Why Quality Broiler Feed Matters

Poultry farmers already know that broiler feed has a big influence on the harvest. Feeding high-quality feed is one of the keys to success in broiler farming. Besides choosing quality feed, farmers also need to know which feed suits the age and needs of their flock.

Like any other livestock, broiler chickens need quality feed to gain weight and build up their immunity. Quantity matters as well: how much broiler feed the birds get plays a big part in how they grow. For every living creature, feed is a vital source of energy for maintaining the body, growing and reproducing.

In a broiler farming business, feed takes up the largest share of costs, reaching as much as 70% of the total. Even though it accounts for such a large share, quality feed has a strong effect on the harvest. That's why farmers always try to give their flocks the best broiler feed they can.

Broiler feed is a complete livestock ration. It is usually given as crumbles during the starter phase and as pellets during the grower phase. Broiler feed should be high in nutrients so the birds reach a high Average Daily Gain (ADG). If farmers choose factory-made broiler feed, they need to check carefully that the manufacturer really delivers quality feed. That's because the quality of the feed determines the quality of the flock itself.

Also read How to Tell Good Broiler Chicken Meat From Bad

Feeding broilers according to their needs is more effective and efficient, and it produces good-quality birds. A broiler chicken can be considered healthy and of good quality if it shows the following:

- it moves nimbly and actively

- it has a good appetite for food and water

- its eyes and face are bright (it doesn't look sleepy)

- its wings don't droop and it holds its head up well

- its feathers are glossy and slightly oily, not dull or ruffled

- it stands upright on sturdy legs and has a well-proportioned body

- its body weight matches the standard for its age

Healthy birds like these produce healthy, high-quality meat for consumers. Healthy, fresh, quality meat helps meet people's nutritional needs. Some of the benefits of eating healthy chicken include a stronger immune system, balanced cholesterol, stronger bones and more muscle mass, a better appetite, stress relief, a faster metabolism and many more. These benefits depend on factors during the farming period, and feed is one of them.

Also read Broiler Chicken Farms: A Key Source of Protein

When farmers produce healthy broiler meat, they also win consumers' trust in the quality of the chicken they eat. With that trust, it's quite possible that demand for chicken will keep growing in the future.