The verdict in three sentences
A poultry integrator in the UK or the Gulf producing 3,000 tonnes of feed a month and placing 400,000 broilers per flock often still runs formulation, flocks and sales in separate spreadsheets. A custom system linking least-cost formulation, house-level flock tracking (feed conversion ratio, mortality, weights) and sales to distributors can be delivered in 3 to 5 months. Depending on sites and integrations, it sits in the medium or complex band of the Kolonell grid: 4,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (6,100 to 22,870+ EUR).
Why maize and soybean meal drive everything
Feed is 65 to 75 % of the cost of a broiler. As a 2026 order of magnitude, maize trades around 220 to 290 USD per tonne landed in Jebel Ali (UK feed wheat around 170 to 210 GBP per tonne) and soybean meal around 420 to 520 USD per tonne, with 10 to 20 % swings within weeks. A formula left unchanged for three months often costs 8 to 15 USD too much per tonne of feed, which is 24,000 to 45,000 USD a month on 3,000 tonnes.
| Indicator | Spreadsheet management | Integrated system |
|---|---|---|
| Formula updates | Monthly, by feel | At each raw material purchase, least cost under nutrient constraints |
| Cost per tonne of feed | Known at month end | Calculated per batch in real time |
| FCR per flock | Calculated at depletion | Tracked daily per house |
| Mortality | Farm notebook, weekly report | Daily mobile entry, alert above 0.5 % a day |
| Raw material stock | Monthly physical count | Theoretical stock, variances flagged |
| Sales to distributors | Paper orders, loose credit control | Orders, invoices, exposure per client, card and bank payments |
| Margin per flock | Estimated afterwards | Actual margin per flock and per house |
Functional scope
| Module | Key functions | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | Purchases, intake, quality tests, stock per silo | Phase 1 |
| Formulation | Formulas by stage (starter, grower, finisher, layers), least-cost optimisation | Phase 1 |
| Production | Batch orders, actual consumption, cost per tonne | Phase 1 |
| Flocks | Placements, houses, weights, feed used, mortality, vaccinations | Phase 1 |
| Sales | Distributors, price lists, credit, deliveries, receipts | Phase 2 |
| Dashboard | FCR, mortality, cost of production, margin per flock | Phase 2 |
Farm entry works on phones, offline included, since many houses sit in rural areas with patchy coverage. Data syncs when the signal returns. Formulation stays signed off by the group nutritionist: the software proposes, a human approves. In the UK, the system can also keep the records Red Tractor audits ask for; in the UAE, those required by the local food safety authority.
Budget and market options
Imported formulation packages cost, as a 2026 order of magnitude, 2,500 to 10,000 USD in licences (about 2,000 to 8,000 GBP) plus yearly support, and handle neither flocks nor distributor sales. International agri-food ERPs often exceed 50,000 USD to implement, with heavy configuration.
The Kolonell custom application grid: simple 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR), medium 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), complex 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR). A feed mill plus farms across 2 or 3 sites, with the sales module, usually lands in the complex band, delivered in 3 to 5 months. Maintenance is 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (53, 114 or 183 EUR). Integration with weighbridges or mill automation is quoted separately.
Scoping usually takes two weeks: we map your formulas, houses, distributor price lists and existing exports, then fix which modules go live first. Most integrators start with formulation and flock tracking, because those two modules carry the bulk of the savings, and add sales once the first flock has run on the system.
Mini case study
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Omar, CEO of a poultry integrator near Dubai, places 400,000 broilers per flock processed at 2 kg. At an FCR of 1.9, the flock eats 1,520 tonnes of feed. Moving to 1.8 saves 80 tonnes, or 80 × 420 USD = 33,600 USD. Cutting mortality from 7 % to 5 % saves 8,000 birds sold at 3.20 USD, or 25,600 USD. Together that is about 59,200 USD per flock, before formulation savings at the mill, and with 6 flocks a year close to 355,000 USD. The top of the Kolonell complex band is covered by the first flock.
FAQ
Does the software replace the nutritionist?
No, it computes the least-cost formula under constraints the nutritionist sets (protein, energy, amino acids). The nutritionist approves each formula before production, in minutes rather than half a day.
Can farms without signal use it?
Yes, mobile entry works offline and syncs when coverage returns. Daily entry takes 3 to 5 minutes per house.
Can distributors pay online?
Yes, card and bank payments are matched automatically to invoices and reduce outstanding credit. Provider fees, typically 1 to 3 %, are agreed with your payment provider.
How soon do the gains show?
Phase 1 goes live in 2 to 3 months. FCR differences show from the next flock, 35 to 45 days later.
Can it track laying hens too?
Yes, the flock module handles layers with egg output, lay rate and culls. That scope is added to the quote by number of houses.
Let's scope your project. Formulation, feed production, house-level flock tracking and distributor sales in one tool, delivered in 3 to 5 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
