Basics
Why do we study poultry
major contribution to ag production
unique avian biology
technologically advanced production system
What is the only animal better than a chicken at feed efficiency
Fish
What is percent hatchability
Of total eggs set = does not indicate the reason for low hatchability, usual term used in industry
Of fertile eggs
What are some causes of low hatchability
Fertility - nutrition, male to female ratio, disease, external parasites, AI problems
Embryonic mortality - egg handling and storage, improper setter and hatcher settings, disease, breeder age, nutrition, genetic factors
What factors affect hatching egg quality
Provide hens with clean nests
train hens to lay in nests
collect eggs 2-4 times per day
maintain high quality litter
store eggs in clean facility
How have birds modified from the original flying reptiles
Scales become feathers
hollow bones and air sacs
development of homeothermy
What is vertical integration?
When a company runs or owns a lot of parts of a supply management system.
grain -> grain drier plant -> feed mill -> our farms -> (hatchery) -> meat processing plant -> distributors -> customers
What are the expected hatchability's of different poultry types
Egg production = 88-90%
Broiler breeders = 82-52%
Turkeys = 75-80%
Numbers for all of these will vary with each strain, the season, strain of bird
What are the percent's of each loss of eggs in hatchability of broiler breeders
Infertility - 42%
early embryonic mortality - 28%
mid-term mortality - 6.0%
late term mortality - 24%
What is the CHEQ program
Canadian hatching egg quality program
HACCP based, CFIA approved
food safety orientated
Comprehensive set of good production practices
Record keeping
What is the difference between precocial and altricial? what type of poultry goes into each
altricial = no down, need to feed, need to be kept warm - pigeon
precocial = easier to manage, hatched not born, ability to survive on their own after hatching = chickens or any other poultry species
What is poultry supply management? where is it used
Canada
boards run by producers, regulates production levels (production syncs with demand), stabilizes income and product prices, allows smaller farms to exist (must purchase quota), allows producers to own their own farms, requires import control
What are the different egg classifications
Clear - infertile or early embryonic mortality
Dead - embryo or blood ring
Live embryo
What are the important embryonic tissues (& important aspects about them)
Amnion - clear fluid surrounding embryo
yolk sac - membrane enveloping the yolk, nutrient uptake, primary source of energy during last third of incubation, drawn into body cavity prior to hatch, early nutrient supply for newly hatched egg
allantoic membrane - development initiated on third day and completed by 12th day, completely envelopes the embryo and is highly vascular, function = respiration, excretory, digestive
Chorion - fuses with inner shell membrane and allantoic membrane
chorioallantoic membrane
What is the proper storage temperatures and other important aspects for handling prior to incubation
Physiological zero = 10-18 degrees C
use cooler end for longer storage times
Recommendations - 1-3 days = 21 C, 4-7 days = 18 C, 7+ days = 10-12 C
relative humidity = 70-80%
What is the phylogeny of poultry species (class, order)
class = aves
order = Galliformes - chickens, turkeys, pheasants, guinea fowl
= Anseriformes - ducks, muscovy duck, geese
= Columbiformes - pigeon
Advantages and disadvantages of quota over vertical integration
ad = higher standard of animal health and welfare, small farms can thrive, stable prices, guaranteed income, no over production, relatively local products
dis = expensive to buy quota, more expensive for consumer, less communication among levels
What do you see at if a egg is fertile at 1-2 days of age vs. A infertile egg at the same time
Fertile = blastoderm
infertile = germinal disc
Salmonella pullorum
Avian encephalomyelitis (swelling of the brain)
Mycoplasmas (gallisepticum, meleagridis, synovitis)
Is egg washing done
Why or why not
No, never
Washing takes away the cuticle layer, which leaves the egg susceptible to disease
Have or breed your chickens to lay clean eggs
What would a broiler be selected for vs. a layer?
broiler = grow fast, body size/conformation, leg health, meat quality, behaviour, disease resistance, feed efficiency
layer = how many eggs they lay, egg size, feed conversion, lower body weight, shell quality, shell shape
Advatages and disadvantages of vertical integration over quota
can supply cheaper meat, and there may be more communication among levels
but less welfare and less overall care for the chickens
What causes a blood ring
Protein starts to break up and causes the blood to form a ring
When do you need to start feeding a breeder diet to laying hens
About a week before they come into lay
What days are the eggs in each portion of the hatchery
is there a proper set up for hatchery movement
Setting (setter or incubator) = 0-18 days
Hatching (hatcher) machines = 18-21 days
Always go from young to old if using multiple rooms, so that the young aren't exposed to diseases the older ones may have