Krishi Vigyan Kendra launches poultry feed in Ernakulam
The feed has been developed for the domestic homestead use and not for big commercial poultry farms, says Shinoj Subramannian.
Kochi: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ernakulam, has launched an organic layer poultry feed for quality egg production. The feed, free of antibiotics and other performance enhancer, has been developed by using the feed formulation software of Central Avian Research Institute, Bareilly, UP. Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, director of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, launched the feed by handing over the packets to poultry farmers in Kochi on Tuesday.
“The feed has been developed for the domestic homestead use and not for big commercial poultry farms. Most home-reared poultry are fed with kitchen food waste, whereas layer poultry require certain minerals, salts and vitamins in their feed for producing eggs to their maximum potential and also to maintain size,” said Shinoj Subramannian, senior scientist at KVK.
“The people are concerned about the presence of antibiotics and other toxic elements in eggs coming from neighbouring states. Unlike vegetables, eggs have no organic alternative and we have to rear poultry at home to have safe eggs.
The initiative is part of KVK’s programme called ‘Self farming for safe food.’ Many housewives get eggs in their homes by rearing poultry and sell the excess eggs. Such homemade eggs are sold at a premium price,” he added.
The feed is available for sale at CMFRI sales counter, near the High Court, at a price of Rs 300 for a 10-kg packet.