BROILER MANAGEMENT

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BROILER MANAGEMENT

• JIRAWAT SEETHAO
• CPF Thailand
• (For Indonesia)

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Back To The Basic

• Houses Preparation and Biosecurity
• Chick Quality and Transportation
• Feed Quality and Feeder
• Water Quality and Drinker
• Management and Knowledge
• Good Production

3
CHICK QUALITY

• Broiler placements should be planned to ensure
• ? Differences in age and/or immune
  status of parent flocks are minimized.
• One parent flock per broiler flock is the ideal.
• For large farm complexes, one production house
  could be considered to be one flock.

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PREPARATION FOR CHICK ARRIVAL

• Litter material should be spread evenly to a
  depth of 34 in (7.510 cm) and then levelled and
  compacted in the brooding area.
• The necessary equipment must be assembled in
  the appropriate configuration.

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PREPARATION FOR CHICK ARRIVAL

• Equipment in the house (i.e., feeders,
  drinkers, heaters and fans) should be arranged to
  allow chicks to maintain body temperature without
  dehydration and to find feed and water easily.
• Configuration will depend on the brooding
  system and on other equipment being used.

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PREPARATION FOR CHICK ARRIVAL

• Supplementary feeders and drinkers shouldbe
  placed in close proximity to the main systems.

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PREPARATION FOR CHICK ARRIVAL

• Houses should be pre-heated for a sufficient
  period to achieve target house and litter
  temperatures prior to chick arrival.
• Temperature should be monitored regularly to
  ensure a uniform environment exists throughout
  the whole brooding area.

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WATER AND FEED
9
WATER AND FEED

• Prior to chick delivery, a final check must be
  made of feed and water availability and
  distribution within the house.

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WATER AND FEED

• Drinker lines should be flushed and sanitized
  prior to bird arrival.
• The water quality, purity, and temperature must
  be checked in advance.
• Water should be within the correct temperature
  range (6575ºF 1824ºC).

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WATER AND FEED

• Contaminated water can spread disease and cause
  diarrhea, leading to dehydration and death in
  younger flocks.
• All chicks must be able to eat and drink
  immediately on placement in the house.

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WATER AND FEED

• Ideally, the chicks should be placed at the farm
  and provided water and feed in less than 8 hours
  from time of hatch.
• Longer delays could lead to dehydration and
  chick weight shrinkage.

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WATER AND FEED

• If the chicks have been in transport for a long
  period (3 hrs. up), providing water for the first
  3 or 4 hours, and then providing feed is
  suggested.
• It is imperative that chicks be encouraged to
  consume water as soon as possible.

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WATER AND FEED

• add some sort of sweetener substance, like
  sugar to the water (4 solution) for the first
  few hours of life.
• The sugar helps to replenish the depleted energy
  in the chicks, and may stimulate the chicks to
  consume feed.

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WATER AND FEED

• The sweet water can also may loosen up the
  impacted intestine and prepare the gut linings
  for the incoming feed.
• After the addition of sugar, it is recommended to
  add a vitamin supplement to the water for the
  first three days of life, to boost the chicks'
  vitality.

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WATER AND FEED

• With the exception of water vaccination time,
  drinking water must be adequately chlorinated.
• The chlorine level at the drinker level should be
  
• 1PPM-nipple drinkers,
• 2PPM-plasson drinkers, and
• 3PPM-trough drinkers

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WATER AND FEED

• A newly hatched chick is 85 water. When 10 of
  this water is lost, it becomes a cull chick, and
  when there is 20 dehydration, the chick could
  die.
• It is important to hydrate the chick adequately
  and promptly.
• This will promote feed consumption and better
  body weights.

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WATER AND FEED

• If water and feed are consumed in sufficient
  amounts and correct brooding temperature and air
  quality are provided,
• A broiler chick should be able to quadruple(4x)
  the post-hatch body weight by seven days of
  age.

DOC 40g 7 Days160g
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WATER AND FEED

• To monitor if chicks are consuming adequate
  feed, it is recommended to select chicks and
  palpate their crops.
• The crops should be quite full.

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How to achieve 4x body weight

• 1 Proper Feed Allocation

X
X
OK
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How to achieve 4x body weight

• 2.Light Intensity at lease 20 lug at feeder level

X
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How to achieve 4x body weight

• 3. Water available all time

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How to achieve 4x body weight

• 4.Temperature adjust properly

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How to achieve 4x body weight

• 5.Ventilation

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WATER AND FEED

• If the crop feels half empty or empty,
• there must be something wrong in the management,
  and the above-discussed points must be reviewed
  very carefully.
• It is never too late to act and make
  corrections, but a problem must be detected
  before it can be corrected.

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WATER AND FEED

• Supplemental feeders should be filled and placed
  in the brooding area in a proper ratio (e.g. with
  box lids 1/100 chicks).

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• If the mixing of chicks from different age
  breeder flocks is unavoidable, chicks should be
  grouped by breeder age as much as possible
• Ensure light intensity and duration are set prior
  to chick arrival (2.5 foot candles / 25 lux 23
  hr).

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• Expected delivery time of chicks should be
  established so they may be unloaded and correctly
  placed as quickly as possible.

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• The longer chicks are in transport boxes, the
  greater the degree of dehydration.
• This may result in early mortality and reduced
  growth potential.

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Normal Mortality
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Dehydration Mortality
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CHICK PLACEMENT

• Chicks must be tipped quickly, gently and evenly
  over the brooding area.
• Empty boxes should be removed from the house as
  soon as possible.

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• Chicks should be left to settle for 12 hr to
  become accustomed to their new environment.
• After this time, a check should be made to see
  that all chicks have easy access to feed and
  water and that chicks are active.
• Adjustments should be made to equipment and
  temperatures where necessary.

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• These checks should be made every 46 hr after
  placement for the first 24 hr.
• From two to three days of age, existing feeders
  and drinkers should be repositioned and adjusted
  and additional ones introduced as the illuminated
  area is increased.

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• During the early brooding period, feed should be
  provided in crumble form on supplemental feeders
  (1/100 chicks) so chicks have easy access.

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CHICK PLACEMENT

• Mechanical feeders should also be charged before
  arrival.
• Remove 1/3 of the supplemental feeders on each of
  days 8, 9 and 10.
• Chicks should be gradually trained to the main
  feeding system within the first 10 days of
  placement.

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BROODING MANAGEMENT

• THE CRITICAL POINT

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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• The objective of proper brooding is to develop
  appetite as early as possible.
• Feed intake will be reduced if chicks are kept at
  temperatures greater than those appearing in
  Table 2.2

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BROODER MANAGEMENT (Ross2003)
Temperature at RH of 60. See also Table 2.3,
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BROODER MANAGEMENT
Check point 1 ft. from the edge
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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• Two basic practices for brooding broilers are
• Spot brooding
• Whole/partial house brooding
• Both systems are effective in getting chicks off
  to a good start if managed properly.

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Brooding
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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• Brooder guards may be employed to assist in
  controlling early chick movement.
• The contained area should be expanded from three
  days of age until finally removed by five to
  seven days.

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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• Chicks should be placed evenly throughout the
  brooding area.
• The use of stirring fans will enhance air quality
  and uniformity of temperature and RH.
• Refer to Figure 2.1 for typical spot brooding
  layout.

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BROODER MANAGEMENT
46
BROODER MANAGEMENT

• Heat is provided by conventional canopy
  brooders.
• For maximum effectiveness, brooder guards should
  be used to keep birds confined to the desired
  area of heat, feed and water.

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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• In spot brooding, a temperature gradient is
  provided ( Table 2.2 ).

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BROODER MANAGEMENT (Ross2003)
Temperature at RH of 60. See also Table 2.3,
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Arbor Acre
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AVIAN
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COBB 500 Brooding Temperature
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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• For whole/partial house brooding measured at feed
  and water sources
• For spot brooding, measured at brooder edge.
  Assumes RH of 60.
• Recommended temperatures will increase or
  decrease relative to ambient RH. See Table 2.3

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BROODER MANAGEMENT (Ross2003)
54
Ross 1999
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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• Chick behavior is the best indicator of correct
  brooder temperature.
• With spot brooding, correct temperature is
  indicated by chicks being evenly spread
  throughout the brooding area (Figure 2.2).

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BROODER MANAGEMENT
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BROODER MANAGEMENT

• As with spot brooding, chick behavior is the best
  indicator of temperature.

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VENTILATION
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VENTILATION

• Air quality is critical during the brooding
  period.
• Ventilation is required during the brooding
  period to maintain temperatures at the targeted
  level and to allow sufficient air exchange to
  prevent the accumulation of harmful gases such as
  carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia.

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Harmful Gas
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VENTILATION

• Establishing minimum ventilation rates from one
  day of age will ensure fresh air is supplied to
  chicks at frequent, regular intervals.
• Stirring fans can be used to maintain evenness
  of air quality at chick level.

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LIGHTING
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LIGHTING

• Historically, lighting programs have consisted of
  continuous light regimens to maximize daily
  weight gain.
• These regimens consist of a long continuous
  period of light, followed by a short dark period
  (e.g. 0.51 hr) to allow birds to become
  accustomed to darkness in the event of a power
  failure.

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LIGHTING

• Other lighting programs have been devised to
  modify growth, minimize FCR or reduce mortality.
• To stimulate early feed intake, any lighting
  program should provide a long day length (e.g. 23
  hr light) and adequate intensity for the first
  seven days.

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LIGHTING

• Light intensity at placement should be 22.5 foot
  candles (2025 lux) at the feeder level, then be
  gradually reduced so that by 28 days it is
  approximately 0.300.50 foot candles (35 lux).
• Light intensity should be uniform throughout the
  house.

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Lighting Program - AA
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AA Lighting Program
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AA PLUS
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Hubbard classic and Hi-Y
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MONITORING EARLY CHICK PERFORMANCE
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MONITORING EARLY CHICK PERFORMANCE

• As a result of continued genetic gains in growth
  rate, brooding has become an increasingly greater
  proportion of the life of the flock. In addition,

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MONITORING EARLY CHICK PERFORMANCE

• Seven-day body weight is highly correlated to
  market age weight.
• It is strongly recommended that a sample of each
  flock be weighed at seven days to evaluate growth
  performance against standards for the given
  product.

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MONITORING EARLY CHICK PERFORMANCE

• Scales used should be capable of weighing in 1 g
  increments.
• Minimum sample size should be 1 percent of the
  flock,
• With sampling done in at least three separate
  areas of the house.
• Refer to the attachments for product weight
  objectives.

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MONITORING EARLY CHICK PERFORMANCE

• A general rule of thumb would be a seven-day
  target of 4x dayold chick weight.
• Average weights below 130 g should prompt
  investigation as to causative reasons.
• Seven days weight below 1g release 6g at 42 days.

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RELATIVE HUMIDITY
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HUMIDITY

• Relative humidity (RH) in the hatcher, at the end
  of the incubation process will be high (approx.
  80 percent).
• Houses with whole house heating, especially
  where nipple drinkers are used, can have RH
  levels as low as 25 percent.

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HUMIDITY

• Houses with more conventional equipment (i.e.,
  spot brooders, which produce moisture as a
  byproduct of combustion and bell drinkers, which
  have open water surfaces) have a much higher RH
  (usually over 50 percent).

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HUMIDITY

• To limit the shock to the chicks of transfer from
  the incubator,
• RH levels in the first three days should be
  maintained near 70 percent.

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HUMIDITY

• RH within the broiler house should be monitored
  daily.
• If it falls below 50 percent in the first week,
  chicks will begin to dehydrate,
• Causing negative effects on performance.
• In such cases, action should be taken to
  increase RH.

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HUMIDITY

• If the house is fitted with high-pressure spray
  nozzles (i.e.,foggers) for cooling in high
  temperatures, then these can be used to increase
  RH during brooding.
• Chicks kept at appropriate humidity levels are
  less prone to dehydration and generally make a
  better, more uniform start.

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HUMIDITY

• As the chick grows, ideal RH falls.
• High RH from 18 days onward can cause wet litter
  and its associated problems.
• As broilers increase in live weight, RH levels
  can be controlled using ventilation and heating
  systems.

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INTERACTION BETWEENTEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

• Chickens lose heat to the environment by
  evaporation of moisture primarily from the
  respiratory tract.
• At high RH, less evaporative loss occurs
  increasing the birdsapparent temperature.
• The temperature experienced by the birds is
  dependent on the dry bulb temperature and RH.

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INTERACTION BETWEENTEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

• High RH increases the apparent temperature at a
  particular dry bulb temperature,
• Whereas low RH decreases apparent temperature.
• The temperature profile in Table 2.2, assumes RH
  in the range of 60 percent.

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Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation Heat Stress Index Calculation
Temperature RH RH RH RH RH RH RH RH RH RH RH RH RH
oC 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
35.0 37.2 38.9 40.6 42.8 45.0 47.8 50.6 53.3 56.7 60.0 63.9 67.8 71.7
34.4 36.1 37.8 39.4 41.1 43.3 45.6 48.3 51.1 53.9 57.2 60.6 64.4 68.3
33.9 35.0 36.7 38.3 40.0 41.7 43.9 46.7 48.9 51.7 54.4 57.8 61.1 65.0
33.3 34.4 35.6 37.2 38.3 40.6 42.2 44.4 46.7 49.4 52.2 55.0 58.3 61.7
32.8 33.3 34.4 36.1 37.2 38.9 40.6 42.8 45.0 47.2 50.0 52.2 55.6 58.3
32.2 32.8 33.3 35.0 36.1 37.8 39.4 41.1 42.8 45.0 47.2 50.0 52.8 55.6
31.7 31.7 32.8 33.9 35.0 36.1 37.8 39.4 41.1 43.3 45.0 47.2 50.0 52.2
31.1 31.1 31.7 32.8 33.9 35.0 36.7 37.8 39.4 41.1 43.3 45.0 47.2 49.4
30.6 30.6 31.1 31.7 32.8 33.9 35.0 36.7 37.8 39.4 41.1 42.8 45.0 46.7
30.0 29.4 30.6 31.1 31.7 32.8 33.9 35.0 36.1 37.8 38.9 40.6 42.2 44.4
29.4 28.9 29.4 30.0 31.1 31.7 32.8 33.9 35.0 36.1 37.2 38.9 40.0 41.7
28.9 28.3 28.9 29.4 30.0 31.1 31.7 32.2 33.3 34.4 35.6 36.7 37.8 39.4
28.3 27.8 28.3 28.9 29.4 30.0 30.6 31.1 31.7 32.8 33.9 35.0 36.1 37.2
27.8 27.2 27.8 28.3 28.9 29.4 30.0 30.6 31.1 31.7 32.2 32.8 33.9 35.0
27.2 27.2 27.2 27.8 27.8 28.3 28.9 29.4 29.4 30.0 30.6 31.1 32.2 32.8
26.7 26.7 26.7 27.2 27.2 27.8 27.8 28.3 28.9 28.9 29.4 30.0 30.0 30.6
25.6 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 27.2 27.2
24.4 25.6 25.6 25.6 25.6 25.6 25.6 25.6 25.0 25.0 25.0 24.4 23.9 23.9
23.3 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 24.4 24.4 23.9 23.3 22.8 21.7 21.7 21.1
22.2 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 24.4 23.9 23.9 23.3 22.2 21.7 20.6 19.4 18.3
21.1 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 24.4 23.9 23.3 22.2 21.7 20.6 19.4 18.3 16.7
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INTERACTION BETWEENTEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

• Table 2.3 shows the predicted dry bulb
  temperature required to achieve the target
  temperature profile over a range of RH.
• The information in Table 2.3 can be used in
  situations where RH varies from the target range
  (60 percent).

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INTERACTION BETWEENTEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

• If RH is outside the target range,
• the temperature of the house at chick level can
  be adjusted to match that given in Table 2.3.
• At all stages, chick behavior should be
  monitored to ensure chicks are experiencing an
  adequate temperature.

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INTERACTION BETWEENTEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

• If subsequent behavior indicates chicks are too
  cold or too hot,
• the house temperature should be adjusted
  appropriately.

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Conclusion

• Before chicks arrive, inspect the house closely
  to ensure proper setup.
• After a poor start, there is little time to
  compensate for the lost growth as a chick's life
  is only approximately 1000 hours.

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Conclusion

• Thus, every hour represents 0.10 of the chick's
  life. In a 24-hour period, 2.4 performance can
  be lost.
• Many producers recognize that performance lost
  the first day or first week will be reflected in
  final performance results.

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• Achieving maximum potential uniformity in a flock
  is dependent on several factors.
• A partial list of those which have significant
  impact on uniformity include

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• ? Egg size variation due to multiple parent
  source flocks
• ? Hatchery stress
• High hatching temperatures
• Inadequate moisture loss during
  incubation
• Bacterial/fungal contamination

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• ? Chick delivery stress
• Overheating/chilling during transport
• ? Excessive stocking density

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• ? Brooding management
• Improper feed and water
  access/management
• Improper temperature and ventilation
• Poor litter conditions (e.g. wet,
  ammonia, dusty)
• Insufficient light intensity and
  duration
• Air drafts can cause crowding and lead
  to feed and
• water availability problems

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• ? Poor nutrition
• Low nutrient density
• Mycotoxins
• Poor pellet/crumble quality

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• ? Health issues
• Early disease challenges
• Ineffective coccidiosis control
• Inadequate vaccination programs
• (parent and broiler)

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FACTORS AFFECTING UNIFORMITY

• In well-managed flocks, a CV of lt8 percent can
  be achievedin separate sex flocks which
  translates to a straight-run uniformity of lt14.9
  percent.

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HEAT STRESS
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HEAT STRESS

• Heat stress negatively affects growth rate and
  livability.
• Effects of heat stress can be minimized by
  altering the environment to reduce the
  temperature experienced by the bird.

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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS

• Normal body temperature of a broiler chicken is
  106ºF
• (41ºC).
• Absolute temperature at which a broiler is under
  heat
• stress is related to its age, temperature and RH.
• As a rule of thumb, for fully feathered birds, a
  heat stress index (RH plus
  temperature in ºF) of 160 is considered heat
  stress.

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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS

• The longer the exposure to high temperatures, the
  greater the stress and its effects. (See Figure
  2.8).

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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS
103
CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS

• Broilers regulate their body temperature by two
  methods
• radiation/convection of heat and evaporative
  cooling through
• respiration.
• Within the temperature range 5577ºF (1325ºC),
  heat loss is mainly accomplished through physical
  radiation and convection to the cooler
  environment.

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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS

• As the temperature rises above 86ºF (30ºC) the
  majority of heat loss is accomplished by
  evaporative cooling and panting, and increased
  respiration rate.
• The relationship between the two types of heat
  loss and environmental temperature is illustrated
  in Table 2.4.

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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS
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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS

• Panting allows the bird to control body
  temperature by evaporation of water from the
  respiratory surfaces and air sacs.
• The process uses energy. In conditions of high
  humidity, panting is less effective.
• Where high temperatures are maintained for long
  periods, or humidity is very high, panting may be
  insufficient to control body temperature and the
  bird may experience heat stress.

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CONTROL OF HEAT STRESS

• As the bird passes into a condition of heat
  stress, rectal temperature rises, heart rate and
  metabolic rate increase and oxygenation of the
  blood decreases.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• Lowering stocking density will reduce temperature
  experienced by the bird.
• Birds lose heat by evaporation of moisture
  during panting and therefore require increased
  amounts of drinking water.
• Adequate fresh water should be available at all
  times.
• Insulation of storage tanks and water pipes will
  help reduce heat stress.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• Digestion generates heat therefore, feeding
  during the hottest part of the day should be
  avoided in open-sided housing.
• A significant amount of heat is lost by
  convection and, at high humidity, convective heat
  loss becomes more important.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• Increasing the air flow over the bird promotes
  heat loss by convection.
• An air flow of at least 500 ft/min (152 m/min),
  measured just above bird level, provides optimum
  heat loss by convection.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• In open-sided housing, this can be achieved by
  using supplemental, 36 in (91 cm) fans, placed at
  an angle of 32º, every 33 ft (10 m) across the
  house.
• Fans should be set to move air in the same
  direction as the prevailing wind.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• High humidity reduces the effectiveness of
  evaporative heat loss.
• The litter is a significant source of moisture
  in the chicken house, so litter condition should
  be managed carefully.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• Radiant heat from the sun will increase house
  temperature, particularly if roof insulation is
  inadequate.
• Water sprinklers on the roof ridge will reduce
  this source of heat.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• In open-sided houses, plastic netting hung from
  the eaves to cover 30 percent of the open area
  may be used as a screen against radiant heat.
• Install tunnel ventilation and evaporative
  cooling systems.

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ACTIONS TO REDUCE HEAT STRESS

• Refer to AviaTech bulletin on Getting Broiler
  Houses Ready for Hot Weather (Vol I No 3).

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• Risks of feed spoilage due to mold growth and/or
  vitamin loss are increased at high temperatures.
• Feed storage time should be minimized.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• The two main changes which can be made to diet
  composition to partially compensate for heat
  stress are
• ? Adjustment of nutrient levels to take account
  of lower feed intake
• ? Reduction of heat increment of the feed

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• Increasing feed nutrient density will be
  effective in reducing heat stress providing the
  birds have the capacity to respond by increased
  growth.
• The effectiveness of this treatment will depend
  on the temperature and the amount of stress
  experienced by the birds.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• As an approximate guide, feed intake is reduced
  by 5 percent per degree temperature rise between
  90º and 100ºF (32º and 38ºC) compared with 1
  percent to1.5 percent between 68º and 86ºF (20º
  and 30ºC).

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• If feed intake is down by 5 percent or 10
  percent, then the nutrient concentration should
  be increased in proportion.
• It is particularly important to adjust the amino
  acid, vitamin and mineral fractions of the feed.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• An increase in amino acid levels may be
  beneficial if feed intake is reduced due to high
  ambient temperatures.
• Excess protein is broken down and eliminated from
  the bird by deamination and excretion, processes
  which have a high heat increment.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• Under all circumstances of heat stress, amino
  acid requirements should be met at the lowest
  possible total protein content.
• Sources of high quality protein and synthetic
• amino acids will help to achieve this aim.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• In addition to minimizing protein excess, the
  heat increment of the feed may be reduced by
  substituting good quality fat for carbohydrate.
• Fat inclusion may also stimulate intake and,
  under some circumstances, give a beneficial boost
  to energy intake.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• Birds suffering heat stress exhibit reduced
  levels of plasma carbon dioxide and bicarbonate.

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NUTRITION AND HEAT STRESS

• Panting induces respiratory alkalosis, which may
  be corrected by a variety of supplements to
  either the feed or the water (e.g. sodium
  bicarbonate).
• There is also a loss of potassium by birds
  suffering heat stress, which may be corrected by
  administration of potassium chloride.

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CATCHING
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CATCHING AND LIVE HAUL

• OBJECTIVE
• To manage the final phase of the production
  process so that broilers are transferred to the
  processing plant in optimum condition, ensuring
  the processing requirements are met and humane
  treatment is maintained.

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PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• When using lighting programs, it is essential to
  return to 23 hr of light at least two to four
  days prior to depletion.

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PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• This will ensure the birds are calm during
  catching.
• A withdrawal ration must be fed in accordance
  with local legal regulations prior to slaughter
  to eliminate the risk of controlled feed additive
  residues in the meat.

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PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• Feed should be withdrawn 810 hr before
  processing.
• This period should include catching, transport
  and holding time.

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PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• If feed withdrawal time is prolonged, water
  absorbed from body tissues accumulates in the
  digestive tract resulting in reduced yield.
• Fecal contamination may also be increased.

132
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• Unlimited access to water should be available for
  as long as possible prior to catching to reduce
  shrink loss.
• Prior to catching, all feeding equipment should
  be raised above head height of the catching
  personnel (i.e., gt6 ft, 2 m), removed from the
  house or positioned to avoid obstruction to birds
  or personnel.

133
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• In larger houses, separation of birds into pens
  will avoid unnecessary crowding.
• It will also allow access to water for birds not
  immediately due for catching.

134
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• High humidity reduces the effectiveness of
  evaporative heat loss.
• The litter is a significant source of moisture in
  the chicken house, so litter condition should be
  managed carefully.

135
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• Light intensity within the house must be reduced
  to a minimum, but must be sufficient to allow
  safe and careful catching.

136
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• Blue light has been found to be satisfactory for
  this purpose.
• The best results are achieved when birds are
  allowed to settle after lights have been dimmed
  and when there is minimal disturbance.

137
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• The use of curtains over main doors of the house
  is helpful when catching during daylight hours.

138
PREPARATION FOR CATCHING

• The opening of doors and removal of birds will
  affect ventilation of thermostatically controlled
  environments.
• The ventilation system should be monitored and
  adjusted carefully throughout the catching
  procedure.

139
CATCHING AND HAULING

• Most downgrading observed at slaughter will have
  occurred during the previous 24 hours when birds
  were being caught and handled.
• Catching is an operation which should be planned
  carefully in advance and supervised closely at
  all stages.

140
CATCHING AND HAULING

• Handling of birds must be carried out by
  appropriately trained, competent personnel in
  order to avoid unnecessary struggling by the
  birds to minimize bruising, scratching or other
  injuries.

141
CATCHING AND HAULING

• Broilers should be held by their feet and shanks,
  never by their thighs.
• They should be caught and held by both legs to
  minimize distress, damage and injury.
• Birds should be placed carefully into modules or
  crates.

142
CATCHING AND HAULING

• Modules have been shown to result in less
  distress and damage than conventional crates.
• Crates or modules should never be overfilled.

143
CATCHING AND HAULING

• The number of broilers per crate or module must
  be reduced in high temperatures.
• Transport time should be within current
  guidelines or regulations.

144
CATCHING AND HAULING

• At all times, from loading to the holding sheds,
  adequate protection from the elements is
  essential.
• Ventilation, extra heating and/or cooling should
  be used when necessary.
• Bird stress will be minimized in trailers
  designed to provide adequate ventilation.

145
CATCHING AND HAULING

• Heat stress will develop rapidly when the
  transport vehicle is stationary, particularly
  if on-board ventilation is not available or in
  hot weather.
• Vehicles should leave the farm as soon as loading
  is completed.
• Supplementary ventilation in the holding sheds
  should be available to inimize heat stress.

146
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