Constraints in commercial broiler farming: A comprehensive assessment

Abstract:

The present investigation entitled “Studies on Adoption of Management Practices Followed at Commercial Broiler Farms in Udgir Tahsil of Latur District” was conducted in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Latur, during 2025-2026. The study aimed to assess the adoption of recommended feeding and management practices, identify adoption gaps, evaluate the economics and marketing of broiler farming, and document the constraints faced by commercial broiler farmers. A total of 36 broiler farms were selected using purposive and stratified random sampling and categorized into small (500-1500 birds), medium (1500-2500 birds), and large (>2500 birds) farms.

The results indicated a high adoption of recommended practices. Most respondents followed the All-In-All-Out system (75.00%), deep litter housing (94.44%), electricity-based brooding (100%), and the recommended vaccination schedule (100%). All farmers practiced anti-transport stress feeding, provided crushed maize immediately after chick placement, and adopted the all-mash feeding system, while 94.44 per cent relied on commercial feed. The overall adoption of recommended feeding and management practices was 79.26 and 75.17 per cent, with adoption gaps of 20.74 and 24.83 per cent, respectively. Major deficiencies were observed in biosecurity, feed quality assessment, mortality record maintenance, and isolation of diseased birds.

The Producer → Consumer marketing channel was the most efficient, providing the highest producer's share (94.39-95.16%). Major constraints included dependence on middlemen (80.55%), high feed cost, price fluctuations, labour wages, transportation, and electricity-related issues. Economic analysis revealed increasing profitability with farm size, as indicated by cost-benefit ratios of 1:1.10, 1:1.17, and 1:1.22 for small, medium, and large farms, respectively. The study concluded that strengthening extension services and promoting scientific management practices can further improve the productivity and profitability of commercial broiler farming.