What industry (meat or eggs) are the following types of birds used for a) commercial layers b) broilers?
a) eggs
b) meat
Describe the structure of poultry breeding programmes
Nucleus or elite stock --> grandparent stock --> broiler breeders/parent stock (2 way crossbreeds) --> broiler or commercial layers (4 way cross)
List some selection characteristics for commercial layers
Good liveability and resistance to disease
Good feathering
Extended egg laying season
Docile temperament and absence of broodiness
Slow growth rate and light mature weight
Efficient food conversion
List some selection characteristics for broilers
Good liveability and resistance to disease
Good feathering
Rapid growth rate
Good leg health
Good food conversion ratio
Good conformation
Correct flesh colouring
List the 5 key steps in the production of table eggs
Layer parent stock produce eggs --> Fertile egg production --> Day old chicks are sexed and graded at hatchery --> Brooding and rearing period in cage or on floor --> production unit - cages, barn or free range. Production of >300 unfertilised eggs (18-72 weeks)
What happens to male day old chicks?
They are killed at the hatchery
What happens to egg production at 72 weeks? And what happens to the hens?
Egg production falls at 72 weeks - hens produce less than 1 egg a day
It is more cost effective to cull the entire flock and replace it with 18 week old hens
What are the 4 key steps in the production of broiler meat
Broiler breeder laying farms (fertile egg production) --> hatchery (day old chicks) --> grower farms 'broilers' --> culled and processed
At what age are broiler chickens culled?
<45 days
At what age are turkeys for meat production culled?
14-22 weeks
How does the production systems for layers and broilers differ?
Layers - controlled environment - furnished cages, barn/aviary/perchery, free range
Broilers - controlled environment - floor based systems and free range
What are the production systems for turkeys?
All year round vs seasonal - controlled environments - floor based system, pole barn and free range
True or false: biosecurity is not very strict in poultry production
False
What is the term for the system common in poultry production, where all the birds come in together on day one and are all later removed together?
All in all out system
List examples of welfare concerns caused by genetic selection in the poultry industry
Leg weakness, metabolic disorders, behavioural problems
When were battery cages banned in the EU?
January 2012
What are battery cages to be replaced with?
Enriched cages
List some advantages of cage based systems
Less labour for stock workers
Total control of environment
Reduced risk of disease and easier to control if it should occur
Easier control of external parasites
Reduced risk of damage due to aggression, feather pecking and cannibalism
Low mortality compared to other systems
No risk of predation
List some disadvantages of cage based systems
Barren environment
Prevention of normal expression of behaviours
Lack of exercise reduces bone strength
Cage structure causes damage to feathers and feet
Inability to escape leads to feather pecking
Inspection of birds by stock workers was difficult, especially in top and bottom tiers
