LPM 222: Diversified poultry production and current concepts in poultry management and marketing [Livestock Production Management (Regional Interest)] (1+1)

POULTRY LAYER FARM MANAGEMENT IN PEAK-LAYING

• Period between 26^thand 40^th week can be termed as peak-laying period. The flock is on its peakproduction during this period. Generally productions are above 90% throughoutthis period.
• A uniform well grown flock will reach to its peak by the beginningof this period i.e. 26 weeks.
• The peak production can be above 95%and many uniform flocks reach a peak of 97% also. How fast the flock reachesthe peak, the peak it reaches, how many birds we loose, the egg size and whatfeed is consumed depend on the quality of birds at 18weeks , season and thefeed quality.
• The main goals in Peak-laying are.
• To achieve 95% plus production.
• To get the peak production at 25-26 weeks of age
• To sustain the peakproduction without fluctuations and problems in the flock.
• The average egg size should be between 54-58 g.
• The feed consumption per day to be around 115-120g.
• The total depletionin the flock not to exceed 2.0% in this period of 14 weeks.

Quality of birds

• The body weight of the flock at 26 weeks of age should be around 1550g and about 1600g at 40 weeks of age.
• The frame size should be good enough to avoid fat. The birds become docile. The feed consumption reaches its peak.

Housing

• The laying birds are never distributed after 18 weeks. The layer houses are generally in three tier California type cages in raised platform sheds. Cage houses accommodating up to 25,000 birds in 40 ft. wide houses are common now.
• Large houses 50 ft. wide with 5 blocks, accommodating 50,000 birds are being tried. The cage sizes are 12 inch deep and 15 inch front for three birds. The cages of 15 inch front and 18 inch depth are provided for housing 4 birds.
• Cages of larger sizes to accommodate 5 to 8 birds are also being manufactured now to accommodate more birds per house. The feeding is done bymoving feed hoppers and the water is used in summer months.
• Automatic egg collection systems are also being installed in India. Automatic feeding saves feed wastage and reduces the labour cost. Cages and their installation are being improved to provide better ventilation and to avoid soiled eggs.

Nutrition

• The birds should be allowed to consume feed ad-libitum until the flock reaches its maximum egg mass output or till the desired body weights are achieved. Feeders should allow access to feed throughout the morning and evening hours.
• No harm is done when the flock is allowed to clean the troughs during the middle part of the day. Body weights are an excellent tool to determine if feed consumption is adequate for production and growth.
• Body weights should continue to increase, although very slowly, throughout the laying cycle. Gradual reduction in body weight should be viewed as an indication that nutrient intake has not been adequate and production may soon suffer.
• Many nutritional programmes successfully utilize the reduction of dietry protein later in the life of flock to control egg size and maximize profits.
• The suggestedration during peak production is:

Met. Energy	2750
Protein	17.5-18.0
Crude fibre	6.5-7.0
Calcium	3.8-4.0
Available Phosphorous	0.48
Methionine	0.40
Lysine	0.90
Vitamin A	12000IU/Kg
Vitamin D3	3300IU

Midnight feeding

• During times of very hot weather when the flock is not consuming adequate feed to maintain egg production and / or egg size, feeding during the night has been shown to be beneficial.

Lighting

• Give a maximum of 16.5 hours including the day light. Do not reduce the light under any circumstances.
• Less light can be maintained in summer months.
• The lighting may be split in to morning and evening to encourage feed consumption in summer.

Egg size

• Watch the egg size carefully. The flock should come to normal size and there should be no pullet eggs after 26weeks. If the pullet eggs are still there (below 52g), the following may be attempted.
• a. Increase the methionine level in feed preferably by adding synthetic methionine.
• b. Increase the level of fatty acids by giving additional fat in feed. This can be done by adding fresh rice polish up to 10% in feed. Addition of vegetable oils like soya oil up to 3% gives excellent results in improving the egg size when the feed consumption goes down in extreme summer.

Health and medication

• If the farm or the previous flocks in the house have a history of bacterial infections like E. Coli and Mycoplasma, anti biotic feed Supplements like Chlorotetracyclins at the rate of 1kg and or Tylosine at 200gms per ton of feed may be given on the recommendation of the veterinarian.
• In old farms with multi age groups use of Furazolidone for one week (100g per tonne). Chlortetracycline for one week, Tylan for one week in feed every month is a standard practice.
• Strict isolation of the flock from the people working in older bird houses, dirty equipment, visitors and vehicles is important to keep off the diseases.
• Taking back the feed bags to feed mill from the poultry house should be avoided. These bags from infected houses can go to new houses after refilling.
• Use of fresh egg trays every time is a good practice. Alternatively plastic egg trays with colour code for each flock. No vaccines are generally given for the fear of distributing the flock which can affect the production. LaSota vaccine is given in drinking water at around 30^th week after the flock gets stabilized at peak.
• Ranikhet disease is a threat in many areas and it generally strikes in summer. Laboratory check may be made on 20 birds at random by collecting the serum and testing it for the antibody levels. The flock may have to be vaccinated either with LaSota or with R₂B depending on the level of antibodies.

Critical economic pointers

• Mortality percentage not more than 2.0%
• Body weight at 26^th week around 1550g and 1600g at 40 weeks
• Productions 90% plus between 26^th to 40^th week
• Egg size around 58g at the end of the 40^th week
• Feed consumption 118-120g/day.

Check list

• Ensure balanced ration
• Ensure proper body weight 1550g at 26th week
• If you suspect Mycoplasma infection in flock, start Tylan/ Tetramutin program as per schedule
• Ensure birds receive clean palatable water
• Add Sodium bicarbonate at 1 to 2 kg and Vitamin C 100 to 150g per ton of feed during summer.
• Vitamin E-50% at the rate of 50g/ton feed helps in better ovulation and reduces production stress.
• Use toxin binders to neutralize any possibility toxins in the feed.
• Use choline chloride to avoid accumulation of fat in the flock. It also checks the ill effects of mycotoxins.
• Excessive abdominal fat and fat issues around the vent due to unbalanced feed formulae will reduce the elasticity of the oviduct which may lead to prolapse. This can be prevented by proper balanced nutrition.
• Do not disturb the flock physically.
• Do not change the routine timings of feed, egg collections etc.
• Weigh a sample of birds at least once in a month and compare with the standard and also with the previous weights. The birds should be gaining in weight always.
• React fast to abnormal drops in production and sudden mortality. Early diagnosis is half treatment.

Specific recommendations to maintain peaks in summer

• Watch the production, feed consumption and mortality on daily basis the changes occur in the same order. Record outside and house temperature daily.
• React immediately to the problem. If production drop is accompanied by high temperatures, start cooling arrangements like fans and foggerand provide extra vitamins through feed and water.
• If the feed consumption drops make necessary adjustments in feed so as to improve the intake of protein, amino acids vitamins and trace minerals proportionately.
• If there is a sudden mortality due to heat, cooling arrangements should be enhances like splashing water directly on birds with the help of a water pipe should be carried out.
• Many times hot winds harm the caged birds more than the heat. Provide curtains on the wind direction to prevent direct draft or hot wind. Wetting the curtains provides extra comfort.
• Air movement is more important in humid areas. Provide air circulators in the middle of the house to displaced trapped hot air.
• The nipple pipe lines get hot in summer and the birds are reluctant to drink hot water. Provide over flow systems in the water line and flush the lines every hour. Providing foggers directly above the cages keep the drinker lines cool. The water tanks also should be protected from the direct sun light.