Kemin Promotes Grow with KeminTM Program to Support Profitable Layer Farming

To support the layer industry in addressing the key challenges affecting its profitability and maximizing economic returns throughout the life cycle of layer birds, Kemin has launched a program called Grow with Kemin^TM, which focuses on sharing technical knowledge with layer farmers. Grow with Kemin is a program, supported by the Kemin Total Nutrition^TM focus. Grow with Kemin is specifically designed to add value to every economic stage of the layer life cycle, by providing safe, efficient and healthy solutions, thereby maximizing the performance of birds and the profitability of farmers.

Grow with Kemin features a tailor-made, nutritional solutions package addressing various challenges that arise during every stage of the life cycle of layer birds. Grow with Kemin consists of a series of technical seminars, technical training sessions, and field trial demonstrations of Kemin Total Nutrition solutions for layer farming.

Grow with Kemin aims to share with layer farmers the most updated technical knowledge on good management practices and nutritional solutions to prevent or address various issues that arise throughout the life cycle of layer birds. The program, a product of extensive research on the Indian layer industry and focus on Total Nutrition, aims to increase the overall profitability through reducing feed costs, reducing the number of pullet size eggs and incidences of egg breakage, increasing hen housed egg production and improving the general health of layer birds.

Grow with Kemin has classified the entire life cycle of layer birds (from week 0 to week 70) under three key economic periods: the investment period, the payback period and the profit period.

During the investment period, farmers make continuous economic investments, including: purchasing the chicks, providing for maintenance and infrastructure, providing continuous vaccination and supplying feed. However, the farmer does not begin to experience economic returns during this period.

The key challenges faced by the farmer during this economic period are early chick mortality, non-attainment of standard body weight and non-uniformity of flock, as well as a large number of pullet eggs. Ideally, the mortality rate in early chicks should not exceed 0.5% per flock as per the breed specification. However, currently many farms are experiencing a mortality rate in the range of 3-4%. It is important that layer birds attain the standard body weight as they reach the laying stage to ensure the standard production level of 310-320 eggs per bird during the entire lifespan. Non-attainment of standard body weight in accordance with the age of birds can also lead to an increase in the number of pullet size eggs, which have lower mass than standard eggs. Pullet size eggs fetch 20 - 50% lower price as compared to eggs with the standard size. Although ideally the number of pullet size eggs per bird should be limited to less than five, it is observed that the number of pullet size eggs range from 20-40 per bird in current farm conditions. A high number of pullet size eggs, non-attainment of flock uniformity and standard body weight, added with high early chick mortality can lead to significant economic losses.

Grow with Kemin consists of healthy solutions such as CLOSTAT^TM, which restores gut integrity and reduces chick mortality through improved feed efficiency, as well as other efficient solutions LYSOFORTE® and ButiPEARL^TM, which maximize the absorption of digested nutrients. The combined package helps flocks attain the standard body weight and improve the flock uniformity. It also works to minimize the number of pullet size eggs and reduce chick mortality. As a result, the flock reaches the breakeven period early.

During the second economic period called the payback period, the key challenge to profitability is the high cost of layer feed.  NutriKEM^TM L is another efficient solution that helps save feed costs. NutriKEM^TM L is a combination of endogenous and exogenous enzymes studded with biosurfactants and protected with antioxidants. NutriKEM^TM L helps in reducing the energy density of the feed, while also improving the hen housed egg production throughout the laying cycle, further helping the flock reach the breakeven period without delay. 

Another major challenge during this stage is maintaining peak production and safeguarding the health of birds. During the peak laying period, layer birds undergo tremendous amounts of stress and thereby loose the required immunity to fight diseases. This adversely affects productivity and livability. Kemin provides an exclusive organic mineral formulation called KemTRACE^TM Layer which improves bird health and immunity and thereby boosts profitability.

During the third economic period, the profit period, the major challenge is egg breakage resulting from poor calcium absorption. Egg breakage directly reduces economic returns as it reduces the number of eggs that can be sold. In addition, breakages lead to microbial transformation from broken eggs to non-broken eggs and also attract a large number of flies, thereby resulting in a major environmental issue. ButiPEARL^TM, an encapsulated source of calcium butyrate, helps in the regeneration of the intestinal villi (the area of absorption) and thereby facilitates an increase in calcium absorption. The issue of egg breakage can be significantly reduced by using ButiPEARL^TM and KemTRACE^TM Layer, a highly bioavailable blend of metal propionates.

Grow with Kemin also includes solutions such as Toxfin^TM, MycoCURB® and Sal CURB® ASF liquid, which promote feed safety and feed hygiene. These solutions can be used throughout the life cycle of the bird. Feed is the major cost element in layer farming and ensuring hygiene in feed reduces the incidence of disease outbreak and improves the efficiency of birds. Mycotoxin menace can ruin profitability in layer farming by acting as a silent killer of layer birds. Grow with Kemin provides a world class solution called Toxfin^TM, to help farmers effectively address mycotoxin menace.

Certain statements may not be applicable in all geographical regions. Product labeling and associated claims may differ based upon government requirements.