Breeder farm management is a fundamental component of poultry farming that must be optimized at every stage.

Poultry farming has two types of production: the first is the production of non-fertile eggs for human consumption. The second is the production of broiler chicken for meat production. To obtain animals destined for egg or meat production, the participation of a breeder farm is required. In these farms, the first-generation commercial birds produce fertile eggs that, after hatching, will become each type of production bird.

Chicks and growth: key stages

Breeder farm management starts before the arrival of the chicks. Facility management includes several important aspects in the management of chicks and their subsequent growth stages, which are summarized below:

1. A complete sanitization and biosecurity of all equipment where chicks will be installed.
2. Prepare the floor and ensure that the litter has an adequate temperature between 28°C-30°C, for this purpose the material is
3. Establish and control the optimal ranges of relative humidity and environmental temperature to generate comfort for the chicks.
4. Control the ventilation of the poultry house to ensure adequate airflow.
5. Maintain feeders and drinkers in good condition and visually monitor the appetite of the chicks.
6. Provide good lighting with 80-100 lux during brooding to encourage feed and water consumption.
7. Record weights per week to create growth curves and set targets to be met.
8. Determine the sex of the chicks at 28 days. Males and females should be raised separately until 22-24 weeks.

Feed and water management

Breeder farm management of feed and water goes hand in hand with monitoring body weights. 2 or 3 bodyweight measurements must be taken each week on batches of birds to establish growth curves and to verify if proper weight targets are being met. This is useful to avoid both overweight and underweight breeding males.

In the breeder farm, ad libitum feed administration can be used during the first four weeks of life. After that, the feed will be administered according to flock weights and requirements. It should be noted that the management is similar for both males and females and that it changes concerning the type of feed supplied or the quantity.

Finally, it is necessary to establish exact measurements for the distribution of feeders and drinkers on the farm. This management in the breeder farm should be considered because it ensures even growth of the flock and equal feed consumption of all birds.

Importance of light in breeder management

Lighting is a parameter that is always considered in poultry farming, including the breeder farm. It is recommended that the first days where chicks are received and reared, most of the day should be with the lighting of 60 to 100 lux. With time, a gradual decrease of lighting both in time and intensity is made. Lighting at an early age favors feed consumption, development of the immune system and the digestive system.

At two weeks of age, lighting should be provided for 8 hours a day. In addition, it is important to verify that the lighting is uniform throughout the house. This lighting is maintained until 20 to 21 weeks where the birds will move from rearing to production. Once there, the light will be increased depending on the system available and only when the birds are fully mature and in ideal physical condition for breeding.

There are three types of lighting in the breeder farm depending on the facilities and light management:

1. Rearing in dark sheds and subsequent production with natural light.
2. Rearing in dark sheds and subsequent production in dark housing.
3. Rearing in natural light/semi-dark and subsequent production in natural light.

Each of these types of lighting management has different considerations related to hours of light and hours of darkness, natural light management, light intensity, among other variables. When birds have reached sexual maturity and are in good physical condition, high lighting increases reproductive performance. However, this goes hand in hand with the types of lighting mentioned.

Fertile eggs on the breeder farm

The success of breeder farm management lies in meeting its main objective, which is to produce the highest number of fertile and viable eggs. Once the birds start mating and producing fertile eggs, management measures must be taken to ensure adequate performance. The following are some guidelines to promote the hatchability of fertile eggs.

1. Periodically check the laying houses for fertile eggs on the floor at least four to six times a day.
2. Constant cleaning of the nests to avoid fertile eggs with excrement or dirty material adhered to them.
3. Ensure nest temperature like that of the incubator, collecting fertile eggs and cooling them to 21-25°C which reduces embryonic mortality.
4. Training of personnel to promote hygiene during the collection of fertile eggs and care in their handling.
5. Using the recommended equipment for collecting and transporting fertile eggs and avoid damaging them.
6. Do not mix floor eggs with fertile eggs collected in the nest to avoid contamination.
7. In mechanical nesting systems avoid the accumulation of fertile eggs and schedule collection.
8. Perform manual disinfection and cleaning of collected fertile eggs as directed by the veterinarian and commercial house.
9. Establish protocols for the transport and classification of fertile eggs. In addition, follow the recommendations of the commercial houses regarding the ideal temperature and humidity to ensure the viability of the collected fertile eggs.

Good Biosecurity Practices

Biosecurity protocols and measures are indispensable in breeder farm management. A Good Biosecurity Practices approach includes all critical points related to health and disease prevention in the poultry house. Some of the most important aspects of breeder farm biosecurity that should be considered are summarized below:

1. All-in All-out system: this biosecurity principle applies to vehicles, personnel, equipment, and birds. Implementing this protocol prevents the entry and exit of infectious agents from the farm..
2. Control of external parasites: this biosecurity measure prevents the entry of infectious agents mobilized in vectors such as lice or flies. It also prevents the decrease in reproductive efficiency due to parasitism.
3. Program against helminths and coccidiosis: internal parasites constitute one of the most important problems in the management of breeding farms at a sanitary level. Establishing an antiparasitic program focused on these pathogens improves the reproductive performance of the birds.
4. Control of other animals: insects, rodents, and wild birds can act as vectors and reservoirs of diseases, putting the biosecurity of the farm at risk. In breeder farm management, facilities should be designed with the control of external animals in mind.
5. Vaccination programs: Vaccines are a pillar in a biosecurity program in breeder farms, due to their role in the prevention of viral and bacterial diseases that can cause high mortality and morbidity.
6. Responsible use of medications: a biosecurity manual should include protocols for handling medications on the breeder farm.

Use of pronutrients in breeding poultry

Pronutrients are active molecules that improve the immune system of poultry against environmental pathogens. These molecules are a natural alternative for the control of some infectious diseases of importance in poultry farming such as coccidiosis. Against this pathology there are intestinal optimizer pronutrients that induce gene expression related to specialized proteins against Eimeria spp. such as interleukins IL-1, IL-12 and IL-18. Pronutrients do not create resistance since they do not directly attack the pathogens but favor the immune mechanisms for its control. Therefore, they are a great help for the control of infectious diseases in breeding poultry.

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On the other hand, intestinal optimizer pronutrients contribute to improving digestive function, which reduces the incidence of dirty fertile eggs in broiler breeder farms. These natural molecules optimize the physiology of intestinal cells and promote the renewal of their mucosa, which improve resistance to infections.

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CONCLUSIONS

The breeder farm is a fundamental system within the poultry industry that produces animals destined for egg production (laying birds) or meat production (broilers). Management in these farms is complex and must consider different aspects that have an impact on the reproduction of the birds.

Breeder farm management begins with the arrival of the chicks and their rearing. At this stage, feeding and lighting aspects must be considered. Later, during the development of the breeding poultry, the feed will play a fundamental role.

Lighting in breeder farms is an aspect to be carefully managed to obtain the best reproductive performance at peak production. This goes hand in hand with the type of facilities available on the farm.

Fertile eggs and their viability during incubation is the goal of any breeder farm. Preventive measures must be taken to maintain the good hatchability of these eggs.

Finally, in any poultry farm, it is essential to establish biosecurity measures to prevent the occurrence of diseases.