BASIC INFORMATION ON BROILER FARMING
Broilers are chicken raised for meat production. Poultry meat is an important source of high quality protein for human diet. Broiler farming can be taken up as backyard farming for food and income security purpose or can be taken up as a commercial venture. Advantages of broiler farming are:Rearing period is 6-7 weeks cycle]
Broiler has efficiency
Broiler has investment
Demand of poultry meat compared to other meat.
Housing
Site selection
- Farm to be well connected to roads. - Should have the availability electricity and water at all times.
High land with loamy soil for drainage.
Enough space for further expansion. Open space for good ventilation and biosecurity. - - - -
- -
Ventilation
- - high faster feed conversion return [Short from is more the as of good
Proper ventilation for movement of fresh air into the building for removal of stale air.
Wire mesh to be fitted on side of all the walls. the upper predisposing
Wet litter due to poor ventilation is the factor for coccidiosis and other health issues.
Floor space
- May vary according to age, and number of birds.
1-1.2sqft/bird is recommended matured birds.
Floor to be strong, durable, free from dampness, smooth and rat free.
Floor to be 1ft high from soil level. Cement concrete floor is best. - -
- -
Building
- - -
- -
Should be in lengthwise.
Distance between sheds to be at least 50 feet (open house).
Width of the house not to exceed 3035ft.
Shed height should be from 10-12 ft. Roof is necessary to protect birds from rain and direct sunlight.
Litter
- - - -
the
East-West
Broilers are generally litter system.
Floor to be disinfected by bleaching powder or lime placing litter material.
Litter material such as rice hull, wood shavings dried leaves etc. can be used to cover the floor.
The depth of the
raised on deep litter size, type
direction
phenyl, before should for be - and injurious condition. with
Preparation before Chick Arrival
-
- around
- -
Building, surrounding areas and equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Cover the dry floor with litter.
Prepare and setup brooder guard. Place feeder and waters in a circle the brooder.
Operate the brooder for at least 24 hours before the chicks arrive for optimum temperature and condition. Fill the feeders and waters a few hours before the chicks arrive.
After Chick Arrival
- - -
- -
provide
Introduce chicks to feed and water. Observe chicks closely and routinely. Keep feed and water available to the chicks at all times.
Provide fresh, clean feed and water. Provide plenty of fresh air without draft.
Keep litter dry.
Adjust brooder light if needed.
Once brooder or heat lamp is removed another source of light.
Brooding
- - - become 3-4inches.
Cover the litter with paper for the first few days to avoid chicks from eating litter.
Litter is used for keeping birds clean comfortable as it absorbs moisture from droppings.
Litter should be free from materials and dust.
Litter should be kept in good
Remove wet litter if any and fresh litter material. mould, dry replace
Broiler chicks need a source of heat to keep them comfortable.
For the first week the chick environment needs to be in the range of 90-95°F.
Reduce temperature gradually by 5°F each week until broilers are 3-4 weeks old or the temperature is 70°F.
If the chicks are too warm, they can dehydrated which may lead to by the
Brooder
- box area constructed height. be material - death or growth delay.
Use thermometer for pen temperature observing chicks response to heat source-cold chicks huddle together under heat source.
Hot chicks move to the outer limits of brooder guard.
A brooder provides protection the chicks from the mother. A simple brooder is made from heavy or basket with a layer of sawdust or newspaper placed at the bottom of it for brooding small number of chicks. A newly hatched chick will require an of 20cmx20cm (8 inchx8inch) for each bird. A box of 1mx1m (3.2ftx3.2ft) will be enough for 25 chicks.
For large farms, brooder can be within the poultry shed using brooder guards and plastic curtains. Brooder Heater, bulb or hurricane lamp can used to provide heat. Put the light bulbs about 18 inches above ground. Spread saw shavings or bedding and cover with newsprint and spread feed on newsprint for first few days. Also provide fresh clean water. Feed troughs can be introduced later. The birds can be kept in the brooder until they are 2 weeks old and later released into the poultry coop or shed. guard
the heat and would receive should
Other essential Requirements
be 1.5ft in
Once the birds are over 2 weeks old and released into the shed, it is important that the following is provided for optimum growth up to marketing. Lightening
- Light should be provided 24hrs a day. - This will increase the feeding time, increase weight gain and improve feathering in broiler.
First 15 days in brooder 40, 60,100 Watt bulbs are used according to the requirements. -
Feeders and Waterers
- - water optimize
Types of drinkers
- -
One drinker can be used for 50 chicks. After four weeks, use one automatic drinker for 100-150 chicks.
Types of feeder
- -
One linear feeder for 50 chicks.
After four weeks, use one round feeder for 25 birds.
Feeds and Feeding
Broiler Starter (21%CP) – 0 to 14 days (500g
feed/chick)
Broiler Grower (19%CP) – 14
(1200g feed/chick)
Broiler Finisher (18%CP)
market (1200g/chick)
Pests and Diseases
-
Keep feeders and waterers clean all the times.
Feeders should be kept at height that is level with the birds back height.
Feed consumption is directly related to consumption.
Adequate water is growth. necessary
– to 28 28 days days to to
Sheds should be well-secured and free from predator. There is no major management and practiced. - Buy and feed medicated feed. Records Keep records of all transactions for farm inputs, mortality, flock, feed and water consumption, disease and treatment etc. These will assist in planning and better decision making. -
Marketing
disease, if proper farm hygiene is
Farmers can market their birds by selling live. All in and all out basis should be practiced in broiler farming provided there is sufficient demand however, selective harvesting can be done based on sales demand. Clean shed by disinfecting and leaving it to dry for at least one week before next batch of birds are placed.
Australian airline Qantas has posted a statutory loss before tax of US$1.17 billion (FJ$1.84bn)for the six months to December 31, 2020.
Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce called the figures stark, but not surprising.
And despite the red ink, the airline boss says he’s becoming more and more optimistic about the future.
Stark, but not surprising results says Qantas CEO Alan Joyce
“Despite the huge challenges, these results show the Group’s underlying strength,” said My Joyce on Thursday morning.
The airline notes over the six months, during which internal and international borders hamstrung Qantas’ efforts to fly, the Qantas Group managed to limit a AU$6.9bn (FJ$10.89bn) drop in revenue into a AU$1.03bn (FJ$1.62bn) underlying loss before tax.
“During the half (of 2020) we saw the second wave in Victoria and the strictest domestic travel restrictions since the pandemic began. Virtually all of our international flying and 70 per cent of domestic flying stopped, and with it went three-quarters of our revenue.”
Underlying operating cash flow was US$840 million in the six months to December 31. The airline has US$3.35bn (FJ$5.28bn) in liquidity, offering it a buffer against future financial turbulence.
While international services remain mostly off the schedules and caused Qantas significant financial pain over the last six months, a record freight performance, continuing strong performance from Qantas loyalty, and underlying positive cash flow from Qantas Group domestic services helped prop up the airline.
Included in the AU$1.17bn (FJ$41.84m)loss were redundancy and restructuring costs of US$226.3 million (FJ$357.38m) and a further $56.5m (FJ$89.22m) write-down of the Qantas A380 fleet.
An upbeat tone from the Qantas boss
In his briefing notes, the Qantas boss struck an optimistic tone. Alan Joyce said no-one could have predicted how big COVID-19 would be nor its impact.
“It’s clearly worse than anyone expected,” he said.
While noting Qantas now didn’t expect any significant international services to resume before the end of October (pushed back from July 1), Mr Joyce thinks Qantas is on the road to recovery.
“The Group’s liquidity, position in the domestic market, and progress towards restructuring gives confidence that the overall recovery plan remains on track.
This is bolstered by the latest data on vaccine effectiveness and the increased pace of rollout globally.”
In a significant boost to the Qantas Group, their domestic market share is now running at 70 per cent. Qantas is learning to live with (if not like) internal border closures and has improved its planning processes.
Since July, Qantas has kickstarted 23 new domestic routes. Many of those were intrastate regional routes that dodge border issues.
Increased certainty at Qantas
There’s also increased certainty at Qantas about resuming international flights. Most international services are now slated to restart on October 31, four months later than originally anticipated. It’s a more realistic timeline that lines up with local vaccination timelines. That can’t come soon enough for Qantas. Their international operations lost US$438m (FJ$880.33m) in the six months to December 31.
But like many other airline CEO, Alan Joyce puts faith in the vaccination program seeing border restrictions eased and people moving again.
“Despite these setbacks, the Group’s liquidity, position in the domestic market, and progress towards restructuring gives confidence that the overall recovery plan remains on track.
“This is bolstered by the latest data on vaccine effectiveness and the increased pace of rollout globally.”
Here’s a maritime zone question for all you economy followers out there. What do Goundar Shipping, Patterson Brothers Shipping, Vodafone and Vinod Patel have in common right now?
Quick answer: Kadavu.
These and other major companies are looking at the growth of business in our fourth largest island. And other islands which make up the mountainous maritime province 88 kilometres south of Suva. First impression when getting off the roll-on roll-off ferry at Vunisea, the provincial centre, is development.
There is not one Prius in sight. But there are four-wheel drives of all different types and colours. The most popular: Toyota Hilux. Vunisea has turned into a town on its own.
“Vunisea was started to serve the people of Kadavu,” says Roko Tui Kadavu Kitione Raibevu.
It has a hospital, Police Station (that also serves as their court house), Water Authority of Fiji, Post Fiji, Provincial Council office, Vunisea Primary and Secondary Schools and a growing commercial sector.
Four shops sell everything from diving gear to matches and fuel. Biana Bayview Accommodation is the place to stay.
A temporary market area was developed throught the help of UN Women.
The poulation in Kadavu has increased since the pandemic, Mr Raibevu says. This boosted economic activity.
And this time not from money growing marijuana in the rugged forested interior, a longtime activity which makes Police headlines. Mr Raibevu says: “People are moving back into the island because of the increase in the price of kava. “Also due to COVID-19 there were so many job losses some of the Kadavu natives were working in hotels – in the tourism sector.
“They moved back into the island and started to utilise the land, so the population has increased.” Mr Raibevu says their focus is to assist those who are unemployed because of the pandemic by allowing them to return and use the land available.
Kadavu is known for genuine kava and dalo.
But it is kava which is most prominent as the ferries return to Suva. With this economic activity companies like Vodafone, Vinod Patel and the major ferry operators are expanding their services. Mr Raibevu said: “Now you can do at least two return trips during the week.
“You can have a business in Kadavu and live on one of the bigger islands.”
Owner of Island Express Logistics Viliame Naqelevuki is a fine example of a remote Kadavu investor. The Tailevu businessman also owns and operates a shop in Kadavu while living in Suva. Mr Naqelevuki said: “When we first invested, we had our doubts so instead of owning a home here we stayed at temporary accommodation.
“With our main business in Suva, we did not think it possible that the concept would work.
“With Goundar Shipping Limited and Patterson Brothers Shipping
Company Limited both running again throughout Kadavu, it adds value to sustaining the business. “We are already looking to expand our outlets as well as bring our logistic services here.
“There has been a rapid increase of people moving back and this is a way to capitalise on that.”
Fisheries, boats
Eroni Sukainaivalu, 30, is one of the many younger people who have returned to Kadavu.
He said fishing and boat services are lucrative businesses to consider.
“Although I was a victim of the pandemic, I am happy it forced me to return to the village,” he said. “I have been able to survive on running boat tours.” Mr Sukainaivalu said he earns more than $400 on a good day.
There are dozens of such boat operators alone at Vunisea. They service villagers who come off the ferries from Suva.
He said they rely on the Goundar and Patterson ferries to bring them business.
It is not always only passengers but cargo as well.
He said he was able to invest on his 24-foot fiberglass longboat through money from his kava farm.
Agriculture
Vendors from the local market usually work with small boat owners who transport produce to nearby islands.
Mosese Tuvoci, who has been a fulltime market vendor for more than 10 years, said since the recent cyclones they have relied more on these boat operators. Kadavu has been hit twice.
“They have helped make it possible for the locals to get a variety of vegetables to choose from,” he said. “We have had to get our coconuts from Taveuni, while our supplies replenish.
“Ten years ago, I was farming and selling part-time. It has been 10 years now and I am a fulltime vendor. I still have my farm but am at the market full time.
“I can tell you I have earned more money here than when I was working in Suva as a civil servant.”