Grow-out is the stage of raising poultry or fish from the young stage (such as chicks or fingerlings) until they reach market size or maturity.
For poultry, the grow-out period starts after brooding and lasts until birds are ready for meat or egg production. Farmers focus on feeding, housing, disease control, and proper stocking density. In fish farming, grow-out involves transferring fingerlings into ponds, cages, or tanks where they are reared until harvest.
Efficient grow-out management determines the profitability of the farm since feed costs and survival rates greatly affect returns.
See also: Hatchery, Incubator, Brooding, Poultry farming, Aquaculture