Broiler production at central and southern region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Forty one farmers from villages of Mymensingh and Barguna districts in Bangladesh were enumerated to explore knowledge in broiler production. Data were collected on day old chick weight, live broiler weight at market age, feed consumption, mortality rate, farmers' characters and farm management parameters. Few farmers received short training on broiler farming in Barguna (38.10%) and Mymensingh district (15%), most of the farmers did not take training. About 75% farmers in Mymensingh and 33.30% farmers in Barguna district had experiences in broiler farming for 3 years and above. Farm size was smaller in Barguna district than that of Mymensingh district. Most of the broiler farmers were rearing Ross broiler bird in Mymensingh district and Hubbard Classic strain in Barguna district. Most of the farmers had secondary level education. All broiler houses were open sided and about 85% broiler house in Mymensingh district and 85.71% in Barguna district had gable type roof made by corrugated iron sheet (CIS). In Mymensingh district, all farmers were using rice husk as litter materials but most of the farmers (95.20%) of Barguna district were using sawdust for the same purpose. All farmers in Barguna district were using the disposed litter as fertilizer though most of the farmers in Mymensingh district were using the same materials as fish feed. Farmers were using electric brooder and brooding their birds for a period of 7 days while most of the farmers were using hurricane lantern for standby power supply. During loading the day old chicks in the houses most of the farmers used oral saline, vitamin C with water in both districts. Farmers were using Newcastle and Infectious Bursal Disease vaccine for the commercial hybrid broiler birds and 100% farmers were using growth promoter for rapid gain of body weight of broiler birds in study area. Live body weight at marketing age, feed conversion ratio and mortality rate of broiler birds were 1581.58±46.08 gm, 1.84±0.07 and 5.22±0.95%, respectively in Mymensingh district. In Barguna district the same were 1502.38±35.27gm, 1.93±0.04 and 3.51±0.65%, respectively. It might be concluded from the above discussion that a) Broiler farming operation was running by secondary level educated and untrained farmers. b) Farmers were sincere in vaccination of their birds but dishonest to use of growth promoter. They were using corrugated iron sheet made roof in broiler house which could be replaced by suitable locally available materials, like straw, tree leaves etc, to protect birds from heat stress. c) FCR value and mortality rate was high. Quality feed, quality chicks, better management practices could help to increase profitability by reducing FCR value and mortality rate.