ZOOT 2120 - Poultry Production and Herd Health Management

ZOOT 2120
Broiler Production
Module 5
Prepared by: Ren Lenard N. Valdez, DVM

OVERVIEW
This module will elaborate the significance of broiler production and management
in the Philippines and the important practices and proper management in poultry broiler
production.

I. OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this module, you are expected to:

1. Classify the proper production management in broiler type of poultry

production.

II. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Broilers are chickens genetically developed for fast growth rate and good feed conversion.
They are allowed to grow up from thirty-three to thirty-five days of age to attain a market
weight, although some chicken growers harvest broilers within 4 weeks, weight ranging
from 1.7 to 2.0 kg per head with a feed conversion ratio of 1.8 to 2.0. Broiler production
operations can either be under a contract growing arrangement or under commercial
broiler operations. This chapter deals with the general considerations and management
guidelines in a broiler production operation with particular emphasis on tropical
conditions.

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Elevated Slatted floor Monitor type

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Non-Elevated Litter floor type of building

Tunnel Ventilated type of Building

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ESTABLISHING A BROILER FARM

Market Assurance
The assurance of a market is an important consideration in a broiler production
operation. Broilers grow very fast and have to be marketed at the desired age and weight.
The following are the important reasons why market assurance is important in broiler
operations:
• The feed efficiency of broilers at a younger age is good but becomes poorer as they
grow older. If the broilers are not marketed on time, their cost of production will
increase.
• Some institutional buyers of broilers, whether live or dressed, prefer a certain weight
range. Overweight and overage broilers are difficult to market.
• Poultry meat is a perishable commodity. If broilers are to be marketed in dressed
forms, they need to be marketed immediately. The longer the meat is stored, the
lower its market value will be. Fresh poultry meat commands a relatively higher price
than a frozen one.
• Market trends should also be considered. Prices of broiler meat are higher during
the holiday season while it is lowest during June and November when school starts.
Imported frozen broiler meat is sometimes available in certain areas and at relatively
lower prices.

Capital/Volume
Ordinarily a broiler farmer earns on a per bird basis. Depending on the efficiency
of production, a broiler raiser in the Philippines would usually get an average of 8–12
php per head as profit. Broiler production is a volume-oriented production system. The
larger the volume of broilers raised the bigger is the expected profit. However, the
bigger the volume raised, the bigger is the capital required in terms of land, housing,
equipment, labor, feeds, and medicines. On the average, the capital needed for starting
a broiler farm would be around P200 per bird. This estimate covers the building and
equipment only. The farmer may expect a return from his investment within three to
four years.

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The country's broiler population is kept in farms that are classified either by size or by
type of operation. Broiler farm classification according to size, is as follows:
• Large commercial farms - farms that produce 100,000 or more broilers per
harvest.
• Medium commercial farms - farms that produce 21,000–99,000 broilers per
harvest.
• Small commercial farms - farms that produce 1,000–20,000 broilers per harvest.
• Small hold/backyard farms - farms that produce not more than 1,000 broilers per
harvest.

In terms of type of operation, broiler farms are classified as follows:

Integrated grower farms - farms that breed, hatch, grow, and market their own
products at their own expense.

Contract grower farms - farms that grow chickens for the integrator. Contract growing
is a scheme whereby a grower enters into a contract with an integrator to grow broilers

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up to a marketable age of about 36-42 days. The grower is assured of at least 5 batches
(crops) a year. In this case, the integrator provides the grower a minimum of 10,000
meat-type chicks, about 35,000 kg feeds, vaccines, diagnostic laboratory services, and
farm planning, particularly to a new applicant at no cost. The grower in turn, provides
housing, labor, land, feeding and watering equipment, brooders, water, fuel, lighting, and
litter materials for the chickens up to harvestable age under the supervision of the
integrator's extension service personnel. However, terms and conditions stipulated in the
contract may vary among broiler companies or integrators.

Contract-to-buy grower farms - farms that have tie-ups with integrators or

cooperatives, whereby the latter sell to growers a minimum of 10,000 broiler-type chicks
and/or feeds at an agreed price. At harvest, the farm sells the broilers produced to
integrators and/or cooperative at a previously agreed price.
Independent commercial grower farms - farms that buy broiler chicks at current
market prices and mix their own feeds. They raise and market their own birds by
themselves.

Contract breeding farms - farms that produce hatching eggs for companies that supply
the Parent Stocks (PS) and feed and buy back the hatching eggs at pre-arranged price.

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BROODING MANAGEMENT

Selection of Good Quality Chicks

The success of a broiler operation depends on the selection of broiler chicks to start
with. During the past years, there have been significant improvements in the field of
broiler genetics. Currently most broiler stock have the genetic capacity to attain superior
growth rate and feed conversion. Here in the Philippines, major broiler integrators are
continually acquiring their grandparent stocks, parent stocks, and even day-old chicks
from broiler breeding companies who continually improve the genetic potential of their
stocks. Thus, selection of the most appropriate strain of day-old chicks plays a key role
in the eventual success of one's broiler operation. In order to attain good production
efficiency, one should start with the acquisition of good quality day-old chicks with the
genetic potential of superior growth rate

Ross 308 Breed by San Miguel Foods Inc.

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With superior broiler stocks, it is possible to attain considerable savings in feeds to as

much as 100 grams per bird. It would also allow farmers to shorten the growing cycle
of broilers and enable them to grow more batches of broilers per year. Aside from
superior growth rate and feed conversion efficiency, broiler raisers should also take into
consideration acquiring day old chicks from breeder farms and hatcheries with adequate
breeder vaccination programs.

Here in the Philippines, where disease challenge is high, it is an advantage that day-old
chicks have sufficient maternal antibodies upon loading in the farm. If possible, it would
also be best to get day-old chicks that come from one breeder farm.

Broiler raisers would benefit a lot from acquiring day-old chicks coming from breeders
which are already on their post peak of production. Broiler breeders usually reach their
peak of egg production between thirty to thirty-five weeks of age. At this age, the eggs
are relatively bigger in size and with good fertility. Bigger chicks are hatched from bigger
eggs. Also, chicks hatched from younger parents would have a higher level of protection
because of the higher number of maternal antibodies they acquired from the parent
stocks. The advantages of having post peak day-old chicks will be evident during the
rearing period wherein birds with good initial body weight will eventually exhibit good
growth rate. Farmers will also benefit by having broilers of good uniformity as well as
good levels of protection against the more economically important poultry diseases.

Importance of Proper Brooding Management

Majority of broiler raisers regard the first three days of brooding as the most critical
stage of the chick's life. It is the stage that will eventually determine the success of the
current broiler cycle. Brooding is the process of giving artificial heat to chicks during the
first few days of a chick's life. During the first few days, the chicks cannot efficiently
thermo-regulate their body temperature thereby predisposing them to stress and
lowered body resistance. Exposure of chicks to stress conditions will eventually lead to

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high brooding mortality rate, poor uniformity, increased incidence of runt broilers, and
condemnation. The brooding period also highly influences the growth of the chicks.
Broilers increase their body weight four times during the brooding period. From an
average day-old weight of around 40 g, broilers will weigh around 160 g during the first
week. Usually, broilers that are unable to quadruple their body weight during the
brooding period will have problems achieving their full genetic potential.

Basic brooding management should also take into consideration the incidence of
unabsorbed yolk. During the incubation process, the yolk is the main nutrient supplier
to the developing embryo. During the hatching process, most of the energy (yolk fat) is
used. Less than 10 percent of the yolk fat and less than 50 percent of the yolk protein
is present two days after hatching. None is present four days after hatching. Proper
brooding temperature influences yolk absorption. Yolk absorption is more important to
smaller day-old chicks or chicks coming from young parent stocks. Increased incidence
of unabsorbed yolk is usually an indication of poor brooding or a disease condition,
which would eventually lead to high chick mortality.

During the brooding period, lifesaving maternal antibodies from the parents is absorbed
from the chick's yolk. These lifesaving antibodies helps the chicks fight various bacterial,
viral, and protozoan diseases. Good brooding management results in better absorption
of the yolk. Depending on the weather conditions, brooding may last for ten to fourteen
days. In tropical conditions, the type of brooding management is largely dependent on
the type of poultry housing. However, the maintenance of the optimum brooding
temperature is still the key to proper brooding. Although the optimum temperature can
easily be maintained in environmentally controlled broiler houses through strategically
placed heaters and ventilation fans, the production cost is likely to increase because of
the higher cost of power. Brooding in conventional open-sided houses if properly done
could be just as effective or comparable to brooding using environmentally controlled
houses.

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Unabsorbed Yolk in chicks

Brooding Management Tips

Under tropical conditions, the type of brooding management is largely dependent on
the type of poultry housing. The following are guidelines to be considered in a brooding
setup for broilers in conventional housing:
• Chicks should be loaded in the farms during the coolest part of the day to
avoid stress associated with transport from the hatchery.
• The brooding area should be preheated to around 33°C for thirty minutes to
one hour before expected day-old chick placement. This is done to prevent
thermal shock of the bird's feet once they are placed in the litter.
• Chicks should be segregated into groups of 1,000 chicks per brooding pen.
• The floor area provided per brooding pen should not be less than 19 sqm.
• The brooding pen should be enclosed with curtains to prevent drafts. Curtains
will also aid in the maintenance of the optimum brooding temperature.
• Each brooding pen should be provided with the following:

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a. heater
b. chick feeders
c. jar-type, gallon-sized drinkers
• Water with dextrose powder should be readily available prior to the releasing
of chicks in the brooding area. The dextrose in water given to the broiler
chicks during the first four hours would serve as an immediate source of
energy.

Litter Management During the Brooding Period

Maintaining good litter conditions is an essential practice in the proper brooding of
broiler chicks. Sawdust, rice hulls, and rice straws are examples of litter materials
popularly used in the tropics. Maintenance of dry and clean litter is essential in the
maintenance of optimum temperatures during the brooding stage. Dry clean litter also
decreases the probability of a coccidiosis outbreak. Good litter conditions also help
prevent ammonia buildup and prevent the incidence of footpad dermatitis.

Litter floor with saw dust

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Guidelines on Litter Management During Brooding

The following are some guidelines on proper litter management:
a. The rice hull to be used should be properly disinfected. It should be placed on
top of sewn empty feed bags which are also properly disinfected.
b. Old but clean newspapers should be laid on top of the rice hulls on the first day
to allow the chicks to familiarize themselves to the feeds and to prevent the rice
hulls from mixing with the feeds and drinking water.
c. Litter thickness should not be less than 5 cm.
d. Drinkers should be regularly checked for leakage to keep the litter dry.
e. The litter material should be mixed once a day to prevent caking and ammonia
buildup.
f. Used litter material should be removed and properly disposed after the brooding
period.

Ammonia Buildup
Ammonia (NH) is present in most poultry houses. It is produced by the breakdown of
uric acid by bacteria in the litter or manure. If the litter or manure moisture is maintained
between 21-25 percent, ammonia is usually not produced. Ammonia production will
start when the moisture of the litter or manure exceeds 30 percent (wet manure) and
rapidly increases as the temperature goes up.

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Ammonia built due to fecal accumulation

Heater Management
Heater management is critical throughout the brooding period. With proper
temperature, the broiler chicks are able to move, eat, and drink freely, thereby, helping
them to live and grow to attain their full genetic potential.

Infrared Gas Brooders

In commercial broiler production, infrared gas brooders are the commonly used heater
to supply artificial heat during the entire brooding period. It has been proven to be more
efficient and safer especially in the commercial level of operation. Infrared brooders use
LPG as fuel.
Infrared brooders are available in 500-chick and 1,000-chick capacities. For brooding
1,000 chicks during warm months, a minimum of two 50-kg LPG tanks will be needed
while three to four tanks are needed during rainy months.

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Optimum Temperature
The optimum temperature needed by broilers at certain stages of the brooding period
vary. The best practical indicator of the optimum brooding temperature is the behavioral
reaction of the chicks.

Brooding Space Requirement

Broilers should be provided with adequate floor space during the brooding period. This
will prevent the accumulation of fecal material which will increase infection pressure and
predispose the broilers to respiratory problems.

Ventilation and Curtain Management

Air movement in the brooding area is very important especially during the first few days
of the brooding period. It is essential that oxygen-rich air is continuously being supplied
within the brooding pen to prevent the accumulation or the increase in carbon dioxide
and ammonia levels. Increasing the carbon dioxide and ammonia levels inside the

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brooding area may result in unnecessary stress to the broiler chicks. Most broiler houses
are provided with curtains. These curtains must be rolled up or opened once in a while
during hot weather to facilitate good air circulation.

At night when the temperature gets cold, the curtain should be rolled down. Drafts must
be avoided inside the house since it might trigger respiratory infection and diarrhea. To
maximize the use of artificial heat being provided for the chicks, it is recommended that
the entire poultry house be covered with curtains except the monitor part of the roof.
Curtains should also be placed on the poultry post from one end to another to prevent
drafts coming from the slatted flooring.

Curtains should be installed to facilitate easy opening and closing whenever there are
changes in the environmental temperature. Curtains if properly utilized could help
improve brooding conditions through the following: conserve the heat inside the
brooding area; prevent drafts from entering the brooding area; and control the inflow
and outflow of air in the brooding area.

Tunnel ventilated equipped with cooling fans

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Rolled up and rolled down curtain for proper air flow

SAMPLE WEIGHING
The main indicator of performance of broilers is their growth rate as well as their feed
conversion efficiency. Sample weighing of broilers should be done from the first week up to
the sixth week of age to determine if the flocks are attaining the weekly target weights.
Weighing the broilers should be done during the cooler parts of the day. A catching frame
is used to catch the number of sampled broilers depending on the flock age.

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Weighing of Broiler Chicken

GRADING
Grading is a procedure done to identify and segregate broilers according to their weight
range. This procedure should be done especially if flocks have poor body weight
uniformity. Poor flock uniformity usually leads to poor growth rate since weak or smaller
broilers could not compete with the bigger and stronger ones for feeder and drinker
spaces. Visual grading should be done on a daily basis starting on the second week.
Increasing the feed allocation and extending the feeding period of prestarter or starter
diets of weak broiler chicks would help improve their growth performance.

LIGHTING MANAGEMENT
Broilers need sufficient light in order to maximize their growth potential. Broilers tend
to consume more feed during the night when the temperature is cooler. They also tend
to digest and assimilate feeds better when given the chance to sleep for an hour or two
during the night. Lighting for broilers is particularly important during warm and humid

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months of the year. Light intensity must be about 0.5 to 1 watt per square meter of
floor area. This is equivalent to about 93 watts per 1,000 head of broilers. Proper lighting
has been shown to improve feed efficiency.

FEEDS AND WATER MANAGEMENT

On the first day, feeds should be placed evenly on the newspaper matting enclosed by
brooder guards. Feeding should be done frequently with the right amount to minimize
feed wastage. After twelve hours until the second day, chick feeders should be gradually
introduced to replace newspaper matting used as feeders. On the third day, all feeds
should be placed in the chick feeders. The feeding space requirement up to fourteen
days of age should be 2.54 linear cm per broiler. A standard 91.44 cm-chick feeder could
accommodate seventy-two chicks (fourteen chick feeders per 1,000 chicks). Bigger tube
feeders should be introduced starting on the eighth day, gradually replacing the chick
feeders. A feeding scoop should be used to avoid spillage. The tube feeder should be
hanged such that the rim is aligned to the back level of the broilers.

DRINKING WATER
One hour before the arrival of chicks, the drinkers should be prepared. Clean water
should be mixed with dextrose powder at a dose of 20 grams per gallon at 2 gallons per
1,000 birds. The temperature of the drinking water should be about 20 to 22°C. A gallon-
sized drinker could serve the requirements of fifty broiler chicks from day-old up to
twenty-one days of age. Plastic basins could be used as additional drinkers starting on
the eighteenth day until the broilers are harvested. The drinkers should be accessible
and chicks should not travel more than 1.5 meters just to reach the drinker. Drinkers
being used should be cleaned four times a day to prevent bacterial contamination and
accumulation. Fresh, clean drinking water should be made available at all times.
Automatic watering systems, although expensive, are used by some commercial broiler
raisers to improve water allocation to the chicks. These watering systems have positive
effects on production in terms of weight gain, livability, maintenance of dry litter, and
lower ammonia levels. The drinking water of the flock must be clean and free from

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microorganisms and must be chlorinated regularly. If water is from a deep well, testing
for coliform bacteria is needed. If untested it is advisable to chlorinate. The procedure
for the chlorination is as follows:
• Prepare a stock solution by mixing 20 gm of chlorine (70 percent) in one gallon
of water. The container must be sealed to prevent deterioration.
• Mixed 4 ml of stock solution per gallon of drinking water or 200 ml stock solution
per drum (fifty gallons).

Chlorinated water should not be used in vaccination and antibiotic medication through
the drinking water. Do not chlorinate the drinking water for broilers a day before and
after using live vaccines through the drinking water. Let the chlorinated water stay
overnight before using vitamins. Vitamins will lose their potency if mixed together with
chlorine.

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Dextrose powder/Vitamin supplement in drinkers

BROILER HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Poultry diseases still pose a major problem in broiler production in the tropics. Disease
challenges results in poor production in terms of feed conversion efficiency and mortality
rate. During the past years, considerable improvement has been made in the fight
against major viral and bacterial diseases of poultry. The introduction of vaccines has
made it possible to control outbreaks of Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease,
and infectious bronchitis. Newer and more effective antibiotics have been introduced for
the prevention and treatment of economically important bacterial diseases. Antibiotics
are also being used as growth promoter to increase feed efficiency in broiler production.

Vaccination Programs
Basic flock health programs are attained through a combination of good biosecurity
measures and adequate vaccination. Vaccination programs are usually relative and not

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absolute and are done on a case-to-case basis. A broiler raiser should seek the
assistance of a veterinarian in the formulation of a suitable vaccination program for his
particular farm. The following are some considerations in the formulation of a
vaccination program: Vaccination should only be administered against diseases which
are prevalent within the area where the poultry farm is located. Broilers are only raised
for a relatively short period of time (thirty-five to forty-two days), thus, vaccination for
all diseases might not be practical. Vaccines should be available at reasonable cost.
Vaccines should be administered properly.

Vaccination schedule for broiler chicks.

Age of Chicken Type of Vaccination Route of Remarks
Administration

7-10 Days NCD (B1 Strain) + IB Intra ocular Chicks from

(Live Vaccine) (eye drop) unvaccinated
Intranasal parents may be
(nose drop) vaccinated
as early as 1-3
clays of age

7-15 days IBD. mild or intermediate Via drinking If chicks are

strain (live vaccine) water vaccinated before
7 days old,
re-vaccination at
21 clays of age
may be indicated
for optimum
protection.

21- 28 days NCD (LaSota strain) + IB Via drinking

(live vaccine) water

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Storage and Handling of Vaccines

The following are important considerations in the storage and handling of vaccines:
• Live virus vaccine must be stored in a dark place at a temperature of about 2
to 8°C. Vaccines should be placed in plastic containers to prevent thermal
shock from frequent opening and closing of refrigerator doors.
• Vaccines should not be exposed to direct sunlight at all times.
• During vaccination, vaccines should be kept in a Styrofoam box or cooler with
ice or refrigerant while in the poultry house. Vaccines should not be stored in
plastic bags with ice even on a temporary basis.
• Vaccines should not be submerged in water from melted ice as this might
contaminate the vaccines. Vaccines should be sealed in a plastic
bag/cellophane before placing them inside the cooler. This is necessary
especially when transporting vaccines over long distances.

The continued use of chemotherapeutic agents such as antibiotics in animal feeds

also requires adequate attention since drug residues in animal tissues can be a risk to
human health if the animal is slaughtered before the recommended withdrawal period.
It is therefore, strongly recommended that all medications in the feed or drinking water
be withdrawn at least 5 days prior to slaughter. The following are common
medications given to broiler chickens.

1. Anti-stress preparations (e.g., antibiotic-vitamin-electrolyte supplements)

may be given via the drinking water during the first 3- 5 days of age, and 2 days
before and 3 days after each vaccination with live virus vaccine that requires
individual handling of the chickens for its administration.

2. Coccidiostat preparations should be given continuously through the feed from

the 1st day to 28 days of age. Observe proper withdrawal period.

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3. Anti-malarial preparations (e.g., pyrimethamine-

sulfamonomethoxine/sulfadimethoxine plus vitamins) may be given in the feed or
drinking water, starting at 10-14 days old for 2 consecutive days each week for 5
weeks if the disease is prevalent. Observe proper withdrawal period.

Other Management Practices

Prevention and Control of Cannibalism

Cannibalism is a nasty behavior that may develop in a flock. It is manifested by pecking
on others toes, tails, and feathers. In broilers, the outbreak of cannibalism could result
in stress that could affect their production efficiency and downgrading of their carcass
when dressed. Under extreme conditions, cannibalism could result in higher mortality
and morbidity.
The possible causes of the outbreak of cannibalism in broiler chickens are:
a. Overcrowding
b. Poor ventilation
c. Inadequate feeders and drinkers
d. Imbalance or poor diet

Prevention of Cannibalism
The following are commonly recommended practices to prevent cannibalism:
a. Provide adequate floor space.
b. Provide proper ventilation.
c. Provide sufficient feeding and drinking spaces.
d. Give good quality feeds and balanced diet.

Control of Cannibalism
a. Isolate immediately injured broilers.
b. Treat wounds of injured broilers with pine tar or anti-peck solution as soon as
possible.

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c. If cannibalism persists, beak trimming is recommended.

Wound at right side, evident of pecking and cannibalism

Pecking behavior

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STRESS
Stress is a state whereby the normal physiological condition of an organism is adversely
affected. Stress comes in many forms and affects the performance of broilers. Sudden
change in weather, fear due to the presence of predators, frequent change in diet,
frequent handling, vaccination and so on, can create conditions of stress. However,
through proper housing and management stress can be minimized.

Feed Types and Forms

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in broiler performance. The genetic potential of broiler
chickens can be expressed only if proper nutrition and management are provided to
them.
As practiced, broilers are fed ad libitum from start to market. They should be encouraged
to eat as much as possible. Recent observations indicate that high feed consumption in
broiler chickens is positively correlated with growth rate and feed conversion efficiency.
The three types of feeds commonly offered to broiler chickens are the following:

a. Prestarter or chick booster - given to chicks from day old to 2 weeks.

b. Broiler starter - given to chicks from 2 weeks old to 4 weeks old.
c. Broiler finisher - given to chicks from 4 weeks old until desired market weight
and age are achieved.

The recommended nutrient requirements and supplementary vitamin and mineral for
broiler chickens are presented in Tables. Three nutrient densities (low, medium, and
high) are presented for each type of feed. The ratio of other nutrients (protein, amino
acids, minerals, and vitamins) to the different energy levels is made constant in each
feed type. This provides flexibilities in formulating broiler diets, depending on the desired
level of feed efficiency, availability and cost of feedstuffs, without sacrificing the
efficiency of nutrient utilization. When efficient feed is desired, use the high-nutrient
density formulation. Chicks will eat less of this feed per unit gain in body weight
compared with those chicks, which are fed low- or medium-nutrient density feeds. The

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low-or medium-nutrient density requirements are adopted when by-products such as

rice bran are to be used in the ration, which results in increased feed consumption per
kilogram body weight.

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Nutrient Recommendations for broiler-type chicken.

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Recommended vitamin and mineral supplementation for broiler-type

chicken.

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