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Poultry Science > Broiler Management > Flashcards

Broiler Management Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two programs that regulate the Broiler industry?

A
  1. Chicken Farmers of Canada Animal Care & On-Farm Food Safety Programs
  2. NFACC Code of Practice’s Producer Animal Care Program
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2
Q

What are the principles of the On-Farm Food Safety and Animal Care Programs?

A
  1. Mandatory program
  2. Third party audits
  3. Enforcement
  4. Trained auditors
  5. Keeping stakeholders informed
  6. Continuous improvements
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3
Q

Give examples of data that could be collected when broiler chicks arrive at the farm

A
  • Number received
  • Initial chick body weight
  • Initial chick body temperature
  • Age
  • Flock uniformity
  • Record of vaccinations
  • Record of medications
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4
Q

When can a broiler farm’s bird density exceed 31kg/m2?

A
  • Temperature, humidity and NH3 concentration are managed adequately
  • Daily water intake is monitored and recorded
  • Alarms are in place
  • No health or injury issues that compromise bird welfare
  • Flock health plan is developed and followed
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5
Q

Are female and male broilers grown together in one barn?

A

Yes, with increased technology it is easier for the processing robots to adjust to the difference in size so it isn’t as much of a concern.

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6
Q

What are the characteristics of a typical broiler house?

A
  • 100% litter floor
  • Black out or brown out
  • Easy access to feed and water from all areas of the barn
  • Negative pressure ventilation
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7
Q

What is required if a farmer decides to free range house the birds?

A
  • Perimeter fencing
  • Pastures should be rotated to avoid waste build up
  • Shelter from sun and adverse weather
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8
Q

What is the difference in temperature between a breeder barn and broiler barn?

A

Broiler barns can be kept at a cooler temperature

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9
Q

Describe what a zone breeding barn would look like if the temperature is too cold or too hot.

A

Too cold - noisy chicks huddled in the center (under the brooder)
Too hot - drowsy chicks spread around the perimeter of the circle

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10
Q

What is the economic result if broilers are experiencing heat stress due to high heat and humidity?

A
  • Lower margin
  • Lower efficiency
  • Increased mortality
  • Lower profits
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11
Q

What two things occur when a broiler is heat stressed?

A
  1. Lower activity (leading to lower feed intake and then insufficient nutrient intake)
  2. Panting (leading to respiratory alkalosis and then loss in electrolytes such as H, C, O, K)
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12
Q

How many supplementary waterers would you want when introducing new chicks to the barn? How long would you keep these supplementary waterers?

A

One per every 100 chicks for 3 days

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13
Q

Since birds will not eat with the absence of water, what is the desired ratio between water consumption and feed consumption?

A

1.75:1

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14
Q

What temperature should the water be?

A

15C-21C

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15
Q

What influences the required number of drinkers?

A 
Water Pressure
Age of birds at market
Lighting Program Used
Environmental Temperature control
Type of Drinker
- Nipple drinkers (1 nipple/12 <3kg birds, 1 nipple/9>3kg birds)
- Bell drinkers (8 drinkers/1000 birds)
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16
Q

What factors affect the broiler diet composition?

A

The market the birds are grown for (weight, whole bird vs further processing)
Feedstuffs (price, availability)
Raised sex separate or mixed
Niche Market (organic free-range)

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17
Q

As a bird gets older, what happens to the energy level and protein content in their feed?

A

Energy Level increases

Protein content decreases

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18
Q

What are some advantages of pelleted feed?

A 
Reduced feed wastage
Reduced feed breakdown in feed lines
Reduced selective feeding
Less time spent eating
Heating process destroys pathogens
Improved feed palatability
Initial breakdown of starch and some proteins
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19
Q

When is a bird fed a starter diet? Why would it be fed this specific diet?

A

Fed 0-2 weeks of age ad libitum to get them off to a good start, avoid starve-outs and to optimize gut development

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20
Q

What are some characteristics of a Broiler’s starter diet?

A 
Crumble format
May contain a coccidiostat
May contain an antibiotic (controls necrotic enteritis)
High crude protein
Lower energy
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21
Q

What are the objectives of a grower diet (fed from 14-25 days of age) and the finisher diet (fed from 25 days to market)?

A

Maintain growth
Limit the incidence of leg problems
Limit the incidence of metabolic issues (SDS and ascites)

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22
Q

Why is a starter diet in a crumble format while the grower and finisher diets are given in pellet format?

A

The pellet format is too big for the baby chicks to eat which could cause reduced feed intake.

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23
Q

Are male and female broilers fed the same diet formulation?

A

Yes - it makes things easier for the farmer

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24
Q

What is whole-grain feeding?

A

Giving broilers a formulation of a concentrated diet which is fed together with whole grains mixed on farm

25
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages to whole-grain feeding?

A

Advantages:
* Reduced feed costs
* Less feed transportation costs if it is local grains
* Gut health improvement
Disadvantages:
* Some reduction in meat yield and growth rate

26
Q

When do you introduce a whole-grain diet to your flock? What percentage of whole-grain can you give them?

A

Start during the grower diet (14 days of age) up to 15% whole grain, finisher diet can have up to 20% whole grain in their diet. DO NOT give to the starter birds!

27
Q

What are the objectives of feed withdrawal prior to shipping?

A

To have the gut contents cleared prior to processing to reduce the risk of fecal contamination at the processing plant

28
Q

How long before slaughter do you begin to withdraw feed?

A

Normal finisher diet: 8-12 hours before

Whole-grain finisher diet: 48 hours before

29
Q

What should you account for when deciding when to withdraw feed prior to shipping?

A

Feed withdrawal in barn (4-5 h)
Catching time (1-4 h)
Transport time (1-4 h)
Waiting at plant (1-2 h)

30
Q

What things should you consider when providing the birds with feeding space?

A

45-80 birds/pan feeder
40 birds/ m of chain feeder
Increase feeder space if you provide periods of intermittent darkness
Adjust feeder heights based on the height of the birds (level with the top of breast)

31
Q

Why would you use litter on the floors of the broiler barn?

A

Manure management
Protection from cold floor
Comfort

32
Q

How would you fix a barn that is too wet?

A

Increase ventilation rate
Increase ambient temperature
Ensure no stale air pockets
Raise water lines to appropriate height
Check water lines for leaks
Check for condensation drips on cold entry lines
Ensure misting system is working properly
Ensure stocking density is not too high
Ensure water mineral content is appropriate
Ensure salt content of feed is correct

33
Q

What would you do if your barn is too dry?

A

Ensure feed is not too dusty
Increase ventilation rate to remove dust
Use a misting system
Spray small amounts of canola oil onto litter (research basis only)

34
Q

What things would influence the humidity level of the litter?

A

Water consumption
Environment (ventilition, density)
Health status of birds (diarrhea)

35
Q

What characteristics of the litter would cause downgrading of the carcass such as weight loss, dirty feathers and breast blisters?

A

Humid litter
Crusted, humid litter
Greasy litter
Excess of nitrogen in litter

36
Q

What are the four types of ventilation management practices?

A
  1. Natural ventilation
  2. Power ventilation
  3. Negative pressure ventilation (air intakes all around barn and one central exhausting place, air enters barn passively)
  4. Tunnel ventilation (cool by cooling pads and the wind chill)
37
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages to a disposal pit?

A 
Advantages:
* Inexpensive
* Low odor
* Fast disease outbreak control
Disadvantages:
* Can be a reservoir for disease
* Requires proper drainage to avoid ground water contamination
38
Q

What are the different ways to manage mortality in the birds (how can you dispose of the bodies in a biosecure way)?

A

Disposal pits
Composting
Incineration
Rendering

39
Q

Which type of body disposal practice provides the best protection against the spread of disease?

A

Incineration because it doesn’t contaminate ground water and there is little residue to remove from the farm.

40
Q

Compare composting and rendering in terms of successful mortality management.

A

Similarities:
makes use of nutrients, no environmental contamination if done properly
Differences:
Rendering immediately removes birds from the premises, requires minimal capital investment and the truck may be a source of disease
Composting doesn’t work well in cold temps., requires constant turning

41
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of incineration?

A 
Advantages:
No ground water contamination
Little residue to remove from farm
Prevents disease transfer
Disadvantages:
Expensive - requires large infrastructure
Produces air pollution
Must ensure complete burning of carcasses
42
Q

What factors affect what type of litter the farmer should use?

A 
Moisture absorbing ability
Biodegradability
Bird comfort
Non-dusty
Free of contaminants
Biosecure source
Economical
Available locally
43
Q

What are the materials that can be used for litter?

A 
Wood shavings
Chopped straw
Recycled newspaper/phonebooks
Peat moss
Rice hulls
Peanut hulls
Sand
Recycled litter
44
Q

What are some potential concerns when using specific types of litter?

A

Chopped straw and peanut hulls may contain mycotoxins
Sand may get cold
Peat moss is very expensive
recycled newspaper gets very slippery when wet
Certain ones may have come into contact with wild birds (spread of salmonella, influenza etc.)

45
Q

What are some causes of poor litter quality?

A 
High salt, protein diets/low quality fat diets
Poor environment/drinker management
High stocking density
Poor quality material
Enteritis due to disease
Poor water quality
46
Q

What are some possible contamination problems in litter management?

A

Salmonella
Insects (darkling beetles)
Rodents
Mold

47
Q

Caking, dust and slipping concerns are all results of what?

A

Poor litter management

Caking = no more moisture retention

48
Q

What are the 4 components of a lighting program?

A

Photoperiod length
Photoperiod distribution
Wavelength
Light intensity

49
Q

What was the recent change in lighting requirements put in place by NFACC’s code of practice?

A

Chicks must be given 1 hour of darkness every 24 hours initially, by day 5 they must be given 4 hours of black out or brown out in each 24 hour period

50
Q

What things (other than increasing to 4 hours of lighting a day by day 5) are influenced by the new lighting recommendations put in place by NFACC’s code of practice?

A

Preventing pile ups in the case of a power outage (birds aren’t as scared by the darkness)
Farmers had to add more feeders/waterers because all the birds were hungry/thirsty at the same time right after the lights were turned back on

51
Q

How do daily periods of darkness improve bird health?

A 
Improves sleep patterns (less abnormal)
Improves bird mobility (legs are rested longer)
Reduces metabolic disease incidences
Improves growth rate
Improves feed efficiency
Improves welfare
52
Q

What problems can be caused by very low light intensity?

A

Impaired eye function
Increased foot pad problems
Reduced activity

53
Q

What is the typical photoperiod and light intensity program used in broiler farms?

A

Typical photoperiod program:
Days 0-3 = 23L:1D
Days 3-ship out = 17L:7D to 20L:4D

Typical Light Intensity Program:
Days 0-7 = 30-40 lux
Days 7-ship out = 5-10 lux

54
Q

What is the Saskatchewan Lighting Program?

A

Days 0-3 = 23L:1D
Days 3-10 = 12L:12D
Days 10-ship out = gradually increase day length to 20L by 28 days of age

55
Q

What are the benefits of the Saskatchewan Lighting Program?

A

It is a way to feed restrict
Increases growth
Reduces leg problems

56
Q

What would you want to observe as a farmer when you are walking the barn?

A 
Air quality
Temperature
Bird activity level
Bird health status
Number of mortality (pick them up and cull if necessary)
Equipment is functioning
Presence of vermin
Bird weight to assess growth performance
57
Q

What are the conditions of the broilers that are commonly culled?

A 
Suffering, sick injured birds
Starve-outs (can't find feed)
Stunted birds
Lame birds
Ascites
58
Q

What are the common causes of oxygen deficiency leading to ascites in broilers?

A 
Fast growth increases oxygen demand 
High altitude
High ammonia
Lots of dust
CO2 from open flames
Inadequate ventilation
Cool temperatures
59
Q

Describe SDS

A

Sudden Death Syndrome (Flips).
Fast growing broilers (mainly males) that are young (8-9 days) and healthy die suddenly after short, terminal, wing-beating convulsions.
Can affect up to 2.5% of the flock

Poultry Science (3 decks)

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