DO NOT ADOPT BROILER FARMING YOU WILL LOOSE YOUR LAND CHILDREN MAY NOT GET MARRIED?
Of Course this phrase may not be suitable for very few farmers. But my 37years experience in the line shows that out of 100 farmers who were in touch with me either have gone abroad or doing cultivation business of some farmers who have entered to integration are living like a govt. servant employee (low paid) let us analyse the situation & lapses.
BROILER FARMING IN NORTH INDIA: –
It is running at 5% per annum around 3000 Broiler farm in Punjab & 10,000 Broiler farm in Haryana. Average size is 5000-10,000 Birds. Of course around 50 farms are above 50,000 Birds also exist. Recently integration again started with 20%. Birds are under integration Because of harsh climate & heavy density Broiler farmer use 10-12 days. Antibiotics in shape of Injection or orally due to disease problems. In southern India use of Antibiotics is comparatively low because fluctuation of weather is poor. Who is earning money in this profession? I feel none because if farmer is not earning money he is not able to repay it to the feed miller or medicine manufacturer etc.
HATCHERY OWNER IN NORTH INDIA LOOSES MORE MONEY:-
A visit to North India’s biggest hatchery. Who happens to be President of North India hatchery association reveals that An average hatchery in North India takes around 125-135 chicks per parent as compared to 155-160 chicks in Chhattisgarh & South India resulting in cost of production of chicks to the tune of 16-18 Rs. Per chick While the same chick cost 13-14 Rs. Elsewhere. So the arrival of integration is almost definite & will ruin the local hatchery units or else they may have to shift their hatcheries to other states. Most of the hatchery owners of North India are under heavy debt & some hatchery owners are planning to sell the hatcheries as well.
CONCEPT OF VENTILATION IS MISSING:-
In my long experience of more than 37years I have not listened this concept in more than 100 seminar attended nor any farmer is aware of the standards of ventilation velocity & temperature index. I was surprised to know when Ist lady in my experience from Pakistan asked question “Ventilation Velocity standard kya hota hai” though i answered it but still she is not satisfied. Dear Friends this is the crux where our Broiler industry has failed. Total packing of Brooder house without Humidity & ventilation. In four months (July to October) No Ventilation is provided. In extreme winter also we may have to minimum velocity. In India earlier velocity of ventilation was considered 300-400 mits/ per feet. But now days with changing husbandry practices i.e. half of the poultry farms are submerged in paddy field we may have to increase it to 500 C.F/feet with 60-70% Humidity & 24 degree Celsius temperature. In India hardly 2% farmers have concept of ventilation Index resulting in CRD in 2nd weak of age.
IMPROPER FEED MANUFACTURING BY FEED MANUFACTURESRS:-
Most of the Manufacturers in India Manufacture feed with standard feed formula which is suitable for cobb Breeds i.e. around 22% C.P in Cobb pre starter & 21% in Starter with 1.31% Lysine level. While Ross demands 24% C.P in pre starter & 1.48% Lysine . So farmer blames the breed for poor performance while feed is culprit.
SELECTION OF BREED IS IMPRIOPER:- I visited number of farms of cobb Ross & Hubbard in Punjab & Haryana. The common observation is Ross does not give good weight in first week & while it beats cobb after 3week & Average body weight in hot summer was found to be almost same i.e. 1900 gm in 35days by consuming same feed. Breast Meat in Ross was better than cob. Perhaps this is the reason Ross share has increased to more than 30% in country. In winter month we may expect better results with Ross. I feel Ross Breed will perform better if we perform sexed feeding as variation of male & female in Cobb is 200-300gms/Bird while it is 400-450gms in Ross Bird.
VACCINATION CONCEPT:- There are outbreaks of Gumboro throughout country . So we should adopt 2 vaccinations for Gumboro Ist at 3days & 2nd at 10 days both may he given eye drop. We should also give IBH on 2nd Day & 3rd Day N.D killed 0.25ml plus I.B+lasotr eye Drop.
ABSENTEEISM FROM FARMS:-
Farmers treat poultry farming like crop cultivation & spend ½ hr to 1 hr daily. In North India we may have to take decision 3-4 times a day regarding curtain movement due to fluctuation of weather. Due to absenteeism farmers invite all disease like fungus (over crowding) CRD (Burning of saw dust) Coccidiosis (Splashing of rain inside) starvation & weaklings due to giving improper space when Birds are growing. Do not open curtains & increase the depth of litter leading to Ammonia gas & finally CRD etc.
Lastly, I may request that Broiler farming can be made more profitable if you have your own outlets farmers above 20,000 Birds manufacture their own feed. Adopt scientific techniques purchase everything on cash to have better quality feed etc. Farmer in India having Rs. 50,000 in pocket set up assets up to Rs. 5lac by investing money from feed miller etc. thus he cannot buy modern technology like space heaters & ventilation system and finally goes to debt .Enter in to this business with adequate money. Lastly i feel little sorry to put Remarks “Broiler farmer cannot marry his children” please do not take its dictionary meaning. My sentiments do not coincide with topic. I mean to say that Broiler farming is causing acute losses & cannot be termed as a very good profitable business.
BY- DR SURINDER KHANA,POULTRY GURU
