How To Start Broiler Farming In South Africa
What is Broiler Farming?
Broiler poultry farming means ‘raising meat chicken or other poultry birds for the purpose of meat production’. Broilers are just like other common poultry birds. Scientists have developed broiler specifically for producing meat in a short period of time. That’s why broilers are raised mainly for meat production.
How To Start Broiler Farming In South Africa
Poultry farming is a wide industry with many sub-sections to select from. Here is a list of sections that one can select from:
1. Select the sector that suits your interest, this includes-
- Meat production (through broilers breeding)
- Eggs production (through layers breeding)
- Production of poultry feed
- Equipment manufacture required in poultry farming
- Eggs and meat processing
- Chicken hatching
- Packaging and marketing of eggs and meat
Depending upon one’s interest and feasibility, the entrepreneur can select more than one section to start the business.
2. Select the type of birds you want to breed and raise in your farm. Initially, it is advisable to select from limited types of broilers and layers for meat and egg production. As the business grows, one can add more variety of birds depending upon the demand and profitability.
3. Select the poultry farm location. It is advisable to locate it not too far away from the place of consumption of goods instead of creating a logistic nightmare and increasing the cost of transportation. Finalize the place in advance from where the operations can be managed conveniently.
4. It is important to name your poultry farm and register it according to state laws. It also is necessary to create a logo and a website for your business, if you intend to market your products online and supply it to distant places.
5. Arrange the finances. Poultry business is not a capital intensive business and requires limited capital amount in the beginning. Funds are required for various purposes, including buying/renting land, equipment, hiring staff, birds, raw-material, manage cash-flow, paying salary, etc. To arrange funds, one can apply for loans from banks and other financial institutions, including government schemes like MUDRA.
6. Marketing your products among the target audience is necessary. Marketing is tricky, and different modes of communication can be employed to create a buzz about your product.
7. After marketing, supplying the product to consumers is essential. Consumers can be retailers, shop vendors, wholesale markets, restaurants, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost to start a broiler farm in South Africa?
On average, it could cost you between R20,000 to 50,000 to start your own chicken farm, depending on how big or small you’re starting. It costs between R38 to R40 to grow a day-old chick to a point of sale, and one box of 100 day-old chicks costs between R850 to R950.
How much does it cost to raise 100 broiler chickens in South Africa?
How much does it cost to raise 100 chickens in South Africa? Depending on where you are in the country, a box of 100 day-old chicks will cost you between R850 to R950. If you’re buying 500 chicks from Momubaghan – who hatches her own – you’d need R4,200.
How do I register a poultry farm in South Africa?
Visit the DAFF website at daff.gov.za or register with PDMA at poultrydiseases.co.za, or phone 012 529 8298.
How many bags of feed can 100 broilers consume?
A broiler would consume an average of 4.25 kg from day old to the end of the 6th week. So, 100 broilers would consume (4.25 X 100) = 425 kg or 17 bags of feed for 6 weeks.
Is broiler a good business?
Broiler poultry farming is a very lucrative and established business. Many people are doing this business in both small scale and commercially for making profits. Generally, the poultry birds which are raised for meat production is called ‘broiler’
Is poultry farming profitable in South Africa?
Starting a poultry farming business in South Africa is a very lucrative project. Demand for poultry is very high in South Africa, exceeding 2 million tons per year. In South Africa, the per capita consumption of broiler chicken is higher than all other meats.
Which is more profitable broilers or layers?
In the long run, Layers farming on a large scale will be more profitable and bring in more revenue than broiler farming as after laying of eggs, the birds can be sold out as meat even though at lesser price than that of broilers.
How do I set up a poultry farm?
You can start small poultry farm by initially selecting two-three birds and later include more birds depending on business growth. Mostly, poultry farmers raise birds like domestic fowl or chicken as broilers and duck, goose, quail, peacock, pigeon, turkey as layers.
How much do I need to start a poultry business in South Africa?
You can begin with as little as R20 000 and get a 100% return on your capital investment within six months. And because chicks take only 21 days to hatch, you can start generating an income just three weeks after starting. No other business can provide such a quick turnaround.
Is selling eggs profitable in South Africa?
This is a guide on how to start an egg farming business in South Africa. Egg farming can be very lucrative and profitable, it’s one of the quickest ways to make money in the farming field and it has very high returns.
How long should broilers eat starter feed?
Broiler chicks require broiler starter feed for the first four weeks of their life. The broiler starter feed should be at least 20 percent protein, preferably 23 percent protein. After four weeks, you should feed a 19 percent protein feed (broiler developer or finisher).
How long does it take to grow a broiler chicken?
Usually, broiler chickens are reared for 6 weeks, attaining an average live weight of above 2.5kg when all production practices are done properly.
Can you keep layers and broilers together?
Broiler chickens and laying hens should not live together in terms of risk factors of sharing the same diet. If the hens eat the meat chicken’s food, they will gain weight from the fatty food designed for the chicken