Mathematical curves for the description of input and output variables of the daily production process in aviary housing systems for laying hens. Poultry Sci

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were 1) to compute appropriate mathematical curves that describe the daily production process by the input variables daily feed consumption, water consumption, ambient temper-ature, and output variables hen-day egg production, egg weight, second grade eggs, floor eggs, cumulative mortality, body weight, and flock uniformity; and 2) to obtain insights into the daily variations in these variables, in order to support the poultry farmer with an aviary housing system in his daily management. Litera-ture and research data attainted from six unmolted flocks that were housed in aviary systems were used to formulate the mathematical curves. The curves were a function of the number of days in the laying period. Curves for cumulative mortality, hen-day egg produc