Poultry production is the most dynamic and technologically advanced livestock activity; it is also a strategic sector to produce food for society. To continue along this line and be characterized as an economically sustainable production must meet some key points for success.

Facilities in poultry production

Chickens are homeothermic organisms, that is, they can maintain their body temperature stable. However, this mechanism is only efficient when the ambient temperature is within certain limits; birds cannot adapt to extreme climates. Therefore, it is important that the chicks are housed in an environment that allows them to maintain their thermal balance.

The production unit must have a perimeter fence to prevent the entry of outsiders or animals. The entrance of the production unit must always maintain an active ford and/or sanitary arch, or a sprinkler system for the disinfection of vehicles.

Every person entering the production unit must be recorded in a logbook, and this person must bath and wear clothing and footwear exclusively for their stay in the farm, this with the purpose of avoiding the possible entrance or exit of infectious agents. Under no circumstances may the clothing used by personnel and visitors leave the production unit. Therefore, it is recommended to have a washing area within the facilities to carry out this activity.

Feeding in poultry production

The objective of poultry nutrition is the conversion of ingredients of a diet into feed for human consumption at the lowest possible cost, as poultry feed is considered to represent 56 – 70% of the total production cost.

An important aspect of poultry feeding is the susceptibility of the species to vitamin deficiencies, since they obtain little or no benefit from microbial synthesis, and microorganisms compete with birds for dietary vitamins. In addition to this characteristic, modern birds have very high vitamin requirements, among other reasons, because of the type of management and high density of birds kept in poultry production.

An indispensable requirement in diets for growing chicks is metabolizable energy, which must be adapted to the following requirements:

• Initiation: from 0 to 6 weeks of age require a metabolizable energy of 2800 to 2900 Kcal
• Growth: 6 to 14 weeks of age require 2700 to 2800 Kcal of metabolizable energy
• Development: 14 to 20 weeks of age require 2700 to 2800 Kcal of metabolizable energy

One of the most important nutrients within the poultry feed is protein and more specifically the ideal protein, which refers to the exact balance of amino acids to meet the requirements of maintenance and maximum body protein gain. This nutrient is especially important when it comes to feeding the laying hen, as this type of bird is only 55% efficient at converting dietary protein to egg and maintenance protein.

Therefore, their requirements should be as follows:

• Initiation: 0-6 weeks of age requires 21% protein and 3000 Kcal of metabolizable energy
• Growth: 7-12 weeks requires 18% protein and 2900 Kcal of metabolizable energy
• Development: 13 to 18 weeks requires 17% protein and 2850 Kcal of metabolizable energy
• Phase I production: 16 to 30 weeks requires 18.5% protein and 2900 Kcal of metabolizable energy
• Phase II production: 31 to 50 weeks requires 17.5% protein and 2850 Kcal of metabolizable energy
• Phase III production: 51 to 80 weeks requires 16.5% protein and 2800 Kcal of metabolizable energy

Strains and breeds in poultry production

Many strains and pure breeds of chickens have been developed over the past two centuries, yet few have survived commercially in the poultry industry for use by breeders today. Some of the early breeds have been lost forever, others are kept on local farms.

In the early days of the commercial poultry industry, most of the chicks sold represented pure breeds or varieties of these. Breeding practices at that time were limited to improving the economic potential of these pure breeds. But, gradually two or more breeds were crossed to improve productivity. Finally, and especially in the case of birds raised for meat production, new synthetic breeds were developed.

The breeds used in the chicken meat market are mainly:

• ROSS 45%: The Aviagen Group is the world’s leading broiler breeding company, being the only company to distribute day-old chickens to 85 countries and responsible for this breed.
• HYBRO 29%: product of Hybro B. V. leading multinational company in the agricultural and aquaculture field. This lineage has been developed to reach the best weight at a certain age and with an exceptional conversion rate, as well as a high carcass and breast yield.
• COBB 17%: lineage introduced in the market in 2001, specially designed for the elaboration of value-added products, facilitating boning.
• HUBBARD-ISA 7%
• ISA – VEDETTE 2%

While the egg production is mainly distributed among the following strains:

• B 300 with 35%: developed by the former Babcock company as an excellent white egg layer.
• Hy line with 33%.
• Dekalb Brown with 10%
• Lohman with 7%
• Hi sex Brown with 5%
• Shaver with 4%

Health in poultry production

Without a doubt, prevention is better than cure. Today, poultry programs incorporate several programs necessary to keep flocks healthy. The needs are not only reduced to vaccinations, but to several management and other practices. Many are on an ongoing basis, examples of which are: cleaning, waste disposal, stress prevention and pollution control. Every effort must be made to maintain the flock at its full productive capacity for economical meat, egg and chick production.

Treating a flock that has lost some of its efficiency either through disease or stress is a deterrent; prevention is much better than managing the disease.

Prevention requires regular procedures, and these can be grouped as follows:

1. Prevention of stress
2. Management
3. Provide good quality water
4. Hygiene and disinfection
5. Vaccination
6. Pest and Wildlife Control
7. Disposal of dead birds and waste
8. Contamination Control