D7: Broiler chicken production, fattening

Question 1

what is a broiler?

Answer 1

Broiler = any type of chicken that is bred & raised specifically for meat production

Question 2

at what age are most commercial broilers slaughtered?

Answer 2

5 - 7 weeks

‣ Although slower growing breeds reach slaughter weight approx. 14 weeks old

Question 3

common weight of a broiler

Answer 3

1.5kg/2kg

Question 4

common weight of a layer?

Answer 4

1.8kg

Question 5

what are primary breeding sectors?

Answer 5

-> Companies that breed pedigree stock (pure line), kept on a high level biosecure farm.
-> Eggs are hatched in special pedigree hatchery and their progeny then goes on to the great
grandparent (GGP) and grandparent (GP) generations.
-> These eggs would then go to a special GP hatchery to produce Parent Stock (PS) which passes to the production sector.

–> Assessing pedigree stock can be by x-ray and ultrasound of muscles and bones. Blood
oxygen level measured to determine cardiovascular health and walking ability observed.

Question 6

How can pedigree stock be assessed?

Answer 6

–> Assessing pedigree stock can be by x-ray and ultrasound of muscles and bones. Blood
oxygen level measured to determine cardiovascular health and walking ability observed.

Question 7

What are broiler breeder farms?

Answer 7

–> Raise parent stock, which produce fertilized eggs.
–> Broiler hatching egg is never sold at stores
and is not meant for human consumption.
–> Males and females are separate genetic lines or breeds. The chick they produce will therefore be crossbreeds or “crosses”.
–> Birds breed mainly for efficient meat production.
–> Broiler breeder growing is a 2 stage process: parent stock purchased from primary breeding sector at a day old and then sent to houses or starter farms to be raised.

Question 8

Describe a rearing house

Answer 8

• approx 11,000 bird capacity
• Insulated ceiling
• Exterior curtain side walls
• Minimum ventilation system required
• Negative ventilation system, keep dirt and dust out of egg storage
• Automatic timer, control lighting system

Question 9

what procedures take place during rearing of broilers?

Answer 9

During rearing:
–> weight is monitored,
–> vaccination program, (Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and avian pneumovirus (APV).)
–> females and males raised separately,
–> let grow; Weight can be ‘fixed’ by skipping a day to eat or feeding 5 out of 7 days a week; Overweight birds give lower egg production.

Question 10

What is a laying house/ poduction barn?

Answer 10

• M and F raised together here to fertilize eggs; nests are provided → Nesting systems can be automatic (plastic carpet lining, belt for egg collection) and manual (stuffed with straws).
  (turkey are only species that can be AI)

*M + F can be fed from different troughs. females have different nutritiona needs deu to egg laying. F: fed from lower troughs with barriers; M cannot get into these troughs bc comb on crest of head prevents entry past barrier. M: fed from higher troughs, F cannot reach these troughs.

• Egg production begins around 6 months, depending on breeds; Daily egg per hen is at a peak at 32-35 weeks; lay for about 10 months.
• Hatcheries: take the fertilized egg, incubate (21 days) them and produce day old broiler chicks.
  *eggs can be sold from the broiler breeder farm to professional hatcheries.

Fattening
* Pelleted feed mixtures can be given to chickens before the age of 10 days, plate and chain feeders.
* Feeders, silos and conveyors, ventilation, heating, cooling → good chicken.
*slaughtered around 8 weeks.

Question 11

how are chicks fed and fattened?

Answer 11

Fattening
* Pelleted feed mixtures can be given to chickens before the age of 10 days,
* using automatic plate and chain feeders supplied by the central hopper.
* Feeders, silos and conveyors, ventilation, heating, cooling → good chicken.
*slaughtered around 8 weeks.