Optimisation: formulating to meet the objectives of the business
The general objectives of nutrient content that maximises growth rate or minimises feed conversion ratio, do not take account of the fundamental cost of input or the value of the output when determining profitability for the business.
A Dynamic Approach to Feed Formulation
If simulation models that account for the changes in broiler genotypes can accurately predict feed intake and hence growth rate and carcass composition, then broiler producers have a valuable tool with which to predict the nutrient requirements that would maximise profit for the broiler enterprise.
EFG Modelling Workshop, South Australia
EFG workshop participants learned about the theory of food intake and the consequences of using feeds of different composition when fed to broilers of different genotypes and sexes kept in different environmental conditions.
Predicting food intake in broilers and laying hens
The accurate prediction of food intake by a given animal on a given food when housed in a given environment makes it possible to define the optimum economic levels of energy and essential nutrients in feeds for broilers and laying hens thereby improving the method of choosing nutrient specifications to be used in least cost feed formulation.
Optimising the feeding of commercial broilers
The broiler growth model described here predicts food intake accurately under most circumstances that would be experienced in a commercial broiler operation, making it possible now to optimise the feeding programme of commercial broilers under a wide range of biological, environmental and economic circumstances, using many different objective functions.