The Use of Nonlinear Programming in Diet Formulation Based on Maximum Profit in Broiler Chicks

Linear Programming is a helpful and applied method for diet formulation based on minimum cost, but the minimum cost does not always mean maximum profit. This study was carried out to introduce a new diet formulation method based upon maximum profit to be replaced for minimum cost method. A total of 400 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were employed in the study. All broilers were fed similar diets in the starter period. The experimental diet contained five nutrient density levels, but with nutrient to energy ratio being kept constant. Weight gain (P<0.01) and feed consumption (P<0.01) were significantly affected by the experimental diet. Software was designed in a way able to formulate diets based on maximum profit in a dynamic manner, and as well to predict the performance during the growth period. The predicting with this method showed that by decrease of broiler price in slaughterhouse or increase in cost of ingredients (except corn), diets of low nutritional value get more economical and if broiler price in slaughterhouses increase or ingredient's cost (except corn) decrease, high nutritional value diets yeild the greatest economical productivity. The results of this study indicate that diet formulation based on maximum profit method by using nonlinear programming could be effectively used in broiler diet formulations.