The importance of maize for poultry

April 2025

KARINA MULLER, PULA CONTRIBUTOR

BROILER FARMING IS A PROFITABLE VENTURE FOR MANY UPCOMING FARMERS, BUT UNDERSTANDING FEED CONSUMPTION IS CRUCIAL FOR COST MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY. MAIZE (CORN) IS A PRIMARY INGREDIENT IN BROILER FEED, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ENERGY FOR GROWTH.

In South Africa, an estimated 43% of all maize allocated to animal feed is consumed by broilers. According to a graph released by Grain SA, broilers have consumed 1 790 650 tons of maize in the 2024/2025 year to date.

According to Waldo Macdonald, key accounts manager at Nutri Feeds, maize usually makes up 50% to 70% of a typical poultry diet.

The exact amount of maize consumed depends on the feed formulation, but on average, a broiler eats 3,6 kg to 4,5 kg of its total feed in six weeks (before being slaughtered). If maize accounts for 60% of the diet, each broiler consumes about 2,7 kg of maize during its lifetime. 

The food conversion ratio (FCR) is used to determine how well feed is performing. It is calculated using the following formula: FCR = feed intake per weight. It shows how much feed (kg) a chick needs to eat to gain 1 kg of its body mass. The lower the FCR, the less feed the chick consumes to gain 1 kg of weight, meaning the feed is more efficient.

According to Waldo, a broiler can consume anything from 1,3 kg (in controlled circumstances) to 1,8 kg of feed to gain 1 kg in weight. ‘In the informal market, where conditions are less controlled and lower-density (cheaper) feeds are used, the figure will typically be significantly higher. Therefore I would not necessarily attach a fixed number to it, as it depends on the management of the chicks and the type of feed used,’ he explains. 

Photo: Christo van Deventer

FACTORS AFFECTING MAIZE CONSUMPTION
Various factors influence how much maize broilers consume: 

• Feed formulation: The percentage of maize in the diet varies based on the protein and energy needs.
• Growth rate and breed: Fast-growing breeds consume more feed.
• Environmental conditions: Temperature and housing conditions impact feed efficiency.
• Feed quality and availability: Poor-quality maize or feed shortages can reduce the intake and cause slow growth.

A technical advisor at one of the country’s largest chick farmers told Pula Imvula that, when he joined the operations 25 years ago, broilers were slaughtered at 46 days. Today, thanks to advancements in feeding, the average slaughter age has been reduced to 33 days.

Typical diet
The typical diet for a broiler will look like this:

• Hatching up to day 9: Pre-starter – contains more soy (protein) and is in the form of crumbs to help build the carcass.
• Day 10 to 17: Starter – supports early growth and development.
• Day 18 to 27: Grower – comes in pellet form and contains more maize to promote weight gain.
• Day 28 to 35: Finisher – contains, on average, 60% maize and helps to maximise growth before slaughter.
• Last phase (optional, day 36 onwards): Post-finisher – some farmers provide this just before slaughter. It does not contain any growth stimulants and helps to ensure meat quality.

What not to feed broilers
Broilers should never be fed:

• Mouldy or spoiled feed, as it contains mycotoxins leading to poisoning, poor growth or even death.
• Raw beans or unprocessed legumes, as they contain anti-nutritional elements that interfere with digestion.
• Excessive salt, which leads to dehydration and kidney damage.
• Avocado pit and skin, as it contains persin, which is toxic to poultry.
• Caffeine, as it contains theobromine, which can be fatal to chickens.
• Onions and garlic in large quantities, as this can cause anaemia and affect the taste of the meat.
• Green potatoes or tomato leaves, as they contain solanine, which is toxic to broilers.

DID YOU KNOW?
According to those involved in this sector, one of the most popular broiler chicken breeds in the world is Ross (developed in the United Kingdom). It is known for its fast growth, high feed efficiency and excellent meat yield, making it a preferred choice for commercial poultry farming.

How much meat do we eat?
According to the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), this country’s chicken meat consumption in 2022 was approximately 2,26 million tons, equating to a per capita consumption of 37,3 kg.

The average broiler yields about 1,5 kg of consumable meat, which means that South Africans consume approximately 4,13 million broilers daily, totalling about 1,51 billion broilers annually.

In a media statement on 20 January this year, this organisation reported that the domestic poultry industry is a R65-billion strategic national asset – the second-largest agricultural sector, while being the largest employer, employing almost 58 000 South Africans across the value chain. The industry has made significant investments to increase its slaughter capacity from 19,5 million to 22,5 million birds per week, although it’s currently only slaughtering 21,5 million every week.

Publication: April 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula