Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied, zangodaji, Lokoja (2026)

26/09/2026

DR. BEN'S POULTRY BUSINESS UPDATE
WHY DO MANY LAYER FARMS IN NIGERIA STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE INTO THE NEXT GENERATION?
Dear Farmer,
If you are keeping 1,000, 3,000, 5,000 or even 10,000 layers, I want you to think about one question:
If you stop managing the farm tomorrow, can your children successfully take over the business?
For many poultry farms, the honest answer is NO.
And this is not because the farmer is not hardworking.
Many farmers work extremely hard.
The problem is that hard work alone does not make a layer farm profitable or transferable.
A farm that depends completely on the owner's daily presence, personal borrowing, undocumented decisions and constant injection of personal money is difficult to transfer to the next generation.
________________________________________
WHY DO LAYER FARMS STRUGGLE?
1️⃣ Feed consumes too much of the revenue
Feed is one of the biggest costs in egg production.
When feed conversion, wastage, egg production and egg price are not monitored closely, the farmer may be producing thousands of eggs while making very little money.
High egg production does not automatically mean high profit.
________________________________________
2️⃣ Farmers focus on production but not enough on COST OF PRODUCTION
Knowing that your birds produced 800 crates this week is good.
But do you know:
What did each crate cost you to produce?
And after paying:
• Feed
• Labour
• Drugs and vaccines
• Electricity
• Fuel
• Transport
• Mortality
• Repairs
• Depreciation
• Interest/debt
• Packaging
• Other farm expenses
How much did you actually make?
If you don't know this number, you are managing production — not the business.
________________________________________
3️⃣ Egg price can change while your costs keep rising
The farmer may buy feed today at one price and sell eggs at a price that was determined by the market several weeks ago.
This creates a dangerous situation:
Input prices rise faster than egg prices.
Without proper pricing and cost monitoring, a farm can generate millions in sales and still lose money.
________________________________________
4️⃣ Poor record keeping
Many farms know:
"I have 5,000 birds."
But cannot immediately answer:
• Current mortality?
• Hen-day production?
• Feed intake per bird?
• Feed cost per crate?
• Average egg weight?
• Cost per egg?
• Monthly operating cost?
• Profit per crate?
• Debt outstanding?
• Cash available?
• Break-even egg price?
If the numbers are not available, decisions become guesswork.
________________________________________
5️⃣ Mortality and poor flock performance
Every bird lost represents:
The cost of the pullet + feed already consumed + future eggs that will never be produced.
Disease prevention, vaccination, biosecurity, water quality, nutrition, ventilation and good management are therefore not merely veterinary issues.
They are financial issues.
________________________________________
6️⃣ Farmers borrow money to survive instead of using the business to create capital
Debt itself is not necessarily the problem.
The problem comes when borrowing becomes a permanent part of the farm's operating model.
A farm should eventually be able to generate enough cash to:
Feed the birds → pay expenses → replace the flock → maintain infrastructure → service debt → retain profit → reinvest.
If every cycle requires another personal loan, the business is vulnerable.
________________________________________
🚨 THE BIGGEST PROBLEM: THE FARM IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
This is the part I want every farmer with 1,000–10,000 layers to think seriously about.
Your children may inherit:
Land.
Buildings.
Cages.
Birds.
Equipment.
But will they inherit a profitable business system?
A transferable farm should have:
✅ Proper financial records
✅ Standard operating procedures
✅ Reliable suppliers
✅ Established customers
✅ Trained staff
✅ Documented flock performance
✅ Disease-control protocols
✅ Production budgets
✅ Cash-flow plans
✅ Clear ownership structure
✅ A succession plan
Your children should not have to start learning the business from zero after you are gone.
________________________________________
💡 SO, WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY?
1. Know your cost of producing one crate of eggs
Don't sell eggs simply because the market is buying.
Know your cost of production and your minimum acceptable selling price.
________________________________________
2. Manage the farm using KPIs
At minimum, monitor:
Hen-day production
Mortality
Feed intake
Feed cost per bird
Egg weight
Eggs per bird housed
Cost per crate
Selling price per crate
Daily/weekly cash flow
What gets measured gets managed.
________________________________________
3. Reduce feed wastage
A small percentage of feed wastage can become a very large amount of money when you have thousands of layers.
Check:
• Feeder adjustment
• Feed spillage
• Rodent damage
• Feed storage
• Bird access
• Feed quality
________________________________________
4. Build a market before increasing production
Don't only ask:
"How many eggs can I produce?"
Also ask:
"Who will buy them, how frequently, and at what price?"
Develop relationships with:
• Wholesalers
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Bakeries
• Supermarkets
• Food vendors
• Institutions
• Direct consumers
________________________________________
5. Separate the farm's money from personal money
This is critical.
The farm should have its own:
Revenue → Expenses → Profit → Reinvestment → Owner's withdrawal
If the owner takes money from the farm whenever there is a personal need, it becomes difficult to know whether the farm is actually profitable.
________________________________________
6. Build systems, not dependence on the owner
Your farm should be able to operate properly even when you are not physically present.
Document:
What to do → Who does it → When it is done → How it is measured → What happens when performance falls below target.
That is how a farm becomes a business.
________________________________________
MY MESSAGE TO EVERY LAYER FARMER
Don't measure the success of your farm only by the number of birds you have.
Measure it by the wealth those birds create.
A 10,000-layer farm that constantly consumes the owner's personal money is not necessarily better than a 3,000-layer farm that consistently produces cash and grows its assets.
Your goal should not only be to leave your children a poultry farm.
Leave them a profitable poultry business.
A business with:
Assets + Systems + Customers + Records + Profit + People + Succession
That is a farm worth transferring to the next generation.
________________________________________
At Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied
Our goal is not simply to help farmers buy poultry inputs.
We want to help farmers understand their numbers, improve flock performance, reduce avoidable losses and build poultry businesses that can survive and grow.
If you have 1,000–10,000 layers and you want to know whether your farm is actually profitable, the first step is not buying more birds.
The first step is measuring the business you already have.
A layer farm should not only produce eggs; it should produce enough profit, systems and assets to be worth transferring to the next generation.
________________________________________

Healthy Birds • Better Management • Higher Profits
Dr. Ben
Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied
📍 Lokoja, Kogi State
📞 07034574161
📱 WhatsApp: 09055801141

23/09/2026

# 🐔 Dr. Ben's Poultry Masterclass #006

# # **How to Produce Heavy, Healthy Broilers for the Festive Season**

The festive season is approaching, and for broiler farmers, this is one of the most important periods of the year.

During this period, customers are not just looking for **chicken**.

They are looking for birds that are:

**Healthy • Heavy • Well-fleshed • Attractive • Uniform • Properly priced**

This means that the farmer's work does not start when the customer comes to buy.

**It starts from the day the chick arrives.**

One of the biggest mistakes a farmer can make is to focus only on the selling price while ignoring the factors that determine whether the birds will actually reach the desired market weight.

# # # So, what should farmers be doing?

**1️⃣ Start with quality chicks**

Good production starts with good DOCs.

Buy from reliable hatcheries and check the condition of the chicks when they arrive. Record the hatchery, breed, quantity and arrival date.

---

**2️⃣ Don't underestimate brooding**

The first 7–14 days can determine the performance of the flock.

Provide the right temperature, adequate lighting, clean dry litter, sufficient feeders and drinkers, good ventilation and easy access to feed and water.

Watch the birds.

Their behaviour often tells you whether the brooding environment is right.

---

**3️⃣ Water must NEVER be allowed to run out**

A farmer can lose growth very quickly when birds don't have adequate access to clean water.

Check drinkers regularly.

Make sure they are clean, functioning properly and sufficient for the number of birds.

Remember:

**No adequate water → reduced feed intake → poor growth.**

---

**4️⃣ Feed for performance**

Don't simply ask:

*"How much is a bag of feed?"*

Ask:

**"What weight am I getting from the feed I am buying?"**

Use good-quality feed appropriate for the age of the birds and avoid unnecessary feed changes.

Monitor feed intake and weight gain.

---

**5️⃣ Don't overcrowd your birds**

As birds grow, the space they need also increases.

Overcrowding can increase competition for feed and water, worsen litter quality, increase heat stress and negatively affect growth.

Don't stock more birds than your housing and management system can comfortably support.

---

**6️⃣ Take ventilation seriously**

As broilers grow, they produce more heat and moisture.

Watch for:

* Panting
* Birds spreading their wings
* Strong ammonia smell
* Wet litter
* Poor air movement
* Reduced feed intake

Good ventilation is particularly important as the birds approach market age.

---

**7️⃣ Keep the litter dry**

Wet litter is more than a housekeeping problem.

It can contribute to ammonia, poor bird comfort and other health problems.

Check the litter every day.

If a drinker is leaking, **fix the drinker** rather than continually replacing wet litter.

---

**8️⃣ Follow your vaccination and health programme**

Don't wait until birds start dying before thinking about disease control.

Work with your veterinarian to develop an appropriate vaccination and health programme for your farm.

And remember:

**Antibiotics are not a substitute for vaccination, biosecurity and good management.**

---

**9️⃣ Inspect your birds every day**

Don't only count dead birds.

Look at:

**Behaviour → Feed intake → Water intake → Droppings → Litter → Breathing → Body condition → Uniformity**

Early detection can prevent a small problem from becoming an expensive problem.

---

**🔟 Weigh your birds every week**

This is one of the most important things I want farmers to start doing.

Don't manage growth by looking at the birds alone.

**Measure it.**

Record:

* Average body weight
* Mortality
* Feed consumption
* Water consumption
* FCR
* Uniformity
* Treatment costs

If your target is to sell at 2.5 kg, 3 kg or another market weight, you should know **weeks before the festive season whether your flock is on track.**

---

# 🎯 Work backwards from your selling date

This is the mindset I want farmers to adopt.

Don't wait until December before asking:

**"Are my birds big enough?"**

Start with:

**Selling date → Target weight → Weekly weight targets → Feed programme → Health programme → Environmental management → Good DOCs**

That is how you prepare a flock for the festive market.

# # # Remember:

**The festive season rewards farmers who prepare early.**

Your customer is looking for a good-looking, healthy and heavy bird.

Your job as a farmer is to make sure that bird is ready **when the market is ready to buy.**

---

# # # 🐔 Dr. Ben's Poultry Masterclass

**Healthy Birds • Better Growth • Higher Profits**

At **Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied**, we don't just supply poultry inputs.

We want to help farmers **plan, manage and build profitable poultry businesses.**

📍 Lokoja, Kogi State
📞 07034574161
📱 WhatsApp: 09055801141

20/09/2026

Nigeria's Day-Old Chick Business: Are We Solving the Farmer's Real Problem?
One thing I have observed over the years working with poultry farmers is that getting day-old chicks is not always as simple as it looks.
The question is not only “How much is a chick?”
There are other questions that matter.
Where is the chick coming from?
Will the hatchery supply the quantity booked?
Will the price remain the same?
When will the chicks arrive?
How far will they travel before getting to the farm?
And when the farmer finally receives the chicks, who is available to support him when problems start?
These questions are becoming increasingly important in the Nigerian poultry industry.
A large proportion of Nigeria's hatchery capacity is concentrated in the South-West, while many farmers in the North and other parts of the country depend on chicks transported over long distances.
This creates a supply-chain problem.
A farmer may book 2,000 chicks, for example, but if only part of the order is supplied, the farmer still has to make a decision.
Do you wait?
Do you buy from another hatchery?
Do you accept the higher prevailing price?
Or do you disappoint your customers?
I have personally seen how these kinds of situations can affect both the farmer and the poultry business supplying the farmer.
And this is one of the reasons I believe there is an opportunity for businesses like Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied.
We don't see ourselves simply as people who sell day-old chicks.
Our job is to make it easier for the farmer to get what he needs and make better decisions around poultry production.
We work with different hatchery sources because depending completely on one source can create problems when there is a supply shortage, price change or allocation issue.
But sourcing is only one part of the problem.
A farmer also needs to think about breed, quantity, placement date, brooding, vaccination, feed, biosecurity, mortality and, importantly, the market for the birds.
This is where our veterinary background becomes important.
When a farmer comes to us for chicks, the conversation should not end with:
“This is the price.”
We should be able to ask:
How many birds are you stocking?
When are you stocking them?
What breed are you looking for?
Where is your farm?
What is your production plan?
What is your target market?
Because buying chicks is only the beginning.
The real objective is to raise healthy birds and make the business profitable.
This is the direction I want Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied to take.
Not just a place where farmers buy chicks, drugs or equipment.
But a reliable poultry partner that helps farmers source, plan, manage and grow their poultry businesses.
We are based in Lokoja, but our ambition is much bigger than Lokoja.
There is a huge opportunity to build a stronger connection between hatcheries and farmers across North-Central Nigeria and other parts of the country.
The poultry farmer should not have to understand the entire hatchery market before getting good service.
That is part of the value we want to provide.
The hatchery's job is to produce the chick.
Our job is to help the farmer get the right chick and support the farmer in turning that chick into a productive flock.
That is the gap we want Zion to help close.
Healthy Birds • Better Growth • Higher Profits
— Dr. Ben
Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied
Lokoja, Kogi State
📞 07034574161
📱 WhatsApp: 09055801141
.

15/09/2026

# # 🐔 WHY BUYING CHEAP CHICKS CAN BECOME EXPENSIVE

**A cheaper day-old chick does not always mean a cheaper bird to produce.**

Many poultry farmers look at the price of the chick and think:

> *“This one is cheaper, so I'm saving money.”*

But poultry profitability goes beyond the **price of the chick**.

A low-priced chick can become expensive if it results in:

🔴 **Higher mortality** — more birds die, leaving fewer birds to recover your production costs.

📉 **Poor growth** — birds take longer to reach your desired market weight.

🌾 **Poor feed efficiency** — more feed may be required to produce the desired weight.

⚖️ **Uneven flock** — birds reach market weight at different times, making marketing more difficult.

💊 **More health challenges** — weak or poor-quality chicks may require more attention and veterinary intervention.

📅 **Longer production cycle** — extra days mean additional feed, labour, electricity and other expenses.

😟 **Customer dissatisfaction** — if you are supplying birds to customers, poor performance can damage their confidence in your business.

# # # 💰 LOOK BEYOND THE PRICE OF THE CHICK

For example:

If you save **₦100 per chick** on 1,000 chicks, your immediate saving is **₦100,000**.

But if those cheaper chicks subsequently give you higher mortality, slower growth or higher production costs, that ₦100,000 saving can disappear very quickly.

# # # 🧑🏾‍⚕️ DR. BEN'S POULTRY TIP

Don't ask only:

❌ **“How much is the chick?”**

Ask:

✅ **“How much will it cost me to produce a healthy, marketable bird?”**

When choosing chicks, consider:

**Chick quality + hatchery reliability + mortality + growth + feed efficiency + market weight + total production cost.**

👉 **The cheapest chick is not necessarily the cheapest bird to produce.**

🐔 **Buy wisely. Manage properly. Know your numbers. Protect your profit.**

**Healthy Birds • Better Growth • Higher Profits**

— **Dr. Ben**
**Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied**

📱 WhatsApp: **09055801141**
☎️ **07034574161**
🚚 Nationwide Delivery

22/08/2026

🐔 WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER MIX EVERY POULTRY DRUG, VITAMIN & DISINFECTANT IN THE SAME WATER
1️⃣ Some products can interact with each other

Not every medication is compatible with every vitamin, electrolyte, acidifier or disinfectant.

Mixing products can cause:

Reduced stability
Precipitation or cloudiness
Reduced availability of the active ingredient
Changes in the solution's pH

More products do not necessarily mean better treatment.

2️⃣ Disinfectants can interfere with medicines and vaccines

This is particularly important.

Products used to disinfect drinking water may interact with some medications or inactivate certain live vaccines.

Therefore, farmers should check the instructions for the specific vaccine or medicine before administering it through water containing a sanitizer.

3️⃣ Some vitamins and minerals can affect drug absorption

Certain minerals can bind or interact with some medications, potentially reducing how much of the active ingredient is available to the bird.

This is why "antibiotic + multivitamin + calcium + electrolyte" should not automatically become the standard treatment combination.

4️⃣ You may not know what actually worked

Suppose a farmer gives:

Antibiotic + vitamin + electrolyte + acidifier + disinfectant

and the birds improve.

Which product actually helped?

You don't know.

And if the birds don't improve, you also don't know which combination caused the problem.

A good treatment programme should be purposeful and evidence-based, not a mixture of everything available.

5️⃣ Mixing can make the water less palatable

Some combinations can alter the:

Taste
Smell
pH

Birds may drink less.

And when medication is being administered through drinking water, reduced water consumption can mean reduced drug intake.

That's especially important during hot weather or disease outbreaks.

6️⃣ Always read the product instructions

Before putting a product into drinking water, check:

✔ Dosage
✔ Compatibility
✔ Preparation method
✔ Water quality requirements
✔ Recommended duration
✔ Storage/use period after dilution

If compatibility isn't clear, ask the veterinarian or manufacturer rather than guessing.

🚨 A SIMPLE RULE FOR FARMERS
ONE WATER TANK ≠ ONE BIG CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT

Don't think:

"If one product helps the bird, five products will help even more."

Instead ask:

"What problem am I treating, what product is appropriate, and is it compatible with the water and other products being used?"

Remember:

Good diagnosis + appropriate product + good water quality + correct administration = better treatment outcome.

And antibiotics should not be used routinely just because birds are growing slowly or because it's raining; the underlying cause should be investigated.

Zion Veterinary & Agro Allied
Helping poultry farmers make better management decisions.

10/08/2026

🐔 5 Reasons Your Broilers Don't Grow Faster During the Rainy Season

1️⃣ **Cold Stress**

Low temperatures make birds use more energy to keep warm instead of growing.

**Solution:** Maintain proper brooding temperature, prevent cold drafts, and monitor bird behaviour.

2️⃣ **Wet Litter & High Humidity**

Wet litter increases disease pressure, ammonia and respiratory problems, which can reduce feed intake and growth.

**Solution:** Keep litter dry and maintain good ventilation.

3️⃣ **Poor Feed Intake**

Stress, disease, poor-quality feed or sudden feed changes can reduce how much birds eat.

**Solution:** Provide fresh, quality feed and clean water at all times.

4️⃣ **Disease & Poor Gut Health**

Coccidiosis and respiratory or intestinal problems can reduce nutrient absorption and worsen FCR.

**Solution:** Strengthen biosecurity, follow your vaccination programme and investigate illness early.

5️⃣ **Poor Feed Management**

Feed wastage, poorly adjusted feeders and inadequate feeder space mean birds don't receive the nutrients you paid for.

**Solution:** Adjust feeders correctly, avoid overfilling and monitor daily feed consumption.

💡 **Dr. Ben's Pro Tip**

> **If your broilers are not growing, don't immediately blame the breed or feed. Check temperature, water, litter, disease status and actual feed intake first.**

❓ Question of the Week

**Which problem affects your broiler growth most during the rainy season?**

🅰️ Cold stress
🅱️ Wet litter
🅲️ Disease
🅳️ Poor feed intake
🅴️ Feed wastage

**Comment with your answer!** 🐔📊

05/08/2026

There's no single broiler breed that's 'best' for the rainy season. The right choice depends on your housing, management, market age and the hatchery's breeder quality. However based on field experience in Nigeria and performance of common commercial strains, some strains tend to cope better than others under rainy-season conditions.

29/07/2026

The rainy season can either be your most profitable season or your biggest source of losses. Every year many farmers lose birds- not because of bad luck,but because of management mistakes that can be prevented. Here are 7 most common reasons broiler farmers lose money during the rainy season and what you can do about them.

25/07/2026

🐔 **DR. BEN'S POULTRY MASTERCLASS #005**

# 🏆 How to Raise Broilers with Minimal Mortality and Excellent Feed Conversion

Successful broiler farming is not about luck—it's about good management from Day 1.

# # # ✅ 1. Buy Quality Day-Old Chicks

Purchase healthy chicks from reputable hatcheries or trusted distributors.

# # # ✅ 2. Prepare Before Arrival

Preheat the brooding house 24 hours before chicks arrive and ensure feed and clean water are ready.

# # # ✅ 3. Get Brooding Right

Maintain the correct brooding temperature, provide adequate space, and observe chick behaviour daily.

# # # ✅ 4. Feed Quality Feed

Use fresh, high-quality feed and avoid sudden feed changes.

# # # ✅ 5. Reduce Feed Wastage

Adjust feeder height to the birds' back level, avoid overfilling feeders, and clean up spilled feed promptly.

# # # ✅ 6. Provide Clean Water

Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Dirty water reduces feed intake and increases disease risk.

# # # ✅ 7. Follow a Good Vaccination Programme

Vaccinate on schedule and maintain the vaccine cold chain.

# # # ✅ 8. Maintain Good Biosecurity

Limit visitors, disinfect equipment, and keep rodents and wild birds away.

# # # ✅ 9. Keep Litter Dry

Dry litter reduces coccidiosis, footpad lesions, ammonia build-up, and respiratory problems.

# # # ✅ 10. Monitor Your Flock Daily

Check feed intake, water consumption, bird behaviour, and mortality every day. Early action prevents major losses.

---

# # # 💡 **Dr. Ben's Pro Tip**

**The three biggest profit killers in broiler farming are poor brooding, poor feed management, and poor biosecurity. Get these right, and you'll reduce mortality, improve feed conversion, and increase your profit.**

# # # ❓ **Question of the Week**

**Which challenge affects your broiler farm the most?**

A. High Mortality

B. Poor Growth

C. High Feed Cost

D. Disease Outbreak

E. Low Market Price

Comment with your answer—we'd love to hear from you!

📍 **Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied**

🐣 Quality Day-Old Chicks
💉 Genuine Veterinary Drugs & Vaccines
🩺 Poultry Consultancy
🚚 Nationwide Delivery

📞 **Call:** 07034574161
💬 **WhatsApp:** 09055801141

**🐔 Dr. Ben's Poultry Masterclass #005**

23/07/2026

🐔 Choosing the right broiler breed at the right time is one of the most important decisions in broiler production. Different hatcheries supply different broiler strains, and each strain responds differently to Nigeria's weather conditions, management practices, and market demands. Understanding these differences can improve growth, reduce mortality, enhance feed conversion, and ultimately increase your profits.

Zion Veterinary and Agro Allied

26/09/2026

23/09/2026

20/09/2026

15/09/2026

22/08/2026

10/08/2026

05/08/2026

29/07/2026

25/07/2026

23/07/2026

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