Thread by @BashorunGa_

BREEDERS MANAGEMENT & ECONOMICS
Wondering why there is incessant increase in the price of Broiler DOC?
Wondering how your broiler chicks are produced?
Do you want to invest in a breeder farm?
This thread will be discussing the nitty gritty involved in setting up a breeder farm.

A farm where chicken are raised to produce eggs that later become the "Broiler chicks" you raised on your farm for 6 weeks is called a broiler breeder farm. We can also have a Layers breeder farm where hatchable eggs are hatched for Pullets.But my focus today is a broiler breeder

A breeder farm consists of parent stock. Parent stock are adult male(roosters) and female(hen)
Usually, the male are just 10% of the females placed under same roof for the purpose of mating to make the hens lay fertilized eggs that are taken to the hatchery.

Parent stocks are costly and setting up a breeder farm is highly capital intensive.
A day old PS hen is sold for between #2250-#2500 depending on the breed. The common breeds in Nigeria are Arbor Acres(+), Ross(308:500:708), Marshal, Cobbs(500), Hubbard and Anak(PLG).

To rear one breeder from day old till laying, I advise a minimum budget of #5500/bird
Broiler breeder management is similar to management of commercial layers that lay the eggs you consume,only diff here is that breeder hens are allowed to mate either naturally or artificially.

PS can be reared in the deep litter, slated floor or breeder cage. When caged, Artificial Insemination is required to fertilize the hens.
The floor space requirements will be 1860 cm2 in deep litter, 1400 cm2 on slat & 450 cm2 in cages for females and 700 cm2 in cages for male.

REARING & MANAGEMENT
Day old male parent chicks are supplied dubbed and de-toed. Males are reared separately from 0-21 weeks of age.
It’s advisable you start with 12% males in case of natural mating and 8% in case of artificial insemination.

At the beginning of the laying (23 weeks), introduce 10-12 males per 100 females(10%).
Replace weak, lame and sick males promptly. In case of A.I. maintain at least 5% males which can yield about 0.5 ml neat semen per ejaculate with not less than 60% motility.

At any stage, the flock must be having at least 80% uniformity.

VACCINATION:
Vaccination is similar to the programme followed for commercial layers. its only that, the vaccines are more expensive. Estimate #500 as vaccination cost for each bird. Just some special vaccines.

FEEDING:
The feeds given to broiler parent stock are more or less similar to that of commercial layers in respect of major nutrients.

Breeder feeds, especially the breeder hen feed is enriched with all micronutrients like trace minerals and vitamins in order to obtain high rates of fertility and hatchability besides peak egg production.
Moreover, the breeder feeds must be practically free from all mycotoxins.

EGG HANDLING & MANAGEMENT
During the laying phase, the goal is to maximize production of fertile hatching eggs in a cost-effective manner. You must not only meet the nutritional and health needs of the parent stock, but also ensure that their diet, environment and health status

promote good quality chick production from their hatching eggs. The key to optimizing reproductive performance lies in achieving consistency in husbandry and environmental conditions in the laying house. High peak in egg production can't be achieved without having a high degree

of uniformity in sexual maturity – a function of bodyweight control which is heavily influenced by environmental conditions and feeding regime

Fertilized eggs will be collected at least 48-50g weight or from 25 weeks of age whichever is later.
Collect eggs at hourly interval during before 12pm and once in 2 hours in the after-noon in deep litter and wire floor sheds. In cages collect eggs 2 or 3 times a day.

HATCHERY OPERATION
For small scale breeder and starters, you can outsource hatching at the different commercial hatcheries majorly located in ibadan. Ensure the hatchery is highly bio-secured. before you agree terms, kindly ask around for history of the hatchery before taking

your fertilized eggs to them. Eggs should be set according to the demand or order for chicks.
Depending upon the size of the hatchery, the eggs are set 1 to 6 times a week.
Brand your carton to impose quality in your client. Don't sell unbranded chicks.

PRODUCTION ECONOMICS FOR 1000 AA+ PS
REARING PHASE(In present reality)
Procurement of 1000 Broiler Female PS=#2,250,000 (@#2,250/DOC)
Procurement of 100 male rooster =#0 (10% roosters supplied freely)
Drugs and Vaccine =#500,000 (Budget #500/Bird)

Feeding Cost from Day 0-25 weeks=#2,662,000
NB:It is estimated that 1 bird will consume approximately 11kg of feed from day old till laying.
I also assume the average cost of feed per kg at #220/kg.(I will advise self milling to ensure good feed.)

Labour Cost=#175,000 (#25k for one farm attendant on first 7 months)
Running Cost(Gen,Water,Ligthings and Transp)=#100,000(Budget #10/bird)
Total Cost=#5,687,000(Appr 5.7m)
The 5.7m is your cost to rear 1000 from day old till laying. Approximately, 23-30 weeks.

HATCHARY & PROFIT ANALYSIS

WEEKLY PRODUCTION & SALES
Assume bird laying at 75%, 750 Eggs per day
Egg Weekly =5250 eggs
Assume 80% hatchability=4200 eggs hatched
Assume 2% of hatched eggs as Bad hatch=4116 Chicks
Extra Chicks per carton is 2% of good chicks=4034

Total Chicks for sale=4034
Total Numbers in Carton=81 cartons(51 chicks in a carton)
Assume average price of DOC at #250/chick
Total sales=#1,008,420
WEEKLY OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
Assume laying breeder will consume 150g per day
For 1100 PS,165kg of feed will be consumed daily.

At an average estimate cost of feed at #235/kg.
1100 PS Daily Feeding cost=#38775
Weekly feeding Cost=#271425
Drugs and Vaccine Cost/week=27500 (@ #25/bird)
Hatching Cost=#105000 (@ #25/egg) for 4200 eggs/week
Transportation cost=#42000 (@ #10/egg)

Unbranded Carton=#16200(@ #200/carton) for 81 cartons
Labour & MSc=#63000
Total Operational Expenses=#525060
Profit=#1,008,420-#525060=#483360
PROFIT:#483360 WEEKLY
This is the least I believe you could realize if you invest in a 1000 breeder farm.

All assumptions are on the worst case scenario.
I have facility to rear 3000 PS on my farm.
I have full payment for 2000 parent stock at CHI Ibadan, Intrested investor can DM for partnership.
Fund is needed for feeding.I am open to discussion on roles and sharing formula. Thanks