Here in this post, we are going to show you in detail the steps to produce chicken feed in Nigeria. We hope you find this post both educating and informative.
Introduction
Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of the lives of living things. To grow, animals must feed; and to feed, there has to be one form of nutritional provision or the other.
Rearing of livestock is one of the most lucrative medium scale businesses in Nigeria today. Many people who were before unemployed have found rearing of animals – especially chickens a means of income generation. Chickens are quite easy and affordable to rear if a farmer learns to know and do what it takes.
Read Also: 6 Steps to Produce Fish Feed in Nigeria
To profitably rear chickens (whether as a source of meat for the family or for economic purpose) a farmer would rather learn to make his/her feeds instead of buying ready-made feeds.
This is because of the rising cost of feeds in the market. Feeds account for more than 80 per cent of production costs. A farmer who manages to bring down this cost to about 60 to 50 per cent will make good returns in the poultry business.
Ready-made feeds are quite expensive compared to the ease in making one’s own feeds. Making one’s own chicken feeds even becomes less expensive if the poultry farmers is also a crop farmer.
In that case, he wouldn’t need to buy raw materials like corn, soya beans, etc. But in any case, homemade feeds profits the farmer than buying readymade feeds.
Other reasons why a farmer should make his own feeds are hygiene and quality assurance purposes. He would be able to formulate his feeds according to his preferred quality and hygienic standards.
Farmers who formulate and make their own feeds at home or farm save an average of N,1000 for every 50kg bag of chicken feed, which is a great save for those doing commercial production.
Read Also: Cost of Feeding 1000 Catfish In Nigeria
Demand for Chicken Feeds in Nigeria
Despite the hike in the percentage of farmers who produce their own chicken feeds across the country, a lot of other poultry farmers still depend on ready-made feeds that are sold in the market.
This fact now becomes an opportunity for business-minded individuals to tap into and start making chicken feeds of high quality for economic purpose.
Farmers in the Middle-Belt (North-Central) and core-northern regions of Nigeria are at a great advantage because of the abundance of raw materials such as maize and soya beans that are heavily cultivated around these regions.
That means they can use these crops which they already brought from the farm. If you’re not from one of these regions you don’t have anything to worry about. The cost of these crops is not so high in any market. You’ll still be at an advantage by producing your own chicken feeds.
Design & Formulation For Chicken Feeds Production
Although they’re many poultry feed brands in the market and stores today, quality and brand still matter to those who want great and growth-enhancing feeds for their birds. Poorly formulated bringbrings about poorly grown birds.
This reason is why chicken feeds producers who value quality would go all out to source for information that leads to qualitative feeds making.
Let me assure you that by the time you have completely gone through this article you will have those ‘magic’ tips at your finger tips. Let’s get into it.
Read Also: How To Start Animal Feed Business In Nigeria
Formulating a 50 Kg Bag Of Broiler Feed
Broilers have different feed requirements in terms of energy, proteins, and minerals during different stages of their growth.
Therefore, it is important that farmers adapt feed rations to these requirements for maximum production. Young broilers have a high protein requirement for the development of muscles, feathers, etc.
As the broilers grow, their energy requirements for the deposit of fat increase and their protein requirements decrease.
They require high protein content in their starter rations than in the grower and finisher rations. Broilers should have a feed that has between 22 – 24 per cent digestible crude proteins, DCP. The following guidelines can help the farmer to make the right feed at each stage of growth:
7.2kg of whole maize
11.9kg of maize germ
9.5kg of wheat pollard
7.2kg wheat bran
4.3kg of cotton seed cake
3.4kg of sunflower cake
2.1kg of fishmeal
1.4kg of lime
2.5kg of soya meal
45g of bone meal
10g of grower PMX
5g of salt
5g of coccidiostat
5g of Zincbacitrach
Broiler starter feed (1-4 weeks)
28.6kg of whole maize
8.6kg of fishmeal
10kg of soya bean meal
2.9kg of lime
70g of premix
Amino acids to add
35g of lysine
35g of threonine
Read Also: 6 Steps To Start Layer Poultry Farming In Nigeria
How to Prepare Layers Chick Mash (1-4 Weeks)
Since he chicks are growing, chicks require feed with Digestible Crude Protein (DCP) of between 18 to 20 per cent. Amino acids are important nutrients in all feeds in order to make a complete feed for all animals.
For hybrid chickens, the addition of amino acids is very important to maintain a balanced diet for fast growth. The following ingredients can be used to make a 50 Kg Bag of Chick Mash:
22.5kg of whole maize
6.5kg of wheat bran,
5.0 kg of wheat pollard,
12 kg of sunflower (or 12 kg of linseed),
1.1 kg of fishmeal
1.25 kg of lime
30g of salt
20g of premix
Amino acids to be added
70g of tryptophan
3.0g of lysine
10g of methionine
70 g of threonine
50g of enzymes
60g of coccidiostat
50g of toxin binder
To make a 50 kg bag growers feed (1 to 8 weeks), it is very necessary that pullets or young layers should be provided with a feed having a protein content of between 16 and 18 per cent. Such feed makes the pullet to grow fast and prepare for egg laying.
Note: Layers’ feed should never be fed to chickens younger than 18 weeks as it contains calcium that can damage their kidneys (they can develop kidney stones), which interfere with egg production and also shorten their lifespan. Grit (sand) should be provided to growers that are not on free range to aid in digestion.
Read Also: 9 Steps to Start Fish Farming In Nigeria
Making a 70 kg bag of layers’ mash (18 weeks and above)
24.3kg of whole maize
8.6kg of Soya
5.7kg of fishmeal
7.1kg of maize bran, rice germ or wheat bran
4.3 kg of lime
180g premix
Amino acids to be added
70g lysine
35g methionine
70kg threonine
35g tryptophan
50g toxin binder
Note: Layer feed should contain a Digestible Crude Protein (DCP) content of between 16-18 per cent. Calcium is important for the formation of eggshells (Laying hens that do not get enough calcium will use the calcium stored in their own bone tissue to produce eggshells). Layer feed should be introduced at 18 weeks.
Ingredients for Making Chicken Feeds
Following are ingredients for feed production:
- Protein
- Moisture
- Energy
- Oil
Main Feed:
- Alfalfa meal (high protein, good for —)
- a Corn (mainstay for —, store whole)
- Field peas (for —, to avoid soybean use)
- Wheat, Oats and/or Barley (less than — of total diet together)
Additional Materials:
- Aragonite or feeding limestone (for calcium, not entirely needed)
- Oyster shell (calcium, free feed
- Grit
- Salt
- Probiotic (or feed them fermented dairy foods like — or —-, or fermented — like —)
- Crab meal (small amounts provide protein and minerals)
- Flax seed (—, feed whole to avoid rancidity)
- Broad-spectrum mineral supplement
- Kelp (mineral source)
- Fish meal (helps boost protein and –)
- Cultured yeast (–, minerals and digestive —)
Equipment Needed To Make Chicken Feeds
The pieces of equipment required to make poultry feeds are very much available in poultry farm stores across the country. The following are the ones you can purchase in order to make feeds for your birds or for commercial purpose.
- Grinder,
- Mixer
- Trowel
- Plastic
- Drums,
- Nylon bags,
- Sealing machine,
- Scale,
- Tables and
- Labels
Read Also: Problems and Prospects of Poultry Production in Nigeria
Conclusion
When you are able to correctly measure out the basic (crop) raw materials listed above, take them to the grinding engine where they’re properly crushed, and then mix them properly together with the essential nutritional ingredients earlier listed into a simple blend that is consumable by your birds.
Note: If you’re preparing your own poultry feeds for the first time, it is important you separate a few birds with which you would test your product, being the first time.
Take note of any changes as you keep feeding them for at least two weeks. If you notice any changes you may need to adjust your preparation (or chemistry) accordingly. Feel the excitement!