Starter and Finisher Broiler Feed Formula

The table below provides two starter options and two finisher options. Each column is a complete 100% formula. Farms can select one starter and one finisher formula according to the raw materials available locally.

The broiler premix should be used at the inclusion rate specified for that product. It normally supplies the vitamins, trace minerals and other micro-ingredients that cannot be measured reliably through the major raw materials alone.

When Should Broilers Change Feed?

The two-stage program is straightforward when a farm produces or purchases two feed types. The three-stage program creates a gradual change between the two rations. Whichever method is used, the change should be recorded by feed batch and poultry house so the farm team knows exactly when the new ration entered the feeding system.

Why the Ingredient Balance Changes

Maize is the largest ingredient in all four formulas and rises to 61.55% in the finisher feed. Soybean meal falls from 26% in the starter formulas to 22.5% in the finisher formulas. Oil also increases from 3.5% to 5%. This reflects the shift from the early growth stage toward the higher feed intake and energy demand of older broilers.

Peanut meal, rapeseed meal, fish meal and meat meal provide alternative protein sources in the four versions. Their quality can differ between suppliers, so appearance, smell, moisture and storage condition should be checked before they enter a batch. Mouldy maize, rancid oil or poorly stored animal protein should not be hidden inside a formula simply because the percentages add up to 100.

Feed Preparation on the Farm

• Use clean raw materials. Remove mouldy grain, foreign material and ingredients damaged during storage.
• Grind to a suitable particle size. Chicks need feed they can pick up easily; excessive fine powder can reduce intake and increase waste.
• Weigh small ingredients carefully. Salt and premix should be pre-mixed with part of the ground grain before entering the full batch.
• Allow enough mixing time. Oil and micro-ingredients must be distributed through the complete batch rather than concentrated in one section.
• Keep finished feed dry. Clean the feed store and use older stock before opening a new batch.

If the farm changes maize, soybean meal or another major ingredient supplier, the new material should be checked before the next large batch is produced. A local poultry nutritionist can use the current ingredient analysis to confirm the nutrient level required by the broiler strain and target market weight.

The Formula Still Depends on Feed and Water Delivery

A correct broiler feed formula cannot produce an even flock if some birds receive full feed pans while others wait at an empty section of the line. The automatic feeding system should carry feed from the hopper to the final feeding point and maintain a similar amount along the house. Pan or trough height must also be adjusted as the birds grow.

Automatic Feeding System

Moves feed along the poultry house and provides regular access at each feeding position.

Nipple Drinking System

Supplies clean drinking water while line height and pressure are adjusted with bird growth.

Water deserves the same attention as feed. Broilers eat less when water flow is restricted, especially during warm weather. Drinking lines should be level, flushed regularly and checked at both ends of the house. Wet areas below the line often point to leaking nipples, excessive water pressure or incorrect line height.

House temperature and ventilation also affect intake. Chicks that crowd under the heating area may not spread evenly to the feeders. Older birds reduce feed intake when the house becomes too hot. The broiler farming equipment, feeding program and environmental-control settings should therefore be managed together.

Plan the Feeding System Around the Broiler House

LIVI supplies broiler cage systems and supporting feeding, drinking, manure-cleaning and environmental-control equipment. The equipment quantity and line arrangement are prepared from the poultry-house dimensions, planned bird capacity and rearing method.