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By Dr. Salah H. Esmail, Cairo, Egypt
The largest factor determining the profitability of a poultry operation is feed. In most poultry farms in the Arab countries, especially in the private sector, feed is frequently stacked under shelters and it often suffers from mould damage or invasion by rodents and wild birds. In such cases, silos should be used for feed storage and protection. It is estimated that the cost of a 20 tonne silo in Egypt, for example, can be recovered in just two years when considering the US$2,200 a year saving from the value of feed lost due to the current poor storage method. If feed is to be held inside the silo for long periods, it is recommended to have the silo cleaned at least 3-4 times a year as the feed may also be subject to mould damage.A microbiological assay of feed in one farm revealed a mould value of 22,000 cfu/g compared to a normal level of only 5,000 cfu/g. With such a high level of contamination, poor feed efficiency, reduced growth rates, and increased susceptibility to diseases and high mortality are often encountered.In most private farms, like in Egypt, feeders are usually elongated troughs made of galvanised metal sheets. These are preferred because of their availability, low cost and resistance to damage, but feed wastage can be a severe problem. The use of pan or chain feeding systems could be a better alternative. It is estimated that with a broiler house of 10,000 birds, at least two tonnes of feed will be saved during each production cycle. With high feed cost and six production cycles a year, the cost of the new feeding system could be recouped in 18 months.
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Source: World Poultry, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2011
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