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Non-Cattle Specific Topics
Coffee Shop
GMO or Non GMO?
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<blockquote data-quote="simme" data-source="post: 1822068" data-attributes="member: 40418"><p>My family has grown chickens for almost 50 years. It's not in the feed so much. Mostly in the genes and environment. Commercial broilers genetics are about growth rate and feed efficiency. That leaves some compromise on joints, health and mortality. Not much diversity in broiler genetics now. 50 years ago, broilers would consume about 2.3x pounds of feed per pound of live weight and weigh 4.5 pounds at 7 weeks. Now the number is 1.6x feed conversion and 6.5 to 7 pounds at 7 weeks. Much better feed efficiency. 50 years ago, southern chicken houses were mostly naturally ventilated curtain sided houses with mostly natural lighting. Today houses are totally enclosed with lots of fans, heaters, evaporative cooling, inlet air controls, light dimmers and computer controlled. Lights and feeders come on and the chickens eat and drink. Lights go dim, feeders off and the chickens rest. Lights go out and the chickens sleep. Feed intake and chicken activity are controlled by light levels.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="simme, post: 1822068, member: 40418"] My family has grown chickens for almost 50 years. It's not in the feed so much. Mostly in the genes and environment. Commercial broilers genetics are about growth rate and feed efficiency. That leaves some compromise on joints, health and mortality. Not much diversity in broiler genetics now. 50 years ago, broilers would consume about 2.3x pounds of feed per pound of live weight and weigh 4.5 pounds at 7 weeks. Now the number is 1.6x feed conversion and 6.5 to 7 pounds at 7 weeks. Much better feed efficiency. 50 years ago, southern chicken houses were mostly naturally ventilated curtain sided houses with mostly natural lighting. Today houses are totally enclosed with lots of fans, heaters, evaporative cooling, inlet air controls, light dimmers and computer controlled. Lights and feeders come on and the chickens eat and drink. Lights go dim, feeders off and the chickens rest. Lights go out and the chickens sleep. Feed intake and chicken activity are controlled by light levels. [/QUOTE]
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