A ration provides farm animals with balanced nutrients for growth, development, and production. There are two types of rations - a maintenance ration which provides enough feed for an animal to maintain its body without weight change, and a production ration which provides additional feed so the animal can work or produce products like milk, meat, and eggs. Rations for broiler birds and layer birds are tailored according to the animal's age and life stage with varying protein content levels.

1. Ration
A ration is the quantity and quality of feed given to a farm animal. A balanced ration contains all
the essential nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fats, minerals and vitamins) in the correct
proportions and quantities for growth and development. There are two types of rations given to
farm animals:
 Maintenance ration. This is the amount of feed an animal needs to allow it to maintain its
body mass and composition (body repairs and metabolic processes), without any weight loss
or gain. It does not provide enough energy or nutrients for the animal to do work or produce
products.
 Production ration.This is the extra amount of feed an animal needs above the maintenance
ration so that the animal can do work or produce products such as milk, meat, eggs and
offspring.
Rations for broiler birds
Type of ration Age of birds
(weeks)
Protein content of ration
(%)
Broiler starter 0-2 24-26
Broiler grower 2-4 18-20
Broiler finisher 4-6 16-18
Rations for layer birds
Type of ration Age of birds
(weeks)
Protein content of ration
(%)
Layer starter 0-5 20
Layer grower 6-14 17
Laying 15 14