Evaluation of performance indices for broilers raised in conventional versus tunnel-ventilated houses and the cost-effectiveness of the two types of housing in Barbados

ABSTRACT

Retrospective data from 18 tunnel-ventilated and 41 conventional houses in Barbados were evaluated in order to compare the effects of the two types of housing using the following indices feed conversion ratio at 1500 grammes (FCR1500), European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF), and net income per bird (NIPB). The data obtained were from the records of 200 and 282 grow-outs for tunnel-ventilated and conventional houses respectively. The effects of season of placement and month of placement on the above performance variables were also evaluated. The analyses revealed that the performance variables NIPB, EPEF and FCR1500 were superior for tunnel-ventilated housing (P=0.02, 0.0001 and 0.0001, respectively); were less variable from month to month for tunnel-ventilated housing; and except for NIPB, were better when birds were placed during the dry season (P=0.08, 0.0005 and 0.007, respectively). Financial analysis also showed that the tunnel-ventilated house was a more profitable venture than the conventional house. The benefitcost ratios were 1.18 for the tunnel-ventilated house and 1.04 for the conventional house. The net profit margin (15.38 vs 3.59 percent), net profit per kilogram, (0.51 vs 0.12 BDS $, (BDS $1.00 ~ US $0.50), and net profit per m2 (94.83 vs 13.13 BDS $) were also higher for the tunnel-ventilated house.