This presentation is regarding the management of layer breeders in poultry

1. Layer breeder
management
Presented by – Dr. Nikhil Nalabale
Roll No. M-6697

2. INTRODUCTION
A layer breeder refers to a specialized type of poultry farm or breeding
operation that focuses on selectively breeding and raising laying hens
(chickens) for the purpose of producing eggs.
Layer breeders play a crucial role in the poultry industry by providing
the genetic foundation for the production of commercial laying hens.
The continuous improvement of breeding programs contributes to the
efficiency and sustainability of egg production systems globally.
Layer breeders, also known as parent stock or breeding stock
Egg quality at the parent and commercial level depends on a
combination of genetic potential and non genetic resources.

3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Overview of the
presentation structure
breeding objectives
housing and environment
nutrition management
health management
reproductive management

4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Breeding objectives
Egg Production Rates
Disease Resistance
Egg Quality
Reproductive Efficiency
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5. Genetic considerations
Inbreeding depression and genetic diversity should be considered while
breeding,
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Breeder Selection Criteria :-
MALE :
• FCR
• Body weight
• Body conformation
Female:
• Egg production
• Fertility
• Hatchability.

6. REARING YOUNG BREEDERS
Pullets and cockerels of layer breeder flocks should be reared in comparable to production
unit
Ex. birds destined for layer cage should be reared in grower cages
The more closely the growing facility resembles the future production system, the easier
it will be for the pullets to settle down in their new environment after transfer to the laying
house.
Housing and environment

7. Housing systems
Cage system Slat system
Deep litter system Slat and litter system

8.  Brooder / chick house-It is used to brood and rear egg-type chicks from 0 to 8 weeks of age.
 Grower house-It is used to grow egg-type birds from 9 to 18 weeks of age.
 Brooders cum grower house-Here, the birds are reared from 0 to 18 weeks of age (entire
brooding and growing period of egg-type chicken).
 Layer house -In which birds over 18 weeks of age are reared, usually up to 72 weeks of age.
 Breeder house -In which both male and female breeders are maintained at appropriate sex ratio.
 Environmentally controlled (EC) house -In which, entire environment is manipulated in such a
way that is optimum for the birds growth.
Housing and environment

9. Litter
Type and quality of litter are especially important for
young chicks.
Straw must be clean and free from mould.
Problems of using different straws.
1. Barley straw – awn residue (injure the chick)
2. Oat straw – Not good absorbent
3. Wood shavings – Dusty & swell in esophagus
after ingestion.
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10. House climate
Environmental conditions affect the well being and performance of the
birds.
Factors responsible are-
 Temperature
 Humidity
 Level of toxic gases in air
Optimal temperature depend on the age of the birds.
AGE TEMPERATURE
1-2 days 36-35
3-4 days 34-33
5-7 days 32-31
2nd week 29-28
3rd week 27-26
4th week 24-22
5th week 20-18
6th week 18-20

11. If Ventilation system is used to regulate temperature care should be
taken to supply fresh air.
Air quality should meet the minimum requirement
AIR COMPONENT DESIRABLE
LEVEL
O2 >20%
CO2 <0.3%
CO <40 ppm
NH3 <20 ppm
H2S <5 ppm

12. Lighting
Lighting program for chicks
Lighting programme controls onset of lay and affects the performance during the production
period.
Common practice is to give 23 hrs. of light and 1 hr. of darkness to help them recover and to
provide the chicks enough time to eat and drink.
(irregular flock activity)
Intermittent lighting program
Lighting program for layers
The lighting program to which a flock of breeder is subjected during the growing and production
phase is a key factor in determining the onset of sexual maturity and egg production.
No. of eggs and egg weight can easily be influenced utilizing this management tools.

13. Layer breeders should
never be exposed to quick
step-up & step-down
programme, Because
small eggs at the
beginning of the laying
period cannot be used as
hatching eggs and so
undesirable.
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14. Lighting program
 The manner in which lights are installed in the poultry house has a role on their efficiency.
 The distance between bulbs should be 1½ times the distance from the bulb to the bird
level.
 The distance from the bulbs to the outer edges of the house should be only ½ the
distance between bulbs.
 In cage system, the bulbs should be placed in such a way that their rays fall on the feed
and on the birds.
 Clean reflectors
 Avoid cone shape reflectors . Better to use flat type reflector with rounded edge.
 In case of deep litter system, the bulb is to be placed at 7-8’ height whereas in cage house,
keep in aisle.
 Very dirty bulbs emit about 1/3 less light than clean bulbs So light bulbs should be
cleaned once in two weeks.

15. Deep litter system Cage system
brooding 0.25 sq. ft./birds 0.25 sq. ft./birds
grower 1.50 q. ft./birds 0.59 sq. ft./birds
adult 20 sq. ft./birds 0.82 sq. ft./birds
Floor space requirements
Strict biosecurity measures are essential to prevent the introduction
and spread of diseases. This includes controlling access, sanitization,
and monitoring visitors.
Biosecurity measures

16.  The recommended feed schedule for the growing period
of layer breeders should be based on four diets.
1.Chick
2.Grower
3.Layer
A. Phase 1
B. Phase 2
4.Male
Feeding

17.  The use of pre layer feed (ad libidum)for parent stock has several advantage.
1. Gives better uniformity due to higher protein and amino acid content
in the critical period around the development of sexual maturity.
2. The pre-layer feed has higher calcium content than the grower ration and improves the
shell quality of early maturing hens at later ages.
3. The pre layer feed supplies additional available phosphorus in the critical period of
hormones changes
4. The pre-layer feed prevents excessive high initial egg weight due to its low linoleic
acid content.
Pre-layer feed

18. Feed consumption
Depends on-
 In house temperature- decrease in temperature increase
in maintenance requirement for energy
 Condition of feathering – poor conditioning due to management mistakes or malnutrition
increases the maintenance requirement for energy.
 Feed texture – Coarse texture increases whereas fine texture decreases feed intake.
 Energy level – Higher the energy level lower the feed intake.
Micronutrients –
Supplement of parent stock with micronutrients like essential vitamins, trace minerals and
substances like antioxidants and organic acids is essential for maximum hatching egg
production and hatchability.

19. Health management
•Vaccination Programs: I
•Implementing vaccination schedules to protect against common diseases.
•Vaccination is an important way of preventing disease
•Individual vaccinations, like injections and eye drops, are very effective and
generally well tolerated but also very labour intensive.
•Drinking water vaccinations are not labour intensive but must be carried out
with the greatest care to be effective.
•When vaccinating with live vaccines, add 2 g of skimmed milk powder per litre
of water in order to protect the virus titre.
 Parasite Control: Regular monitoring and control of internal and
external parasites.

20. Reproductive management
Artificial Insemination-
•Artificial Insemination (AI) is an important tool to improve the reproductive performance of birds ..
•No standard technique is available to store poultry semen for a long period.
•The techniques available at present permits to collect semen and use it for insemination immediately with or
without dilution using semen diluents at 1 : 2 ratio. Semen collected from one cock is sufficient for
inseminating 5 to 10 hens depending upon the semen volume and sperm concentration.
•At farms, where AI is practiced the males are kept separately in individual cages where sufficient space is
available for movement of the birds.
•Frequent changes of personnel in the team may affect the normal behavior of birds.
•Rough handling should be avoided, if not it may develop fear reaction, which affects the semen volume
during ejaculation.

21. FLOOR EGGS
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Incidence of floor eggs can be reduced by following practices-
1. Accessible laying nests
2. Nest entrance must be clearly visible to hens
3. Litter depth <2 cm at the onset pf laying period
4. Positioning feeders and drinkers in such a way that they do not create attractive area for
egg laying.
5. Avoiding flock inspection during the main morning laying period.
6. Collecting floor eggs quickly

22. Hatching Eggs
Feeling overwhelmed 22
1. Collect hatching eggs frequently
2. Keep floor eggs separately even in incubators
3. Take out heavily soiled eggs
4. Do not wash the hatching eggs
5. Store eggs in clean egg store
6. Older eggs have lower hatchability.
7. Store eggs at the physiological zero but not more than 7 days.
Hatching eggs disinfection
 Fog or spray eggs with disinfectant after collection and then place in store.
 Eggs can be disinfected in farm hatchery or both.

23. Cleaning and disinfection
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1. As soon as hens have been moved out it is advisable to treat walls and ceilings with
insecticides.
2. Then all equipment should be taken outside and washed.
3. Litter and droppings must be removed as far away from building as possible.
4. Prior to the cleaning operation the entire interior of the building including walls, ceilings
should be soaked. Fat and protein dissolving substances should be used for this purpose.
5. Room should be cleaned with pressure washers in the well lit condition.