Broilers do not grow because feed contains “high protein.” They grow because the feed supplies the right balance of energy, digestible amino acids, fats, vitamins and minerals: and because the birds actually eat and drink enough.
In hot hot weather conditions, that balance becomes even more important because heat can reduce feed intake.
The farmer’s target is not the highest protein feed. It is the right nutrient intake for the bird’s age, environment and market goal.
What does a broiler actually need from feed?
A complete broiler diet should supply:
- usable energy;
- digestible amino acids from protein ingredients;
- essential fatty acids;
- calcium and phosphorus;
- sodium and other electrolytes;
- vitamins;
- trace minerals; and
- clean, safe water.
Aviagen’s current Ross broiler nutrition guidance uses the same basic principle: broiler feeds should provide the correct balance of energy, protein/amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for the production stage.
Why “crude protein percentage” is not enough
Farmers often compare feeds by crude protein only.
That can be misleading.
Two feeds can show the same crude protein percentage but supply different amounts of usable amino acids.
Broilers need amino acids such as lysine, methionine and threonine in the right balance. The bird cannot use “protein percentage” if the important amino acids are badly balanced or poorly digestible.
This is why adding extra soybean meal or fishmeal to a complete feed does not automatically improve growth.
Energy matters just as much as protein
Broilers need energy for maintenance, movement and growth.
If energy is too low, birds may eat more feed trying to meet their needs, or growth may slow if they cannot compensate.
If the energy to amino acid balance is wrong, feed efficiency can also suffer.
For farmers, the lesson is simple: do not formulate by protein alone.
Water is part of broiler nutrition
Water is often forgotten because it does not come in a feed bag.
But a bird that does not drink well will not eat well.
Check:
- water availability;
- drinker height;
- nipple flow;
- tank cleanliness;
- water temperature;
- leaks; and
- whether every bird can reach water.
Water problems become especially serious during hot weather.
Broilers need different feed as they grow
Broiler feeding is usually divided into phases such as starter, grower and finisher.
The exact phase ages and nutrient specifications vary by breed, target market, feed company and management programme.
That is why Phoenix Agribiz should not give one nutrient table and pretend it fits every broiler strain and every farm.
Use the breeder’s current nutrition specifications or a qualified poultry nutritionist when formulating your own feed.
Starter feed
The starter period supports very rapid early development.
Feed quality, crumb size, feeder access, water and brooding conditions all matter. A high quality starter feed cannot compensate for chicks that are chilled, dehydrated or unable to find feed.
Grower feed
As birds get larger, nutrient requirements and feed intake change.
The grower feed should continue to support fast growth while maintaining good feed efficiency and skeletal development.
Finisher feed
Finisher feeding should match the intended sale weight and market.
Do not switch phases simply because another farmer switches at a certain day. Use the feed manufacturer or breeder programme for the strain and target weight.
What changes in hot hot weather weather?
Heat is one of the biggest challenges in hot weather broiler nutrition.
When birds become hot, they often reduce feed intake. That means they also consume fewer amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
Aviagen’s current broiler nutrition guidance for hot conditions recommends focusing on balanced, highly digestible nutrients and avoiding unnecessary excess protein because excess protein creates additional metabolic heat.
That is an important correction to the common farmer idea that “more protein will make them grow faster in hot weather.”
Should I increase protein during heat stress?
Not blindly.
The better target is good digestibility and correct amino acid balance.
When birds are eating less, nutrient concentration may need professional adjustment, but simply increasing crude protein can increase heat production and waste money.
Does fat have a role in hot weather feeding?
Yes.
Aviagen notes that supplying more dietary energy from fat rather than carbohydrate can be useful in hot conditions because fat has a lower heat increment.
But this is a formulation decision. Do not pour oil into commercial feed without knowing how it changes the ration.
Vitamins and minerals
Broilers need vitamins and trace minerals for normal growth, immunity, bone development and metabolism.
A properly formulated complete feed already includes these nutrients.
Extra vitamin or mineral products should not become a substitute for fixing poor feed intake, dirty water, heat, disease or bad feed quality.
Calcium and phosphorus
Calcium and available phosphorus are especially important for skeletal development.
The ratio and usable amount matter. Adding extra limestone to broiler feed without reformulating the diet can upset the mineral balance.
Salt and electrolytes
Sodium, potassium and chloride help with fluid balance and body functions.
During severe heat stress, electrolyte balance becomes more important because panting changes acid base balance and birds lose more water and minerals.
Do not make homemade salt mixtures by guesswork. Follow a suitable product label or professional feeding programme.
What feed ingredients can be used?
Broiler diets can use ingredients such as maize, soybean meal, groundnut cake, wheat products, oil, mineral sources and premixes.
But ingredient names alone do not make a balanced ration.
For example, replacing soybean meal with groundnut cake kilogram for kilogram can change protein quality, fibre, oil and mycotoxin risk.
See our Groundnut Cake vs Soybean Meal guide.
How do I know whether a commercial broiler feed is working?
Do not judge the bag alone.
Record:
- feed used;
- weekly body weight;
- mortality;
- bird age;
- feed wastage;
- market age; and
- any major heat or disease problem.
Use our Is My Poultry Feed Working? guide and the FCR Calculator.
What should I look for when buying broiler feed?
Check:
- correct feed stage;
- manufacturer or supplier reputation;
- bag condition;
- manufacturing or batch information where available;
- freshness;
- mould or dampness;
- unusual smell;
- feed form and consistency; and
- how the flock performs after feeding.
Common broiler feeding mistakes
- Choosing feed only by crude protein percentage.
- Choosing feed only by bag price.
- Adding maize to make feed last longer.
- Adding soybean meal to complete feed without reformulation.
- Changing feed because one day’s growth looked poor.
- Ignoring water.
- Ignoring heat stress.
- Using the wrong feed stage.
- Keeping feed in a damp store.
- Changing several ingredients at once and then not knowing what caused the result.
Do broilers need supplements?
A properly formulated complete feed should already provide the required vitamins and minerals.
Supplements may be useful in specific situations, but they should solve a known need.
Do not assume every slow growing flock needs vitamins, amino acids or “boosters.” First check feed intake, water, heat, disease and management.
How much protein should broilers get?
There is no one percentage for the whole broiler cycle.
Requirements change with age, strain, market weight, feed energy and amino acid balance.
Use the current nutrition specification for the broiler strain you are raising. Ross, Cobb and other breeding companies publish stage specific guides for their birds.
Can I formulate broiler feed myself?
Yes, but formulation is more than adding maize plus a protein ingredient plus premix.
You need reliable ingredient values, accurate weighing and a formula that balances energy, digestible amino acids, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients.
If ingredient quality is uncertain, laboratory analysis can improve the accuracy of formulation.
A simple farmer checklist for broiler nutrition
- Use the correct feed stage.
- Keep water available at all times.
- Store feed dry and cool.
- Record feed used.
- Weigh birds every week.
- Calculate FCR.
- Watch heat stress.
- Check feed wastage.
- Do not modify complete feed blindly.
- Use strain specific breeder guidance when formulating.
Use the Broiler Feed Calculator to estimate feed quantity for your flock.
Bottom line
Good broiler nutrition is about balance.
Energy, digestible amino acids, fats, minerals, vitamins and water all work together. In hot weather conditions, heat and reduced feed intake make that balance even more important.
Feed the bird for what it needs: not for what looks impressive on the bag.
Nutrition note: Exact nutrient specifications vary by broiler strain, age, target weight and production goal. Use current breeder specifications or a qualified poultry nutritionist for formulation.
