Addressing the basics in broiler production

Earlier this year, the Poultry Science Association issued a press release detailing work carried out by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension that looked at how simple changes and reviews could save broiler producers money. Among the recommendations were that in order to reduce electrical usage, fans, shutters and screens should be kept clean, as this helps to reduce the static pressure that fans are working against.

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Confucius said: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated”.

In any aspect of life, if we have the basics right, it should be far easier to make everything else fall into place.

Earlier this year, the Poultry Science Association issued a press release detailing work carried out by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension that looked at how simple changes and reviews could save broiler producers money.

There was nothing earth-shattering in the report, but often the simple things are overlooked and failure to get the basics right always has a cost.

Light bulb moment! 

Among the recommendations were that in order to reduce electrical usage, fans, shutters and screens should be kept clean, as this helps to reduce the static pressure that fans are working against. Routine cleaning and maintenance should be carried out on evaporative cooling pads, to reduce the static pressure that tunnel fans are working against. The study also recommended replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient varieties.

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension also suggested that, to reduce fuel usage, air leakage should be minimized, static pressure tests should be carried out, choice of circulation fans should be appropriate, and tunnel doors should be installed as should migration fences. None of the above is rocket science, but nevertheless offers growers the opportunity to reduce their expenditure on utilities. And once the basics have been addressed, there will be time to look at other aspects of production and some additional resources with which to do this. 

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