Brickdam Secondary School Caribbean Secondany

Examination Certificate
School Based Assessment
Agricultural Science
CSEC 2023
Broiler Investigation

Name of Student: Azariah McPherson

Student Registration Number: 0900360313
Centre number: 090036
Award: Double
Territory: Guyana
Title of project: Rearing of Broiler using sand vs wood shaving.
Table Of Contents
Introduction

Research Topic

Objectives/Aims

Problem Statement

Methodology
Projected budget for broiler production
Actual Income and Expenditure Statement for Broiler Production

Data Collection

Results
Limitation

Recommendation
Discussion

Findings

Analysis

Bibliography
Introduction
Literature View
According to the National Institutes of health (2019) it stated that wood
shavings are vital for the young chicks which form a floor coating for them to
be comfortable. E.Nurmi stated that sand must be fully dry, because
moisture plays a very huge role in encouraging bacteria and germs to form,
therefore causing a high rate of fatalities in the long run the young chicks.
Another study conducted from the Equine Emergencies Science Direct
(2000) wood shaving are produced from pinewood which has no sort of
scent. Due to the smell of the poultry, bacteria and other dangerous
pathogens are present in the air which can potentially cause ammonia that
can harm chicks. Wood shavings play a vital and powerful role in reducing or
regulating the smell of the poultry. Dry wood shavings also help to regulate
the temperature, therefore decreasing moisture that can attract bacteria.
Another study was conducted from the same website which talks about how
wood shavings can be hazardous to chicks. Steven Leeson Stated that birds
reared on sand and sand with a top layer of shavings showed the greatest
weight gain over six weeks, outperforming those birds kept on the more
traditional pine shavings and rice hulls
Research Topic
To investigate the weight gain of birds (Broilers) using two litters, sand and
wood shaving over a four week periods.
Objectives/Aims

1. To investigate the various weights of each broilers over a four week

period.
2. To investigate the various weight of broilers using different mediums
with the use of sand and wood shaving.
Problem Statement
There has been issues arising from livestock farmers based on broiler not
gaining sufficient weight for good production due to the levels of
consumption and management system used for rearing broiler. However,
the use of sand and shaving the researcher was able to showed that birds
gained weight from kind and proper litter management.
Methodology (Materials and Equipment)
Experimental Design
Six cubicles were prepared in total and were divided into 2 sections. The first
three cubicles containing sand and the second 3 cubicles containing wood
shavings.
Chicks were brooded for a two week periods then placed in cubicles each of
the 3 cubicles were filled with sand and the other 3 shaving,Thirty (30) birds
were selected from a batch of 200 and five broilers were placed in each
cubicle. Observation took place in a 4 week periods. Chicks were weighed on
a weekly bases and their weight were recorded. Birds were also fed using
starter feed and given fresh water.
Sand

Cubicle Weight of Broilers (lBS)

1 4.5
3.6
4
3.4
One mortality

2 4.6
5.1
4.6
4.1
3.9

3 4.1
5.6
5
5
4.4
Shaving

Cubicle Weight of Broiler (lBS)

1 5.1
4.5
4.5
4
4.9
2 5.1
6
4.5
3.8
5
3 4.7
3.7
4.6
5.2
5.1
Materials and Equipment

Materials Pictures Uses

Sand Used to place in cubicles

Shaving Used to place in cubicles

Water Used for chicks to drink

Feed (starter) Used for chicks to feed.

Tools Pictures Uses
Waterer Used to hold water for
chicks to drink

Feeder Used to hold feed for

chicks to eat

Scale Used to weigh chicks

Bucket Used for carrying sand

and shaving
Spade Used for scooping
shaving and sand

Wheelbarrow Used to shave carrying

and sand

Knife Used for cutting chicken

Broom Used to keep

surroundings clean
Killing cone Used to place chicken
before killing
Value Addition

Materials Picture Uses

Blender Used for the blending
of seasoning into a
liquid state

Plastic Used for packaging of

the seasoned chicken

Bowl Used for mixing the

seasoning with chicken
Salt 1st Ingredient for
seasoning

Seasoning 2nd ingredient used to

add flavor to chicken

Pepper 3rd Ingredient for the

seasoning

Vinegar 4th Ingredient for

seasoning
Activity Production Processing

Date Activity Followup

25/10/2022 Arrival of chicks Chicks will be fed and
Chicks were fed with observe on the next
broiler starter and visit
given water

01/11/2022 Feeding lifting the Weighing will be done

09/11/2022 brooder on the next visit
Chicks were fed with
starter ration
01/11/2022 Giving Water Weighing will be done
09/11/2022 Chicks were given on the next visit
water

30/11/2022 Weighing
Each cubicle was
weighed 3 with sand
and 3 with shaving. All
birds were fed with
broiler grader.
21/12/2022 Slaughtering Chicken was taken to
Chickens were pluck
handpicked and
weighed before
slaughtering. They
were then taken to the
slaughter facilities were
they were killed.

Defeathering and Chicken was taken to

Blanching be gutted
Chicken was placed in
boiling water several
times when
defeathering. This
helps soften the
feather when
defeathering.

Degutting Chicken was taken to

The behind of the be marketed
chicken was sliced in a
v like shape and the
organs were removed
by hand.
Marketing
Chicken was packed
with the use of a clear
plastic bag
3/14/2023 Value Addition The seasoned chicken
(Seasoning of chicken) was placed in bags.
The chopped chickens
were washed with
vinegar, lime and
water.

The raw seasoning was

then blended with the
use of a blender and
was used to season the
chicken.

The seasoned chicken

was then placed in bags
to be packed.
Projected BUDGET FOR BROILER PRODUCTION

Projected Weight Unit Cost Price Total

Income
Sale of Meat 360 500 — 180,000
60 Birds at
6 LBS Per Bird

Sale of Edible 14 400 — 5600

Parts (Liver etc)

Sale of Chicken 15 400 — 6000

Feet

Sale of value add 20 Box 700 14,000

Products

Total Projected 205,600

Project
Expenditure
Broiler chicks 65 Bag 260 16,900

Broiler Starter 6 Bag 4000 24.000

Grower Ration 6 Bag 7500 45000

Finisher Ration 3 Bag 6200 18600

Vitamins 1 Pack 3500 3500

Plastic Bags 100 Bag 6 600

Transportation — — — 8000

Litter 12 Bag 600 7200

Value Add Quantity Unit Price Total

products
Vinegar 1 Botle 500 500

Salt 1 Pack 200 200

Seasoning 1 Bundle 500 500

Cling Wrap Box 20 Box 100 2000

Cube 1 Pack 500 500

127,500

Total Projected
Expense
78,100

Projected
Profit
Actual Income and Expenditure Statement for Broiler Production

Projected Weight Unit Cost Price Total

Income
Sale of Meat 165 460 — 75,900
30 Birds at
5.5 LBS Per Bird

15 Birds 5 LBS 75 460 — 34500

Each 15 Chicks 60 460 — 27600

(4 LBS each)

Sale of Edible Box 700 14,000

Parts
Sale of Chicken 10 300 3000
Feet

Sale of Liver and 11 300 3300

Gizzard

Sale of value Quantity Unit Price Total

add products
Season Chicken 15 1 Box 700 10,500

154,800
Total Actual
Income
Expenditure 65 250 16,250
Broiler

Starter Ration 7 Bag 3000 21,000

Grower Ration 4 Bag 5800 23,200

Finisher Ration 2 Bag 5300 10,600

Vitamins 1 Pack 1000 1000

Plastic Bags 100 Bag 5 500

Transportation — — — 3000

Litter 10 Bag 300 3000

Expenses of Quantity Unit Price Total

Value Add
Product

Vinegar 1 Botle 100 100

Salt 1 Pack 100 100

Seasoning 1 Bundle 200 200

Cling Wrap Box 20 Box 50 1000

Cube 1 Pack 300 300

80,250

Total Expenses
74,550

Total Actual
Profit

Data Collection
Data was collected through, observation, weighing through criss crossing,
and secondary data was collected through the use of text book, internet and
the library.
Results
A Bar Graph showing the # of lbs gained in a 4 weeks period

Weight gain of birds in the four weeks. Showing sand vs shaving.

Sand
Cubicle 1
6

0
4.5 3.6 4 3.4 0

Weight gain (Ibs)

Cubicle 2
6

0
4.6 5.1 4.6 4.1 3.9

Weight gain (Ibs)

Cubicle 3

0
4.1 5.6 5 5 4.4

Weight gain (Ibs)

Shaving

Cubicle 1

4.9

4.5

4.5

5.1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Cubicle 1 (Broilers)
Cubicle 2

3.8

4.5

5.1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Cubicle 2 (Broilers)

Cubicle 3

5.1

5.2

4.6

3.7

4.7

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Cubicle 3( Broiler)
Limitation
Injuries of birds - Broilers can gain injuries from suffocation and sharp
objects
Surface area or Space of the Cubicle - The cubicles is not spacious for
broilers to move around freely
Recommendation
.That wood shaving is a better litter to use when rearing broiler than sand.
It encourages more weight gain in broilers.

. Make cubicles bigger to accommodate more broilers

. Start experiment in the 3rd week
Discussion
This project was productive but several problems were encountered during
rearing. A few birds died due to injury but birds were not infected with
diseases because of good management on the farm.
Birds were given feed and water on a daily basis but due to the litter used
some birds were able to grow faster than others..
Some birds' weight gained were below what is expected . However, no
boosters were given to assist them. They continued to eat and drink what
was given . Production resulted with profits and hens that were weighted
rear on shaving gained more weight than the birds rear on sand.
E. NURMI mentioned that in the modern era, the use of biotechnology
facilitates the work on rearing of poultry. are using several experiments and
are now getting productive results in the shortest possible time. E. NURMI
also stated that peoples are satisfied with their demands.
At the end pounds of meat were seasoned with this increased profit but it
had to be refrigerated to prevent the process of decomposition or spoilage.
Findings
● Birds on wood shaving weighed more lbs
● The poultry was better, birds very very healthy and active
● After slaughtering the bird had less fat but more meat
Analysis
Due to a decrease in the price of meat and parts along with the weight of
the birds, the total actual income shown is $50,800 less than the initial
projected income. The total Actual expenses were also $47,250 fewer than
the projected expenditures as a result of reducing ration and transportation
costs, among other factors. The actual profit increased overall was $3550
less than the projected profit.
Bibliography

Date: 20/03/2022
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-
sciences/broiler-chickens

Author: E. NURMI & Steven Leeson (2000)

Book: Broiler Breeding Production