ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Poultry Flashcards
What are broiler breeders?
Broiler breeders are the parent stock of broiler chickens
What are broiler chickens?
Broiler chickens are chickens used for meat
What are laying hens?
Laying hens produce table eggs
What are the seven desirable characteristics for selective breeding in the poultry meat industry?
Good liveability
Disease resistance
Good feathering
Rapid growth rate
Good leg health
Good conformation
Correct flesh colouring
What is the maximum stocking density for rearing broiler chickens in the EU?
15 broiler chickens per square meter
What is the feed conversion ratio (FCR)?
The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the feed requirement per unit of weight gain
What is the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler chickens?
Less than 1.5
What are the two main causes of lameness within broiler chickens?
Tibial dyschondroplasia
Food pad dermatitis
What is the main metabolic disorder seen in broiler chickens?
Ascites
What is the main welfare concern regarding broiler breeders?
Food restrictions are implemented when rearing broiler chickens to control their growth rate and prevent excessive weight gain
Which three methods can be used to improve welfare when rearing broiler breeder chickens while also controlling their growth rate?
Scatter feed
Environmental enrichment
Provide more food with lower energy content
What is the ideal temperature for incubating fertile eggs?
37 - 38°C
What are the five main components of the egg?
Yolk
Albumen (egg white)
Chalazae
Shell
Air cell
What is the name of the specific spot in the egg where fertilisation takes place?
Germinal disc
What is the function of the yolk?
The yolk is a source of nutrients
What are the functions of the albumen (egg white)?
The albumen is a source of nutrients and is involved in water conservation
What are the functions of the shell?
The shell provides protection and allows for gaseous exchange
What is the function of the air cell?
The air cell allows the chickens to draw its first breath during internal pipping
What is the difference between a single stage and multistage incubator?
For a single stage incubator, all of the eggs will enter the incubator at the same time and will be at the same stage of development. For a multistage incubator, the eggs will all be at different stages of development with the later stage eggs giving off heat along with artificial heat to incubate the eggs at earlier stages of development
Which way up should an egg be placed in an incubator to ensure successful hatching?
The larger end of the egg should be facing upwards as this is where the air cell is located
What temperature are eggs stored at before being put into the incubator. Why is this?
Eggs are stored between 16 to 18°C the prevent any further development of the embryo until there are enough eggs to fill the incubator
What is the purpose of candling?
Candling is the use of a light source to illuminate an egg to identify is an embryo is developing or not. This allows for non-fertile or dead embryos to be removed if necessary
Why are eggs turned during storage and incubation?
Eggs are turned during storage and incubation to prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell
On which day of incubation are eggs placed in the hatching chamber?
18 days
On which day of incubation do chicken eggs hatch?
21 days
What are the key parameters which stimulate the chick to begin the pipping process?
Rising CO2 and decreasing O2 levels
What are the two phases of the pipping process?
Internal pipping
External pipping
What is internal pipping?
Internal pipping is when the chick breaks through the air space
What is external pipping?
External pipping is the penetration of the shell
Which three methods can be used to vaccinate day old chicks?
Aerosal
Subcutaneously
Eye droplets
(T/F) Broiler chickens are mainly reared free range
FALSE. Broiler chickens are mainly reared on floor based systems
What is the minimum darkness requirement for broiler chickens in the UK?
Six hours
How is lighting manipulated within the broiler chicken industry?
According to regulations, broiler chickens must have a consistent 24 hour cycle with at least 6 hours of darkness (at least four hours of consistent darkness)
What is the typical marketing weight of broiler chickens?
2.2kg
What are the four desirable characteristics for selective breeding in the poultry egg industry?
Good liveability
Disease resistance
Slow growth rate
Extended egg laying season
What is the average egg laying season for laying hens?
Laying hens lay from 17 to 74 weeks of age
What is the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of laying hens?
2.1
What were the five reasons for banning conventional battery cages in Europe?
Barren environment
Lack of movement resulted in reduced bone strength
Cage structure resulted in feather and feet damage
Inspection of birds was challenging
Prevented normal behaviours
What is the difference between feather pecking and aggressive pecking?
Feather pecking is an allopreening or redirected foraging behaviour and can be directed towards anywhere on the body however aggressive pecking is a dominance behaviour only directed towards the head area
What can feather pecking escalate to if not controlled?
Cannibalism
How can feather pecking and aggressive pecking behaviours be controlled?
Beak trimming
How does the red poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) lead to economic losses within the egg industry?
The red poultry mite is a blood-feeding parasite which can cause stress, discomfort and anaemia in laying hens, leading to decreased egg production and egg quality, leading to economic loss
Why are ageing layer hens prone to bone fractures?
Egg shell formation requires both dietary and bone calcium which can cause ageing layer hens that have had a high egg yield to suffer from a progressive loss of bone strength and are thus prone to fractures
What are pullets?
Pullets are laying hens which have not yet reached sexual maturity
What is the difference between brooding and rearing in the egg industry?
Brooding is the period of special care and attention that must given to chicks immediately after hatching to ensure their survival. Rearing refers to the period between brooding and reaching sexual maturity
What is the ideal temperature for a brooding room?
A brooding room should be between 32 - 35°C which will slowly be decreased over 6 weeks until the chicks have feathered and can thermoregulate by themselves
What is the ideal relative humidity for a brooding room?
60 - 70%
What is the best way to assess if the environmental temperature is correct throughout the enclosure when brooding and rearing chicks?
The temperature is correct if the chicks are evenly distributed throughout the room
What are the dietary requirements for a starter diet in the egg industry?
A high energy, high protein and nutrient rich diet is essential for rapid growth and feather development
What are the dietary requirements for a grower diet in the egg industry?
Decreased energy once the pullets are fully feathered to allow the pullets to maintain a steady growth rate until reaching sexual maturity
What are the dietary requirements for a pre-laying diet in the egg industry?
Increase calcium and other nutrients that are required for egg production
Why is controlling light so important for optimal egg production?
Light stimulates the reproductive cycle in hens and thus the duration and intensity of light can be manipulated to optimise egg production
How should light duration and intensity be manipulated during brooding and rearing?
Throughout brooding, it is important to provide consistent light however at the end of rearing when you want the hens to reach sexual maturity, gradually increasing the light duration and intensity will stimulate the hens’ reproductive cycle
How should light duration and intensity be manipulated during active laying?
When hens are actively laying, it is important to provide them with consistent lighting to help regulate their reproductive cycle and encourage consistent egg production
At what age do layer hens begin producing eggs?
18 - 20 weeks old
How many hours of light are optimal for egg production in layer hens?
15 hours of light per day
What are the four diseases vaccinated against in laying hens?
Marek’s disease
Newcastle disease
Infectious bronchitis
Infectious Bursal disease
Which egg production system supplies the bulk of eggs consumed in the UK
Free range production system
What are the three main breeds of turkey?
White turkey
Black turkey
Bronze turkey
What is the name used for a day old turkey?
Poult
(T/F) Commercial turkey industries rely on artificial insemination (AI)
TRUE.
