The document provides guidance on chick management for broilers, including farm preparation before chick arrival, chick placement procedures, and brooding management for the first 10 days. Key recommendations include preheating the house to 30°C, providing feed and water immediately upon placement, gradually expanding brooding space, and monitoring chick behavior to ensure proper environmental conditions. The goal is to promote early feeding and drinking to achieve target growth performance and welfare.
Management of Poultry House Ventilation by Dr.Muhammad Ashiq ToorAshiq Toor
This document discusses managing poultry house ventilation. It describes two types of ventilation systems - natural airflow and mechanical airflow using fans. For mechanical ventilation, it explains positive and negative pressure systems. The document focuses on mechanical ventilation and discusses minimum ventilation for cold weather, tunnel ventilation for hot weather, and transitional ventilation for moderate weather. It provides details on components of mechanical ventilation systems including fans, inlets, controllers, sensors and formulas for calculating their sizes and settings based on house dimensions and number of birds.
1. Minimum ventilation is important for broiler chickens in the first few weeks to guarantee fresh air, optimal growth, and organ development. It uses still air or very low air speeds to avoid chilling the chicks.
2. There are different ventilation systems used depending on the age of the chickens and outdoor temperatures, ranging from minimum ventilation for young chicks to tunnel ventilation for older birds to control heat.
3. Key factors for minimum ventilation systems include air exchange rate, pressure drop across inlets, and uniform air distribution without excess cooling of the chicks. This helps optimize health, growth and final performance of the flock.
This document summarizes different types of ventilation systems used in poultry houses. It discusses natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation systems. The main types of mechanical ventilation systems covered are negative pressure systems, positive pressure systems, and combined/dual systems. Negative pressure systems are most commonly used and have fans and inlets as main components. Different types of negative pressure systems for cold, hot, and transitional weather are described. The document also briefly discusses positive pressure systems and combined ventilation systems. Basic components of a ventilation system like inlets, controllers, cooling pads, sensors, and exhaust fans are listed.
Ventilation management in ECH by Dr. Rashid Sohail My Own Business
Ventilation is necessary to maintain air quality for poultry by removing stale, moist air and bringing in fresh air. The key objectives of ventilation are to provide a suitable living environment for maximum growth and livability of birds. Ventilation is measured by static pressure, which is the pressure difference between inside and outside of a house. Proper static pressure is necessary to effectively ventilate without excess pressure. Forced ventilation uses fans and controls the temperature, humidity, and airflow. Parameters like fan capacity, cooling pads, and minimum ventilation are selected based on house size and bird numbers/weights.
Pre –brooding, brooding and rearing management of chicksmithu mehr
This document discusses brooding management for poultry. It begins by defining brooding as the special care and management of baby chicks until they no longer require artificial heat. It then describes the two main types of brooding systems: colony brooding which uses individual brooders, and continuous brooding which houses large numbers of chicks together. The document provides details on various brooding management factors like temperature, ventilation, feeding and sanitation that affect chick health and uniformity. It emphasizes the importance of correct brooding management practices for optimal growth and development of the chicks in the first critical weeks after hatching.
Demonstration of housing and layout plans for poultry [autosaved]Usama Usama
It's for businessmen as well as for poultry manager. Very simple and brief informations about housing. If you want to learn more You can connect by email Id
m.musama191@yahoo.com.
Ventilation is necessary in modern controlled poultry houses to provide fresh air into the house and to expel noxious gasses from the house to keep the environment fresh and birds healthy.
There are different types of ventilation depends on the weather like minimum ventilation in cold weather, transitional ventilation in optimum weather and tunnel ventilation in extreme weather.
Genetic progress over the last 10 years has steadily improved broiler economic performance. One component of this is growth potential which has increased each year by 60 grams at six weeks of age. In order to achieve a standard processing weight (of e.g. 2kg), the age at which a flock of broilers are killed has fallen by, on average, 1 day per year over this time. Birds of 2kg that were killed at 49 days in 1988 are now killed at 39 days.
The consequence of this change is that the brooding period now takes up a much bigger proportion of the whole growing period and is more important in the final performance of the flock. Over the same 10 year period, the equipment used in brooding and starting chickens has changed, and some of these changes have significant consequences for the well-being of the day-old chick.
Our customers have become more focussed on the predictability of performance and uniformity of the product at all stages, especially in the processing plant. Many features of broiler management can affect uniformity and, in some cases, small changes in management technique can make a previously unimportant factor critical (e.g. the need for more feeding space once feed intake control is initiated) This Ross Tech is aimed at encouraging better general management and especially brooding management for broiler flocks, to improve performance and uniformity
Management of Poultry House Ventilation by Dr.Muhammad Ashiq ToorAshiq Toor
This document discusses managing poultry house ventilation. It describes two types of ventilation systems - natural airflow and mechanical airflow using fans. For mechanical ventilation, it explains positive and negative pressure systems. The document focuses on mechanical ventilation and discusses minimum ventilation for cold weather, tunnel ventilation for hot weather, and transitional ventilation for moderate weather. It provides details on components of mechanical ventilation systems including fans, inlets, controllers, sensors and formulas for calculating their sizes and settings based on house dimensions and number of birds.
1. Minimum ventilation is important for broiler chickens in the first few weeks to guarantee fresh air, optimal growth, and organ development. It uses still air or very low air speeds to avoid chilling the chicks.
2. There are different ventilation systems used depending on the age of the chickens and outdoor temperatures, ranging from minimum ventilation for young chicks to tunnel ventilation for older birds to control heat.
3. Key factors for minimum ventilation systems include air exchange rate, pressure drop across inlets, and uniform air distribution without excess cooling of the chicks. This helps optimize health, growth and final performance of the flock.
This document summarizes different types of ventilation systems used in poultry houses. It discusses natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation systems. The main types of mechanical ventilation systems covered are negative pressure systems, positive pressure systems, and combined/dual systems. Negative pressure systems are most commonly used and have fans and inlets as main components. Different types of negative pressure systems for cold, hot, and transitional weather are described. The document also briefly discusses positive pressure systems and combined ventilation systems. Basic components of a ventilation system like inlets, controllers, cooling pads, sensors, and exhaust fans are listed.
Ventilation management in ECH by Dr. Rashid Sohail My Own Business
Ventilation is necessary to maintain air quality for poultry by removing stale, moist air and bringing in fresh air. The key objectives of ventilation are to provide a suitable living environment for maximum growth and livability of birds. Ventilation is measured by static pressure, which is the pressure difference between inside and outside of a house. Proper static pressure is necessary to effectively ventilate without excess pressure. Forced ventilation uses fans and controls the temperature, humidity, and airflow. Parameters like fan capacity, cooling pads, and minimum ventilation are selected based on house size and bird numbers/weights.
Pre –brooding, brooding and rearing management of chicksmithu mehr
This document discusses brooding management for poultry. It begins by defining brooding as the special care and management of baby chicks until they no longer require artificial heat. It then describes the two main types of brooding systems: colony brooding which uses individual brooders, and continuous brooding which houses large numbers of chicks together. The document provides details on various brooding management factors like temperature, ventilation, feeding and sanitation that affect chick health and uniformity. It emphasizes the importance of correct brooding management practices for optimal growth and development of the chicks in the first critical weeks after hatching.
Demonstration of housing and layout plans for poultry [autosaved]Usama Usama
It's for businessmen as well as for poultry manager. Very simple and brief informations about housing. If you want to learn more You can connect by email Id
m.musama191@yahoo.com.
Ventilation is necessary in modern controlled poultry houses to provide fresh air into the house and to expel noxious gasses from the house to keep the environment fresh and birds healthy.
There are different types of ventilation depends on the weather like minimum ventilation in cold weather, transitional ventilation in optimum weather and tunnel ventilation in extreme weather.
Genetic progress over the last 10 years has steadily improved broiler economic performance. One component of this is growth potential which has increased each year by 60 grams at six weeks of age. In order to achieve a standard processing weight (of e.g. 2kg), the age at which a flock of broilers are killed has fallen by, on average, 1 day per year over this time. Birds of 2kg that were killed at 49 days in 1988 are now killed at 39 days.
The consequence of this change is that the brooding period now takes up a much bigger proportion of the whole growing period and is more important in the final performance of the flock. Over the same 10 year period, the equipment used in brooding and starting chickens has changed, and some of these changes have significant consequences for the well-being of the day-old chick.
Our customers have become more focussed on the predictability of performance and uniformity of the product at all stages, especially in the processing plant. Many features of broiler management can affect uniformity and, in some cases, small changes in management technique can make a previously unimportant factor critical (e.g. the need for more feeding space once feed intake control is initiated) This Ross Tech is aimed at encouraging better general management and especially brooding management for broiler flocks, to improve performance and uniformity
Brooding involves providing artificial heat to young chicks using brooders. It is necessary because chicks lack full thermoregulation and cannot maintain their body temperature in the first 1-2 weeks. The goals of brooding are to accelerate growth, develop organs, encourage uniformity, and maximize genetic potential while improving health. Proper brooding temperatures vary depending on the type of brooder but generally start around 90°F day one and decrease weekly until 70°F at 5 weeks. Precise temperature control is important to avoid issues like ascites, while behavior monitoring helps ensure chick comfort.
Modern hybrid layers can be reared successfully in floor and cage brooding systems in developing countries. However, they need more careful management than village chicks, which are better able to cope with temperature fluctuations.
Prior to chick arrival, it is important to clean and disinfect the cages or the floor brooding area. The brooders should be set up the day before delivery, at 34 to 36 °C for cage brooding or 35 to 36 °C for floor brooding. Drinkers need to be full or the drinking system in operation, to encourage birds to drink. If nipple drinkers are used, the water pressure should be reduced so that birds can see the drop of water hanging on the drinker. Feed should be placed on paper if birds are reared in cages. Feeders on the floor should be filled and kept under high light intensity for 20 to 22 hours per day for the first week, to attract the birds.
Blue print and specifications for a broiler poultry shedDeepak Nelagonda
This document provides specifications for constructing a broiler poultry shed for 2500 birds. It outlines dimensions for the length, width, and height of the shed. It recommends an east-west orientation to prevent direct sunlight. Foundations should be concrete below and above ground. Doors should open outside and be 6x2.5 feet. Side walls should be 2-2.5 feet. The roof can be thatched, tiled, or concrete and should have overhang of at least 3.5 feet. Lighting and drinkers should be provided appropriately for the birds. Foot baths with disinfectants are recommended at entrances.
This document discusses brooding management for raising baby chicks. It covers the objectives of brooding, types of brooders, preparing the brooding area, and the importance of environment control. Natural brooding involves using broody hens, while artificial brooding uses equipment like heat sources, reflectors, and guards. Different heating sources and brooder types are described. Optimal brooding temperatures and the importance of ventilation and humidity control are also outlined. Feeding, vaccination, and general chick care procedures during the brooding period are provided.
The document discusses housing and management practices for swine production. It provides guidelines for housing types, including closed housing in temperate climates and open housing in tropical areas. Recommendations are given for pen sizes and stocking densities depending on the class of pigs. Key factors in housing design include adequate ventilation, drainage, and protection from weather elements.
Brooding is the process of caring for young chicks through providing optimal environmental conditions after hatching until they are 3-4 weeks old. It involves controlling temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, sanitation and other factors to allow for the proper growth and development of young chicks. Brooding can be done naturally with a broody hen or artificially using a brooder, which is a poultry house fitted with heating equipment to deliver controlled heat. Different types of brooders include hover, infrared, electric, gas, incandescent, and coal brooders. Careful management of brooding conditions and practices is important for chick health and survival.
This document provides an overview of broiler management practices from receiving day-old chicks to harvest. It discusses pre-arrival management including housing preparation through disinfection. It emphasizes the importance of an all-in, all-out production system and details best practices for receiving chicks, maintaining optimal house environment, brooder management, nutrition, vaccination schedules, and carcass disposal. The goal of broiler management is to implement efficient practices that maximize production and profits while minimizing disease risks through the 8-week grow-out period.
Incubation is the act of bringing an egg to hatching. It refers to the process by which certain oviparous ( egg-laying) animals (birds) hatch their egg. It also refers to the development of an embryo within the egg under favourable environmental condition. Incubating chicken eggs is a 21- days process and demands favourable conditions of principal affecting factors like temperature, humidity etc., Incubation may be of two different types: 1. Natural Incubation 2. Artificial Incubation
Turkey farming is an important industry in India, particularly in southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There are three main varieties of turkeys farmed in India - Broad Breasted Bronze, Broad Breasted White, and Beltsville Small White. Turkey meat is leaner than other poultry. Farming practices include artificial incubation, brooding of poults using heat lamps, and both free range and intensive rearing systems. Turkeys mature at around 16 weeks and are ready for market. Females begin laying eggs at 30 weeks of age. Turkey meat is low in fat and cholesterol but high in protein and minerals.
This document discusses poultry farm equipment and their uses. It describes brooding equipment like charcoal stoves, gas brooders, electrical brooders, and infrared bulbs. It also discusses lighting equipment such as incandescent bulbs, CFL bulbs, and LED lights. Feeding equipment includes automatic feeders, linear feeders, and circular feeders. Water equipment contains pan and jar drinkers, water basins, nipple drinkers, and bell-type automatic waterers. Ventilation equipment includes tunnel fans, box fans, cone fans, pads, air vents, foggers. Other equipment mentioned are control panels, thermometers, hygrometers, light intensity meters, ammonia detectors,
Broiler Farming Management Guide is designed to help Aviagen’s customers achieve optimum performance from their birds. While not intended to provide definitive information on every aspect of management, this manual does draw attention to important issues that if overlooked or inadequately addressed may depress flock performance. The objective of this manual is to provide management techniques that help growers achieve good overall bird performance from day one through to processing while promoting bird health and welfare.
Aviagen applies a balanced approach to genetic progress, concentrating on commercial traits such as growth rate, feed conversion ratio, livability and meat yield, while improving bird welfare in areas such as leg health, cardiovascular fitness and robustness.
Achieving the genetic potential of the birds depends on three key factors:
• Management to provide birds with their required environment.
• A dietary regimen that offers nutrients in the appropriate profile.
• Effective biosecurity and disease control programs.
These three sectors, environment, nutrition and health, are interdependent. A shortfall in anyone will bring negative consequences to the others and if any one of these elements is sub-optimal, broiler performance will suffer.In reality, the guidance of a manual such as this cannot wholly protect against performance variations that may occur for a wide variety of reasons. While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information presented, Aviagen accepts no liability for the consequences of using this information for the management of chickens. Information presented in this manual combines data derived from internal research.
A broiler management course is a program designed to educate farmers, poultry producers, and other interested individuals on the best practices for managing broiler chickens. Broiler chickens are raised for meat production and require specialized care to ensure their growth, health, and well-being. The course typically covers various aspects of broiler management, including housing, feeding, health management, and disease prevention. It may also cover topics such as breeding, hatching, and marketing of broiler chickens. Participants in a broiler management course will learn about the different types of broiler housing and the best practices for managing temperature, ventilation, and lighting to ensure optimal growth and production. They will also learn about the various types of broiler feed and how to formulate a balanced diet that meets the nutritional requirements of broiler chickens. Health management is a critical aspect of broiler management, and the course will cover topics such as biosecurity measures, vaccination programs, and disease diagnosis and treatment. Participants will learn how to recognize common health problems in broiler chickens and how to implement preventative measures to keep their flocks healthy. Marketing is also an important aspect of broiler management, and the course may cover topics such as market analysis, pricing strategies, and distribution channels. Overall, a broiler management course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to raise healthy, productive broiler chickens, and to operate a successful broiler farming business.
This document discusses key points for hatchery management and incubation. It covers hatching egg management including collecting eggs promptly after laying, proper storage conditions, and egg disinfection. Optimum incubation parameters are described such as pre-heating eggs, maintaining consistent temperature and humidity levels, and managing egg weight loss. Hatching parameters include disinfecting hatchers, controlling the hatch window to less than 30 hours, and adjusting temperature after hatching. The goal is to produce quality chicks and optimize hatchability.
This document discusses various abnormalities and defects that can occur in hatching chicks, including crippled legs, crooked toes, spraddle legs, closed eyes, missing eyes, chicks being sticky, unable to stand, having unhealed navels, being dehydrated, soft, too small, too large, with a crossed beak, labored breathing, exposed brain, or wry neck. It lists potential causes such as improper incubation temperatures, humidity, ventilation, egg handling, or nutrition of breeders, as well as corrective measures like following recommended incubation guidelines and improving conditions.
This document provides information on grower and layer management for poultry farms. It discusses the importance of restricted feeding during the growing period to prevent early sexual maturity and improve egg production. It outlines the vaccination schedule and production indices like hen-day egg production, hen-housed egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio that are followed to monitor performance. Proper cleaning, feeding, lighting and vaccination programs are essential for optimal grower and layer management.
This document discusses the reproductive system and egg production process in poultry. It describes each part of the reproductive tract and its role in either producing eggs or sperm. It then covers the requirements for incubating eggs both naturally with a hen or artificially in an incubator. Key steps in brooding and raising chicks like temperature control and feeding are outlined. The document concludes with descriptions of housing systems and daily routines for managing layer flocks.
This document discusses different housing systems for poultry in tropical climates. It describes free range, semi-intensive, deep litter, slatted floor, cage, and environmentally controlled housing systems. For each system, it provides details on stocking density, management approach, advantages, and disadvantages. The document emphasizes that the ideal housing design considers a bird's physiological needs and allows for scientific management to optimize health, welfare and production performance.
The document provides guidance on stockmanship for broiler production, emphasizing the importance of a stockman closely observing birds and the environment using all senses to identify any issues and make appropriate management responses. A good stockman will build awareness of normal flock behavior and conditions to recognize deviations and address shortfalls through adjustments to the birds' environment or care. Stockmen are advised to thoroughly inspect flocks and individual birds using visual checks, listening, touching, smelling, and questioning conditions to monitor welfare and make informed management decisions.
Brooding involves providing artificial heat to young chicks using brooders. It is necessary because chicks lack full thermoregulation and cannot maintain their body temperature in the first 1-2 weeks. The goals of brooding are to accelerate growth, develop organs, encourage uniformity, and maximize genetic potential while improving health. Common brooding methods include pancake brooders, furnace brooders, and radiant brooders. Proper brooding temperatures should start at 90°F day one and decrease weekly until 70°F at 5 weeks. Precise temperature control is important as chicks cannot self-regulate in whole-house systems. Partial housing can save on fuel but needs adequate space and should be expanded after one week. Bro
Brooding involves providing artificial heat to young chicks using brooders. It is necessary because chicks lack full thermoregulation and cannot maintain their body temperature in the first 1-2 weeks. The goals of brooding are to accelerate growth, develop organs, encourage uniformity, and maximize genetic potential while improving health. Proper brooding temperatures vary depending on the type of brooder but generally start around 90°F day one and decrease weekly until 70°F at 5 weeks. Precise temperature control is important to avoid issues like ascites, while behavior monitoring helps ensure chick comfort.
Modern hybrid layers can be reared successfully in floor and cage brooding systems in developing countries. However, they need more careful management than village chicks, which are better able to cope with temperature fluctuations.
Prior to chick arrival, it is important to clean and disinfect the cages or the floor brooding area. The brooders should be set up the day before delivery, at 34 to 36 °C for cage brooding or 35 to 36 °C for floor brooding. Drinkers need to be full or the drinking system in operation, to encourage birds to drink. If nipple drinkers are used, the water pressure should be reduced so that birds can see the drop of water hanging on the drinker. Feed should be placed on paper if birds are reared in cages. Feeders on the floor should be filled and kept under high light intensity for 20 to 22 hours per day for the first week, to attract the birds.
Blue print and specifications for a broiler poultry shedDeepak Nelagonda
This document provides specifications for constructing a broiler poultry shed for 2500 birds. It outlines dimensions for the length, width, and height of the shed. It recommends an east-west orientation to prevent direct sunlight. Foundations should be concrete below and above ground. Doors should open outside and be 6x2.5 feet. Side walls should be 2-2.5 feet. The roof can be thatched, tiled, or concrete and should have overhang of at least 3.5 feet. Lighting and drinkers should be provided appropriately for the birds. Foot baths with disinfectants are recommended at entrances.
This document discusses brooding management for raising baby chicks. It covers the objectives of brooding, types of brooders, preparing the brooding area, and the importance of environment control. Natural brooding involves using broody hens, while artificial brooding uses equipment like heat sources, reflectors, and guards. Different heating sources and brooder types are described. Optimal brooding temperatures and the importance of ventilation and humidity control are also outlined. Feeding, vaccination, and general chick care procedures during the brooding period are provided.
The document discusses housing and management practices for swine production. It provides guidelines for housing types, including closed housing in temperate climates and open housing in tropical areas. Recommendations are given for pen sizes and stocking densities depending on the class of pigs. Key factors in housing design include adequate ventilation, drainage, and protection from weather elements.
Brooding is the process of caring for young chicks through providing optimal environmental conditions after hatching until they are 3-4 weeks old. It involves controlling temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, sanitation and other factors to allow for the proper growth and development of young chicks. Brooding can be done naturally with a broody hen or artificially using a brooder, which is a poultry house fitted with heating equipment to deliver controlled heat. Different types of brooders include hover, infrared, electric, gas, incandescent, and coal brooders. Careful management of brooding conditions and practices is important for chick health and survival.
This document provides an overview of broiler management practices from receiving day-old chicks to harvest. It discusses pre-arrival management including housing preparation through disinfection. It emphasizes the importance of an all-in, all-out production system and details best practices for receiving chicks, maintaining optimal house environment, brooder management, nutrition, vaccination schedules, and carcass disposal. The goal of broiler management is to implement efficient practices that maximize production and profits while minimizing disease risks through the 8-week grow-out period.
Incubation is the act of bringing an egg to hatching. It refers to the process by which certain oviparous ( egg-laying) animals (birds) hatch their egg. It also refers to the development of an embryo within the egg under favourable environmental condition. Incubating chicken eggs is a 21- days process and demands favourable conditions of principal affecting factors like temperature, humidity etc., Incubation may be of two different types: 1. Natural Incubation 2. Artificial Incubation
Turkey farming is an important industry in India, particularly in southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There are three main varieties of turkeys farmed in India - Broad Breasted Bronze, Broad Breasted White, and Beltsville Small White. Turkey meat is leaner than other poultry. Farming practices include artificial incubation, brooding of poults using heat lamps, and both free range and intensive rearing systems. Turkeys mature at around 16 weeks and are ready for market. Females begin laying eggs at 30 weeks of age. Turkey meat is low in fat and cholesterol but high in protein and minerals.
This document discusses poultry farm equipment and their uses. It describes brooding equipment like charcoal stoves, gas brooders, electrical brooders, and infrared bulbs. It also discusses lighting equipment such as incandescent bulbs, CFL bulbs, and LED lights. Feeding equipment includes automatic feeders, linear feeders, and circular feeders. Water equipment contains pan and jar drinkers, water basins, nipple drinkers, and bell-type automatic waterers. Ventilation equipment includes tunnel fans, box fans, cone fans, pads, air vents, foggers. Other equipment mentioned are control panels, thermometers, hygrometers, light intensity meters, ammonia detectors,
Broiler Farming Management Guide is designed to help Aviagen’s customers achieve optimum performance from their birds. While not intended to provide definitive information on every aspect of management, this manual does draw attention to important issues that if overlooked or inadequately addressed may depress flock performance. The objective of this manual is to provide management techniques that help growers achieve good overall bird performance from day one through to processing while promoting bird health and welfare.
Aviagen applies a balanced approach to genetic progress, concentrating on commercial traits such as growth rate, feed conversion ratio, livability and meat yield, while improving bird welfare in areas such as leg health, cardiovascular fitness and robustness.
Achieving the genetic potential of the birds depends on three key factors:
• Management to provide birds with their required environment.
• A dietary regimen that offers nutrients in the appropriate profile.
• Effective biosecurity and disease control programs.
These three sectors, environment, nutrition and health, are interdependent. A shortfall in anyone will bring negative consequences to the others and if any one of these elements is sub-optimal, broiler performance will suffer.In reality, the guidance of a manual such as this cannot wholly protect against performance variations that may occur for a wide variety of reasons. While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information presented, Aviagen accepts no liability for the consequences of using this information for the management of chickens. Information presented in this manual combines data derived from internal research.
A broiler management course is a program designed to educate farmers, poultry producers, and other interested individuals on the best practices for managing broiler chickens. Broiler chickens are raised for meat production and require specialized care to ensure their growth, health, and well-being. The course typically covers various aspects of broiler management, including housing, feeding, health management, and disease prevention. It may also cover topics such as breeding, hatching, and marketing of broiler chickens. Participants in a broiler management course will learn about the different types of broiler housing and the best practices for managing temperature, ventilation, and lighting to ensure optimal growth and production. They will also learn about the various types of broiler feed and how to formulate a balanced diet that meets the nutritional requirements of broiler chickens. Health management is a critical aspect of broiler management, and the course will cover topics such as biosecurity measures, vaccination programs, and disease diagnosis and treatment. Participants will learn how to recognize common health problems in broiler chickens and how to implement preventative measures to keep their flocks healthy. Marketing is also an important aspect of broiler management, and the course may cover topics such as market analysis, pricing strategies, and distribution channels. Overall, a broiler management course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to raise healthy, productive broiler chickens, and to operate a successful broiler farming business.
This document discusses key points for hatchery management and incubation. It covers hatching egg management including collecting eggs promptly after laying, proper storage conditions, and egg disinfection. Optimum incubation parameters are described such as pre-heating eggs, maintaining consistent temperature and humidity levels, and managing egg weight loss. Hatching parameters include disinfecting hatchers, controlling the hatch window to less than 30 hours, and adjusting temperature after hatching. The goal is to produce quality chicks and optimize hatchability.
This document discusses various abnormalities and defects that can occur in hatching chicks, including crippled legs, crooked toes, spraddle legs, closed eyes, missing eyes, chicks being sticky, unable to stand, having unhealed navels, being dehydrated, soft, too small, too large, with a crossed beak, labored breathing, exposed brain, or wry neck. It lists potential causes such as improper incubation temperatures, humidity, ventilation, egg handling, or nutrition of breeders, as well as corrective measures like following recommended incubation guidelines and improving conditions.
This document provides information on grower and layer management for poultry farms. It discusses the importance of restricted feeding during the growing period to prevent early sexual maturity and improve egg production. It outlines the vaccination schedule and production indices like hen-day egg production, hen-housed egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio that are followed to monitor performance. Proper cleaning, feeding, lighting and vaccination programs are essential for optimal grower and layer management.
This document discusses the reproductive system and egg production process in poultry. It describes each part of the reproductive tract and its role in either producing eggs or sperm. It then covers the requirements for incubating eggs both naturally with a hen or artificially in an incubator. Key steps in brooding and raising chicks like temperature control and feeding are outlined. The document concludes with descriptions of housing systems and daily routines for managing layer flocks.
This document discusses different housing systems for poultry in tropical climates. It describes free range, semi-intensive, deep litter, slatted floor, cage, and environmentally controlled housing systems. For each system, it provides details on stocking density, management approach, advantages, and disadvantages. The document emphasizes that the ideal housing design considers a bird's physiological needs and allows for scientific management to optimize health, welfare and production performance.
The document provides guidance on stockmanship for broiler production, emphasizing the importance of a stockman closely observing birds and the environment using all senses to identify any issues and make appropriate management responses. A good stockman will build awareness of normal flock behavior and conditions to recognize deviations and address shortfalls through adjustments to the birds' environment or care. Stockmen are advised to thoroughly inspect flocks and individual birds using visual checks, listening, touching, smelling, and questioning conditions to monitor welfare and make informed management decisions.
Brooding involves providing artificial heat to young chicks using brooders. It is necessary because chicks lack full thermoregulation and cannot maintain their body temperature in the first 1-2 weeks. The goals of brooding are to accelerate growth, develop organs, encourage uniformity, and maximize genetic potential while improving health. Common brooding methods include pancake brooders, furnace brooders, and radiant brooders. Proper brooding temperatures should start at 90°F day one and decrease weekly until 70°F at 5 weeks. Precise temperature control is important as chicks cannot self-regulate in whole-house systems. Partial housing can save on fuel but needs adequate space and should be expanded after one week. Bro
This document describes a post-mortem examination of a 21-day-old broiler chicken that showed signs of ascites. The post-mortem lesions included congested muscles and organs, fluid-filled cavities, and a cirrhotic liver. The chicken was treated with medications to address liver, kidney and toxin issues. Ascites can be caused by factors like hypoxia, toxins, poor ventilation and respiratory diseases. Preventative measures include improving ventilation, controlling diseases, and reducing stress on fast-growing chickens.
A slideshow covering the most common broiler pathological syndromes and internal parasites affecting broiler chickens. Presented at the Aviagen School 2012 by Dr. Rafael Monleon
Contact me in LinkedIn for any question: www.linkedin.com/rafaelmonleon
The document summarizes a training workshop on improved poultry farming techniques. It discusses objectives of equipping participants with health, husbandry and business skills. It covers poultry management topics like housing requirements, sources of chicks, transportation and proper management of day old chicks. Key factors for success like human resources, technical environment and disease control are outlined.
This document provides guidance on broiler management during the brooding period. It discusses the importance of chick quality, house preparation, water and feed quality, and maintaining proper temperatures and humidity levels. Key points include planning chick deliveries to minimize differences in parent flock ages, pre-heating the house and preparing equipment before chick arrival, ensuring constant access to water and supplemental feeders for the first week, and monitoring early growth to ensure targets are met. Close attention must be paid to temperature gradients, ventilation, lighting and humidity levels to allow the chicks to grow properly.
Minerals Deficiencies in Poultry Causes ,Effect & Treatment.A deficiency of either calcium or phosphorus in the diet of young growing birds results in abnormal bone development even when the diet contains adequate vitamin D3 . A deficiency of either calcium or phosphorus results in lack of normal skeletal calcification. Rickets is seen mainly in growing birds, while calcium deficiency in laying hens results in reduced shell quality and osteoporosis. This depletion of bone structure causes a disorder that is commonly referred to as “cage layer fatigue.” When calcium is mobilized from bone to overcome a dietary deficiency, the cortical bone erodes and is unable to support the weight of the hen. A deficiency of manganese in the diet of immature chickens and turkeys is one of the causes of perosis and of thin-shelled eggs and poor hatchability in mature birds (also see Nutrition and Management: Poultry: Calcium and Phosphorus Imbalances). It can also cause chondrodystrophy.
The most dramatic effect of manganese deficiency syndrome is perosis, characterized by enlargement and malformation of the tibiometatarsal joint, twisting and bending of the distal end of the tibia and the proximal end of the tarsometatarsus, thickening and shortening of the leg bones, and slippage of the gastrocnemius tendon from its chondyles. Elevated intakes of calcium and/or phosphorus will aggravate the condition due to reduced absorption of magnesium by precipitated calcium phosphate in the intestinal tract.
In laying hens, reduced egg production, markedly reduced hatchability, and eggshell thinning are often noted. Deficiencies of both iron and copper can lead to anemia. Iron deficiency causes a severe anemia with a reduction in PCV. In color-feathered strains, there is also loss of pigmentation in the feathers. The birds' requirements for RBC synthesis take precedence over metabolism of feather pigments, although if a fortified diet is introduced, all subsequent feather growth is normal. Iron may be needed not only for the red feather pigments, which are known to contain iron, but also to function in an enzyme system involved in the pigmentation process.
Broiler poultry farming is a lucrative business. Generally highly meat productive birds or poultry breeds are called broiler poultry. But broiler chicken is a special species of poultry, which is a great secret. Only four countries of the world knows about this secret and they supply and maintain all the demand of broiler chickens. Broilers are like other common poultry birds. But this broiler is made in a scientific way for producing more meat in a short time. Basically, broilers are only for meat production.
Proper vaccination is an essential part of a good poultry management program and for the success of any poultry operation. Effective preventive procedures such as immunisation protect hundreds of millions of poultry worldwide from many contagious and deadly diseases and have resulted in improved flock health and production efficiency.
Immunization cannot be a substitute for poor bio-security and sanitation. Thus, vaccination programs may not totally protect birds that are under stress or in unhygienic conditions. The primary objective of immunizing any poultry flock is to reduce the level of clinical disease and to promote optimal performance. Certain vaccines may also have an impact on human health (i.e. Salmonella vaccines).
For breeders – we also want to accomplish some additional goals:
A. Protect the bird (as a pullet and hen) against specific diseases.
B. Protect the progeny of the hen against vertical transmission of disease.
C. Provide passive immunity to progeny.
This document provides a summary of best practices for chick management and provision of feed and water for broiler chickens. It outlines recommendations for farm preparation prior to chick placement, including cleaning, disinfection and preheating the housing. It also provides guidance on chick placement procedures and monitoring environmental conditions and chick behavior during brooding. The guide summarizes the recommended feeding program, including feeding starter, grower and finisher diets at appropriate ages. It stresses the importance of feed and water quality, and describes feeding systems and drinking systems.
The document provides guidance on broiler chick management. It discusses preparing the housing prior to chick arrival, including cleaning, disinfecting, and preheating. It recommends environmental conditions at placement of 30°C/86°F air temperature and 28-30°C/82.4-86.0°F litter temperature. The first 10 days of brooding management include expanding brooding rings and removing them by days 5-7, and changing to a pellet feed by days 6-7. Monitoring temperature and relative humidity is important to ensure the apparent temperature the birds feel is appropriate for their age.
The document is an Indian River Broiler Pocket Guide that provides a quick reference for broiler stock management. It covers topics such as chick management, feeding programs, health and biosecurity, housing and environment, monitoring performance, and pre-processing management. The guide emphasizes the importance of stockmanship and monitoring chick behavior and crop fill to ensure proper brooding conditions. It provides recommendations for environmental conditions, feeding schedules, and ideal physical qualities of feed at different ages.
This document provides management recommendations for Hy-Line Brown commercial laying hens. It outlines recommended space, equipment, temperatures, and other standards for growing pullets from day-old to 17 weeks in cages or on the floor. Performance standards are also listed for the laying period from 18-80 weeks, including expected egg production, feed conversion, and body weights. The document emphasizes that local conditions may require adjustments and the standards provided are meant as general guidance.
This document provides management recommendations for Hy-Line Brown commercial laying hens. It outlines recommended body weights, feed consumption, housing space, lighting programs, and other management practices for growing pullets from 1 to 17 weeks of age and through the laying period up to 110 weeks. The goals are to realize the genetic potential of Hy-Line varieties through best husbandry practices and achieve target performance standards for egg production, feed efficiency, and other traits.
This document provides information on chicken broiler and egg production in the Philippines. It discusses selecting chicken breeds, housing requirements, common diseases, and feeding management. The key points covered are guidelines for selecting foundation stocks, housing specifications based on stock type and production capacity, symptoms and prevention of common poultry diseases like Newcastle disease and fowl pox, and feeding recommendations for broiler and layer chickens at different growth stages.
This document provides guidance on brooding management for broiler chickens grown to low kill weights of 3.3-4.0 lbs. It emphasizes that the brooding period accounts for a larger proportion of the bird's life at low kill weights, making proper management critical. The key factors discussed are chick supply and planning, brooding temperature and environment, feed and water availability, and achieving a target 7-day weight of at least 5.6 oz to ensure the birds get off to a good start. Correct management of these factors in the first 7 days is important for maximizing performance throughout the grow-out period.
The document provides guidelines for optimizing brooding management for breeder development. It discusses the importance of the brooding period for chick development and survival. Key factors that are covered include pre-placement preparation of facilities, proper feed, water, temperature, lighting and ventilation management during brooding. Maintaining optimal environmental conditions and meeting growth targets in the first few weeks is essential for flock performance throughout the life of the breeders.
This document provides guidelines for brooding chicks during the first 14 days to optimize breeder development. The brooding period is critical for development of the immune, digestive, skeletal, and thermoregulation systems. Improper brooding can negatively impact livability, uniformity, and long-term flock performance. The seven fundamentals of brooding management are pre-placement preparation, feed management, light management, water management, temperature management, air quality/ventilation, and grading the young flock. Attention to these factors is important to achieve target body weights and maximize breeder performance.
This document summarizes broiler breeder management practices including housing, ventilation, temperature, lighting, feeding, health, and chick management. Key points include maintaining adequate ventilation and oxygen levels for chick health, preheating housing to ensure litter and air temperatures of at least 32°C at placement, using the appropriate feed programs over the breeders' lifespan, implementing biosecurity and disease prevention protocols, and providing the five essentials of brooding (feed access, temperature management, fresh air, clean water, and light intensity) for optimal chick development in the first weeks.
Most people who are involved in commercial egg production,have seen management guides for different strains of layers before and may think “if you have seen one, you’ve seen them all”. Others take the contents more seriously and expect frequent updates to find specific data which apply to the current generation of layers and current management practices.
Newcomers in the business may need more detailed explanations than can be presented in this compact format.
We hope that each reader will find some useful information,to confirm proven management practices or to stimulate improvements.
This document provides guidance on broiler chicken management. It discusses preparing the housing, ensuring quality chicks and transportation, preparing feed and water systems, and monitoring early chick performance. Key points include minimizing age differences between parent flocks, preparing equipment and heating the housing before chick arrival, checking feed and water quality and availability, and monitoring chick growth by weighing samples at 7 days. Maintaining proper temperature and humidity is also essential for chick health and growth during the brooding period.
The document provides guidance on rearing and managing ISA Brown layers from chick arrival through the production period. Key points discussed include:
1) The rearing period focuses on proper starting conditions such as stocking density, temperature, lighting programs, and high quality starter feed to reach target body weights by 4 weeks of age.
2) Production goals for ISA Brown hens include reaching a body weight of 2000g by 80 weeks, laying 351 eggs by 80 weeks, and a feed conversion ratio of 2.14kg/kg.
3) Best practices for the production period involve following the appropriate lighting program, adjusting feed formulations to meet egg weight targets, and maintaining high water quality and hygiene standards.
Layer breeder management by Dr.Nikhil NalabaleNiksreddy1
This document provides an overview of layer breeder management. It discusses breeding objectives such as egg production, disease resistance, and reproductive efficiency. It also covers housing and environmental considerations, nutrition management, health management, and reproductive management for layer breeders. The goal of layer breeder management is to selectively breed laying hens that produce high-quality eggs efficiently through specialized rearing and breeding practices.
This document provides information and instructions for chicken farming, including preparing the poultry shed, brooding chicks, grower management, and marketing chickens. It discusses housing chickens on the floor or using cages, maintaining proper space, humidity, ventilation, feeders and drinkers. It also briefly describes free-range, organic and yarding methods of poultry farming.
Layer poultry farming means raising egg laying poultry birds for the purpose of commercial egg production. Layer chickens are such a special species of hens, which need to be raised from when they are one day old. They start laying eggs commercially from 18-19 weeks of age.
This document discusses broiler chicken management practices from housing to marketing. It begins by defining broilers as chickens raised specifically for meat production over 5-6 weeks. Many management practices like housing preparation, litter management, and flock introduction are common to both broilers and egg-laying chickens. However, practices differ in areas like housing density, heating, lighting, and nutrition tailored for meat production goals. The document then outlines the broiler life cycle from hatchery to farm placement, brooding, vaccination, rearing, and finishing stages prior to marketing. Key housing, brooding, feeding, water, health, and vaccination management practices are described to optimize broiler growth and livability.
This document discusses ways to improve 7-day weights in broiler chicks through management and dietary actions. Key management actions include maintaining optimal brooding temperatures and humidity, providing adequate litter, feed availability, and light. Dietary actions focus on using highly digestible pre-starter feeds fortified with additives like organic acids, phytogenics, hydrolyzed proteins, animal plasma, and enzymes to support gastrointestinal development in young chicks. Achieving a 7-day weight of 180g or more through these actions can lead to increased final body weights and improved performance.
This document provides guidance on broiler chicken management. It discusses preparing the housing with proper space, ventilation, and biosecurity measures. Key topics covered include management during brooding such as temperature control and monitoring early performance. Vaccination schedules and controlling heat stress and common diseases are also outlined. The overall document emphasizes proper preparation of housing and equipment, maintaining optimal temperatures and humidity during brooding, and monitoring health and growth to maximize broiler chicken welfare and production.
Broiler management by DR. Md. Ramzan AliRamzan Dvm
This document provides information on broiler chicken management. It discusses topics like house preparation, brooding management, water and litter management, vaccination schedules, and heat stress control. Key points include maintaining proper temperatures and humidity for chicks, using litter depths of 2-3 inches in winter and 4-5 inches in summer, vaccinating for diseases like ND and IBD, and controlling heat stress through ventilation and cooling to reduce heat index below 160. Monitoring early chick performance through weekly weighings is also recommended.
Authoring a personal GPT for your research and practice: How we created the Q...Leonel Morgado
Thematic analysis in qualitative research is a time-consuming and systematic task, typically done using teams. Team members must ground their activities on common understandings of the major concepts underlying the thematic analysis, and define criteria for its development. However, conceptual misunderstandings, equivocations, and lack of adherence to criteria are challenges to the quality and speed of this process. Given the distributed and uncertain nature of this process, we wondered if the tasks in thematic analysis could be supported by readily available artificial intelligence chatbots. Our early efforts point to potential benefits: not just saving time in the coding process but better adherence to criteria and grounding, by increasing triangulation between humans and artificial intelligence. This tutorial will provide a description and demonstration of the process we followed, as two academic researchers, to develop a custom ChatGPT to assist with qualitative coding in the thematic data analysis process of immersive learning accounts in a survey of the academic literature: QUAL-E Immersive Learning Thematic Analysis Helper. In the hands-on time, participants will try out QUAL-E and develop their ideas for their own qualitative coding ChatGPT. Participants that have the paid ChatGPT Plus subscription can create a draft of their assistants. The organizers will provide course materials and slide deck that participants will be able to utilize to continue development of their custom GPT. The paid subscription to ChatGPT Plus is not required to participate in this workshop, just for trying out personal GPTs during it.
Immersive Learning That Works: Research Grounding and Paths ForwardLeonel Morgado
We will metaverse into the essence of immersive learning, into its three dimensions and conceptual models. This approach encompasses elements from teaching methodologies to social involvement, through organizational concerns and technologies. Challenging the perception of learning as knowledge transfer, we introduce a 'Uses, Practices & Strategies' model operationalized by the 'Immersive Learning Brain' and ‘Immersion Cube’ frameworks. This approach offers a comprehensive guide through the intricacies of immersive educational experiences and spotlighting research frontiers, along the immersion dimensions of system, narrative, and agency. Our discourse extends to stakeholders beyond the academic sphere, addressing the interests of technologists, instructional designers, and policymakers. We span various contexts, from formal education to organizational transformation to the new horizon of an AI-pervasive society. This keynote aims to unite the iLRN community in a collaborative journey towards a future where immersive learning research and practice coalesce, paving the way for innovative educational research and practice landscapes.
The technology uses reclaimed CO₂ as the dyeing medium in a closed loop process. When pressurized, CO₂ becomes supercritical (SC-CO₂). In this state CO₂ has a very high solvent power, allowing the dye to dissolve easily.
ESR spectroscopy in liquid food and beverages.pptxPRIYANKA PATEL
With increasing population, people need to rely on packaged food stuffs. Packaging of food materials requires the preservation of food. There are various methods for the treatment of food to preserve them and irradiation treatment of food is one of them. It is the most common and the most harmless method for the food preservation as it does not alter the necessary micronutrients of food materials. Although irradiated food doesn’t cause any harm to the human health but still the quality assessment of food is required to provide consumers with necessary information about the food. ESR spectroscopy is the most sophisticated way to investigate the quality of the food and the free radicals induced during the processing of the food. ESR spin trapping technique is useful for the detection of highly unstable radicals in the food. The antioxidant capability of liquid food and beverages in mainly performed by spin trapping technique.
The ability to recreate computational results with minimal effort and actionable metrics provides a solid foundation for scientific research and software development. When people can replicate an analysis at the touch of a button using open-source software, open data, and methods to assess and compare proposals, it significantly eases verification of results, engagement with a diverse range of contributors, and progress. However, we have yet to fully achieve this; there are still many sociotechnical frictions.
Inspired by David Donoho's vision, this talk aims to revisit the three crucial pillars of frictionless reproducibility (data sharing, code sharing, and competitive challenges) with the perspective of deep software variability.
Our observation is that multiple layers — hardware, operating systems, third-party libraries, software versions, input data, compile-time options, and parameters — are subject to variability that exacerbates frictions but is also essential for achieving robust, generalizable results and fostering innovation. I will first review the literature, providing evidence of how the complex variability interactions across these layers affect qualitative and quantitative software properties, thereby complicating the reproduction and replication of scientific studies in various fields.
I will then present some software engineering and AI techniques that can support the strategic exploration of variability spaces. These include the use of abstractions and models (e.g., feature models), sampling strategies (e.g., uniform, random), cost-effective measurements (e.g., incremental build of software configurations), and dimensionality reduction methods (e.g., transfer learning, feature selection, software debloating).
I will finally argue that deep variability is both the problem and solution of frictionless reproducibility, calling the software science community to develop new methods and tools to manage variability and foster reproducibility in software systems.
Exposé invité Journées Nationales du GDR GPL 2024
The binding of cosmological structures by massless topological defectsSérgio Sacani
Assuming spherical symmetry and weak field, it is shown that if one solves the Poisson equation or the Einstein field
equations sourced by a topological defect, i.e. a singularity of a very specific form, the result is a localized gravitational
field capable of driving flat rotation (i.e. Keplerian circular orbits at a constant speed for all radii) of test masses on a thin
spherical shell without any underlying mass. Moreover, a large-scale structure which exploits this solution by assembling
concentrically a number of such topological defects can establish a flat stellar or galactic rotation curve, and can also deflect
light in the same manner as an equipotential (isothermal) sphere. Thus, the need for dark matter or modified gravity theory is
mitigated, at least in part.
EWOCS-I: The catalog of X-ray sources in Westerlund 1 from the Extended Weste...Sérgio Sacani
Context. With a mass exceeding several 104 M⊙ and a rich and dense population of massive stars, supermassive young star clusters
represent the most massive star-forming environment that is dominated by the feedback from massive stars and gravitational interactions
among stars.
Aims. In this paper we present the Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey (EWOCS) project, which aims to investigate
the influence of the starburst environment on the formation of stars and planets, and on the evolution of both low and high mass stars.
The primary targets of this project are Westerlund 1 and 2, the closest supermassive star clusters to the Sun.
Methods. The project is based primarily on recent observations conducted with the Chandra and JWST observatories. Specifically,
the Chandra survey of Westerlund 1 consists of 36 new ACIS-I observations, nearly co-pointed, for a total exposure time of 1 Msec.
Additionally, we included 8 archival Chandra/ACIS-S observations. This paper presents the resulting catalog of X-ray sources within
and around Westerlund 1. Sources were detected by combining various existing methods, and photon extraction and source validation
were carried out using the ACIS-Extract software.
Results. The EWOCS X-ray catalog comprises 5963 validated sources out of the 9420 initially provided to ACIS-Extract, reaching a
photon flux threshold of approximately 2 × 10−8 photons cm−2
s
−1
. The X-ray sources exhibit a highly concentrated spatial distribution,
with 1075 sources located within the central 1 arcmin. We have successfully detected X-ray emissions from 126 out of the 166 known
massive stars of the cluster, and we have collected over 71 000 photons from the magnetar CXO J164710.20-455217.
Current Ms word generated power point presentation covers major details about the micronuclei test. It's significance and assays to conduct it. It is used to detect the micronuclei formation inside the cells of nearly every multicellular organism. It's formation takes place during chromosomal sepration at metaphase.
2. 2
Introduction
This Pocket Guide was produced to complement the Ross®
Broiler
Management Handbook. It should be used as a quick and practical
reference for broiler stock management. Each section contains cross-
references to relevant sections of the Ross Broiler Management
Handbook where further information, if required, can be found.
This Pocket Guide is not intended to provide definitive information
on all aspects of broiler stock management, but draws attention to
important management practices which, if overlooked, may reduce
flock performance.
Performance
This Pocket Guide summarizes best management practice for broilers
kept under good nutritional, management, and health conditions, and
are considered to be the most appropriate for achieving good broiler
performance (live and through processing), health, and welfare.
However, the information within this Pocket Guide cannot wholly
protect against performance variations which may occur for a wide
variety of reasons.
For further information on the management of Ross broiler stock,
please contact your local Technical Service Manager or Technical
Services Department.
www.aviagen.com
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: The Pocket Guide
3. 3
Contents
05 Stockmanship
Section 1 Chick Management
08 Chick Management
12 Brooding Management
Section 2 Provision of Feed and Water
18 Feeding Program
19 Feed Form and Physical Quality
23 Whole Grain Feeding
23 Feeding Under Hot Environmental Conditions
24 Drinking Systems
25 Feeding Systems
Section 3 Health and Biosecurity
27 Bird Health and Biosecurity
31 Decreasing the Risk of Disease
32 Disease Investigation
35 Disease Recognition
Section 4 Housing and Environment
36 Air Contaminants
36 Housing and Ventilation Systems
42 Lighting
43 Litter Management
43 Stocking Density
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Contents
4. 4
Section 5 Monitoring Live Weight and Uniformity of
Performance
44 Manual Weighing
46 Automatic Weighing Systems
46 Inconsistent Weight Data
Section 6 Pre-Processing Management
47 Preparation for Catching
49 Catch
50 Transport
Appendices Appendices
51 Appendix 1 - Production Records
54 Appendix 2 - Key Performance Parameters
58 Appendix 3 - Problem Solving
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Contents
5. 5
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Stockmanship
Stockmanship
Stockmanship is a continuous process that uses all of the
stockman's senses to monitor the flock.
Hearing Sight
Smell
Touch
Taste
Observe behavior such as bird
distribution in the house and
number of birds feeding, drinking,
and resting. Observe the
environment such as dust in the air
and litter quality. Observe bird
health and demeanor such as
posture, alertness, eyes, and gait.
Handle the birds to assess
crop fill and check the
birds’ general condition.
Take notice of air
movement across your
skin. Is there a draft?
What does the
temperature of the house
feel like?
Water and feed
quality.
Keep notice of
smells in the
environment such as
ammonia levels. Is
the air stale or
stuffy?
Listen to the birds’
vocalization, breathing,
and respiratory
sounds. Listen to the
mechanical sounds of
fan bearings and feed
augers.
6. 6
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Stockmanship
Stop to handle and assess a number of individual birds for the
following:
• Compare this 'stock sense' information with actual farm
records - are the birds on target?
• Investigate any irregularities and develop an action plan to
address any issues.
Eyes
Skin
Should be clear, no signs of
irritation.
Should be unblemished with
no scratches or hockburn
marks.
Breast
Should be
unblemished with
no blisters.
Feathering
Should be clean with no
feathers sticking out. Leg Health
What is the gait of the
birds?Feet & Hocks
Should be clean
with no irritation
markings.
Vent
Should be clean,
no signs of loose
droppings.
Beak & Tongue
Should have no
nasal discharge (or
feed sticking to
beak) and no signs
of tongue
discoloration.
Crop
Are they feeding? Does
the crop contain litter?
Is the crop very hard or
soft - this will indicate
water availability.
General Manner and Alertness
7. 7
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Stockmanship
BIRD HANDLING
It is important that all birds are handled in a calm and
correct way at all times. All people handling birds (for
catching, weighing, and physical assessment) should be
experienced and appropriately trained so that they can
handle the birds with the care that is appropriate for the
purpose and age of the bird.
8. Objective
To promote early development of feeding and drinking
behavior. This will allow the target body-weight profile to
be achieved with maximum uniformity and good welfare.
Pages Contents Handbook
Reference Page
08 Chick Management 14
12 Brooding Management 14
Chick Management
Section 1
Chick
Management
9. 8
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
Chick Management
Farm Preparation
• Clean and disinfect housing prior to chick arrival.
• Houses should be preheated for a minimum of 24 hours prior
to chick arrival.
• Recommended environmental conditions at placement are:
-- Air temperature: 30°C (86°F) measured at chick height
in the area where feed and water are positioned.
-- Litter temperature: 28-30°C (82.4-86.0°F).
-- Relative humidity (RH): 60-70%.
• Spread litter material evenly.
Situation Litter Depth
• Ideal brooding set-up and
brooding conditions
• No issue with litter disposal
• Temperate climate
5-10 cm (2-4 in)
• Ideal brooding set-up and
brooding conditions
• Problems with litter disposal
• Temperate climate
5 cm (2 in)
Below 5 cm (2 in) not recommended:
• Does not provide adequate insulation
from cold house floors
• Will have poorer moisture absorption
• Will result in increased contact with
manure
• Ideal brooding set-up and
brooding conditions
• No issue with litter disposal
• Cold climate
Up to 10 cm (4 in)
• Provides greater insulation against
cold floors
• Make feed and water available to the chicks immediately.
10. 9
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
Typical spot brooding layout (per 1000 chicks).
Typical layout of a whole-house brooding system.
Brooder
KEY
80% Paper Cover
Automatic Pan Feeders
Nipple Line
Mini-drinker
2 m (6.6 ft) 2 m (6.6 ft)
5 m (16.5 ft)
KEY
80% Paper Cover
Automatic Pan Feeders
Nipple Line
Mini-drinker
2 m (6.6 ft) 2 m (6.6 ft)
5 m (16.5 ft)
11. 10
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
• Install nipple lines at 12 birds per nipple and bell drinkers at a
minimum of 6 drinkers per 1,000 chicks.
• Provide feed as a dust-free crumble or mini-pellet on feeder trays
(1 per 100 chicks) and/or on paper (occupying at least 80% of the
brooding area).
• Chicks from different parent sources should be brooded in
separate areas within the house.
Chick Placement
• Unload chicks and place them quickly onto paper in the brooding
area.
• Leave chicks to settle for 1-2 hours with access to feed and
water.
• Check feed, water, temperature, and humidity after 1-2 hours and
adjust where necessary.
• Approximately 40 g (1.5 oz) of feed per bird should be placed in
flat trays or on paper and automatic feeding systems flooded with
feed.
Chick Quality
Example of good quality chicks.
• Clean after hatch.
• Stand firmly and walk
well.
• Alert and active.
• Free of deformities
with the yolk sac fully
retracted and have a
healed navel.
• Vocalize contentedly.
12. 11
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
Chick Vent Temperature
PROCEDURE
Measuring Chick Vent Temperature
1. Measure vent temperature on at least 5 chicks from at least
3 different locations of the house for the first 4-5 days after
placement.
2. Pay attention to cold or hot areas of the house (for example
walls or under brooders).
3. Gently pick the chick up and hold it so that the vent is
exposed, put the tip of the ThermoScan®
thermometer
onto the bare skin and record the temperature.
4. Do not take the vent temperature of chicks with wet or
dirty vents.
The ideal chick body temperature for the first 4-5 days after
hatching is 39.4-40.8°C (103-105°F).
13. 12
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTAL
Monitor chick behavior to ensure brooding
conditions are correct.
Brooding Management
The First 10 Days
• If paper does not disintegrate naturally it should be removed from
the house from day 3 onwards.
• Brooding rings, if used, should gradually be expanded from 3
days of age and removed completely by 5-7 days of age.
• Top up the feed on the paper/feed trays at regular intervals during
the first 3-4 days of age.
• Birds should be on the main feeding system by 6-7 days of age.
• Gradually change to a good quality pellet once transfer to the
main feeding system is complete. Do not give full pellets (3-4
mm) before 18 days of age.
Monitor Chick Behavior
Environmental conditions correct: chicks will spread evenly
throughout the brooding area - NO ACTION REQUIRED.
14. 13
Environmental conditions are too cold: chicks grouped together
under heaters or within the brooding area - INCREASE
TEMPERATURE AND/OR RELATIVE HUMIDITY.
Environmental conditions are too hot: chicks are crowded near the
house walls or brooding surrounds, away from heating sources
and/or they are panting - DECREASE TEMPERATURE AND/OR
RELATIVE HUMIDITY.
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
15. 14
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
Environment
The following table shows the dry bulb temperatures required to achieve
equivalent temperatures at varying RH. Dry bulb temperatures at the
ideal RH at an age are colored red.
Dry Bulb Temperature at RH%*
°C (°F)
Age
(days)
40 50 60 70 80
Day-old 36.0 (96.8) 33.2 (91.8) 30.8 (84.4) 29.2 (84.6) 27.0 (80.6)
3 33.7 (92.7) 31.2 (88.2) 28.9 (84.0) 27.3 (81.1) 26.0 (78.8)
6 32.5 (90.5) 29.9 (85.8) 27.7 (81.9) 26.0 (78.8) 24.0 (75.2)
9 31.3 (88.3) 28.6 (83.5) 26.7 (80.1) 25.0 (77.0) 23.0 (73.4)
12 30.2 (86.4) 27.8 (82.0) 25.7 (78.3) 24.0 (75.2) 23.0 (73.4)
15 29.0 (84.2) 26.8 (80.2) 24.8 (76.6) 23.0 (73.4) 22.0 (71.6)
18 27.7 (81.9) 25.5 (77.9) 23.6 (74.5) 21.9 (71.4) 21.0 (69.8)
21 26.9 (80.4) 24.7 (76.5) 22.7 (72.9) 21.3 (70.3) 20.0 (68.0)
24 25.7 (78.3) 23.5 (74.3) 21.7 (71.1) 20.2 (68.4) 19.0 (66.2)
27 24.8 (76.6) 22.7 (72.9) 20.7 (69.3) 19.3 (66.7) 18.0 (64.4)
*Temperature calculations based on a formula from Dr. Malcolm Mitchell (Scottish
Agricultural College).
Note: Chicks from donor flocks of less than 30 weeks will require a
start temperature +1°C or 2°F warmer than the given temperature
profile in the table above.
• Monitor temperature and relative humidity regularly (twice daily
in the first 5 days and daily thereafter) and check automatic
equipment with manual measurements at chick level.
• Calibrate automatic equipment at least once per crop.
16. 15
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTAL
Establish a minimum ventilation rate from day
one to provide fresh air and remove waste
gases and help maintain temperatures and RH
at the correct level.
Avoid drafts.
Use chick behavior and chick vent
temperatures to determine if environmental
conditions are correct.
17. 16
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
PROCEDURE
Crop Fill
1. Collect 30-40 chicks at 3-4 different places in the house (or
surround where spot brooding is used).
2. Gently feel the crop of each chick:
-- Full soft and rounded – chicks have found feed and
water.
-- Full but hard with original feed and texture felt – chicks
have found feed but little or no water.
The chick on the left has a full, rounded crop while the chick on
the right has an empty crop.
Target crop fill assessment guidelines.
Time of Crop Fill Check
After Placement
Target Crop Fill
(% of Chicks with Full Crops)
2 hours 75
8 hours >80
12 hours >85
24 hours >95
48 hours 100
Chick Start Assessment
18. 17
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Chick Management
MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTAL
Crop fill should be assessed and monitored
during the first 48 hours, but achieving the
correct crop fill in the first 24 hours is most
critical.
If target levels of crop fill are not being
achieved then something is preventing the
chicks from feeding and drinking and action
must be taken.
19. Provision of
Feed & Water
Objective
To provide the broiler’s lifetime nutrient requirements
through appropriate broiler nutrition and broiler feeding
programs so that the biological performance is maximized
without compromising bird welfare or the environment.
Pages Contents Handbook
Reference Page
18 Feeding Program 27
19 Feed Form and Physical
Quality
28
22 Whole Grain Feeding 31
22 Feeding Under Hot
Environmental Conditions
32
23 Drinking Systems 34
24 Feeding Systems 37
Provision of Feed and Water
Section 2
20. 18
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
Feeding Program
Feed Age Fed Comments
Starter
0-10 days
(but can be fed for
up to 14 days if
target weights not
achieved)
A good quality starter feed will support early
growth and physiological development,
ensuring target weights, good health and
welfare are achieved. Starter formulations
should be based primarily on promoting good
biological performance and profitability, not
feed costs.
Grower 11-25 days
Transition from starter to grower feed
involves a change in texture and nutrient
density and needs to be managed carefully to
avoid loss of performance.
Finisher
After 25 days
of age
Finisher feeds account for most of the total
feed intake and cost of feeding a broiler, and
must be designed to optimize financial return
for the type of product mix being produced.
Broilers fed beyond 42 days of age will
require an additional finisher feed.
• Diets should be regularly sampled and the samples analyzed to
ensure that the diets are as they should be.
Withdrawal Periods
• A Withdrawal feed will be required when regulated
pharmaceutical feed additives are used.
• Refer to local legislation to determine the withdrawal time
required.
• Extreme dietary nutrient reductions are not recommended during
the withdrawal period.
21. 19
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
Separate Feeding of Male and Female Broilers
• Feed the same feed to both sexes.
• Keep the duration of starter feed the same for both sexes.
• Shorten the feeding period of grower and finisher for females.
Feed Form and Physical Feed Quality
Ideal physical feed form and size are given in the table below.
Age Feed Type Feed Form and Size
0-10 days Starter
Sieved crumble: 1.5-3.0 mm diameter
or
Mini-pellets: 1.6-2.4 mm diameter,
1.5-3.0 mm length
11-18 days
Grower
(this is normally
the first delivery of
grower feed)
Sieved crumble: 1.5-3.0 mm diameter
or
Mini-pellets: 1.6-2.4 mm diameter,
4.0-7.0 mm length
19-24 days Grower
Pellets: 3.0-4.0 mm diameter,
5.0-8.0 mm length
25 days to
processing Finisher
Pellets: 3.0-4.0 mm diameter,
5.0-8.0 mm length
22. 20
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
The pictures below illustrate what a good quality sieved crumble,
pellet, and mash feed should look like.
Chick starter - sieved crumb.
Good quality pellet.
Mash feed.
23. 21
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTAL
Poor physical feed form will have a negative
impact on broiler performance.
Particle Size Profile
Physical feed quality can be assessed using a shaker sieve.
The Ross feed physical quality testing shaker sieve.
The recommended particle size distributions for crumbles and pellets
are shown in the table below.
Form
Starter Grower Finisher
Crumb
Pellet
(3.5 mm)
Pellet
(3.5 mm)
> 3 mm 15% >70% >70%
> 2 mm 40%
20% 20%
> 1 mm 35%
< 1 mm < 10% < 10% < 10%
24. 22
For mash feed particle size distributions are given below. The aim is
to minimize the amount of particles <1 mm.
Particles Coarse Mash
>3 mm 25%
2–3 mm 25%
1–2 mm 25%
<1 mm <25%
Whole Grain Feeding
• If whole grain (wheat, oats or barley) is added to the feed, the diet
must be formulated to balance for the inclusion of that grain so
that the final nutrient composition is at recommended levels.
• Safe inclusion guides of whole grain are given in the table below.
Ration Inclusion Rate of Whole Grain
Starter Zero
Grower Gradual increase to 15%
Finisher Gradual increase to 20%
• The grain being fed must be of good quality and free from fungal/
toxin contamination.
• Whole grain must be removed from the feed two days before
catching.
Feeding Under Hot Environmental Temperature
Conditions
• Ensure birds have access to feed during the cooler part of the day.
• Provide good quality cool water.
• Consider the strategic use of vitamins and electrolytes to help the
birds deal with heat-related environmental stresses.
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
25. 23
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
Drinking Systems
Drinker Type Requirements
Nipple Drinkers
<3 kg (6.6 lbs) 12 birds per nipple
>3 kg (6.6 lbs) 9 birds per nipple
Bell Drinkers 10 drinkers (40 cm / 17 in) per 1000 birds
• Birds should have access to clean, fresh, good quality drinking
water 24 hours a day.
• Monitor the feed to water ratio daily.
• At 21°C (70°F), birds are consuming sufficient water when the ratio
of water volume (l) to feed weight (kg) remains close to:
-- 1.8:1 for bell drinkers.
-- 1.7:1 for nipple drinkers with cups.
-- 1.6:1 for nipple drinkers without cups.
-- The water to feed ratio may be higher than this for the first few days.
• Ideal water temperature should be between 15°C (59°F) and 21°C
(70°F).
• Provide supplementary drinkers for the first 4 days of a flock's life.
• Adjust drinker heights daily.
Correct nipple drinker height adjustment with bird age.
Initially, the back of the chick
should form an angle of
35-45° with the floor.
As the bird grows, an angle of
approximately 75-85° with the
floor is correct.
26. 24
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
Correct height of bell drinker.
• Keep drinkers well-maintained and clean.
• In hot weather, water consumption will be increased and drinker
lines should be flushed at regular intervals to keep water cool.
Feeding Systems
Feeding space per bird for different feeder types.
Feeder Type Feeder Space
Pan feeders
45-80 birds per pan
(the lower ratio for bigger birds)
Flat chain/auger
2.5 cm/bird (40 birds/m of track)
1 in/bird (24 birds/ft of track)
Tube feeders
70 birds/tube
(for a 38 cm/15 in diameter feeder)
› Place bell drinkers throughout
the house.
› Broilers should not have to
travel more than 2 m (6.6 ft)
to get water.
›Water level should be 0.6 cm
(0.2 in) below the top of the
drinker until ten days of age.
› After ten days there should be
0.6 cm (0.2 in) of water in the
base of the drinker.
27. 25
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Provision of Feed and Water
• Adjust feeder height daily so that the birds' breasts are level with
the base of the feeder.
Correct height of feeders.
• Feed must be distributed equally and uniformly throughout the
feeding system.
• Allow the birds to clear the feeders once daily.
• Feeder space may need to be increased if the lighting program is
modified.
28. Objective
To achieve hygienic conditions within the poultry house,
and to minimize the adverse effects of disease. To attain
optimum performance and bird welfare, and to provide
assurance on food safety issues.
Pages Contents Handbook
Reference Page
26 Bird Health and
Biosecurity
55
30 Decreasing the Risk of
Disease
64
31 Disease Investigation 66
35 Disease Recognition 69
Health and Biosecurity
Section 3
Health &
Biosecurity
29. 26
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Health and Biosecurity
Bird Health and Biosecurity
Potential routes of disease exposure.
Chicks
Feed
Housing
Rodents
Water
Wild Birds
People
Litter
Insects
HatcheryEquipment &
Vehicles Other Poultry,
Livestock & Pets
30. 27
Cleaning
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
PROCEDURE
Site Cleaning
1. Plan – dates, times, labor, and equipment requirements.
2. Insect control – spray litter, equipment, and all surfaces
with a locally recommended insecticide as soon as the
flock has depleted or 2 weeks prior to depletion. A second
treatment should be completed prior to fumigation.
3. Remove dust.
4. Pre-spray throughout the inside of the house with a
detergent solution.
5. Remove equipment.
6. Remove and dispose of litter.
7. Wash using a pressure washer with foam detergent and
rinse with hot water.
8. Thoroughly clean staff facilities and staff equipment as well.
9. Ensure all external areas are thoroughly cleaned.
PROCEDURE
Cleaning the Water System
1. Drain pipes and header tanks.
2. Flush lines with clean water.
3. Scrub header tanks to remove scale and biofilm deposit
and drain to the exterior of the house.
4. Make up header tank to normal operating level with
additional sanitizer solution at appropriate strength.
Replace lid.
5. Run a sanitizer solution through the drinker lines from the
header tank ensuring there are no air locks.
6. Allow disinfectant to remain for a minimum of 4 hours.
7. Drain and rinse with fresh water.
8. Refill with fresh water prior to chick arrival.
Health and Biosecurity
31. 28
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Health and Biosecurity
PROCEDURE
Cleaning the Feeding System
1. Empty, wash, and disinfect all feeding equipment.
2. Empty bulk bins and connecting pipes, and brush-out
where possible. Clean out and seal all openings.
3. Fumigate wherever possible.
Disinfection
• Disinfection should take place once all cleaning and repairs are
done.
• Use an approved disinfectant and follow manufacturers'
instructions at all times.
• Apply disinfectant using either a pressure-washer or a backpack
sprayer.
• If using a selective coccidial treatment, this should be applied to all
clean internal surfaces and be used by suitably trained staff only.
Formalin Fumigation
• Fumigation is hazardous to animals and humans and is not
permitted in all countries. Where it is permitted it must be
conducted by trained personnel following local safety legislation
and guidelines.
• Fumigation should be undertaken as soon as possible after
disinfection has been completed.
• Surfaces should be damp, the house warmed to a minimum of
21°C (70°F) and RH greater than 65%.
• After fumigation, keep the house sealed for 24 hours with NO
ENTRY signs clearly displayed.
• The house must be thoroughly ventilated before anyone enters.
Formalin levels must be less than 2 ppm before anyone enters the
house.
• After clean litter has been spread, fumigation should be repeated.
32. 29
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
Evaluation of Farm Cleaning and Disinfection Efficiency
• Bacterial counts and salmonella isolations should be completed
at least once a flock to determine the effectiveness of cleaning.
Water Quality
Ideal water quality criteria for poultry.
Criteria Concentration (ppm)
Total Dissolved Solids 0-1000
pH 6.5-8.5
Sulphates 50-200
Chloride 250
Potassium <300
Magnesium 50-125
Nitrate Nitrogen 10 (maximum level)
Nitrates trace
Iron <0.3
Fluoride 2 (maximum level)
Bacterial Coliforms 0 cfu/ml
Calcium 600 (maximum level)
Sodium 50-300
• Test water quality at least once a year (more often if there are
perceived water quality issues or performance problems).
• Chlorination - to give between 3 and 5 ppm free chlorine at the
drinker level is usually effective in controlling bacteria but this is
dependent on the type of chlorine component used.
• Where hard water is a problem (iron levels > 3 mg/l), water should
be filtered using a 40-50 micron filter.
• It is a good idea to routinely check the water supply on farm
during a flock:
-- Run water out of the end of each line.
-- If there is a high level of particulate matter visible to the
eye, action should be taken.
Health and Biosecurity
33. 30
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
Decreasing the Risk of Disease
Preventing Diseases Transmitted by Humans
• Prevent unauthorized access to the farm.
• Shower on to the farm and change clothing.
• Maintain a record of visitors.
• Wash and sanitize hands and boots when entering and leaving
houses.
• Clean and disinfect all equipment before bringing in to the house.
• Visit youngest flocks first.
Preventing Diseases Transmitted by Animals
• Whenever possible, use an “all in/all out” placement cycle.
• Downtime between flocks will reduce contamination of the farm.
• Do not leave equipment, building materials or litter lying around.
• Clean-up feed spills as soon as they occur.
• Store litter material in bags or inside a storage building or bin.
• Ensure all buildings are adequately sealed against access by wild
birds or vermin.
• Maintain an effective rodent/vermin control program.
Vaccination
• Vaccination programs must be based on local disease
challenges and vaccine availability.
• Vaccination alone cannot protect flocks against overwhelming
disease challenges and/or poor management and biosecurity
practices.
• Every bird must receive the intended dose of vaccine.
Health and Biosecurity
34. 31
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Health and Biosecurity
Disease Investigation
The tables below highlight examples of mortality parameters possibly
related to bird quality and bird health giving potential investigative
actions.
Troubleshooting common issues in the 0-7 day brooding phase.
Observe Investigate Likely Causes
Poor Chick Quality:
Increased dead on
arrivals (D.O.A.)
Chicks inactive and
slow to respond,
lacking energy
General chick
appearance:
--Unhealed navels
--Red hocks/beaks
--Dark wrinkled legs
--Discolored or
malodorous yolks or
navels
Feed, Sanitation, Air,
and Water:
Source flock health and
hygiene status
Egg handling, storage,
and transport
Hatchery sanitation,
incubation, and
management
Chick processing,
handling, and transport
Inadequate diet of source flock
Health and hygiene status of source
flock, hatchery, and equipment
Incorrect parameters for egg
storage, relative humidity,
temperatures, and equipment
management
Incorrect moisture loss during
incubation
Incorrect incubation temperature
Dehydration caused by excessive
spread of hatch time or late
removal of chicks
Continued
35. 32
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
Observe Investigate Likely Causes
Small Chicks Days
1-4
Feed, Light, Air, Water,
and Space:
Crop fill at 24 hours
post chick placement
Availability and
accessibility to feed and
water
Bird comfort and welfare
Less than 95% of chicks with
adequate crop fill by 24 hours post
placement
Weak chicks
Inadequate feeders and drinkers
Inadequate feed and water levels
Equipment location and
maintenance issues
Inappropriate brooding temperature
and environment
Runted and Stunted
Chicks:
Small birds, as early as
4-7 days
Feed, Light, Litter,
Air, Water, Space,
Sanitation, and
Security:
Flock source
Hydration status of
chicks
Brooding conditions
Feed quality and
accessibility
Downtime between
flocks
Disease challenge
Chicks sourced from widely
different flock ages
Chicks unable to find or reach water
Incorrect brooding temperatures
Chicks unable to find feed or poor
feed quality
Short downtimes between flocks
Inadequate cleaning and
disinfection
Disease
Poor biosecurity and hygiene
practices
Health and Biosecurity
36. 33
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Health and Biosecurity
Troubleshooting common issues after 7 days of age.
Observe Investigate Likely Causes
Disease:
Metabolic
Bacterial
Viral
Fungal
Protozoal
Parasitic
Toxins
Feed, Light, Litter,Air,Water,
Space, Sanitation, and Security:
Broiler farm hygiene
Local disease challenge
Vaccination and disease
prevention strategies
Feed quality and supply
Lighting and ventilation
Poor environmental conditions
Poor biosecurity
High disease challenge
Low disease protection
Inadequate or improper
implementation of disease
prevention
Poor feed quality
Poor bird access to feed
Excessive or insufficient
ventilation
Stress Potential stressors:
Temperature
Management
Immunosuppressive disorders
Inadequate farm management
Inadequate equipment
Inadequate bird comfort and
welfare
Continued
37. 34
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Health and Biosecurity
Observe Investigate Likely Causes
High Number
of Birds D.O.A.
Processing Plant:
High plant
condemnation rate
Feed, Light, Litter,Air,Water,
Space, Sanitation, and Security:
Flock records and data
Health status of flock
History of flock during the grow-
out period (such as feed, water or
power outages)
Potential equipment hazards on
the farm
Bird handling by the catchers,
handlers, and transporters
Experience and training level
of individuals handling and
transporting birds
Conditions during catching and
transporting (such as weather and
equipment)
Health issues during grow-out
Management of relevant
historical events affecting bird
health and welfare
Improper bird handling and
hauling by crews
Harsh conditions (weather
or equipment related) during
handling, catching, or transport
to the processing plant
38. 35
Disease Recognition
The table below highlights some of the ways in which signs of
disease can be recognized.
Observations by Farm
Personnel
Farm and Laboratory
Monitoring
Data and Trend
Analysis
Daily assessment of bird
behavior
Bird appearance (such as
feathering, size, uniformity,
coloring)
Environmental changes
(such as litter quality, heat
or cold stress, ventilation
issues)
Clinical signs of illness
(such as respiratory noise
or distress, depression,
fecal droppings,
vocalization)
Flock uniformity
Regular farm visitation
Routine post-mortem
examinations of normal
and diseased birds
Proper sample collection
size and type
Proper choice of
subsequent analysis
and actions following
post-mortem examination
- needs validation/
clarification
Routine microbiological
testing of farms, feed,
litter, birds, and other
appropriate material
Appropriate diagnostic
testing
Appropriate serology
Daily and weekly mortality
Water and feed
consumption
Temperature trends
D.O.A. after placement on
the farm or after arrival at
the processing plant
Condemnation at
processing
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Health and Biosecurity
39. Objective
To provide an environment that permits the bird to
achieve optimum performance in growth rate, uniformity,
feed efficiency and yield, while ensuring that the health
and welfare of the bird are not compromised.
Pages Contents Handbook
Reference Page
36 Air Contaminants 71
37 Housing and
Ventilation Systems
72
42 Lighting 88
43 Litter Management 94
43 Stocking Density 96
Housing and Environment
Section 4
Housing &
Environment
40. 36
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Air Contaminants
Effects of common broiler house air contaminants.
Observe Investigate
Ammonia Ideal level < 10 ppm
Can be detected by smell at 20 ppm or above.
>10 ppm will damage lung surface.
>20 ppm will increase susceptibility to respiratory diseases.
>25 ppm may reduce growth rate depending upon
temperature and age.
Carbon Dioxide Ideal level <3,000 ppm
>3,500 ppm causes ascites. Carbon dioxide is fatal at high
levels.
Carbon Monoxide Ideal level 10 ppm
>50 ppm affects bird health. Carbon monoxide is fatal at
high levels.
Dust Damage to respiratory tract lining and increased susceptibility
to disease. Dust levels within the house should be kept to a
minimum.
Humidity Ideal level 50-60% after brooding
Effects vary with temperature.At >29°C (84.2°F) and >70%
relative humidity, growth will be affected. Relative humidity
<50%, particularly during brooding, will affect growth.
MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTAL
Evaluating bird behavior is the best way to
verify if ventilation settings are correct.
41. 37
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Housing and Ventilation Systems
Natural Ventilation: Open-Sided Housing
• Naturally ventilated houses require continuous 24 hour
management.
• Monitor both ambient conditions and the conditions within the
house.
• Adjust curtains or sidewall flaps in response to any changes in
environment.
• During periods of cold weather, use circulation fans to enhance
temperature control but beware of too much air movement at bird
level.
• During hot weather, use circulation fans mounted near the side
walls to draw cooler, less humid air into the house.
• When using a fogging system:
-- Monitor humidity levels closely to ensure they do not
become too high.
-- Ensure good air movement is maintained.
Controlled Environment Housing
• Closed environment broiler houses should be equipped to meet
the demands of the 3 stages of ventilation.
-- Minimum ventilation.
-- Transitional ventilation.
-- Tunnel ventilation.
42. 38
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Negative pressure ventilation systems (controlled environment
housing).
Achieve good airflow and volume
• Ventilation only
works effectively
if the house is
adequately sealed.
• This ensures the
speed at which air
enters the house is
controlled.
• Avoid air leaks.
37.0°C
25.0°C
26
28
30
32
34
36
26
28
30
32
34
36
Ensure house is tightly sealed
• If incoming airflow
speed and volume
is too low:
• Cold air will drop
directly on to the
birds/litter
• Litter will
become wet and
birds may get
chilled
Air leaks.
43. 39
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
• Open air inlets must
be evenly distributed
through the house and
be opened equally.
• This will create
uniform:
• Volume of airflow
• Speed of airflow
• Direction of airflow
• Distribution of airflow
• At lower ventilation
rates close some
inlets to force the
same volume of air
through fewer inlets.
Uniform air inlet openings
Monitor and evaluate regularly
• Monitor house
pressure & air speed:
• Pressure should be 30-40
Pa (0.12-0.16 inches of
water column) depending
on house width
• Air speed around 4
m/sec (800 ft/min)
measured at air inlet
• Use smoke tests to
confirm if airflow
direction and inlet
settings are correct.
• Monitor bird behavior
and litter quality.
• Complete regular
evaluation of:
• Air quality
• RH
• Signs of condensation
• Dust levels
44. 40
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Minimum Ventilation
• A minimum amount of ventilation must be given at all times.
• Minimum ventilation is used for young chicks’, nighttime, or cool
weather ventilation.
• Minimum ventilation should be timer not temperature driven.
• Ensure negative pressure is high enough to direct cold incoming
air up to the apex of the house roof so it can warm and circulate
before dropping to bird level.
• Air inlets should be opened a minimum of 5 cm (2 in) to ensure
adequate air movement.
Transitional Ventilation
• Total side wall inlet capacity should be enough to allow 40-50%
of the total tunnel fan capacity to be used.
PROCEDURE
Evaluating Negative Pressure of Controlled
Environment Housing
1. Close all doors and inlets in the house.
2. Switch on one 122 cm/127 cm (48 in/50 in) fan, or two 91
cm (36 in) fans.
3. The pressure within the house should measure about 37.5
Pa (0.15 inches of water column).
45. 41
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Tunnel Ventilation
• Only use in warm to hot weather or where large birds are being
grown.
• Ensure side wall fans are turned off (if they were used during
transitional ventilation).
• Ensure side wall inlets are closed.
-- All air entering the house should enter through the
tunnel inlets only.
• Installation of migration fences every 33 m (100 ft) should be
considered.
Evaporative Cooling
• Keep fans, foggers, evaporators, and inlets clean.
• Too much water on a cooling pad in the initial stages of use will
decrease house temperature too quickly.
• The cooling pump should be run on a cycle (On/Off) to allow
better control of temperature.
• Ensure that the correct pressure is achieved for the type of
fogging system used:
-- Low Pressure, 7-15 bar (102-218 psi); droplet size up to
30 microns.
-- High pressure, 28-41 bar (406-595 psi); droplet size
10-15 microns.
-- Ultra high pressure (misting), 48-69 bar (696-1001 psi);
droplet size 5 microns.
• Evaporative cooling adds moisture to the air and increases
relative humidity. To ensure bird welfare, operate the system
based on relative humidity as well as dry bulb temperature.
• Ensure that the correct air speed is maintained when using an
evaporative type cooling system.
46. 42
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Lighting
• The exact lighting program given will depend on local legislation,
individual flock circumstances, and market requirements, but
the following recommendations will benefit bird welfare and
biological performance:
-- From 0-7 days of age, chicks should have 23 hours
light and 1 hour dark.
-- After 7 days, a period of darkness of 4-6 hours will be
beneficial.
• Changes to the lighting program should be made over a period
of 2-3 days.
• Dawn to dusk programs will result in less crowding at the feeder.
• Intermittent lighting programs should be simple providing at least
one continuous block of 4 hours darkness. Adequate feeder and
drinker space must be provided.
• Local legislation for light intensity must be followed but as a
minimum:
-- Provide 30-40 lux (3-4 foot candles) to 7 days of age.
-- Provide at least 5-10 lux (0.5-1.0 foot candles) after 7
days of age.
• During the dark period, light intensity must be less than 0.4 lux
(0.04 foot candles).
• Light must be uniformly distributed throughout the house and
light seepage into the house prevented.
47. 43
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Housing and Environment
Litter Management
Causes of poor litter quality.
Stocking Density
• Follow local legislation and requirements of quality assurance
standards set by product purchasers.
• Ensure ventilation and feeder and drinker space is appropriate for
stocking density.
Litter
Quality
Poor Environmental
Management
Drinker
Management
High Stocking
Density
Poor Water
Quality
High Salt,
Protein Diets
Poor Quality Litter
Material or Depth
Enteritis Due
to Disease
Poor Quality Fats
in the Diet
48. Objective
To assess live flock performance by regularly weighing
birds and comparing against targets to ensure that
defined end-product specifications are as closely met as
possible.
Pages Contents Handbook
Reference Page
44 Manual Weighing 98
46 Automatic
Weighing Systems
99
46 Inconsistent
Weight Data
100
Monitoring Live Weight and
Uniformity of Performance
Section 5
Monitoring
LiveWeight &
Uniformity of
Performance
49. 44
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Monitoring Live Weight and
Uniformity of Performance
Manual Weighing
• When weighing birds manually, birds should be weighed regularly
and at the same time of day.
• On each occasion, equal sized samples of birds should be taken
from at least 3 locations in each house or pen.
Bulk Bird Weighing
• Between 0 and 21 days, birds should be weighed as a bulk
population.
• A minimum of 100 birds (or 1% of the population, whichever is
larger) should be weighed each time.
50. 45
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
PROCEDURE
Bulk Bird Weighing
1. Suspend the scales with bucket or weighing vessel
attached above the pen in a secure place and set to
“zero”.
2. Sample birds from at least 3 evenly distributed locations
throughout each house, sample points should be away
from doors and walls.
3. Calmly and correctly handle birds, count and place them
into the weighing vessel until it has the desired number of
birds in it (10-20 birds depending on the size of the vessel).
4. Place the weighing vessel back onto the scales, wait until
it is still, and record the bulk weight from the scale and
bird count before releasing the birds back into the main
house area.
5. Repeat this process until ALL birds in the sample within
the catching pen have been weighed (this will eliminate any
selective bias).
6. When all sample birds in the house have been weighed,
add all recorded weights together and divide by the total
number of birds weighed to give the average bird weight
for that house.
Example of bird
sample points for
weighing. The red
circles show where
a sample of birds
should be taken.
Monitoring Live Weight and
Uniformity of Performance
51. 46
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Monitoring Live Weight and
Uniformity of Performance
Individual Bird Weighing
• Individual birds should be weighed from 21-28 days onwards,
depending on age of processing.
• Birds should be caught using a catching frame or pen.
Automatic Weighing Systems
• Readings from any auto-weigher should be regularly checked
for usage rate (number of completed weights per day) and the
mean live weights achieved should be cross-checked by manual
weighing at least once per week.
• Inaccurate live weight estimation will result from small sample
sizes:
-- Check weigher location.
Inconsistent Weight Data
If a sample weighing produces data that are inconsistent with the
previous weights or expected gains, a second sample of birds
should be weighed immediately. This will confirm whether or not
there is a problem and identify potential issues (e.g. improper
sampling procedures, drinker failures, or disease) needing to be
resolved.
PROCEDURE
Individual Bird Weighing
1. Scales should be suspended above the pen in a secure
place and set to “zero” with a ‘shackle’ in place for holding
the birds firmly during the weighing process.
2. A minimum of 100 birds (or 1% of the population
whichever is larger) should be weighed each time.
3. All birds in the catching pen must be weighed to eliminate
selective bias.
4. Once all sample birds have been weighed in the house,
calculate average live-weight and CV% for each house.
52. Objective
To manage the final phase of the production process so that
broilers are transferred to the processor in optimum condition,
ensuring that the processing requirements are met and high
standards of bird welfare are maintained.
Pages Contents Handbook
Reference Page
47 Preparation for
Catching
105
49 Catch 107
50 Transport 110
Pre-Processing Management
Section 6
Pre-Processing
Management
53. 47
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Pre-Processing Management
Preparation for Catching
• Allow 3 days on 23 hours light and 1 hour dark at a minimum of
5-10 lux (0.5-1.0 foot candles) prior to catching.
• It is recommended that feed is removed from the birds 8-12
hours before processing.
• Feed withdrawal period = time in house without feed + catching
time + transport time + holding (lairage) time.
• The presence of watery droppings from broilers awaiting
processing, watery fluid in the small intestine, and litter in the
crop and gizzard all indicate excessive withdrawal times (more
than 12 hours).
• The presence of feed in the crop or fecal contamination at the
processing plant indicates that the feed withdrawal period has
been inadequate (less than 8 hours).
• Delay the removal of drinkers for as long as possible.
• Follow statutory withdrawal periods for pharmaceutical products.
54. 48
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Pre-Processing Management
Pre-Catch
Prior to catching the following checks should be made.
Pre-Catch Check Action
Time taken to
catch and transport
birds
Calculate the time taken to catch and transport birds and
start the catch according to when the birds are scheduled to
be processed.
Number of crates/
modules
Determine the number of crates/modules and trucks needed
to transport the birds prior to catching.
Equipment Ensure all equipment used (including vehicles, crates, fencing,
and nets), is clean, disinfected, and in good condition.
Condition of ground
at entrance to
poultry house
Repair, compact, and level the ground at the entrance to the
poultry house (and any secondary roads leading to the house)
to ensure a smooth exit for the loaded trucks.
Litter Replace wet litter to ease catching.
Feeding equipment Remove feeding equipment from the house or reposition it
to avoid obstruction to the birds or personnel (raise feeding
equipment to above head height).
Penning Within large houses, separate birds into pens.
Light intensity Reduce light intensity during catching. Do not suddenly increase
light intensity. For nighttime catching, which is preferred, light
intensity within the house should be reduced to as low a level
as possible that will allow the birds to be caught safely. For
daytime catching, light intensity should be reduced as much as
possible by the use of curtains over doors.
Light intensity must however be sufficient to allow safe and
careful catching.The best results are achieved when birds are
allowed to settle after lights have been dimmed and when there
is minimum disturbance before catching.
Ventilation Maintain effective ventilation. The ventilation system should
be monitored and adjusted carefully throughout the catching
procedure to prevent heat build-up within the house and
ensure adequate air movement over the birds. Birds should be
monitored closely for signs of over-heating (panting).
55. 49
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Pre-Processing Management
Catch
Correct way to catch a broiler.
• Place birds carefully into the crates or modules, loading from the
top down.
• The number of birds per transport crate or module is subject to
local legislation. In high temperatures reduce bird numbers.
• Mechanical catching must follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• During catching main house doors should remain closed to
maintain adequate negative pressure and ventilation. Monitor
birds closely for signs of over-heating.
• Remove or raise obstructions such as feeders or drinkers before
beginning the catching operation.
• Use partitions in large houses to avoid crowding.
56. 50
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Pre-Processing Management
Transport
• Local transport legislation must be followed.
• Vehicles must provide adequate protection from the environment
and ventilation.
• Ventilation and/or extra heating should be used when necessary:
-- During loading.
-- When the vehicle is stationary.
-- At the holding area at the processing plant.
• Birds should not remain on the vehicle for any longer than
necessary.
58. 51
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 1 - Production Records
Production Records
Records required in broiler production.
Event Records Comment
Chick
placement
Number of day-olds
Flock of origin and flock age
Date and time of arrival
Chick quality
Crop fill
Live weight, uniformity, number of dead
on arrival
Check crop fill percentage for age
Mortality Daily
Weekly
Cumulative
Record by sex if possible
Record culls and reason for culling
separately
Post-mortem records of excessive mortality
Scoring of coccidial lesions will indicate
level of coccidial challenge
Record actual numbers and percentages
Pay particular attention to 7-day mortality
Medication Date
Amount
Batch number
As per veterinary instruction
Vaccination Date of vaccination
Vaccine type
Batch number
Expiry date
Any unexpected vaccine reaction should
be recorded
Continued
59. 52
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 1 - Production Records
Event Records Comment
Live weight Weekly average live weight
Weekly uniformity (CV%)
More frequent measurement is required
when predicting processing weight
Feed Date of delivery
Quantity
Feed type
Feed form
Date of starting feed
withdrawal prior to catching
Accurate measurement of feed consumed
is essential to measure FCR and to
determine cost effectiveness of broiler
operation
Check feed quality
Water Daily consumption
Water to feed ratio
Water quality
Level of chlorination
Plot daily consumption in graph form,
preferably per house
Sudden fluctuation in water consumption is
an early indicator of problems
Mineral and/or bacteriological especially
where bore holes or open water reservoirs
are used
Environment Temperature:
• Floor temperature as well
as litter temperature
- daily minimum - daily
maximum - during
brooding, 4-5 times
per day
- litter during brooding
- external temperature
(daily)
• Relative Humidity (daily)
Air quality
Litter quality
Last calibration of
equipment and by whom
Multiple locations should be monitored,
especially in chick litter area
Automatic systems should be cross-checked
manually each day
Ideally record dust, CO2
, NH3
or as a
minimum observe levels of dust and NH3
Continued
60. 53
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 1 - Production Records
Event Records Comment
Depletion Number of birds removed
Time and date of removal
Information
from
processing
plant
Carcass quality
Health inspection
Carcass composition
Type and % condemnations
Cleaning out Total bacterial counts After disinfection, salmonella,
staphylococcus or E. coli may be monitored
if required
House
inspection
Record time of daily checks
Make note of any bird
observations
Behavior and environmental conditions
Lighting
program
Dark and light period
Time on and time off
Intermittent or not
Visitors Who
Why
Date and reason for visit
Previous farm visits (place
and date)
Should be completed for every visitor to
ensure traceability
61. 54
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 2 - Key Performance
Parameters
Key Performance Parameters
Production Efficiency Factor (PEF)+
Livability x Live Weight in kg
Age in Days x FCR
e.g. Age 42 days, live weight 2,652 g, mortality 2.80%, FCR 1.75
97.20 x 2.652
x 100 = 351
42 x 1.75
e.g. Age 46 days, live weight 3006 g, mortality 3.10%, FCR 1.83
96.90 x 3.006
x 100 = 346
46 x 1.83
NOTES: The higher the value, the better the technical performance.
This calculation is heavily biased by daily gain. When comparing
across different environments, comparisons should be made at
similar ages at processing.
+ Also referred to as European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF)
x 100
62. 55
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
Coefficient of Variation % (CV%)
Standard Deviation
CV% = x 100
Average Body Weight
e.g. A flock has an average body weight of 2550 g (5.62 lb) with a
standard deviation around that average weight of 250 g (0.55 lb).
250 g (0.55 lb)
CV% = x 100 = 9.80
2550 g (5.62 lb)
NOTES: The lower the CV%, the more uniform and less variable the
flock. CV% is an important tool to estimate the live weight of the flock.
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)
Total Feed Consumed
FCR =
Total Live Weight
e.g. A sample of 10 birds has a total live weight of 31480 g (69.34 lb)
and they have consumed a total feed amount of 36,807 g (81.07 lb). The
average feed conversion for this sample set would be calculated as follows:
36807 g (81.07 lb)
FCR = = 1.169
31480 g (69.34 lb)
NOTES: The lower the FCR, the more efficient a bird (or sample of birds)
is at converting the feed consumed into live body weight. It is especially
important for broilers to have good FCR because they are often processed
at a targeted live weight and customers want to get as much saleable
meat as possible.
Appendix 2 - Key Performance
Parameters
63. 56
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
Adjusted Feed Conversion Ratio (Adjusted FCR)
Target Body Weight - Actual Body Weight
Adjusted FCR = Actual FCR +
Factor
Depending on the units of measurement used, the factor in the above
equation will change. For AH, a factor of 10 lb, 4.5 kg, or 4500 g should
be used, depending on the unit of measurement. This equation provides
a good estimation of adjusted FCR for broiler performance comparison.
However, it is important to note that adjusting FCR to target weights
beyond + or – 0.5 lb / 0.227 kg / 227 g of your actual weight can distort
the comparison.
e.g (Unit is in g)
Target Body Weight - Actual Body Weight
Adjusted FCR = Actual FCR +
4500 g
1350 g - 1290 g
Adjusted FCR = 1.215 +
4500 g
=1.215 + (60 g / 4500 g)
=1.215 + 0.013
=1.228 Adjusted FCR
Appendix 2 - Key Performance
Parameters
64. 57
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE:
e.g (Unit is in kg)
Target Body Weight - Actual Body Weight
Adjusted FCR = Actual FCR +
4.5 kg
1.350 kg - 1.290 kg
Adjusted FCR = 1.215 +
4.5 kg
=1.215 + (0.06 / 4.5 kg)
=1.215 + 0.013
=1.228 Adjusted FCR
e.g. (Unit is in lb)
Target Body Weight - Actual Body Weight
Adjusted FCR = Actual FCR +
10 lb
2.97 lb - 2.84 lb
Adjusted FCR = 1.215 +
10 lb
=1.215 + (0.13 lb / 10 lb)
=1.215 + 0.013
=1.228 Adjusted FCR
NOTES: Adjusted FCR is a useful calculation when you want to measure
how a flock is performing against a common target weight. It is also
helpful when doing breed comparisons, as they can be analyzed at a
specific target weight.
Appendix 2 - Key Performance
Parameters
65. 58
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 3 - Problem Solving
Problem Possible Causes Action
High early
mortality
(>1% in first
week)
Poor chick quality
Incorrect brooding
Disease
Appetite
Check hatchery practice and egg hygiene
Re-adjust brooders
Post-mortems on dead chicks, take veterinary
advice
Measure and achieve target crop fill levels
Check feed availability - amount and space
High mortality
(post 7 days)
Metabolic diseases
(ascites, sudden
death syndrome)
Infectious diseases
Leg problems
Check ventilation rates
Check feed formulation
Avoid excessive early growth rates
Check hatchery ventilation
Establish cause (post-mortem)
Take veterinary advice on medication and
vaccination
Check water consumption
Check calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D levels
in diet
Use lighting programs to increase bird activity
Poor early
growth and
uniformity
Nutrition
Chick quality
Environmental
conditions
Appetite
Disease
Check Starter ration - availability and nutritional
and physical quality
Check water supply - availability and quality
Check hatchery procedures - egg hygiene, storage,
incubation conditions, hatch time, transport time
and conditions
Check temperature and humidity profiles
Check daylength
Check air quality - CO2
,dust,minimum ventilation rate
Check poor stimulation of appetite - low proportion
of birds with full crops
Post-mortems on dead chicks, take veterinary advice
Continued
Problem Solving
66. 59
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 3 - Problem Solving
Problem Possible Causes Action
Poor late
growth and
uniformity
Low nutrient intake
Infectious disease
Environmental
conditions
Check feed nutritional and physical quality and
formulation
Check feed intake and accessibility
Excessive early restriction
Lighting program too restrictive
See high mortality
Check ventilation rates
Check stocking density
Check house temperatures
Check water and feed availability
Check feeder and drinker space
Poor litter
quality
Nutrition
Environment
Infectious disease
Poor quality fats in diet
Excess salts in diet
Excess protein in diet
Insufficient litter depth at start
Inappropriate litter material
Drinker design and adjustment (spillage problems)
Humidity too high
Stocking density too high
Insufficient ventilation
House temperature too low
Causing enteritis, take veterinary advice
Poor feed
conversion
Poor growth
High mortality
(especially late
mortality)
Feed wastage
Environment
Nutrition
See poor early growth,poor late growth,high mortality
Check settings/adjustments of feeders
Allow birds to clear feeders twice daily
Check house temperature is not too low
See high mortality
Check feed formulation and quality
Continued
67. 60
ROSS BROILER POCKET GUIDE: Appendix 3 - Problem Solving
Problem Possible Causes Action
Poor feather
cover
Environment
Nutrition
Check house temperature is not too high
Check ration for methionine and cystine content
and balance
Factory
downgrading
Ascites
Blisters and burns
(e.g. hockburn)
Bruises and breaks
Scratching
Deep pectoral
myopathy (also
known as Oregon
or Green Muscle
Disease)
Excessive fatness
See high mortality
Check stocking density
Check litter quality
Increase bird activity (e.g. feeding or lighting
programs)
Check handling procedures at weighing and catching
Excessive light stimulation
Check handling procedures at weighing and catching
Check feeder and drinker space
Check access to feed and water
Birds excessively disturbed during growth, e.g. at
partial depletion (thinning), weighing, etc.
Poor feed distribution
Check nutritional balance of diet
Check house temperature not too high