2.1 Poultry overview - T2

Question 1

Chick

Answer 1

Very young chicken, usually used in terms of broiler chickens

Question 2

Poult

Answer 2

Very young turkey; male or female

Question 3

Cockerel

Answer 3

Immature male chicken. Usually used in conjunction with birds intended to be kept for breeding

Question 4

Pullet

Answer 4

Immature female chicken. Usually used in conjunction with birds intended to be kept for breeding (layers or broilers)

Question 5

Hen

Answer 5

Mature female chicken or turkey. Also used to describe female meat-type turkeys, even if immature

Question 6

Rooster

Answer 6

Mature male chicken

Question 7

Tom

Answer 7

Male turkey. Technically, a mature male, but also used to describe heavy meat-type turkeys, even if immature

Question 8

Breeder

Answer 8

Parent stock used to produce offspring for a specific type of production
- Broiler breeder, layer breeder, turkey breeder
- Most common is broiler breeder; largest mkt, shortest lifespan of offspring

Question 9

Layer

Answer 9

Egg-type chickens
- Layer pullet: immature egg-type chicken
- Laying hen or layer: mature egg-type chicken

Question 10

Primary breeder

Answer 10

Term used to describe the COMPANY that makes genetic selection decisions regarding their genetic lines
- individual producers do not propagate the next generation from their existing stock; they buy replacements when the current flock is finished

Also provide feeding and management recommendations
- generic husbandry and management
- specifications that are particularly suited to their genetic lines

Question 11

There have been huge advances in growth rate and productivity of poultry over the past 60+ years. Why?

Answer 11

Largely due to genetics

1. Selective breeding programs (meat)
   - growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, carcass traits
   - appetite
2. Selective breeding programs (eggs)
   - egg production, feed conversion efficiency, skeletal health
   - longevity

Question 12

Primary breeders do not use GMO chickens. What do they use?

Answer 12

Traditional breeding techniques
- High tech analyses to pick birds
- Breeding for specific traits

Question 13

Live Weight vs. Field Condemnation

Answer 13

The number of birds rejected at the plant for signs of disease (field condemnation) have DECLINED dramatically over the last 25 yrs, even as the birds have gotten BIGGER, which is another indicator of overall bird health. If birds were not healthy and thriving, the number of birds rejected would be much higher.

Question 14

Why have there been huge advances in growth rate/ productivity of poultry over the past 60+ years?

Answer 14

Advances in feeding programs!
- nutritional knowledge
- list of required nutrients has changed very little since the discovery of the vitamins

Question 15

What vitamin was particularly critical for the development of commercial poultry production?

Answer 15

Vitamin D
- birds could be raised efficiently indoors and during the winter

Question 16

Changes in productivity necessitate changes in…

Answer 16

Feeding programs!
1. Nutrient needs
- increased efficiency = increased rate of feed intake = decreased total feed intake to mkt weight
- nutrients as a % of diet haven’t changed much

2. Metabolic diseases
   - modern broilers are healthier even though growth rate has increased
3. Changes in regulations
   - ex. phytase inclusion

Question 17

What are 4 reasons why there have been such great advancements in poultry production?

Answer 17

1. large number of birds in experiments
2. inexpensive
3. short production cycle
4. rapid reproduction (more generations in a shorter interval)

Question 18

In regards to nutrient requirements/recommendations, there is NOT a single “true” value for nutrient requirements. Instead when feeding poultry it’s important to consider:

Answer 18

• Bird-bird variation
• Ability to adjust voluntary intake (but not broiler breeders)
• Environmental factors
• Ingredient and nutrient composition and interactios
• Goal of produciton
• Response criteria for requirement: growth, efficiency, yield, economics

Question 19

What type of feeding is recommended for feeding poultry? How does it work?

Answer 19

Phase feeding
- Nutrient requirements change with age, level of production

Question 20

For meat-type birds (broilers, turkeys, etc.) what 2 factors do we consider?

Answer 20

1. GIT immaturity (birds are short lived) which influences:
   - feed intake/capacity
   - enzymes, transporters
2. Allometric growth (dif parts of the body grow at dif rates)
   - GIT
   - muscle groups
   - proportion of fat vs protein deposition

Question 21

Birds require a certain _________ of each nutrient per day. How are rations formulated? What must we know for proper diet formulation?

Answer 21

Birds require a certain AMOUNT of each nutrient per day

Rations formulated on a content basis (%, g/kg, ppm etc.)
- Predictable level of intake relative to body size in production systems

Need to know the expected feed intake of birds for proper diet formulation
- variable feed intake depending on a number of factors
- feed restriction (broiler breeders)

Question 22

Poultry tend to require ________ quality diets than other livestock species for optimal production.

Answer 22

Poultry tend to require HIGHER quality diets than other livestock species for optimal production.
- proportionately greater use of grains and oilseeds than other species; proportionately greater tonnage of milled feed (=more expensive due to higher quality ingredients and more processing)
- greater cost of feed as a total of production costs

*lower input systems can use cheaper diets
- slow growth
- heritage birds

Question 23

What are 3 environmental concerns when feeding poultry?

Answer 23

1. Nutrients in manure
   - phosphorus, nitrogen, copper, other minerals
   *phosphorus due to presence of phytate in plant-based feedstuff; problem bc over-supplementation becoming more expensive
   - advantageous for fertilizer use; but issue in concentrated poultry production areas
2. In regions with a limited land base and high poultry populations
   - waste removal
3. Nitrogen excretion
   - unbalanced AA profile relative to immediate needs; use of synthetic AA to improve balance
   - can’t decrease crude protein too far, even if essential AA req are being met, bc need the supply of amino nitrogen; 15-20% decrease in CP possible