The key components of successful egg production came under the spotlight at the International Egg Commission Technical Seminar India – Profitable Egg Production.
Andrew Joret, Chairman of the British Egg Industry Council and IEC office holder, noted that, too often, pullet rearing not given the attention it deserves. Yet without proper care, pullets will not have the same genetic potential as the day old chick, and failure at this stage cannot be made up for later in the egg production cycle.
Single age rearing with biosecurity is the best approach, he continued, adding that there should be no contact with other birds as this can affect vaccination.
The body weight and evenness of pullets needs to be monitored from week four of rearing. If birds are not on target remedial action must be taken. The problem with underweight pullets is that they will probably hit peak production, but will then collapse, failing to meet expectations.
Laying set ups should be matched as closely as possible to the rearing set up, for example and equipment and lighting.
Joret noted that, in India, there is still no legislation for layer cage stocking densities. He continued that, in the European Union (EU), no differentiation is made been for white or brown hen stocking densities, despite size differences. In the U.S., however, industry body United Egg Producers, offers guidelines for brown and white layers and, should India consider stocking density legislation this difference is something that legislators may want to consider.
He added that EU experience has shown that each time stocking densities were reduced, layer performance increased, especially when the industry moved from conventional to enriched cages. There is a cost in reducing stocking densities but, to a degree, it is ameliorated by better performance.
Layers like routine and so it is important that their routines are not broken as even a single missed feed can stress birds leading to undesirable behaviors.
Employing the right stock people is also important if layers are to perform well. Stock people must have a degree of empathy with the birds under their care.
Ideally, the layers in a flock should all be the same age. While in caged systems, multi-age is acceptable, it is not preferable.
Where layers are suffering from heat stress, a number of options can be adopted, including chilling water, feeding at night and adopting a hot weather diet.
Nutrition
The theme of nutrition was continued by Kostas Stampoulos, Global Specialty Solutions Manager for Enzymes at DSM Animal Nutrition & Health, who looked at improving production efficiency through better feed management and waste reduction.
Reviewing optimized diet solutions for Indian flocks he examined the role of enzymes in layer nutrition, adding that we have to be smart if we want to improve business.
The right choice of enzyme, he continued, can unlock the use of locally-available raw materials for layer diets, helping to raise the sector’s sustainability profile through reducing the use of imported soymeal.
