Broiler chickens are chickens specifically bred for their meat. Approximately 100 years ago, through various research and breeding processes, broiler chickens with the best genetic performance were produced. However, there are still obstacles that prevent their genetic potential from being maximized.
Designed to Meet Market Needs Thanks to technological advances and sound breeding selection over more than 100 years, broiler chickens have experienced rapid genetic development. As a result, today's broiler chickens are increasingly effective at converting feed into body weight, resulting in greater meat yields that meet market demand.
According to Drh Dedy Kusmanagandi, a poultry practitioner, the genetic selection of broilers has increased their productivity. In the 1960s and 1970s, achieving a live weight of 1.3 kg required 84 days of rearing, but now, with a rearing period of approximately 38 days, broiler chickens can reach a live weight of 2.5 kg.
"The genetic potential does allow for that, but in practice, very few breeders are able to achieve their chickens' maximum genetic potential. Therefore, this remains a shared challenge. If this potential can be maximized, our production will be much better than it is now," said Dedy.
He also stated that in the future, broiler chickens will likely remain a leading source of animal protein, not only in Indonesia but worldwide. This is because the price per gram of broiler protein is the cheapest compared to other meat commodities, which will also impact high market demand.
High Performance, Less Prone to Stress & Disease: Broiler chickens are undoubtedly exceptional in terms of performance in terms of daily weight gain, feed conversion, and other growth parameters. However, as a compensation, their immune system and susceptibility to stress are reduced.
This was conveyed by Professor I Wayan Teguh Wibawan of SKHB IPB University. According to him, today's broiler chickens are truly "monsters," as in just 30 days, they can double their body weight almost tenfold, from the DOC stage to the finisher stage.
"They're truly monsters by design, but they're actually incredibly fragile. They're prone to stress and disease. This is a given, as no living creature is superior; there are bound to be tradeoffs. Therefore, human intervention is needed to optimize their genetic potential for growth," Wayan said.
Wayan revealed various facts and data that show that broiler performance will fail with inadequate management. He urged farmers to put in extra effort in management, as it would be futile if their genetic potential wasn't properly utilized.
"It's wasteful, that's why I sometimes feel sorry for our farmers. Our chickens are genetically advanced and growing well, but the way we raise them is still the same. This is called an imbalance, so farmers must understand that their chickens need more attention," he said.
This opinion was also echoed by Aceng, a partner farmer in the Rumpin area of Bogor Regency. He said that raising broiler chickens seems increasingly difficult. Especially since the ban on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) a few years ago, he became increasingly frustrated with the performance of his chickens, which were constantly fluctuating in their coops.
"Even though they say the DOCs are good, the feed is good, everything is good, but performance is inconsistent. In fact, we rarely make a profit. We're at a loss for what to do," Aceng said.
