Poultry Industry- Husbandry and Handling Flashcards
(40 cards)
What are the four types of commercial poultry in the UK
- Broilers
- Broilers/ Layers
- Layers
- Turkeys, Ducks, Pheasants, geese
Name 5 KPI’s for Broilers
- Feed conversion ratio
- 7d mortality
- 7d weight
- Final Mortality
- Final Weight
Name 5 KPI’s for layers
- Final mortality
- Eggs per day
- Average egg weight
- Livability
- Feed Consumption
What are some factors that determine mortality, weight and uniformity
- Brooding condition/ Temperature
- Light intensity
- Feed Quality
- Ease of access to feed
- Disease
What does ‘set’ mean?
When eggs are placed in ‘setter’ machines to incubate for the first 18 days, during this time they are slowly tipped on an angle and the temperature/ humidity is closely controlled
What does ‘walked’ mean?
daily ‘walking’ up and down of the shed to check environment, health and welfare and remove dead, injured or sick birds
What does ‘placed’ mean?
When birds are first introduced onto a farm i.e chicks placed at day old
What is a pullet?
Female bird before she lays her first egg
What are some potential production costs?
- Feed
- Chicks
- Housing
- Heating
- Salaries
What are some potential political pressures of the poultry industry?
- High welfare
- Safe product
- Reduce waste
- Reduce antimicrobial use
- Environmental impact
Name 5 examples of the environmental impact on poultry farms?
- CO2 production
- Litter disposal
- Water usage and disposal
- Shed heating
- Growth and transport of feed raw materials
What is the solution of the global food demand?
- large scale intensive production
- Integration
What is the most common vaccination type for chickens?
Oral vaccination
Why is beak trimming carried out?
It is carried out to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism in poultry flocks
How much of the beak can you remove in beak trimming?
Up to one third of both the lower and upper beak
When may birds lose a lot of feathers on their backs?
During mating (mating damage)
How long approximately may it take an egg to form?
Over 25 hours
What are egg shells made up of?
Calcium Carbonate and pigments
When is the shell produced?
Shell forms last and needs stillness, Calcium must be available in the gut during this time or she will mobilise it from her bones
How many grams of calcium do birds require a day to produce eggs?
4-6g of Calcium a day
What are three ways to control egg size
- Genetics
- Essential Nutrients (methionine and linoleic acid)
- Feed intake (energy levels)
What is Brooding?
The time immediately after hatching when extra care and attention must be paid
What percentage of all meat consumed in the UK is poultry?
46%
How many million birds are consumed per week in the UK?
20 million
