Distribution of broiler birds
The details about the total number of broiler farms and the average number of broilers per farm under different groups (farm size groups) are presented in Table 2. There were 5 farms each in the small, medium and large-sized category in Morena district. The mean values for a number of broilers in small, medium and large size farms (Mean±S.D.) were 1160±427.78, 2940±684.10 and 5500±500 birds respectively. The average number of broilers worked out to be 9600 per farm and it varied from 1160 birds for small farms to 5500 birds for large farms.
Production performance
For production performance, the data on average feed conversion ratio, livability percentage, age at marketing and weight at marketing were calculated and are presented in Table 3.
Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
The mean Feed conversion ratio for small, medium and large size farms were 1.87±0.02, 1.83±0.01 and 1.79±0.01 respectively with an overall average of 1.83 (Table 3).
Rajendran (1998) and
Shaikh and Zala (2011) recorded overall feed conversion ratio of 2.07 and 1.97 respectively which is higher than the present study which may be attributed to improvement in breed, feed and better healthcare for broiler poultry bird. FCR was found as 1.86 in Wayanad, Kerala
(Sudarshan et al., 2021). FCR was found as 1.69 in case of basal diet and 2 percent commercial herbal growth promoter
(Mahanta 2017). FCR was found 1.60 in farms of Jaunpur, UP
(Singh, 2016) and FCR was found as 1.58, 1.54 and 1.48 in summer, rainy and winter season, respectively
(Govind et al., 2023). In these studies, the FCR was found similar but partially lower than the present study.
Livability percentage
The mean livability percentage for small, medium and large size farms were 95.54±0.91, 95.72±0.40 and 96.19±0.18 respectively with an overall average of 95.82 percent (Table 3).
Rajendran (1998) has documented livability of 92.91 percent and 93.26 per cent individually in small and large size farms which is lower than the present study higher livability in present study may be attributed to better management practices during the present time.
Shaikh and Zala (2011) stated that the livability percentage of 94.42, 94.54 and 94.72 in small, medium and large size broiler poultry units individually is closer to the present findings.
Al-Dawood and Al-atiyat ( 2022) have found livability of the three Strains of broiler as 95.13% (Ross), 95.64% (Lohmann) and 92.94% (Hubbard) Which was found similar with present study.
Weight at marketing
The mean weight at the marketing of broilers for small, medium and large size farms were 2.46±0.05 kg, 2.36±0.05 kg and 2.32± 0.04 Kg respectively with an overall average weight of 2.38 kg (Table 3). It can be seen from the table that body weight at marketing gradually decreased as the farm size increased. The weight of marketing recorded in this study is better than the weights recorded by
Rajendran (1998) and
Shaikh and Zala (2011).
Mahajan (2021) has found that weight at marketing in major markets in US is 2.72 kg. The body weight was found as 1580.2 with basal dose and 1 per ent giloe
(Tiwari and Rahal, 2019). The overall improvement in body weight in this study might be due to better quality feed, feeding practices, better healthcare and improved breed and strain of broiler birds.
Age at marketing
The mean Age at marketing of broilers for small, medium and large size farms were 43.8±0.84 days, 43.4±0.55 days and 43 ±0.71 days respectively with an overall value of 43.4 days (Table 3). Age at marketing in the present study was found to be lower than the findings of
Rajendran (1998) and
Saravanan (1998) however
Shaikh and Zala (2011) reported the age at marketing at 42.57 days, 42.38 days and 42.05 days in small medium and large farms, respectively which is closer to the present finding. After selling of broiler, other cleaning and disinfection activities are done to start the new production cycle. The total production cycle is considered 56 days. It is made up of two periods’ growth period (43.4 days) and additional activities period (12.6 days). The economics is analyzed for 56 days total period.
Economic analysis
Investment on the creation of fixed assets
For calculating investment on the creation of fixed assets actual cost incurred on the construction of broiler sheds and purchase of equipment were taken into consideration. The details are presented in Table 4 which indicates that the cost of broiler shed construction was the major item constituting 79.97, 80.82 and 80.98 per cent in small, medium and large farms, respectively. It was followed by investment on equipment which was 20.03, 19.18 and 19.02 per cent respectively for small, medium and large size farms.
Cost appraisal of raising broiler birds
The total cost per broiler and the breakup of the total cost into different components that constitute the total cost are presented in Table 5 and 6 respectively. The average total cost was ₹ 171.04±7.57, ₹ 159.51±1.92 and ₹ 153.51±2.25 per broiler respectively for small, medium and large size farms with a value of ₹ 161.35 for a sample as a whole. The average total cost for small, medium and large size farms is higher than the cost reported by
Rajendran et al., (2008), Singh et al., (2010), Shaikh and Zala (2011) and
Balaumurgan and Manoharan (2013). On reviewing the size-wise total average cost per broiler, it can be seen that it was highest in small farms followed by medium and large size farms. This finding shows that the cost of production per bird decreased with an increase in farm size. It was also observed that on an average variable cost formed 97.02 per cent and fixed cost 2.98 per cent of total cost. On studying the factor-wise cost on an average, it is observed that the feed cost accounted for the maximum share (61.81%) of the total cost, followed by chick cost (25.09%) and labor wages (4.2%). Thus, these three major components constituted 91.1 per cent of the total cost of broiler production. The findings on feed cost, chick cost and labor cost are in agreement with the findings of
Singh et al., (2010) where these constituted 82.99 per cent of variable cost. The findings on feed cost and chick cost are in agreement with the findings of
Rajendran et al., (2008), Shaikh and Zala (2011) who have documented that feed cost and chick cost constituted two major components of total cost however differ from them in case of labour wages, in present study labor wages were the third major component of total cost of broiler production in place of depreciation on building component.
Returns from broiler farms
Gross returns
The returns realized from various sources are depicted in Table 7, revealing that on average the returns from the sale of broilers amounted to ₹ 183.62 (99.11%) per broiler. The next source of income was the sale of manure ₹ 1.24 (0.67%) and the sale of empty gunny bags ₹ 0.41 (0.22%). These observations are in agreement with the findings of
Singh et al., (2010), Shaikh and Zala (2011) and
Balamurugan and Manoharan (2013) for income from the sale of broilers and not in agreement with other income sources (sale of manure and sale of empty gunny bags) where they have documented sale of empty gunny bag as a second major source of income contradictory to present study where the sale of manure was found a second major source of income after sale of broiler. The gross returns per broiler decreased with an increase in farm size, which might be due to lowered body weight and reduced age at marketing in medium and large farms than in small farms. These observations are agreement with the earlier report of
Singh et al., (2010), Shaikh and Zala (2011) and
Balamurugan and Manoharan (2013).
Net returns and Benefit-cost ratio
Net returns per broiler and benefit-cost ratios were calculated and are presented in Table 8. The net returns per bird over the total cost were the highest on large farms (₹ 28.32), followed by medium (₹ 24.29) and small (₹ 18.62) farms with an overall figure of ₹ 23.92. On perusal of data it was observed that as farm size increased, the net returns per broiler also increased. The increasing trend of net income could mainly be attributed to the economies of scale on the large farms. This is in agreement with the earlier observations of
Singh et al., (2010), Shaikh and Zala (2011) and
Balamurugan and Manoharan (2013). Dwivedi et al (2020) has found the B:C ratio as 1.44 for all the farms. It was also observed in the present study the B:C ratio for all farms found as 1.15 and it is increased with an increase in farm size, which indicates that the large farms were economically more viable.
Higher employment and income from broiler business
We have found that the average time taken by the broiler for the market was 56 days and the average number of birds per farm was 9600. The average total cost per bird was Rs 161.35 and the total cost per farm was Rs 15, 48,960 and gross return per bird was found as Rs 185.27 and the gross return per farm was Rs 1778592. The net return per bird was found as Rs 23.92 and the net return per farm is found as Rs 2,29,632. Rs 6.84 (0.16 hours) was spent on labour per bird in 56 days. Thus Rs 65664 per farm was spent on the employment of labour in 56 days. The average cost of one man day was found as Rs 342.22 (for 8 hours). One production cycle provides 191.88 man-days of employment. On the basis of 8 hours working, 3.43 persons have been employed per farm. Thus, a high income is generated for employment in the broiler business (Table 9).
ANOVA table for analysis
The study also used ANOVA for analyzing income and farm size, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and farm size, BCR and farm size, cost and farm size and net return and farm size for each of the small farms (with 1-1999 birds), medium farms (with 2000-5000 birds) and large farms (5000 and above) in the Morena district (Table 10). It was found that there is significant relationship between income and farm size, BCR and farm size. This implies that with an increase of farm size, the income or the cost return of the farms and benefit-Cost ratio increases significantly. However, FCR and farm size do have not such significant relationship.
Challenges in poultry business
The important challenges in poultry business are poor infrastructure for production and processing leading to hindrance in the export of poultry products. Occurrence of Salmonella, Avian influenza and other communicable diseases in poultry are main factors for economic losses to farmers. High maize and soya price fluctuation leading to low availability and poor quality of poultry feed at reasonable prices and lack of undefined standards practices leading to poor output from this enterprise.
Government policies for poultry promotion in India
Keeping in mind the importance of poultry in farmers’ prosperity, the Central government is supporting poultry farming through the following schemes in all states.
a. Animal husbandry infrastructure development fund (AHIDF)
Hon’ble Prime Minister has announced for setting up of Rs. 15000 crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package in 2020. One of the objectives of the scheme is to fulfill the objective of protein-enriched quality food requirement of the growing population of the country and prevent malnutrition. The following activities have been included for availing credit under AHIDF.
i. Technologically assisted poultry farms (Technologically assisted, layer farm with an environmentally controlled system, broiler breeder farms with environmentally controlled system and Hatcheries with environmentally controlled facilities).
ii. Meat processing and value addition infrastructure.
iii. Establishment of animal feed plant (Poultry feed). Eligible beneficiaries farmer producer organization (FPO) b) Private companies c) Individual entrepreneurs d) Section 8 companies e) micro small and medium enterprises availing credit facilities will get 90% loan for which 3% interest subvention is provided by the central government. The central government is also providing a credit guarantee of 25% of total borrowings for those projects which are fulfilling the definition of MSME projects.
a. National livestock mission
Under national livestock mission, for the development of entrepreneurs in rural poultry, the central government is providing a 50% subsidy upto Rs 25.00 Lakhs to establish parent farm, rural hatchery, brooder cum mother unit for production of hatching eggs with minimum 1000 parent layers and chicks and rearing of the said chick upto four weeks in the mother unit. The eligible entities are self help group (SHG)/farmers producer organizations (FPO)/farmers cooperatives organizations (FCOs)/Joint liability groups (JLGs) and section 8 companies.M.P.government mainly focuseson livelihood security through providing subsidies up to 75% onthe rearing of birds for small rural poultry farmers of the state.
