A Simulation Study of the Effects of Dietary Metabolizable Energy on the Economics of Broiler Production

A computer simulation was used to examine the effect of feeding least cost diets containing metabolizable energy (M.E.) levels varying from 2.7 to 3.25 kcal./g. in the starter diet and 2.79 to 3.39 kcal./g. in the finisher diet on profitability of a broiler operation. Alternative cropping practices, slaughtering at 2 kg. body weight, or at age of maximum profit per bird were compared. An effect of dietary M.E. on growth rate was compared with a possible situation when dietary M.E. did not affect growth rate. The analysis demonstrated that the M.E. level for maximum profit was not affected by the alternate cropping strategies, the market price of finished broilers examined, not whether the decision was based on profit/bird or profit/m.2/year. The effect of dietary M.E. on growth rate did influence most profitable M.E. level. If M.E. level affected growth rate, the optimum M.E. levels were 3.2 kcal./g. in the starter diet and 3.29 kcal./g. in the finisher diet. If M.E. level did not affect growth rate, the optimum M.E. levels were 3.0 kcal./g. in the starter diet and 3.09 kcal./g. in the finisher diet.