Online Reporter
Talking Farming Ronald Veremu
FEED accounts for between 65 and 75 percent of the total cost of producing broilers in Zimbabwe.
As a result, proper feeding management is one of the most important determinants of profitability in a broiler enterprise.
While many farmers focus on the quantity of feed provided to birds, successful producers understand that feeding the right feed at the right stage of growth is equally important.
This practice is known as phase feeding. Phase feeding refers to feeding broiler chickens according to their age, growth stage and physiological requirements. As a bird grows, its nutritional needs change. Young chicks require diets rich in protein and essential amino acids to support rapid tissue development, while older birds require higher energy levels to maximise weight gain and feed efficiency.
Providing the correct feed at each stage helps farmers achieve optimum growth rates, improved feed conversion efficiency, better flock uniformity and maximum profitability. The feeding programme adopted by a farmer depends on several factors, including financial resources, available infrastructure, labour availability, production objectives, market requirements and the scale of operation. While large commercial producers often adopt more sophisticated feeding programmes, smallholder farmers generally use simpler systems.
In Zimbabwe, broiler producers commonly use two-phase, three-phase, four-phase, or five-phase feeding systems. The two-phase feeding system is the simplest feeding programme and is commonly used by small-scale poultry producers. Under this system, birds are fed starter feed from day-old up to approximately 21 days and finisher feed from 22 days until marketing.
Feeds may be supplied in mash or pellet form depending on farmer preference and feed availability. A broiler concentrate can also be used to make both broiler starter and finisher with comparable performance as straight starter and finisher provided that the concentrate is mixed with good quality maize.
The major advantage of the two-phase system is its simplicity. Farmers only need to purchase and manage two feed types, making stock management easier and reducing the likelihood of feeding errors. The system is also suitable for smallholder producers, backyard poultry enterprises, farmers with limited storage facilities and producers raising relatively small flocks.
The biggest limitation is that nutrient supply may not precisely match the birds’ changing requirements throughout the growing period. As birds grow, their nutritional needs change rapidly.
Feeding a single starter and finisher ration may result in either underfeeding or oversupplying certain nutrients at different stages. This can lead to reduced feed efficiency, higher feed costs, slightly slower growth rates and increased nutrient wastage.
The two-phase feeding system remains popular among rural and peri-urban farmers raising between 50 and 500 birds per cycle. It is particularly useful where management skills, storage facilities and labour are limited.
The three-phase feeding programme is the most widely used broiler feeding system in Zimbabwe.
Under this system, birds receive starter feed (Day 1–10), grower feed (Day 11–24) and finisher feed (Day 25 to market). Under this regime broilers are expected to reach market weight at 35 days.
This approach allows nutrient levels to be adjusted more accurately to the bird’s changing growth requirements.
The three-phase system provides a better balance between nutritional precision and management simplicity. Benefits include improved growth rates, better feed conversion ratios, lower feed costs per kilogram of meat produced, reduced nutrient wastage and better carcass development. Because nutrients are supplied according to the bird’s developmental stage, feed resources are utilised more efficiently.
The system requires farmers to manage three different feed types, which increases planning requirements. Farmers must monitor bird ages carefully, store multiple feed types and change feeds at appropriate intervals. Failure to transition birds correctly can reduce performance.
This is currently the preferred feeding programme for most commercial and semi-commercial broiler producers. Many feed manufacturers formulate their products specifically around the three-phase system, making it practical and readily accessible. For most Zimbabwean farmers, the three-phase feeding programme offers the best balance between performance and ease of management.
The four-phase system introduces an additional feeding stage, allowing nutrient supply to match bird requirements more closely. A typical programme includes pre-starter feed (Day 1–5), starter feed (Day 6–10), grower feed (Day 11–24) and finisher feed (Day 25-35 or to market). The pre-starter ration is specially formulated to support the development of the digestive system, immune function and early growth.
The four-phase programme offers several benefits including enhanced early chick development, improved flock uniformity, better feed conversion efficiency, more efficient nutrient utilisation and higher final body weights. The system is particularly beneficial where farmers target premium markets requiring heavier birds.
The major challenge is increased complexity. Farmers require additional storage space, better record keeping, more feed procurement planning and greater management attention. The use of an additional feed type may also increase logistical costs.
Four-phase feeding is more common among larger commercial producers supplying supermarkets, processing plants, hotels and fast-food chains where production efficiency is closely monitored.
Although less common among smallholders, it can be highly profitable where management standards are high.
The five-phase feeding programme represents one of the most advanced feeding systems used in modern broiler production. A typical programme may consist of pre-starter, starter, grower 1, grower 2 and finisher Some commercial operations may further refine nutrient levels depending on genetic strain and market requirements.
This system offers the closest possible match between nutrient supply and bird requirements.
Benefits include maximum feed efficiency, optimal growth rates, reduced feed wastage, improved carcass quality, lower nutrient excretion and enhanced profitability in large-scale operations. The system allows producers to extract maximum performance from modern broiler genetics.
However, the five-phase programme requires sophisticated management, careful feed planning, adequate storage facilities, strong record-keeping systems and reliable feed supply chains. It may not be economically justified for smaller operations due to increased management demands.
Five-phase feeding is generally limited to large integrated poultry companies and highly specialized commercial producers managing tens to hundreds of thousands of birds per production cycle. For many smallholder farmers, the additional complexity may outweigh the potential benefits.
Regardless of the feeding programme adopted, farmers must also decide whether to use mash or pelleted feeds. Mash feed is commonly used by many small-scale producers. Advantages include lower purchase cost, easier storage and reduced risk of digestive disorders. However, birds often consume mash less efficiently, resulting in slower growth rates.
Pellets improve feed intake and reduce feed wastage. Advantages include faster growth rates, better feed conversion, improved feed utilization and greater uniformity within the flock. The main disadvantage is the generally higher cost compared to mash feeds.
There is no universally superior feeding programme. The best system depends on the farmer’s objectives, resources, and management capacity. For most Zimbabwean producers, the three-phase feeding programme remains the most practical and economically viable option. It provides excellent growth performance while maintaining manageable levels of complexity. Small-scale farmers may find the two-phase system sufficient for their needs, while larger commercial producers may benefit from four- or five-phase feeding programmes that maximise production efficiency.
Ultimately, successful broiler production is not simply about feeding more feed, it is about feeding the right nutrients at the right time. Farmers who understand and implement appropriate phase feeding programmes are better positioned to achieve faster growth, lower production costs and greater profitability.
n Ronald Veremu is an independent livestock and agriculture development specialist. He writes in his own capacity.
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