Achieving proper body weight, flock uniformity and sexual maturity at light stimulation are some of the biggest management challenges for broiler breeder farms. Today’s breeder pullets are growing faster with 6% less feed than 20 years ago. Feed management is a great challenge due to fast feed consumption, a consequence of selection for appetite traits, and reduced feed amounts, a result of more efficient feed conversion. Above all management factors, feeding pullets during rearing is crucial to ensure the birds consistently gain weight and achieve good uniformity to obtain high lifetime productivity with proper health and welfare.
Typically, broiler breeders are given a daily feed allotment. Observation during feeding time becomes one of the most important practices to ensure that feeding is done correctly. It is important to see if birds have fair competition and are receiving equal feed portions. Feed management requires consistent monitoring and managing. Feed time observations can identify management issues which can be corrected before they become big problems. There are several essential factors to observe when visiting the breeder house during feeding.
1. Bird behavior during feed presentation
Bird feeding behavior can explain how the farm crew manages feed presentation and trains the birds. Bird behavior observation should begin 3 to 5 minutes before the feeding system begins. This will allow enough time to compare the before and after reactions of the birds.
Ideally, the birds should develop a conditioned response by pairing feed time with a signal. As an example, a signal light at the end of the house or sound from feeder equipment can be used to indicate feeding time. Any human activity or light that could trigger the birds’ response should be prevented before feeding time. Triggering birds with human activity or light will create bird agitation and confusion and frustrate access to feeders which could cause long term behavioral issues and physical injury during the production period.
2. Feed distribution
Ideally, feed distribution should be in the dark with the 1st loop completed within 3 minutes, after which the light is turned on. This process will allow birds to spread calmly with sufficient access to the feeder. It is recommended that the 2nd loop of a chain feeder system be activated after the lights are on. This will help to level the feed in the track among all the hoppers.
Feed must be distributed evenly in all feeders to allow birds’ equal access to feed. For chain feeders, the feed slide of all hoppers must be adjusted at an equal width to allow the same level of feed in the track. For pan feeders, there should be a suitable ring adjustment number and same number for all pans to complete the loop and drop the same feed amount. Feed distribution can also be monitored by crop fill assessment after feeding.
3. Feed space
A big problem when increasing bird density is compromising feed space. Inadequate feed space will cause problems with feed access and create frustration. On the other hand, too much feed space causes an insufficient feed amount for the system to operate correctly and creates uneven feed distribution. Both scenarios will cause poor weight gain and flock uniformity, stressed conditions, and undesirable behaviors like feather or vent pecking.
Beginning at placement, a progressive feed space plan can be used to configure the system for the correct number of birds per pan or chain length at different ages, and to obtain good feed and bird distribution.
Birds should line up at feeders, have sufficient access to feed, and be equally spaced. Incorrect feeder space or bird drifting between pens after grading are very common malpractices. Feeding time observation is also critical to ensure proper feeder space in different pens after grading or moving birds. For progressive feed space recommendations, please refer to the Cobb breeder management guide.
4. Feed cleanup time
Feed intake time or feed cleanup time is very important in both the rearing and production periods. In the rearing period, pullets will start rapidly cleaning up the feed during the controlled growth phase. A feed cleanup time of about 40 to 60 minutes from 10 weeks of age until light stimulation is optimal. This will provide enough time for equal access to feed. If cleanup time is less than 35 minutes, it is suggested to increase feed volume and prolong cleanup time by applying a feed restriction program. In the production period, hen cleanup time is one of the indicators used to determine the first feed decrease after peak production.
In some cases, feed distribution may be observed, but personnel proceed to the next house before feed cleanup is complete. This is more common for breeders because they have a long cleanup time. If personnel leave before cleanup is complete, it is important that they return to make sure the birds finish their feed and check if drinkers are working.
One of key dictators of cleanup time is feed pellet size. In rearing and production, we recommend a crumble to prolong feed consumption time. Some operators may use mash coarse feed which increases consumption time compared to a crumble. We discourage using pelleted feed in rearing or production since it can be consumed quickly and there may not be enough volume to guarantee equal distribution.
5. Is the feeder equipment operating correctly?
Farm crew must ensure that the feeder system is maintained correctly to prevent equipment failure during feeding time. There must be a regular maintenance program to make sure the feeder system is in good condition each day.
As breeder pullets grow, the feeder height should be increased until frame development is complete at around 12 weeks of age. Incorrect feeder height is one problem that leads to poor uniformity. Normally we suggest adjusting feeder to a height that is close to the upper crop of the birds. In the production period, the male feeder line should be maintained at a height where all males can access the pan feeders without female interference.
6. Water consumption
Water is the most important nutrient for the birds. Normally, birds will consume water for 2 to 3 hours after eating. Observation during feeding time can be used to check the water system to see that it provides sufficient volume and correct pressure, especially after feeding. If water is not being consumed after feeding, it is possible that the water lines are restricted or not functioning correctly. Crop palpation 3 to 4 hours after feeding time can be an indicator of water intake. Birds’ crops should be soft and lumpy, full of a mix of feed and water.
7. Environment management during feed time
Due to the selection for growth rate, modern broiler breeders have a high rate of metabolic heat production and a high efficiency of utilizing energy for growth. This metabolic energy is converted to body heat that is lost to the environment. It is essential to create an environment inside the breeder house that allows the birds to remove excess body heat and remain comfortable. Providing good ventilation during feeding time will reduce metabolic heat stress and prevent a decrease in feed intake and reduce mortality. During feeding time, birds panting is an indication of heat stress and should be addressed immediately. If ventilation is maximized, but feed intake still appears to be impacted by heat stress, then consider moving feeding to an earlier time to have cooler temperatures.
8. Bird health and wellness
Unhealthy birds will lack appetite, be lethargic and reluctant to access feeders. These signs can indicate health related problems in the birds that require immediate investigations.
In the rearing period, feed restriction programs are commonly applied during the controlled growth phase to increase the amount of feed and consumption time. However, if farm crews observe feed choking or intussusception is diagnosed during the transition period to higher feed amounts, adjust the lighting program to let birds drink 30 minutes before feed distribution. If mortality rises, consider adjusting the feed restriction program or try an everyday feeding regime.
Conclusion
Feed management is never constant, and it has the most influence on body weight and uniformity. These 8 key observation points during the feeding time will help breeder farm team monitor feed management to achieve breeder performance and catch mismanagement practices early before they lead to possibly greater mistakes.