Trials highlight the importance of improved pre-starter nutrition

New trial results from Cargill highlight the importance of pre-starter broiler chick diets fed in the first few days of life and improvements that can be achieved in lifetime performance from advancements in these early diets.

On farm trials with Cargill’s new Neochicc pre-starter diets fed in the first 120 hours of life show an improvement in feed conversion rates, with an average reduction across all trials of three points. Weights from day seven were consistently higher and overall profitability improved by 5p a bird.

“These diets are made up of highly digestible ingredients that have precise amounts of protein, starch, fat and additives to promote maximum nutrient digestibility,” said Cargill’s poultry manager David McBride.

“They also include an improved package of essential oils and organic acids to support gut health and nutrient absorption, the natural antioxidant Proviox and an organic selenium yeast to support bird health.”

Cargill’s new Neochicc diets also offer flexibility and can be designed to meet specific needs such as leg strength, or weight gain in cases of low hatching weights, or to be tailored to improve specific growth and development targets in a flock.

“By feeding a well-designed pre-starter feed we can expect birds to achieve higher carcase weights, with greater uniformity, improved welfare and with fewer setbacks, such as leg issues.

“But no one size fits all,” he said. “This is why we offer bespoke pre-starter diets to meet the specific needs of each flock. And the feed must be appetising and palatable, and very consistent, as every pellet counts, particularly in pre-starter diets when chicks are eating relatively small amounts.”