Comparative Case Study of Production Efficiency, Financial Performance, and Business Risk in Laying Hen Farms with Different Housing Systems and Management Conditions

The laying hen sector continues to expand in response to increasing demand for animal protein; however, productivity remains sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly temperature fluctuations that affect production stability. The housing system represents a key management factor influencing farm performance. This study aims to compare production efficiency, financial performance, and business risk between closed-house and open-house laying hen systems. A comparative case study approach was applied to two commercial farms in Bayat District, Klaten Regency, representing each housing system. Data were analyzed using feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality rate for production efficiency, cost–revenue analysis, R/C ratio, and return on investment (ROI) for financial performance, as well as coefficient of variation for risk assessment. Differences between farms were examined using the Mann–Whitney test. The results indicate that the closed-house system demonstrates superior performance, reflected in lower FCR (2.02) and mortality rate (4.03%), lower production cost, higher R/C ratio (1.22), and higher ROI (22%) compared to the open-house system. In addition, production and profit risks are relatively lower in the closed-house system, while price risk is similar across systems. Nevertheless, the findings are context-specific, as the two farms differ in characteristics such as strain, age, scale, and management practices.