Poultry Production Practices

SPECIALTY SOY PROTEINS 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 In broilers, the first 7-10 days of life set the trajectory for the entire period. Growth achieved—or lost—during this early phase has a disproportionate effect on lifetime performance. What makes this period unique is the bird’s still-developing digestive system, particularly its 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐲𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲. During these early days, enzyme production is still developing. This means the bird cannot fully compensate for 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 (𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐬) such as 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬. When inhibitors block digestive enzymes, protein breakdown slows, amino acid availability declines, and the pancreas is forced to divert resources into overproduction. The cost is less efficient feed conversion and weaker early weight gain. Even modest digestive disruption has measurable effects. Chicks that fail to digest and absorb protein efficiently show lower uniformity, reduced early body weights, and a performance curve that never quite catches up. Once the starter phase is compromised, the recovery window is narrow with modern genetics that often go to market at 35-42 days of age. I’ve seen how nutritionists who prioritize digestibility early on often achieve more resilient flocks. By minimizing ANFs in starter feeds, they help chicks extract maximum nutrients during this vulnerable period. The payoff is stronger gut development, more efficient feed use, and improved lifetime growth curves. In my work as an external associate of HAMLET PROTEIN, I keep emphasizing that protein digestibility is not a technical footnote—it is the foundation for resilience and performance. Protein sources must not only meet amino acid requirements but also avoid placing unnecessary barriers in front of the young bird’s limited enzymatic capacity. Managing ANFs in the starter diet is not fine-tuning; it is setting the stage for everything that follows. #animalnutrition #soy #anf #feedindustry #poultryindustry #broilers Marisabel Caballero Claire RELANDEAU Cæcilie Brunsvig Sandfeld Megan Megan Bible Jes Klausen Glenn Alfred Ferriol Erik Visser

🐥 Day-Old Chick Quality: The Foundation of Poultry Performance The quality of a day-old chick (DOC) at the hatchery directly determines broiler performance, flock uniformity, disease resistance, and overall profitability. 🔍 Key Parameters of Day-Old Chick Quality 1️⃣ Physical Appearance Clean, dry, and fluffy feathers Bright, alert eyes Well-healed, closed navel (no swelling or discharge) Straight legs and toes; active movement 2️⃣ Body Weight & Uniformity Optimal chick weight relative to egg weight High uniformity within the batch indicates good incubation management 3️⃣ Yolk Sac Absorption Small, well-absorbed yolk sac No abdominal distension or yolk sac infection 4️⃣ Vitality & Behavior Active, responsive chicks Strong legs and good standing ability Normal vocalization 5️⃣ Microbiological Status Low bacterial contamination at navel and fluff Strict hatchery hygiene and sanitation 6️⃣ Hatchery Management Factors Correct incubation temperature, humidity, and ventilation Proper egg handling and storage Timely chick pulling and careful handling Adequate chick holding and transport conditions 📌 Why DOC Quality Matters High-quality chicks show: ✔ Better early feed intake ✔ Improved growth and FCR ✔ Reduced early mortality ✔ Enhanced immunity and vaccine response 🎯 Take-Home Message Strong flocks start with strong chicks. Maintaining strict hatchery quality control is essential for sustainable poultry production.

Why 25th week is considered ideal for start of lay (physiological reasons) ✅ 1. Sexual maturity + Body maturity coincide By 25 weeks, females usually achieve: • target body weight • proper skeleton and frame size • adequate fat reserves • mature oviduct and ovary This ensures: • fewer double-yolk eggs • fewer soft-shelled eggs • less prolapse and mortality ✅ 2. Best persistency and peak production Hens entering lay at ~25 weeks usually achieve: • stronger peak production • longer persistency • better total eggs per hen housed Too early lay (<23 weeks) → peak is weak Too late lay (>27 weeks) → total eggs decrease ✅ 3. Ideal egg size profile At 25 weeks: • starter eggs ~ 48–52 g • rapid increase to 58–62 g This balance is important because: Early-lay too small eggs → poor chick quality Early-lay too big eggs → reproductive stress and prolapse ✅ 4. Best fertility and hatchability 25th week gives: • mature cloaca • complete oviduct development • correct hormone balance • synchronized mating behaviour This results in: • higher fertility • better hatchability • stronger day-old chick quality ✅ 5. Photostimulation timing is calculated for 25 weeks Farmers normally: • grow birds to target weight • ensure uniformity • then give light stimulation at 21–23 weeks This stimulation leads to: • ovulation • first egg around 24.5–25 weeks If you stimulate too early → small birds, weak production If you stimulate too late → fewer total eggs Summary in one line Ross 308 hens are targeted to begin lay at 25 weeks because this age produces the best combination of: • egg production • egg size • fertility • hatchability • persistency of lay • bird health and longevity #Poultry #Production #25thWeekLayingReason #Technical #Egg #Development #Chick #Growth

🌍 Nutrient Standards for SASSO Traditional Poultry Breeders (SA31A) Over the past weeks, many colleagues and industry friends asked me to share clear guidelines for nutrient levels in breeder management. To support this, I’m using the official SASSO Breeding Manual (PDF available in three languages: English, Spanish, French). This manual provides an excellent reference for both rearing and laying periods, helping ensure consistency across farms worldwide. 🔹 Rearing Period (0 – first egg) During the rearing phase, the focus is on frame and organ development. Nutrient levels gradually adapt to match growth requirements: Energy: 2640–2760 kcal/kg Protein: 20% → 15% Calcium: 1.0–2.0% Key digestible amino acids (Lysine, Methionine, Threonine) step down slowly to avoid deficiencies while supporting healthy skeletal structure. 📌 Proper nutrition here prevents overweight pullets, ensures correct body composition, and sets the flock up for high performance in lay. 🔹 Laying Period (first egg – end of cycle) Once production begins, the balance shifts toward egg output, shell quality, and fertility. Energy: 2600–2650 kcal/kg Protein: 16% → 12–13% Calcium: 3.9–4.0% (critical for strong shell formation) Males: lower protein (12–13%) and calcium (0.8%) to maintain fertility and prevent metabolic stress. 📌 These guidelines help maintain consistent production curves, strong hatchability, and robust chick quality. ⚖️ Why this matters Nutrition is one of the strongest levers we have in breeder management. The right balance of energy, protein, minerals, and amino acids directly impacts: ✅ Skeletal strength and body condition ✅ Peak and sustained egg production ✅ Egg weight and shell strength ✅ Fertility and hatchability rates ✅ Chick viability and early performance The SASSO manual is a great tool because it gives practical nutrient targets, but it also reminds us that adjustments may be required depending on climate, housing, equipment, and local raw materials. No two farms are identical, so the best results come from using these standards as a base and fine-tuning with regular monitoring. 💡 For me, this highlights how science-based nutrition programs can secure both animal welfare and farm profitability. #Poultry #Breeders #SASSO #PoultryNutrition #EggProduction #AnimalScience #FeedManagement #Hatchability #Genetics

Even with the same breed, houses, feed source, and vaccines, big differences in chicks/hen housed (150+) can still happen because of small issues but critical management and biological factors👇 🔑 Main Reasons for Higher Chick Output in Some Farms 1. Male Management (Roosters) – VERY Important. Wrong male:female ratio Poor male body weight or uniformity Late or poor spiking program 👉 This reduces fertility, even if egg production is good. 2. Body Weight & Uniformity of Hens Same average weight is not enough. If uniformity < 80%, many hens don’t peak or persist well. 👉 Leads to lower persistency of lay and hatchability. 3. Egg Handling & Storage Before Hatchery Storage temperature and days Egg turning in store Dirty or hairline-cracked eggs 👉 These reduce hatchability, so total chicks drop. 4. Incubation & Hatchery Management Even with same vaccines and eggs: Setter temperature calibration. Humidity control. Turning angle and frequency. Pull time 👉 2–4% loss here can mean many chicks per hen over the cycle. 5. Health Status (Subclinical Diseases) Not all problems show clear signs: Mycoplasma E. coli IB variants 👉 Birds look normal but fertility and hatchability drop quietly. 6. Feeding Practice, Not Just Feed Source Same feedmill but: Wrong feed allocation curves. Poor feeding time consistency. Competition at feeders. 👉 Affects egg size, fertility, and shell quality. 7. Water Quality Often ignored: High salinity Bacteria in lines 👉 Reduces performance and egg quality slowly. 8. Light Management Accuracy Same program on paper, but: Wrong light intensity Uneven distribution in house 👉 Affects mating activity and lay persistency. ✅ In Short (Professional Summary) Differences in chicks per hen housed are mainly caused by male management, flock uniformity, fertility control, egg handling, hatchery conditions, and hidden health problems, not just breed, feed, and vaccines. Small daily losses, when added over 60+ weeks, create big gaps between farms. welcome for comments and suggestions.

🐣 Early Brooding = Future Flock Performance The first 7–14 days are the most sensitive period in a chick’s life. A good start means better growth, stronger immunity, improved FCR, and lower mortality throughout the flock cycle. 🔍 Major Causes of Early Brooding Mortality 🌡️ 1. Temperature Mismanagement Too cold → chicks huddle, weak growth, suffocation Too hot → panting, dehydration, stress ✅ Ideal brooding temperature: 32–34°C at placement, then reduce gradually. 💧 2. Dehydration & Delayed Access to Water Chicks can lose body moisture quickly after transport. Delay in water/feed intake weakens immunity. ✅ Provide clean water immediately with glucose + vitamins/electrolytes on day 1. 🍽️ 3. Poor Feed Intake Low feed consumption in first 24 hours reduces energy and yolk absorption. ✅ Ensure chicks start eating within 2–3 hours after placement. 🦠 4. Wet Litter & Hygiene Problems Wet litter increases bacterial load, ammonia, and infections. Dirty drinkers spread disease rapidly. ✅ Keep litter dry, fluffy, and well managed. 🌬️ 5. Poor Ventilation Lack of fresh air causes ammonia buildup and respiratory stress. ✅ Fresh oxygen is critical even during winter brooding. 🐥 6. Low Chick Quality Weak, dehydrated, or underweight chicks have lower survival chances. ✅ Always check chick activity, navels, and uniformity at arrival. 💡 7. Uneven Brooder Setup Observe chick behavior carefully: Huddling = cold Far from heat = too hot Evenly spread = comfort zone ⚡ 8. Power Failure / Equipment Backup (Important Additional Point) Sudden heater failure can cause heavy mortality within hours. ✅ Always keep a generator or backup heating system ready. 🧪 9. Water Quality Issues (Additional Point) Contaminated or high-salt water affects chick health and gut performance. ✅ Use sanitized, cool, clean drinking water. 🛡️ 10. Biosecurity Negligence (Additional Point) Visitors, dirty shoes, rodents, and equipment can introduce disease early. ✅ Strict biosecurity saves flock performance. ✅ Daily Brooding Checklist ✔ Check crop fill after 6–8 hours ✔ Monitor chick noise & activity ✔ Clean and refill drinkers regularly ✔ Remove weak/dead chicks immediately ✔ Monitor humidity (55–65% ideal) ✔ Check litter condition daily ✔ Record temperature & mortality every day 🎯 Target During First Week 📌 Mortality: <1% 📌 Active & uniform chicks: >95% 📌 Good crop fill: 95%+ within 24 hours 🔑 Bottom Line Good brooding is not just about heat — it is about temperature, water, feed, air quality, hygiene, and observation together. A strong start creates a profitable flock.

Optimizing Darkness Hours in Broiler Farming: The Key to Healthier, More Productive Chickens Managing light exposure in broiler farming may not seem like a critical factor, but it’s one of the most overlooked elements affecting poultry health and productivity. A well-structured light-dark schedule can significantly improve feed efficiency, growth rates, and welfare in broilers. Here’s the harsh truth: many poultry farmers fail to recognize the importance of darkness hours in the growth cycle of broilers. While the temptation is to keep lights on for longer periods to boost feeding and growth, this can lead to serious long-term problems, including skeletal deformities, cardiovascular issues, and even increased mortality rates. The reality is, broilers need structured darkness periods to thrive. Studies have shown that broilers exposed to 4-6 hours of continuous darkness daily exhibit better growth performance, stronger immune responses, and improved muscle development compared to those subjected to constant lighting. Darkness allows the birds to rest and recover, crucial for optimal metabolic functioning. A consistent darkness period is also linked to better feed conversion ratios, meaning the birds gain more weight with less feed intake, improving farm profitability. But how exactly can this be implemented effectively? For best results, begin by gradually increasing the darkness period after the first week of brooding. Start with one hour of darkness and progressively increase to 4-6 hours by the second week. This gradual increase helps prevent unnecessary stress and allows the birds to acclimate to the changing light conditions without disrupting their feeding behavior. Maintain a consistent schedule. Irregular light patterns can disturb the birds' circadian rhythm, causing erratic feeding patterns and negatively impacting growth. Consistency in light and dark cycles ensures the birds remain calm and stress-free, improving overall flock welfare. A simple programmable lighting system can help maintain these schedules without the need for constant supervision. Here’s a quick tip: during the dark hours, ensure complete darkness. Even minimal light leakage can disrupt the birds’ sleep and recovery cycles. Use blackout curtains or fully sealed housing to prevent external light from interfering. In addition to better growth, introducing darkness hours can significantly reduce the incidence of health issues like Sudden Death Syndrome and leg disorders. These conditions are common in broilers raised under continuous light exposure due to overstimulation and lack of rest. Giving birds time to rest reduces stress on the heart and skeletal system, promoting healthier and longer-lived flocks. The next time you’re planning your broiler management system, think beyond just feed and water. The right lighting schedule can make all the difference.

Breeder nutrition is often treated as a cost line for egg numbers. But the evidence keeps pointing the other way: what parent stock eats is one of the earliest inputs into broiler performance. This article focuses on the “carry-over” effect: how nutrients transferred into the egg shape chick quality, immunity, growth rate, and carcass yield. A few data points worth thinking about: Egg weight compounds fast. A 2 g increase in egg weight can mean a 1.5 g heavier day-old chick, and that can translate into 100 to 150 g higher broiler BW at 42 to 45 days (Joseph et al., 2000). Protein is not “more is better.” Lopez and Leeson (1995) saw no fertility downside from 10 to 16% CP, but around 10% CP reduced breeder weight and egg size, leading to smaller chicks. And pushing CP higher later can also drive extra weight gain in breeders after peak production, which is not always what you want. Energy to protein ratio matters more than either alone. Chick size drops when the ratio is too low or too high (Spratt and Leeson, 1987). Low-density diets can be a lever. Diluting breeder diets has been linked to heavier day-old chicks and improved liveweight at day 38 in specific cases (notably from around 29-week-old breeders), and lower offspring mortality from older parent stock (Enting et al., 2007). Rearing targets echo into the next generation. Hitting 2,400 g at 20 weeks vs 2,200 g improved offspring BW at day 34, fertility, and reduced embryonic mortality (Van Emous et al., 2015). Amino acids are “hidden performance drivers.” Lower lysine intake in young breeders reduced offspring BW and breast yield, and digestible lysine intake correlates with offspring performance early in life (Mejia et al., 2013; Ciacciariello et al., 2013). Organic trace minerals can outperform inorganic forms even at lower inclusion. OH-SeMet at 0.2 mg Se/kg outperformed sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg on egg production in aging breeders, eggshell strength, hatchability, and even progeny FCR in a 41-day trial (Zorzetto et al., 2021). Don’t ignore the males. Underfeeding breeder males can reduce fertility and cost up to 100 g in progeny bodyweight (Romero-Sanchez et al., 2008). The takeaway for integrators is not complicated: If your goal is consistent chick quality and predictable broiler outcomes, breeder feeding cannot be only about egg output. It is performance management, one generation earlier.

From Egg to Grow-Out: A System, Not a Sequence One bird. Seven hand-offs. One accountability. Poultry performance is not created at placement, in the hatcher, or even in the setter. It is the cumulative result of decisions made across the entire production chain. A 0.5°C overshoot in the setter is not corrected by the hatcher. It becomes part of the chick's biology—affecting yolk utilization, hydration, vitality, and behavior. The consequences often appear later as poor uniformity, slower growth, or increased day-7 mortality. Every stage inherits the strengths—and weaknesses—of the stage before it. The Seven Critical Links 1. Breeder Flock Health, vaccination, uniformity, low stress, and nutrition. KPIs: Hatching egg %, double-yolks, dirty/cracked eggs. 2. Egg Room Storage, sanitation, egg age management, and segregation of vulnerable batches. KPIs: Storage temperature/RH, egg age, contamination %. 3. Setter Precise incubation management. Targets: Eggshell temperature ≤100.5–101°F, O₂ ≥21%, controlled CO₂ profile. KPI: Transfer weight loss 12–14%. 4. Hatcher Focus on chick quality, not just hatchability. Targets: Bird temperature 39.5–40.5°C, hatching window 18–22 hours. KPIs: Yield 66–68%, hatchability, navel/cull scores. 5. Processing Sexing, vaccination, probiotic application, and proper boxing. KPIs: Box temperature ≤32°C, RH ≈65%, effective lid management. 6. Transport Protect chick quality during delivery. KPIs: Body-weight loss ≤0.3–0.4% per hour, rectal temperature 103–105°F on arrival. 7. Farm Placement Strong starts drive first-week performance. Targets: Brooding temperature 30–32°C, immediate water access, completed readiness checklist. KPIs: Day-7 body weight, mortality, and uniformity. One Chain, One Result Chick quality is not produced at a single point—it is transferred through the chain. When breeder farms, hatcheries, transport teams, and farm managers share information and accountability, predictable problems are identified early and corrected before they become costly losses. Don't manage seven separate departments. Manage one system, one bird, and one P&L. #PoultryProduction #HatcheryManagement #BroilerProduction #PoultryFarming #Incubation #ChickQuality #Agribusiness #AnimalProduction #PoultryPerformance #TechnicalManagement

🔬🐣 Early Chick Quality Scoring Systems: A Predictor of Flock Success When evaluating breeder performance, many farms focus on hatchability or fertility rates. But in reality, the first true performance check happens at chick quality scoring a stage that sets the biological and economic trajectory of the entire flock. 🔹 Why chick quality scoring matters 1. Predicts flock performance Research confirms that day-old chick quality (navel closure, yolk absorption, leg conformation, vitality) directly correlates with body weight uniformity and FCR in later stages. 2. Links back to breeder flock health Abnormalities in chicks (unabsorbed yolk sacs, leg deformities, poor feathering) often trace back to breeder nutrition, egg handling, or incubation management. 3. Enables rapid corrective action Weekly chick scoring allows farms to identify trends e.g., rising poor navels → incubation temp/humidity issues, or increased weak legs → breeder mineral imbalance. 🔹 Field observations In our flocks, systematic weekly scoring of 100–150 chicks per hatch has become routine. By comparing chick scorecards across breeder age groups and hatcheries, we’ve been able to: ✅ Detect micronutrient deficiencies early (Zn, Mn, Se) ✅ Reduce 7-day mortality rates by >20% ✅ Enhance uniformity at 21 days, a predictor of final flock performance This shows that chick scoring is not just a hatchery tool it’s a feedback system for breeder and nutrition management. ✅ Practical recommendations 1. Adopt a standardized chick quality scoring system (Pasgar score or EW score). 2. Score at least 4–5 parameters: activity, navel quality, legs/feet, yolk absorption, down feathering. 3. Link data to breeder flock ID, egg storage duration, and incubation batch for root-cause tracking. 4. Train staff regularly scoring must be consistent and repeatable. 5. Share chick quality results with breeder and nutrition teams, not just hatchery managers. 📚 Key References 1. Molenaar et al., 2022 – Early chick quality and lifetime performance 👉 https://lnkd.in/ePzpw83d 2. Tona et al., 2003 – Effects of chick quality on growth and mortality 👉 https://lnkd.in/eHz7bGeJ 3. Decuypere et al., 2001 – Importance of chick quality scoring in hatcheries 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZV4Nv69 4. Lourens et al., 2005 – Influence of incubation factors on chick quality 👉 https://lnkd.in/eBAnmxRH 5. Pasgar Scoring System – Aviagen Hatchery Manual (Free PDF) 👉 https://lnkd.in/eaf57RCB 🔖 #ChickQuality #BreederPerformance #HatcheryManagement #PoultryScience #AnimalHealth #FlockUniformity #PrecisionManagement #SustainableBreeding