Limit Food Waste (Replace Used Equipment, Manage Meals Correctly)

In slow-growing broiler production, limiting feed waste is essential to improving feed conversion and reducing the environmental  impact  of  meat  production.  This  good practice combines well-adjusted, functional equipment with rigorous feed management. Maintaining and replacing worn-out  feeders,  using  designs  that  limit  spillage, adjusting their height according to the birds’ age, and implementing controlled feeding routines are all effective strategies. For  example, a  Label  Rouge  farmer  uses Multibeck feeders and adjusts their position throughout the batch. Feed is offered ad libitum in early stages, but from one month of age, the feeders are emptied once a day by the poultry to encourage birds to consume spilled feed. Transitions between feed types are managed by completely emptying the feeders beforehand. Early in the batch, the farmer manually distributes feed three times a day and provides water in trays alongside drinkers to support chicks’ start. To optimise feed distribution, an automatic weighing scale was installed in each barn, allowing real- time monitoring of bird growth and accurate feed planning. The use of second-hand equipment, including over 120 feeders  with  covers  and  extensions,  and  reusing connecting pipes significantly reduced initial costs. The automatic weighing system (SODALEC BAT2) was also a cost-effective investment, with a one-year payback. This practical approach led to yearly savings of 4–5 tons of feed and improved  feeder  maintenance. These  simple  but consistent practices support better animal performance and contribute  to  more  sustainable,  economically  efficient poultry production.

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