Farming report outlines layer profitability and sustainability
A Shropshire-based poultry professional is to present the findings of research at the 2024 Nuffield Farming Conference in Belfast.
Dr Sylwia Sobolewska NSch 2023 has published her Nuffield Farming report ‘Feed Efficiency and Targeted Genetic Selection as the Key for Sustainable Performance and Profitability in Laying Hens’, sponsored by the BEMB Research and Education Trust.
The full report is now available on the Nuffield Farming report library and her report video is available on the Nuffield Farming YouTube channel.
During her Scholarship, Sylwia travelled to UK, USA, Canada, Poland, Spain, Zambia, Kenya, Hungary, Czech Republic, Israel and The Netherlands.
She aimed to understand the options for improving sustainable performance and profitability in laying hens.
In her report, Sylwia said: “To assure the number of eggs to satisfy the rising food demand without compromising economic losses, the feed efficiency of laying hens needs to be improved.
"More efficient feed systems will not only give economic benefits to farmers but will also have a positive impact on the environment.”
During her study Sylwia explored feed additive options, including probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, enzymes, organic acids, medium-chain fatty acids and phytobiotics.
“Feed additives should be used more often in laying hens’ diets as they can improve the feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production, health and consequently profitability of the birds," Sylwia said.
“The average improvement of FCR for layers is around 0.005 kg feed/dozen eggs/year. White laying hens are more profitable and sustainable compared to brown layers.
"The production traits like FCR, egg production and liveability are better for white layers. Moreover, white laying hens can be kept for more than 100 weeks, and the carbon footprint is lower compared to brown layers.”
While sustainability is important, currently there is no space for products which only improve sustainability in layers, said Sylwia.
“Egg producers prioritise production output and feed intake over feed efficiency metrics," Sylwia added.
"This is why it’s more difficult to get egg producers to change diets solely for improving feed efficiency.
“However, there are numerous feed additives which improve the quality of feed and, at the same time, improve nutrient utilisation efficiency, egg production and the health status of birds which in turn leads to less ammonia emissions and reduces the carbon footprint."
