Rearing guide for broilers

SélectionAvicole de laSarthe et du Sud Ouest

Breeding centre in Sabres, in the Landes forest, Ga scony, France

Objective: Genetic selection and controlled sanitary quality t o serve

the poultry industry

Poultry breeders serving the industry

SABRES

•Head Office

• Design - Selection -Reproduction

SOULITRE

• Reproduction - Exports

Poultry breeders serving the industry

2. Before the chicks arrive

4. Starting chicks

5. Managing growth

6. Removal of poultry

7. Equipment maintenance

8. Conclusion.

3. Delivery and reception of chicks

- Rearing techniques

Plan

1. Sanitary rules

Factors which contribute to successful rearing:

• the design of the production site,

• the quality and upkeep of the shed,

• the quality and upkeep of the surrounding area.

An enclosed site with a single entrance:

• Controlling flows of people, materials, equipment a nd

consumables,

• Controlling the flows of birds and consumables,

• Restricting unwarranted access.

Sanitary rules

Successfully rearing a flock of chickens starts right from the

departure of the previous flock and depends in partic ular on the

quality of the following:

• Cleaning (elimination of 80 - 90% of bacteria),

• Disinfection,

• Extermination of insects and rats

• Implementation of sanitary barriers,

• The quality of the sanitary separation,

• Shed preparation: litter, heating, lighting, drinki ng and feeding

points,

• Proper heating of the shed.

Before the chicks arrive

Quality of the delivery: the hatchery

• Hatching time / delivery time,

• Storage conditions,

• Loading conditions,

• Departure time from the hatchery / delivery time.

Delivery and reception of chicks

Quality of the delivery: transport

• Quality of transport (truck, driver, road),

• Weather conditions,

• Number of deliveries,

• Arrival time at the farm / time at which chicks are installed.

Quality of the delivery

• Compliance with health rules,

• Time taken to carry out delivery,

• Compliance with temperatures (Care must be taken to avoid

sudden cold or sudden heat!!!)

Delivery and reception of chicks

To be carried out on delivery

• Sample of chicks from the truck for bacteriological analysis,

• Counting the number of crates,

• Counting the number of chicks in some boxes

Assessment of the delivery: physical qualities

• Death ratio,

• Dry, silky, homogenous down,

• Warm shanks, beak not open,

• Umbilicus well healed, no swelling in the abdomen,

• Hardy chicks, keen eyes, good stance.

Delivery and reception of chicks

Assessment of the delivery: chicks' weight

• Individual weighing of 50 chicks at random

• Checking uniformity.

This is linked to the original grading of the birds and the age of

the breeders.

For a good start

• Good shed preparation,

• Good chicks,

• Good delivery conditions.

Summary...

Objectives

1. Water supply

2. Swift feeding

In well-lit areas with a comfortable temperature.

A good start is 50% of the answer for a successful flock.

Achieving these objectives depends on

• The equipment,

• The farmer,

These objectives serve good feather growth, uniform ity, stress resistance

Starting chicks

Chicks' main priority needs

• Litter,

• Temperature,

• Lighting,

• Water,

• Feed

Starting chicks

Composition of the litter

• Use:

∆ crushed straw

∆ untreated wood shavings

∆ a combination of both

• Do not use:

∆ long straw

∆ sawdust

∆ softwood or untreated wood

shavings

Litter

Characteristics of good litter

• Dry

• Healthy

• Soft

• Not liable to ferment

• Thick

• Regularly maintained

Drop in profitability

Dirty, hard, encrusted litter

Dirty, encrusted shanks

Cracked foot padsPenetration of

infectious agentsWalking difficulties

Arthritis -

Dermatitis

Inactive, sitting birds (drop in consumption)

Diminished growth and

performance

Presence of defects on carcasses

(slaughterhouse rejects)

Drop in profitability

Litter

A) Heat the shed 48 - 72 hours before the arrival of the chicks, ventilating it

slightly,

• to avoid a concentration of CO and CO2 which would be harmful to the farmer

and the birds.

• to heat the litter (conduction loss).

• to get rid of residue of disinfectant products.

B) Crop and cold shank test:

• 3 hours after arrival, 98% of chicks must have a fu ll crop and warm shanks.

C) Crop and cold shank test at research station 3 h ours after arrival of

chicks: Heating time prior to arrival

litter T, °C

% with full crop

% cold shanks

2 hours 18° 65% 90%

18 hours 26° 96% 2%

Temperature

Local heating

Age, days Beneath radiant heater

Living area

1-3 36-38 28-30

4-7 33-36 27-28

8-14 30-33 25-27

15-21 28-31 24-26

22-28 22-24

28-35 20-22

35+ 18-20 Reference temperature

Temperature

Observation of the birds is of prime importance

C) Adjusting local radiant heaters for starters

Observation of the birds is of prime importance

Too cold

Heat unevenly

distributed or draught

Too hot

Right heat

Temperature

D) Avoid differences in temperature whenever possib le

E) Never dismantle the heating system before the de parture of the

last chicken

F) Favour ventilation

• to get rid of humidity and harmful gases to heat th e litter

(conduction loss)

• to renew the oxygen

G) Use radiant heaters to maintain the temperature in the shed

H) In very hot weather, turn off the heating during the hottest part

of the day and switch back on as soon as necessary.

Temperature

A) For the first few days, maintain strong light in tensity: 30 - 40 lux

B) Decrease progressively to 5 - 10 lux.

High intensity ���� increased food intake, but may cause nervousness.

C) Avoid direct sunlight and car headlights whereve r possible.

D) Open hatches before sunrise in winter. In summer , if consumption needs to

be stimulated, wait until 8 or 8.30am.

Lighting

E) Recommended length of lighting for starters

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25

age (days)

light

ing

dura

tion

(hou

rs)

Natural light

F) Low weight or problem of under-consumption

progressive lighting during the night (the coolest hours during the summer)

Lighting

How the chicks are standing is closely related to t he

following:

• Good or bad adjustment of heating,

• Poor light distribution,

• Presence of draughts,

• Number and distribution of water and feed points

Summary...

Lighting is a physiological stimulant for birds:

• Drinking,

• Eating,

• Warming,

• Interacting, situating themselves, moving around, e tc.

Feed and Water supply

Feed and water supply points

• Compliance with technical standards,

• Clean,

• In sufficient quantity,

• Accessible,

• Well-distributed.

A) One 5 000 Watt radiant heater for 1000 birds

B) One 600mm tray for 100 birds.

C) One or two strips of paper covering the entire

length of the shed for the first 24 hours.

Objective: help them to find the water and feed.

D) Feeding trough: 3cm per bird

E) Drinking troughs:

• mini drink bowls or drinkers: 1 per 100 birds

• circular: 1 per 60 birds• pipette: 60 per 1000 birds

Standards

Always refer to manufacturer's

information

Feed and Water supply

Feed:

• 4 hours before the chicks arrive;

∆ In the starting area, distribute a ration of feed e quivalent to 2

hours' worth of consumption. The aim is to have fre sh feed

consumed and to distribute it several times during the first

few days to avoid food sorting, waste and to stimul ate the

appetite.

∆ Distribute a little feed on the starter paper aroun d the feeding

trays (the chicks will find this feed more easily a nd will get

used to eating the feed and water placed close by.

Water supply:

• 2 hours maximum before the chicks arrive, place wat er in the

drinkers in the starting area so that it will be at ambient

temperature when they arrive.

Empty crop, No appetite – Why?

• Too much or too little heat,

• Too few water or feed points,

• Unsuitable, insufficient, poorly distributed, inacc essible

equipment,

• Poor lighting,

• Poor litter,

• Too high density,

• Sick, stressed chicks,

• Water quality,

• Feed quality.

Chicks' main priority needs

Cold shanks – Why?

• Transport and unloading conditions,

• Cold, damp floor,

• Cold, shallow litter,

• Insufficient heating time,

• Whole straw,

• Poor weatherproofing,

• Cold environment: temperature too low,

• Cold walls,

• Doors opened unnecessarily,

• Insufficient general insulation.

Chicks' main priority needs

Consequences of cold shanks and empty crops:

• Delayed growth

• Health problems,

• Food sorting

• Increased death ratio,

• Heterogeneity,

• Deterioration of living conditions,

• Pecking

• Difficulty in rearing the batch up to slaughter

Chicks' main priority needs

First few hours:

• Observe the birds (behaviour, distribution), the di stribution of the

chicks must be as uniform as possible in the starti ng area. They

must be active and consume the water and feed provi ded for them.

• Check the temperature at different points in the li ving area, adjust

the temperature, adjust the height of the radiant h eaters according to

the behaviour and distribution.

• Renew feed,

• Change the water in the starter drinkers,

• Test crops and shanks.

Work to be doneWork to be done

Starting chicks

The diagram below shows the different aspects contr ibuting to thThe diagram below shows the different aspects contr ibuting to th e e

wellbeing of the chicks.wellbeing of the chicks.

Aspects contributing to the atmosphere and comfort of the birds in a breeding shed.

• Remove dead, sick and weak chicks,

• Renew water and feed,

• Clean the drinking and feeding troughs (straw),

• Adjust lighting.

First few days:First few days:

• Visit the shed 5 - 6 times each day,

• Check the shed environment,

Aspects contributing to the atmosphere and comfort of the birds in a breeding shed.

• Remove dead, sick and weak chicks,

• Renew water and feed,

• Clean the drinking and feeding troughs (straw),

• Adjust lighting.

A good start is the guarantee of a successful batch :

• Attentive, stringent care,

• Compliance with equipment standards,

• Progressive transition in equipment,

• Extensive observation.

Summary...

SlaughterStarting

Decisive periodDecisive period

Delivery

Feed = 65% of a chicken's cost price

• Plate row height (adjusted by winch):

With respect to the bird's crop

• Height of food on the plates (to combat waste):

1/3 - 1/4 height depending on the plate

• Empty the chains as often as possible to avoid sort ing of food and

creating dietary imbalance.

• Compliance with the feeding plan:

∆ Starting,

∆ Growth,

∆ Finishing,

∆ Withdrawal (without coccidiostats)

Managing growth

Water = 70% of the bird's body composition

• Height of hanging drinking troughs (adjusted by win ch):

With respect to the bird's back

• Height of pipette racks (adjusted by winch):

"Extended neck" position

• Gradual lowering of water height in the drinking tr ough:

1cm after 15 days

Or

Gradual increase in pressure in the pipettes

Managing growth

A) Weighing the birds:

• For this check to be effective, weighing must take place on the day the

chicks arrive, and at the same time each week.

• a representative sample: minimum of 50 subjects per shed.

B) Note on the growth curve

C) Calculate the DWG.

D) A few details:

• Take a sample of birds and weigh the entire sample. Also weigh sexes

separately as soon as possible.

• Do not distress the birds.

Managing growth

Checking birds' growth

Managing growth

Growth curve (see www.sasso.fr)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 91

Age (days)

Wei

ght (

gram

mes

)

Weight (both sexes) Weight (males) Weight (females)

Watch out for:

• Birds with ruffled feathers,

• Birds with dirty feathers,

• Dirty shanks,

• Irritated shanks

• Open beaks,

• Pecking,

• Unoccupied areas,

• Inactivity.

Managing growth

Key indicators for farmers:

• Water consumption,

• Feed consumption,

• Distribution and behaviour of birds,

• Feathers, shanks,

• Droppings,

• Litter,

• Environment (ammonia).

Summary...

Successful rearing depends on knowledge and applica tion of standards.

Take care not to compromise the result of the batch !!

Watch out for:

• Downgrading and rejects: scratches, bruising, fract ures,

• Smothering due to overcrowding:

∆ Restricted used of lighting,

∆ Encourage quiet

Removal

Equipment maintenance

• Regularly check good working order:

- Before installing each batch and several times during the rearing period:

∆ Timer∆ Thermostat (place a thermometer on each sensor to

check they are in good working order)∆ Automated functions∆ Heating∆ Feeder chains∆ Water supply∆ Alarms∆ Weighing equipment

фFeed, bird weighing scales

Keep an inspection and equipment maintenance log up to date.

Conclusion:

The information supplied in this farmers' guide is vital to the expression of the genetic potential of Sasso strain s.

However, the farmer plays a significant role in the suc cess of rearing broilers: they must be:

- motivated- available - work methodically- observant- know how to keep things properly controlled- have a sense of hygiene.

Sasso remains at your disposal for training in rearing and to help improve your technical and economic results.

Thank you for your attention

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