Broiler Management tips

Dr Tauheed Iqbal
 Broiler
Broiler is white feathered, fast
growing, vigorous and well fleshed bird
raised for meat purpose.
In control environment, broiler get its
market weight(1700- 1800 gm) in less
than six weeks with better feed
conversion ratio.
Average Chick Rate
2003-04 14.4
2004-05 18.11
2005-06 15.87
2006-07 16.73
2007-08 14.00
 Average Broiler Farm Rate

2003-04 46.10
2004-05 65.11
2005-06 62.69
2006-07 68.35
2007-08 64.56
Broiler meat

Broiler
meat is cheaper, easily available and
economical to buy.

It is free from any adulteration.

Itis equally ideal & safe food for infants ,children,

adults and old people.
Broiler meat
•It is good for people conscious
about controlling their undesired
body weight or seeking dieting to
look smarter .
•As poultry meat is having smaller
percentage of fat than either
beef /mutton, so it is beneficial in
reducing risks of hardening of
arteries.
 Broiler meat

Broiler meat is tender and easy to chew or grind and

so it is easily digested.

Broilermeat has appealing flavour and blends up

well with other food items to make various recipies.
General characteristics of broiler
sector in Pakistan
 Broiler farming in Pakistan is converted in to
modernized & scientific based environmental control
shed a decade ago, inviting many investors from other
part of society which could be healthy sign for the uplift
of broiler industry as it has change the image of poultry
farming.
 Broiler sector is weak in its marketing due to non
availability of sufficient processing facility &
consumers disliking of frozen meat, which need to be
given utmost importance by promoting consumer
education and mobilizing other parts of society, e. g
religious scholars, teachers and doctors.
 Opportunities in broiler business?

 As we are still deficient in providing optimum protein to

our common people to fulfill their daily requirement, and
also we have no organized goat/sheep or calf farming: there
is huge gap still exist which could only be fulfilled through
commercial broiler farming.
 If we could reduce our cost & improve quality by following
HACCP criteria, then we could manage its export to middle
east, Iran and Afghanistan.
 As fast food concept is gaining popularity now a days, so
this business could flourish in coming days.
 As food commodities are getting short in whole world, so it
will be very beneficial as far profitability is concerned. Live
bird brand shops will be the bright future of broiler
industry in Pakistan.
Broiler production as a successful
business in Pakistan
 As we know there is a consistent growth of minimum
10-20 % in broiler sector every year & there is still
profitability exist at least 10 rupees on an average per kg
of live bird Produced. Chick companies are also getting
15% profitability per chick produced. Feed miller are
getting 100 rupees per feed bag profitability.
 Due to some true business man participation in this
sector, we could hope that processing will come & its
export will start & when it become stock-able item then
its volume will also increase. After integration people
will feel comfort in doing this business.
 Banks are very comfortable while doing business with
poultry-men & due to its shorter span businessman feel
good regarding money circulation.
Threats faced by broiler industry in
Pakistan
There is lack of expertise in managing this
logical business.
As broiler production is very hectic business due
to its shorter life span and faster metabolic
growth, so its related persons have to keep their
nerve strong to avoid any disaster situation.
We are facing harsh weather condition in
Pakistan and our sheds are not equipped
properly to handle the situation effectively.
 Threats face by broiler industry in
Pakistan
 Fluctuation in rates of ready to sale birds , feed rate, day old
chick rate, fuel & electricity rates etc is a continuous threat
to broiler industry.
 Consistent quality of feed & chicks is not ensured, and it
cause huge losses to our farmers.
 Persistence of deadly infectious diseases also causing huge
losses in broiler industry.
 Lack of managemental expertise in broiler sector is also a
big constraint.
 Broiler meat is a perishable item,& still we are not having
enough processed meat.
Right medicine & right dose for
calculated duration
Proper dose of medicine should be given for
proper recommended period.
Dosage are based on specific concentration of
antimicrobial in its formulation: given via
water/feed based on live body weight of bird.
Water consumption of birds depends on body
weight, environmental temperature, feed
formulation and flock health status, so be careful
in giving medicine to birds in coming weather .
Medication Style
 Medicine should be given after consulting with
professionals doctors, not by quakes.
 Medicine should be selected after antibiotic sensitivity
test . Dosage of medicine should be set on body weight
basis & complexity of disease should always be kept in
mind.
 Route of medication should also be kept in mind when
expecting quick recovery, it might be oral or parentral.
 While selecting medicine, rely on that medicine
company which are following good manufacturing
practices (GMP), irrespective of its cost. As quality
product will do its job and lead to profitibility.
Routine monitoring by owner
 Daily mortality counting and proper disposal.
 Daily feed bags consumed record.
 Daily water usage record.
 Daily racking of litter.
 Daily monitoring of temperature and humidity.
 Record keeping of medication and vaccine.
 Checking & maintenance of poultry
equipment/generator to avoid any problem.
 Weekly weight of birds and FCR comparison.
 Daily record keeping of ventilation like temperature
kept for cooling/heating, fans on timer /temp and inlet
opening.
 Weekly samples of feed should be tested from labs to
check its quality.
 Routine monitoring by owner

 Owner should remain in regular / close contact with doctor,

managing staff to monitor the health status of birds (anti mortem &
postmortem), so that disease or any abnormality could be judged
early and could be controlled in beginning.
 If necessary, representative samples of birds could be sent to lab
for confirmation of any disease. Antibiotic sensitivity test/ titration
for monitoring antibodies could also be done.
 Water sample should be checked at least after six months for
microbial and chemical analysis.
 Bio-security of farm should be kept always at red alert.
 Visitors necessary to visit farm must understand the spirit of bio-
security.
Managing Labor by owner
 We have still constraint in having skill, trained and efficient
Labor at farm.
 Labor/worker and supervisory staff must be trained to deal any
emergency at farm. we could make three shifts rather than two to
get max potential without creating any loophole/fatigue in
management because it is not a 9 to 5 job, it is 1000 hours job
;keeping person always on toes.
 Managing staff must know the basics of ventilation and could have
strong observation regarding status of bird; this will help in early
diagnosis of disease symptom.
 Always take help from technology . Utilize shed controller to its
max capacity and get help from indoor cameras.
Feed & water intake monitoring
 Water intake is very good measure and useful gauge of
broiler performance.
 It is fairly in-expensive and quite reliable.
 Normally ratio of feed to water is 1/1.5. But this ratio
could be changed in heat stress and in disease condition.
 We could measure water intake by digital meters.
 We could measure feed intake by counting feed
bags(50kg) or by measuring by digital scale attach with
silo /hopper.
Chick receiving criteria
Chicks should not weigh less than 40 gm and its
wt should be uniform.
Chicks should have healed navel.
Chick should not be dehydrated.
Chicks should not have any deformity.
Chick‘s eyes should be bright.
Chick should be alert, active and responsive.
Chick should stand up well.
Chick should be chirping.
Chick should be transported in vehicle having
temperature not less than 80 F.
Check hatch out time and travel time to farm.
Check weight loss from hatchery to farm should also
be noted.
 Chicks samples should be sent to lab for testing
against MG,MS and Salmonella.
 HEAT STRESS
If birds have difficulty in achieving a
balance b/w body heat production and heat loss,
then birds are heat stressed.
How heat is produced in body of bird
& in shed?
 Heat is produced by digestion, absorption & metabolism within the
body, which also includes maintenance and
growth of bird. Bird produced 11 BTU/Kg excess heat which need
to be get rid of body.
Heat production is affected by
 Body weight of bird
 Breed of bird
 Level of production of bird
 Level of feed intake by bird
 Feed quality presented.
 Activity of bird.
 Heat is also added from roof & walls (non insulated).
 Heat also added from working litter.
 How birds behave in heat stress?

Birds will rest more and stand quietly.

Birds simply crouch near walls or nipple lines with
their wings spread away from body and birds are
busy in panting to alleviate in some way from rise up
of their body heat.
Birds refused to take feed but water intake increases
many fold.
Birds reduce their activity & exercise to limitise its
heat production.
Steps to reduce heat stress
Add additional supplement in
feed/water
Electrolyte balance of heat stressed birds are
altered due to panting. Blood pH is increased
due to loss of carbon dioxide resulting in
respiratory alkalosis, which ultimately reduces
bird ideal water intake.
We could rectify it by adding electrolyte and
could get quick relief by using vitamin C
(Poustin c) in feed/water.
Proper time of feeding & withdrawing feed

During late afternoon, there is rise in body

temperature due to peak time of digestion in
birds (when birds eat feed in early mid morning)
. So we should manage its time of feed
presentation and we could give period of
darkness in late afternoon.
 Should have readily available water?

Water should be of optimum quality and should be

freely available. Nipples height should be at right
according to age of birds. We could add nutritional
supplement in water (vit c etc) to encourage water
intake.
We should walk through the house to rise up the
birds ,in order to get them on nipples to drink more &
reduce their internal heat.
Ensure good ventilation
By providing adequate ventilation to birds
we could be able to reduce the heat stress
faced by the birds. In this regard we could
provide max air speed ,to get max wind
chill effect. Air speed should not less
than 2.5 m/sec.
Air exchange rate should be less than one
minute in hot weather.
Modification in feed formulation
Energy content of diet should be
increased as there is reduced feed intake
in heat stressed birds.
Fat level should be increased in feed,
although fat digestion also increase
metabolic heat.
Amino acids profile should be balanced.
Adequate level of vitamins and
electrolyte should be added in feed.
Fasting could be helpful?
Fasting could be done to reduce heat
production in body of birds during
digestion, absorption and metabolism in
hotter part of the day. Fasting will calm
the birds.
What panting actually do?
Panting is a protective mechanism of bird in
some manner to help the birds in reducing heat
stress. Panting will normally remove 540
calories per gram of water loss by the bird.
Panting could start when temperature rise above
30 C (when birds are young)
THANK YOU