Feed accounts for up to 70% of total production costs in poultry farming, making it the single largest expense for most producers. With fluctuating ingredient prices and increasing competition, finding effective ways to reduce feed costs—without compromising bird health or productivity—is essential for profitability.
Here are five expert strategies to help you cut feeding costs and improve efficiency on your poultry farm.
One of the most effective ways to cut feed costs without hurting performance is to work with qualified poultry nutritionists or feeding experts. These professionals understand how to balance nutrients efficiently while using locally available and affordable ingredients.
A feeding expert can:
By relying on expert advice instead of guesswork, farmers can achieve better feed efficiency, maintain bird health, and save significantly on overall feed expenses.
Even the best feed formulation is useless if much of it ends up on the floor. Feed wastage can silently drain profits, sometimes accounting for 5–10% of total feed losses.
Here’s how to reduce waste:
Simple management changes like these can save thousands of dollars over time.
Birds have different nutritional needs at each stage of growth. Using the same feed throughout their life leads to waste and inefficiency.
Phase feeding means adjusting feed composition based on the bird’s age and production stage—for example:
By tailoring nutrients to each phase, farmers can save 5–8% in feed costs while maintaining growth rates and egg production.
Feed additives are a smart investment for reducing feed costs and improving efficiency. Certain additives help birds digest and absorb nutrients more effectively, allowing you to use a wider range of feed ingredients without compromising performance.
Enzymes, for example, can break down complex components in feed—such as fiber and phytates—making nutrients more available for absorption. Probiotics and organic acids also support gut health, which enhances digestion and feed conversion.
When properly used, feed additives can reduce feed cost per kilogram of gain by 3–7% and improve overall flock performance. Always consult a poultry nutrition expert before introducing new additives to ensure correct dosage and compatibility with your feed formulation.
Healthy birds eat better and convert feed more efficiently. Poor flock health increases feed costs because sick birds consume feed without gaining weight or producing eggs efficiently.
To optimize feed conversion:
A healthy flock is the most cost-effective one.
