Beata Mudjanima 

A broiler is a chicken raised specifically for meat production. It is known for its rapid growth and muscle development and is reared for 35–42 days.

Feed is the biggest driver of profitability for any poultry farmer, accounting for up to 70% of production cost.

If not managed precisely, farming becomes a charity and not a business. As a result, the temptation to cut corners on feeding or use alternative rations is sometimes highly appealing to SMEs and part-time commercial broiler farmers. Feeding broilers the same ration from day old until they are market ready is a recipe for financial loss.

Before commencing broiler farming, it is important to familiarise yourself with, and align your farm management practices to, the biological strategy for broiler chickens. This will help maximise weight gain, minimise mortalities, and achieve market weight within the shortest profitable time.

This is where Feedmaster’s three-phase feeding system becomes a farmer’s winning formula for profit margin maximisation.

The Foundation: Feedmaster Classic Broiler Starter

Day-old chicks have immature digestive systems and fragile immune systems. At this stage, chicks don’t need to gain much weight; instead, farmers need to ensure they receive feed that supports digestive development, a strong immune system, and a solid body frame to carry their future weight. That is why Feedmaster Classic Broiler Starter is called The Foundation.

It is fed to chicks from day old until 14 days old, with an intake of around 750 g per chick over this period.

Feedmaster Classic Broiler Starter is a highly specialised, nutrient-dense feed. It comes in crumble form rather than mash, offering balanced nutrition while eliminating selective feeding and feed wastage.

With a minimum of 20% highly digestible protein, it supports rapid bone growth and internal organ development.

Day-old chicks are also highly susceptible to diseases like coccidiosis (bloody diarrhoea). That’s why Feedmaster’s Broiler Starter crumbles contain accurately measured coccidiostats, a preventative medication mixed into the feed to control and suppress coccidiosis. Feeding a lower-protein ration or underfeeding at this stage permanently weakens the flock’s structural body frame. This results in chickens not accumulating sufficient muscle, which lowers final market weight.

The Margin Maker: Feedmaster Classic Broiler Grower

Classic Broiler Grower is fed from 15 days old until 3 days before slaughter, with intake of around 2.75 kg per bird over this period. Once the structural framework is built and the chickens’ digestive tracts are fully developed, their bodies transition into meat production.

Farmers are advised to discontinue Feedmaster Classic Broiler Starter at this stage, not only because it is more expensive, but because excess protein forces the kidneys and liver to work overtime, and increased water intake to flush out excess uric acid can lead to footpad dermatitis (foot burns). All of this slows the flock’s growth momentum.

Feedmaster Classic Broiler Grower is formulated with a lower protein percentage while significantly increasing the energy profile. This balanced energy-to-protein ratio helps broilers convert feed into breast meat more efficiently, improving the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), meaning the flock needs less total feed to gain a kilogram of meat and keeping your profits (and your wallet) happy. Like the Broiler Starter, this phase feed also contains a coccidiostat to help prevent coccidiosis.

The Carcass King: Feedmaster Classic Broiler Finisher

Fed for the last three days before slaughter, intake per bird over this period can reach up to 850 g. Feedmaster Classic Broiler Finisher is designed to consolidate final weight and ensure consumer safety.

Actual profit margins are cemented during this final feeding stretch, when broilers consume the largest amounts of feed daily.

Feedmaster Classic Broiler Finisher is formulated to be the most cost-effective feed in the entire production cycle. It has lower protein content but higher energy density, ensuring a juicy, high-quality carcass, as its composition allows chickens to add the final necessary gains and fat marbling.

Notably, Classic Broiler Finisher is also labelled as a withdrawal feed, meaning it contains no coccidiostats. This observes the required withdrawal period, ensuring the meat is safe for human consumption on every Namibian dining table.

It is important to note that clean, safe water must always be available. Broilers cannot survive on feed alone, health is just as important. Feeders should always be kept stocked.

This allows the flock to consume what they need, whereas feeders that run empty and are refilled at uneven times encourage overconsumption due to feed uncertainty. Visit Feedmaster’s website for the broiler farming profit calculator or contact your technical advisor for more information.

*Beata Mudjanima is a Technical Advisor (Communal North) –