Comparative analysis of layer production and profitability under three types of housing systems in district Faisalabad

The current study was planned to survey the baseline of the concepts of the layer farmers regarding precision farming, profitability, problems, production related issues and economics of layer egg- production in the semi control farm floor system, semi control cage system, and open side floor system in district Faisalabad Pakistan. Questionnaire was regarding cost of day old chicks, labor, feed, feed conversion ratio (per kg egg mass and per dozen eggs), mortality percentage, machinery depreciation, electricity, cooling and heating charges, rent or cost of building etc. Data were collected by visiting 30 layer flocks, raised in semi control farm floor system, semi control farm cage system, and open side farm floor system. Farm size was 5800 birds, 11950 birds and 20700 birds in open side floor system, semi control floor system and semi control cage system respectively. Results of this study revealed that farmers had an average profit of 429.82 rupees, 197.83 rupees and 196.31 rupees per bird per year in semi control cage system, semi control floor system and open side floor system, respectively. Semi control cage system appears to be more efficient than other two types of housing systems in producing eggs. Feed was the major cost in poultry production in all systems of housing as it was 84.16%, 85.18% and 86.74% of the total cost in open side floor system, semi control floor system and semi control cage system. respectively. Rest of the expenses was day old chick price, labor, vaccination, medicine etc. Results of the study also revealed that the cost of permanent labor was 39.96, 48.44 and 51.77 rupees per bird in semi control cage system, semi control floor system and open side floor system, respectively, which indicates less labor expenses in semi control cage system. The major constraints in egg production were high cost of feed, high cost of medicine, vaccine, supply of poor quality feed, high percentage of mortality, high cost of flock replacement, lack of disease diagnosis facilities, poor quality of vaccines, fluctuating price for eggs and higher rate of electricity tariff. This study concludes that the output of the poultry egg producers can be increased by adoption of more innovations e.g. cage system.