Feeding Practice at Farm

Psci-505
 Need of Feeding
Most of the poultry rations first formulated
were used to supplement locally produced
cereal grains grown on the average small farm.
But when birds were reared on commercial
scale, birds were confined to indoors and
thus the need for feeding formulated ration
was felt.
 Feeding Systems
A. Ad.libitum feeding
B. Controlled Feeding :
a: Forced Feeding
C. Restricted Feeding
D. Phase feeding
 Ad libitum Feeding
This system is also called free choice feeding.

In this system feed is always available and the bird can eat at will

Where maximum body weight is the ultimate goal for rearing the birds.

 Easy to manage.

Feed can be supplied and needs no monitoring or supervision of the bird's

daily intake.

Bird regulates its total intake themselves

Due to the higher cost of feed ad.libitum feeding system is not of very
great interest.
 Controlled Feeding
Forced feeding
Attempted for a short period while in first week
when turkey chicks do not learn or ty to pick up
their feed.
Forced feeding may be employed in other
species if feed and water are denied for more
than 36 hours to prevent body dehydration.
A 25 ml syringe or a laboratory pipette fitted with a
rubber catheter or smooth tube may be employed
to force the slurry down the gullet.
 Restricted Feeding
Restricted feeding during the growing period
means an actual reduction of nutrient intake
below minimum requirement of birds.
Feed intake is reduced either by limiting feed
offered to 85-90% of normal fed intake or by
diluting the conventional feed with fibrous
material of low nutrient density or following
skip a day feeding.
Over restriction of feed is also harmful and
can result in very late maturity and
unsatisfactory production.
 Advantages of Restricted Feeding

 Delay sexual maturity from few days to 3 or 4

weeks.
 Reduces body weight and amount of body fat.
 Cost of raising pullets is reduced.
 There is a better livability during egg
production.
 Egg weight is regulated producing larger eggs.
 Phase Feeding
 Followed during laying phase
 It refers to change in the protein level of laying
diet during normal production
Such changes are designed to regulate the intake of
dietary protein
To meet more closely the hen’s requirement at various
stages of egg production.
 Reduce feed cost and also help to maintain the egg
size.
 Phase Feeding
In this the production cycle is divided into
three stages (popularly called phases):
• Phase-I
• Phase-II
• Phase-III
 P has e- I
During the first phase of 20 weeks period

From the age of 22'weeks to 42 weeks, the birds are

expected to reach from zero to peak egg Production of 85
percent or so.
This further accompanied into increase in body weight
by 500g and increase in size of eggs from 40 to 60g.
Therefore, the first phase of reproduction is critical for
maximum egg production and tissue development.
Thus energy content of poultry rations should be
adjusted to supply required quantity of protein.
 Phase-II
It is the period from 42 weeks of age to 62
weeks when hens have attained mature body
weight and egg production and has not gone
below 60 percent level.
The eggs produced are larger and efficiency of
protein utilization is approximately 56 percent
during this phase
 Phase-III
It ranges from 62 weeks to 76 weeks of age or
till the spent out birds are discarded.
During this phase egg production is less than
60 percent.
Phase feeding can be applied for energy
restriction.
• The energy requirement for laying hens varies
from310 kcal ME/day in severe winter to 265
kcal in summer.
In phase feeding, high protein feed (usually
18-19%) is given from onset of egg production
to peak production period.
Therefore, a low level of protein (about 16%) is
fed for the next 5 or 6 months, followed by still
lower level (usually 15%) until the laying
period is completed.
 Phase feeding thus helps to reach higher peak
production and sustain it longer