Development and validation of a protocol to determine feed spillage from commercial broiler feeders

Authors: RUEDA, M - Auburn University; DAVIS, J - Auburn University; Purswell, Joseph; EDGE, C - Auburn University; CAMPBELL, J - Auburn University; STARKEY, J - Auburn University

Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2024
Publication Date: 2/21/2025
Citation: Rueda, M.S., Davis, J.D., Purswell, J.L., Edge, C.M., Campbell, J.C., Starkey, J. 2025. Development and validation of a protocol to determine feed spillage from commercial broiler feeders. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 41(1):43-55. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.16157.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.16157

Interpretive Summary: Feed makes up 70% of the total cost of broiler production. Any improvements we can make in reducing feed consumption will dramatically reduce feed costs. Broilers are feed with round feeders that are automatically filled with augers in a tube. We currently cannot estimate how much feed that broilers spill into the litter that cannot be recovered. Therefore, the objective of our research effort was to develop a method to capture feed spillage from commercial pan feeders using live bird research trials. Then validation was required to determine if we could separate feed spillage from wood shavings and bird feces that might get into the capture units. Two trials were conducted to compare the capture efficiency of feed spillage; while the birds were young (14 d) and at the end of the flock (42 d). With the use of a secondary screen and a marker in the feed, the feed spillage recovery could be determined within 16% and 4% percent error for 14 d and 42 d, respectively. We have shown that the described capture units can provide an accurate means to determine feed spillage from commercial broiler feeders.

Technical Abstract: eed constitutes between 70-80% of total costs in commercial poultry production. As of today, it is unknown how much feed is spilled by broilers during a production flock. The purpose of this study was to validate a protocol where; as feed is being spilled, it will drop into a catch pan and prevent the birds from eating it off the litter, and its mixing with litter and adherence to simulated excreta can be minimized. A 69 x 69 cm feed spillage capture unit consisted of a perforated top platform, internal secondary screen, and a bottom pan lined with plastic sheeting. Two trials were conducted to simulate feed spillage rates (1%, 5% and 10%) of broilers at 14 and 42-d of age. Feed spillage rates were applied to capture units using two internal screen approaches [no screen (NS) and secondary screen (SS)] and two TiO2 corrections [non-corrected vs TiO2-corrected] in a factorial arrangement. A total of 24 capture units were used to estimate recovery rates of fixed amounts of feed, wood shavings and stone-ground mustard (as a substitute for bird excreta). Data were analyzed as a two-way ANOVA to determine interactions and main effects of screen and TiO2 correction on recovery rates. The use of a secondary screen in the capture unit aided in preventing wood shavings and simulated excreta from reaching the bottom pan. The use of TiO2 combined with the use of SS aided in segregating feed from wood shavings and simulated excreta, resulting in the best approach to determine feed spillage. When collecting feed spillage in the bottom pan using a SS followed by TiO2 correction for young birds (14 d) using crumbled feed, the percent error was within 8%, 13%, and 16% for the 1%, 5%, and 10% feed spillage rates, respectively. The larger errors for the 5% and 10% spillage rates resulted from some feed being caught by excessive wood shavings on the SS. When collecting feed spillage in the bottom pan using a SS and TiO2 correction for older birds (42 d) using pelleted feed, the percent error was within 3%, 4%, and 3% for 1%, 5%, and 10% feed spillage rates, respectively. The proposed method can be used to accurately capture feed spillage at different broiler ages using different feed forms and to compare different commercial broiler feeders.