Poultry Broiler Farming

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Poultry meat is an important source of high quality proteins, minerals and vitamins to balance the human diet. Specially developed breeds of chicken meat (broiler) are now available with the ability of quick growth and high feed conversion efficiency. Depending on the farm size, broiler farming can be a main source of family income or can provide subsidiary income and gainful employment to farmers throughout the year. Poultry manure has high fertilizer value and can be used for increasing yield of all crops.

i) The advantages of broiler farming are
ii) Initial investment is a little lower than layer farming
iii) Rearing period is 6-7 weeks only
iv) More number of flocks can be taken in the same shed
v) Broilers have high feed conversion efficiency i.e. least amount of feed is required for unit body weight gain in comparison to other livestock.
vi) Faster return from the investment
vii)Demand for poultry meat is more compared to sheep/Goat meat.

Scope for broiler farming and its national importance

India has made considerable progress in broiler production in the last two decades. High quality chicks, equipments, vaccines and medicines are available. Technically and professionally competent guidance is available to the farmers. The management practices have improved and disease and mortality incidences are much reduced. Many institutions are providing training to entrepreneurs. The broiler population has increased from 4 million in 1971 to 700 million in 1998. An average annual growth rate of 20% was estimated during the eighth five year plan (1992-1997). Increasing assistance from the Central/ State governments and poultry corporations is being given to create infrastructure facilities so that new entrepreneurs take up this business. Broiler farming has been given considerable importance in the national policy and has a good scope for further development in the years to come.


Package of Common Management Practices recommended for poultry farmers

Modern and well established scientific practices should be used to obtain maximum economic benefits from poultry farming. Some of the major norms and recommended practices are given below :

Poultry Housing :

Poultry Equipment :
Use scientifically designed cages and equipment for brooding, feeding and watering purposes. BIS specifications for equipment are available. A good design can be shown and manufactured locally, so that cost can be reduced.

Chicks :

Purchase of improved strain of one day old healthy broiler type chicks from a reputed hatchery. Usually 2-5% extra chicks are supplied. Clean, wash and disinfect all equipments with 0.5% malathion spray after every batch of birds is disposed off.

Feeding :

1.Use high quality balanced feeds. With proper knowledge/experience, the feed can be prepared at the farm. 2.BIS feed formulae and specifications are available.
3.Store the feed in clean, dry, well ventilated room. A wet feed may bring fungus infection.
4.Use properly designed feeders and control the rats to avoid feed wastage.
5.Keep proper records on feed consumption per bird for each batch. Compare with the standard feed consumption pattern.
6.Too low feed consumption may be due to disease condition, low quality/unpalatability of feed, high temperature in poultry shed.

Watering of Birds :

1.Always give fresh and clean drinking water. Water should be always available at birds.
2.Use properly designed watering equipment. Provide adequate watering space per bird.
3.Always keep water-pots clean. Avoid birds entering inside pots.
4.Provide cool water during summer. Store the water in tanks that are not exposed to hot sun in summer.

Disease Prevention/Control :
1.Clean sanitary conditions of poultry sheds and equipment, balanced feed, fresh clean water, healthy chicks are essential to prevent diseases.
2.Avoid entry of visitors to farm, especially inside the sheds. If visitors come, ask them to dip their feet in a disinfectant solution, wash and clean hands and to wear apron/boots provided by the farm.
3.Use proper vaccination schedule (for details see Annexure-VI)
4.Use high quality vaccines purchased from reputed manufacturers. Keep vaccines in cool, dry conditions away from sunlight.
5.Any left-over vaccine should be properly disposed off. Vaccines should not be used after their expiry date is over.
6.Any dead bird should be immediately removed from the shed and sent to laboratory for post-mortem or buried/burnt suitably away from the poultry sheds.
7.The waste of farm should be suitably disposed off.
8.Any bird showing advanced signs of a disease, should be removed from the shed and culled. It can be sent to laboratory for diagnosis.
9.Birds showing advanced signs of a disease should be shown to a qualified veterinarian and suitable medication/treatment be given as per his/drug manufacturers recommendations.
10.Poultry manure, if infected, can spread disease, from one batch to another. Keep the litter dry, remove it after flock is sold and dispose the manure properly and quickly.
11.Keep proper records on mortality and its causes and the treatment given to birds. Dates of vaccination for each flock should be properly recorded.
12.Rats are important carriers of poultry disease. Avoid rats. Use suitable rat poisons/rat traps.
13.Many poultry medicines can be given in drinking water. When medication is to be given, remove the waterers in poultry sheds on the previous evening. Next morning give medicine in measured quantity of water, so that entire medicine will be quickly consumed and there will be no wastage of medicines.
14.Mild infection of disease may not cause mortality but it will reduce growth. Keep sample record of body weight and mortality rate. Study the possible causes, if weight is low take steps to improve the management of the subsequent batches. A Constant vigil and analysis of records/results is necessary to keep up the efficiency in farming.

Processing/Marketing :

ECONOMICS OF BROILER FARMING - INVESTMENT COST

ECONOMICS OF BROILER FARMING - TECHNO - ECONOMIC PARAMETERS

ECONOMICS OF BROILER FARMING - FLOCK PROJECTION CHART

Note:
1) Initial period for three months, is considered as construction period and accordingly only 40 batches will be introduced in first year.
2) Closing stock of 7 batches with an average age of 4 weeks will be there at the end of sixth year and the value of the same is taken into account for cash flow analysis.
3) The average value of the closing stock is considered at Rs. 35/- per bird.

ECONOMICS OF BROILER FARMING - CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

* Excluding the capitalised amount on chicks, feed, Misc. exp. and labour cost

Floor space, Feeding space and watering space data for Broiler Chicks

Body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion of broiler chicks

Composition of Broiler diets

* Premix added per 100 kg feed.

Vaccination Schedule for Broilers

During chick rearing the disease most likely to occur is coccidiosis. Its organisms thrive on wet litter and so keep the litter dry. The feed mixed with coccidiosis should be used. In case of an outbreak, the Coccidiocidal drug in drinking water should be used at recommended level.

Financial assistance available from Banks/NABARD for broiler farming

NABARD is an apex institution for all matters relating to policy, planning and operations in the field of agricultural credit. It serves as an apex refinancing agency for the institutions providing investment and production credit. It promotes development through formulation and appraisal of projects through a well organised technical services.

Loan from banks with refinance facility from NABARD is available for starting broiler farming. For obtaining bank loan, the farmer should apply to the nearest branch of a commercial or cooperative or regional rural bank in their area in the prescribed application form which is available in the branches of financing bank. The technical officers attached to or the manager of the bank can help or give guidance to the farmers in preparing the project report to obtain bank loan.

For poultry farming schemes with very large outlays detailed project reports are required to be prepared. The items of finance would include construction of broiler sheds and purchase of equipments. Cost of one day old chicks, feed, medicine and labour cost for the first 7 weeks period for the first cycle, are also considered. Facilities such as land development cost, fencing, water and electricity, essential servants quarters, godowns, transport vehicles, broiler dressing, processing and cold storage facilities can also be considered for providing loan. Cost of land is not considered for loan. However, if land is purchased for starting a broiler farm, its cost can be treated as party's margin money upto 10% of the total cost of project.

Scheme formulation for bank loan
A scheme can be prepared by the beneficiary after consulting local technical persons of State veterinary department, poultry corporation or private commercial broiler hatcheries. If possible, they should also visit the progressive broiler farmers in the area and discuss the profitability of farming. A good practical training and experience on a broiler farm will be highly desirable, before starting a broiler farm. As broilers have to be sold after attaining 6-7 weeks of age, a regular and constant demand for broiler meat and nearness of the farm to the market should be ensured.

The scheme should include information on land, water and electricity facility, marketing aspects, training facilities and expertise of entrepreneurs and the type of assistance available from State government, poultry corporations, local hatcheries. It will also include data on proposed capacity of the farm, total cost of the project, margin money to be provided by beneficiary and requirement of bank loans, estimated annual expenditure, income and profit and the repayment of loan and interest.

Requirements of good project
The bank officers also can assist in preparation of the scheme or filling in the prescribed application form. The scheme so formulated should be submitted to the nearest branch of bank.
The bank will then examine the scheme for technical feasibility and economic viability.

 A. Technical feasibility - this would briefly include :
(a) Suitability of climate and potentiality of the area
(b) Technical norms including schedule for replacement of flocks
(c) Facilities and infrastructure available for supply of inputs, veterinary aid,marketing, training/experience of the beneficiary

B. Financial viability - this would briefly include :
(a)  Unit cost and loan requirement
(b)  Input costs for chicks, feed, veterinary aid, labour and other overheads
(c)  Output costs i.e. sale of broiler for meat, manure and other miscellaneous items.
(d)  Calculation of annual gross surplus (income-expenditure)
(e)  Cash flow analysis
(f)   Repayment schedule i.e. repayment of principal loan amount and interest

Sanction of Bank loan and its disbursement
After ensuring technical feasibility and financial viability, the scheme is sanctioned by the bank. The loan is disbursed in kind in 2 or 3 stages, such as against the creation of specific assets, construction of sheds, purchase of equipment and machinery, recurring cost on purchase of chicks, feeds, medicines, etc. The end use of the loan is verified and constant follow up is done by the bank.