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Actual growth data

If this is a mixed flock, then the variables marked with an asterisk (*) are averages of the male and female results that have been weighted by the daily percentage males in the flock.

  • Day
    The number of days since the start of the simulation. As a simulation can be initiated at any live weight, and not only at day old, Day does not necessarily represent age.
  • %male
    The proportion of males in the flock, in percent, on this day, which is an adjustment of the initial value by male and female mortality and any partial cropping that may have taken place.
  • Restricted
    An R is included in the Restricted feeding column if feed has been restricted.
  • Feed name
    The name of the current feed. On the days on which feed intake was controlled, the feed names are marked with an asterisk (*). If the feed was blended, then the ratio of the first feed is shown in brackets.

Growth data

  • Growth data
    • Live Weight
      Live weight of a bird
    • Weight gain
      Daily weight gain
    • Food in cum
      Cumulative food intake
    • Food in daily
      Daily food intake
  • FCR
    • cum.
      Cumulative food conversion ratio, calculated by dividing the cumulative food intake by the live weight.
    • daily
      Daily food conversion ratio, calculated by dividing the daily food intake by weight gain.

Commercial

  • Commercial
    • Live Weight
      Live weight of a bird
    • Weight gain (av)
      The average liveweight gain of the bird, calculated as (liveweight-initial weight)/days
    • FCR cum (flock)
      Cumulative food conversion ratio, calculated by dividing the cumulative food intake of the flock by the flock liveweight
    • PEF
      Performance Efficiency Factor, calculated as (liveweight * % survivors * 100) / (market age * food intake/liveweight)
    • Feed Cost/kg liveweight
      Feed cost per kilogram liveweight of the bird, calculated by dividing the per bird feed cost by the average liveweight per bird
    • Cost/kg sold (flock)
      The total costs of the flock (includes cost of feeding, variable and fixed costs) divided by the total number of kilograms sold
    • Food in cum
      Cumulative food intake
    • Food in daily
      Daily food intake
  • Cum. Mortality (%)
    • Male and Female
      Cumulative mortality % of both male and female birds
  • Daily mortality (%)
    • Male and Female
      Daily mortality % of both male and female birds

Economics

  • Income – feed cost
    The income from the flock less cost of feeding
  • Income – (feed + variable costs)
    Income from the flock less variable and feeding costs
  • Income – total costs
    Income from the flock less fixed, variable and feeding costs

These are shown in units of (/flock cum) and (/flock day), where the latter is calculated by dividing the former by (day + cleanout). In each case the income is calculated by dividing the flock into groups, each corresponding to a crop in the cropping schedule, and calculating a potential income for each group using the Revenue basis specified for each crop.

Biological diary

This is one of the most powerful of the features of the Icon EFG Broiler model. It is a diagnostic feature, which informs the user whether or not the bird has been able to achieve its potential on each day of the growing period, and what the consequences have been in terms of carcass fatness in achieving that rate of growth. Where the potential is not achieved, the diagnostic facility describes, cryptically, the factor(s) causing the growth of the broiler to be lower than the potential for that day. By interpreting the cause of the constraint to potential growth, the user is able to identify methods by which the growth of the bird may be improved.

If the flock consists of both male and female birds, then these values are shown separately for each sex. If the flock consists of birds of only one sex, then only the columns for that sex are visible.

  • 1st Lim. A.A.
    The most-limiting amino acid (based on the biological value of the feed protein being offered and the requirement of the bird at that stage of growth). This amino acid may not always limit growth rate, but will be the amino acid responsible for determining the desired food intake to satisfy protein requirements.
  • Pot. attained?
    Indicates whether or not the bird has been able to achieve its potential growth rate on that day
  • Excess fat?
    Whether the bird has had to overconsume energy in an attempt to consume sufficient of the limiting amino acid, and hence become fatter than the genetically-determined degree of fatness
  • Lim by heat loss?
    Whether the environment was too hot to allow the potential growth rate from being achieved on that day
  • Lim by bulk?
    Whether Bulk limited growth rate on that day
  • Lim by space?
    Whether Space limited growth rate on that day
  • Energy limiting?
    Whether dietary energy was limiting growth rate on that day

In order to interpret this diagnostic output, it is necessary to be aware of the way in which the Icon EFG Broiler model calculates voluntary food intake, given the genotype, current state, food composition and the environment in which the bird is kept. The requirements of the bird for each amino acid are calculated and compared with the concentrations of these in the food being offered. The most limiting amino acid is calculated, from which the desired food intake for protein may be found. A similar process allows calculation of the desired food intake for energy. The greater of these amounts defines the desired food intake of the bird. This is then compared with the amount of the given food the bird is capable of consuming, given the bulk of the food and the environmental conditions being imposed.

If an amino acid is the limiting nutrient, the bird will over consume energy (Exc) in an attempt to obtain sufficient of the limiting nutrient, which it may (Equ) or may not (Lim) be able to achieve. This over consumption of energy will cause the bird to deposit more fat than is desired, thereby increasing the lipid index. If the bird cannot achieve the desired food intake, the limiting factors may be bulk (Yes) or heat (Yes), or both. (For a more complete description of the theory of food intake regulation used in this model, see Emmans, 1981 and 1989).

Indices

  • Indices
    • Nitrogen Excretion
      Daily N excretion per bird
    • Energy conversion
      The amount of energy required per unit of gain
    • Lipid Index
      The lipid index is a measure of how fat the bird is in relation to its genetically determined fatness. The index is calculated as the weight of the lipid content of the bird as a percentage of the genetically determined lipid content. An index of over 100% shows that the bird is fatter than the genetic norm; that of < 100% shows that it is leaner. The magnitude of this variable is therefore an indicator of the success of the feeding programme and the environment in which the broiler is housed.
  • FCE
    • cum.
      Cumulative food conversion efficiency, calculated as: liveweight, g/ cumulative food intake per bird, kg
    • daily
      Daily liveweight gain, g / daily food intake, kg

Processing

The weights of feathers, carcass, giblets, abdominal fat and dressed weight are displayed. Abdominal fat as a percentage of the empty body weight is also displayed.

Portions, %

The weights of carcass, breast, leg, thigh, drum and wing are displayed as percentages of the liveweight of the broiler at that time, for each sex if applicable.

Portions, weight

The weights and proportions of the physical components of the body, i.e. wings, breast etc. depend to a large degree on the way in which these are defined by the processor. Breed differences may also exist. The weights given cannot therefore be exact under all conditions.

Meat

Breast, leg, wing and total meat of the broiler.

Energy

Displays factors pertaining to the heat balance in the bird. The ME intake is given, followed by the heat production of the bird and energy retention (the energy retained as protein and lipid).

Management

This summarises the temperature, humidity, thermoneutral zone,husbandry factor, hours of light, growth constraint, cumulative mortality and stocking density which apply on each day of the simulation. This table has been added simply for convenient reference.

Body chemistry, weight

The weights of body protein, water, ash, lipid, feathers and gut fill are displayed.

Body chemistry, %

Body protein, water, ash, lipid and feathers are displayed as percentages of liveweight.

Body chemistry, growth

The growth rates (g/d) of the different chemical components of the body are displayed on this screen. These include protein, water, ash, lipid and feather.

Broiler Model > Results

  • Results Tables
  • Report basics
  • Economics summary report
  • Potential growth data
  • Summary reports by time, weight or feed
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  • Viewing a graph
  • Amino acid requirements
  • Actual growth data

Broiler Model Sections

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  • Results
  • General

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References

Review a complete list of references upon which our models are based.

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