Hen efficiency is affected by feed particle and nutrient segregation
27 March 2024
2 minute learn
Latest research have demonstrated that pellets, fines and vitamins can segregate in poultry homes. There’s a want to analyze if fowl efficiency is impacted by feed particle and nutrient segregation, mentioned Courtney Poholsky, a graduate scholar at Pennsylvania State College, throughout the 2024 Worldwide Poultry Scientific Discussion board.
A discipline examine was carried out to evaluate feed and nutrient distribution in feed strains over time and look at the connection amongst feed bin dynamics, feed and nutrient circulation and broiler efficiency, she mentioned.
Feed (65% pellets: 35% fines) was offered to broilers as a part of a regular grow-out. The 152-meter-long industrial home was geared up with two feed strains and two migration fences, creating three distinct places in the home. Hanging scales have been current in every of the three places to seize fowl weights all through every day. Feed samples have been collected at 25, 75 and 125 meters alongside every feed line, Poholsky mentioned.
Earlier than sampling, designated feed pans have been emptied. Then feed was despatched by means of the feed strains to fill the empty pans. Pattern assortment occurred over 5 days. Feed samples have been sifted utilizing a No. 6 ASTM sieve for pellet-to-fine ratio willpower. Amino acids and mineral concentrations of the feed have been assessed at industrial laboratories. Feed bin stock and common fowl weights have been recorded each day, she famous.
The proportion of pellets diversified all through the home, rising as feed was faraway from the hopper. Every day variations in pellet proportion have been additionally obvious. Bin-fill correlated with pellet proportion, indicating extra pellets have been within the feed pans because the feed bin emptied, Poholsky defined.
Common concentrations of minerals and amino acids in the home diversified day-to-day with the best and lowest concentrations noticed on days 1 and 5, respectively. Common fowl weights correlated with location in the home and pellet proportion, suggesting that birds positioned on the finish of the home (100-150 meters) consumed extra pellets and gained extra weight in comparison with different birds in the home, she mentioned.
Feed bin dynamics contributed to variations in pellet proportion and vitamins, in the end impacting broiler efficiency, Poholsky concluded.
