Breeder bird management1. Breeder bird

A. Broiler breeder : The birds that are used to breed the chicks that become broiler meat chickens are called parent birds or broiler breeders.

B. Layer breeder : The birds that are used to breed the chicks that become commercial layer chickens are called parent birds or layer breeders.

2. Why management of breeder bird is important ? Since the parent stocks are costly and their hatching eggs and pullet chicks fetch higher income, more care has to be taken on parent stock, to generate more profits. Parent stock is bred to produce high-performance layers for profitable table egg production. The source lines are carefully selected and each parent flock represents a significant economic investment. To maximize return on investment, good management practices are required. Egg quality at the parent and commercial level depends on a combination of genetic potential and nongenetic factors (health, nutrition, light, temperature, air quality, technical environment). It pays to control the non-genetic variables in order to help the birds express their genetic potential. Layer breeder management The layer breeder management is more or less similar to the management of commercial layers.

1. Floor space requirement and type of rearing for layer breeder bird .a.The layer parent stock can be reared successfully on deep litter, slats, slat cum litter or in breeder cages. Generally breeder birds are reared on slat cum deep litter floor.b.The floor space requirements will be 1860 cm2 in deep litter, 1400 cm2 on slat/wire floor and 450 cm2 in cages for females and 700 cm2 in breeder cages for male breeders.

2. Management procedures: a. Debeaking : Both males and females are debeaked at 10-14 days of age and again at 12-14 weeks of age. For females, leave 2mm beak from the nostrils, whereas for males, cut half of the beak between nostrils and tip of the beak. Both upper and lower beaks are cut off straight. Give vitamin K in water 1 day before debeaking and electrolytes for 2 or 3 days from the day of debeaking. b. Selection and Culling of Breeder FlocksCulling refers to the identification and removal of the non-laying or low producing hens and poor or infertile males from a breeder flock. Usually males are selected based on its vigor and spermatozoa concentration. In case of natural mating, the mating ability of the males is important, in addition to its semen quality. In case of females, their egg production qualities are to be taken into account. Removing the inferior birds reduces the cost of producing eggs, reduces the incidence of disease, and increases the available space for more productive hens. Hens eat feed whether or not they are laying. Removing the cull birds will make more feed and space for more productive birds.Two types of culling are usually used to remove the inferior birds:

Culling at the time of housing in the layer house based on visual inspection and culling by individual inspection, which evaluates the bird's ability to lay or her past productive performance during laying period.Feeding

• The feeds given to layer parents will be more or less similar to that of commercial layers in respect of major nutrients.

• But the breeder feeds, especially the breeder hen feed is enriched with all micronutrients like trace minerals and vitamins in order to obtain high rates of fertility and hatchability besides peak egg production.

Moreover, the breeder feeds must be practically free from all mycotoxins, because mycotoxins will not only affect the egg production and health status of the birds but also fertility and hatchability

Nutrient requirements layer breeder of different age groups

(Age in weeks)

Chick(0-8)

Grower(9-15)

Pre-layer(16-18)

Layer Phase-1(19-34)

Layer Phase-2(35-72)

Protein (%) 20.00 17.00 17.00 19.00 17.50

M.E. (Kcal/kg)

2750 2550 2550 2550 2500

The use of a pre-layer feed for parent stock has several advantages: • The pre-layer feed gives a better uniformity due to the higher protein and amino acid content in the critical period around the development of sexual maturity. Individual males and females with weight below standard are able to show compensatory growth. • The pre-layer feed has higher calcium content than the grower ration and improves the shell quality of early maturing hens at later ages. • The pre-layer feed supplies additional available phosphorus in the critical period of hormonal changes. • The pre-layer feed prevents excessive high initial egg weight due to its low linoleic acid content.Parent stock performance potential(Representative)

TraitsMale Female

Body weight (g) at 4 week of age 300 250

Body weight (g) at 16 week of age 1350 1100

Body weight (g) at 20 week of age 1550 1300

Body weight (g) at 40 week of age 2000 1600

Body weight (g) at 72 week of age 2300 1700

Flock uniformity >80% >80%

Feed intake (kg) 0-8 weeks 3.0 2.5

Feed intake (kg) 9-20 weeks 4.5 4.0

Feed intake (kg) 0-20 weeks 7.5 6.5

Feed intake (kg) 20-72 weeks 38.0 40.0

Layer feed/ hatching egg (g) 145

Total feed/ hatching egg (g) 188

Mean livability (%) 0-20 weeks 94

Mean livability (%) 21-72 weeks 92

Mean mortality (%) 0-72 weeks 14%

Hen housed egg number (20-72 weeks of age)

280

% Total hatchability 90

Saleable pullet chicks/ hen housed 110

Number of males and Artificial InseminationDay old male parent chicks are supplied dubbed and detoed. Males are reared separately from 0-21 weeks of age. Start with 10% males in case of natural mating and 3% in case of artificial insemination.At the beginning of the breeding season (22 weeks), introduce 12 males per 100 females.Broiler breeder managementBroiler breeder farms, which are operated by broiler hatching egg farmers, raise female (hens) and male (roosters) birds who are the parents of commercial broiler chickens. These hens and roosters mate to produce fertilized eggs , which are sold to broiler hatcheries for incubation. There are two stages in a broiler breeders’ life – rearing and breeding. Farmers have separate sheds called pullet sheds, where the chicks are raised until they are ready to be transferred to the

Total no. of hatching egg/ hen (dam) 260

Total no. of straight run (unsexed) chicks/ day 230

Total no. of pullet chick/ dam 110

Total no. of saleable chicks/ dam 105 (female)

Average body weight of day old chicks (g) 35

breeding shed. During the rearing stage, males and females are raised separately because of their different growth rates and nutritional requirements. Later on, the females and males will be moved into the breeding shed.Mutilations At the hatchery, besides being vaccinated, chicks may also undergo one or more mutilations, such as despurring, detoeing, toe clipping and beak trimming. These procedures have been introduced to reduce injury (such as feather and skin damage) to other birds in the flock due to (forced) mating or fighting between males. Beak trimming (using hot or cold blade or the infrared method) is carried out without any pain relief. De-toeing and de-spurring are also carried out without any pain relief (using a hot blade or hot wire).Uniformity

• Flock uniformity is a major goal to be achieved in breeding flock management for peak egg production, less number of culls and more uniform sized chicks.

• From 4 weeks of age, group the chicks according to body weight.• The weak chicks should be taken extra care for attaining uniformity.• At any stage, the flock must be having at least 80% uniformity.• Stocking density: Broiler breeder males should be reared separately from females from 1

day to 20-21 weeks of life.Common Factors Leading to Body weight Uniformity Problems

• Presence of formaldehyde gas at chick placement• Beak conditioning, if not carried out to a high standard• Extreme temperatures• Poor feed distribution• Incorrect feed amounts• Incorrectly ground feed or

variable pellet size• Over stocking• Insufficient water supply• Too high or too low energy

feeds• Insufficient light at feeding

time• Incorrect feeder height• Irregular feeding times• Incorrect bird numbers • Disease or parasitic infection

Feed RestrictionSkip-A-Day FeedingThis program uses the same weekly feed amounts as the daily recommendations. However, from 21 or 28 days until the birds are 140 days of age, feed the equivalent of 2 days feed on a single day, providing only a scratch feed the next day. Skip-a-day feeding may be advantageous when feeding space is limited, since it provides feed over a longer period of time and allows timid birds at the lower end of the peck order to feed properly.Alternative Feeding MethodsExample : Age 8-9 weeks Female daily feed allowance = 53 g/bird/day

Alternative Feeding MethodsSunday 106 g/bird Monday No feed/Scratch feedTuesday 106 g/bird Wednesday No feed/Scratch feedThursday 106 g/bird Friday No feed/Scratch feedSaturday 106 g/bird Sunday No feed/Scratch feedFive Days / Week Feeding (5-2 Feeding)This program is a compromise between everyday and skip-a-day programs so that birds are fed on the same days each week throughout the rearing period. This program significantly reduces the maximum feed amounts presented to the birds on a single day compared to skip-a-day. Typically this program is used during the later part of the growing period, particularly if “feed impaction” has become a problem on feed days.Example: Age 8 - 9 weeksFemale daily feed allowance = 53 gFemale weekly feed allowance = 53 g x 7 = 371 g ÷ 5 feeds = 74 g / bird.Sunday 74 g/birdMonday 74 g/birdTuesday 74 g/bird Wednesday No feed/Scratch feedThursday 74 g/birdFriday 74 g/bird Saturday No feed/Scratch feedSunday 74 g/birdGRIT AND GRAINTo maintain an active feeding behaviour, help the development of the digestive tract and encourage the birds to scratch the litter, birds are given grit and grain from 4 to 5 weeks of age: grit (insoluble stone particles of 2 to 4 mm): 3 to 5 g per week per bird, distributed over 2 or 3 days grain (broken maize, or whole wheat): 3 g per bird every day, or every other day. This is thrown on the litter, a few hours before the dark period as scratch feed.Sex separate feeding

• The breeder males must be fed with a low protein diet having 13-14% protein only because high protein diet will affect sperm quality as well as semen volume.

• Therefore, sex separate feeding of breeder hens and cocks will be followed.• The females will be fed a 18% protein and 3.0 to 3.5% calcium feed while the cocks with

13-14% protein and 1-1.5% calcium feed with higher levels (40mg/kg) of vitamin E; on other aspects, both the feeds are comparable.

• The male and female feeds are offered in separate feed hoppers in slat and deep litter system. In cage system, sex separate feeding can be followed with 100% accuracy since they are reared in different cages.

A good start in rearing males is crucial for weight uniformity as well as good organ and skeletal development, which are correlated with future male fertility. It is important that the males

achieve body weight targets according to the standard. For best results, the males should be reared separately from the females until housing at around 20 weeks of age. The heavier males will develop the largest frame size, so the male weights need to be kept very close to the standard body weight from 4 thru 16 weeks of age. One way to do this is to separate the heaviest males at 3 to 4 weeks of age, by visual grading, and then controlling the male body weight in the growing period. 8 week Standards Test – Handle all males and remove obvious males with visual (phenotypic) faults; i.e., crooked and bent toes, spinal abnormalities, eye and beak abnormalities. After 16 weeks of age stimulate the males constantly with feed to maintain body weight and testes development. Any severe stress or drop in body weight or even stagnation of growth from 18 to 27 weeks of age will result in smaller and less uniform testes in the males and lower initial hatches and can result in a low fertility throughout the production period. It is highly recommended to use Separate Sex Feeding (SSF) in production. True SSF implies that males should not have access to the female feed and vice versa. It is best to transfer males to the production house 3 to 5 days earlier than the females. This will help train the males to their feeder system, resulting in less feed stealing and better body weight control.Mating ratioSelect males to leave a male/female ratio of 7 – 11% at transfer. Select only healthy males with no obvious skeletal defects. Aim to keep the middleweight population by culling out underweight males but also extremely heavy ones. (The heavy ones would be ideal for spiking). The recommendation is to have a mating ratio of 9% (with slatted houses, where males tend to be more territorial and can express some aggressiveness) to 11% in floor by 23 weeks. Aim to match heavier groups of males with heavier females and light males with light females. It is important to ensure a proper synchronization between male and female sexual maturity and a proper body weight differential. This helps with hen receptivity and mating efficiency. The body weight differential goal from 20 to 40 weeks should be closer to 500-600 g and past 40 weeks between 800-900 (23-25% more). It is however possible to have a lower body weight in males in the production period and many flocks perform well with a 20% body weight difference

Fleshing: Fleshing scores can be obtained while judging males and females by using a scoring system of 1 to 5. A score of 1 means the bird is too thin and a score of 5 means the bird is too heavily fleshed. A score of 3 at peak production is desired and considered the best practice.

1 2 3 4 5 BREAST BONE SHAPE

Training is key to the success of Sex Separate Feeding. The males need to quickly identify and use their specific feeders. The best option is to have the same type of male feeder in rearing and production. Other options include:Use decoy feeders in the rearing house. For example, if the males are fed on a chain and they will be faced with pans in production, place a few pans in the rearing house and manually add some feed. The males will then learn to identify the pans as feeders. Transfer the males a few days earlier (2-3 days) so they are specifically trained to eat from their feeders before the females arrive to the production house. Start the male feeders first. The standard for male weights is designed to keep the male light early in production (not more than 4 kg (8.8 lb) at 30 weeks and have a consistent positive growth of about 25 g (0.06 lb) per week from 30 weeks to depletion (approx. 4.9 kg at 64 weeks).SpikingSpiking is the addition of young broiler breeder males into an older flock to compensate for the decline in fertility that usually occurs after 45 weeks of age. As far as the male is concerned this can be due to a decline in mating interest (natural post 35-40 weeks of age), a reduction in sperm quality (natural post 55 weeks), lower mating efficiency (poor management leading to males in poor physical condition such as weight or leg and feet disorders, etc.), and excess male mortality resulting in a reduced male to female ratio. To get good fertility in broiler breeders, males should have excellent testicular growth. Their development should be maintained by consistent daily restricted feeding after getting to the hen house. If roosters lose weight, fleshing or general condition, the testes will regress in size and accelerate the natural decline. This regression will be accompanied by lower testosterone levels, semen production, as well as decreased mating behaviour. Mating behaviour has to be encouraged without taking all energy from the bird. Body weight and fleshing have to be maintained, while preventing excessive breast fleshing. As the flock ages, the number of roosters should be increased, and the aging flock should be spiked with young, mature roosters. The best time to spiking when the flock is 40-45 weeks of age. Mating can be improved by using lower stocking densities, leading to more appropriate mating behaviour, such as a greater display of courtship behaviour, as well as fewer forced mating and less struggling of the hens. The use of environmental enrichment can also be used to improve mating behaviour, reducing the frequency of forced mating.Biosecurity RisksOne of the biggest risks with a spiking program is the possibility of introducing unwanted disease or parasites into the spiked flock. Spiking males should come from a single source flock and must be tested for disease before moving. Any positive or suspect results should put the move on hold.Guidelines to achieve the best results:

1. Generally, spiking with approximately 20% additional males to an existing flock will produce the best results.

2. Spike males must be uniform, good quality, free of defects and be able to compete with older males.

3. Males must be at least 25 weeks of age with a minimum weight of 4.1 kg (9 lbs.) and be sexually mature.

4. Spiking males and primary males should have the same amount of feed and floor space to help ease the transition when spiking males are added to an older flock.

5. Prior to spiking, cull poor quality primary males and reduce sex ratio. Then add spiking males back to the original or proper male to female ratio.

6. If spiking is done as a normal management procedure, it may be possible to start with fewer males at housing (7-8 percent at 21-22 weeks of age) and add extra males as needed over time to increase the ratio to 9-10 percent. This will improve female receptivity and mixing.

7. A slight feed increase just after spiking (2-3g/bird/day) could be beneficial since spiking significantly increases male’s mating activity (for at least 4 weeks the old males will be mating like a 30-week old male).

Do not wait for fertility to decline. Often good results are seen with spiking just after peak production when females are very receptive. Flocks spiked twice on a 8 to 10 week interval also show good results. Spiking is usually not economical beyond 55 weeks of age.Biosecurity risk is the main reason for which some choose not to spike. Intra-spiking may be an alternative.Intra-spiking simply means exchanging 25-30% of original males between houses from the same farm, without importing any young males, to create a similar stimulus to mating activity as the one created by spiking.Lighting(For both broiler and layer breeder)Age (weeks) Light(hours)1-3 Decreasing from 24 hours at 1 day to 8 hours

by 14-21 days3-20 820-21 1121-22 1322-23 1423 onwards 15-16Additional light during this period must be 80 – 100 lux

DepletionEgg production usually starts between 18-22 weeks of age and lasts until 60-65 weeks of age. Hatching eggs are collected at approximately 25/26 weeks of age. They will lay between 165 and 180 eggs before the end of their expected lay period approximately 35 to 40 weeks later. Broiler breeders are usually reasonably well muscled at the end of their production period and weigh between 4 - 5 kg.

Nest box

General recommendations for hygiene and biosecurity• Set up the farm at a safe distance from other poultry houses and fence in. • The golden rule of breeder management is to have one age and one breed per site, so as to follow the "all‐in, all‐out"

principle. • Keep no other poultry on the farm. • Allow no visitors to enter the farm. • Wear only the farm’s own protective clothing within the farm area. • Provide the farm’s own protective clothing for veterinarians, service and maintenance workers, and consultants. Disinfect boots before entering the houses. • Use bulk feed if possible. Do not allow the truck driver to enter the houses. • Safeguard the houses against wild birds and vermin. Keep rats and mice under constant control. • Dispose of dead birds hygienically. Follow local laws and regulations.