Pre-pullet stage is comprised of chick and grower stage, which is the most important stage of layer life, influencing the future performance of flock as well as the economy of farm. Set of expectations from the pre-pullet stage are,
- Standard body weight
- Liveability
- Sexual maturity at optimal age and weight
- More marketable eggs or minimal pullet eggs
These expectations can be achieved only by providing utmost managemental and nutritional support to the birds right from an early age. This insight points out the common challenges and the possible way to overcome the same during prepullet stage.
Normally, in the farms, a marked deviation in the performance parameters was observed when compared to breeds’ potential. Based on the general observation, the possible causes would be inappropriate management, imbalanced nutrition, environmental influence, etc.
| Major challenges in the pre-pullet stage |
| High rate of depletion |
| Pullet egg number |
| Sustaining peak performance |
| Sexual maturity at right time |
| Achieving standard body weight |
Economic Impact of Deviation from Standards.
For a flock of 10,000 birds, with pullet rearing cost of approximately Rs 300/bird, egg rate considered as Rs 4.50, pullet egg rate as Rs 3.25 and Rs 5.00 as an investment through medication of each bird for course correction.
| 1 % production drop during peak: Impact of Rs 31,500 | 1-week lesser peak production: Impact of Rs 3,150 |
| 1% extra mortality: Impact of Rs 67,925 | 5 more pullet eggs: Impact of Rs 53,125 |
1. Standard Body Weight
The pre-pullet stage is the fast-growing stage of the caged layer. Each breed has different standards for the growth rate and feeds intake, but almost in all the breeds, 90% frame size is developed by 12-16 weeks of age. So, monitoring weekly body weight will give a comprehensive evaluation of the flock. Assessment of body weight to the standard and flock uniformity is essential, at least once a month (4th, 8th, 12th,16th weeks). A random sampling of 100 birds is recommended from different locations of the flock.
Proper body weight – The most important criterion for better performance of caged layer birds
Early detection of deviation in body weight can be corrected much efficiently than at a later stage. Proper body weight is an important criterion for better uniformity of flock, thus influencing the sexual maturity, pullet eggs, peak performance and laying cycle. There are some critical aspects to be taken care to achieve the standard body weight during chick and grower stage. Major points are,
- Day-old chick & its environment
- Brooding management
- Space allocation
- Nutrition and gut health of chick.
1.1 Day old chick & its Environment
Before the arrival of chicks, the farm should be furnished with all equipment in good working order, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, including the side curtains. Temperature should be maintained for 24 hours prior to the placement of
the chicks.
Chicks should be placed at the earliest in the farm to minimize stress. Provision of water and feed should be provided along with proper lighting source. Chick qualities like weight, physical appearance and alertness should be monitored properly to evaluate the health of flock.
1.2 Brooding Management
Chicks cannot be able to maintain their body temperature for the first few weeks. To provide comfort and wellness to the birds, it is mandatory to supply the required temperature at the farm level. Along with the temperature, minimum
ventilation is also critical for this chick stage. Ventilation will improve the air quality inside the shed by facilitating oxygen, removing foul gas from shed and help to maintain the required relative humidity between 60-70 %.
Brooding – Meant for comfort and wellness
1.3 Space Allocation
It is the keystone to obtaining the deserved uniformity in the flock. Increased density, even at marginal levels, would affect the microenvironment around the bird and feed/watering behaviour, which further influences the flock health. Provision of proper space for chicks and growers, feeders and water will reduce the competition among the birds. Compromise on comfort will cause stress on the birds. Stressed birds will succumb to accidental death, high rate of
disease incidence, etc. Wastage of feed and water is another problem of insufficient space allocation, which causes economic loss to the farm.
Adequate Space — Better Uniformity of Flock
1.4 Nutrition & Gut Health
Balanced nutrition is a vital factor for better bird performance. Quality of feed varies with availability and high price of major raw materials (RM) and increased levels of alternate RM usage. Though the inclusion of alternate RM will reduce feed cost, the flock productivity will get affected drastically. High inclusion of alternate raw materials in feed reduces the digestibility.
Raw material selection should be made with utmost care, otherwise, there might be chances of indigestion and toxicity-related problems, which lower the performance of birds. Substandard water quality will increase the chance of bacterial load in the farm and impair the gut health of flock.
2. Livability
In chick and grower period, birds may face disease challenges like infectious laryngotracheitis, newcastle disease, E.coli, chronic respiratory disease, infectious coryza, wing rot, etc. Because of these disease challenges, mortality rate might
be increased. The feed intake of birds will reduce, and it leads to low body weight and poor uniformity.
The immune support programs either through feed or drinking water along with the vaccination schedule should be followed to prevent and /or minimize the impact of pathogenic challenges. Stress due to change in environment, biosecurity breach, usage of alternate RM, etc. will increase the depletion rate.
3. Sexual Maturity
Sexual maturity is always interlinked with bodyweight and lighting program. Flock uniformity and a properly developed GI tract will support achieving the desired body weight and sexual maturity at the right time. Chicks are sensitive to light intensity (20-30 lx) and its duration. The light should be provided as per the bodyweight rather than the age. Chicks need 24 hours of light during the first week, followed by 20 hours till 7 weeks of age. From 7th week to the week when birds achieve 1.0 kg body weight, it requires 14 hours of lighting. The light should be increased by 30 minutes per week, after attaining 1.0 kg body weight. laying stage requires 16 hours of lighting.
4. Pullet Eggs
Pullet egg number is directly proportional to the bodyweight of bird and lighting program. Early lighting will cause poor egg weight and prolapse. Delayed lighting will delay the peak and result in a lesser number of eggs. Egg size and number can be improved by proper nutrition and lighting management. Stressed birds produce more pullet eggs so, necessary action has to be done to eliminate all the stress factors during the chick and grower stage.
5. Sustaining Peak Performance
Peak performance will indicate the health of flock and farm. Peak performance in weeks and percentage need to be achieved as per the breed standard for better economic efficiency of the flock. Standard body weight, sexual maturity, and depletion will directly influence peak performance. Proper care of the pre-pullet stage will bring better efficiency in laying cycle.
Pre-pullet stage is an important phase of the caged layer. This period is called as investment period for laying cycle. Maximum care during brooding and growing will pay maximum returns during laying, and no correction can be efficiently done once this phase is over.
Farm Level Checklist
Following could be an indicative physical checklist to assess the farm and bird health.
| CHICK | GROWER |
| Comfort in brooding | Space & shifting time |
| Early nutrition | Sexual maturity on time |
| Feed wastage | Feed consumption & wastage |
| Weekly bodyweight | Standard bodyweight |
| Early chick mortality | Disease & weak birds |
| Debeaking | Grading & culling |
| Effective vaccination | Effective vaccination |
| Water quality & facility | Water quality & facility |
Measures to Overcome the Challenges
Two important pillars to be corrected to overcome the major challenges in the field are management aspects and enhancing the nutritional and health aspects of diet.
| MANAGEMENT | NUTRITION |
| Brooding | Immunomodulators |
| Space | Anti-stress Factors |
| Light | Gut Health Modulators |
| Vaccines | Enzymes |
| Biosecurity | Toxin Binders |
| Water | Trace Minerals |
Source
Management guides of various layer breeds in South Asia.
Note
Observed challenges and suggestive measures are based on the general broader observation from multiple flocks and feedbacks from layer farmers. The actual challenges and requirements might vary at individual farm levels, hence, it is suggested to consult a management expert and nutritionist for the most appropriate measures.
KEPREX TM LP is a comprehensive feed additive and supplement solution for enhancing nutrition and health aspects of pre-pullet diets, for better body weight, uniformity, livability, body weight at sexual maturity, more saleable eggs and future flock performance while adopting suitable management practices.
