Big Dutchman (BD) Agriculture, BEC Feed Solutions, and Hendrix Genetics once again held Layer Solutions Day (LSD) in Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, on Thursday (13/8). Under the theme “Achieving Optimal Layer Production Performance Through Improved Management,” the event brought together independent layer farmers and experts in poultry house equipment, nutrition, and poultry genetics.

The agenda opened with warm remarks from representatives of each company. Representing PT Big Dutchman Agriculture Indonesia, Ansyar Jalaludin, Area Sales Manager of Sumatera, welcomed the farmers who had taken the time to attend and discuss their experiences amid their busy schedules. Given the current egg price situation, which has become a major concern among farmers, he encouraged participants to freely ask questions and discuss issues encountered on their respective farms.

From PT BEC Feed Solutions Indonesia, Anjas Morodiono, National Sales & Marketing Manager, expressed his appreciation to farmers from various regions who had traveled to Payakumbuh. He also highlighted that the participation of three companies in the event could provide more comprehensive solutions, covering poultry housing, nutrition, and genetics.

Meanwhile, Erwan Julianto, Technical Manager Hendrix Genetics for Indonesia & Philippine, expressed his enthusiasm about participating in the companies’ regular collaborative event. He emphasized that the forum was intended to provide practical solutions amid the increasingly complex challenges facing the layer business.

The Role of Technology Amid Temperature Challenges

The first session focused on the challenges of controlling poultry house temperatures and the role of ventilation technology in maintaining optimal environmental conditions for laying hens. Edi Hidayat, Area Sales Manager of West Java at PT BD Agriculture Indonesia, explained that three key aspects influence the maximization of layer HDP (Hen Day Production): environment, nutrition, and health. In terms of the environment, farmers must provide the facilities required by the birds, including adequate air circulation.

Edi stated that the comfort temperature range for chickens is 18–24°C. When temperatures fall outside this range, feed and water intake can be disrupted. At excessively low temperatures, for example, feed intake increases. More of the feed consumed by the birds is then used to maintain body temperature rather than support production. Conversely, when temperatures rise above the ideal range, feed intake decreases, negatively affecting egg production. Under more severe conditions, birds may experience heat stress, accompanied by an increased risk of mortality.

“Temperature management is becoming increasingly important in tropical areas such as Payakumbuh. Based on a year-long mapping of Payakumbuh’s climatic conditions using Meteonorm software, chickens are within the comfort zone for only around 2.5% of the year. Meanwhile, 35% of the time falls within the alert zone, 53.5% within the danger zone, and 9% within the emergency zone,” he explained.

Based on these findings, he emphasized the importance of developing ventilation strategies according to the temperature and humidity conditions of each region. Temperature control cannot rely solely on conventional ventilation; instead, it requires proper ventilation management. With a closed-house system, poultry house temperatures can be maintained at optimal levels throughout the year, helping to preserve bird health and productivity, improve performance and feed conversion, and reduce mortality.

Continuing the discussion on poultry house temperatures, Tommy Lim, Product Sales Manager for Climate at BD Agriculture Malaysia, introduced the concept of the poultry house as an integrated system designed to support bird performance. According to him, the effectiveness of temperature control depends not only on the ventilation system but also on the ability of the house construction to prevent external heat from entering.

Among various materials, including brick, concrete, wood, vinyl wall, glass wool, and PU panels, Tommy explained that the choice of wall material significantly determines how much external heat can penetrate the poultry house. He even demonstrated the temperature differences between the exterior and interior surfaces of the house using an infrared camera.

“Good insulation is extremely important. With good insulation, external heat cannot easily enter the poultry house. I recommend using two layers of insulation on the roof and walls to reduce the workload of the ventilation and cooling systems. This also makes energy use more efficient. However, installation must also be carefully considered because gaps between improperly sealed panels can allow heat to enter even when high-quality materials are used,” he emphasized.

Optimal Performance, Maximum Profitability

Layer performance is influenced not only by environmental factors but also closely linked to proper nutrition and flock management. Mega Saragi, Nutritionist and Technical Manager at PT BEC Feed Solutions Indonesia, continued the session by explaining how nutritional strategies can optimize feed utilization and improve farmer profitability.

“Our focus is on developing strategies so that the feed we provide to chickens can translate into performance. Performance is not measured solely by high egg production, but also by egg weight and quality. However, the feed consumed by chickens does not automatically become profit because it must first undergo digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Some nutrients are converted into eggs, while others are excreted as feces or used as energy,” she explained.

To produce an appropriate feed formulation, Mega explained that the process should begin by determining nutrient specifications based on production requirements, followed by adjustments according to the availability and quality of raw materials. Recommendations from breeding companies can serve as a starting point, but formulations still need to be adapted to the conditions of each farm and region.

“This also applies when using alternative feed ingredients. Farmers need to be alert to the presence of anti-nutritional factors and mycotoxins, especially as alternative raw materials are being used more frequently. In addition to nutrient content, the price and consistency of raw material quality must also be taken into consideration,” she said.

The accuracy of nutritional management can ultimately be assessed through bird performance and the quality of eggs produced. When production or egg weight does not meet expectations, she recommended that farmers evaluate energy and amino acid requirements, including their digestibility and balance, rather than simply looking at crude protein levels. Liver and digestive tract health should also be considered to ensure that nutrients are not excessively utilized for body defense and can instead be optimally directed toward production.

At the same event, Erwan Julianto, Technical Manager Hendrix Genetics for Indonesia & Philippine, directly linked farm management to the profit potential that farmers can achieve. According to him, although egg and raw material prices are beyond farmers’ control, farm management and flock performance remain factors that can be fully managed.

He then introduced a simple yet crucial formula for layer farmers: 5-16-300. The number 5 refers to the target body weight at five weeks of age, together with the uniformity that must be achieved; 16 refers to body-weight uniformity at 16 weeks of age before light stimulation; while 300 refers to the additional body weight required, from 1.5 kg to 1.8 kg, approaching the production period.

“If the birds have not yet achieved uniform body weight, do not force light stimulation. It is better to wait another one or two weeks than to stimulate birds that are still undersized, because the effects can persist through the end of the production cycle. What needs to be remembered is that egg weight data is the fastest indicator for detecting nutritional problems, because chickens tend to maintain egg numbers first before sacrificing egg weight,” he explained.

In addition to presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions, the event was enlivened by quizzes and door prizes, making it a memorable experience for participants. Through this collaboration, Big Dutchman (BD) Agriculture, BEC Feed Solutions, and Hendrix Genetics hope to continue supporting layer farmers in Indonesia in achieving more optimal and efficient production amid the evolving dynamics of the poultry industry. ADV