Applied broiler research unit (Savoy)
These four full-sized broiler houses are equipped with computerised environmental control and data collections systems capable of commercial-type production research.

Introduction

Contract broiler producers do not manufacture or deliver feed to their farms nor do they purchase it outright. Because they do not directly pay for their feed, questions may arise concerning how much feed was delivered and if that feed was accurately weighed, even though contracts have provisions for growers to be present when feed and birds are weighed. Accurate feed weights are critical because under most broiler growing contracts, a major portion of producer pay is based on how much feed birds consume and how well birds convert that feed to meat. The ABRF recently harvested the 100th flock of broilers grown at the farm. The farm is capable of weighing the feed birds consume on a daily basis and thus was able to compare feed-ticket weights with on-farm feed weights for 100 flocks of birds.

Comparisons

The on-farm feed weighing system and procedures for daily feed weighing were described in detail previously by Tabler (2001). The system allows the ABRF the capability to weigh feed consumed at each of four broiler houses on a daily basis. After harvest, feed intake for the four houses are combined and compared with feed ticket weights received during the flock and feed weight charged to the farm on the settlement sheet. A 100-flock comparison of on-farm feed weights and feed-ticket weights for broilers grown at the ABRF from November 1990 through October 2008 is presented in Table 1 (flocks 1-50) and Table 2 (flocks 51-100). Data indicate that on-farm weights and feed-ticket delivery weights never exactly matched but were for the most part, similar. For 81 of 100 flocks, weight differences favoured the producer.

For the first 50 flocks, the difference between on-farm feed weights and feed-ticket weights favoured the producer in 47 flocks by an average 1.02 per cent. The remaining three flocks favoured the integrator by an average of 0.59 per cent. The overall combined difference between the two systems on the first 50 flocks was 0.99 per cent in favour of the producer.

In the second 50 flocks, (51 through 100) the difference between on-farm feed weights and feed-ticket weights favoured the producer in 34 flocks by an average of 0.81 per cent. The remaining 16 flocks favoured the integrator by an average of 0.48 per cent. The overall combined difference between the two systems on the second 50 flocks was 0.70 per cent in favor of the producer, slightly lower than the first 50 flocks. Ten of the 16 flocks that favoured the integrator have occurred since 2006, after the ABRF was renovated. Several older load-cells at bins that weigh feed on-farm had to be replaced during that time. Many of these were original load-cells installed in 1990. This change in load-cells may partially explain the increased number of flocks that recently favour the integrator. Overall, differences between on-farm feed weights and feed-delivery ticket weights averaged 0.85 per cent for 100 flocks of broilers that consumed over 75 million pounds of feed.

Everyone’s Best Interest

Every producer will eventually face the issue of feed being delivered a day too early and the bins not holding it all. By law, any feed that is returned by or picked up from a poultry producer must be weighed if feed weight is a factor in determining payment; the integrator must document and account for any returned or picked-up feed.

But sometimes mistakes occur. Growers are urged to keep track of feed tickets and know when something is out of the ordinary – for example, feed is delivered too frequently or not frequently enough. It is in the best interests of both producer and integrator to resolve any issues as they arise. Waiting until the flock sells to try to resolve a questionable feed ticket from weeks ago may result in conflict. Service technicians should be contacted at the first sign of a potential problem. If feed was received but no ticket can be found, ask the service technician to provide a copy.

Feed costs are nearly two-thirds of all broiler production costs. These costs are important to growers because feed conversion largely determines how well each grower settles at the end of the flock. Integrators have millions of dollars invested in feed mills and feed processing equipment, feed trucks, labour costs and feed ingredients. This is, in part, why service technicians are always asking growers to manage feeder height correctly and to avoid feed waste when chicks are small and begin scratching feed out of the feed trays.

Safeguards

The USDA Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) of 1921 is designed to promote fair competition and ensure fair trade practices in the livestock and poultry industries. This Act also protects contract poultry producers. P&S Act requires all scales used by integrators to weigh feed for purposes of payment and settlement be installed, maintained and operated to ensure accurate weights. The Packers and Stockyards Program (P&SP) enforces the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act). P&SP promotes accurate weighing in the live poultry industry in the following ways (USDA, 2008):

1. All scales used for weighing feed for purchase, sale, acquisition, payment or settlement must be installed and maintained in accordance to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44 as incorporated by reference into the regulations.
   
   
2. All scales used to weigh feed for purchase, sale, acquisition, payment or settlement under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) must be tested for accuracy by a competent agency at least each six months, and the reports of these tests forwarded to P&SP.
   
   
3. Any scale found to be inaccurate according to accepted tolerances, must not be used until it is repaired, re-tested and found accurate again.
   
   
4. Whenever the weight of feed is a factor in determining payment or settlement to a poultry grower when live poultry is produced under a growing arrangement, live poultry dealers must base payment or settlement on the actual weight of feed shown on the scale ticket. If the actual weight used is not obtained on the date and at the place of transfer of possession, this information must be disclosed with the date and location of the weighing on the accountings, bills or statements issued. If there are any adjustments to the actual weight, this information and the reason must be disclosed on the accountings, bills or statements issued.
   
   
5. Integrators must employ qualified scale operators. Integrators must require scale operators to comply with federal regulations for weighing feed for payment purposes.
   
   
6. Every live poultry dealer must keep all accounts, records and memorandum necessary to fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in the business transaction, including the true ownership. The scale ticket is a legal document. Every record that is issued where weight is a factor of settlement depends.

Scales used to weigh feed must be attached to a printer, which should print weight values on a feed ticket. Producers should never receive scale tickets written by hand. In addition to safeguards at the feed mill, the P&S Act also requires that each scale ticket for feed, where weight of feed is a factor in determining settlement to a producer, must show (USDA, 2008):

1. Name of the company performing the weighing service
2. Name and address of the producer receiving the feed
3. Name, initials, or number of the feed weigher, or if required by State law, signature of the feed weigher
4. Location of the scale
5. Gross, tare, and net weight of each lot assigned to an individual producer
6. Date and time gross and tare weights were determined, if applicable
7. Whether the driver was on or off the truck at the time of weighing, and
8. Licence number of the truck or other identification numbers on the truck and trailer, if weighed together, or trailer if only the trailer is weighed.

Even though integrators are required by law to maintain accurate records, it is important for growers to retain feed tickets and maintain accurate records. Alert the integrator at the first indication there may be a potential concern. The longer growers wait to report a problem, the harder it will be to resolve that problem. In most cases, problems can be quickly resolved when both producer and integrator have accurate records and act in a timely manner. In the unlikely event that a producer cannot satisfactorily resolve a feed issue, the P&S Act authorises the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) to investigate complaints of possible violations. Producers may report possible violations of the P&S Act to GIPSA toll free at 1-800-998-3447.

References

Anonymous. 2001. How much did your feed really weigh? Farmers Legal Action Group, Inc. Accessed: 2 April 2009.

Tabler, G. T. 2001. A 10-year comparison of on-farm feed weights and feed truck weights. Avian Advice 3(3):1-3.

USDA. 2008. Responsibility for accurate scales and live poultry weights. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA. January 2008. Accessed: 6 April 2009.