Over all management

of commercial layer for

Best Performance.
By
Md. Shahadat Hossain
Technical Service Manager
ISA B.V. (A Hendrix Genetics Co.) Bangladesh.

Growing management
Objective: Gain to maximum BW as possible from 1
1 12 weeks.
How:
1. Good house preparation & cleaning
2. Good quality feed
3. Successful brooding management
4. Slow step down lighting program.
5. Use Pre starter feed from 1
1 3 weeks
6. Proper beak trimming
7. Empty Feeder management
8. Mid night feeding
9. BioBio-security

Factors influencing pullets

Environment

Genetics

Temperature

Water
Quality

Humidity

Quantity

Sound

Pullets
Feed

Management
Housing

Quality

Water and feed equipment

Amount

Temp. and light

Diseases
Pathogens
Metabolic disorders

Housing preparation
Purpose
Clean house and equipment

Housing preparation
- Remove old litter and manure
( 100 m. from house)
- Empty space 2 m. from the wall
- High pressure water
- Repair house
- Disinfection
- Down time 14 days

Bad management

Keep cleaned equipment

properly

An example of how to
keep cleaned equipment

Remove all feather

Repair housing floor

Dont use rusted brooder

wall

Get rid of insects

Good quality feed

MEDIUM SIZE NORMAL CORN

GOOD QUALITY MATURE CORN

NORMAL & FUNGAL INFECTED CORN

Brooding Management

Preparation of brooding equipment

Management
- For 500
500--600 chicks
- 3 m. of diameter
- Use 1 SBM
- Brooding light
- 1 plastic drinker per 50
50--60
chicks
- 1 feeder (flatted tray) per
3030-50 chicks

Waterer
feeder

3 meter per 500

500--600 chicks

How to Place drinkers

and feeders

Feeder

Nipple line

Waterer

1.

1 drinker per 50
50--60 chicks

2.

1 feeder per 3030-50 chicks

Brooding with water line

1.1 m.

The thickness of litter is about 3.

The heat source is 1.1 m. high from litter

Before release chicks

- Litter temperature at 3333-35 C
- All light bulbs work
- Place all feeders and drinkers
- Mix vitamins in water
- May mix sugar in water

1. Chick transportation

Dehydration

Depression

2. Releasing to the brooder

Temperature at litter is
about 3333-35 C.

2. Releasing to the brooder

Gently release chicks (may

release on water tray)

Stimulate drinking by
pushing nipples or dipping
chick beak into water

2. Releasing to the brooder

3030-60 minutes after drinking, dry trays and

then start to feed chicks

Organ development
Main organs ( First 7 days)
Digestive organs
Circulation organs
Respiratory organs
Skeleton organs
Supporting organs
Muscles
Reproductive organs

Lighting Program

1. Slow step down Lighting Programme Open-side House

(12th week)
Age
W eek

D ay

H o u rs lig h t
(h o u rs )
2 2 :0 0
2 1 :0 0
2 0 :0 0
1 9 :0 0
1 8 :0 0
1 8 :0 0
1 7 :0 0
1 6 :0 0
1 5 :0 0
1 4 :0 0
1 3 :0 0
N L /1 2 :0 0
N L /1 2 :0 0
N L /1 2 :0 0
N L /1 2 :0 0
1 3 :0 0
1 3 :3 0
1 4 :0 0
1 4 :3 0
1 5 :0 0
1 5 :3 0
1 6 :0 0
1 6 :0 0

WK 1
1 - 7
WK 2
8 - 14
WK 3
15 - 21
WK 4
22 - 28
WK 5
29 - 35
WK 6
36 - 42
WK 7
43 - 49
WK 8
50 - 56
WK 9
57 - 63
W K 10
64 - 70
W K 11
71 - 77
1
W K 12
78 - 84
W K 13
85 - 91
W K 14
92 - 98
2
W e e k 1 3 -1 8
85 - 126
3
W eek 19
127 - 133
W eek 20
134 - 140
W eek 21
141 - 147
W eek 22
148 - 154
W eek 23
155 - 161
W eek 24
162 - 168
W eek 25
169 - 175
W eek 26
176 - 183
NOTE:
1 . L o n g s te p d o w n o n 1 2 w e e k s d o w n to n a tu ra l d a y -le n g th (N L ) o r 1 2 h o u rs
2 . T ra n s fe r/h o u s in g s h o u ld b e d o n e b y 1 1 2 d a y s a n d n o la te r th a n 1 1 9 d a y s
3 . L ig h t s tim u la tio n a t 1 9 w e e k s o r 2 0 w e e k s

1. Slow step down Lighting Programme Closed House

Age
W eek

D ay

WK 1
WK 2
WK 3
WK 4
WK 5
WK 6
WK 7
WK 8
WK 9
W K 10
W K 11
1
W K 12
W K 13
W K 14
2
W e e k 1 3 -1 8
3
W eek 19
W eek 20
W eek 21
W eek 22
W eek 23
W eek 24
W eek 25
W eek 26

1 - 7
8 - 14
15 - 21
22 - 28
29 - 35
36 - 42
43 - 49
50 - 56
57 - 63
64 - 70
71 - 77
78 - 84
85 - 91
92 - 98
85 - 126
127 - 133
134 - 140
141 - 147
148 - 154
155 - 161
162 - 168
169 - 175
176 - 183

H o u rs lig h t
(h o u rs )
2 2 :0 0
2 0 :0 0
1 8 :0 0
1 7 :0 0
1 6 :0 0
1 5 :0 0
1 4 :0 0
1 3 :0 0
1 2 :0 0
1 1 :0 0
1 0 :0 0
9 or 10 h
4
8 or 9 or 10 h
8 or 9 or 10 h
8 or 9 or 10 h
1 1 :0 0
1 1 :0 0
1 2 :0 0
1 3 :0 0
1 3 :3 0
1 4 :0 0
1 4 :3 0
1 5 :0 0

L ig h t in te n s ity 5
(L u x )
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
20 - 40
5
20 - 40
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5

NOTE:
1 . L o n g s te p d o w n o n 1 2 w e e k s d o w n to 8 ,9 o r 1 0 h o u rs
2 . T ra n s fe r/h o u s in g s h o u ld b e d o n e b y 1 1 2 d a y s a n d n o la te r th a n 1 1 9 d a y s
3 . L ig h t s tim u la tio n a t 1 9 w e e k s o r 2 0 w e e k s
4 . 8 h o u rs a llo w a b e tte r b o d y w e ig h t c o n tro l w h e re it c a n b e u s e d
5 . L ig h t in te n s o ty m u s t b e re d u c e d n o la te r th a n 7 to 1 0 d a y s a fte r h o u s in g , u s in g R e d lig h t is
re c o m m e n d if p o s s ib le .

HOURS OF LIGHT

Adjust Step down lighting according to BW gain

24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
WEEKS

Feed Formulation

2. Growing Period Feed specification Pre-starter Feed

Growing Period commercial layers

Nutrients
IW Silver
Crude Protein (%)
ME (kcal/kg)
Linoleic Acid (%)
Amino Acids
Methionine (min)
Methionine + Cystine
Lysine (min)
Tryptophan (min)
Threonin
Arginine
Minerals

* Pre-starter
Use in hard conditions
01-- 32 weeks
weeks

** Starter

Grower 1

21
2950 - 3050

40--12
weeks
8 weeks
19 - 20
2850 - 2950

139-12
- 15weeks
weeks
17.5 - 18
2800 - 2850

1.4

1.2

0.48
0.81
1.15
0.22
0.71
1.05

0.48
0.78
1.05
0.21
0.70
1.05

Grower 2/
DEVELOPPER
May
not use
13 to 15weeks

Prelay or Layer
****

16 - 15*****
2750

16
16 -- 17
17 weeks
weeks
17
2800

1.0

1.0

1.0

0.4
0.68
0.86
0.18
0.65
0.95

0.38
0.63
0.81
0.16
0.60
0.89

0.38
0.70
0.85
0.18
0.60
0.90

Calcium
1.05 - 1.10
1.05 - 1.10
1.05 - 1.10
1.05 - 1.10
Available Phosphorus
0.50 - 0.55
0.50 - 0.55
0.48 - 0.50
0.45 - 0.50
Sodium (min - max)
0.16 - 0.19
0.16 - 0.19
0.16 - 0.19
0.16 - 0.19
Chloride (max)
0.15-0.22
0.15-0.22
0.15-0.22
0.15-0.22
*** Minimum Added
fat in % of diet
2% minimum
2% minimum
1.5% minimum
***** DO NOT USE LESS THAN 15% CP AND MORE THAN 2800 Kcal TO AVOID GETTING BIRDS FAT
****PRELAY DIET CAN BE REPLACED BY A LAYER 1 DIET WITH NO PROBLEMS
*** RESPECT THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF ADDED FAT ..IF POSSIBLE PREFER VEGETABLE FAT
** STARTER FEED CAN BE USED FROM DAY OLD TO 12 WEEKS OF AGE TO MAXIMIZE BODYWEIGHT
* PRESTARTER IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED IN HARD CONDITIONS

2.50
0.48 - 0.50
0.16 - 0.19
0.15-0.22
0.5% minimum

Laying Period commercial layers

Nutrients
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4
105 TO 95 grams
110 - 100 gms 115 - 105 gms115 - 105 gms
16/18 - 36/40 weeks 37/41 - 50 weeks 51 - 70 weeks 71 - 80 weeks
Crude Protein (%)
18 - 18.5
17 .5 - 18
16 - 16.5
15 - 16
ME (kcal/kg)
2850 - 2900
2800 - 2850
2750 - 2850
2750 - 2800
Linoleic Acid (%)
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
Amino Acids
Methionine
0.44
0.41
0.38
0.35
Methionine + Cystine
0.75
0.72
0.68
0.64
Lysine
0.88
0.80
0.78
0.72
Tryptophan
0.21
0.19
0.17
0.15
Threonine
0.69
0.65
0.61
0.57
Arginine
0.94
0.88
0.83
0.77
Minerals
Calcium
18 - 31 weeks:3.9 - 4.0*
4.2*
4.3*
4.4*
32 - 40 weeks: 4.1*
Available Phosphorus
0.44 - 0.48**
0.40 - 0.42**
0.38 - 0.40**
0.33 - 0.35**
Sodium (min - max)
0.16 - 0.19
0.16 - 0.19
0.16 - 0.19
0.16 - 0.19
Chloride (min - max)
0.16 - 0.25
0.16 - 0.25
0.16 - 0.25
0.16 - 0.25
** Minimum Added
fat in % of diet
1% minimum
0.5% minimum
*After 42 weeks of age calcium carbonate (limestone or oyster shell) should be provided as follows:
65 to 60 % fine particles with a size of 0,25 mm or less (the size of table salt or less)
35 to 40 % large particles in the range of 3 to 5 millimeters.
**When meat & bone meal or other animal by-products are used and lower mineral supplementation as a source of
phosphorus, use the higher phosphorus value indicated for formulations.

Debeaking

3. Beak Trimming
Once precise at 7
10 days old

Second at 8 10
weeks, not later
than 10 weeks.

Debeaking at 8-10 days

Precision beak trimming

machines

Adjustment of cut

CORRECT

WRONG

Blade Temperature/Colour

CORRECT

Temperature 600-650C

TOOHOT

Very Sharp beak (Risk of vent Pecking)

Uneven beak (cut) length

Debeaking with high temperature

Grading & Separate rearing

Grading of birds should be done from
2-4 weeks to improve body weight &
uniformity.

FLOCK UNIFORMITY
25
20
15
BIRDS

10

5%

90%

5%

5
0
1200

1250

1300

1350

1400

1450

1500

BW ( g )

BW AVERAGE 1,400 g. (+, - 140 g. 1,260-1,540 g.)

1550

1600

PULLET QUALITY

BODY WEIGHT
UNIFORMITY

MATURITY

HEALTH STATUS

Empty Feeder Management

Feed distribution 2 or 3 h 00 before light out :
2 3 h 00

Time of empty feeders

10 12 h 00 of light at plateau
To take profit of natural behaviour of the bird :
Ability of the bird to eat reserves before light off
Hungry when light on (digestive tract is empty)

FEEDING BEHAVIOUR
To take profit of natural behaviour of the bird :
Ability of the bird to eat reserves before light off
Hungry when light on (digestive tract is empty)
Obtain empty feeders (2(2-3 hours) in the middle of the day
from 4/5 weeks old
Feed Presentation - Uniform Grit Size
Too much fine particles leads to under consumption &
vent pasting
Too much large particles leads to selection
Rapid & adapted feed intake during rearing
period influence increase of feed consumption
at onset of lay

Bodyweight targets in
growing and production

HOW TO MAXIMISE
LIVABILITY
HOW TO MINIMIZE
MORTALITY

VI. HOW TO MAXIMISE LIVABILITY

- Delay sexual maturity

. Use long step down light programme
- Age at housing must be at least 2 weeks before first eggs(16
weeks) to avoid mortality due to egg yolk peritonitis. If not
able to so, delay start of lay using SODESMEA programme.
- Reduce light intensity 10/14 days after housing or use red light
- Maximise body weight in growing
- Good Beak trimming :
- if made once it shall be conducted at 7 -10
days
- if done twice it shall be done
twice at 7/10 days (light) and at 8 - 10
weeks (severe) . Beak trim shall not be
conducted after 10 weeks of age.

Internal infection egg yolk Peritonitis due to late housing (>16 weeks)

EGG YOLK PERITONITIS

FOLLOWING LATE HOUSING

EFFECTS OF DELAYED TRANSFER

POST MORTEM ANALYSIS - 26 to 40 weeks
0.09

.0 7%

.18 % TOTAL

.12 %

MOR T ALITY

0.08
0.07

W EEKLY
BY
CAUSE

0.085

0.064

0.06
0.05

0.053
0.04

0.04

0.042
T YP E OF
LOS S

0.03
0.02

0.027

0.036

0.01
0

0.006

0.013

Ca DEP LETIO N
RUP TURED FOLLICLE

16 W E E K S

NEP HRITIS

18 W E E K S
AGE AT TR AN S FE R

20 W E E K S

Cornell Poultry Conference

65

SODESMEA TREATMENT PROTOCOL TO DELAY SEXUAL MATURITY

Soft Delay of Sexual Maturity
TO DELAY SEXUAL MATURITY BY USE OF FEED RESTRICTION
In cases where daily production of a flock is less than 2% daily .(not more than 5% daily) , the
following program can be used to delay sexual maturity. Seven (7) to ten (10) days:
3 day program = 5 - 7 days delayed
4 day program = 7 - 10 days delayed
5 day program = 10 - 14 days delayed
EXEMPLE OF A 4 DAY PROGRAM FOR SODESMEA
DAY

FEED

AMOUNT

1
1/2 FEED
2
NONE
3
NONE
4
1/2 FEED
5 FULL FEED
- On days with half feeding, all birds must be allowed to have access to the feed to
maintain good uniformity. Thus, it is advised to give all the feed at one time (if
possible, at night, with the lights off).
- The 5 day program for SODESMEA includes 3 days with NO FEED. The rest of
the program is the same.
- The 3 day program for SODESMEA includes only one day with NO FEED. The
rest of the program is the same.

LIGHT INTENSITY AND RED LIGHT IMPORTANCE ON

LIVABILITY

Understanding the light intensity management and the

Use of red light help to optimize livability, feed conversion, and
strengthen shell quality.
Light intensity must be high in growing (15 20 lux) and quite
low in production (5 lux). Light intensity must be reduced no
later than 10/14 days after birds have been housed.

A very low light intensity in the laying house ( 5 lux ) as well as

the installation of red light at housing or shortly after (less than
10/14 days ) help reduce mortality by as much as 50%.....and is
strongly advised for the SHAVER WHITE.

EA

HIGH LIGHT INTENSITY INCREASE

MORTALITY IN THE TOP CAGES

YEAR

1996

BOTTOM TIER(B)

1.1

0.9

MIDDLE TIER(M)

1.6

2.3

TOP TIER (T)

6.1

6.2

DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN

5%

5.3

Table 1: Effect of light intensity on livability. Percentage (%) mortality per

tier during one production cycle (8250 birds per tier 3 tier vertical cage
system)

EA

1997

MANAGING LIGHT INTENSITY

M
A
N
A
G
I
N
G
L
I
G
H
T
I
N
T
E
N
S
I
T
Y

Reduce Light intensity in Open House

BW and Feeding in Laying

Stimulation in feed intake may be
required
Midnight Feeding is a way to solve
low intake at start of lay
Pre-Lay feed is critical from 16 18
Preweeks (2.0 2.5% calcium)

HOW TO MAXIMISE SHELL QUALITY

Calcium and Available Phosphorus feeding

GROWING PERIOD
-with proper calcium ( 1 % minimum) and available phosphorus
(0.45-0.5 %) feeding in growing
PRELAY PERIOD
- through feeding a prelay feed with at least 2-2.5%
calcium ( prelay or layer feed ).
- The prelay feed rich in calcium must be given at
least 2 weeks ( 14 days) before first eggs to
maximize the calcium reserves in the bones
and optimize shell quality (16 18 weeks)
LAYING PERIOD
- use 4 to 4.5% calcium level in layer feed
- Use higher available phosphorus levels until 40/45 weeks old
and then reduce available phosphorus in layer 2 feed
- Use Midnight feeding program after the maximum hours of light
is achieved

PRELAY DIET OR LAYER DIET BEFORE ONSET

OF LAY IMPROVE CALCIUM RESERVE

Time of change to 3.5% Ca

Tibiotarsus Ash (%)

Tibiotarsus Ca (mg/g)

20 wk

53.5

182

18 wk

55.7

187

17 wk

59.3

202

16 wk

58.9

199

15 wk

58.4

197

14 wk

57.9

196

TABLE 1: Diet Calcium and Bone Characteristics of Young Layers in

Response
To Prelay Diet Calcium
Adapted from Keshavarz(1989)

FIGURE 2: Medullary Bone in Lay (Full Cavity) Hen Compared To

Non Layer Hen (Empty Cavity)

(Sim Ris 1967)

MIDNIGHT FEEDING
1. INSTALL NO LATER THAN ONE WEEK AFTER TRANSFER
2. MIDNIGHT FEEDING PERIOD OF 2 HOURS. THIS WILL ALLOW ALL BIRDS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EAT, NOT JUST DOMINANT BIRDS.
3. NEED A MINIMUM OF 3 HOURS OF DARKNESS ON BOTH SIDES OF M.N.F.

4D

2L

3D 2L
3D

3D

15L

16L

4. FEEDERS SHOULD RUN DURING THE BEGINNING PORTION OF THE M.N.F. IN ORDER TO
STIMULATE BIRDS TO EAT.

EA

AFTER 1 WEEK OF USING M.N.F., THE CONSUMPTION RATE WILL STABILIZE. M.N.F. WILL
NOT LEAD TO INCREASES IN AVERAGE CONSUMPTION RATES GIVEN NORMAL
CONDITIONS, I.E., TEMPERATURE. HOWEVER IT IS VERY USEFUL TO INCREASE
CONSUMPTION DURING EXTREME HEAT.

MAJOR CAUSE FOR EARLY

MORTALITY AND LOW PEAK
LATE HOUSING
EARLY SEXUAL MATURITY
MATURITY
Generate broken yolk in
abdomen which in turn generate
infection called egg yolk
peritonitis
Too low Bodyweight in growing

MAJOR CAUSE FOR LOW

PERSISTENCY
LATE HOUSING AND EARLY
SEXUAL MATURITY
TOO MANY MANIPULATION IN
START OF LAY BEFORE PEAK i.e.
VACCIANTON

CONCLUSION
The successful
SHAVER--579
SHAVER
Management
MAJOR POINTS TO REMEMBER

TO OPTIMIZE Livability
TO MAXIMISE Egg Number
TO MINIMISE Mortality
OF SHAVER commercial
Production totally depends on growing period
body weight. Highly positive correlation
between standard body weight & standard
production.
Delay sexual maturity with slow stepstep-down
light program
House birds early
early2 weeks before first eggs
or use SODESMEA to delay early lay
Reduce light intensity in house or use red light
no later than 7 to 10 days maximum after
housing
Reduce in house activity to minimum 3 to 4
weeks after housing
Where possible use midnight feeding from 252526 weeks

Bio--security
Bio

Rat consume food 10

10%,
%, and 54
54%
%
water of bodyweight each day

Worm, lice & mite control

EGG PRODUCTION
BREED

BREED

FEED
HOUSE & EQUIPMENT

MANAGEMENT
HOUSE
& EQUIPMENT

BIO-SECURITY
VACCINATION

HOUSE PERPARING
PULLET RECEIVING

EGG
PRODUCTION

BEFORE LAYING
FEEDING
LIGHTING
VENTILATION

FEED

MANAGEMENT
BIO-SECURITY, VACC

PROBLEM
RECORD DATA

Thanks to listening
Any question?