November 21, 2024 | 11:15 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Friday- 08:50, 22/09/2023

New poultry feed app helps farmers optimise nutrition

(VAN) A free mobile app for chicken farmers claims to make optimal poultry nutrition easier, while also helping farmers save money and improve profits.

Many poultry farmers mix their chicken feed themselves due to rising commercial feed costs and limited supply of certain grains. However, it is important to achieve the correct balance of nutrients.

A new FeedMixer App, which has been designed by poultry nutrition experts at the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia in the US and funded by the World Poultry Foundation, aims to address this challenge.

Many poultry farmers mix their chicken feed themselves, but it is important to achieve the correct balance of nutrients. Photo: Canva

Many poultry farmers mix their chicken feed themselves, but it is important to achieve the correct balance of nutrients. Photo: Canva

“When feeding birds, it’s about nutrients, not just quantity of feed. With the right feed mix, they will be healthier and more productive,” says Maureen Stickel, director of International Program Development at the World Poultry Foundation.

She adds: “The FeedMixer app guides farmers on feed mixes for layers, broilers, and dual-purpose birds at various ages. We specifically worked to include a large library of feed ingredients, with their nutritional values, to guide farmers.”

Using available ingredients

Those who wish to use the app would simply click on the type of chickens they are feeding, and select the ingredients they have available to them, in the proportions they intend to blend. The app will indicate whether their chosen mix delivers adequate energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals to nourish the birds without wastage. Users can also input the cost of the ingredients they use to calculate whether their feed mix is cost effective.

Prof Sean Chen, assistant professor/extension specialist at the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia: “The FeedMixer app is designed for ease of use by people with a basic poultry background – including backyard and emerging chicken farmers. With the app, we are trying to make it simple for farmers to use local ingredients to formulate a diet that meets basic poultry nutrition requirements and achieve their basic production goals.”

HD

(PW)

Improving safety at sea at a time of climate change

Improving safety at sea at a time of climate change

(VAN) Interview with Manuel Barange, Director of FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division.

British farmers warn of bitter harvest

British farmers warn of bitter harvest

(VAN) Finances, politics and a cultural divide push the agriculture sector to the brink and stir up anger.

Small farms key to taking on hunger

Small farms key to taking on hunger

(VAN) Modest operations account for more than 90% of global food producers.

What the farmers' protest tells us about their argument with the government

What the farmers' protest tells us about their argument with the government

(VAN) The farmers' demonstration was best summed up in two images: real tractors being driven by farmers around Parliament Square, and beside them a collection of toy tractors being peddled around by their children.

FAO urges all its Members and partners to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

FAO urges all its Members and partners to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

(VAN) G20’s initiative is officially launched in Brazil. FAO will host the Global Alliance’s Support Mechanism.

COP29 showcases China’s progress in green transition

COP29 showcases China’s progress in green transition

(VAN) China has provided and mobilized more than 177 billion yuan of project funds since 2016 in support of other developing countries' climate response, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

US agriculture exporters fear trade war 2.0 will ‘kill’ China business

US agriculture exporters fear trade war 2.0 will ‘kill’ China business

(VAN) Mr Manuel Garibay travelled from the American north-west to Shanghai in early November, hoping to sell dried cherries to Chinese consumers.

Read more