Rainy season as case study
Poultry egg farmers face the challenge of keeping their stock in high production all year round for maximum profitability and efficiency.
The challenge of drop in production for an egg producer is enormous especially in the current dispensation of high cost of grains and inputs.
It has become necessary for a good egg producer to be able to troubleshoot egg production drop in his farm. The farmer remains the first line of defense in this regard. The first rule in egg drop trouble shooting is to keep it simple. Do not take anything for granted. Check all basic items first.
With the rains, the temperature is low and the weather is cloudy all day long. The relative humidity is equally high.
low temperature will entail that birds will require more energy to meet body needs for heat production. This will translate to increased intake of feed. The rate of clean up is observed to be faster than normal. This extra has to be provided or else the birds will appropriate this energy from the feed on a first line charge basis , thereby creating a deficit in egg yield.
During peak of rains, the light intensity is not adequate for maximum production. Hens housed in open sided houses need artificial light with adequate intensity with an average day length of 14-16 hours. Cloudy days need to be augmented with bright artificial light to sustain peak production.
During the peak of rains , the threat of mycotoxin is high and palpable. Farmers must ensure that the troughs are clean without left over feed, that are likely to get moldy. This will increase risk of mycotoxin which could result in drop in production especially after live vaccinations. Storage time of the feed in the feed store must be reduced at this time to avoid risks of mycotoxin.
Adequate and routine medication should be on board to avoid increased risk of bacterial infections such as E coli and worm.
With these adjustments in place, a responsive farmer will be on top of his game in peak of rains.
Comments