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Broiler feed and water management

Water is the most important nutrient for broilers. The nutritional quality of feed, its safety and delivery form all play a crucial role in ensuring a healthy and regulated feed intake. Excellent microbial and chemical quality in water is important as broilers consume twice as much water as feed. Water is a key factor in thermoregulation and as a carrier for additives, such as medication, supplements, etc.

Mycotoxin control

Effective management of mycotoxin exposure is essential when raising broiler chickens, who are at high risk due to a 70-week production cycle. Mycotoxins can compromise feed intake, weight gain, gut health and immunity, and increase feed conversion rates (FCR) and mortality. Optimal risk control includes purchasing quality raw materials at feed mills, and monitoring during raw material and feed storage.

Getting feed formulation right

The quality of poultry meat is determined by multiple factors including genetics, management, processing and animal nutrition. Certain feed ingredients or supplements such as vitamin E and selenium may also impact poultry carcass and meat quality. Traditionally, broiler diets have been formulated to promote maximum animal performance. However, this type of highly concentrated and protein-rich diet can be costly and impact profitability. We recommend a comprehensive approach to formulating diets that ensures the farmer can optimise broiler performance and production while maintaining animal health and welfare and meeting sustainability goals. This includes consideration of raw material costs, market conditions, revenue generated and use of new or alternative feed ingredients.

Ensuring water quality for poultry

Water is the most important, yet the most neglected, nutrient in an animal’s diet. Most animals drink about twice as much as they eat, making the quality of the water key to optimal health and performance. Water quality issues can be signalled by an animal’s insufficient intake of water or feed, as well as by unexplained declines in health or performance. To help prevent issues, we recommend a strong focus on monitoring hygienic conditions from the water source throughout the system as part of your biosecurity and farm management programme.

Feed hygiene for broilers

Animal feed is perpetually at risk of being spoiled or contaminated by pathogenic microbes such as SalmonellaE.coli, mould and yeasts. Signs of contaminated feed include clumped particles, off odours and changes in colour. Poor feed hygiene can lead to reduction of the energy as well as the vitamins A, D3, E, K and thiamine available to the animal; in case of mould palatability can be reduced. To help control the quality of feed, a laboratory analysis can be performed to quantify the level of spoilage organisms in the animal feed.

Optimising minerals in broiler diets

Trace minerals such as zinc, copper and manganese play a crucial role in broilers’ development and metabolism. Providing trace minerals in the wrong form and amount – either too low or too high – could generate negative outcomes for a broiler’s productivity. Achieving consistent delivery of an optimised level of trace minerals will support multiple essential functions for broilers, including growth performance, immune and oxidative response and health.

Our offering in supporting feed and water management

Mycotoxin Risk Management Programme

Mycotoxin Risk Management Programme

This programme aims at providing comprehensive and integrated knowledge to manage mycotoxins effectively.

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NutriOpt Actionable Analysis

NutriOpt Actionable Analysis

Trouw Nutrition has developed NIR calibrations for different kinds of feed ingredients, based on a unique and highly accurate and robust ‘global database’ approach. We carry out NIR services in the lab or farmers can use the NutriOpt On-Site Adviser for use in the field.

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NutriOpt Actionable Insights

NutriOpt Actionable Insights

Through our nutritional profiling and advice, we ensure that healthy, safe and sustainable raw materials are used for the production of animal feeds. This will help in making better-informed decisions, backed up by accurate data.

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Prestarter

Prestarter

Prestarter 0-4 days is the first commercially available feed specialty for chicks in their first 4 days.

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NutriOpt Optimal Diets (Formulation service)

NutriOpt Optimal Diets (Formulation service)

The formulation services at Trouw Nutrition are developed to fine-tune current feeding strategies on the farm and develop new formulation strategies. The best feed formulation will make farms more profitable and sustainable.

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NutriOpt Optimal Performance (Broiler model)

NutriOpt Optimal Performance (Broiler model)

Predict and optimise broiler production with the use of a simulation and economic optimisation model.

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Selko-pH

Selko-pH

Selko-pH effectively reduces the pH of water. In this way, Selko-pH supports improved digestibility of diet components and maintains a stable intestinal microbiota. This results in healthy animals with optimal performance.

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Salmonella Control Programme

Salmonella Control Programme

An integrated and holistic approach provides a solid basis to protect the birds from Salmonella.

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Trace Mineral Optimisation Programme

Trace Mineral Optimisation Programme

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Safe and good quality of feed and water are the basics for healthy broiler growth.