Page 14 - National Poultry Newspaper

Mash
Crumble
DS (n=30)
Daily feed intake (g)
21.5 21.2 0.59
Average Daily Gain (g)
9.2
9.9 0.32
P< ** ***
Table 1: Effect of feed presentation during the first five weeks of age of brown pullets.
BW (gr)
1800 1850 1900 1950
2000
Maintenance needs (kcal/day)
184
189
194
199
204
Egg mass needs (Kcal/day)
120
120
120
120
120
Total (kcal/ day)
304
309
314
319
323
Table 2: Effect of body weight on the daily needs of kcal for maintenance for a 60g mass performance.
Presenter and author X. A. Ugalde.
Path to 100-week layer cage free hens
Lay (g)
Egg weight (g)
Feed intake
FCR (kg/kg)
1% 3% SEM
77.0 79.3 0.84
64.9 66.3 0.28
117 118 0.83
2.36 2.26 0.02
EGG producers are al- ways looking for ways to improve efficiency as nowadays the genetic po- tential of layers is target- ing an extended age of production of 100 weeks, making the industry more sustainable.
Australia is moving to- wards increased cage free production and there will be differences compared to the traditional produc- tion in cages in how to achieve this goal.
Achieving extended pro- duction in cage free pro-
duction should be based on five principles of nutri- tion: the proper develop- ment of the body of the pullet during the first five to six weeks of life using the proper starter feed; the feed intake capacity using a developer feed; the right energy and amino acid in- take to avoid deficiencies and behaviour issues; a calcium and phosphorus balanced nutrition based on needs; and the prop- er structure of the feed where the bird cannot se- lect based on particle size.
Each of these principles will facilitate the path to achieving layer hens in cage free production at 100 weeks of age. Introduction
Right now there are two different models of pro- duction in the world and they are based on the in- come of the people.
Seven percent of the population lives on more than $US50 per day and food expenses form a minimal part of their in- come.
These rich countries are moving towards pro- duction where cages are banned and the birds need to be provided with space outside the barn.
However, 71 percent of the world’s population lives on less than $US10 per day and these coun- tries are investing in clos- ing the birds in, getting them into cages and mak- ing production automated to improve productivity.
It is well documented that birds in cage-free pro- duction need higher levels of nutrients to achieve the same production as caged birds.
These needs will require a higher demand for raw materials, and therefore more natural resources such as soil, water, trans- port energy and fertiliser.
This increased require- ment for resources contra- dicts the concept of sus- tainability itself.
Sustainable development has been defined by the FAO as “the management and conservation of the natural resource base, and the orientation of techno- logical and institutional change in such a manner as to ensure the attain- ment and continued sat- isfaction of human needs for present and future generations defined as the maximization of the natu- ral resources available in our planet earth” (FAO Council 1989).
Somehow, this point has been forgotten or put aside when moving to cage free production by rich coun-
tries without thinking about the rest of the world. Genetic companies are working towards maxim-
ising egg production. Since genetic selection commenced, the number of eggs per hen has in- creased due to improved laying rate of the bird as it
gets older.
As these birds can keep
producing for a longer time, we must also adjust our nutrition to provide the nutrients to allow it to happen.
In cage free production, we must focus our atten- tion on five points: the starter feed to achieve the body weight at five to six weeks of age; feed intake capacity at the start of lay with the developer feed; correct levels of energy and amino acids in the feed during production; calcium and phosphorus nutrition; and feed struc- ture.
Starter feed
Until the sixth week of age, the pullet is develop- ing the carcass that will determine what kind of layer we will have in fu- ture.
If we want to achieve production to 100 weeks, it is necessary to achieve the target body weight recommended in the ge- netic guidelines.
There is a clear correla- tion between flocks that did not achieve the body weight target at the fifth or sixth week and early culling in production due to several problems.
The starter feed should be a high-energy and ami- no acid feed.
Energy is a limiting factor in the growth of pullets during the early stages.
Increased energy in the starter diet has a positive correlation with body weight to be achieved in the birds.
The starter feed of pul- lets has traditionally been mash feed, however, re- cent research and prac- tical experience shows using crumble type feed improves the body weight of pullets in the early stag- es (Table 1) and can be a useful tool when there are challenges at the farm for achieving the desired body weight.
Feed intake capacity
At the start of produc- tion there is a peak of needs associated with body weight growth and production of the first egg.
At the start of lay, we see a growth of protein tissue, mainly related to sexual maturity and bone growth
Table 3: Effect of added fat in egg production.
Page 14 – National Poultry Newspaper, July 2019
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Figure 1: Egg mass production (g/day) of brown layer.