POULTRY
MANAGING
THE MODERN POULTRY
POULTRY PRODUCTION :.
Poultry refers to all types of domesticated birds.
These include chickens ,guinea fowl,
turkeys ducks , geese , ostriches ,pigeons , pheasants and other game birds.
Chickens are
the most commonly reared poultry in
Nigeria .Poultry production may be on small scale or large scale. Before going
into a poultry business there are certain important factors which have to be
considered. These factors are:
·
Land requirement
·
The size of the enterprise
·
Housing and equipment
·
Source of your birds
·
Finance
·
Nutrition
·
Management
·
Record keeping
BROILERS TERMS:
•
Broiler: young birds grown for 51/2-
61/2 weeks.
•
Roaster: young birds grown similar to broiler,
but to a heavier weight.
•
Capon: castrated chicken male.
unique type of poultry meat: tender,
juicier, and flavorful.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD BROILER:
·
High body weight
·
Low food consumption
·
Shorter growing period
WHY BROILERS:
•
Need for affordable wholesome animal protein.
•
Economic importance & advantage of the
enterprise.
•
Use of unproductive land/property for economic
purpose.
•
Understanding your own reason for farming
broilers.
BROILER GROWING PROGRAM:
All-in all-out system
•
Breaks any cycle of an infectious disease.
•
Comfortable for the farmer.
Multiple Age Brooding
•
Growing without break.
FARM
LOCATION:
•
Well drained, dry, non-flooding well ventilated.
•
>500m from housing & industrial areas.
•
Access to water, electricity and transportation.
•
Safeguard against entry of unauthorized people.
DESIGN OF
BUILDING:
•Facing east-west direction. Closed housed system. Cement-rendered floors.
•Roofing material. Materials
used can be easily cleaned and durable.
•Designed to reduce heat stress.
Proper ventilation.
•Distance between flocks. Rodent
and bird proof.
SPACE
REQUIREMENT:
• 0.75 to 1 square foot per
bird.
•Allow extra 1.5-4 inch per
bird if using trough feeders or drinkers.
•Allow extra 1-2.75 inches per
bird if using circular feeders or drinkers.
REDUCING
FLOOR SPACE WILL:
•
Decrease
feed consumption & feed efficiency
•
Increase
the house ventilation requirement.
•
Increase
the incidence of breast blisters.
•
Increase
the percentage of birds with poor feathering.
•
Decrease
growth rate.
•
Increase
cannibalism.
•
Increase
mortality.
TYPE OF POULTRY HOUSE:
Open-sided house
•
Usually there are curtains (or shutter) that can be
rolled up and down on the sides of the building.
•
No light control.
Environmentally controlled
house
•
Light-proof (artificial
light is used)
•
Ventilation is by exhaust fans
EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED:
Brooding equipment or brooders, feeders , drinkers other small items include hoe ,bucket ,brooms ,feed scoop
QUALITIES
OF A GOOD LITTER:
•
Have a
medium particle size.
•
Be
highly absorbent.
•
Dry
rapidly.
•
Show low
thermal conductivity.
•
Be light
in weight, be soft and compressible.
•
Be
inexpensive.
•
Be
compatible when sold as fertilizer.
HUSBANDRY
PRACTICE:
High standard
of bird care.
•Breed - Receiving Day Old
Chick- Heating & lighting program .
•Ventilation, Feed, Water, Processing, Storage,
marketing, Personnel, Health, Diseases & Bio-security.
BREEDS:
Not really breeds but hybrids of
many different breeds.
Producers select the characteristic
that is most suitable.
•Faster & larger growth- Large
breast meat.
•Efficient feed conversion -Disease
resistance.
WHERE YOU
BUY CHICKS (DOC):
•
Well
managed farm/hatchery (Salmonella free)- DOC from same parent flock.
•
Which
strain of broilers will be most profitable?- What is the breed/flock of origin.
•
What is
the breeder or hatchery disease- control program?
•
What
quality of chicks will be delivered? -What is the chick size/weight?
•
Are the
chicks uniform in size/weight? Are the chicks to be sexed?
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
·
Which strain of broilers will be most
profitable?
·
What Vaccination program have the breeders
undergone?. What is the breeder or hatchery disease-control program?
·
What quality of chicks will be delivered?
·
What is the chick size?
·
Is there need for vaccinating at the hatchery?
·
Are the chicks to be sexed?
PREPARING
FOR THE CHICKS:
•
Remove
all old litter. Clean and scrub the house. Clean/disinfect equipment .
•
Fumigate
the house and equipment (formaldehyde). Treat dirt floors.
•
Clean the
ground (burn feathers; mow the grass, road repair).
•
New
litter.
THINGS TO FOCUS ON :
Water, temperature,
lighting, feeding, ventilation
BROODING:
• Brooding areas must be cleaned & disinfected.
Temperature maintained 4-6 hrs before chicks
arrive at 35 degrees.
• Provide 1 square feet per chick.
• Cover floor with about 4-6inch dry litter.
• Place feed & water around brooder.
WHEN THE
CHICKS ARRIVE:
•Early
care is essential, There is nothing like a good start.
•Drop the chicks near the brooder
heat and the water points.
OPEN
DRINKING SYSTEMS:
- Up to seven days, the top lip of the drinker should be set at the height of the average birds back.
•
After 7
days of age, the drinkers should be raised to a level where the bottom of the
drinker is even with the average bird's back.
•
This
will help to minimize water spillage and maintain litter quality.
FEEDS:
•
Cover 30% of the floor area with paper
Distribute feed evenly on the paper, allowing 50g –70g per bird (3 days supply)
Distribute feed evenly on the paper, allowing 50g –70g per bird (3 days supply)
•
Tip the chicks onto the feed on the paper, rather than
leaving them to find the feed themselves.
•
Make sure the feed form is suitable (not big particles)
LIGHT
MANAGEMENT FOR BROILER:
INTENSITY:
•The amount of light for a
growing broiler is only that amount necessary to enable the birds to move around
and to see feeders and drinkers.
•Higher intensity might induce
cannibalism.
•The first day the chicks need
24hrs of light & reduced gradually until 18hrs min.
•Best to follow recommendations
of broiler breed supplier with adjustments for weight (both too high or too
low) and for weather conditions.
•Important to provide at least
one hour of darkness.
FEED AND
WATER:
Poor feed quality will result in an unbalanced
diet and affect uniformity, growth, health.
A good feed is only as good as
each of its ingredients.
Correct size and mix are
important.
Good nutrition for health.
Purchase from approved suppliers.
Regular feeding is essential.
Provide clean water ad libitum.
PREVENT
FEED WASTAGE:
From 114g to 227g of feed per birds can be wasted during 7 weeks. (3-6%
of the total feed).
Keep the feed level low in all feeders
•
If the feeders are 2/3 full = 10% wasted.
•
If the feeders are1/2 full = 3% wasted.
•
When less than 1/3 full = about 1% wasted.
UNIFORMITY:
•Measure of variability of bird size in a flock.
•Percentage of birds that fall
10% of flock average weight.
•Acceptable uniformity is where
75% birds are within 10% average weight.
LACK OF
UNIFORMITY:
•Males grow faster &
convert feed to meat more efficiently than females.
•Weekly increase in weight is
not uniform.
•Weekly feed consumption
increases as weight increases.
•Early dehydration.
•Improper brooding temperatures
- Overcrowding
•Lack of ventilation - Insufficient
feed & water space-Feed & water quality.
•Diseases- Poor sanitation,
disinfection, ,biosecurity- Improper vaccination.
PERSONNEL:
Knowledgeable & well trained- Wear protective clothing .
Knowledgeable & well trained- Wear protective clothing .
Activities consistent & schedule- Minimize movement of equipment.
Provide sanitary
facilities.
HEALTH
& DISEASES:
HEALTH
PROGRAM
1. Prevent disease outbreak 2. Flocks observed twice daily
3. Sick treated & dead
removed 4. Minimize wild birds, rodent, reptile
5. Abnormal mortality to be
diagnosed 6. Consult vets for disease
control program
7. Use approved vaccines, drugs.
“N E V E R S E L F
M E D I C A T E”
GOOD HEALTH PROGRAM:
1. Biosecurity 2.
Vaccination 3. Medication
DISEASE ROUTE
Droppings (Urine) Discharges Semen
(vaginal juices)
Egg Blood
Mouth (ingested) Nose (inhaled) Mating
or AI
Via
egg (day old) Wound or
skin break
BIOSECURITY:
Prevent
disease getting into farm, & its spread between units
•Control access, fence, pets,
•All-in all-out system.
•Clean & Disinfect
vehicles, crates, equipments.
•Location of feed mill, shared
labor , soiled crates, equipment etc
•Traffic control
FARM WASTE
MANAGEMENT:
•Practice good waste management
program to ensure no perceptible odour and fly problems such as litter,
droppings, dead birds
•Hygienic disposal of dead birds
PROCESSING
& MARKETING:
•With sound management you
should harvest you flock from 6 weeks.
•Withdraw feed for 4-6hrs
before harvest.
•Birds can be sold live or
processed further.
•Birds are stored as ‘dressed
frozen’.
•Marketing is mainly done at
festive periods.
•You can generate market in
fast foods, restaurants and hotels.
•You can organize your market
to supply at regular intervals.
RECORD
SYSTEMS: – Success to Production
RECORD
& ANALYZE DATA -
Feed consumption, growth, egg production, egg quality, egg size, mortality,
health, feed, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, sales, hen-day, hen house
performance.
PROCESSING
& MARKETING:
Egg production involves the use of good layer birds for
the purpose of table egg production. The eggs are sold off fresh to the public
while the layers, which are no longer laying well (spent layers) are culled off
from the farm. Broiler production involves the keeping of the chickens of heavy
meat breeds for the purpose of getting good quality meat products usually sold
live or processed at 6 - 10 weeks of age.
Poultry are good converter of
feed to egg and meat within a short period of time. In the nutritive value,
poultry egg rank second to cow milk. Agriculturists and nutritionists have
generally agreed that developing the poultry industry in Nigeria is the
fastest means of bridging the protein deficiency gap presently prevailing in
the country. It is also a promising source of additional income and quick
returns from investment.
•
With sound management you should harvest your flock
from 6 weeks.
•
Withdraw feed for 4-6hrs before harvest.
•
Birds can be sold live or processed further.
•
Birds are stored as ‘dressed
frozen’.
•
Live bird marketing is mainly done at festive periods.
•
You can generate market in fast foods, restaurants and
hotels.
•
You can organize your market to supply at regular
intervals.
COSTING:
Poultry production has developed and occupies a place of
pride among the livestock enterprises due to its rapid monetary turnover. This
single reason, among others has made the enterprises attractive and popular
among small, medium, as well as large scale enterprises. The poultry industry
has become a diverse industry with a variety of business interests such as egg
production, broiler production, hatchery, and poultry equipment.
Poultry can be established with a minimum cost and as a
side project in addition to other businesses.
For industrial poultry birds to express their full genetic
potential, certain basic requirements must be provided. These include
environment, good management, balanced ration and adequate housing. These
facilities can be provided through adequate capital base, which is most of the
time lacking in Nigeria.
High cost of feeds, poor quality of day old chick (DOC), inadequate extension
and training facilities has been the bane to commercial poultry production in Nigeria. These
problems associated with commercial poultry production make poultry farming in Nigeria popular
and highly profitable for investors that overcome the hindrances outlined
above.
Families maintain bulk of poultry in Nigeria under
low input, extensive system.
For family poultry production to grow in a sustainable
manner, the present level of technical efficiency and productivity must be
improved upon.
Technical efficiency implies ability to produce maximum
output from a given set of input, given the available technology.
The project outlined below has the level of technical
efficiency that will render it highly profitable.
This study relates to a proposed production of the
following poultry products:
•
(a) Commercial
table egg
•
(b) Spent
layers
•
(c) Broilers
•
(d) Poultry
manure
BENEFITS:
Provisions of employment for some Nigerians
Increase in the income of the promoter
Improvement in supply of raw material and food for
companies and man respectively, in the state and the country in general.
COST ESTIMATE FOR RAISING 200 Nos BROILERS FROM
DAY-OLD-CHICK TO TABLE SIZE BIRDSEVERY 8 WEEKS.
1. Purchase
of 200 DOC @ N200.00 each = N40,000.00
2. Purchase
of 1.5kg broiler starter/bird @ N65/kg = N19,500.00
3. Purchase
of 2.5kg broiler Finisher/bird @N60/kg = N30,000.00
4. Brooding
cost @ N20/bird = N4,000.00
5. Labor
cost @ N20/bird/month x 2 months = N8,000.00
Medication/Vaccination
- Antibiotics = N400.00
- Infectious
Bursal Disease Vaccine = N600.00
- New Castle Disease
Vaccine = N300.00
- Dewormer
= N300.00
- Contingency
(Disinfectants) = N400.00
Sub-total = N103,500.00
Assuming 5% mortality over 2 month period =190 nos of
table size broilers will be harvested. Therefore cost of production per broiler
= N544.00 each (i.e
N3,103,500.00 divided by 190 broiler).
ESTIMATED INCOME OF KEEPING 200 Nos BROILERS FOR 2
MONTHS.
1. Sales of 190 dressed broilers weighing an average
of 1.5kg
per dressed broiler @ N500.00 per kg = N142,500.00
2. Sales of 32 used feed sacks @ N5.00 each = N160.00
3. Sales Poultry manure @ N200.00/month x 2 months = N400.00
4. Sales of chicken legs and heads at N10.00 per unit
x 190 units = N1,900.00
5. Sales of gizzards @ N10.00/unit x 190 units =
N1,900.00
SUB – TOTAL = N146,860.00
ESTIMATED PROFIT FOR KEEPING 200 Nos BROILERS FOR
2 MONTHS.
1. Total sales of dressed broiler meat, gizzards,
heads, legs and manure=
N146,860.00
2. Less cost of raising 200 Nos DOC broiler from DOC
to table size = N103,500.00
Estimated
profit N43,360.00.
NOTE:
Assuming a 4-cycle production every 12 months, the
above profit should be multiplied by 4.
HOUSING cost
is N40,000.00 amortized over a four year period including feeders and drinkers.
MANAGING
LAYERS:
The Replacement Pullet See
introductory notes on BROILERS
FLOOR
SPACE PER POULTRY:
•
What is
the least amount of floor space necessary per bird to produce the greatest
return on investment?
•
Poultry need more floor space in hot weather
than in cold.
•
The more you crowd birds. The poorer the
results.
•
As density of birds is increased until some
limit, you maximize potential from the house.
SPACE
REQUIREMENT:
•
1.5 to 2 square
feet per light breed.
•
2.5 to 3 square
feet per heavy breed.
•
Allow extra
1.5-4 inch per bird, if using trough feeders or drinkers .
•
Allow extra
1-2.75 inches per bird, if using circular feeders or drinkers .
Floor Rearing
Floor space 12
birds/meter²
Feeder space 8cm/bird
1pan/20birds
Water space
Trough 2.5 cm/bird
cup
or nipple 1per 8 birds
Fountain 1per 50 birds
REDUCING THE FLOOR SPACE/BIRD WILL:
•
Decrease
feed consumption & feed efficiency.
•
Increase
the house ventilation requirement.
•
Increase
the incidence of egg breakages.
•
Increase
the percentage of birds with poor feathering.
•
Decrease
growth rate, Increase cannibalism, Increase
mortality.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD LITTER:
•
Have a
medium particle size. Be highly absorbent. Dry rapidly.
•
Show low
thermal conductivity .Be light in weight .Be
soft and compressible
•
Be
inexpensive, Be compatible when sold as fertilizer.
HUSBANDRY
PRACTICE:
High standard
of bird care
•Breed, Receiving Day Old Chick,
Heating & lighting program.
•Ventilation, Feed & Water, Personnel.
•Health & Diseases- Biosecurity.
BREEDS:
•Genetically developed to
satisfy the best attributes intended, particularly selected for high egg
productivity.
•There are white shelled egg
& brown shelled egg producers.
•Farmer select the
characteristic that is most suitable for his purpose.
•Examples: Egg laying stock
Meat
type stock
Dual
purpose stock
WHEN YOU
BUY CHICKS?
•
Well
managed farm/hatchery (Salmonella free).
•
DOC from
same parent flock.
•
Which
strain of pullets will be most profitable?
•
What is
the breed/flock of origin.
•
What is
the breeder or hatchery disease-control program?
•
What
quality of chicks will be delivered?
•
What is
the chick size/weight?
•
Are the
chicks uniform in size/weight?
•
Are the
chicks sexed?
Preparing for the
chicks =Same as above=
BROODING:
§
Brooding
areas cleaned & disinfected.
§
Temperature maintained 4-6 hrs before chicks
arrive at 35 degrees.
§
Provide
1 square feet per chick.
§
Cover
floor with about 4-6inch dry litter.
§
Place
feed & water around brooder.
WHEN THE
CHICKS ARRIVE:
§
Early care is essential, There is nothing
like a good start.
§
Drop the chicks near the brooder heat and the
water founts.
Open Drinking
Systems =same=
LIGHT MANAGEMENT:
§
The aim of light management is to control the
light absorbance of the pullet in order to fulfill her laying production
potential as a mature hen.
§
Light (natural or artificial) not only makes it
easier for the birds to see, eat, and drink, but it also affects the pituitary
gland and this stimulation causes mature pullets to begin the production of
eggs.
PHOTOPERIOD & INTENSITY:
§
At the first week give 20-22 hours of light.
§
Then set the hours of light to 12 hours, or
according to the length of light at the growing period.
§
Minimum light intensity required for proper
sight and eating is 2.5 lux.
§
Recommended light intensity for rearing pullets
is 10 lux.
§
Minimum light intensity range required for
proper maturation is 5-10 lux.
RECOMMENDED BULB TYPE:
§
Fluorescent type recommended in open houses:
“Day Light”
“Warm White”
“Day Light”
“Warm White”
§
Recommended light color in closed houses: Green
FEED AND
WATER:
- Poor feed quality will result in an unbalanced diet and affect uniformity, growth, health & production.
- A good feed is only as good as each of its ingredient.
- Feed constitute about 70% cost of raising poultry.
- Correct size and mix are important .
- Good nutrition for health.
- Purchase from approved suppliers.
- Regular feeding is essential.
- 0-10 weeks, birds are fed chick mash ‘ad lib’.
- 10-Point of lay (POL), rationing of grower mash.
- At POL, grower + layer mash until 5% reached.
- Continue with rationing of layer mash.
- Water ad libitum .
- It should be cool, clean & fresh at all times.
Prevent feed wastage =same=
UNIFORMITY:
§
Measure of variability of bird size in a flock
§
Percentage of birds that fall 10% of flock
average weight
§
Acceptable uniformity is where 75% birds are
within 10% average weight
LACK OF UNIFORMITY:
§
Small pullets depressed by bigger (dominant)
birds hence poor performance.
§
Difficult to give the proper feed, Cannibalism, Lack
of ventilation.
§
Insufficient feed & water space, Feed, water
quality and diseases.
§
Poor sanitation, disinfection, bio-security and
improper vaccination.
PREPARING
FOR THE PULLETS:
•
Remove
all old litter.
•
Clean
and scrub the house and the equipment.
•
Clean
the water system (drinkers and tanks).
•
Check
the automatic systems, light system, and water.
STOCK DENSITY OF REPLACEMENT PULLETS:
§
12 pullets per m². .
§
Cage Rearing:
Feeder
space 5cm/bird
Water space
Trough 2.5 cm/bird
Cup or nipple 1 per 8 birds
§
Live weight (about 1.8kg) in cages
350 cm² - Minimum
350 cm² - Minimum
450
cm² - OK
>550
cm² - Good welfare
HIGH DENSITY OF LAYERS IN CAGES:
Overcrowding:
§
Shortage
of feeder and/or drinker space.
§
Improper
climate control.
§
Improper
light location.
§
Sudden
panic; solution: partitions, rounding
off house corners
§
Increases
mortality.
§
Decreases
hen-housed egg production.
§
Decreases
hen-day egg production.
§
Reduces
eggshell quality.
§
Reduces
net profit per bird.
§
May
reduce total farm income.
LIGHTING
MANAGEMENT:
•
Laying
hen should be grown with:
Increasing
light.
Constant
light .
•
Never on decreasing light!!
a. When pullets are at point of lay day length
should never decreases artificially.
b. The threshold is 12 hr.
c. Increase ½ hr each week till 16 hr.
d. Stay at 16 hours during laying period.
TYPE OF LIGHT:
Incandescent
•
Cheapest to
install.
•
Low light
efficiency.
•
Necessitates
reflectors.
•
Short bulb
life: 750 to1000 hours.
Fluorescent
•
3 to 4 times
the efficiency of incandescent light.
•
Much higher
light level for power used.
•
Fluorescent
installation is more expensive.
•
than
incandescent .
•
10 x longer
life than incandescent bulbs.
Intensity
Laying hens
need at least 10 lux = 1 foot candle.
Light
Spectrum
•
Red light stimulates egg production.
•
Day light.
•
Warm white.
•
Cool white.
PERSONNEL:
Knowledgeable & trained
Knowledgeable & trained
Wear uniform clothing.
Activities consistent & schedule.
•Minimize movement of equipment.
•Provide
sanitary facilities.
HEALTH
& DISEASES :
Health program
•
Prevent
disease outbreak.
•
Flocks
observed twice daily.
•
Sick treated
& dead removed.
•
Minimize wild
birds, rodent, reptile.
•
Abnormal
mortality to be diagnosed.
•
Consult vets for disease control program.
•
Use approved
vaccines, drugs.
“NEVER SELF MEDICATE”
Diseases
•
Bacterial: Fowl
typhoid Fowl
cholera
Enteritis/colibacillosis Infectious coryza
•
Viral: Newcastle Avian influenza Egg drop syndrome
Fowlpox Infectious bronchitis Gumboro
Mareks Infectious laryngotracheitis
•
Fungal: Thrush Chronic respiratory
disease
•
Nutritional: Vitamin
deficiencies
Protein
,,
Energy
,,
•
Parasitic: Endoparasite
-Coccidiosis
-Histomoniasis
Ectoparasite
-Lice
-Mite
-Ticks
Good health program
Biosecurity Vaccination Medication
Disease Route
•
live bird: feces (Urine), Discharges- Semen (vaginal
juices)
Eggs, Blood
Mouth (digested) Nose (inhaled) Mating or AI Via egg (day old) Wound or skin break
BIOSECURITY:
•
Prevent
disease getting into farm, & its spread between units
•
Control
access, fence, pets,
•
All-in all-out
system.
•
Clean &
Disinfect vehicles, crates, equipments.
•
Location of
feed mill, shared labor, soiled crates, equipment etc
•
Traffic
control .
FARM WASTE
MANAGEMENT:
- Practice good waste management program to ensure no perceptible odour and fly problem e.g. litter, droppings, dead birds.
- Hygienic disposal of dead birds.
RECORD
SYSTEMS – Success to Production
RECORD & ANALYZE DATA -
Feed
consumption, growth, egg production, egg
quality, egg
size, mortality,
health record, feed,
weight gain, feed
conversion ratio, sale,
hen-day
hen house performance
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