Importance of a Rooster Feed in Broiler Breeder Production

Of all feed phases in poultry production, rooster feeding is arguably the least studied. During the rear phase, there is general agreement that male and female broiler breeders can be provided a common feed program, only differing on feed amounts provided, that results in growth targets reached for each sex. It is during the production phase that there is some disagreement on the best way to support the nutritional needs of the adult rooster. A considerable segment of the world does employ a rooster feed as a way to better support the nutritional needs of working males. Other poultry operations choose to provide the rooster with the hen feed, or in some other instances the pre-breeder or pullet grower. This is done for a number of reasons, including feed mill and/or farm logistical constraints, or simply due to disbelieve in the nutritional merits of employing a rooster feed.