Avian Production Management

FEED EFFICIENCY

• The term indicates the quantity of feed required to put up a unit live body weight. Since feed involves 70 % of the cost of production, feed efficiency or efficiency of feed conversion by the broilers determines profit margin also. It is calculated as:

• For broilers, a feed efficiency of 1.8-2.0 kg feed to put one kg live body weight is considered as optimal. Lower the feed efficiency value, the better for the farmer.
• The factors influencing feed efficiency are strain, quality and energy level of feed, feeding, growth promoters, climate, floor space, role of microbes, mortality etc.