Vol. 7, Issue 8 (2018)

Author(s):
Santoshkumar, TS Rajeev, Reeja George P, Gleeja VL and Anjali K Babu

Abstract:
The present study was conducted to evaluate the economics of broiler production among non-contract and contract farms in Malappuram district of Kerala state. On detailed analysis of the economics of commercial broiler chicken production, the total production cost on non-contract and contract farms were was Rs.71.01 and Rs.5.34 respectively. The share of fixed cost in total cost was 3.82 and 53.13 per cent while variable cost was 96.18 and 46.87 per cent in non-contract and contract farms respectively. The gross returns per kilogram of live weight was Rs.78.59 and 6.85 in non-contract and contract farming respectively. Net returns over variable cost and net returns over total cost were found to be Rs.10.78 and Rs.8.09 in non-contract farms whereas in contract farms it was Rs.4.35 and Rs.1.51 respectively. Average flock size was 3415 and 3563 birds per batch, livability 97.18 and 96.65 per cent, average feed conversion ratio 1.67 and 1.68, average live weight per bird 2.15 and 2.15 kilogram in non-contract and contract systems respectively. Benefit-cost ratio was analyzed and found to be 1.11 and 1.28 in non-contract and contract farming system. In the present study it was observed that non-contract farming was profitable provided there was less fluctuation in the market price of chicken as well as demand and demand for chicken meat however, broiler farming does not look promising for investors in the contract farming system as the net return over total cost was very less.