Poultry Improvement Contest

1
Poultry Improvement Contest

• Feeds

2
Where Do I Buy Feed?

• Tractor Supply Company (TSC)
• Quality Farm and Fleet
• Local grain elevators and or mills

3
Feed Tag Requirements

• All commercial feeds require tags.
• By law the tag must include
• The name of the feed.
• Minimum crude protein, fat, and fiber content.
  (Also called guaranteed analysis.)
• Ingredients.
• Manufacturer.

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What to Look For When Buying Feed.

• First look at the crude protein.
• For broilers you will need at least a 24
  protein. If the crude protein is not at least
  24 you do not want it.
• Second check the cost.
• Protein is the most expensive part of the ration.
• Compare the protein to the cost.
• Third check to see if the feed contains a
  coccidiostat.

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Protein

• Protein
• Protein will appear on the FEED TAG as Crude
  Protein.
• Broilers should be fed at least a 24 crude
  protein ration.
• Your chickens will not reach the maximum weight
  if you use a lower protein ration.

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Using High Protein

• Higher protein feeds such as Turkey Starter (27)
  may be used.
• Using a higher protein feed is a good may to
  get your birds to grow faster.
• Most resources discourage feeding a higher
  percent protein due to the increased cost.
  (Protein is the most expensive part of the
  ration.)

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Warning

• If you are going to use a protein ration with
  higher than 24 protein, you must use careful
  management.
• Excess protein is used by the body as energy.
  Remember that the ration is already balanced for
  energy(carbohydrates and fat).
• The result may be fatty liver syndrome.
• Birds may begin to drop dead in week 4.

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How Much To Feed?

• The feed tag should tell you to keep a constant,
  fresh supply of feed in front of your broilers at
  all times.

9
How Much to Buy at One Time?

• Only purchase enough feed for a month.
• Feed can spoil easily resulting in loss of
  nutritional value.

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Other Feeding Suggestions

• Call the feed mill or elevator in advance to
  order feed.
• If you are feeding a coccidiostat, look for
  withdrawl dates for slaughter.
• After week 5 you may want to lower the protein
  to 21 .