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| Photo Credit: Awodiya -Batter Cage System |
Chicken egg production is a long-existing
agribusiness. It is undoubtedly a lucrative enterprise which is capable of generating
continuous daily income unlike other enterprises. Chicken eggs are easily produced
and managed in Battery Cage system. Egg is the only source of quality protein
with complete essential amino acids needed for human nutrition. It also provides
important sources of iron, vitamins, (vitamin D ranked second only to fish
liver oils) phosphorus and Calcium (in egg shell) for persons of all ages, as a
result there is a ready market for chicken eggs, in fact demand outstrips
supply. Chicken eggs also find many applications in industries such as Food
industries, Confectioneries, Cosmetics, Bakery, etc. The hen that lay eggs is
called Layer.
In egg production, there are different levels and
system of production with its associated technology. The level and system of
egg production you adopt will depend on your financial resource.
“Integrated egg production is the most advanced
enterprise and involves full mechanization and automation of the egg production
cycle including battery egg laying, temperature controls, scientific feeding
and mechanized egg collection methods” FAO.
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| Photo Credit: Adeniyi - Automated Egg Production in Israel |
To start with 1000 layers, you will require start up
funding of N5,000,000. This amount will
help you procure Long term assets like Laying pen, Cage, Land, Pick-up van, Borehole
& Storage tank, Others; Current asset like Egg crates, bucket, basin, Office
materials, Others and Startup expenses which may include Business registration,
Insurance, Consultancy fee, Land clearing, Others. You will incur direct cost
of sales of N4,098,667 and operating expenses of N1,375,000 per annum, then, annual three
years of eggs sale will be N7,730,800,
N7,245,040 & N7,245,700, with this you get percentage
net profit margin of 41.50%, 57.28% & 60.13% respectively.
The stock could be day old (DOC) or point of lay (POL
at 18 weeks), the POL will start to lay 21 weeks. With good management, a POL
can lay for 18 months from the day it started to lay eggs.
Advice given by experienced poultry farmer during Agropreneur zone
Forum;
“Layers are
for egg production, the pullet gestation period is 18-24weeks from day old with
good management practice and it’s always good for any intending investors to go
for what his capital can cover because the business is somehow capital
intensive and you don't use faith to feed birds. Passion, commitment, location,
enough capital, dedicated staffs and good management are very essential for the
business growth” said Balogun Micheal, CEO, Mikebal Farms.
Another
international farmer shares his experience;
“I started Poultry
8 months ago, with 300 broilers and 600 layers, in December I sold about 230 broilers,
I lost about 70 Broilers. Today I have about 480 layers, giving me 70 percent
egg production. I find poultry to compliment piggery so well. Poultry (layers)
is daily income, while piggery is long term, so my birds pay salaries and take
care of daily needs. Farmers in Nigeria won't usually share some information, but
from my little experience, my cost is 43 percent of my Income which means, it
cost me about N280 to
produce 1 crate of egg and I sell it for N600.
The challenge: Theft. uhmmnn. It is believed that in Nigeria
that even if you employ an angel to work in your poultry, there is no way you
can prevent them from stealing eggs. Well, I have installed Cameras on my farm.
I think I have been able to reduce it. I’m increasing my layers to about 1,200
this time around and am buying point of cage (14weeks)” said Deji, CEO, Denice Farm.
For a successful
egg production it is very important to prevent outbreak of diseases, disease
prevention can be achieved by four measures and they are; Biosecurity, Management,
Feeding and Proper Vaccination program.
Agric
International Technology and Trade (Nigeria) Ltd. AGRITED, a leading poultry products producers
and poultry technology providers describe Prolapse as a major laying hen disorders
which need to be prevented to ensure successful egg production.
During
oviposition (the process of laying an egg) the shell gland (the lower part of
the hen’s reproductive tract where the egg shell is formed) is temporarily inverted
(turned inside out) along with the egg. This allows the hen to lay a very clean
egg. Sometimes the oviduct will not immediately retract once the egg has been
laid. This condition is known as PROLAPSE. Major causes of prolapse are; Over
or underweight birds, Early photostimulation (increasing day length to
stimulate sexual maturity), Unbalanced feed rations, Reproductive age of the
flock, Laying double yolked eggs and High light intensity. One of the first
signs of a prolapsed problem is the presence of blood-streaked eggs. Careful
and vigilant management will lower the rate of prolapse. However, prolapse can
be prevented with the following measures;
· - Photostimulation
should not occur when the birds reach the weight and age recommended by the
breeder.
· - Balanced feed
rations are required to sustain egg production and maintain body weight at
recommended levels.
· -
Reduce the light
intensity by covering windows, or replacing bulbs with lower (or red-coloured
bulb) wattage bulbs.
· - If the flocks is
laying a lot (more than 4%) double-yolked eggs, gently restrict feed intake
(about 5-10% less than they eat ad
libitum)
·
- Spend time with
your birds to observe vent-pecking behaviour, and isolate them from the flock.
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