The purpose of the diet formula for broiler chickens is to provide them with the energy and nutrients necessary for maintaining their health and production. The basic nutrients required by chickens are water, amino acids, energy, vitamins, and minerals. These ingredients must ensure the normal development of bones and muscles in broiler chickens. The quality of raw materials, the shape of feed, and hygiene conditions directly affect the effectiveness of these basic nutrients.

If the raw materials or processing are affected, or if the nutrition of the feed is unbalanced, the growth performance of broiler chickens will decrease. Due to the significant differences in slaughter weight, body shape, and production strategies among different broiler chickens, providing only a single nutritional requirement is impractical. Therefore, recommended formulas can only serve as a reference guide in work. Different broiler producers must make appropriate adjustments to these guidelines based on their actual situation.

When choosing a formula, the following factors must be considered:

• The availability and cost of raw materials.

• Whether the parents are separated for adoption.

• Market demand for live chicken weight.

• The value of meat products and ketones.

• The demand for fat content in markets such as roasted chicken, cooked chicken, and deep processed products.

• Chicken skin color (according to market demand).

• Meat quality and flavor.

• The production capacity of the feed mill.

Different processing techniques result in varying physical shapes of feed. The processing methods include crushing, pulverization, granulation, or extrusion. In some regions of the world, it is also common to mix finished feed with whole grains before feeding broiler chickens. Deep processing of feed is also recommended as it can bring nutritional and management benefits. Compared to crushed powder, granular materials formed by extrusion are usually easier to use. From a nutritional perspective, processed feed has more prominent advantages in improving the feeding efficiency and growth rate of broiler chickens compared to crushed powder feed.

Crude protein:

The demand for crude protein in broiler chickens is actually the demand for amino acids, the basic components of protein. From feathers to muscles, amino acids are components of various tissues.

Energy:

Energy is not a nutritional component, but a way of describing the metabolic ability of the nutrients that produce energy. Energy is essential for maintaining the basic metabolic functions and physical development of chickens. Traditionally, metabolic energy systems have been used to describe the energy levels of poultry food. Metabolic energy (ME) refers to the total energy of feed minus the undigested energy excreted in the form of feces.

Trace nutrients:

Most poultry feed is usually supplemented with vitamins. Vitamins can be divided into two types: water-soluble vitamins and fat soluble vitamins. Water soluble vitamins include complex vitamin B. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the liver and other parts of the body.

Minerals are non organic nutrients that can be divided into major elements and trace elements. The main minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, and magnesium. Trace minerals include iron, iodine, copper, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.

Feed analysis:

Sampling and testing feed on farms is a good practice. If the sampling analysis results are used to reflect the true nutritional composition of the feed, then it is important to have a good feed sampling method. The sample must be able to represent the feed being sampled. Sampling is not simply about grabbing a handful of feed from a trough or feed line.

In order to collect representative feed samples, it is necessary to collect sub samples and combine them into composite samples. Suggest extracting five sub samples from each delivery of feed. It is not recommended to take samples from the feed line, as screened feed or powdered feed may cause deviations in laboratory results.

Feed samples should be stored in the refrigerator until the chicken flock is slaughtered. Each sample should record the date, feed type, and delivery number. If there is suspicion of a problem with the feed during production, the sample should be analyzed. The laboratory report should provide comparison results with standard nutritional indicators.

Periodic feeding:

The nutritional requirements of broiler chickens generally decrease with increasing age. From a traditional perspective, broiler feed includes open feed, growth feed, and post feed. However, the nutritional requirements of broiler chickens do not suddenly change on specific days, but gradually change over time. Most companies offer a variety of feed formulas to meet the nutritional needs of poultry. The more types of feed chickens obtain, the more producers can meet the nutritional needs of broiler chickens through feeding. However, in reality, the quantity of feed is limited by economic and logistics factors, including feed mill capacity, transportation costs, and chicken farm resources.

The nutritional content of feed is determined according to the feeding goals of the manufacturer. Broiler farming usually has three main objectives, and many producers use these three objectives simultaneously.

Feed No.1:

Rich in nutrients, it can optimize live weight gain and feed conversion rate. This method may increase body fat content. Additionally, the cost of feed will be very high.

Feed No.2:

The energy content has decreased, with a focus on optimizing the composition of crude protein and amino acids. This type of feed reduces the increase of ketone bodies, but can greatly limit the production of lean meat. The live weight and feed conversion rate are negatively affected, but the cost-effectiveness of lean meat can be achieved.

Feed No. 3:

Low nutrient concentration. This type of feed leads to weight gain and reduced feed conversion rate in broiler chickens, but the cost-effectiveness of live weight may be better.

Stop medication:

Before withdrawing materials, special attention should be paid to the duration of drug withdrawal to ensure that there are no drug or vaccine residues in the processed ketone bodies. It is crucial to keep careful records when deciding to withdraw materials.

Supplementary whole wheat feed:

Many parts of the world have practices of supplementing broiler chickens with whole wheat feed. The benefits that can be seen include: reducing feed costs, thereby lowering the cost per kilogram of chicken; Improve gastrointestinal development, thereby enhancing the digestive efficiency of chickens and their ability to control daily nutrient intake when necessary. Possible drawbacks of this approach include reduced growth rate, decreased lean meat percentage, and decreased uniformity.

Supplementary wheat can be added to feed mills or farms. Although adding wheat to the farm provides greater flexibility, it requires the farm to have a batching system and additional bulk warehouses. At the feed mill, whole wheat can be added in the mixer or loaded onto the feed truck. Adding whole wheat to the feed mill may also achieve some processing steps such as roller milling (if any).

Generally speaking, the addition of supplemental whole wheat starts at around 7 days of age or when the chicken weighs around 160 grams, with 1% -5% levels of whole wheat added. If the whole wheat level is gradually increased, it can eventually reach a level of about 30%. The proportion of whole wheat that can be increased will depend on the quality of the compound feed, nutrient density, wheat quality, expected performance, and the performance of individual chicken flocks.

It is important to consider the dilution effect of supplementing whole wheat. Necessary adjustments need to be made to the drugs used to ensure that they remain at the correct level. Whole wheat should be removed 48 hours before slaughter. Wheat slows down the rate at which feed passes through the intestines - therefore, removing wheat 48 hours before slaughter may increase the feed's passage rate and help reduce contamination of the carcass in the viscera.