09/07/2024
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STARTER, FINISHER AND GROWER FEED
Farmers must ensure adequate and quality feeding and not rationing feeds for the birds. Never ration or reduce poultry feed for your birds. The disadvantages of doing this are always bad. But to prevent rationing only raise what your capital can take care of because without adequate and quality feeding you can't run your poultry business successfully.
BROILERS FEED FORMULATION.
Broilers day old chicks requires more protein to develop their feathers, bone, ligament, and muscles. That's why feed that must be given to them while they are still young must contain more protein than carbohydrates. A good Starter feed must contain between 22-24% of Crude protein.
But As Broilers grow their Energy Requirement increases and their protein level reduces. That is why Finisher Feed can be given to them from their 5TH Week. Finisher feed contains more maize and energy ingredients to provide more energy for the Broilers and maintain their body weights. Finisher feed contains at least 18% of Crude Protein.
Grower Feeds
The nutritional composition of grower feed is not for broilers as it doesn't support weight gain, because most of the ingredients it contains do not have much protein in them to support fast growth. the feed given to them should only be adding more fat and weight to them. And grower does not contain those ingredients that enable Broilers to add weight fast.
Feeding them with growers is mismanaging their feeding.
Grower feed is formulated for layers because they are not meant for meat but for egg production and it is to be fed to pullets from 6 weeks until they start to lay, and also layers don't need much protein to carry out their daily activities until they start laying eggs.
Grower feeds must contain PKC, wheat offal, maize, and soya beans among other ingredients.
Grower feed contains 16% Crude Protein.
Grower is best fed and given to long-time birds for example turkeys, layers, and noiler.