PUTTING KNOWLEDGE TO WORK

Poor egg shell quality can be very costly to the broiler industry. Egg shell defects are problematic because they reduce the total number of hatched chicks. In addition to decreased hatachability, egg shell cracks can also contaminate other eggs with pathogens during incubation. Microbial contamination f hatching eggs can lead to the resultant chicks being regarded as poor quality with an increased occurrence of morbidity and mortality during the couple weeks of the growout. Poor egg shell quality is known to be more prevalent with older hens laying in a environment with high temperatures. Altering the feeding program may be a means of improving egg shell quality. Egg size is known to increase as hens advance with age. Because the egg shell is being formed around a larger area, egg shell thickness may be decreased in larger eggs. One strategy to help control egg size may be to reduce the protein and/or methionine content of the diet during the latter phase of production. What is a Breeder II Feed? When is it Fed? Broiler breeders are generally fed one feed from 20 to 65 wk of age. However, if egg shell quality becomes problematic, a two-phase feeding program may be appropriate (Phase I: 20 to 45 weeks of age; Phase II: 20 to 45 weeks of age). The Phase II feed contains a lower percentage of crude protein and higher calcium content (Table 1)