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Basis of Animal Production > Egg Production > Flashcards

Egg Production Flashcards

1
Q

How often are follicles released from the ovaries of hens?

A

once a day

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2
Q

How many functional ovaries do hens have?

A

one (the left)

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3
Q

What is the organization of the poultry industry?

A
  • typical pyramid organization
  • genetics/selection farms (primary breeders)
  • Reproduction farms (breeders)
  • Egg production farms
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4
Q

What chickens do egg production farms use?

A

only hen pullets brought in from breeders/reproduction farms

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5
Q

How are chicks sexed on the breeding farm?

A
  • cloaca observation (classic)

- feather differences

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6
Q

What are the types of egg farms?

A
  • in line egg farms
  • Off-line (nest run) egg farms
  • Niche market egg farms
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7
Q

What are in-line farms?

A

characterized by an automated egg collection system that carries eggs directly from chicken houses to the egg processing plant (building) –85% of table eggs in the US

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8
Q

What are off-line (nest run) egg farms?

A

Off-Line (Nest Run) Egg Farms -typically consist of one or two chicken houses which lack processing equipment. Eggs are placed on egg flats and are then packed onto farm pallets to a processing plant

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9
Q

What are niche market egg farms?

A

small and large cage free, aviary-housed, free range, organic, etc.

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10
Q

At what age are pullets purchased and how are they raised?

A
  • Egg companies purchase day-old pullets from hatcheries
  • Pullets are raised in wire cages in brooder/grow-out buildings
  • At 16-17 weeks of age, pullets are transferred to cages in a laying house where they will stay for the remainder of their productive life
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11
Q

When does egg production begin?

A

around 18-19 weeks of age

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12
Q

What is the productive life of a hen?

A

70-80 weeks (no moult), 102-106 weeks (1 moult), and 140-150 weeks ( 2 moults)

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13
Q

When should brooder houses be cleaned and disinfected?

A

at least 2 weeks prior to arrival of chicks

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14
Q

What stops the chicks from falling through the spaces between wires?

A

heavy, water-proof paper placed on the floor of wire cages

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15
Q

What temperature should the brooder house be?

A

92-95 F

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16
Q

How are the chicks fed and watered?

A
  • Access to water from cup or nipple drinkers is facilitated

* Starter feed should be placed on cage papers in front of trough feeders

17
Q

How much light do the chicks get?

A

•Light: week 1: 22h light; week 2: 20h; subsequent reductions till 10-12 hours by 9 to 10 weeks of age

18
Q

Why are battery cages the most commonly used cage for laying hens in the US?

A
  • They are very convenient and profitable for the farmer but raise welfare issues
  • They are banned in California and Michigan and Ohio has a moratorium on new facilities
19
Q

How many hens do the cages on most commercial egg laying farms hold?

A

5-10 laying hens in high rise belt houses

20
Q

How are eggs collected?

A
  • Sloped wire mesh floors extend outside of the cages and allow eggs to roll beneath the feed trough onto an egg conveyor belt
  • Belt extends the length of the cage rows and transports eggs out of the laying house to the processing facility
21
Q

Why are light programs so important for laying hens?

A
  • Animals are programmed to lay eggs in spring (longer periods of light)
  • So light time increases to 16h of light
  • Light intensity also increases 30 lux at bird level
  • If light intensity is too great:cannibalism, cloacal prolapse, and nervousness may increase
22
Q

What is the optimum environment for laying hens?

A

57-79 F

23
Q

How is manure handled in a laying house?

A 
• Manure typically falls from the cages
through the wire mesh directly to the
ground (manure pit) and removed
periodically
• Alternatively, it may be transported using
conveyer belts to a deposit
• Manure may be/should be dried to reduce
water content, weight and odours
• Used as fertilizer
24
Q

What are some alternative cage types?

A
  • enriched colony cages
  • cage-free
  • Free range
25
Q

What is an enriched colony cage?

A

chickens have access to curtained nest boxes, perches, an abrasive strip to reduce excessive growth of claws, and an area for pecking, dust-bathing, and scratching.

26
Q

How are chickens kept in a cage-free set up?

A

chickens are kept indoors but do not reside in cages and have access to communal nest boxes with automated egg collection, perches, and litter.

27
Q

How are free range chickens kept?

A

similar to cage-free but chickens have access to outside area

28
Q

What is the key component of laying hen nutrition?

A

calcium

29
Q

When and Why do chickens moult naturally?

A
  • Chickens moult (feather change) naturally in autumn/decrease hours of light
  • Hen reproductive tract will rejuvenate
30
Q

Why do commercial egg production farms moult chickens?

A
  • Birds attain higher levels of production and have longer productive lives
  • Welfare concerns associated to moulting
31
Q

How do farms induce moulting of the chickens?

A
  • Entire flock goes through moult
  • Moulting period of 2 weeks –No egg laying
  • Achieved with a adequate light program and nutritional management (feed restriction)
32
Q

How are eggs processed?

A
  • Computerized egg processing equipment accepts eggs entering the egg processing plant
  • Machinery automatically washes, candles, weighs, and places eggs into cartons containing different sized eggs
33
Q

How do egg processing plants ensure their equipment run (process eggs) all the time?

A

•Some in-line egg operations purchase eggs from off-line farms so that the egg processing equipment can be more fully utilized.

34
Q

What are the four phases of egg processing?

A
  1. washing and external sanitizing
  2. candling
  3. weighting, grading, and packaging
  4. storage at 45 F
35
Q

What is egg candling and why is it done?

A
  • Candling is a process wherein eggs are passed over an intense light that allows internal and external defects to be detected
  • Eggs with internal defects are identified by workers or by computerized detection equipment and removed for disposal as inedible egg products
  • Eggs with external defects, such as faecal material on external shell surfaces, are removed from the line for rewashing
36
Q

How are eggs graded in the US?

A
  • Size represents the minimum net weight per dozen
  • In descending order, egg sizes (USA) are:
  • Jumbo (30 ounces)
  • Extra Large (27 ounces)
  • Large (24 ounces)
  • Medium (21 ounces)
  • Small (18 ounces)
  • Peewee (15 ounces).
37
Q

Where are the majority of white eggs sold? brown eggs?

A

white eggs: US

brown eggs: Europe

Basis of Animal Production (6 decks)

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