Poultry encyclopedia · NEXTEKCI School · Trades and the poultry industry
The feed miller
The feed miller produces compound feeds for poultry. He selects the raw materials, designs formulas suited to each type of bird and each growth phase, and guarantees a consistent, safe mix. Since feed is a farm’s biggest expense, the quality of his work directly affects farmers’ success.
Key facts
- Role
- Formulating and producing balanced feeds
- Raw materials
- Cereals, protein sources, minerals, vitamins
- Critical points
- Ingredient quality, storage, mix consistency
- Framework
- Activity subject to official approval
Formulating for each phase
A chick, a finishing broiler and a laying hen do not have the same needs. The feed miller designs separate formulas (starter, grower, finisher, pullet, layer) by balancing energy, protein, minerals and vitamins.
A sudden change of formula or supplier quickly shows on the farm: that is why consistency matters as much as composition.
Raw material quality
Good feed starts with good ingredients: dry grain, free of mould and insects, stored away from moisture. Moulds can produce toxins that are dangerous for poultry and invisible to the eye.
A serious feed miller checks each batch on arrival and rejects those that do not meet the standard.
Producing and storing
Grinding, weighing, mixing, sometimes pelleting: each step must be controlled so that every bag has the same composition. Bags are labelled and dated.
On the farm, feed is stored on pallets, dry and in the shade, and used within a reasonable time. Good feed badly stored becomes bad feed.
A regulated link
Animal feed manufacturing is supervised by the authorities, because it affects animal health and the safety of products that reach the plate. NEXTEKCI holds the official approval for poultry feed manufacturing.
For the farmer, choosing an approved and consistent supplier is a safeguard.