PAUL GRIGNON DUMOULIN

PAUL GRIGNON DUMOULIN

Bodyweight management and its impact in layers TOKYO July 12-13th, 2016

Introduction Bodyweight is one of the most important parameters to track in farms : In rearing : check the growth of the birds in order to achieve the best performance during production period In production : regular control allows to check if farm conditions is good enough to allow best productivity from the birds Filed experience : very often people follow growth during rearing but stop once birds start laying. In fact bodyweight management can influence many things

Some history Development of the modern Brown commercial layer +50% egg number 1970 2000 2008 2015 2020 HH EGGS AT 75 Weeks (NRS) 239 306 324 343 361 HH EGGS AT 90 Weeks (NRS) 419 446 HH EGGS AT 100 Weeks (NRS) 500 AGE AT 50% PRODUCTION (WKS) 26 20 20 20 20 AGE AT PEAK PRODUCTION (WKS) 29 26 26 25 25 RATE OF LAY AT PEAK (%) 86 95 96 97 97 EGG MASS AT 75 Weeks (KG) 14.9 19.2 20.6 21.5 22.6 EGG MASS AT 90 Weeks (KG) 26.4 28.0 EGG MASS AT 100 Weeks (KG) 31.5 FEED/DAY (G/D) 127 114 114 113 112 FCR resp. 75 to 90 to 100 weeks of age (KG/K) 3.46 2.41 2.25 2.19 2.07 LIVEABILITY (%) 90 94 94 94 95 HEN DAY RATE OF LAY AT 75 Weeks (%) 55 74 76 79 82 BODYWEIGHT AT 18 Weeks (KGS) 1.72 1.55 1.55 1.50 1.50 ADULT BODYWEIGHT (KGS) 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9-24% bodyweight

Standard growth curves Growth is not linear Growth / nutritional needs maximum between 6-11 weeks ISA Brown growth curve

Influence of pullet quality on laying performance Sexual maturity % prod between 20-24 weeks Bodyweight at 5 weeks old +++ 0,63 Bodyweight at 10 weeks old +++ Uniformity at 16 weeks old 0,59 0 % prod between 68-72 weeks +++ 0,82 0 ++ 0,46 Egg number at 60 weeks old +++ 0,83 ++ 0,30 +++ 0,54 Egg number at 72 weeks old Liveability at 72 weeks old +++ 0,93 0 +++ 0,71 0 +++ 0,72 ++ 0,40 +++ : very good correlation + : low correlation ++ : good correlation 0 : no correlation

Key anatomical and developmental stages Time-line in Changes of Growth and Body Components of Pullets Growth Frame Organs Muscles Increase in Calcium Pre lay feed Reproductive organ development 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Age (weeks) Medulary bone Fat

Bodyweight targets in rearing Get the best possible bodyweight at 4-5 weeks old In end of rearing, key of success is more linked with good uniformity than good bodyweight. At start of lay : between 5 and 90% lay, growth must be 300g minimum in brown layers Consequence : birds with same average bodyweight in end of rearing will have different performance in production, depending on their bodyweight at 5 weeks old or uniformity at 16 weeks old.

Practical rules for bodyweight management From day old to 3-4 weeks : weekly average bodyweight calculation based on group control. Chicks are weighted by group. From 3-4 to 26 weeks old : weekly individual control with bodyweight and uniformity calculation. From 26 to 36 weekd old : individual control at least every 2 weeks with bodyweight and uniformity calculation After 36 weeks old : individual control at least every 4 weeks with 0,4 bodyweight and uniformity calculation 0,35 0,3 0,25 0,2 0,15 0,1 0,05 0 10

What is a good uniformity? Below 75% : bad 75-85% : acceptable Above 85% : good

Number of birds controled : minimum 60 birds per pen (best is 100 birds). In cage system : select cages in different locations of the house and place a mark in order to check the same animals at every control. This would be more accurate.

Source of variability in rearing Cage Floor / Aviary system Difference of temperature in the different areas of the house (uniformity of ventilation / atmosphere Uneven feed (in distribution troleys) Feed selection (availabe feeder length / feed presentation Sanitary pressure : contact with faeces (parasitisme / coccidiosis) Inadequate feeding management, feed restriction No respect of recommended densities (competition) Big particle feed Irregular beak-trimming and bad access to water in the first days Dehydrated, weak or infected DOC at arrival Poor brooding conditions : Heating, ventilation, wrong feed/water equipment Disease challenges

Practical example in rearing

Body Weight in g 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Field examples: Crowding in rearing ISA BROWN REARING CHART Name : Hatch date : Number of pullets : Rearing farm : House number : Friday July 4, 2008 51.200 6, cages 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Bodyweight std BW mini std BW maxi Cumulative mortality 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Mortality in % Birds started in 2 tiers; At 6 WOA, ½ transferred into rest of cages over-crowded

Field examples: Problems with feed management Body weight in g 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 BOVANS BROWN REARING CHART Name : Hatch date : Number of pullets : Rearing farm : House number : Friday 23 October, 2009 30.200 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Bodyweight std BW mini std BW maxi Cumulative mortality Uniformity 2 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Uniformity in %, Mortality in % Problems with grower feed 1; Not enough BW gain Poor uniformity; By 7-8 wks pullets adjusted

Field examples: Stunted growth with vaccination Bodyweight in g 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 ISA BROWN REARING CHART Name : Hatch date : Number of pullets : Rearing farm : House number : Begokon September 29, 2008 51.200 6, cages 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Bodyweight std BW mini std BW maxi Cumulative mortality 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 % Mortality Birds grow very well from 6-14 WOA; injection with killed vaccine flat BW growth

Start of lay : a key period

Energy requirement (Kcal/d/hen) Evaluation of energy requirement 350 300 250 200 150 Production Growth Maintenance 100 50 0 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 Age (weeks) Based on ISA Brown production standard Energy requirement evaluation= 130(BW) 0.75 + 5 x daily WG + 1.65 x daily EM

Field example : management of feeding at start of lay 60 000 Layers Conventionnal cages Transfert during summer First phase : -The lay begin -The egg weight increase -The limited feed consumption lead to low body weight Second phase : -Small and slow decrease of the laying rate Third phase : -Work on the energy intake -Increase bodyweight -Increase the laying rate

Bodyweight and sexual maturity

BODYWEIGHT AT SEXUAL MATURITY & A.E.W. 67,5 1350-1450 g 1550-1650 g 1750-1850 g 1950 - > 2000 g 65 62,5 60 57,5 55 52,5 50 47,5 Bodyweight at first egg influence Egg Weight during all the laying period 45 Brown layers experiment 21 18-28 weeks 28-40 weeks 40-60 weeks

Sexual maturity and bodyweight Pullet bodyweight at sexual maturity determine the average egg weight Sexual maturity management is a key factor for controlling bodyweight at the beginning of lay For brown birds, many trials showed a bodyweight modification of 80g at sexual maturity induce an eggweight variation of 1g

How can we influence bodyweight?

Bodyweight can be influenced by a few technics Feed / feeding Lighting program

FEED SPECIFICATIONS - BROWN EGG LAYERS TEMPERATE CLIMATE PRE STARTER GROWER PULLET - PRE LAY HOT CLIMATE 4 5 10 16 Pre Starter Feed : EM= 2950 / CP = 20-20,5 Grower Feed : EM=2850 / CP=19 Developper Feed : EM = 2750 / CP=16 Pre Lay Feed : EM= 2750 / CP= 16,8 25

FEED SPECIFICATIONS Pre Starter Feed Before 4-5 weeks old, for Brown and Leghorn pullets, growth will depend on energy and protein level of the feed Grower Feed After 5 weeks old, pullets adapt their intake to feed energy level Any deficiency in Amino Acids after 6 weeks leads to lower growth and F.C.R. deterioration Developer Feed Energy level as close as possible to energy level of layer feed in order to: Develop digestive tract (through intake in rearing) Too high energy level risks lower intake at beginning of lay (increase of cost) Pre Lay Feed Energy level as close as possible to energy level of layer feed Calcium level increase (2 % with 1 % in powder and 1 % in particles form) 10 days before 2 % of production 26

Feed recommendations rearing period Starter feed in crumble (0-5/6 weeks of age), then mash feed is recommended Change feed only if birds are at bodyweight target (maximum age planed + 2 weeks) Use a pre lay feed (2 weeks before first eggs)

Feed consumption (/day Energy and feed consumption 140 130 120 110 100 90 Vilarino et al 1996 Leeson et al 2001a Harms et al 2000 grobas et al 1999 Van der Lee et al 2001a Van der Lee et al 2001b CNEVA ISA 1996 harms et al 2004 Zou et al 2005 balnave et robinson 2000 peguri et coon 1991 80 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 Metabolisable Energy (Kcal/kg)

Energy intake ( Kcal/day/hen) Energy and energy intake 370 350 330 310 290 270 Vilarino et al 1996 Leeson et al 2001a Harms et al 2000 grobas et al 1999 Van der Lee et al 2001a Van der Lee et al 2001b CNEVA ISA 1996 harms et al 2004 Zou et al 2005 balnave et robinson 2000 peguri et coon 1991 250 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 Metabolisable Energy (Kcal/kg)

Body weight (g) Energy (ME) and body weight 2300 2200 2100 2000 1900 1800 1700 Leeson et al 2001a balnave et robinson 2000 peguri et coon 1991 1600 1500 1400 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000 3200 3400 Metabolizable Energy (Kcal/kg)

Energy general scheme Standard BW MAINTENANCE PRODUCTION GROWTH BODY WEIGHT FEATHERING ENERGY REQUIREMENT < Slimming Energy feed concentration ENERGY CONSUMPTION = > Stable BW Fattening Feed presentation Feed distribution / Management

OPTIMUM FRAME DEVELOPMENT Quantity of pre starter Bodyweight at 4 weeks used (g) in % of BW standard Flock A 0 g 86% Flock B 300 g 95% During the first few weeks, live weight of pullets is very dependant on the energy level of the feed Normal (h/d) Lighting program Slow step down (h/d) Long daylengths throughout the rearing period encourage feed intake and, therfore, growth SLOW STEP DOWN L.P. 1st 20 20 2nd 16 16 3rd 12 15 4th 8 14,5 5th 8 14 6th 8 13,5 7th 8 13 8th 8 12,5 Brown layers experiment BW at 56 days (g) 678 g 731 g 24 th+h4 RST Eike 32

ENCOURAGE AND MAINTAIN BIRD APPETITE Lot A - Ad libitum Lot B with 2 meals (1 in afternoon and 1 in the morning (4 h of empty feeders) Flock A Flock B Diff B/A Bodyweight at 8 weeks (g) 580 617 + 6 % Bodyweight at 12 weeks (g) 1005 1061 + 6 % Bodyweight at 17 weeks (g) 1340 1435 + 7 % Uniformity 17 weeks (%) 83 87 + 4 points Consumption at 119 d (g) 5780 5947 + 3 % ISA 1995 Brown layers experiment «Essential to empty the feeders once a day and to adapt the timing of feed distribution in order to encourage appetite, growth and rapid feed intake» 33

Influence of particle size Influence of particle size of feed on performance of layers between 2» and 51 weeks old Particle size Good Fine Variation in % < 0.5 mm 9 % 31 % > 3.2 mm 10 % 0 % 0.5 to 3.2 mm 81 % 69 % > 1.6 mm 65 % 21 % Lay, % 93.9 90.7-3.4 Egg weight, g 63.3 62.7-0.9 Egg Mass, g/d 59.41 56.85-4.3 Feed consumption, 118.1 114.2-3.4 g/d F.C.R. 1.989 2.008 + 0.9 Bodyweight at 33 w 1.930 1.883

DRINKING WATER TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON FEED CONSUMPTION 115 110 105 Water temperature:27 C Water temperature:18 C 100 95 90 85 80 75..Temp.de l'air : 27-35 C.. 70 65 sem 0 T:22 C week 1 T:27-35 C week 2 T:27-35 C week 3 T:27-35 C week 4 T:27-35 C week 5 T:22 C week 6 T:22 C Providing fresh water during hot period improve feed consumption

Hours of Light Impact of light on feed intake and growth Dekalb white - cages 20 18 16 14 light bodyweight feedintake 190 170 12 150 10 8 130 6 110 4 2 90 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 70 Age (wks)

Summary and conclusions Bodyweight is a key factor for flock management as this will influence future performance of birds As a consequence, bodyweight should be controlled during the whole life of the layer flocks Management, in particular nutrition and lighting program can help to control bodyweight and let the birds express their genetic potential at 100%

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