The success of a poultry business heavily depends on the feed used in the farm. The rate of meat production in broiler chickens or the rate of egg production in layer chickens depends on how nutritious the feed is. Therefore, to establish oneself as a successful farmer, it is crucial to know what ingredients a quality feed must contain.

An ideal poultry feed primarily contains the following ingredients:

Protein: This is essential for the health and muscle growth of broiler chickens. We obtain protein from soybean meal, fish meal, and bone meal. Protein is crucial for the development of broiler chicks.

Energy or Carbohydrates: This provides energy for the health and growth of broiler chickens. It is mainly obtained from wheat, corn, rice bran, etc.

Vitamins and Minerals: Broiler feed contains vitamins A, D, E, and B complex, along with minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Vitamins and minerals help in enhancing the disease resistance of broiler chickens and assist in the development of their organs.

Now let's look at how to determine the amounts of these ingredients in the poultry feeds available in the market.

Here we have a photo of a broiler feed bag, where we can see the percentage rates of ingredients such as CP (Crude Protein), CF (Crude Fiber), Fat, Calcium, Moisture, etc., mentioned. Different companies' feed bags mention various ingredients, but CP and CF are common and very important for poultry feed. Now, we will explore the functionality and necessity of these ingredients and how they match with the aforementioned components.

CP (Crude Protein): CP essentially indicates the level of protein in the feed. We know that protein facilitates meat production in broiler chickens. The required level of protein varies for broiler chickens at different ages.

CF (Crude Fiber): CF primarily indicates the level of fiber in the feed. Fiber helps in the digestion of other ingredients in poultry feed.

Fat: Fat essentially indicates the energy level in broiler feed. Fat provides energy for the movement and functioning of internal organs in broiler chickens.

Calcium: This is a mineral component. Calcium helps in strengthening bones.

Moisture: This is not an ingredient of the feed but indicates the level of moisture in the feed bag. The quality of the feed depends on its moisture content.

To learn more about the feeds for broiler chicks of various ages and what ingredients should be included in these feeds, click the button below.