Exam 4- Animal Science

vertically integrated

single controlling company for multiple stages of production

• extremely economic for production

in a contract production system, what does the producer provide

land, building, equipment, utilities, daily care, and management

in a contract production system, what does the company provide

birds, feed, health care, technical assistance

broilers industry operation flow

primary breeders → parent stock breeders → hatchery → broiler farm (or layer farm) → processing plant

primary breeders

produce highly efficient breed lines (parent lines) that meet requirements of chicken production and sold to integrated broiler companies

parent stock breeders

raise chicks to adult birds to produce fertile eggs

• offspring of adult birds become broilers

hatchery

specialized facility designed for fertile eggs from parent stock breeders

• unidirectional system for enhanced biosecurity

broiler or layer farm

grow out; chicks transposed to farm in chick truck

processing plant

harvesting and/or further processing

who are primary breeders owned by

international breeders

who are parent stock breeders owned by

integrated broiler companies

who are parent stock breeders operated by

contract growers

how long does it take an egg to hatch

21 days

how long are fertile eggs incubated to

18 days

what temperature does incubators need to be at

99-101 degrees F

how much humidity in incubators

65-70%

how often are incubated eggs rotated

every 2 hours

when eggs are moved from incubator and turners, where do they go

hatchers

hatchers

• on day 19

• safer hatching

• chick collection at specific times

  • efficient production

what is a common industry practice

break trimming aka debeaking

what is debeaking

removal of small portion of top and bottom beak

what is the purpose of beak trimming

social hierarchy

• layers more active than broilers

prevents cannibalistic behavior

how old are chicks when they are debeaked

day old (most common)

5-10 days max

5 weeks and older results with greater animal welfare concerns

what is the technique used for beak trimming

hot blade

• electrically heated blade

infrared beak trimming (used today)

• non-contact, high intensity, infrared energy source to treat beak

how are chicks vaccinated

sprayed onto them

who own broiler (grow out) farms

independent contract growers

what is the primary production concern

broiler farm preparation (biosecurity)

what is done during preparation biosecurity

house is sanitize in between flocks

not necessarily full clean out every time (litter pasteurization)

biosecurity management in broiler farm preparation

limit visitor access, foot baths, booties, car washes, All in-All out, biosecurity suits, records, rodent control

litter

material will vary based on location and availability

• pine/cedar shavings, rice hulls, recycled paper

• can affect bird health and profit

litter management

not replaced after every flock (in house pasteurization)

full clean as needed for bird health and welfare

what are litter clean out uses

fertilizer

nutrition supplement

• litter analyzed for appropriate quality

• nutrition is most important factor (high protein)

tunnel ventilation

main form

temperature regulation, air quality, and air flow

broiler farm preparation- housing

checks require ideal warm environment to support health growth and development

continues for 8-14 days after placement at 90 degrees F

brooding

gas brooders

electrical brooders

on average, how much room does each broiler have

.82 ft squared/bird

how much does nutrition cost

50-70%

water

clean, potable

ad libitum (free choice) via automatic waters for entire growth

what are the two types of waters

nipple waters and bell waters

nipple water (chickens)

ensures water quality, reduces waste/spills, simple distribution through house, about 10 birds/nipple

bell waters (turkeys)

less distribution = more crowding, most waste, more maintenance/cleaning, 8/1000 birds

what does water help do

soften feed, carries nutrients, removes waste products, helps cool birds

what feed base are broilers and layers most commonly fed

corn and soybean base

corn and soybean base

marine and animal based meals

formulated on digestible amino acids than crude protein

• saves money

• reduces environment concerns about runoff

use of crystalline amino acid to balance

pelleting

require smaller pellet/crumbs for younger birds

decrease food waste

stops selective feeding/ingredient separation

starter feed for broilers

day 0-10

crumble

formulated to development and overall health

• 18-24% protein

• 3-3.5% fat

grower feed for broilers

day 10-25

pelleted

formulated for product yield

• 17-20% protein

• 2.5% fat

finisher feed for broilers

day 25-harvest

pelleted

formulated for profitability (decrease protein)

• 16-18% protein

• 2.5% fat

antibiotic use in broilers (feed additive)

meds require withdrawal period (ones of particular concern)

check and balance process

check and balance process

FDA sets specific guidelines on antibiotics used in food processing animals

• delivery modes, species uses, withdraw periods

farms only administer antibiotics when directed by vets (VFD)

USDA monitors residue presence

hormones (feed additive)

added hormones regulated since 1950s

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21 Parts 522 and 556

broiler farm - catch out

heavy stress period and crucial to properly prepare for this period

heavy stress period

collection of birds (prevents injury) (chest on leg)

transportation (proper protection/ventilation)

holding period (appropriate temperature)

crucial to properly prepare for catch out

any delay in process causes severe effects due to feed restriction

.3-1.5 cents / bird

some level of restriction necessary for processing

what are the types of layer production systems

conventional, enriched colony, cage-free, organic, and free-range eggs

what is the most common form of layer production

conventional production

conventional production

hens in cages (battery cages)

• climate controlled, feed and water, clean

efficient

safety

• flock and human

what are some downfalls to conventional production

cannot stand or stretch out fully

enriched colony production

increased animal welfare

hens in cages

• climate controlled

• feed and water

• natural behaviors

what is the main difference between conventional and enriched colony production

less birds in each cage in enriched colony

about how much of layer production is conventional

~60%

growing cage-free production

39% in 2024

16% in 2017

claimed: 75% by 2026

cage-free farm layout

multi-tiered aviaries

open barns

cage-free production

natural behaviors, feed and water, protection, increased labor, average cleanliness

free-range or pasture-raised layer production

feed and water, not climate or predator controlled, decreased production ability, increased labor

brooding/rearing facility layer production

house preparation similar to broilers, no litter required

chicken placed in cages with heat source

brooding light

temp brooding layer chicks are placed into

initial temp: 95 degrees F, reduce temp 4-5 degrees weekly until 70 degrees F

brooding light for layer production

4 hours on and 2 hours off, promotes good physiological development

laying house

transfer to laying house 15-16 weeks of age

rearing and laying facility similar construction

in the laying house, bird weights are monitored before and after transfer because

flock should be uniform

• chicks derived from similarly aged flocks

• management to maintain uniformity

lighting program in layer production

proper lighting crucial for max egg production

light and dark periods stimulate reproductive hormones

• initiate egg laying process

layer production- nutrition

calcium:phosphorus importnat

• pre-production

  • 2:1 Ca:P

• during production

  • 10:1 Ca:P

crucial for egg production

what is commonly used as a calcium source

limestone

how much of the egg is comprised of Ca carbonate

94%

what happens if not a good Ca:P ratio

deficiencies

• decreased egg quality and production

• poor bird performance

what is Ca:P ration formulated on

digestible amino acid requirements

pre-layer

• diets decrease in protein and energy requirements

layer

• increased levels of protein and energy

how often are eggs laid by a hen

~24 hours

how many eggs/year/hen

~280-300

egg laying period

beings at 18 weeks

peaks at 25 weeks

continues until about 70 weeks

molt

period of laying rest

when does molt occur

around 70 weeks

what does molting consist of

egg production decrease

feed is restricted and lights turned off

2 weeks to molt

hens brought back into production until about 90 weeks

how much bird weight is lost due to molting

23%

what are the sizes of eggs

small, medium, large, extra large, and jumbo

how can egg size/weight be manipulated

through dietary amino acid content

what increases with hen age

size/weight

as hens age, what happens to eggshell quality

decreases

what are some eggshell deformities

wrinkles, calcium deposits, weak spots, odd shapes, shell-less

what are defective eggs used in

breakout production

what are some internal egg quality defects

blood spots, meat spots, yolk

blood spots in eggs

yolk is released from ovary, a blood vessel is severed and small amounts of blood retained in the egg

meat spots in eggs

ovarian tissue breaks off with yolk and retained in egg

yolk defects

double yolk (jumbo eggs)

no yolk

layer production flow

breeder farm → hatchery → pullet farm → laying farm → candling → grading → sorting and packaging → shipping → selling and storing

what happens at a laying farm

collecting and washing, automated

what is candling

interior quality assessment, uses light to view interior defects

how is sorting and packaging done

automated

shipping of eggs

72 hours-4 days to store

post layer production

sold for lower price

• used in canned precuts and dog food

• very little meat yield

poultry processing

harvested at inspected plants