Two batches. Full documentation.
Akure Pilot — Phase 1
The definitive proof. Our Akure pilot achieved a 100% survival rate across the entire batch. Zero growth hormones. Minimal antibiotics used only when medically necessary. Rigorous bio-security protocols followed to the letter.
What We Did
We implemented strict bio-security measures: controlled access, regular disinfection, temperature monitoring, feed quality control, and daily health checks. Every bird was monitored. Every protocol was documented.
What We Proved
Sustainable poultry farming — without hormones, with minimal intervention, with environmental protocols — can achieve commercial-grade survival rates when executed properly. This was the validation we needed.
Economic Reality
While the survival rate was perfect, we learned that feed costs in this market environment require either higher selling prices or greater scale to achieve profitability. This insight shaped Phase 2 planning.
Operational Documentation
Akure Pilot — Phase 2
Phase 2 maintained excellent survival rates but revealed the economic constraints of small-scale operations in a high-inflation feed environment. Feed costs consumed 172% of revenue at current pricing and scale.
What We Learned
While we can keep birds alive perfectly using sustainable protocols, the economic model requires one of three interventions:
- → Scale up to reduce per-unit feed costs through bulk purchasing
- → Optimize pricing to reflect premium sustainable product positioning
- → Wait for stabilization in feed markets before the next commercial cycle
The Strategic Decision
Rather than continue operations at a loss, we chose to pause, document the learnings, and use this data to inform our next phase. This is exactly the kind of disciplined decision-making that differentiates sustainable businesses from failed experiments.