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In the process of poultry farming, the quality of feed is directly related to the growth and development of poultry, production performance, and breeding efficiency. Homemade poultry feed can not only precisely control the quality of raw materials but also allow flexibility in adjusting the formula according to the specific needs of poultry. Over the long term, homemade feed also offers significant cost advantages. In this article, we’ll delve into various key aspects of homemade poultry feed.
The basics of poultry feed
The Definition of Poultry Feed
Poultry feed is a nutritional substance that provides poultry with the necessary nutrients for growth, development, production, and the maintenance of other life activities. It acts as a treasure trove of nutrients, rich in protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other essential elements. The quality of poultry feed ingredients directly impacts the healthy growth of poultry.
The Reasons for Homemade Poultry Feed
Raw Material Quality Control: Choosing homemade poultry feed allows farmers to personally select high-quality poultry feed ingredients, ensuring that the raw materials are safe and reliable. This removes the concern of inferior materials found in commercially purchased feed.
Precise Nutrition Supply: Poultry at different growth stages have varied nutritional needs. Homemade feed provides the flexibility to adjust the layer feed formulation according to the bird’s growth, ensuring precise and optimal nutrition. For example, during the brooding stage, chicks need more protein and energy, while during the egg-laying stage, laying hens require higher calcium levels.
Significant Cost Advantage: Homemade poultry feed can greatly reduce costs in the long run. By purchasing raw materials in bulk and making use of local resources, farmers can reduce costs while still meeting the nutritional requirements of poultry. This also eliminates the intermediary costs found in commercial feed production.
Advantages of Homemade Poultry Feeds
Enhanced Production Performance: Homemade poultry feed leads to better production performance. A balanced poultry pellet feed can accelerate the growth rate of meat birds, enhance the egg production rate of laying hens, and improve meat flavor and egg quality. This results in poultry products that are more competitive in the market.
Guaranteed Poultry Health: With high-quality ingredients and a scientifically formulated layer feed formulation, homemade poultry feed enhances the immunity of poultry, reducing the incidence of diseases. This improves poultry health and lowers medication costs, contributing to better breeding stability.
Environmental Benefits: Homemade feed can improve the digestibility and nutrient absorption in poultry. Efficient nutrient utilization leads to a reduction in waste and environmental pollution, which supports sustainable farming practices and reduces nitrogen and phosphorus emissions.
The Composition of High-Quality Poultry Feed Ingredients
Energy Feed
Energy feed provides poultry with the energy required for life activities. Common energy sources include corn, wheat, barley, and sorghum. Corn, in particular, is widely used in poultry pellet feed due to its high energy content, good palatability, and high digestibility. Care must be taken when incorporating wheat, as its high viscosity can impact digestion, and barley or sorghum may require special processing due to anti-nutritional factors.
Protein Feeds
Protein is essential for muscle growth, feather development, and internal organ health in poultry. Protein feeds are divided into plant-based (e.g., soybean meal, cotton meal, vegetable meal) and animal-based (e.g., fishmeal, meat and bone meal, blood meal). Soybean meal is a high-quality plant protein source, providing a balanced amino acid profile. Animal protein sources, while nutritionally complete, are often more expensive and require extra caution due to safety concerns.
Mineral Feed
Minerals are crucial for bone development, eggshell formation, and physiological balance. Key mineral feed ingredients include stone powder, shellac, and calcium phosphate. Trace minerals like iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium are also essential to poultry health, even though required in smaller quantities.
Vitamin Feed
Vitamins play an indispensable role in the growth, reproduction, and immune functions of poultry. While required in small amounts, vitamins such as A, D, E, K, and B vitamins are crucial for poultry health and should be included in the feed, often via specialized vitamin premixes.
Other Raw Materials
Besides the major ingredients, additional raw materials such as feed additives, enzymes, and probiotics can be added to improve feed efficiency and health. Enzymes can aid digestion and nutrient absorption, while probiotics help regulate intestinal flora. These additives enhance the overall quality of poultry feed and contribute to better poultry health.
The Practical Poultry Feed Formula
Advantages of Poultry Pellet Feeds
Homemade poultry pellet feed offers several advantages over traditional milled feed. Pellet feed is more compact and easier for poultry to consume, improving feed conversion rates. Additionally, it enhances digestibility and palatability, ensuring that poultry receive better nutrition for optimal growth and development.
Feed Formulation for Laying Hens
Chick Rearing Period (0-6 weeks old): Laying hens in this stage require higher protein and energy. A typical formulation might be 55% corn, 28% soybean meal, 1.5% rock flour, 1.8% calcium phosphate, 3% premix, and 10.7% bran, with poultry pellet feed sized at 1-2 mm for easier digestion.
Breeding Period (7-18 weeks old): As the growth rate slows, the protein requirement drops, while energy and mineral needs remain stable. The formula could be adjusted to 62% corn, 20% soybean meal, 1.5% rock flour, 1.8% calcium phosphate, 3% premix, and 11.7% bran, with a pellet size of 2-3 mm.
Laying Period: At this stage, laying hens need more calcium for eggshell strength, as well as adequate protein and energy for overall health. A typical layer feed formulation might be 60% corn, 22% soybean meal, 8% stone meal, 1.8% calcium phosphate, 3% premix, and 5.2% bran, with a pellet size of 3-4 mm.
Broiler Feed Formulation
Brooder Stage (0-3 weeks old): Broilers grow rapidly and require nutrient-dense feed. A typical formula for this stage includes 58% corn, 30% soybean meal, 1.2% rock flour, 1.8% calcium phosphate, 3% premix, 4% fat, and 2% bran, with a pellet size of 1-2 mm.
Growing Period (4-6 weeks old): As broilers continue to grow, they need a balanced diet. The feed formula is adjusted to 62% corn, 25% soybean meal, 1.2% stone meal, 1.8% calcium phosphate, 3% premix, 5% fat, and 2% bran, with pellet sizes of 2-3 mm.
Fattening Period (7 weeks to harvest): During the fattening period, broilers need a high-energy diet to accelerate fat deposition. A typical formula is 65% corn, 20% soybean meal, 1.2% stone meal, 1.8% calcium phosphate, 3% premix, 7% fat, and 2% bran, with a pellet size of 3-4 mm.
The Key Machinery for Poultry Feed Production
Feed Milling Machine
A feed milling machineis essential for pulverizing raw materials into smaller particles. Different types of mills, such as hammer mills and claw mills, are chosen based on the raw material type and required particle size. Hammer mills are especially effective for grinding grains, cake meals, and other harder materials.
Feed Mixer
The feed mixerensures that all poultry feed ingredients are evenly mixed, providing a consistent nutrient distribution. Large-scale operations often use horizontal screw mixers for high efficiency, while smaller-scale operations might opt for a vertical mixer due to its compact size and ease of use.
Feed Pelletizer
The feed pelletizeris critical for turning mixed ingredients into pellets. This equipment shapes feed into compact, easy-to-eat forms for poultry. Ring die pelletizers are best for large-scale production, while flat die pelletizers are more suitable for smaller operations.
Feed Conveying and Storage Equipment
Conveyors are responsible for moving materials throughout the production process, ensuring smooth transitions between stages. Silos are used to store both raw materials and finished feed, maintaining their quality by preventing moisture and mold.
Summarize the Outlook
Homemade poultry feed offers numerous benefits, including better control over feed ingredients, tailored nutrition for poultry at different stages, and lower overall costs. With a solid understanding of poultry feed ingredients, how to formulate layer feed formulations, and the process of producing poultry pellet feed, poultry farmers are well-equipped to provide high-quality nutrition. By using the right machinery and continuously optimizing the feed formulation process, the overall health and productivity of poultry will improve.
