Poultry Industry- Husbandry and Handling Flashcards
What are the four types of commercial poultry in the UK
- Broilers
- Broilers/ Layers
- Layers
- Turkeys, Ducks, Pheasants, geese
Name 5 KPI’s for Broilers
- Feed conversion ratio
- 7d mortality
- 7d weight
- Final Mortality
- Final Weight
Name 5 KPI’s for layers
- Final mortality
- Eggs per day
- Average egg weight
- Livability
- Feed Consumption
What are some factors that determine mortality, weight and uniformity
- Brooding condition/ Temperature
- Light intensity
- Feed Quality
- Ease of access to feed
- Disease
What does ‘set’ mean?
When eggs are placed in ‘setter’ machines to incubate for the first 18 days, during this time they are slowly tipped on an angle and the temperature/ humidity is closely controlled
What does ‘walked’ mean?
daily ‘walking’ up and down of the shed to check environment, health and welfare and remove dead, injured or sick birds
What does ‘placed’ mean?
When birds are first introduced onto a farm i.e chicks placed at day old
What is a pullet?
Female bird before she lays her first egg
What are some potential production costs?
- Feed
- Chicks
- Housing
- Heating
- Salaries
What are some potential political pressures of the poultry industry?
- High welfare
- Safe product
- Reduce waste
- Reduce antimicrobial use
- Environmental impact
Name 5 examples of the environmental impact on poultry farms?
- CO2 production
- Litter disposal
- Water usage and disposal
- Shed heating
- Growth and transport of feed raw materials
What is the solution of the global food demand?
- large scale intensive production
- Integration
What is the most common vaccination type for chickens?
Oral vaccination
Why is beak trimming carried out?
It is carried out to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism in poultry flocks
How much of the beak can you remove in beak trimming?
Up to one third of both the lower and upper beak
When may birds lose a lot of feathers on their backs?
During mating (mating damage)
How long approximately may it take an egg to form?
Over 25 hours
What are egg shells made up of?
Calcium Carbonate and pigments
When is the shell produced?
Shell forms last and needs stillness, Calcium must be available in the gut during this time or she will mobilise it from her bones
How many grams of calcium do birds require a day to produce eggs?
4-6g of Calcium a day
What are three ways to control egg size
- Genetics
- Essential Nutrients (methionine and linoleic acid)
- Feed intake (energy levels)
What is Brooding?
The time immediately after hatching when extra care and attention must be paid
What percentage of all meat consumed in the UK is poultry?
46%
How many million birds are consumed per week in the UK?
20 million
What is the number of parent stock in the pyramid breeding model?
375,000
What is the number of broilers in the pyramid breeding model?
48,750,000
What is the kg of meat produced in the pyramid breeding model
75,075,000
What is the meaning of ‘take off’?
When young chicks begin to grow rapidly
Name 5 veterinary opportunities in the poultry industry
- Retailers
- Breeding Companies
- Pharmaceuticals
- Research
- Slaughterhouse
Name 3 things that are important to have in a broiler house, husbandry wise
- Proper feeder
- Temperature Control
- Enough space to move
- Windows
What is the purpose of enrichment devices?
Enrichment items such as perches, platforms, bales promote increased activity and contribute to better
What year were poultry cages banned?
2012
What is de-spurring and what is its purpose?
- Removing the claws from the males
- Limits the amount of damage done when they are on their back
What happens to the energy and protein levels of the food as the broilers grow?
- Energy levels increase
- Protein levels decrease
How many grams of calcium are needed at onset lay and why?
- Only 4g of calcium
- Younger chickens, producing fewer eggs, increased stress
How many g of calcium are required for a layer to produce an egg at peak production?
6g
the older they are the more they need
How would you do split feeding between males and females?
- Males have feeders up high
- Females have feeders below as they cannot reach
What is the meaning of being fed larger particles of calcium (above 1mm)
Spends longer in the intestines, therefore more calcium is absorbed
What are the two types of grit required for poultry nutrition?
- Insoluble grit to help digestion
- Oystershell/ soluble grit for extra calcium
Name 4 ways you can improve poultry nutrition?
- Constant access to clean/ fresh water
- Reduce treats that reduce the ration intake
- Never give strimmings
- Provide suitable feed
