Broiler chicken farming

Broiler chicken farming produces poultry meat. It is a short-cycle, highly technical activity where mastering feed conversion and health makes all the difference to margin.

Strains and types

• Standard broiler: fast-growing strains (Ross, Cobb), slaughtered around 35–42 days.
• Certified / free-range: slower growth, outdoor access, slaughtered around 81 days.
• Organic broiler: organic feed, free-range, reduced density.

Managing a batch

A batch follows a precise cycle: building preparation and pre-heating, day-old chick placement, brooding, growth, then finishing. A sanitary downtime between batches breaks pathogen cycles.

Feeding and feed conversion

Feed changes in phases (starter, grower, finisher) with decreasing protein. The feed conversion ratio — feed used to produce 1 kg of live weight — is the central economic indicator: the lower it is, the more efficient the farm.

Profitability

Profit depends on feed price, sale price, mortality and technical performance. Label or short-chain production adds value per kilo but imposes stricter specifications.