Native chickens are efficient converters of locally-available feed resources. While they can survive even with minimal management, supplemental feeding is still needed. The availability of these resources is affected by season, flock size, and number of households in rearing areas, among others.
Considering the demand for native chicken, formulation of supplemental feeds that will help maintain and provide its nutrient requirements is needed. However, commercially available feeds as supplemental ration to native chicken can be an expensive option.
The Central Philippine University (CPU)-College of Agriculture and Resources and Environmental Sciences (CARES) developed a chemical-free supplemental feed for the free-range native chickens. It is one of the components of the research program, Development of Sustainable Production System for the Darag Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Western Visayas. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) funded the project.
Studies were conducted to fully understand the need for the development of affordable, chemical-free supplemental feeds for free-range native chickens.
These supplemental feeds are scientifically formulated to provide the nutrient requirements of native chicken. It is free from chemicals but has added natural feed stuffs that are natural antioxidants and have anti-bacterial properties. Raw materials used are corn bran grits, rice bran, soybean meal, crab shell meal, and fish meal.
Feed additives using either garlic powder (0.20%), onion powder (0.20%), moringa leaf powder (1.25%), and combination had produced chicken with live weight gain, feed efficiency, and survival rate comparable with those that used common antibiotic. The premixes can be used to replace the synthetic chemicals in compounding the supplemental feeds for free-range native chickens.
The breeder stocks fed with the supplemental feed had an average hen-day of 24.82% of which 85.60% of the laid eggs were viable for incubation with18.74% to 83.71% hatchability.
The suggested market price of compounded rations is 10-20% cheaper than the commercially available feeds, depending on the location. The suggested market price of these rations ranges from P19.87 to P26.33 per kilo. The break even cost for egg, one day old chick, and for dressed chicken was P17.85, P32.65, and P154.22, respectively.
The package of technologies for community-based feed milling was adopted and has benefited thousands of farmers and raisers in the provinces of Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo.
The chemical-free supplemental feed is one of the finalists in the development category of the 2016 National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD).
Initiated by the DOST-PCAARRD, NSAARRD recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals and institutions in improving the state of agri-aqua research and development in the country.
Held on July 27 at the DOST-PCAARRD Complex in Los Baños, Laguna, NSAARRD served as one of the highlights of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).