Best Broiler Feed in Zimbabwe: Comparing the Top Brands (Ranked by Farmer Feedback)
Feed is the single biggest cost in broiler farming. Multiple independent Zimbabwean farming guides and consultants consistently put feed at 65–75% of the total variable cost of producing a kilogram of broiler meat. That means the brand you choose, and how well its formulation converts into live weight, determines more of your profit than almost anything else on the farm.
This article ranks Zimbabwe’s main commercial broiler feed brands using publicly available farmer recommendations, industry citations, and documented performance data. No brand paid for its position here — rankings are based entirely on how often each brand is recommended by independent sources, what performance data is publicly available, and what real farmers across Zimbabwe’s poultry industry have reported.
For current broiler feed prices across all major suppliers, check the broiler feed price tracker on ChickenPrices.co.zw.
Why Feed Brand Choice Matters More Than Most Farmers Realise
A broiler consumes roughly 4.5–5 kg of feed before reaching slaughter weight. At those volumes, a difference of even 0.1 in feed conversion ratio (FCR) — the kilograms of feed required to produce one kilogram of live weight — changes your cost per bird meaningfully across a batch. A feed that costs slightly more per bag but converts at 1.7:1 instead of 2.0:1 is almost always cheaper in total than the lower-priced option.
The Capital Foods Broiler Management Guide, produced by a Zimbabwe-based animal health company with direct farm experience, puts it bluntly: “Cheap feed is very expensive. Feed company representatives will take up a lot of your time trying to convince you how good their feeds are. Don’t listen to them. Listen to your chickens. Your chickens will tell you very quickly if the feed you are using is good or not.”
That is the right starting framework. With it in mind, here is what the data says about each brand.
The Main Broiler Feed Brands in Zimbabwe
The brands that appear most frequently across independent Zimbabwean farming guides, business consulting sites, and agricultural education resources are, in order of how often they are independently cited:
- Profeeds
- National Foods Stockfeeds
- Irvine’s Broiler Feed
- Agrifoods
- Novatek Animal Feeds
- FeedMix
Brand-by-Brand Breakdown
1. Profeeds — Most Widely Cited by Independent Sources
Who they are: Profeeds was founded in 2007 as a stock feed manufacturing plant, initially producing 150 metric tonnes of chicken feed per month for a small number of commercial farmers. By end of 2019 the company was manufacturing 136,000 metric tonnes of feed annually into the Zimbabwean market. They describe themselves as the largest stock feed manufacturer in Zimbabwe. The company operates 45 retail stores nationwide as of their most recent published figures.
What independent sources say: Of all the brands in this comparison, Profeeds is cited most frequently by name across independent sources — farming business guides, agricultural consulting websites, and Zimbabwean farming education platforms all name Profeeds as one of the recommended options. Multiple independent guides list Profeeds alongside National Foods and Novatek as the three core brands Zimbabwean broiler farmers should consider.
Performance data: Profeeds publishes the most specific performance claims of any brand in this comparison. Their own field data states slaughter weights at 5 weeks of approximately 1.8 kg minimum with good FCR. Their three-phase pellet system — which they claim to have pioneered for the small-scale Zimbabwean farmer — is documented to achieve FCR of 1.6–1.7. The company’s argument for pellets over mash is specific: pellets reduce wastage, require 30% less energy for the bird to digest the same nutritional value, and the heat process involved in pelleting improves hygiene.
Feed phases: 3-phase (Starter, Grower, Finisher) — pellet format. Previously 2-phase mash before reformulation.
Scale of real-world use: Profeeds documents feeding 4,125,071 birds placed within their out-grower schemes from 5,775,100 MT of broiler feed across one financial year. This is the largest documented single-source volume figure in the comparison.
Distribution: 45 retail stores spread across Zimbabwe, from Beitbridge and Chiredzi in the south to Kariba and Centenary in the north, covering all major farming regions. Also available through Profeeds’ partnership with Irvine’s — Profeeds stores stock Irvine’s Cobb 500 day-old chicks alongside Profeeds feed, making chick and feed procurement a single visit.
Technical support: Profeeds trains between 7,500 and 9,000 small-scale chicken farmers annually through free seminars, run in partnership with Irvine’s Zimbabwe.
Verdict: The most frequently independently recommended brand in Zimbabwe, with the most publicly documented performance data and the widest retail footprint. The FCR of 1.6–1.7 published for their pellet range is the best documented figure in the comparison.
2. National Foods Stockfeeds — Long-Established, Widely Trusted
Who they are: National Foods Stockfeeds is part of National Foods Holdings, one of Zimbabwe’s largest food companies. The stockfeeds division supplies broiler feed, layer feed, and feeds for other livestock, and markets a 3-phase broiler programme specifically positioned to deliver bigger birds in 5 weeks.
What independent sources say: National Foods is cited alongside Profeeds by multiple independent farming guides as one of the two core recommended brands for Zimbabwean broiler farmers — including Agropreneur Zimbabwe, which lists National Foods and Profeeds together as “reputable companies” supplying the “specially manufactured feeds” needed for fast-growing broiler hybrids. M&J Consultants’ farming guide names National Foods, Novatek, and Profeeds as the three brands commonly used in Zimbabwe.
Feed format: National Foods offers both complete ready-to-feed broiler rations and a concentrate system for farmers who have their own maize. The concentrate option — where the farmer mixes the concentrate with their own crushed maize at specific ratios — is a cost option relevant to farmers in maize-producing areas who want to reduce total feed spend.
The concentrate mixing ratios are documented specifically: Starter phase, mix 2 parts concentrate to 3 parts crushed maize by mass; Finisher phase, mix 1 part concentrate to 2 parts crushed maize by mass.
What the product page says: National Foods Stockfeeds’ site describes their feeds as “highly nutritious and well balanced” with focus on providing technical advice alongside feed to ensure profitability. Their 3-phase broiler regime explicitly claims bigger birds in 5 weeks.
Verdict: Consistently recommended by independent sources alongside Profeeds. The concentrate option is a real differentiator for farmers who grow their own maize — no other brand in this comparison documents its concentrate mixing ratios as clearly, which is useful for budget-conscious independent growers.
3. Irvine’s Broiler Feed — Breed-Matched, Certification-Backed
Who they are: Irvine’s launched its own branded broiler feed to complement their Cobb broiler chicks — the timeline shows the feed was launched after Irvine’s Feed Mill won the NAQA Certificate of Excellence. The Feed Mill is located at Derbyshire Farm in Waterfalls, Harare, the same site as Irvine’s hatcheries and processing plant. Irvine’s produces 228 tonnes of feed annually.
Why this matters for Cobb growers: Irvine’s broiler feed is formulated to complement the growth curve and nutritional requirements of the Cobb 500 broiler specifically. If you are growing Irvine’s Cobb chicks — as the majority of Zimbabwe’s contract growers are — then feeding Irvine’s own broiler feed means your feed and bird genetics are designed by the same company to work together. This is not a trivial point: different broiler lines have different protein requirements, amino acid ratios, and growth trajectories.
Certification: The Irvine’s Feed Mill holds the NAQA Certificate of Excellence, and the company’s broader operations carry ISO17025, ISO22000, and FSSC22000 certifications — the same certifications that cover the hatchery and processing plant.
Distribution: Sold through Irvine’s own Growers’ Shops (Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo) and through Profeeds’ nationwide network of 45 stores, which stock Irvine’s Cobb 500 day-old chicks alongside Profeeds feed — note that Profeeds stores sell Irvine’s chicks but Profeeds’ own feed, not necessarily Irvine’s feed. Farmers buying Irvine’s feed specifically should confirm availability at their nearest store.
Independent citations: Irvine’s feed is less frequently cited by name as a standalone brand compared to Profeeds and National Foods, likely because the brand is strongly associated with the contract grower programme where Irvine’s supplies both chicks and feed as part of the contract package — meaning many users are on contract and not independently selecting feed brands.
Verdict: The strongest choice for farmers specifically running Irvine’s Cobb chicks on contract or open-market, because breed-matched nutrition is a genuine advantage. Less relevant if you are running a different broiler line.
4. Agrifoods — Underrated Accessibility Specialist
Who they are: Agrifoods is a Zimbabwean stock feed manufacturer operating as part of CFI Holdings, the same group that owns Suncrest Chickens and Hubbard Zimbabwe. Their broiler feed range is described as “specially formulated nutritional feeds designed to support rapid growth and optimal weight gain in broiler chickens” with balanced protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals.
What makes them distinctive: Agrifoods runs a civil servant credit scheme — Zimbabwean civil servants can buy Agrifoods feed on credit using their national ID and payslip at any Agrifoods branch or approved retailer. This is a documented access mechanism that no other brand in this comparison offers in the same explicit form. For teachers, nurses, and government workers starting small broiler projects, this lowers the cash upfront barrier. Agrifoods also provides a free online broiler feed calculator allowing farmers to plug in their number of chicks and calculate how much feed they need and budget accordingly.
Research connection: Agrifoods appears in Zimbabwe-based academic research on broiler nutrition — the Harare Institute of Technology study on fermented soybean meal used Agrifoods Phase 2 Broiler Grower (20% CP) as the commercial control feed, which positions Agrifoods as a recognised benchmark in Zimbabwean research settings.
Independent citations: Cited by name in the StartupBiz Zimbabwe broiler farming guide as one of the “popular brands of broiler feeds in Zimbabwe” alongside Profeeds, National Foods, and FeedMix.
Verdict: Less frequently cited than Profeeds or National Foods in independent farming guides, but strong on accessibility — particularly the civil servant credit scheme — and backed by a research connection that suggests consistent formulation quality.
5. Novatek Animal Feeds — Growing Presence, Good for Beginners
Who they are: Novatek Animal Feeds Zimbabwe is based in Bluffhill Industrial Park, Harare, started operations in November 2012, and focuses on broiler feed, pullet feed, and layer feed in the domestic market. The Zimbabwe operation is separate from the larger Novatek entity in Zambia (a subsidiary of ZamBeef PLC with ISO22000 certification), though they share the Novatek brand.
What independent sources say: Novatek is named by multiple independent sources as one of the three most commonly recommended broiler feed brands in Zimbabwe, alongside National Foods and Profeeds. M&J Consultants’ two independent farming guides both list Novatek as a “reputable” brand suitable for Zimbabwean broiler farmers. Novatek also appears in the StartupBiz Zimbabwe broiler farming guide as a recommended chick supplier rather than feed supplier — this reflects the dual nature of the brand’s footprint in Zimbabwe’s market.
Product format: Novatek markets a broiler concentrate (mixed with farmer’s own hammer-milled maize at a 4mm sieve size) for cost-effective on-farm feed production. This positions them similarly to National Foods’ concentrate option — relevant for farmers with their own maize supply.
Tech tools: Novatek has developed two free mobile apps on the Google Play Store covering both broiler and layer management — the only brand in this comparison documented as offering app-based farm management tools alongside feed supply.
Verdict: Consistently recommended by independent guides for small-to-medium scale farmers, particularly those with their own maize who want a concentrate option. The mobile app differentiator is a practical bonus for farmers who want management support beyond just the feed.
6. FeedMix — Regional Option Worth Knowing
Who they are: FeedMix is a Zimbabwean-based feed supplier that appears in farming guides and directory listings specifically as a broiler feed option. The StartupBiz Zimbabwe broiler guide names FeedMix alongside Profeeds, Agrifoods, and National Foods as one of the “popular brands of broiler feeds in Zimbabwe.”
What is known: FeedMix’s own content focuses on production and management guidance rather than detailed nutritional specification data. Their site addresses FCR management — advising farmers to manage feed spillages to improve FCR and keep detailed records including “daily/cumulative mortality rate, average daily/weekly gain, PEF, FCR, slaughter weights, batch number, number of feed bags used.”
Verdict: Included because it is named in multiple independent Zimbabwean sources as a recognised brand. Less documented than the top four in terms of public performance data, retail footprint, or certification. Worth investigating for farmers in regions where the larger brands have limited coverage.
Rankings Summary
| Rank | Brand | Key Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Profeeds | Most cited, 1.6–1.7 FCR documented, 45 stores, 136,000MT/yr | All farm sizes; Irvine’s Cobb and other broiler lines |
| 2 | National Foods Stockfeeds | Long-established, 3-phase regime, strong concentrate option | Farmers with own maize; established operations |
| 3 | Irvine’s Broiler Feed | Breed-matched to Cobb genetics, NAQA certified | Irvine’s Cobb contract and open-market growers specifically |
| 4 | Agrifoods | Civil servant credit, feed calculator, research benchmark | New entrants; civil servants starting projects |
| 5 | Novatek | Consistently recommended, concentrate option, mobile app | Small-medium scale; farmers with own maize |
| 6 | FeedMix | Named in multiple guides as recognised option | Regional availability; worth local price checking |
What to Actually Compare When Choosing
FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio): The only number that really matters. The lower the FCR the better — a 1.7 FCR means 1.7 kg of feed per 1 kg of live bird. Profeeds is the only brand to publish a specific FCR range (1.6–1.7) for their pelleted product. National Foods’ 5-week programme implicitly targets similar outcomes. Ask your supplier what FCR their field data shows, not what it “should” be.
Pellet vs mash: Pellets reduce feed wastage and require less digestive energy from the bird. Mash is generally cheaper per bag but can be wasted at the feeder more easily. Profeeds specifically documented the move from 2-phase mash to 3-phase pellet as producing a measurable FCR improvement. If your budget allows, pellets are generally worth the price differential.
Complete feed vs concentrate: If you grow your own maize or can source it cheaply locally, a concentrate (National Foods, Novatek) will cost less in total than complete feed. If you don’t have reliable maize supply, complete feed removes the risk of incorrect mixing ratios affecting nutrition.
Phase programme: All leading brands now offer a 3-phase programme (Starter, Grower, Finisher). Avoid any supplier that only offers 2-phase if you want competitive slaughter weights. The Starter phase is the most critical — getting protein and energy right in the first two weeks sets the trajectory for the entire batch.
Availability near you: The best-performing feed in Harare is not the best-performing feed if you are in Gwanda and the nearest stockist is 200km away. Distribution footprint matters. Profeeds’ 45 stores span the widest documented geographic coverage; Irvine’s Growers’ Shops are documented in three cities; the others rely on approved retailers and regional stockists.
What Farmers Say Across Independent Sources
The pattern across independent Zimbabwean farming guides, business consultancy content, and agricultural education platforms is consistent:
- Profeeds and National Foods are the two most commonly named brands when guides list “reputable feeds for broiler farming in Zimbabwe” — they appear together in multiple independent sources
- Novatek is consistently included as the third named option in guides that list three brands
- Irvine’s feed is most relevant specifically for Irvine’s chick growers, and its visibility is partly lower because it travels through the contract grower channel rather than open retail
- Agrifoods is cited by StartupBiz Zimbabwe but less often by other independent guides — possibly because its retail footprint is less visible to the small-scale farmer segment most guides target
- FeedMix is named but without the depth of independent commentary the top three attract
The Capital Foods management guide — written by a Zimbabwe-based poultry company with no apparent stake in any retail feed brand — summarises the farmer’s correct approach: ignore sales representatives, watch your birds’ growth and behaviour, and record your FCR batch by batch. Over two or three batches, your own data will tell you which brand is working for your specific conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best broiler feed in Zimbabwe? Based on independent citations and documented performance data, Profeeds is the most frequently recommended brand across independent Zimbabwean farming sources, with a documented FCR of 1.6–1.7 for their pellet range. National Foods Stockfeeds is consistently named alongside Profeeds as the second most recommended option. For farmers specifically growing Irvine’s Cobb chicks, Irvine’s own broiler feed is formulated to match Cobb nutritional requirements.
How much feed does a broiler need in Zimbabwe? A broiler consumes roughly 4.5–5 kg of feed from day-old to slaughter weight (typically 5–7 weeks). For 100 birds you should budget for 450–500 kg of feed per cycle. Use Agrifoods’ free broiler feed calculator or consult your supplier’s feeding guide for phase-by-phase quantities.
What does FCR mean and why does it matter? FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) is the kilograms of feed required to produce one kilogram of live bird weight. A lower number is better — 1.7 means 1.7 kg of feed per 1 kg of gain. Profeeds publishes an FCR of 1.6–1.7 for their pellet range. The difference between a 1.7 FCR and a 2.2 FCR across a batch of 500 birds is roughly 250 kg of feed — a significant cost difference.
Is pellet or mash better for broilers in Zimbabwe? Pellets generally outperform mash on FCR and reduce wastage at the feeder. Profeeds documented their move from mash to pellets as improving FCR and reducing the bird’s digestive energy expenditure by approximately 30%. Mash is cheaper per bag but typically costs more in total feed consumed per batch. If your margin allows, pellets are the better choice.
Can I mix my own broiler feed in Zimbabwe? Yes, and both National Foods Stockfeeds and Novatek offer concentrates specifically designed to be mixed with the farmer’s own hammer-milled maize. National Foods documents specific mixing ratios by mass for both Starter and Finisher phases. Only mix feed if you have access to a reliable, consistent maize supply and can weigh accurately — mixing by volume rather than mass produces inconsistent nutrition.
