Technology has come a long way over the past 100 years, but when it comes to feeding poultry on small farms we’re still operating in the dark ages. So what’s the hold-up?
In the dairy world, automation is predicted to revolutionize the industry, providing valuable insights into how dairy cows fare best from feed management. Meanwhile, the small poultry farmer is stuck with existing labour-intensive feeding methods for their feathered flocks.
Where is the science and technology when it comes to feeding poultry?
It turns out the science of feeding poultry has been quietly percolating at the University of Alberta for the past seven years, and associate professor, Martin Zuidhof, has developed a precision broiler breeder feeding program that has the potential to revolutionize the poultry industry.
The idea of developing a science-based feeding program for broilers wasn’t one that took Zuidhof by surprise; the former Alberta Agriculture and Forestry scientist had been thinking about poultry for more than 15 years, but explained that it took a while to find the right angle that would garner interest from investors.
That angle was a discrepancy between the potential chick production of broiler breeders and what is currently being achieved in the industry. In Canada, the industry is producing approximately 120 chicks per hen, but Zuidhof noted there is the potential to produce more than 140 chicks per hen.
Zuidhof’s concern is that current guidelines for feeding broiler breeders are causing feed restrictions that are unsupportable by current growth rates.
“In the last 60 years, chicken growth rate has increased five times,” Zuidhof explained, “Every year the growth potential of the broiler has increased, but the management guidelines for broiler breeders in terms of bodyweight have hardly changed.”
Zuidhof noted that a system that allows researchers to control the bodyweight of birds is the first step in determining what birds need to reach their genetic potential. Zuidhof’s theory appears to be bearing fruit: Through precision feeding, researchers have been able to grow broiler breeders to a 20 per cent greater body weight, effectively achieving the birds’ genetic potential.
“A 20 per cent increase in production . . . that’s revolutionary in any industry,” Zuidhof said.
Zuidhof’s precision feeding system operates by fitting each free-run bird with a radio frequency identifier that allows researchers to track information for each bird. When a bird enters a feeding station it perches on a platform that weighs it, and, using the radio frequency tag, identifies when the bird was last fed, how much it currently weighs and its target weight based on the bird’s age and stage of development.
If the bird’s current weight is less than its target weight, feed is dispensed. If the bird is at target weight, the bird is gently removed from the station. Zuidhof stressed that by using the new feeding system, researchers have been able to gather a wealth of information about poultry, their eating habits and how they process food, all information that can be used to benefit the industry.
“If you want to know your animal, boy, this is a great system,” Zuidhof said, “From a research standpoint it’s amazing.”
All this knowledge comes at a cost: The first precision feeding prototype cost roughly $1 million, but Zuidhof explained the goal is to reduce the cost to a level that will make financial sense for producers and poultry breeders.
The trickle-down effect
What does this mean for small farmers? Having research dollars pointed towards the poultry industry could be a sign of a shift in the wind, and could lead to even more attention directed towards one of Canada’s biggest agricultural markets.
What Zuidhof’s system will really mean for small farmers, and the poultry industry as a whole, is access to a wealth of information about what poultry really need to perform, and their nutritional needs at different stages of life.
For small scale broiler production and egg production, this information could give farmers the tools they need to develop new best management practices for bigger and healthier birds. It could also give agricultural manufacturers the information they need to manufacture more relevant and efficient equipment that will save farmers time and produce bigger, healthier birds.
Grow bigger birds
The University of Alberta appears to be on the right track. Considering that more than 70 per cent of the cost of raising chickens is allocated to food, finding more efficient means of feeding poultry while reducing feed loss and maximizing feed conversion should be a priority.
If you’re looking for a way to increase your broiler weight and uniformity across the flock while reducing the amount of effort you put into feeding and watering, look to your feeding and watering regimen and equipment. Here are a few simple things you can look to for immediate results in cost savings and reduced effort:
1. Feeding best practices
To take full advantage of the genetic potential of broiler breeds, feed should be easily accessed, particularly as chicks. In a perfect environment, every bird should be able to easily reach the feeder at the same time without overcrowding, but this can bring challenges for farmers looking to ensure that every bird is getting their fair share. The solution? Multiple feeders strategically placed in different locations in the pen. Ensure feeders are far enough away from walls, allowing poultry to access from all sides. Raise feeders as chickens mature to prevent scratching and spillage. Place waterers close to feeders to increase feed efficiency.
2. Supplement with probiotics and prebiotics
A 2014 study from a Malaysian University identified that using probiotics and prebiotics in one-day-old male broiler chicks and continuing for 42 days resulted in “significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion rate.” Probiotics and prebiotics are an alternative to antibiotic use in poultry.
3. Feed on a schedule
There is some debate in the poultry industry about the optimal feeding time and number of feedings per day for broilers. While there is no concrete rule, current research seems to indicate that poultry naturally look to feed multiple times throughout the day, and prefer a grazing method. The trick is finding a way to maintain a schedule with multiple feedings without a corresponding increase in farmer labour.
4. Look at lighting
It may be obvious that if a chicken can’t see, he can’t eat, but the amount and intensity of light a bird receives can have an impact on hormone production and growth rate. For poultry raised in a dark barn or outbuilding, supplementary lighting is a must. Place lighting near feeders but don’t leave lights on 24 hours a day; periods of darkness that simulate summer daylight hours will give your birds much-needed down time to digest their food and grow.
5. Heat for better digestion
Poultry don’t digest their food as easily when they’re cold, so maintaining a warm environment for broilers is also important. Aim to keep a comfortable temperature for your birds and they’ll not only be happier, but will grow better.
- Amy Hogue