Poultry International - March 2018 - 27
PoultryInternational ❙ 27 energy and all nutrients to grow or produce efficiently. Otherwise, nutrient deficiencies will occur, leading to reduced performance, nutritional abnormalities and possibly death. Thus, just feeding corn to poultry might have been what our grandma used to do, but recall those hens used to graze. If you pen them up without the ability to supplement their diets from nature, they will soon become protein (and vitamin and mineral) deficient, and start pecking at each other's feathers! So, a complete diet is required for confined poultry, whereas a supplement is required for birds that are allowed to graze or offered some form of food waste. Again, a local advisor/consultant should be inquired as to what is best under specific conditions. Super-dense diets or normal ones Feeding a super-dense diet (or the one recommended by the genetic houses) might not be the most profitable solution for a local family farm in a developing country. An adjusted diet might be a more logical solution from many points of view. In addition, feeding maximal performance diets implies birds are housed in the most modern facilities, receive top-notch management, enjoy maximal health benefits and a host of other variables that might not be possible in a small back-yard operation. Thus, having a super-powerful feed might be a simple Learn more: 7 questions to ask when purchasing broiler feeds www.WATTAgNet.com/ articles/25617 Oleg Kharkhan, Dreamstime.com waste of money if birds cannot utilize it because other lacking variables limit their growth or productivity. Normal or niche? Producing normal broilers or eggs might be what a start-up business should aim for. This is a business decision. But, if imports from neighboring countries make such business impossible, then an alternative solution is required. For example, if eggs can be imported for 10 cents and local production cost is 18 cents, it is not reasonable to start a business to compete with such low-cost products. Instead, local advisors will recommend setting up a business that offers a local advantage. Perhaps village buyers would prefer to spend a few cents more if they know their eggs come from hens that graze on green pastures, if only because this coincides with their traditional notion on how chicken are kept. There are many such ideas, and it is always best to consider Bolegg Gallery Managing aviary birds is easier than you think * Easy management * Perfect egg quality * Optimal house layout www.vencomaticgroup.com March 2018 ❙ www.WATTAgNet.com