Cover story on Poultry Feeds and Feeding

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Food or Feed is eaten by man or animal, digested, absorbed, metabolized and utilized by the body cell.

COMPONENTS OF Food/Feed: 1. Water, 2. Dry matter

a. organic: i) carbohydrate, ii) protein, iii) fat, iv) vitamins

b. inorganic: i) minerals

ESSENTIAL FEED NUTRIENTS

Carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins water, etc are essential for the growth, maintenance, production, and reproduction of a man or animal.

*No energy is produced from water, vitamin and mineral

*CHO, protein, and fat are called energy-giving nutrients.

FUNCTIONS OF ESSENTIAL FEED NUTRIENTS:

Water:

* Sources: Water present in feed, Metabolic water and drinking water

* Requirement of water: Poultry (adult)-0.20 liter/day

* Function:

1. Cell rigidity and elasticity. 2. Solvent action. 3. Lubrication. 4. Hydrolytic reactions. 5. Ionic reaction. 6. Transportation. 7. Heat regulation. 8. Respiration function

Carbohydrate: 1. Energy supply. 2. Glycogen is stored in the liver and used in starvation. 3. Maintain body temperature. 4. Lactose helps to develop brain cells (lactose found in milk & it is known as milk sugar)

(firstly CHO is used for the energy supply in the body if any kind of CHO deficiency occurs in the body then fat is used for the energy supply when CHO and fat both are deficit in the body then energy is produced from the protein)

Protein:  1. Build up body tissue. 2. Repair of body tissue. 3. Synthesis hormone and enzyme. 4. Feathers, nail, hair and wool formation. 5. Energy supply (CHO and fat deficiency )

(animal protein is of higher quality than plant protein because animal protein contains all essential amino acids and is also efficiently utilized) Fats

1. Energy supply (It gives 2.25 times more energy than CHO and protein). 2. Skin smooth and oily. 3. Flavor and palatability. 4. It carries fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). 5. Reserved under the skin and utilized during starvation (excess CHO and protein converted into body fat).

Minerals: 1. Bone and teeth formation. 2. Blood cells contain a small amount of minerals for the normal function of blood cells.. 3. Maintenance of ionic equilibrium and osmotic pressure.. 4. Maintenance of acid-base equilibrium.. 5. Minerals are directly related to the structure and functions of membranes.. 6. Minerals are also found as structural components of some hormones. 7. It activates the enzymes.

Vitamins

*Fat-soluble vitamins:

Vit-A: Prevent xerophthalmia or night blindness. It helps with eye vision.

Vit-D: It helps to absorb Ca from the intestine for bone and teeth formation.

Vit-E: It helps in reproduction.

Vit-K: It helps to clot blood.

*Water soluble vitamins:

Vit-B Complex: Prevents anemia, helps growth and metabolism.

Vit-C: It is essential for collagen formation (found in the gums) and prevents scurvy. Caloric content of fat, protein, carbohydrates, and alcohol Calories are needed to provide energy so the body functions properly. The number of calories in a food depends on the amount of energy the food provides. The number of calories a person needs depends on age, height, weight, gender, and activity level. People who consume more calories than they burn off in normal daily activity or during exercise are more likely to be overweight.

Fat: 1 gram = 9 calories

Protein: 1 gram = 4 calories

Carbohydrates: 1 gram = 4 calories

Alcohol: 1 gram = 7 calories

Classification of poultry Feeds

1. Roughage feed

Roughage is bulky feeds containing large amounts of crude fiber (CF) more than 18% and low (about 60%) in T.D.N. on an air-dry basis. eg, straw, grass, fodder, etc. Poultry birds are non-ruminant, so they can not digest fiber as like as animals. But they can digest small amounts of vegetables, such as cabbage, Ipip-Ipil, or any succulent leafy vegetables or grass.

2. Concentrate Feeds

Concentrates are feeds that contain a small amount of CF (less than 18%) and high (more than 60%) in T.D.N. on a dry basis. eg. grain, oil cake, fish meal, etc. A. Animal origin - Fishmeal, Blood meal, Meat Offal, Meat Meal, Feather meal, Hatchery by-product meal, Surplus milk, etc.

.

B. Plant origin -

Products: Maize, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Sorghum, Bajra, Khesari, Maticali, Sweet potato, etc.

By-products: Rice bran, Wheat Bran, Cornflower, Wheat flower, Bran of Khesari and Maticali, Molasses, oil cake, etc.

3. Mineral supplements: Oyster shell, Bone meal, Eggshell, Limestone, Chalk powder, Common salt, Vitamin-mineral premix, etc.

4. Vitamin supplements: All leafy vegetables, Yellow corn, Fish liver oil, Vitamin-mineral premix, etc.

5. Feed Additives

They are not nutrients. These are included in the ratio to increase the intake of feed, digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Sometimes it is used to improve the quality of the products and to keep health sound against diseases. They are also called non-nutrient feed additives.

Examples:

Antioxidants, Flavouring agents, Pellet binders, Xanthophylls, Canthaxanthin, Grit, Enzymes, Probiotics, Antibiotics, Hormones, Antifungal and Anticoccidial drugs, etc.

Poultry Ration

Ration

The amount of feed an animal needs to be fed within 24 hours. The feed may be given at a time or in portions at intervals. It may or may not be balanced.

Balance Ration

A ration that contains all recommended essential feed nutrients according to age, sex, purpose and condition of an individual. There are 2 types of balance rationa. Maintenance ration

b. Production ration

Maintenance Ration-The balance ratio that is required for an animal to maintain its normal physiological functions of the body. There is no loss or gain in body weight and even no chemical change in body composition.

Production Ration- This is required for poultry birds that are in production condition. The balance ratio is required over and above the maintenance ratio. This is an additional allowance of ration with maintenance ration.

Types of layer ration

1. Layer Starter (Energy: 2700 ME kcal/kg and CP: 22%)

2. Layer Grower (Energy: 2650 ME kcal/kg and CP: 16%)

3. Layer-layer ratio (Energy: 2700 ME kcal/kg and CP: 18%)

Types of Broiler ration

1. Broiler-Starter (Energy: 3000 ME kcal/kg and CP: 22%)

2. Broiler- Grower (Energy: ME kcal/kg 3100 and CP: 21%)

3. Broiler- Finisher ration (Energy: ME kcal/kg 3200 and CP: 19%)

Methods of Poultry Feeding

Improperly fed well-balanced ration will not give the most satisfactory results unless a satisfactory method is followed. Some of the methods are as follows:

1. Whole grain feeding system: In this system, feed ingredients are supplied to the birds in separate containers.

2. Grain and mash method: In this system some ingredients are supplied as grain or grain mixture along with balanced mash.

3. All mash: This is a scientific and popular method. In this method, ingredients are crushed into a mash mixture which is fed either in dry or wet condition.

4. Pellet feedings: nowadays it is a very popular method. There is no option for birds during feed intake. The pellet is prepared from dry mash under high pressure. In this system, wastage of feed can be avoided.

5. Crumble feeding: It is a grinding or cutting form of pellet, granular in shape. This is good as a starter ration for the early feeding of broilers and chicks. Sometimes shows better performance than a pellet.

Requisites of a Good Quality Poultry Ration

1. Balanced with essential feed nutrients according to age and purpose.

2. Variety of ingredients.

3. Fresh ingredients.

4. Feed ingredients should be crushed.

5. Calorie-Protein ratio should be present

6. Palatable for birds.

7. No bad flavor.

8. Low moisture.

9. Addition of vitamin-mineral premix.

10. Free from fungus and larvae of parasites.

11. Addition of micro-nutrients and feed additives.

12. The ration should be highly digestible

13. Provision of fresh clean drinking water.

14. Ration should be economic 

The digestive system of poultry

Esophagus: Food passes from the mouth through the esophagus to the crop

Crop: This is an enlargement of the esophagus and is used for storing and sifting the

food materials.

Proveuticulus: It is a tube-like enlargement of the esophagus and located 2"-3"

beyond the crop. It receives food from the crop. It secretes gastric juice and some

acids which is mixed with food to digest it.

Gizzard: Just after proventiculus there is a strong round color muscular organ that helps in crushing and grinding of food.

Small intestine: It is in between gizzard to cacea about 2.5´ long in adult birds and acts as an organ for the absorption of nutrients in the simple form.

Caeca: Two blind sacs 5"-7" in length which are located at the junction place of small and large intestines and serve as storage of facial material, digestion of fiber and some absorption may take place here.

Large intestine: It is projected from the caeca to the cloaca. It is a tract of final absorption of the digested food materials.

Cloaca: It is the opening of the urogenital system. Facial and urine pass through the cloaca. It is also a copulatory organ in birds. 

-SZK on online information