Constraints to Broiler Chicken Nutrition in Developing Countries

Abstract

Nutrition represents a core area of management in broiler chicken production not only because the birds grow on account of the nutrients supplied but also because feed costs represent more than 65 % of the variable costs of production in this industry. With proper feeding and health care, broilers are able to attain 2 kg live weight at 35 days of age and could be marketed at this age or a few days later. Currently, most producers in the developing hot humid countries are unable to achieve these production targets. There are various factors that are responsible for this, nutritional mis-management being one of them. The objective of this mini-review is to present deficiencies in the nutritional management of broiler chickens in developing countries, including the South Pacific islands, and identify ways by which these can be ameliorated.