Layer Poultry Production Guide 2023 PDF

Layer poultry production The poultry industry has developed vastly in the past 50 years. There are many different breeds of chickens available, but selection towards increased productivity has seen the development of specific breeds for meat and egg production. The goal of any lay...

Layer poultry production The poultry industry has developed vastly in the past 50 years. There are many different breeds of chickens available, but selection towards increased productivity has seen the development of specific breeds for meat and egg production. The goal of any layer farm is to produce as many eggs as possible at the lowest cost.. During the growth cycle of a pullet, many management factors may affect the total lifetime egg production of the layer hen. Management and access to information is a very important aspect of egg production.. If you want to be a successful egg producer, you should master the day-to-day management tasks of running a layer farm and the most significant element is the feed. This includes the availability and effective application of feed in the layer house. Feed makes up approximately 60-75% of the total operating cost. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to make use of a well-balanced, cost- effective feed ration.. This is why we at Feedmaster only use quality raw materials, formulated by qualified poultry nutritionists, to supply the poultry farmer with a quality feed solution by adhering to ISO22000 compliance and Quality Assurance. Different systems of layer farming Free-range system The free-range system implies that the hens walk around freely outside but fenced, are not housed, or only partially housed. Animal welfare and initial start-up costs of a battery system are one of the deciding factors when choosing between a free-range production system and a battery production system. Under normal conditions, a free-range system has a higher feed conversion ratio, because the hens move around more. Therefore wasting more energy which increases production costs. The extra production costs of a free-range system is another factor which contributes to whether or not it will be economically viable to produce under these conditions. The producer should also insist on getting a premium The following factors are important: Hens will lay eggs everywhere in dark corners so build nesting boxes to reduce time spent searching for eggs. Bring hens into a cage at night to reduce losses from predation. Remove eggs daily to avoid hens getting broody. Page 1 Layer Guide 2023 28 November 2023 11:17:21  Water and feed should always be available Do daily check-ups on hens to ensure they are healthy Lots of dirty eggs in a free-range system can increase the effort of cleaning eggs. Battery/Caged system A battery-caged system keeps many layers caged in a housed environment, mostly elevated from the ground. The system is a more intensive system with normally higher egg yields due to less motion, better control over feed intake, and control over environmental factors. (e.g. temperature fluctuations if compared to free-range chickens). The start-up costs of a battery system are very expensive, but greatly reduces the risk of salmonella contamination and parasite infestation. The following factors are important: Hens cannot look for their food so feed should always be available Cage floors need to be cleaned weekly Monitor chickens when placed, to ensure water and food is located To improve production, add stress powder and vitamins to water at least every two weeks. The system chosen depends on your market, preference or dislike of either system, availability of space, and finances. Page 2 Layer Guide 2023 28 November 2023 11:17:21