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Is relaxing broiler breeder growth restriction cost-effective?
M Afrouziyeh1, V L Carney1, M J Zuidhof1
1Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
Poultry Science
|September 28, 2023
Summary
Relaxing feed restriction in broiler breeders by increasing prepubertal body weight gain and advancing pubertal growth improves economic returns. This strategic growth curve enhances profitability for hatching egg producers and the overall broiler chicken supply chain.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Poultry Production
- Agricultural Economics
Background:
- Current feed restriction programs for broiler breeders can lead to severe growth restriction, impacting breeder welfare and reproductive performance.
- Previous research explored strategic growth curves with relaxed restrictions to mitigate these issues.
- This study focuses on the economic implications of these modified growth strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the economic aspects of implementing novel broiler breeder growth curves.
- To evaluate the impact of relaxed prepubertal growth restriction and advanced pubertal growth timing on profitability.
- To determine the economic benefits for hatching egg producers and the broader broiler chicken supply chain.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a partial budget analysis to assess economic outcomes.
- Compared 10 different target growth trajectories for broiler breeder pullets using a precision feeding system.
- Evaluated intergenerational effects on offspring growth and development from modified maternal growth curves.
Main Results:
- A specific growth curve (10% higher prepubertal BW gain, 20% advanced pubertal growth timing) increased margin over feed and chick cost by CDN$1.97/hen for producers.
- The highest differential margin over feed and chick cost for the entire broiler chicken supply chain was achieved with this modified maternal growth scenario (scenario 10) from 42-week-old hens.
- This scenario yielded a greater margin over feed and chick cost compared to the breeder-recommended maternal growth from 35-week-old hens by $0.1053/kg of live chicken.
Conclusions:
- Implementing relaxed growth restrictions, specifically increasing prepubertal body weight gain and advancing pubertal growth, is economically beneficial.
- The tested strategic growth curves offer a viable alternative to severe feed restriction, improving both producer and supply chain profitability.
- Optimized maternal growth curves contribute positively to the economic efficiency of broiler chicken production.
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