Name: Dequana Peters

School: Christ Church Secondary School

Student Registration number: 0900150637

Title: Broiler Production Investigation

Start date: 21st November 2022

Termination date: 21st December 2022

Name: Dequana Peters

School: Christ Church Secondary School

Student Registration number: 0900150637

Title: Broiler Production Investigation

Start date: 21st November 2022

Termination date: 21st December 2022

Table of Contents
Hypothesis & statement of problem…………………………………………P.g.1

Literature review……………………………………………………………………P.g.2

Aims & objectives…………………………………………………………………..P.g.3

Methodology…………………………………………………………………………P.g.4

Data Collection……………………………………………………………………..P.g.5

Data interpretation……………………………………………………………….P.g.6-7

Discussion……………………………………………………………………………P.g.7

Conclusion
Recommendations
Limitations………..………………………………………………………………..P.g.8

Reference…………………………………………………………………………….P.g.9

Cost Analysis……………………………………………………………………….P.g.10

Title: Comparison between the growth of broiler in sand versus wood

shavings
Hypothesis

The broilers in the sand cubicles will have a better growth rate than those in the wood
shaving cubicles.

Statement of Problem

Produce broilers that are average weight for the market during a short period of time (under 6
weeks).

Literature Review

There has been an unprecedented increase in global animal production, especially in

subtropical and tropical areas in the last two decades (Renaudeau et al., 2012). The Increase
in the demand for food is due to a rise in human population (Godfray et al., 2010). Due to its
potential role to provide food and livelihood securities (Paswan
et al., 2014), poultry production, especially broiler production, are expected to meet the
critical shortage in animal protein needed by Africa (Hatab et al., 2019).

Under tropical climate, broiler production is encumbered by several constraints which make
it difficult for them to attain their genetic potential. The scarcity and high price of poultry
feed and veterinary services and the harsh environmental conditions with respect to thermal
stress are some of the challenges that hinder optimal growth of the birds. Limited availability
of feedstuffs, including crucial feed ingredients, starter grower and finisher, are important
challenges to the sector, since feed still represents a major cost of producing broiler chickens.
Additionally, the problem of climate change, which has become a global concern, is the main
problem in broiler production under hot and humid climates. Under high ambient
temperature, feed intake decreases, carbohydrates metabolism and protein synthesis
efficiency are disturbed. Lipid utilisation is lower and glucose or insulin homeostasis is
altered while fat deposition and oxidative stress increases. Several strategies are used to
ameliorate the effect of heat stress in poultry.

Aim & Objectives

Objective addressing production or post production levels.

● To increase broiler production
● To further develop the broiler production sector

Methodology

Experimental design:
The experiment was conducted on clayey loam soil during the period 28th November, 2022 to
22nd December, 2022
The experimental plot consisted of six cubicles. Three out of the six cubicles were filled with
sand each consisting of 5 broilers, the remaining cubicles were filled with wood shavings
each holding 5 broilers.

Management practice
Data was collected by weighing the bird's weight weekly.

Materials and Equipment:

Starter feed: Used to establish and support their bone health and immunity.

Grower: supports the continuous growth of the broilers

Finisher feed: helps the broilers to reach their target market weight more quickly

Wood shavings: Used to keep birds off the ground

Sand: Used to keep birds off the ground

Feeders: Used to feed birds

Waterers: Used to hydrate birds

Weighing scale: Used to weigh broilers

Broiler weighing cone: Used to slaughter birds

Data Collection

Information was collected by weighing all the birds weekly.

 Sand Wood shaving
Cubicle Cubicles
week(s) Cubicle 1 Cubicle 2 Cubicle 3 Cubicle 1 Cubicle 2 Cubicle 3

1 1.74 1.76 1.7 1.92 1.64 1.76

2 3.37 3.94 3.92 4.02 5.84 4.04

3 5.28 5.28 5.76 5.86 5.76 5.66

4 6.5 6.1 6.68 6.6 6.4 6.52

Table showing data collection

Data Interpretation

The line and bar graph shows the average weight of each broiler at the end of every week
from each cubicle.

According to the graphs, the wood shaving cubicles had birds with weights over 6 pounds
when weighed the final week. However, the broilers in the sand cubicles were also thriving
and about 2-3 birds were 6 pounds or more. One of the birds did die from the first sand
cubicle but that didn’t affect the other birds.

In the end all of the birds were healthy and had good weight to be slaughtered, dressed and
packaged off.

Results on a Bar graph and Line graph

Figure 1

Figure 2
Discussion

Broiler survival
A production cycle for broilers takes 6 weeks on average. In these 6 weeks, the chickens
hatch in the house and grow to their final weight in 5.5-6 weeks. After that, the house is
cleaned and disinfected and prepared to receive new eggs. With this 6 week production cycle,
7.4 rounds/flocks can be produced per year.

Poultry meat is the most widely eaten meat in the world and provides a large part of the world
population with high quality animal protein. The world's population is growing and the
consumption of meat per person is still increasing. The demand for chicken meat will
therefore only continue to increase for the foreseeable future.

In this investigation one of the birds from cubicle one with sand died of unknown causes. The
use of technology came in handy when it came to weighing, plucking and slaughtering the
birds.

Feed Consumption
In both sections, the birds ate approximately the same amount of feed and displayed the
same feed intake pattern. It would appear that spacing had no effect on the quantity of feed
consumed by the birds in this experiment. In both sections, the birds had equal access to feed
and water.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that broilers reared in different environments can be healthy and ready
for marketing within six weeks.

Recommendation

Based on the results of this investigation, it is recommended that broilers be reared at Durban
backlands farm. However, the investigation should be repeated using more plants to confirm
this finding.

Limitations

1. Feed the broilers daily

2. Make sure birds are hydrated
3. This trial was not replicated. This trial was only done at one time of the year and
did not take seasonality into account.
 References

Ramharracksingh, Ronald. 2011. Agricultural Science for CSEC Examinations. Oxford:

Macmillan Publishers.

CSEC Agricultural Science SBA Teachers' Training Manual

https://diegomartinagriculturescience.weebly.com ›

Cost Analysis
Projected Income and Expenditure

Income Quantity Unit cost Total

Sale of meat 110lbs $360 $39,600

Sale of value 18lbs $600 $10,800

added product

Total projected $50,400

income

Expenditure Quantity Unit Cost Total

Chicks 30 $140 $4,200

Starter 1 bags $2000 $2000

Grower 5 bags $4000 $20,000

Saw dust 5 bags $115 $575

Sand 3 bags $600 $1,800

Vinegar 1 bottle $140 $140

Chief chicken 5 packs $60 $300

seasoning

Celery 2 bundles $200 $400

Shallot 2 pounds $500 $1000

Plastic wrap 2 pack $1000 $2000

Labels 64 $40 $2560

Total $34,457
Profit= Total income - Total expenditure

Profit= $50,400 - 34,457

Profit= $15,943

Actual Income and Expenditure

 Income Quantity Unit cost Total

Sale of meat 115 lbs $640 $81,920

Sale of value 13 lbs $800 $10,400

added product

Total actual income $92,320

Expenditure Quantity Unit Cost Total

Chicks 30 $225 $6750

Starter 1 bags $7200 $7200

Grower 5 bags $7000 $35000

Saw dust 5 bags $200 $1000

Sand 3 bags $1000 $3000

Vinegar 1 bottle $340 $340

Chief chicken 5 packs $120 $600

seasoning

Celery 2 bundles $300 $600

Shallot 2 pounds $800 $1600

Plastic wrap 2 pack $1300 $2600

Labels 64 $56.25 $3600

Total $62,290

Profit= Total income - Total expenditure

Profit= $92,320 - 62,290

Profit= $30,030

Comparison between projected and actual income and expenditure

The projected income was $50,400 and the actual income was $92,320. There was a $41,920
difference. The broilers were shortened due to one dying as it was quite problematic to obtain
and because of this, it caused a beacon in producing the amount as planned.
The projected expenditure was $34,457 and the actual expenditure was $62,290. There was a

$27,833 difference. Most of the items were bought from stores and this provided a reason to

spend so much capital.