In poultry feed production, yield percentage reflects how efficiently raw materials are converted into finished feed. It directly impacts both profitability and performance at the farm. A low yield often means there is either wastage, poor mixing, or wrong ratios in your formulations. Comparing your yield with industry standards tells you whether your mill is running effectively or leaking money silently.
Understanding Industry Yield Standards
In well-managed poultry feed mills, the expected yield percentage is usually above ninety eight percent depending on ingredient type, moisture content, and production system. If your yield is consistently lower, it's a red flag. It may mean you're losing material during processing, or not getting the correct grind size, or your machine calibration is off. Knowing the industry benchmark gives you a point of comparison and a target to aim for.
Finding the Gaps in Your Yield
When you start tracking your own feed production batch by batch, you will begin to see patterns. Maybe corn-based batches are giving lower yield. Maybe losses are higher when grinding or bagging. These patterns help in understanding exactly where you are falling short compared to the standard. With simple measurement and records, farmers can identify leakages early.
Benefits of Matching or Exceeding Standards
When your yield matches industry standards, you save more on raw materials, reduce cost per kilogram of feed, and improve delivery schedules. It also builds trust with contract farmers or integrators who depend on your feed. Better yield means less return feed or complaints. And over time, your feed mill earns a reputation for consistency and quality.
Steps to Improve Feed Mill Yield
Start with checking your raw material moisture content. Excess moisture leads to shrinkage and lower yield. Maintain and calibrate your machinery regularly, especially mixers and weighers. Train your workers to follow proper processing steps without shortcuts. And monitor yield daily, not just monthly. Regular monitoring helps you catch deviations faster and take corrective steps.
Making Yield Percentage a Key Performance Metric
Make yield percentage part of your daily reporting. This one number can tell you a lot about how your feed mill is running. Over time, create benchmarks for each formula and ingredient type. Encourage your team to improve this number as a shared goal. When your entire feed operation focuses on yield, you’ll start seeing better results, fewer losses, and more profits.
