Feeding, feed formulation and water management
Domain 4 – Feeding, feed formulation and water management
The exam tests nutrient requirements, common feed ingredients, the Pearson square, and clean water supply for small flocks.
Core rules
- Nutrients: energy (maize, broken rice), protein (soybean meal, groundnut cake, fish meal), minerals (limestone, bone meal, shell grit), vitamins and salt. Crude protein guide: chick 20–22%, grower 16–18%, layer 16–18%, broiler 22–24%; layer calcium 3–4%.
- Feed ingredients: maize is energy-rich but low in protein; soybean meal is the best plant protein; fish meal is a good animal protein but limit it to avoid fishy taint in eggs. Use local ingredients only after checking quality; never feed mouldy grain.
- Water: clean, cool water available at all times; a bird drinks about 2–3 times its feed weight. Clean waterers daily; in hot weather provide extra waterers in shade.
- Formulation: use Pearson square for two ingredients, or least-cost software for many. Always add a mineral–vitamin premix and salt at recommended levels.
Worked example
Form 100 kg of layer mash at 18% crude protein using maize (9% CP) and soybean meal (44% CP). Pearson square: parts soybean = 18 − 9 = 9; parts maize = 44 − 18 = 26; total = 35. Maize = 26/35 × 100 = 74.3 kg; soybean meal = 9/35 × 100 = 25.7 kg. This gives 18% CP before adding limestone, premix and salt, which must be included at the expense of some maize.
Traps
- Mixing feeds by volume (mugs, baskets) instead of weight.
- Ignoring calcium for layers; eggshell quality falls.
- Using rancid fish meal or mouldy maize.
- Letting waterers grow algae and biofilm.
Key points
- Match crude protein to chick, grower, layer or broiler needs.
- Maize supplies energy; soybean meal supplies protein; limestone supplies calcium.
- Use Pearson square to balance two-ingredient mixes by weight.
- Provide clean water at all times; intake rises in hot weather.
- Never feed mouldy grain or rancid fish meal.