Broiler And Game Birds

Question 1

What are the main characteristics of broiler birds

Answer 1

Liveability >95% at 42 days
Conformation
Live body weight 2-2.3kg
Feed conversation ratio 1.8-2
Skeletal strength

Question 2

What if the performance of broiler birds influenced by

Answer 2

Genetics
Management
Nutrition
Health

Question 3

What is included in preparation for broiler birds

Answer 3

Farm location
Farm, house hygiene
Equipment and material ready
Temp 30 degrees for whole house at brooding
Temp 32 degrees at edge of brooder for spot brooding
Feed and water
Ventilation without drafts
Humidity 60-70% first 3 days
>50% until 10 days

Question 4

How do we access prior to chicks

Answer 4

Chick placement
Ensure feed and water
Monitor temp and humidity
Monitor ventilation / draft
Chick start assessment
Crop fill
Vent temperature
Body weight recorded at 0 and 7 days
Calculate CV%

Question 5

What breeds are usually broiler birds

Answer 5

Hybrid

Question 6

What must broiler nutrition do

Answer 6

Ensure daily requirements (feed intake x nutrient content of food)
Balanced
Routine laboratory analysis of diet - alert suppliers with inadequencies and to modify feed management

Question 7

What do the feed ingredients contain

Answer 7

Wheat; Maize; Soya meal, Full fat soya; Sunflower meal; Rapeseed meal; Oils and Fat; Limestone; Phosphate; Salth; Sodium bicarbonate; Mineral and vitamis; other additives – enzymes, mycotoxin binders, acids etc.

Question 8

What are the feed components for broiler birds

Answer 8

Energy
Protein
Macro minerals
Trace minerals
Vitamins

Question 9

What are feed additives for broiler chickens

Answer 9

Enzymes
Medicines
Pro and pre biotics
Feed preservation and antioxidants
Pelleting agents

Question 10

What do starter, grower and finisher birds eat

Answer 10

Starter - crumble/mini pellets (1.5-3mm)
Grower feed - mini pellets (1.6-3/1.5-3mm)
Finisher - pellets (3.9-4/5-8mm)

Question 11

Why is the efficiency the best when feeding pellets

Answer 11

Decrease in feed waste
Reduced selective feeding
Decreased ingredient segregation
Less time and energy spent eating
Destruction of pathogenic organisms
Thermal medication of starch and protein
Improve feed palatability

Question 12

What age is a starter, grower and finisher

Answer 12

Starter - 0-10 days
Grower - 11-25 days
Finisher - after 25 days

Question 13

How do we change how we feed chicks

Answer 13

First 10 days - feed on plate trays or paper sheets 80% floor covered with paper
Transition from flat to automated feeding system within 6-7 days
Feeder types - pan feeder, flat chain/auger or tube feeders

Question 14

What are the nutrition specifications for broiler birds

Answer 14

Energy starter = 3000kcal, grower = 3100kcal, finisher = 3200kcal
Crude protein starter = 23%, grower = 21.5%, finisher = 20%
Calcium starter = 0.96%, grower = 0.87%, finisher = 0.81%
Available phosphorus starter = 0.48%, grower = 0.435%, finisher = 0.405%
Look at table for vitamins

Question 15

How do broiler farmers reduce nitrogen and ammonia

Answer 15

Minimising crude protein in feed

Question 16

What is literal quality and what can of affect

Answer 16

Main with quality wood shavings, straw etc
Wet and moist litter results in increased in welfare issues, also triggers respiratory issues and footpad dermatitis.
Litter quality can be affected the followings:-
Protein quality
Minerals
Raw material digestibility
Anti-nutritional factors
Fat quality
Feed physical form
Anti-coccidial programme

Question 17

What drinker systems do we have for broiler birds

Answer 17

Nipple drinkers with cup
Nipple drinkers without cups
Bell drinkers

Question 18

What temperature should the water be for broilers

Answer 18

18-21 degrees

Question 19

How is ventilation adjusted for broiler birds

Answer 19

Adjusted to weight of the birds
Kept in comfort zone from day old to slaughter
Look at time table for how to work out

Question 20

What must the lighting be like for broiler birds

Answer 20

1-7 days old, 30-40 lux of lighting
Later, reduce to 5-10 lux
Light must be uniformly distributed throughout the house
Use light meter to verify the light intensity

Question 21

How is target live body weight affected

Answer 21

Depends of breed of birds
Influenced by
Brooding temperature
Feed quality
Access to feed and water
Health of chicks
Age of parent stock

Question 22

When do we check live body weight in broilers

Answer 22

At chick place,ent
Weekly
Calculate uniformity
Check power point for table

Question 23

How do we achieve the best bio security for broiler farms

Answer 23

Farm location - 3.2km away from other farms
Orientation for the farm blocks - one way flow, easy cleaning and disinfecting, control of movement or people feed and equipment
Risk areas = dead birds disposal and rodent control

Question 24

How are turkeys bred and how many are bred per year

Answer 24

Breeders same as chickens - pyramid selective breeding strategy
17 million/year (10mil for Christmas market)

Question 25

Who are the main producers of turkeys and at what age are they slaughtered

Answer 25

Main producers = Bernard Matthew’s, Cranberry foods
Slaughter age = 12-14 weeks 5.5kg female
18-21 weeks 17-19kg male

Question 26

Check PowerPoint for table about turkeys

Answer 26

LOOK!

Question 27

Describe the duck industry - breeds, slaughter, incubation ect.

Answer 27

Minor industry compared to chicken and turkey
Meat
Species Pekin 80%
Species Muscovy or Barbary
Species Mules (Pekin/Muscovy X)
Incubation - 28 days
Age to slaughter - 42-45 days
Systems = intensive, semi intensive and extensive

Question 28

What are some types of game birds

Answer 28

Grey partridge
Pheasant
Red grouse
Black grouse
Capercaillie
Ptarmigan
Red-legged partridge
Woodcock

Question 29

Describe some factors about the game bird industry

Answer 29

About 1.5 mil natural breeding females
Estimated 35-40 mil reared birds
40% import from France
Also imported from Spain and Poland
Estimated 5000 game bird producer