Cobb Administration Breeder Information: Breeder flock switch

25 April 2024

6 minute learn

Editor’s observe: This text is an excerpt from the Cobb Breeder Administration Information and extra articles will comply with. The Information was designed to focus on crucial elements which can be almost certainly to affect flock efficiency. To learn or obtain the entire Information or to view Cobb’s different administration guides, click on right here.

Breeder flock switch

Age for transferring inventory to the manufacturing farms is decided primarily by the amenities accessible, body weight and the lighting program. The switch could be a very nerve-racking time for the birds. Plan the switch intimately and deal with the birds rigorously. Previous to switch, the rearing and laying managers ought to meet to debate the flock. A replica of the rearing information needs to be transferred with the flock to the manufacturing farm and embrace:

• particulars of illness challenges, medicine, and vaccination applications
• switch fowl numbers
• bodyweights as they relate to plain
• water consumption
• fleshing and pelvic fats scorings
• rearing lighting program and depth
• feed quantities and instances of feeding
• different related info to help the manufacturing farm supervisor in the course of the transition interval.

In some circumstances, it could be essential to present extra feed a number of days earlier than and/or after the birds have been transferred. The quantity of additional feed and the time when it’s given will rely on the season and the space travelled. On the day of shifting, birds shouldn’t be fed on the rearing farm to make sure that birds are empty (no feed in crops) to restrict potential mortality, elevated stress, and soiled crates.

When planning the switch:

• The laying home have to be able to obtain the flock, with the feeders, drinkers, and nest bins absolutely operational, one week earlier than the deliberate switch date.
• Be sure that there are sufficient clear crates, coops or containers to maneuver the entire flock.
• The ultimate choice and switch of the males needs to be achieved 2 to three days earlier than females are transferred if sexual synchronization is perfect between the sexes.
• The females needs to be rigorously noticed and any birds that don’t meet high quality requirements needs to be eliminated throughout switch.
• Transfer the birds at night time or within the early morning, particularly in summer time throughout sizzling climate.
• If utilizing containers or coops with wheels, clear a path alongside the scratch space earlier than eradicating the birds.
• Birds ought to have empty crops and digestive tracts previous to shifting to cut back stress and maintain the tools cleaner.

Instantly submit switch:

• When taking birds out of crates or coops by hand, place them instantly on the slats. If utilizing modules with a loader or a pullet trailer to switch birds to the laying home, birds needs to be positioned on the litter since this course of entails mechanical tools. To stop damage, by no means place birds instantly on strong tools (ex: feeder or nests).
• After arrival, present feed within the tracks. Feed will present a distraction, cut back stress, and assist the birds develop into acquainted with the brand new home. Relying on transportation and climate, feed quantities may be elevated by 20 % for two to 3 days after the transfer.
• Observe the birds intently and carry out crop checks to make it possible for they have had entry to feed and water.
• Stroll via the home ceaselessly to encourage birds to make use of the slatted space.
• Ideally, use the identical drinker and feeder tools kinds in rearing and in manufacturing. Nonetheless, if tools is completely different rigorously observe feeding the
  first 3 days after switch to appropriate any points.
• The flock will redistribute the shavings or straw the following day over the entire
  scratch space.

Sexing errors (intercourse slips)

Sexing mother or father inventory chicks is finished within the hatchery to separate the females and males. The females are used as mother or father inventory and the males are normally utilized in broiler manufacturing. Sexing chicks may be difficult and a few intercourse errors (intercourse slips) happen in the course of the sexing course of. Nonetheless, these errors will not be seen within the flock till 12 to 16 weeks of age as males will develop a comb sooner than females.

The sexing error share within the quick feathering mother or father inventory, that are sexable by wing feathers, is often between 0.3 % to 0.5 %. Nonetheless, the sluggish feather cross have to be sexed by the cloaca. That is extra difficult and normally leads to extra sexing errors (between 1 to 1.5 %).

Leaving sexing errors within the flock will compromise the genetic potential of the offspring. It may additionally distort feather coloring and trigger decrease body weight in addition to poor feed conversion, processing yield and uniformity in broiler flocks. For these causes, it is very important eradicate all of the sexing errors earlier than 20 weeks of age.

Producers with good darkish out rearing situations and low gentle depth (2 to 4 lux; 0.2 to 0.4 fc) could not acknowledge sexing errors simply. On this case, sexing errors may be detected and eliminated at 18 weeks of age throughout the person vaccinations when the sunshine depth is excessive sufficient on the vaccination desk to tell apart the intercourse errors. Any intercourse errors not detected in the course of the vaccinations are normally clearly seen when shifting females to
the manufacturing home and may be eliminated at the moment.

After switch, it can be crucial for no less than 2 folks to stroll via the flock earlier than hatching eggs are collected to take away any remaining sexing errors from the flock (that is achieved when the flock is between 22 and 24 weeks of age). At this level, sexing errors may be acknowledged by inspecting the 4th and fifth toes (additionally known as dewclaws) that are handled to situation the nails in males.

One strategy to determine sexing errors in males after switch is to examine the toes. Males that had been sexed accurately ought to have their toes (dewclaws) conditioned to take away the nail (as proven within the picture). Any males with out conditioned toes are almost certainly sexing errors and needs to be faraway from the flock.

Preparation for picture stimulation (20 to 24 weeks)

Ideally, firstly of picture stimulation, the ratio of pullets with a fleshing rating of three and 4 needs to be 60 and 40 % of the females respectively. The primary picture stimulation needs to be between 147 and most 154 days of age. After first picture stimulation, use small feed will increase of two to 4 g per feminine per week till the onset of manufacturing (round 5 % of manufacturing).

Physiological readiness for picture stimulation

The flock is ready for picture stimulation when dry (earlier than feeding) body weight is 2450 to 2600 g (5.40 to five.73 lb) for quick feathering pullets and 2500 to 2600 g (5.51 to five.73 lb) for sluggish feathering. As well as, 95 % of the pullets have a fleshing rating of three or extra and 85 % have pelvic fats.

A pullet within the appropriate situation may have a distinguished fats deposition underneath the wing. Parallel to this fats deposit is a big blood vessel. This mix is sometimes called the fats vein. The fats vein can be utilized to find out subcutaneous fats deposition. Nonetheless, pelvic fats is often deposited sooner than the subcutaneous fats vein.

The fats vein begins to seem in pullets round 21 weeks of age. Analysis of the fats vein is most informative after 25 weeks of age, when manufacturing has began. At this level, the pelvic bones are not a great indicator of how a lot fats is being deposited within the belly cavity as a result of they’ve widened significantly to enable for the passage of the eggs. As soon as the pelvic bones start to separate, the pelvic house will widen after picture stimulation. This variation ought to transition from a width of lower than 1 finger for a pullet at 21 weeks outdated to a width of greater than 2.5 to three fingers in absolutely producing hens. That is the first cause why it’s higher to make use of the fats vein as an indicator of fats reserves after the females begin manufacturing. It’s at all times greatest to delay picture stimulation if the birds will not be within the appropriate situation (physique composition), as it will enhance their efficiency, well being and welfare in the course of the laying part.

To learn or obtain the entire Cobb Breeder Administration Information or to view Cobb’s different administration guides, click on right here.