The successful production of table eggs requires the implementation of some basic farming principles. Stephani Barker, technical advisor of monogastrics at Meadow Feeds, takes us through the various aspects of layer production. We also chatted to Gay Boomgaard, poultry divisional technical manager at Meadow Feeds, about the same topic.
Implementation of some of these basic farming principles include selecting the correct genetics or breed of animal, following a recommended nutritional programme, good farm management practices, and providing and maintaining a suitable environment in order for the hens to be productive. All of these components go hand in hand, and each one is as important as the other.
Housing systems
There are many different housing systems for layers. The most popular types are battery cages and floor systems. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Battery cages allow for ease of management, lower incidence of diseases spreading, and the absence of litter issues and cost of shavings. The disadvantages, however, include the physical restriction of hens in cages. This can lead to higher chances of developing metabolic diseases and higher foot-related injuries.
The opposite is found in floor systems with nest boxes. Layers on these floor-type systems have more space and it allows the bird to move around. It is therefore regarded as more humane. However, hygiene is often a problem in these systems, as well as the cost of litter.
Some combination systems contain open cages on the floor with a slat design. Plastic or wooden slats are raised off the floor to allow for the accumulation of droppings. This is often more hygienic and cooler for the birds. However, these systems are only suitable for adult birds. The house design should be carefully considered together with the environmental conditions.
Purchase hens from a reputable source
Most of the commercially available breeds in South Africa have been developed from the White Leghorn and New Hampshire crosses, with Amberlink, Hy-Line, and Lohmann being the most commonly available genetic strains.
When deciding on a breed, you need to make sure you base your selection on your production goals. The birds purchased need to be able to maintain a high level of production from point of lay until approximately 80 weeks of age. Your hen must therefore have a well-developed frame to carry her through the next 60 weeks of production.
Only purchase point-of-lay hens from a reputable source, where the pullets have been raised correctly and are following a good quality nutrition programme, vaccination programme, and on-farm processing.
Poultry nutrition the Meadow Feeds way
Your layer hens need to have access to fresh feed and water at all times. The feed cost of any farm is approximately 70% of the total running costs. It is therefore imperative that the hen is provided with exactly what she needs for both production and maintenance. Anything more is wasting money, and anything less will impact hen production.
Point-of-lay hens require a balanced ration to meet their egg production and maintenance needs. The maintenance needs of a 20-week-old layer are still high because the hen is still growing. Feeding a scientifically formulated feed such as the Meadow Feeds Powerlay range will ensure all the essential nutrients are provided for optimum egg production, frame development, feathering and plumage, as well as healthy birds that are capable of laying eggs until 80 weeks and older.
Meadow Feeds only source the best quality raw materials, and nutritionists formulate diets to provide the birds with high-quality grains, proteins, and digestible sources of energy.
Catering to all your nutrition needs
Powerlay Early Lay: When point-of-lay birds arrive on your farm, they need to be fed an early lay diet such as the Meadow Feeds Powerlay Early Lay (V 16416), which has been designed to be fed as part of a phase feeding programme for hens. It is formulated using grains and pulses, and should be fed from point-of-lay until 35 weeks of age.
Powerlay Utility Lay: Meadow Feeds Powerlay Utility Lay (V 16417) should be fed from 35 to 50 weeks of age. This feed is formulated to either be a two-phase or three-phase feeding programme, or can even be a single-phase feed. This means that the Powerlay Utility Lay feed can be fed throughout laying (single phase feeding), or it can be incorporated into a programme together with just the Powerlay Early Lay (two-phase feeding), or the Powerlay Early Lay and Powerlay Late Lay (three-phase feeding programme).
Powerlay Late Lay: The Meadow Feeds Powerlay Late Lay (V 16418) is the last diet to complete the three-phase feeding programme. This diet is to be fed from 50 weeks of age to the end of the laying period. It is formulated to meet all the requirements of a fully grown layer bird, whilst maintaining hen health and allowing the hen to continue producing eggs for as long as possible.
The Powerlay Utility Lay can also be fed as a single feed from point of lay until 66 weeks of age. This is especially helpful for farmers that have smaller flock numbers and would prefer to feed one feed from start to end.
The digestive system of the bird is very sensitive, so it is important to always avoid sudden changes in feed. This causes disruptions in energy, protein, and/or mineral supply, and will cause a decrease in egg production. The Meadow Feeds Powerlay range is formulated to be fed from one phase directly through to the next, without large disruptive changes in the supply of nutrients.
Meadow Feeds Powerlay specifications
| POWERLAY EARLY LAY | POWERLAY UTILITY LAY | POWERLAY LATE LAY | |||
| PROTEIN | MIN | g/kg | 150.0 | 130.0 | 130.0 |
| FAT | MIN | g/kg | 25.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 |
| FIBRE | MAX | g/kg | 70.0 | 70.0 | 70.0 |
| MOISTURE | MAX | g/kg | 120.0 | 120.0 | 120.0 |
| CALCIUM | MIN | g/kg | 35.0 | 27.0 | 35.0 |
| CALCIUM | MAX | g/kg | 45.0 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| PHOSPHORUS | MIN | g/kg | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| TOTAL LYSINE | MIN | g/kg | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
The recommended feeding programme below can be adjusted according to the number of birds:
| FEED FROM | KG EATEN PER BIRD OVER THE PERIOD | NUMBER BIRDS | KG NEEDED PER CYCLE | NUMBER OF BAGS NEEDED | |
| EARLY LAY | POL – 35 WEEKS | 10.0 | 100 | 1000 | 20 |
| UTILITY LAY | 35 – 50 WEEKS | 10.5 | 100 | 1050 | 21 |
| LATE LAY | 50 – 66 WEEKS | 13.5 | 100 | 1350 | 27 |
Please note that feed intake will be affected by environmental conditions, housing, and breed. Use the above recommendations as a guideline only.
Water is critical
It is important to remember that water will always be the most important nutrient on any farm. A 50g egg contains 33g of water, therefore a water shortage will result in a dramatic decrease in egg production.
Birds should always have free (ad libitum) access to fresh, good-quality water. As a rule, and under normal weather conditions, layers should drink twice the amount of water than the weight of feed they consume, which is approximately 220ml of water per day.
Water quality can be tested at most laboratories within South Africa, for parameters such as total coliform count, E.Coli count, pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), and minerals (Ca, Na, Cl, K, and Mg). Birds that drink too much or too little water can be an early indication of disease, which is why monitoring water intake is very important. Monitoring must be done at the same time every day.
Bird excreta can also be used as an indicator of water intake. Droppings that appear dry with little urine can indicate low water intake. It is important to bear in mind that as the outside temperature increases, the birds start to pant to get rid of excess heat, and water availability and quality become even more vital.
Lighting is a powerful tool
Layer birds are very sensitive to changes in day length. The supply of light is a powerful tool to manage a consistent level of production. Layers require 14-16 hours of light a day in order to maintain egg production throughout the year. Ensure that there is even lighting throughout the house, with no dark areas. A warm light should be used to ensure birds get red spectrum light, which is required to stimulate egg production.
Don’t forget about air quality
A comfortable temperature for layers is between 18 – 25°C, and a maximum relative humidity of 80%. Birds will start to pant at temperatures above 25°C and this will negatively affect egg production. Ventilation is another important aspect of air quality. Good ventilation is required for birds in order to remove excess moisture and heat from the house, provide adequate oxygen levels to birds, remove carbon dioxide produced by birds, and remove dust and ammonia from the house.
Vaccinations are key
Birds received on your farm at point-of-lay should already have received most of their vaccinations during the rearing period as pullets. Certain diseases are widespread or difficult to eradicate, and will therefore require routine vaccinations. Most flocks are vaccinated against Marek’s disease, IB (infectious Bronchitis), Newcastle’s disease (NDV), Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro), avian encephalomyelitis (AE), and fowl pox.
Unfortunately, a single programme cannot be recommended for all areas. It is therefore best to work with a local veterinarian to design and implement a vaccination programme.
Disease control
Layer birds, if vaccinated and kept disease-free, can perform well and produce eggs for a long period of time. To remain disease-free, proper biosecurity protocols need to be put in place on farm. The easiest to control is the movement of people, equipment, and the birds themselves. Biosecurity is the best method of preventing disease.
Some simple processes to implement on the farm include:
- Controlled movement of people and equipment, limiting the contact of outside people onto farm, as well as movement between houses on farm;
- Limited contact with free-ranging birds and wild poultry;
- People visiting the farm have not been in contact with any other poultry for at least 24-48 hours;
- Use of clean boots and overalls which must be used when re-entering farm;
- Use of footbaths with disinfectants at the entrance to the farm and all poultry houses; and
- Farm should be free of rodents (rodents carry a risk of disease).
At the end of a production cycle, keep two weeks open between your previous flocks and new flocks. Thoroughly clean and disinfect houses, including drinkers, feeders, nest boxes, and all other equipment using a disinfectant. In the event of mortalities, quickly and properly dispose of dead chickens to halt the spread of disease. In this case, it is recommended to contact a veterinarian.
Coccidiosis is a parasitic infection of the intestines that causes irreversible gut damage and reduces feed conversion efficiency. Coccidiostats can be used in the feed to prevent coccidiosis, but they can also be administered via water or a live vaccine.
Molting
Molting is natural process that birds go through when they lose their feathers. It normally occurs towards the end of the laying period and causes a decrease in egg production. Molting can also occur sooner in hot and humid weather. This process allows the reproductive physiology of the bird to rest and build up a reserve of nutrients.
Data and record keeping
In order to improve performance on farm, record keeping, and data management are important tools to establish production goals and monitor animal performance. Examples of records to keep include:
- Feed intake
- Water intake
- Mortality
- Vaccination
- Bird weight
- Egg production (e.g. Eggs produced per hen per year)
Remember to always look at the birds’ behaviour. The birds’ activity will demonstrate what they need.
- This article serves as a basic guide in order to manage and successfully farm with layers and achieve profitability. Contact your nearest Meadow Feeds Technical Advisor for further technical support at www.meadowfeeds.co.za.
ALSO READ: Podcast: Steps for setting up a layer production
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