MINIMUM COST RATIONS AND OPTIMUM MARKETING WEIGHTS IN BROILER PRODUCTION WITH GROUNDNUT MEAL AS THE SOURCE OF PROTEIN
MINIMUM COST RATIONS AND OPTIMUM MARKETING WEIGHTS IN BROILER PRODUCTION WITH GROUNDNUT MEAL AS THE SOURCE OF PROTEIN
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Date
1983-06
Authors
SUNDAY, OKON
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Abstract
The main aim of the study was to determine the
least cost ration and optimum marketing weights for
broiler chicken when groundnut meal is the main sources
of protein in the broiler finisher ration. The data
for the analysis was obtained from the National Animal
Production Research Institute, Shikao The data was
from experiments that covered aspect of broiler
production with groundnut meal as the main protein
source at protein levels of 17, 20, 23, 26 and 29 per
cent finisher rations.
Three production function equations were fitted
to the data. They are Cobb-Douglas, Square root and
the Quadratic functions. Computer facilities using
the SPSS package was employed to estimate the parameters
of the multiple regressions. However only the
results of the Cobb-Douglas and the Quadratic equations
were used for economic interpretations because they
appropriately reflected the production process under
study as shown by the statistical results.
Total weight gain and marginal physical products
of each of the rations were estimated from a global
Cobb—Douglas production functions. The result indicated
that rations high in protein provide greater gain per
unit of feed at lower weights. For example l000g of
17 per cent ration produced weight gain of 382.4g and
23 per cent protein ration produced 424.l0g. But at
higher feed intake and heavier weights, rations lower
in protein content became more efficient. For instance
at feed intake of 2200g 23 per cent protein ration
produced weight gain of 808.21g while 29 per cent
protein ration produced weight gain of 796„66g. Those
conditions reflect the physiological requirements of
the growing birds. At earlier stages of growth more
protein is needed for body building but at later
stages of growth more carbohydrate is needed for
muscle development.
The analysis also shows that the feed 20 per cent
ration will give the least cost ration under a
situation of profit maximization subject to feed cost
constraint with prices of yellow maize and groundnut
meal of 31 k/kg and 29 k/kg respectively. But if cost
is to be minimised subject to output constraint then
23 per cent finisher ration will give the highest
gross margins above feed costs as well as some other
variable costs, with the stated input prices. It is
still profitable to use groundnut meal even at a price
increase of 42 per cent provided prices of other inputs
are rot increasing.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Master
of Science in Agricultural Economics,
Dept. of Agric. Economics & Rural Sociology
Faculty of Agriculture
Ahnadu Bello University
Zaria
JUNE, 1983
Keywords
MINIMUM,, RATIONS,, OPTIMUM,, MARKETING WEIGHTS,, BROILER,, GROUNDNUT MEAL