Effective Efforts to maximize Egg Production in Breeder Flocks (Layer & Broiler).

 Article By: Muhammad Arslan Sandhu

B.Sc (HONS). Animal Sciences (IA&DS, UAF)

M.Sc (HONS). Poultry Sciences (FAH, UAF)

We can define Breeder Flocks are as Flocks that are reared for the production of fertilized eggs those eggs are used for the production of chick (Broiler or layer chick). So the basic purpose of breeder flocks is the production of fertilized eggs. For better quality and more productive flock, a farmer should be able to do brilliant efforts so that he can get more production from the flock. The following efforts can be helpful to enhance the productivity of the flock.

 

Male to Female ratio.

Male to female ratio means: “A male bird available for mating with female birds”

The suitable ratio for Broiler breeders is 1:10 which means 1 male bird is enough for mating with 10 female birds for the production of fertilized eggs while this ratio for Layer breeder flock is entirely different. For layer’s Breeder, it is 1:7.

This male to female ratio gives up to 90% hatchability of eggs. For more production, we can change this ratio instead of 1:10 we can use 1:7 and 1:5 instead of 1:7 this changed ratio can increase hatchability up to 94-95%.

Artificial Insemination technique.

This is the new and latest technique used in poultry nowadays. All the modern and sophisticated poultry setups in Pakistan are using this technique for better protection. For AI in breeder flocks, the number of male birds is reduced their fresh semen is collected by the “digital palpation method” freshly taken semen is injected into the reproductive tract of female birds after regular time intervals (according to the setups of farm and manger’s schedule).

 

Feed

The feed is the most important factor in all operations of the poultry sector about 70 – 75% of expenditures are related to the feed. Any deficiency or low-quality feed can reduce the production from 95% to 0% so any farmer doesn’t take risk about the feeding of the flock. Supplements of Amino acids, Folic acid, Crude proteins are added to the feed more than the recommended dose to ensure better feed consumption and more production of fertilized eggs. For proper feeding of flocks, farmers mostly use

• NRC 1994
• Brazilian feeding tables

 

Quality of Eggs.

Eggs from breeder flock must be :

• No double yolk
• Strong eggshell
• Proper size and weight
• Clear eggs(if any type of contamination is there it may cause the spread of disease during hatching in the incubator which ultimately causes huge economic losses).

Male birds

Male birds must be

• Good health conditions
• Active in the flock
• Strong body frame (most important shanks, beak these two bodies are most important for mating purposes male birds)
• Proper body weight.
• Proper height.
• Excellent fertility
• Young (male birds should not be aged ones because the aged males have fertility issues later on so young males should be preferred over them)

Litter Material.

Litter Material should be

• Properly spread all over the house.
• Dry

If litter material is not according to the recommended standards then problems can be found in the house like.

• Swollen feet of birds
• High ammonia production in the house
• Feed and litter mixing in feeders ultimately causing low feed intake and droop of production
• Due too high moisture, it may cause coccidiosis.
• Very low rate of mating.

Proper Floor spacing

As all breeder flocks are reared on floors so proper floor spacing is very important for better productivity of flock. Floor spacing for Broiler and Layer breeders is as follow

• Broiler Breeder 2.25sqft
• Layer Breeder 1.75sqft

This space is enough for male and female birds to perform their all activities freely.

Feeding and watering

• Equal feeding and watering (equally distribution of feed and water in all feeders and drinkers so that every single bird has equal access to the water and feed).
• Proper numbers of drinkers and feeders to ensure availability of feed and water to the birds.
• Lab tests (all necessary lab tests of feed and water should be done timely to ensure good quality of water and feed is provided to the birds).

 

Farm visit

A farm visit is the most necessary effort to know all the things that are considered to be important in the house manager must spare 2-3 hours daily for farm visits especially at the time of feeding manager or owner must inside the house to check the health of birds. When feed is offered to the birds they rush towards the feeder which is a sign of healthy and diseased birds.

Vaccination and meditation

Vaccination should be done timely according to the area, a good manager should know about the disease outbreaks in the area where he is serving and accordingly, he must use proper vaccines.

The medication of birds must be done very timely to minimize the chance of disease spread, moreover, diseased birds should be culled, diseased birds should be kept in a separate pen to have proper medication and also to minimize the risk of disease outbreaks.