Poultry Value Chain: The Farm

I understand the overwhelming urge to identify the immediate points of the post and find if any useful tips exist for how we can build and run our own farms. Slow down, let’s grove through this and enjoy our passion or turn this business into a passion for you. The Poultry Value Chain series will discuss different stages of the poultry process and highlight how they all come together to form an industry. It will also highlight how to go into each sector and maintain a strong presence. Let’s begin…

Value chains simply describe the activities that add more worth to an article or product. This could be through product design, marketing or even after sales services. It also shows how products move from parts that consumers care less about to those the consumer is willing to pay for. The poultry value chain shows the activities involved in making poultry products available to the final consumer. These activities require inputs such as- raw materials and financing that collectively add a new measure of worth (value) and brings poultry to the final consumer.

The increasing demand for poultry products poses an opportunity. How can we be better prepared to grasp it? You see the opportunity, you have been positioning yourselves for it, so let’s give you tips intended to help you get a good hold in the market and have you poultry farm stand out. Keep in mind always that you do not own the only poultry business around, so there is a stiff competition, what makes you unique is important.

Tip 1

Pick a Sector

Poultry farming is a huge sector and you cannot in all practicability start a business that covers it all. You could choose to begin with broilers which are chicken raised for meat or with layers which are raised for eggs. There is also the all too often forgotten business of incubating eggs and raising chicks. Some of the several sectors you can pick from include:

·         Broiler production

·         Layer production

·         Hatchery

·         Egg and meat processing

Tip 2

Choose a bird

Poultry is a collective name for domestic birds used mostly for food. So there are a lot of birds that can be raised. Do your research and find one that there is significant demand gap for in your locality. You can choose from chickens, pigeons, guinea fowls, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, etc

Tip 3

Select a farm Location

Your farm location is important as it is necessary to site it close to a road, water supply and quite close to the market. Proximity to inputs such as feed, vaccines, drugs, and access to veterinary services. Aim to reduce your overhead costs by paying close attention to the location of your business.

Tip 4

Put your financials in prospect

Write a comprehensive business plan that is well thought out. The process of writing a business plan is quite elucidating as it points out the very things you ordinarily would avoid to address. Do not be scared to tackle the big issues and salient points. Where will you get feed and drugs from? Where will you sell? How much space do you need? How much space do you have? How much will it cost? Where will you get the money from?

Tip 5

Market your Products

This is one of the most important parts. What is the point of producing all those birds and have them just in your farm instead of in the market. To achieve this there a number of ways- go out and talk to people, join a cooperative or start one, talk to your neighbours and remember that the world is going digital so put your business online by leveraging platforms like The Chicken Farm