Managing Parent Stock Female - Aviagen |...

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ROSS TECH 07/46Managing the Ross 708Parent StockFemale

August 2007TE

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ROSS TECH 07/46: Managing the Ross 708 Parent Stock Female

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Aviagen provides customers with detailed Product Performance Specifications,Management Manuals and Nutrition Specifications as the basis for managing their flocks.Successful production of day old chicks or grown broilers depends also on theunderstanding and attention to detail in the day-to-day management of stock. This document is produced by Aviagen’s Technical Transfer Department as one of an ongoing series of Ross Tech’s. These give background information on various topicsto provide an understanding of the principles which are essential to successfulmanagement of both breeders and broilers. Whilst the principles should have a broadrelevance to most regions and production strategies, certain aspects may be directed tomore specific situations.

About the Author – Jerry Garmon

Jerry Garmon is a Technical Service Manager forEastern USA. He has been involved in the poultryindustry since 1974, starting off as a BreederServiceman and rising to Breeder Manager beforejoining Ross Breeders USA in 1985 in a technical servicerole. In this role Jerry played a major part in introducingthe Ross 208 into the USA market. In the early 1990'sJerry left Ross to work with a poultry equipment supplierbut rejoined the company in 1996, again in the technicalservice department, where he has continued to workclosely with customers in the USA and Canada to helpthem manage and improve their Ross stock.

Introduction

The Ross 708 parent stock female was first introduced in North America in 2001. Sincethen, popularity of the Ross 708 has grown rapidly worldwide and much has been learnedabout the performance potential of this bird and how best to achieve it. This documentdescribes what has been learned to date from experience gained in North Americaand gives management recommendations to optimise performance when photo-stimulating to achieve 5% egg production at 25 weeks of age. However, theinformation presented in this document will also be useful to customers in other worldareas with this strategy. If you have further questions about managing the Ross 708,please consult your local Technical Service Manager.

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Rearing Period (0-22 Weeks)

Success with the Ross 708 is dependent on consistently controlling bodyweight gain andskeletal development. The task is made easier with a good basic brooding set-up thatprovides adequate access to feed, water, heat and light.

Feed Management

• Feed in crumble form should be provided in both the mechanical feeder and feedertrays during the brooding period.

• Use the published recommended feeding programme (based on daily energyrequirements) to meet the nutritional needs of the flock. Nutrient specifications for the Ross 708 are provided in a separate document which is available by contacting yourlocal Technical or Nutrition Service Manager.

• Use feeder trays at a ratio of 1 feeder tray per 100 females during the first 7 days of life.

• Controlled feeding should begin at 7 days of age (DOA). Guidelines for daily feedquantities and energy intakes are described in the Ross 708 Parent StockPerformance Objectives, June 2007.

• Ideally, birds should be fed every day. Where applicable, an every other day (EOD)feeding programme can be implemented at 15 DOA. This will allow chicks to ‘eat theirway into feed restriction’ by 3.5-4 weeks of age (WOA).

• When using an EOD programme, continue on this basis until egg productioncommences, then change to every day (ED) feeding programme.

• If when using an EOD programme, ‘choking’ (crop impaction) becomes a problem during the rearing period, a change in the feeding programme to increase the number of feeding days in a given week can be beneficial. See Table 1 below for examples of other feeding programmes which can be utilised.

Table 1: Examples of Feeding Programmes

• Prior to administering vaccinations, the equivalent of an extra day’s feed should begiven to help the flock cope with the stress of handling and multiple vaccinations. The extra feed should be equivalent to the level currently being fed.

• The recommended Ross 708 bodyweight curve is the minimum preferred weight and this is described in the Ross 708 Parent Stock Performance Objectives, June2007 and illustrated in Figure 1. Consult your local Technical Service Manager beforeimplementing any modification to the suggested Ross bodyweight target.

Feeding Schedule Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

Every Day ! ! ! ! ! ! !

6-1 ! ! ! ! ! ! "

5-2 ! ! ! " ! ! "

4-3 ! ! " ! " ! "

Every Other Day ! " ! " ! " !

KEY

! Feed Day" Non-Feed Day

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Figure 1: Recommended Bodyweight Curve for Ross 708

Water management

• Good quality drinking water which is easily accessible by all chicks in the house shouldbe made available at all times.

• Supplementary drinkers (e.g. water jars, mini-drinkers, easy-fill drinkers) are essential toensure easy access to water for the first 3 days of life.

• If ‘snap-on’ supplementary drinkers are used on nipple drinker lines, provide 2 per 100 chicks.

Lighting programme

• Provide the minimum recommended light intensity (Table 2) during the first 3 weeks of life to stimulate feeding and drinking activity.

• To achieve 5% egg production at 25 WOA, the lighting programme in Table 2 should be followed.

Table 2: Recommended Lighting Programme for Ross 708

Age Hours Light Intensity Intensity(foot candles) (lux)

0-3 days 23 2 20

4-21 days 12 2 20

22-153 days 8 0.5-1.0 5-10

22 weeks 14 3-10 30-100

24 weeks 15 3-10 30-100

26 weeks 16 3-10 30-100

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 4500

7 105 154 5% production 322 depletion

110

1390

2245

2690

35503775

Age (days)

Bod

ywei

ght

(g)

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Temperature Management

• Environmental temperature recommendations are included in Table 3. Thesetemperatures are based on relative humidity (RH) in the range of 50-70%. In rearinglocations with a lower RH, temperatures may need to be slightly higher. In locations witha higher RH, temperatures may need to be slightly lower. Always monitor actual chickbehaviour to determine proper temperature setting. For specific environmentalmanagement details please refer to the Aviagen booklets entitled ‘EnvironmentalManagement in the Broiler Breeder Rearing House’ and ‘EnvironmentalManagement in the Broiler Breeder Laying House’.

Table 3: Recommended Environmental Temperature Guide

• The best indicator for determining correct environmental temperature is bird activity andbehaviour.

• The ideal heat source is a brooder (jet or radiant) which allows birds to find their ‘comfortzone’ around the hot spot created by the brooder (see Photograph 1).

• A brooding pen or surround will help keep chicks near the heat, feed and water duringthe first 3-5 days of life.

Servicing and Vaccination

• Proper coccidiosis control should be practised. Consult your local veterinarian forspecific advice.

• Routine worming should be practised during the rearing period (at least 3 differenttimes) using a product effective against the existing field challenges. Consult your localveterinarian for specific advice.

• When facing cecal worm infestations and blackhead problems, utilise consistent, early(3 weeks of age) and frequent worming with benzamidazole-type products. This will helpreduce exposure to cecal worms/eggs and the histomonads they carry – see AviagenTechnical Update, Vol.1, ‘Treatment of Intestinal Worms in Broiler Breeders’ formore information about worming programmes and veterinary prescription requirements.

• Routinely monitor for intestinal diseases during the growing period by looking for signsof diarrhoea and by performing post-mortem examinations.

Photograph 1: Bird Activity and Behaviour at Correct Environmental Temperatures

Age Floor Temperature - Edge of Brooder

Week 1 32.2°C (90°F)

Week 2 29.4°C (85°F)

Week 3 26.7°C (80°F)

Week 4 23.9°C (75°F)

Week 5 21.1°C (70°F)

Week 6 21.1°C (70°F)

> 6 Weeks 21.1°C (70°F)

August 2007

Breeding Period (23-65 Weeks)

After transfer to the breeder house, the flock must be trained to eat and drink fromunfamiliar, suspended equipment – which is often over a slatted floor. If an EOD feedingprogramme has been used, this should be changed to include 3-4 consecutive days offeeding on an every day (ED) feed amount equivalent to help with this transition. Duringthis training period, physically move birds onto the slats each morning then start the malefeeder equipment after females are on the slats and eating.

Seven days after this move to the breeder house, the following actions should be taken: • lower nests • hook up belts • install pads • begin running belts 2 times per day

If the flock is photo-stimulated at 22 weeks of age, the first egg should be produced at approximately 24 weeks of age (i.e. 14 days after receiving light stimulation). First egg will be delayed if the flock is under-weight or if the required weekly weight gains are not achieved after housing.

The flock should reach 5% production 12 days after the first egg has been produced (~25 weeks of age). In season* placed flocks will be ~3 days earlier and out of seasonflocks will be ~3 days later in reaching 5% egg production.

At 5% egg production, the flock should be provided with the breeder layer feed and feed increases should be given for each 5% increase in hen-day egg production. For flocks peaking in egg production under moderate weather conditions, peak feedallocation should be reached by 60% hen-day egg production (see Table 4 for anexample). For flocks that peak during the summer months, peak feed can be extended to75% hen-day egg production. The time period required for a flock to go from 5% to 80% hen-day egg production, is typically around 19 days. Because in-season flockswill be quicker and out-of-season flocks will be slower to reach 80% hen-day eggproduction, feed increases should be allocated to actual egg production rate rather thanto predefined daily increases.

Table 4: Example Feeding Programme to Peak Egg Production

In much of North America the range in peak calorific intake for the Ross 708 is 425-455 kcal ME/bird/day. Based on an energy density of 2800 kcal ME/kg; 11.7 MJ/kg(1270 kcal ME/lb), this is equivalent to 152-163 g/bird/day (33.5-35.8 lb/100 birds/day).


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NOTESFeeding programme for a 24 week-oldflock on 325 kcal ME/bird/day (116g/bird/day; 25.6 lb/100 birds/day) with2800 kcal ME/kg; 11.7 MJ/kg (1270 kcalME/lb) feed approaching 5% hen day eggproduction. Average daily temperature isassumed to be 20-21°C (68-70°F).Adjustments are required for warmer(reduce feed) or cooler (increase feed)temperatures. For more information,contact your local Technical ServiceManager.

1 Feed amounts based on 2800 kcalME/kg; 11.7 MJ/kg (1270 kcal ME/lb).Adjustments must be made to reflectfeeding of differing energy levels.

See the Ross 708 Parent StockPerformance Objectives and ParentStock Nutrition Specification, June 2007,for recommended energy intakes andfurther details.

*In season – all flocks grown in blackouthousing are considered in season.

Production g/bird lb/100 KcalME/bird/day 1

5% 128 28.2 358

10% 131 28.8 366

15% 133 29.4 373

20% 136 30.0 381

25% 139 30.6 389

30% 141 31.2 396

35% 144 31.8 404

40% 147 32.4 411

45% 150 33.0 419

50% 152 33.6 427

55% 155 34.2 434

60% 158 34.8 442

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Time Feeding

To prevent loss of appetite and reduce heat stress mortality during hot weather, ‘timefeeding’ may become necessary. The basic concept of time feeding is to limit feedconsumption during hot weather according to bird appetite. A normal feed time at peakproduction is 4 hours with a mash feed, 3 hours with crumbled feed, and 2 hours withpelleted feed. For a given feed texture, if feed ‘clean-up’ time is longer than this, birdfeeding behaviour can change such that their appetite is reduced. If appetite is reduced,time feeding can help to improve this. If the flock is eating fast enough to empty the feedweigh bin in the allocated time, then the entire days feed allocation is given. If appetite is reduced, all the feed does not clear the weigh bin into the feeder and some remains. The remaining feed is weighed and recorded to document actual feedconsumption, but is not distributed. The remaining feed then becomes part of the feedallocation for the next day. The idea, therefore, is to always plan to offer birds the entiredaily allocation of feed, but only if their appetite is sufficient to consume all of that feed.

For example, if feeding crumbles, the feeding system time clock is set for 1.5-2 hours of run time – depending on feed texture. If the trough is still full at the end of the run timethere will be approximately 1.5 hours of feed time left before the feed is eaten – for a totalof 3-3.5 hours of feeding time.

During hot weather, the female’s appetite will often cycle during a 4 day period, with 3 days of reduced appetite followed by 1 day of normal appetite. Time feeding can affectegg production, but it will ensure there is little or no feed in the crop during the heat of theday – improving liveability during heat stress.

Feed Reduction Post-Peak Egg Production

PEAK < 79% (HEN-DAY)• Reduce feed allocation by 4.5 g/bird/wk (1 lb/100 birds/wk) for two consecutive weeks,

then reduce feed by 0.5-1.0 g/bird/wk (0.10-0.20 lb/100 birds/wk).

PEAK OF 80-83% (HEN-DAY)• Reduce feed by 2.3 g/bird/wk (0.50 lb/100 birds/wk) for two consecutive weeks,

then reduce feed by 0.5-1.0 g/bird/wk (0.10-0.20 lb/100 birds/wk).

PEAK OF > 84% (HEN-DAY)• Do not reduce feed until hen-day egg production declines to 83%. The flock will

probably be under-weight. Thereafter, reduce feed by 0.5-1.0 g/bird/wk (0.10-0.20lb/100 birds/wk).

The total reduction in feed intake from the peak amount will usually be 8-10% in a 40week lay cycle. If more than one breeder layer diet is used, and their energy densitiesdiffer, feed volume must be modified to achieve proper caloric intake.

The Ross 708 female differs from other Ross parent stock female products. The Ross 708,comparatively speaking, has a shorter keel and shanks (i.e. smaller skeletal frame size),heavier breast muscling and a reduced feather cover on the back after 45 weeks of age. To limit the impact of these characteristics on fertility and hatchability, feedreductions after peak must be sufficient to control breast muscle growth. A diet properly balanced in amino acids should be fed to maintain proper feather cover on the back. See the Ross 708 Parent Stock Nutrition Specification, June 2007, for recommended nutrient levels.

ConclusionThe Ross 708 has quickly become one of Aviagen’s most popular products. The Ross xRoss 708 broiler has been shown to yield more breast meat and achieve better feedconversion and liveability than other high-yield breeds in the marketplace. As Aviagen continues to monitor progress of the Ross 708, updated management advicewill be provided to assist our customers in optimising the broiler and breeder performanceof this product.

August 2007

Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the informationpresented. However, Aviagen accepts no liability for the consequences of using theinformation for the management of chickens.

For further information on the management of Ross stock, please contact your localTechnical Service Manager or the Technical Services Department.

NewbridgeMidlothian, EH28 8SZScotland, UK

t. +44 (0) 131 333 1056f. +44 (0) 131 333 [email protected]

www.aviagen.com

Cummings Research Park5015 Bradford DriveHuntsville, Alabama 35805, USA

t. +1 256 890 3800f. +1 256 890 [email protected]

August 2007

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