Should Poultry Farmers Prepare Their Own Feed?

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The health of chickens is one of the most important factors that can determine the success or failure of any poultry farm and one sure way to ensure that birds are healthy, is by providing them with quality nutrition. The fact that proper nutrition results in quality products is undisputed but the problem is feed is not cheap. To reduce costs as much as possible, many farmers are confronted with the decision of whether to purchase already formulated poultry feed or prepare their own.

Nutrient Requirements of Chickens

1. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are required for energy production. A typical source of carbohydrates in poultry feed is maize.
2. Fats: Fats also provide energy for birds.
3. Proteins: These are necessary for building muscle tissues and also for the production of eggs. Fish meal is the common source of animal protein in poultry feed but nowadays, maggots are being touted as a viable animal protein alternative.
4. Vitamins: Vitamins are organic compounds that help chickens’ metabolism and other body processes.
5. Minerals: Minerals such as calcium are important for bone formation and also for the production of shells.

The Decision

You must understand that to prepare feed that includes all the nutrients listed above in the right proportions, some expertise is required. Also, you must ensure that in preparing the feed you do not expose the components or finished products to microbial contamination. Furthermore, establishing a feed mill which meets all the necessary safety requirements may need substantial investment. So in general if you are running a smaller farm of capacity ranging from 200 to 1000 birds, then purchasing already formulated feed may be a good option but when you are operating at a very large capacity then investing in feed formulation infrastructure could save you thousands of Ghana cedis in the long run.