Since the Spring of 2008, several field trials have been carried out abroad as well as in the UK. They consisted of paired house comparisons where two identical houses, mirrored for breed and parent stock age, were housed on the same day. One house was on FLOCKMAN and the other was the control house fed and managed as normal. The sites varied from contract growers sites, where one or two pairs of houses were fed, to large Integrator’s sites, where up to 4 or 5 pairs were on trial. All trials were replicated over time with 2 to 3 crops involved.
Statistical analysis of the differences between each pair of houses was carried out. Results of 3 sets of trials where permission has been given are shown below. Other results, without permission can’t be published. It is seen that benefits are fairly consistent. Differences between trials were not significant.
FLOCKMAN Benefits
Whole Wheat
Mortality
%
%
Liveweight /bird (g)
FCR
EPEF
Extra Margin per house (£)
UK Results 5 trials
Yes
1.01
45
0.063
22
979
UK Results 9 trials
Yes
NS
55
0.052
20
1083
Overseas Results 4 trials
No
NS
32
0.056
19
1163
Note that statistically significant figures ONLY are included in the above table
In the UK all sites fed whole wheat mixed in with the compound feed at the mill, whereas the overseas site fed complete compound feed with no whole cereal mixed in either at the mill or on the farm. The overseas houses had open sides with translucent curtains, which let the daylight in (see picture on the home page and in the Newsletter). They were statistically no different from the UK results, if anything they were better in Extra Margin.
Full details of the UK 9 paired comparison trial can be seen in the FLOCKMAN Slide Show. Benefits are summarised below:
Parameter
Lower 95% Limit
Average Benefit
Upper 95% Limit
Mortality %
0.50
1.01
1.52
Liveweight (grams)
30
55
80
FCR
0.033
0.053
0.073
EPEF
14.3
20.5
26.6
Margin Per Bird Housed (pence)
2.59
3.79
4.98
Margin Per House (min. 25,000 birds) (£)
798
1,083
1,368
Interpretation
On other similar commercial farms, the most likely benefit from FLOCKMAN over a number of crops is expected to be the Average as shown above. However, there is a 95% certainty that the results on an individual farm (averaged over several crops) will achieve at least the Lower benefit as shown above.
Conclusion
FLOCKMAN improved Welfare, Liveweight and FCR and reduced Mortality. An average benefit of an extra margin of £1,083 per crop was made. This gives an EXTRA annual PROFIT (assuming 7 crops of chicken a year) of over £7,500 per chicken house of 25,000 birds. For a large Integrators site of 8 houses, this works out at an EXTRA PROFIT of over £60,000 per year.