Every successful livestock farmer should understand how animals naturally grow. The S-shaped growth curve explains development from birth to maturity, guiding smarter feeding, management, healthier performance, and profitability. Know growth before feeding.

Animal growth passes through four stages: lag, exponential, decelerating, and stationary. The exponential stage delivers the fastest, most efficient weight gain, making management decisions especially important. Time determines efficiency.

Broilers and fish follow similar biological growth patterns. Keeping broilers beyond six or seven weeks reduces feed efficiency, while strategic feeding improves fish growth, productivity, and farm profitability. Feed wisely, profit better.

Understanding growth patterns helps farmers reduce waste, improve feed conversion, and maximize returns. Applying biological knowledge ensures sustainable livestock production, stronger performance, and greater long-term success. Knowledge drives profitable farming.

Abdullah Opeyemi Akande
B.Agric. (FUNAAB)
GAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Animal Sci. (UI)
RAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Int’l Business (UU, UK)
Ph.D. in view