Fulfillment of the Animal Nutrition Subject

Students of the fourth year of Agroforestry Engineering of URACCAN in the Bilwi enclosure experiment with the care and rearing of broiler chickens. This project is shared responsibility, as genetic material (chickens) was donated by the company Alim-Vet; URACCAN is responsible for buying food; and the students in their care. This project is carried out as part of the subject Animal Nutrition, taught by the engineer Aureliano Abeda.

This house of intercultural higher education studies, from its Mission and Vision seeks to professionalize men and women with innovative and entrepreneurial knowledge, that is why teachers from their academic plans reinforce teaching learning not only with theory but also with practice.

According to the engineer Aureliano Abeda, in the area of Puerto Cabezas they were difficult to find newborn chickens, so they contacted the company Alim-vet. "The owner told us that, in support of college, he would donate the chickens to me, and that the students would contribute with food; considering it was very expensive, I contacted the authorities of the venue and they agreed," the teacher explained.

Process of rearing domestic birds in the Bilwi enclosure

The chickens entered the farm located on the university campus of Bilwi of just 1 day of birth, where they have been prepared the necessary conditions so that, in this winter season that is just beginning, they do not die of cold. They are also given enough water and food so that they can be satiated during the day and night. "We keep in mind that these chickens have to come out in 6 weeks and we calculate a minimum weight of about 4 pounds, but they can grow a lot more if we give it good handling," said Ebeda.

The students were in charge of building the shed where the chicken farm was installed, they prepared the floor with sawdaughter, which allows pets to feel heat and not enter dirt on the surface of the farm. The boys "are feeding him daily, there is a schedule of activities for them to get involved in raising birds," the academic said.

According to the engineer, such experiments are conducted so that the student manages to put them into practice in their community, and with their family, so that they can undertake in a new business that could help in the family economy. "The idea is that the university can train men and women with knowledge to lead them to something in the future (...); we give the tools, but it is already up to them that they can apply them," Aureliano Ebeda concluded.