POULTRY VALUE CHAIN

 POULTRY VALUE CHAIN.  PROVIDING MORE PROTEIN FOR THE NATION.  OBJECTIVE .  Provision of animal protein which is essential for growth and development.  Source of revenue generation.  Promote entrepreneurship.  Employment opportunities.  JUSTIFICATION OF PROJECT.  The dietary intake of protein according to nutritionist is 0.8g/kg body weight.  56g/day is required for men and 46g/day for women but there is a deficit.  According to the FAO the average intake is below recommendation, so more protein(animal sources) should be incorporated in diet. Eggs and chicken will makeup for the deficit.  An egg a day, keeps the doctor away.  POULTRY PRODUCTION.  Birds reared for meat and eggs are referred to as poultry.  These include cockerels, broilers, layers and turkey.  Ducks, guinea fowls and quails  Birds to be reared are raised within a time line so that profit can be realized from the venture .  PRODUCTION OVERVIEW.  The scale of project could be small, medium or large, depending on the number of birds and space.  Adequate housing is paramount to success of the venture. This could be temporary or permanent structures, but which must be well ventilated and rodent proof.  PRODUCTION OVERVIEW( 2)  Feeders, drinkers and lighting equipment are provided.  Healthy birds sourced from reputable hatcheries.  Birds are properly housed and good quality feed and adequate quantity are provided.  Essential vaccination and medication are provided.  Strict bio security measures enforced.   METHODOLOGY.  The project will encompass production(rearing) ,processing and packaging.  It will be a year long project, divided into phases so as to make money at specific periods in the year.  Broilers reared and marketed at 42 days,this phase is the 42-dayturn over. Investors with limited funds can access this chain at this level.  METHODOLOGY (2)  Layers reared for eggs starts at about 21 weeks of age, and some breeds can lay up to 300 eggs in a year. The layers could be sold out after a production cycle.  Cockerels mature at 5 months,this can be reared towards a festive period to increase revenue.  Turkeys can also be reared twice in a year ,and also targeted towards festive season.  PRODUCTS. Eggs and chicken are sold for profit.  Feathers from the birds are processed and used as accessories, home décor, mats and fashion accessories. This will also generate revenue.  The waste generated from the birds can be channeled to a digester, to produce electricity.  The blood waste and gut waste can be processed and incorporated into animal feed.  PROJECT COST AND ESTIMATE.  Land depends on size and location.  Laying pens..7.6mx7.6m @# 900,000.  Cages units @#70,000  Farm implements such as wheel barrow, shovel, bucket and water drums. @ #35,000.  Day old chicks ranging from #180-250.  Feed; this accounts for 70% of production hence it will be advisable to have a feed mill that will cater for the birds.  REARING COST . Brooding @25# per chick.  Vaccination/medication @ #40 per chick.  Labour…#7,500 .  Feeders/drinker depending on type and model. Polythene sheets and cardboards@ # 3000.  Broiler..0-3 weeks requires 100g of feed/chick/day.  REARING COST( 2)  Broiler at 4-7weeks require..180g of feed/chick/day.  Layers----o-8weeks requires 60g of feed/day/chick.  9-20 weeks require..90g of feed/day/chick.  Then from 21 weeks require 120g of feed/day/chick.  Water is made available at all times.  PROCESSING AND PACKAGING.  RECOMMENDATIONS.  Healthy birds must be procured.  Bio security measures instituted.  Employment of interested workers.  Good working conditions for workers.  Advertisement of processing plant to expand market.  Good water source and proper waste disposal methods.  A mini processing plant can be attached to live bird markets to process birds. This is another investment opportunity.  Conclusion.  The poultry value chain is a very lucrative venture with rapid return of investment.  Investors could actually invest in short term aspect such as broiler production.  The long term investors will go for layers/egg production.  The seasonal investors will look into cockerels and turkeys.