Ross-Broiler-Handbook-2014i-EN

Management
Handbook
2014
BROILER
An Aviagen Brand

02 2014
ROSS BROILER MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK:
0202
This Handbook
The purpose of this Handbook is to help Aviagen® customers to optimize the performance of their broiler
stock. It is not intended to provide definitive information on every aspect of broiler stock management, but
to draw attention to important issues which if overlooked may depress flock performance. The management
objectives given in this Handbook have the purpose of maintaining flock health and welfare, and achieving
good flock performance both live and through processing.
The information presented is a combination of data derived from internal research trials, published
scientific knowledge and the expertise, practical experience and skills of the Aviagen Technical Transfer
and Technical Service Teams. However, the guidance within this Handbook cannot wholly protect against
performance variations which may occur for a number of reasons. Aviagen therefore, accepts no ultimate
liability for the consequences of using this information to manage broiler stock.
Technical Services
For further information on the management of broiler stock please contact your local Aviagen Technical
Service Department or Manager, or access www.aviagen.com online.
Using this Handbook
Finding a Topic
Blue tabs appear on the right-hand side of the Handbook. These tabs allow readers immediate access to
those sections and topics in which they are particularly interested.
The Table of Contents gives the title and page number of each section and subsection.
An alphabetical Keyword Index is given at the end of the Handbook.
Key Points and Useful Information
Look for this symbol to find Key Points that emphasize important aspects of husbandry
and critical procedures.
Look for this symbol to find suggestions for further Useful Information on specific topics
in this Handbook. These documents can be found in the Technical Library of the Aviagen.com
website unless otherwise stated.
Supplements to this Handbook
Supplements to this Handbook contain performance objectives that can be achieved with good
management, nutritional, environmental, and health control; nutrition specifications are also available.
All technical and management information can be found online at Aviagen.com, by contacting your local
Aviagen representative, or by emailing [email protected].
Preface
Key
Points
Useful
Information

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ROSS BROILER MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK:
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Table of Contents
5 Introduction
7 Stockmanship
Section 1 - Chick Management
11 Objective
11 Principles
11 Introduction
11 Chick Quality and Broiler Performance
14 Chick Management
Section 2 - Provision of Feed and Water
25 Objective
25 Principles
25 Broiler Nutrition
26 Supply of Nutrients
27 Feeding Program
28 Feed Form and Physical Feed Quality
30 Testing Feed Physical Quality
31 Whole Grain Feeding
32 Feeding Under Hot Environmental Temperatures
33 Environment
33 Litter Quality
34 Drinking Systems
37 Feeding Systems
Section 3 - Broiler Nutrition
39 Objective
39 Principles
40 Supply of Nutrients
42 Macro Minerals
44 Trace Minerals and Vitamins
44 Non-Nutritive Feed Additives
45 Broiler Diet Specifications
46 Designing Broiler Feeding Programs
47 Feed Quality
49 Feed Processing and Feed Form
50 Whole Grain Feeding
51 Feeding Under Hot Environmental Temperatures
52 Litter Quality
53 Welfare and Environment
Section 4 - Health and Biosecurity
55 Objective
55 Principles
55 Bird Health and Biosecurity
55 Biosecurity
64 Decreasing the Risk of Disease
66 Disease Investigation
69 Disease Recognition
Contents

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ROSS BROILER MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK:
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Section 5 - Housing and Environment
71 Objective
71 Principles
71 Air
72 Water
72 Temperature
72 Heating
72 Housing and Ventilation Systems
88 Lighting for Broilers
94 Litter Management
96 Stocking Density
Section 6 - Monitoring Live Weight and Uniformity of Performance
97 Objective
97 Principles
97 Predictability of Live Weight
98 Manual Weighing
99 Automatic Weighing Systems
100 Inconsistent Weight Data
100 Flock Uniformity (CV%)
103 Separate-Sex Growing
Section 7 - Pre-Processing Management
105 Objective
105 Principles
105 Preparation for Catching
107 Catching
110 Transport
110 Delivery
Appendices
113 Appendix 1 - Production Records
115 Appendix 2 - Conversion Tables
118 Appendix 3 - Key Performance Parameters
121 Appendix 4 - Feather Sexing
122 Appendix 5 - Problem Solving
124 Appendix 6 - Ventilation Rates and Calculations
Keyword Index
127 Keyword Index
Contents

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ROSS BROILER MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK:
Introduction
Introduction
Aviagen produces a range of breeds suitable for different sectors of the broiler market. This allows users to
select the bird that best meets the needs of their particular operation. All Aviagen chickens are selected for
a balanced range of characteristics in both parent stock and broiler birds. This approach ensures that the
birds are capable of performing to the highest standards in a wide variety of environments. Characteristics
of commercial importance such as growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), livability, and meat yield
are consistently improved with continued genetic advances also being made in bird welfare, leg health,
cardiovascular fitness, and robustness.
Achievement of the genetic potential inherent in the birds depends upon making sure that all the factors
shown in the figure below are given full and correct attention. All of these are interdependent. If any one
element is suboptimal, then broiler performance overall will suffer.
Figure 1: Factors affecting broiler growth and quality.
Aviagen’s Technical Transfer Team has designed this Handbook with the following principles in mind:
• Consideration of bird welfare at all times.
• Understanding the elements of the production chain and the transition phases between them.
• Attention to quality of the end product throughout the entire process.
• The need for observation of changes in the birds and in their environment.
• Appropriate management responses to the continually changing requirements of the bird.
No two broiler houses are the same, and every flock of broilers will differ in the management needed to
meet its requirements. The broiler farm manager should understand the birds’ requirements and, through
application of responsive management as described in this Handbook, supply the individual requirements
to ensure optimal performance in every flock.
Economic and Commercial Issues
Economic and commercial issues continue to influence the way broilers are managed, including:
• An increasing consumer demand for product quality, food safety, and high animal welfare.
• The need for flocks of broilers which can be grown to ever more predictable and pre-defined specifications.
• A requirement to minimize variability within flocks and hence variability of the final product.
• Full utilization of the genetic potential available in the bird for FCR, growth rate, and meat yield.
• Minimization of avoidable diseases such as ascites and leg weaknesses.
Meeting the requirements of the customer inside the processing plant is key to successful broiler
management. A processing plant's requirements will differ depending on the product mix they are selling
and their need to meet tight product weight specifications in terms of both target weight and variation, and
bird quality. Deviation from these specifications incur cost. Cost/benefit may however need to be assessed.
For example, separate-sex growing and close monitoring of bird growth both give benefit at processing but
add costs to production.
Nutrition
Temperature
Water supply
Vaccination status
Health
Feed supply
Lighting
Ventilation
Stocking density
Chick quality Bird welfare