Decisions on optimising broiler nutrient density - performance vs economic metrics
Excellent summary, Dr. Leeson, particularly for all of the industry to include independent poultry Growers and integrated broiler operations. The numerical values that you give are very valuable for our operations.
My experience is with integrated operations and another factor arises where the profit is calculated when the meat is sold to the grocery store. This factor is plant/packing costs that until the recent declines in ingredient prices were equivalent or higher than live production costs. With these Plant/packing costs, pounds through the plant are critical and an operation may elect higher feed/live costs to produce more pounds to sell. The market, in the US, is currently asking for more broiler meat production via higher prices. However, production is limited by the number of chicks produced and to some degree by the amount of live production broiler houses.
There are modeling programs that include these live and plant costs [Some are working on the price that various upscale finished products command]. When the modeling programs are adjusted to the production location's costs, the modelling programs are quite accurate in their predictions of performance, costs and returns.
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David
Agree with your comments. There are obvious limits to bird size as a means of increasing plant throughput. Often comes down to our current issue with limited supply of quality chicks from our current breeders. The US has never embraced “thining” as an option to maximise farm throughput. Personally I see it as a “messy” option and one really tests farm biosecurity re our current climate of disease challenge.
Should we decrease nutrient density in such situations, or increase it? Thanks
Post processing for Aquafeed and pet food - Josef Barbi (E.S.E. & Intec)
Nutrient density decisions should be independent of ingredient quality, since this issue should be resolved by adjustments to your formulation matrix values for any ingredient. If the question relates to “variable/unknown” issues with SBM etc, then perhaps move to higher ND, although this can become expensive “insurance”
How do you feel and how much do you eat.
To balance the nutritional value matrix of feedstuffs in ration writing or the nutritional matrix. Due to the variability of the nutritional value of feedstuffs according to climatic conditions and soil composition or planting method. It is necessary to use feed for the bird according to the capacity of the digestive system and the time required for digestibility and absorption of nutrients in the feed based on dynamic growth. According to the genetic progress of the commercial strain. In addition to observing the principles of breeding in terms of complete temperature control inside the hall. It requires the knowledge and art of a poultry nutritionist. In the absence of these cases, digestive stress and changes in the bird's requirements and lack of proper performance for the appropriate weight in the consumer market. On the other hand, economic income, etc. should be considered.
North American Renderers Association (NARA)
Pre- Pelleting Process in Aquafeed Production Josef Barbi (E.S.E. & Intec)
North American Renderers Association (NARA)
