|
4 |
70 |
14 |
180 |
|
5 |
80 |
15 |
190 |
|
6 |
100 |
16 |
195 |
|
7 |
120 |
17 |
200 |
|
8 |
130 |
18 |
210 |
|
9 |
140 |
19 |
220 |
|
10 |
160 |
20 |
230 |
FEED CONSUMPTION FOR LAYERS
|
Age in weeks |
Feed type |
Feed consumption gm/bird/day |
Average life weight (gm) minimum & maximum |
|
1 |
Chick mash |
12 |
40-60 |
|
2 |
18 |
95-120 |
|
|
3 |
25 |
150-200 |
|
|
4 |
31 |
220-300 |
|
|
5 |
36 |
380-400 |
|
|
6 |
41 |
470-500 |
|
|
7 |
45 |
560-600 |
|
|
8 |
49 |
650-690 |
|
|
9 |
Grower mash |
52 |
740-780 |
|
10 |
60 |
830-870 |
|
|
11 |
70 |
920-960 |
|
|
12 |
75 |
1010-1050 |
|
|
13 |
80 |
1100-1140 |
|
|
14 |
85 |
1185-1230 |
|
|
15 |
92 |
1270-1320 |
|
|
16 |
Layers mash. |
100 |
1355-1410 |
|
17 |
107 |
1440-1500 |
|
|
18 |
114 |
1530-1600 |
|
|
19 |
120 |
1580-1680 |
|
|
20 |
120 |
1645-1750 |
From the seventh week, there should be a gradual change from chick mash to growers mash and from the latter to layers mash. Once the bird has reached peak 140 grams per day, should give 95% egg production.
Production process flow
From chick placement (day old) through approximately 16 weeks of life, the pullets are fed according to body weight gain and age. The goal is to raise a strong and healthy bird that can support egg production. If the egg laying has not reached proper body weight (usually 1.5kg) by week 18, egg production will be delayed and eventually have low persistence.
Daily light exposure (photoperiod) should be gradually increased at week 16; until they get 17 hours of light (put light off at 11pm in most parts in Kenya). The increase in light exposure triggers hens to begin laying eggs. (Kenyan field average age for start of laying is 4 months 10 days).
In tandem with light manipulation, the diet is also altered in order to support egg production. Calcium levels in the diet are made approximately five to seven times greater than phosphorous levels to ensure strong and even egg shells.
About 10 to 20 percent of the hens start egg production at 18-22 weeks. At least 90 percent of the flock quickly reaches peak egg production at around 30 to 35 weeks. Post peak egg production continually decreases to approximately 50 percent at around 60 to 70 weeks (15 to 16.5 months) of age. At this point, an economic decision must be made by the producer whether to continue with the birds or not. Fifty percent production is near the break even point for egg producers (e.g., feed cost = market price of eggs.)
- A better laying persistency ensures a larger number of eggs.
- The feed conversion is significantly better, e.g. kilos of feed per dozen eggs = 1.57:1.
- Less cracking results in a greater number of saleable eggs.
- Better albumen quality ensures consumer appeal.
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