By Simeon Shodimu
A growing number of poultry farmers across Nigeria are abandoning commercial feed suppliers in favour of self-produced blends, a cost-cutting strategy aimed at cushioning the impact of persistently high input prices in the sector.
The shift comes despite a significant decline in the prices of key feed ingredients such as maize and soybeans, which have dropped by as much as 62.5 per cent. Feed millers, however, have reduced prices by only about 10 per cent, leaving farmers grappling with elevated production costs. Feed accounts for roughly 70 per cent of total poultry production expenses, making it the most significant cost component for operators.
For many farmers, the economics are compelling. Martha Adegoroye, who runs a poultry farm in Lambe, Akute, Ogun State, said producing feed in-house has become a practical alternative.
“We mill the feeds used on our poultry farm. It is more profitable for us than buying commercial feeds,” she said, noting that her farm saves approximately N1,500 per kilogram through homemade formulations.
Industry stakeholders say the trend reflects a broader survival strategy among farmers facing volatile market conditions. Sunday Ezeobiora, president of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, explained that the persistent rise in commercial feed prices has forced operators to innovate.
“Many farmers are switching to their own feed formulation to reduce costs,” he said. “You have to be innovative to survive in this business. On average, they can achieve savings of at least five per cent compared to commercial feed.”
Ezeobiora added that these adaptive measures have contributed to relative stability in the prices of eggs and poultry meat, preventing sharper increases for consumers.
However, feed millers argue that their limited price adjustments reflect structural challenges beyond raw material costs. According to industry players, high energy, logistics and macroeconomic expenses continue to weigh heavily on production.
Data from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria indicate that manufacturers spend up to 40 per cent of total production costs on power generation. The recent surge in diesel prices—reportedly exceeding 70 per cent amid global tensions—has further intensified cost pressures.
A manager at a feed mill in Oyo State, who declined to be named, said falling maize and soybean prices alone are insufficient to drive substantial price reductions.
“While the cost of major inputs has declined, other components such as additives, acidifiers and packaging materials are becoming more expensive,” he said. “In addition, power and logistics costs remain high, and we still depend on foreign exchange to import some raw materials.”
The shift by farmers is already having ripple effects across the feed milling industry. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), demand from large-scale feed millers is weakening as more poultry operators opt for self-production.
In its March grain report on Nigeria, the USDA projected that corn consumption by feed millers—traditionally the largest buyers—would remain flat, reflecting reduced patronage from poultry farmers.
Yet, not all experts are convinced that homemade feed offers a sustainable advantage. Taiwo Adeoye, former president of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria, cautioned that many farmers lack the technical expertise required for cost-effective feed formulation.
“On a deeper cost analysis, it may not necessarily be cheaper,” he said, warning that improper formulation could affect both profitability and animal health.
The trend is unfolding against a backdrop of modest recovery in Nigeria’s livestock sector. Growth in the sub-sector, dominated by poultry, edged up by 0.08 per cent in 2025, following a contraction of 2.14 per cent in 2024.
As farmers continue to navigate a challenging operating environment, the move towards homemade feed underscores both the resilience of the industry and the structural constraints that persist within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
