Southeast Asia Broiler Producers Learn How U.S. Soybeans’ Intrinsic Value Can Help Improve Broiler Farm Efficiency
- Category:
- Animal Utilization
- Ground Work
As part of USSEC’s continuous effort to develop stronger awareness and preference toward U.S. soybean meal advantages in Indonesia, USSEC organized a virtual seminar on Broiler Nutrition and Feed Technology on June 3 and 4.
Chris Rittgers, Agricultural Counselor, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Embassy Jakarta, opened the seminar, followed by welcome remarks from Timothy Loh, USSEC Regional Director – Southeast Asia.
This virtual seminar, conducted over two days, was further broken down into morning and evening sessions which allowed some 230 regional viewers – mainly from Indonesia as well as Malaysia, Myanmar and Australia – to resume their activities in their farm and/or feed mill without affecting their work routine.
Using the GoToWebinar platform for the webcast, the speakers engaged the viewers on key considerations for efficient broiler farm operations. Viewers also actively participated in the live Q&A segments at the end of each session.
Main takeaways from the virtual seminar included:
- Use of appropriate quality measurement for soy-based feed ingredients - Dr. Richard Han from USSEC emphasized the importance of using a combination of appropriate quality indicators such as energy content, essential amino acids concentration as well as protein and amino acids digestibility when assessing soybean meal and full fat soybean meal quality
- Right particle size in feed ration improves feeding efficiency - several research findings shared by Pacheco from Auburn University concluded that smaller particle size of soybean meal improves pellet quality that is important in improving feed efficiency and bird uniformity
- Inclusion of feed ingredients with a better essential amino acids profile in feed formulation helps broiler producers achieve better chicken performance. Ruben Kriseldi from Auburn University also highlighted that through precise feed formulation, the emission of both nitrogen and ammoniac concentration from farm operations can be reduced, therefore making broiler farm operations more environmentally friendly and lower their carbon footprint
- Adoption of latest technology in chicken genetics and automation improves efficiency on the farm
- Favorable controlled environment reduces stress on the chickens, especially in hot climate countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar
USSEC Country Director – Indonesia Ibnu Wiyono reiterated that some of the critical factors for an efficient broiler farm operation that were highlighted by the speakers has a strong linkage to the intrinsic values of U.S. Soy and assessed that the seminar had accomplished the objectives of developing stronger awareness and preference toward U.S. soybean meal in Indonesia.
