D8: Poultry production systems and technologies (large unit, traditional, alternative, get-away)

Question 1

what are the steps of broiler production?

Answer 1

Breeding egg (60 g) –> day old chicks (40 g) à–> broilers –> slaughter weight

Question 2

What happens in large units? (broiler prod)

Answer 2

Single phase system in large units (litter houses)

Broilers are ready in approx 8 weeks

Controlled environment:
* Temperature
* Humidity
* Ventilation
* Lighting: Intermittent, alternating lighting systems. Decreases near to slaughtering.

• Automatic feeders (chains + plates)/water troughs. supplied by hoppers. measure composition and weight of feed.

*eggs collected on belts.

Question 3

What is traditional production?

Answer 3

Traditional: backyard, open garden farming with indoor housing and a fence around area

Question 4

What is alternative produciton?

Answer 4

Alternative: free range and barn:
- These include the free range and organic systems, for both the production of meat and eggs and the barn system, for egg production.

• The Barn poultry layer system is a mix between the cage system and free range system.
  Barn hens are housed on deep litter in secure and weatherproof sheds. While they are
  provided with ample water, feed, ventilation, space and nesting boxes.

Question 5

What is the process of commercial/ industrial egg production?

Answer 5

60g egg –> day old pullets(40 g) –> laying hens(22 weeks old) –> laying period.

(first year production): about 300 eggs/year.

2-PHASE system (rearing + laying phase, switched from brooder house to layer house):
* Rearing phase (raising, brooding in brooder houses – where chicks are raised):
o Pullets up to 6 weeks of age.
o Heating, feeding and watering equipment are the three main items needed for brooding of the chicks.
- vaccinated at 1 day old and again at 4-6 weeks after first moult.

• Laying phase:
  o Production of commercial eggs in laying house.
  o Housing of pullets from 18th week, laying begins at 22nd week until approx 75 weeks.
• egg prod (number + size) usually decreases after 2nd/3rd year.

Question 6

What are battery chickens?

Answer 6

Battery chickens = intensive mass production (factory farming).

Concerns:
* Excessive use of antibiotics
* Arsenic
* Growth & steroid hormones
* Conditions in intensive chicken farms may be unsanitary, allowing the proliferation of
diseases such as salmonella and E. coli
* Avian influenza
* Animal welfare: laying hens are routinely debeaked without anaesthesia to prevent
fighting, this causes life-long discomfort.
Chickens may be raised in total darkness. Rough
handling and crowded transport during various weather conditions and the failure of
existing stunning systems. Another animal welfare concern is the use of selective breeding
to create heavy, large-breasted birds, which can lead to crippling leg disorders and heart
failure for some of the birds.