Optimising feed costs requires a multi-factorial approach that goes far beyond simply managing the optimisation of feed recipes using formulation software. It requires precise knowledge of the raw materials used, considerable expertise in feed digestibility and an appropriate choice of nutritional strategies to be implemented according to the zootechnical objectives set.
Poultry Market Manager
TECHNA
Feed Formulation Manager
TECHNA
RAW MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS & VARIABILITY CONTROL
The raw materials used in animal nutrition are numerous, diverse and complementary. Studying their intrinsic characteristics is fundamental to understanding the nutritional potential of each one, as well as identifying the anti-nutritional components that can limit their use in feed. Strategies adapted to the nature of the anti-nutritional factors, such as plant selection, the application of heat treatment or the incorporation of enzymes into the feed, are known levers for maximising the animal’s use of the nutritive compounds in the raw materials.
Controlling the quality of raw materials through regular chemical or NIR analyses is another essential element in guaranteeing a stable, high-performance feed. It enables the measurement and consideration of the raw materials’ actual nutrient content, which can vary to a greater or lesser extent from one supply to another. For example, the simple fact of taking into account a one-point drop in moisture in the maize formulation matrix results in a saving of around €1/t of feed. This is due to the higher energy value provided by the drier maize.
This detailed knowledge of raw materials and the control of their variability through the use of evolving raw material matrices when formulating feed is the first lever for optimising feed costs.
FEED DIGESTIBILITY IS THE KEY TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE FEEDS
The nutritional contribution of raw materials is only optimised if the bird is able to absorb these nutrients through the intestinal epithelium.
The digestibility of a feed depends on several factors. Depending on their structural and nutritional composition, not all raw materials have the same capacity to be digested by the animal. Added to this is the physiological stage of the bird, which will also have an impact on the digestibility of the raw materials contained in the feed. A study conducted over the last 20 years on our research farm examining the digestibility of various feedstuffs in 21-day-old broilers and adult birds reveals significant differences in their ability to digest and utilize different ingredients. These variations depend on the birds’ physiological stage and the specific feedstuff, as illustrated by the example of wheat and maize (Graph 1).
When optimising a range of broiler feed, taking into account the capacity of young animals to digest raw materials less efficiently is an important lever for feed performance. As shown in Graph 2, formulating poultry feed for growing broilers using metabolisable energy values derived from adult bird digestibility data can significantly affect overall feed costs by worsening the feed conversion ratio.
To address this issue, TECHNA has developed a Broiler Metabolisable Energy (Broiler ME) value specifically tailored for growing broilers. This ensures an adequate energy supply, accounting for their digestive capacity, which differs from one raw material to another and is also more limited than that of an adult animal. Working on feed formulation to adapt it to the specific physiological characteristics of growing broilers ensures that feed performance is maintained, whatever the composition of the feed.
Finally, the optimal functioning of the digestive tract plays a central and decisive role in maximising the value of the feed ingested by the animal. The structural and functional integrity of the digestive tract is therefore sought through the dynamic balance between intestinal flora, immunity and digestive integrity. As a result, the digestive tract emerges as the key competitive factor in the poultry industry.
Drawing on its knowledge of the physiological effects of essential oils and plant extracts, TECHNA offers Aviance, a combination of aromatic phenolic compounds protected by an innovative coating, which increases the surface area of absorption in the duodenum and jejunum. The synthesis of numerous French and international trials indicates an improvement of 2.90% and 3.50% respectively in growth and feed conversion. Thus, using Aviance in a nutritional matrix could generate a gain of €4 to €5 for equivalent performance.
All these prerequisites make it possible to work accurately and reliably on the nutritional requirements of the animals and to study the various possible strategies for refining the overall feed cost depending on the context.
MODELLING NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THROUGH META-ANALYSIS OF OVER 30 TRIALS
The compilation of over 30 nutritional trials in the form of a meta-analysis makes it possible to predict broiler performance (weight, technical FCR, fillet and thigh yield) according to two nutritional criteria: Broiler Metabolisable Energy and Digestible Lysine. These prediction equations are incorporated into our Wefeed Projection decision-support software. However, the results need to be modulated to take account of the effect of the terrain on station rearing conditions.
The results of the Wefeed Projection simulations show how important it is to take into account the various links in the production chain when choosing the right nutritional standards. The combination of energy and digestible lysine, which is the most economical in terms of feed price (Graph 3), does not correspond to the most efficient nutritional scenario for optimising the cost price of live animals (Graph 4).
CONCLUSIONS
Feed cost management must be approached holistically, a principle at the heart of TECHNA’s longstanding expertise in precision nutrition. By characterizing the nutritional profile of raw materials and controlling their intrinsic variability while considering the broiler’s digestive capacity, it becomes possible to develop an optimal nutritional strategy that achieves zootechnical goals at the lowest cost.
About Emmanuel Amprou
Emmanuel Amprou is a graduate engineer from UniLaSalle in France. For over 20 years, he has been supporting poultry industry stakeholders to improve their competitiveness, with a particular focus on the choice of production methods and nutritional strategies. His work focuses on developing tailored solutions that address real-world challenges, balancing zootechnical and environmental performance, animal welfare, and economic profitability.About Nadège Moreau
With a degree in Animal Production from l’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, France, Moreau brings 10 years of expertise in animal feed formulation. She specializes in raw material nutritional characterization and works closely with feed manufacturers to optimize their formulation strategies for greater performance.
