Meat and bone meal for broiler chickens accelerates weight gain and reduces the risk of respiratory diseases. In egg breeds, a protein supplement to the diet increases stress resistance, egg production, and shell strength. It is important to choose a high-quality fertilizer or make it yourself, following the technology. For chickens and adult birds, the optimal dosage of feeding must be observed.
Description and production process of the product
A useful product for chickens of all breeds is made from processed bones and meat waste:
- carcasses of animals that died from non-communicable diseases and due to old age;
- non-food trimmings from meat trimming;
- offal products of low nutritional value.
Due to its animal origin, this supplement is a source of microelements in an easily digestible form (lysine predominates over methionine).
The concentration of minerals is quite high: 6.5-11.6% calcium, 3.3-5.9% phosphorus, 3.1-5.7% iron. Receiving such feeding, birds grow more evenly, grow faster and begin to lay eggs earlier.
Stages of production of meat and bone meal:
- Laboratory testing of input raw materials for microbiological safety - absence of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins.
- Preparatory crushing, drying of raw materials and digestion.
- Grinding to mince mass.
- Obtaining a concentrate is dehydration and degreasing of the raw material mass in a centrifuge or separator.
- Final drying and grinding of the concentrate to the condition of a friable powder.
- Introduction of an antioxidant.
- Magnetic cleaning from metal impurities.
- Packaging in wholesale and retail containers.
How to choose?
Criteria for choosing high-quality meat and bone meal for chickens:
- production date, expiration date - no more than a year;
- color - from light brown to brown;
- the smell is specific, but without mustiness, mold or sourness;
- consistency - dry, crumbly powder, granules up to 12.7 millimeters in size;
- composition - foreign inclusions and preservatives are unacceptable.
Increased humidity of the composition increases weight and reduces shelf life. Too light or yellowish a tint indicates the addition of chalk and soy, which reduces the protein value of the mixture.Such falsification significantly increases the profits of unscrupulous manufacturers, but changes the composition of the supplement, reducing the protein value. And excess calcium is dangerous because it reduces feed absorption and impairs poultry productivity.
Composition for grades 1 and 2 with standard percentage:
- protein (42-50%);
- ash (30-26%);
- fats (18-10%);
- water (10-9%);
- fiber (no more than 2%);
- antioxidant (no more than 0.02%).
It is important to choose suppliers with the proper level of control over the safety of raw materials and timely cleaning of equipment. This minimizes the risk of infectious diseases, poultry poisoning with toxins, and obesity.
Self-production
Meat and bone meal for chickens can be made at home using available equipment. This will guarantee the freshness of the raw materials and the absence of foreign components in the composition of the healthy supplement. As with industrial production, three main steps will be required:
- Soften meat products and bones.
- Dry the raw materials.
- Grind the product into powder.
Heating and softening of bones is carried out both in fuel or electric furnaces, and over an open fire. Use dishes that allow excess moisture to evaporate well. You need to add trimmings to the bones after first boiling them and bringing them to the consistency of minced meat. Well-dried raw materials are ground in a mortar, blender or grain crusher. To obtain a significant amount of product, it is necessary to purchase drying and grinding equipment with high productivity.
This is advisable for multidisciplinary farms with a large volume of meat waste.
How to Feed Bone Meal to Chickens
Meat and bone powder can be given as part of dry, wet or home-made mixed food.Most ready-made combined feeds already contain this component.
When using other additives and premixes, it is important to correlate their dosage and composition so that there is no excess protein and microelements in the diet.
Doses for laying hens
The main need for protein, calcium and other microelements in adult chickens of egg breeds is associated precisely with the production of eggs and shells. Each laying hen should receive meat and bone meal up to 7-10% of the total feed, which is 7-11 grams per day. For a 5000 gram portion of food you need to take 250 grams of protein powder and 4500 grams of other balanced ingredients.
Dosage for broilers
Smooth introduction of a feed additive into the diet of young broiler breeds will accelerate weight gain and strengthen bone tissue without danger to health. This is given to chickens no earlier than the 6th day of life, 0.5-1 grams per individual per day. Then add 1 gram every 10 days. At 60 days, the portion will be 4.5-5 grams; it is retained throughout the subsequent period of keeping the bird.
For chickens
Young egg breeds of chickens are given this mineral feed no earlier than the 11th day of life, 1 gram per individual per day. Further:
- 21-30 days - 1.4 grams;
- 31-40 days - 2.8 grams;
- 41-60 days - 3.5-4 grams.
Storage rules
Since meat and bone meal is a natural, organic product, it is important to follow storage rules.
Caution: if meat and bone meal is overheated and after the expiration date, fat decomposition and the formation of toxic aldehyde acrolein are likely.
The optimal storage location is away from direct sunlight, preferably in a dark place, with a temperature no higher than +30 °C. Industrial products contain additives that prevent oxidation and extend shelf life.
The maximum shelf life, subject to temperature conditions and in closed factory packaging, is 12 months. Homemade protein powder and those from opened packages should be stored in an airtight container, jar or bottle. It is important not to forget to close the container tightly each time so that the additive does not become damp.
