This study aimed at identifying the factors that affect the economic efficiency of broiler breeder production using the analysis of stochastic profit frontier function. Data were collected in 48 broiler breeder farms contracted by a commercial company located in southwestern Paraná, Brazil. The collected data refer to the last batch of fertile eggs that was delivered to the company, between January, 2008, and July, 2009. The following parameters were evaluated: production of hatching eggs per hen (number of eggs/hen), hatchability (hatch %), feed intake per hatching egg (g feed/ egg), production scale (number of birds/batch), farmer's experience in production activities, and labor type. Factors, such as area of occupied land, electricity costs, and invested capital were also evaluated. Results showed that the cost of electricity, as well as area of occupied land, production scale, and feed intake per hatching egg significantly affect the economic efficiency of the broiler breeder farms in Southwestern Paraná, Brazil.

There has been a great evolution and improvement in the nutrition of poultry and lysine has been used the reference amino acid to increase animal protein deposition. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed with the objective of studying the effect of different dietary lysine levels on the performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens. In total, 21 studies published in Brazil since 1999 were included. Bird performance considered daily weight gain (178 observations) and feed conversion ratio (188 observations) results. Carcass quality was evaluated relative to carcass yield (24 observations), abdominal fat (24 observations) and breast meat yield (30 observations). Data were checked for normality and were submitted to analysis of variance. Weight gain and carcass yield increased with the addition of 1.05% of lysine to the diet, whereas feed conversion ratio and abdominal fat were reduced as dietary lysine concentration increased. The results, therefore, indicate that lysine is essential in bird nutrition and significantly affects bird performance and carcass yield.

This study aimed at identifying the factors that affect the financial performance of broiler chicken production in Southwest of Paraná state in Brazil, as well as to study the relationship of these factors with the social-economic situation of poultry farmers. Data were obtained from a questionnaire applied to broiler chicken farmers between February and March, 2011. The questionnaire included 39 questions relative to farmer's age, family size, land possession, capital invested in broiler farming, gross income per flock, training and broiler farming experience, production size, credit needs, technical service, labor, production problems, and bird weight at slaughter. Data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. The relationship between production data and financial performance was determined using Pearson correlation coefficient, at 95% confidence level. Approximately 64.84% of the interviewed broiler farmers in Paraná state presented medium to low financial performance. Factors such as education level, facility size, labor, gross income per flock, and average bird weight at slaughter had a positive impact on financial performance. The production problems that most affected the broiler production were environmental challenges, poor feed conversion, as well as management problems and low-quality chicks.