Challenges in the Profitability of Small-Scale Broiler Farming by Avoiding Injudicious Use of Drugs and Additives

The current study aimed to find out the present scenario of injudicious use of drugs and additives in small-scale broiler operations, and whether the broilers can be produced successfully without using injudicious drugs and additives. To begin, a survey was undertaken on farmers' basic information and general management methods in broilers, with special attention paid to the usage of medications and additives in drinking water. Secondly, based on the survey data, an experimental trial was carried out to compare the growth performance and economic profitability of rearing broilers with and without using the said drugs and additives. A total of 540 broiler DOCs were allotted into three treatments: T1= self-formulated feed (SFF) with judicious use of drugs and additives; T2= commercial feed with judicious use of drugs and additives (JUDA) and T3= commercial feed with injudicious use of drugs and additives (InJUDA), having six replications (30 birds/replication) in each. Results showed that the farmers used a variety of medications and additives in 35 days of broiler rearing however they do not consult with veterinary practitioners, instead relying on and being instructed by local dealers and medicine company representatives. Although, the medications and additives account for almost 6-8% of total production costs, experimental trial clearly demonstrated that the broilers kept with either JUDA or InJUDA showed statistically (p<0.05) almost similar BW (2181.93g & 2222.53 g/bird), BWG (2110.0g & 2129.91g/bird), and FCR (1.62 & 1.57 respectively); whereas broilers in SFF group showed significantly lower growth performances (BW= 1799.31g/bird, BWG= 1746.19g/bird, and FCR= 1.93 respectively). The net profit per kg bird in the JUDA group was substantially (p<0.05) greater (BDT- 27.34/-), followed by the SFF group (BDT- 25.56/) and the InJUDA group (BDT- 24.49/-). Taken together, these findings suggest that profitable broiler farming is possible without the injudicious use of drugs and additives