Comparison of White and Brown Laying Hen Farms in Terms of Performance and Profitability

Abstract

In this study, white and brown laying hen farms in the Afyon province, which have considerable importance in laying hen farming in Turkey, were compared in terms of performance, and profitability and the most profitable genotype was determined. Data were obtained by conducting a questionnaire with 67 farmers. Laying hen farms were divided into two groups according to their genotypes and were analyzed accordingly. It was found that white layers had higher egg yield and better feed efficiency. Egg yield and feed efficiency for white and brown laying hen farms were 79.60, 76.18% and 2.41, 2.48 kg feed/kg egg, respectively. It was also found that brown laying hen farms were advantageous in terms of economic criteria. Production cost and net profit per hen for white and brown laying hen farms were 28.62, 29.09 TL and 0.80, 3.78 TL, respectively (1 USD = 1.43 TL). The profit margin per egg for white and brown laying hen farms were 0.001, 0.010 TL/egg, respectively. The results showed that even though white laying hen farms had lower production costs, brown laying hen farms were more profitable and the reason for this was the higher price received per brown shell egg.