How to make profits from livestock

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Profitability in livestock farming hinges on three critical pillars: genetics, feeding, and general management.

Experts emphasise that farmers must pay close attention to these areas to enhance productivity and maximise returns.

This advice was shared during a recent series of virtual masterclasses aired on Bukedde TV, organised by Vision Group with support from Koudijs Nutrition BV, the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLM Airlines, and dfcu Bank.

The sessions aimed to equip farmers with practical knowledge across various livestock sectors that included piggery, fish farming, poultry and general farm management.

The facilitators

The masterclasses featured a lineup of seasoned trainers as follows:

Michael Buwembo, a piggery expert from Kafiika Feeds, who led discussions on pig production and profitability.

Francis Baguma, director of Kafiika Feeds, the distributors of Koudijs feeds and concentrates in Uganda.

Dr Geoffrey Mukama from Koudijs Uganda tackled poultry farming, with a focus on feeds, housing, biosecurity and vaccination.

Ivan Ssabwe from De Heus provided insights into fish farming, highlighting feeding strategies and water quality management.

Together, these experts offered actionable strategies to help farmers improve yields, reduce losses and build sustainable agribusinesses.

Piggery: Genetics and feed efficiency

Farmers raised issues of breeds, feeds, growth rates, diseases and safety, water management and the math of making money from the piggery enterprise.

Peter Weduku, a farmer in Butandiga, Sironko district, asked how best he could maximise productivity and profitability at his farm.

In response, Buwembo stressed the importance of selecting the right breeds and genetics.

Good genetics improve feed conversion, enabling pigs to reach market weight faster and more efficiently.

He advised farmers to mix their own feed to control the quality and quantity of raw materials. Feed should be homogeneous, making it easier to digest.

“Poor quality inputs result in poor quality feed,” Buwembo warned.

He explained that maize with low starch and fibre yields less energy, while low-nutrient soya results in reduced protein content.

Farmers should assess raw materials by weight, colour and density, that is, heavier grains typically contain more nutrients.

“Don’t just look at price. Analyse samples yourself or take them to a lab,” Buwembo advised.

Regarding feeds, he compared Koudijs feed with locally mixed alternatives:

• A pig consumes 250kg of Koudijs feed to reach 100kg live weight in six months. With local feed, it consumes 275kg to reach only 55kg live weight.

Buwembo also recommended:

• KPC20 for lactating sows to improve milk quality
• KPLC50 for piglets (creep feed)
• PLC30 for fatteners Fish farming: Breed, water, and feeding strategy Vincent Sebulime, one of the fish farmers, wanted to know the right spacing, feeding and feed management for a profitable farm.
  
  So, Ssabwe trained farmers on managing tilapia and catfish farms.

He emphasised choosing the right breed and implementing a strategic feeding plan.

Stocking density

• In ponds: 1–3 fish per square metre; up to four if water is refreshed regularly
• In cages (e.g., lakes): 80–120 fish per cubic metre. Tilapia require high oxygen levels for optimal growth.

Water quality

Clean water is essential. Poor water quality reduces feeding and growth. Fish swimming toward refreshed water is a sign of contamination.

Cage positioning

Cages should be spaced to allow water to flow and clean between them, maintaining oxygen and cleanliness.

Feeding practices

Feed fish 20% of their body weight daily, supplied thrice. Monitor fish behaviour to adjust feeding. Weigh fish every two weeks (under 500g) or monthly (above 500g) to track growth and feed conversion.

Temperature

Feeding should occur when temperatures are around 27°C because this range is optimal for their metabolism, appetite and growth.

Therefore, feed after sunrise and before sunset.

Poultry farming: smart feeding for broilers, layers

Mukama focused on broiler chicken farming.

He noted that profitability depends on minimising the number of days birds spend on the farm while ensuring proper growth.

Some broiler breeds reach market weight in four to six weeks, while others take two to three months. Choosing fast-growing breeds improves profitability.

Feed quality and nutrition

“Never compromise on feed quality,” Mukama emphasised.

“Feeds must support growth, organ development, immunity and overall health.”

He recommended:

Pre-starter Galdus: Enhances intestinal development, improves feed efficiency, reduces mortality, and increases slaughter weight.

Starter feed: Optimised with essential amino acids to support early growth and digestion. This ensures high vitality, supports early growth and promotes easy digestion for healthy intestinal development. The result is low maintenance and high growth performance.

Finisher feed: As birds mature, their nutritional requirements shift. Finisher feed adjusts the balance from high protein to higher energy content, supporting rapid growth and preparing birds for market or production.

Economics of layer farming

When it comes to layers, the focus is on maximising egg quality and quantity.

According Baguma, farmers must select breeds based on their production traits.

“Some breeds lay few but large eggs, about 270 per year. Others lay small eggs but in high numbers, up to 320 annually,” he explained.

Understanding the cost of production is key to profitability. A layer bird consumes about 8kg of feed over five months before it starts laying.

At an average cost of sh1,700 per kg, feed expenses total sh13,600. Add sh8,813 for operations (health, transport, miscellaneous) and sh5,500 for a day-old chick, and the total cost to raise one layer to laying stage is about sh27,913. For a flock of 1,000 birds under a deep litter system, daily feed requirements are 135kg, costing sh175,500.

If the laying rate is 75%, the farm produces 750 eggs daily, equivalent to 25 trays. At sh10,500 per tray, daily revenue is sh262,500, against a production cost of sh70,200, yielding a healthy margin.

Feed optimisation

Baguma recommends using concentrates, for example, Koudijs to enhance feed quality and improve farm profitability.

These concentrates help farmers formulate balanced diets that support better health, higher productivity and greater returns.

Key takeaways for farmers

Across all livestock sectors, the experts agreed on several universal principles:

1. Invest in genetics: Choose breeds that grow faster, convert feed efficiently and resist disease.
2. Prioritise feed quality: Use trusted sources, analyse raw materials and tailor feed to animal needs.
3. Manage environments carefully: Clean water, proper housing and temperature control are essential.
4. Keep records: Farmers should document everything, that is, stocking numbers, feed quantities and growth rates. Tracking performance helps identify problems and improve future outcomes.
5. Use specialised products: Supplements like Koudijs concentrates can improve efficiency and reduce costs in the long run.