Optimizing poultry production is not only about maximizing feed conversion, it’s also about controlling costs. Among these are energy costs, especially during winter time when poultry houses need heating as well as ventilating.
As energy costs continue to rise, with little prospect even of a levelling out, fuel expenditure has an increasing impact on profitability. It is vital to heat efficiently and to make sure heat loss is kept to the absolute minimum.
How serious is the problem?
While energy costs are not the largest cost item of the poultry rearer’s budget, they are a significant (and growing) expense. An analysis of the UK poultry industry indicates that electricity and heating costs can rise to as much as 18% of the contract grower’s total costs. And while there is little opportunity to significantly control the cost of the energy consumed, it is possible to take measures that all the energy consumed is used productively with little or no waste. Just as with all other aspects of poultry production, effort and forethought can ensure that the highest possible level of input is converted into the highest possible saleable output.