Technology is playing an increasingly important role in modernising poultry farming across Africa, as farmers look for ways to improve productivity, manage costs and expand their operations.
Innovations in automated equipment, climate control systems and data-driven farming solutions are helping transform how poultry farms operate, from small-scale producers to commercial operations.
Industry players say modern poultry technology is helping farmers improve efficiency by automating key processes inside poultry houses, including feeding, egg collection, ventilation and waste management.
These innovations were amongst the technologies highlighted at the International Poultry and Livestock Exhibition Africa (IPLEX) where global manufacturers and agricultural businesses presented solutions aimed at strengthening poultry production across African markets.
Automation improving farm efficiency
Poultech manager Laxie Liu, told Vutivi Business News that automation has become a key part of modern poultry farming in many parts of the world.
Liu explained that PoultryTech Farm Solutions manufactures equipment designed to automate processes within poultry houses, helping farmers manage large numbers of chickens more efficiently in China.
“We manufacture equipment for chicken houses, including automatic feeding systems, water systems and climate control systems. Everything inside the poultry house can be automated,” she said.
The technology can be used in different poultry production systems, including farms producing eggs, broiler chicken operations and breeder farms responsible for raising chicks.
Liu said automated systems help regulate important environmental conditions such as temperature, airflow and feeding schedules, allowing farmers to maintain stable production conditions inside poultry houses.
She added that automation has become common practice in countries such as China, where poultry farms rely on technology to manage large-scale production.
“In China this technology is very common. Fully automated poultry houses can be seen everywhere and help farmers manage large poultry operations efficiently,” she said.
African market presents growth potential
International poultry technology providers see Africa as a market with strong growth potential, particularly as demand for poultry products continues to increase.
Liu said the company is exploring opportunities to introduce its systems to South African farmers and better understand the local market.
“We have worked on projects in other parts of Africa, but South Africa is a new market for us. Farmers here are very curious about the technology because many have not seen these systems before,” she said.
According to Liu, automated poultry systems can help farmers expand production capacity while maintaining consistent management of poultry houses.
Local farmers already adopting technology
Some South African farmers have already started integrating technology into their poultry operations to improve efficiency and production management.
Mpumalanga-based poultry farmer Lebo Mashego said automation has helped streamline operations on her farm, Eggsellent by Lebo, which focuses on the production of table eggs.
The business supplies eggs to boarding schools through the government nutrition programme and distributes its products to retail stores across Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.
Mashego explained that automated systems assist with several important processes on the farm.
“The feeding, egg collecting and manure removal is done by machines. This has helped us not to depend 100% on human effort, although we still rely on people to monitor the systems,” she said.
The farm employs nine permanent workers and additional seasonal workers, while also supporting local resellers who purchase eggs and sell them directly to consumers in surrounding communities.
Mashego said government support played a role in helping the business expand its operations.
“The Department of Agriculture assisted us with infrastructure through the CASP programme, which gave us the resources to produce and compete at a commercial scale,” she said.
Integrated systems supporting productivity
Global suppliers say modern poultry farming increasingly relies on integrated systems that combine several technologies to improve performance.
Manager at Tangfarm Kemp Wang said the company provides poultry farming solutions that combine feeding equipment, drinking systems and waste management technologies.
“We do not only provide single products. We provide the whole solution by combining equipment, layout and performance analysis to help farmers improve production results,” Wang said.
According to Wang, properly designed systems help farmers improve feed conversion ratios and reduce poultry mortality rates by ensuring that equipment works together efficiently.
