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When nutrition is discussed, the conversation often revolves around two familiar goals: maximizing performance or minimizing feed cost. Both are important, and both are easy to measure. Yet in large integrated production systems, another objective often becomes equally — and sometimes more — important: consistency.
In smaller or experimental settings, achieving the highest possible performance can appear to be the most logical target. However, large broiler and pig integrators operate at a scale where variability carries real operational and financial consequences. A feeding program that produces slightly higher average performance but greater variation may create challenges that outweigh the benefits.
