Page 1 of 2
By Viola Holik , Lohmann Tierzucht, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Rearing is the key for a good production and all starts with the housing of day old chicks (DOC). Since the young birds are only vaccinated in the hatchery against certain diseases like Marek and sometimes Infectious Bronchitis/Newcastle Disease, they have limited protection against other diseases and therefore have to be isolated from older flocks. ‘All in all out’ is the best housing system to provide very good means of isolation and allows the entire farm to be cleaned and disinfected after each production cycle. If this system cannot be implemented, the distance between adult and brooding houses should be at least 100 meters.Heating essential
Day old chicks cannot maintain their own body temperature for the first two weeks and therefore the correct house temperatures play an important role. If chicks are placed in an environment which is too cold, they will refuse to eat and drink which will lead to high mortality after 2-3 days. Especially in hot climates, farm managers tend to believe that heating is not important and often don’t even have a thermometer in the house. This big mistake causes the loss of expensive chicks together with a poor start for the flock and can easily be avoided: place several thermometers at chick level in the house, check them regularly before the arrival of the chicks and during the first two weeks (Table 1).
Day old chicks cannot maintain their own body temperature for the first two weeks and therefore the correct house temperatures play an important role. If chicks are placed in an environment which is too cold, they will refuse to eat and drink which will lead to high mortality after 2-3 days. Especially in hot climates, farm managers tend to believe that heating is not important and often don’t even have a thermometer in the house. This big mistake causes the loss of expensive chicks together with a poor start for the flock and can easily be avoided: place several thermometers at chick level in the house, check them regularly before the arrival of the chicks and during the first two weeks (Table 1).
 |
|
Chicks that are evenly distributed in the brooding ring indicate good circumstances. Ample feed and drinking water are available.
|
Measuring nutrient content
Throughout their life, chickens have different nutrient requirements and only if these needs are fulfilled can they grow to their genetic potential. Many farmers in Africa mix their feed themselves which appears to be cheaper, but can be an expensive experience in the long run. Raw materials must be analysed for their nutrient content regularly, especially when regional by-products are used. Only based on this information can a formulation be calculated, otherwise the feed might not contain the necessary nutrients. All European countries have laboratories for agricultural purposes, like LUFA in Germany or the Food Standards Agency in England (see More Information). Since raw material prices are rising, alternative feedstuffs for poultry feeds can be a solution, if the nutritional value is known (see Tables 2, 3 and 4).
Throughout their life, chickens have different nutrient requirements and only if these needs are fulfilled can they grow to their genetic potential. Many farmers in Africa mix their feed themselves which appears to be cheaper, but can be an expensive experience in the long run. Raw materials must be analysed for their nutrient content regularly, especially when regional by-products are used. Only based on this information can a formulation be calculated, otherwise the feed might not contain the necessary nutrients. All European countries have laboratories for agricultural purposes, like LUFA in Germany or the Food Standards Agency in England (see More Information). Since raw material prices are rising, alternative feedstuffs for poultry feeds can be a solution, if the nutritional value is known (see Tables 2, 3 and 4).
Some raw materials listed in these tables are described as ‘high fibre’. Based on new scientific literature and a lot of practical experience from different countries around the world, crude fibre will not harm any layer bird, neither during rearing (developer phase for instance) nor during the production period as long as the energy content of the feed is not being reduced. An increased content of crude fibre can even support a healthy digestion and very often will positively influence the birds’ behaviour.
Page 1 of 2 | Next Page »
Source: World Poultry, Vol. 27, No. 7, 2011
