South West Chicken Association Conference 23 rd April 2013
“Technical Chickens” Alan Thomson
“Chickens” are “Chickens” ???
Inputs
Management Nutrition Genetics Environment Health Temp Weight loss Contamination Hatch time Processing Quality Weight Contamination Handling Storage Appetite Water Environment Nutrition Health
Chick Start First 7 Days Optimal Environmental Control Flock Uniformity Lighting Feed Quality Bio security Egg Handling Bodyweight Control Feed Distribution Vaccination Stress Gut Health Water Flock Transfer Male Management Flock Health Chick Quality
Chick Start First 7 Days Optimal Environmental Control Flock Uniformity Lighting Feed Quality Bio security Egg Handling Bodyweight Control Feed Distribution Vaccination Stress Gut Health Water Flock Transfer Male Management Flock Health Chick Quality
Inputs
56 days
Inputs 21 days 37 %
Inputs 35 days 63%
Inputs 42 days + 17%
Inputs
Weight, FCR, Yield
Inputs
Feed (fuel) Protein Energy 660 grams 10,500 kcal 10
Inputs
Assuming no water wastage ! Gallon Drums 122,000 Litres 610,000 Litres 122 Tonnes 610 Tonnes 20,000 Broilers 100,000 Broilers
How ? – The Gut Crop Proventriculus Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Cloaca Caeca Colon Gizzard How ?
How ? – The Gut
First 7 Days Chick StartGut Health Stress
First 7 Days Chick StartGut Health Stress
First 7 Days Chick StartGut Health Stress Growth FCR
Delayed chicks don’t catch-up! (Pinchasov & Noy, 1993)
First 7 Days Chick StartGut Health Stress Environmental Management Nutritional Health
First 7 Days Chick StartGut Health Stress Environmental Management Nutritional Health dysbacteriosis
Inputs
Weight, FCR, Yield Management Challenge
More efficient - 12% - 17% Shorter time and less feed volume needed to achieve target weight
Control MANAGEMENT TASK ! Control AD LIB
Critical Inputs Nutrition Genetics Health Management Temp Weight loss Contamination Hatch time Processing Quality Weight Contamination Handling Storage Bodyweight Control Flock Uniformity Appetite Water Equipment Environment Chick Starts Male Management Bio-security Lighting Feeding
Critical Inputs Nutrition Genetics Health Management Temp Weight loss Contamination Hatch time Processing Quality Weight Contamination Handling Storage Bodyweight Control Flock Uniformity Appetite Water Equipment Environment Chick Starts Male Management Bio-security Lighting Feeding
UniformityBodyweight Control Appetite Feeding
UniformityBodyweight Control Appetite Feeding 25g Protein 500 Kcal
When a mammal embryo develops in the womb it can be influenced by the quality of nutrition of the mother In an chicken that is complete by the time the egg starts incubation
“Technical” Chickens !