Advantages and disadvantages of free range system in poultry

Advantages of free range

• Manure is spread all over the field or in any place where the birds eat from.
• The system is less expensive as compared to the deep litter and battery system since it requires little initial capital
• Birds will be able to get enough exercise which is good for their health as they move allover the place.
• Birds get almost all the nutrients required in their diet from the environment more especially vitamins.
• Vices are not common in this system as observed in deep litter system.
• It’s a good system for the management of the breeding stock because it enables the birds to become hardy and strong
• Birds are able to get vitamin A and D from the environment.
• Requires less Labour which reduces operational costs hence increasing profits

Disadvantages of free range

• Birds can easily be attacked by wild animals
• It’s very difficult to collect the eggs since sometimes they are laid in bushes.
• The birds are more prone to parasitic attack from the environment.
• It’s very difficult to keep feeding and production records under this system since birds cannot be easily monitored.
• Birds can easily get diseases from others of a different stock in the neighborhood.
• The production from these birds is low since they spend a lot of energy meant for production in movement.
• The system cannot easily support exotic birds that cannot tolerate harsh conditions.

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Dr. Bbosa Science