Poultry Farming in Pakistan

POULTRY FARMING

Summary

Poultry is one the most important sector of agriculture industry in Pakistan by providing employment to 1.5 million people. Broiler meat is the cheapest source of animal protein available in Pakistan by contributing 4.81% in agriculture growth and 9.84% in Livestock growth. According to Industry sources there is capacity of 5,000 Environmental Control Houses in Pakistan and currently 2,500 houses are working, out of which 75% (1,875) are in Punjab and remaining 25% (625) are in other provinces.

In environmentally Controlled Poultry Farm the day old chicks (DOCs) are raised on rich protein feed for about a period of six weeks. Approximately, six flocks of birds could be reared on the same premises of the farm.

Introduction

Poultry sector is one of the effervescent segments of Agriculture Industry in Pakistan. This sector generates employment and income for about 1.5 million people. Its contribution in agriculture growth is 4.81% and in Livestock growth 9.84%. Poultry meat contributes 19% of the total meat production in the country. The current investment on poultry industry is above Rs.200 billion. Poultry sector has shown a robust growth at the rate of 8-10% annually which reflects its inherent potential.

The daily availability of protein quantity per capita in Pakistan amounts to 13.6 gram, deriving from animal source including beef, mutton, poultry and fish. According to the World Health Organization standards the required daily dietary protein allowance from animal source is 27 grams whereas we have much less than this. In our Country per capita consumption of meat is only 5 kg and 40-45 eggs annually whereas developed countries are consuming 41 kg meat and over 300 Eggs per capita per year.

 Present Poultry Industry Scenario

Grand Parents are imported from Australia, Holland, Germany and USA. These Grand Parents produce Breeders that produce final products which are Broilers, so the generation line of broiler comes from pure line (Strains) i.e. Great Grand Parents. The day old broilers are purchased from hatcheries.

Broilers are fed with high nutrition feed mix produced by feed mills. Poultry feed consists of rich protein elements like canola meal, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, soyabean meal, feather meal and rich energy elements like grains, gluten, etc. The major component of cost of production of chicken meat accounts for feed cost.

Effects of Environment on Poultry Farming

Heat stress is the major problem in poultry farming. Being a tropical country the temperature reaches over 40°C during summer and is not suitable for poultry farming. Hot and humid weather conditions and poor management practices increase the mortality in flocks, reduce the growth and make poultry production to uneconomical level. In traditional farming, during the summer farmers have to either continue taking flocks compromising with poor performance in feed intake, growth rate, weight gain, FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) in broilers along with mortality or totally close the business to avoid all these risks that could disturb the hired labour and staff.

Controlled environment poultry farms can overcome this critical summer situation. These farms when equipped with highly mechanized system of automatic chain feeding and nipple drinking systems make the environment quite conducive for poultry production by getting continuous production.

Benefits of Poultry Farming in Controlled Environment

1. Poultry Farming in Controlled Environment has brought a great change in poultry industry of Pakistan and is rapidly becoming popular among broiler producers due to its following significant advantages:

2. The temperature remains consistent round the clock providing very conducive environment to the broilers.

3. The temperature can be brought down by 10°C to 15°C in controlled environment farm as compared to the conventional farm and makes environment more comfortable for birds.

4. In conventional farming the broiler production in summer is almost stopped and only four flocks could be taken whereas in controlled environment farming 6-7 flocks could be raised.

5. Being controlled environment the incidence of diseases could be minimized and cut down the cost of vaccine and medication of Rs.2-3 per bird as compared to conventional farming.

Mortality has been decreased to 2 to 3 percent in controlled environment farm as compared to 10 percent in conventional farm.

6. In controlled environment farm only one person at daytime and one at night time are sufficient to look after a flock of 35,000 birds. Whereas conventional farm nearly 6-8 persons are required to manage such a flock.

7. In controlled environment farm a broiler flock is ready for market in 37 days as compared to 45 days in conventional farm.

8. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) in conventional farm is more 2 to 2.2 (3 to 3.3 kg feed to gain 1.5 kg weight), whereas FCR is improved to 1.8 in controlled environment farm (2.8 kg feed to gain 1.5 kg weight).

Marketing Channels

The marketing channel of broilers is as follows

Farm (Producer)à Middleman (Arti) à  Wholesalers Retailers End user (Consumer)

The role of middleman (Arti) is to identify a farm and negotiate the price. In some cases he provides Day Old Chicks and other farm inputs (feed, etc.) to the broiler farmers and then agrees to buy back the mature birds from them.

Farm Requirements and Management

In Controlled Environment Farm, inputs including farm equipment like drinkers, feed trays, brooders, and feeders and other items like feed, vaccines & medicines, rice-husk or saw-dust, water and electricity etc are required. To achieve good production following practices should be performed under the supervision of an expert starting from arrival of the chicks to marketing of broilers.

Diesel heaters can control the low temperature. The high temperature should be controlled with evaporative cooling system.

Automatic nipple drinking system.

Automatic feeding system.

Diseases can be controlled by scheduled vaccination and medication.

Sanitation and disinfections program should be strictly followed during and after the completion of one flock.

Feed intake, body weight, FCR and mortality should be recorded carefully.

Proper channels are recommended for Marketing of final products (broilers).

Suitable Site for Poultry Farming

The purchased land is recommended for controlled environment poultry farm. Rural areas around the major cities of the country are the suitable areas for setting up a poultry farm. Nearness of the farm to the city make easy access to market for the purchase of Day Old Chicks, farm inputs (feed, etc.), and selling of broilers. All the management functions should be performed tactically, right from the selection of the site to the final stage when the birds are sold. The farmer should make sure the availability of electricity connection and supply and quality of drinking water.