Care and management of broilers in rainy season
Dr.A.K.Wankar1 and Dr.S.N.Rindhe2
1Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Parbhani [MAFSU]
2Assistant Professor, Livestock Product Technology Department, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Parbhani [MAFSU]
Corresponding author: Dr.A.K.Wankar1,wankaralok@gmail.com
Executive Summary:
Poultry sector has grown leaps and bounds in the last 2-3 decade which was possible only due to intensive farming and application of technology. India being a sub-tropical region, poultry are subjected to high temperatures during summer season, predisposing them to heat stress. Most of the research and advancement has solely focused on alleviating heat stress in poultry. Due to wide geographical variation in some Indian states monsoon is the dominant season. With monsoons, numerous parasites and infections arise. Therefore this article will discuss some of the most neglected common problems faced by poultry farmers during rainy season and technical guidance/modifications to overcome them.
Introduction:
Poultry sector has shown a tremendous growth potential in the last decades in India. This growth was possible due to intensification of the technology, mamagemental practices and development of new breed with higher genetic growth potential, involvement of corporate multinational companies, establishment of markets on national level, synchronization of the supply and manufacturing chains, increased urbanization, increased spending power of the consumer and favourable government and private industry policies.
Currently India ranks fifth in broiler production globally and in Asian sub continent India is second, only after China in poultry industry. Production of eggs & meat is growing at an exponential annual rate of 10-12 % and growth rate of market is 12-15 %. Agriculture contributes 40 % of Indian GDP and livestock sector contributes 12 % of it. In India, majority i.e. 60 % of farmers are involved in some or other ways with animal husbandry. It is predicted that the poultry industry will grow from 1750 billion in 2018 to an exponential 4340 billion by 2024. There is dominance of southern Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra contributing, 70 % of total egg and meat production.
Due to intensification and development of rapid growing broiler breeds like; Cobb, Priya, Sonali, ILI-80, Golden-92, Devendra, Hubbard, Lohman, Anak-2000, Avian-34, Starbra, Sam Rat, BV-300, Ross and Hyline etc broiler production has decreased significantly from 8 weeks to just 6 weeks. Presently micro climatic conditions inside shed can be monitored and controlled efficiently by using sensor based technology or manually. Most of our focus in Indian Sub Tropical conditions was directed to alleviate heat stress as it affects poultry welfare, health and meat quality and results in major economic losses. In the north eastern regions of India, the rainy season can last for total 5-6 month. If management is not effective, it can lead to suboptimum growth, mortality and production losses. During monsoon the temperature drops to ambient to cold and humidity increase. The low temperatures and high humidity make conditions very favorable for growth of disease causing pathogens and parasites. Preparations must start before rainy season to ensure good flock health, ascertaining maximum growth and rapid attainment of marketable size.
During rainy season we need to change the management at two different aspects; management outside the shed and management inside the poultry shed
Modifications outside the poultry shed:
Following are the important and necessary measures to be undertaken before and during rainy season,
1. There should be clear area of about 4-5 meters around poultry house, free of vegetation or water logging structures with proper drainage away from the poultry house
2. Side walls should be rain proof and gunny bags be hanged over the wall mesh to prevent water from coming inside
3. Roof should be rainproof and devoid of any cracks or holes. If required good quality plastic sheet should be spread over the entire roof
4. When it is not raining gunny bags should be moved aside to allow fresh air and light to enter inside, which will help keeping the broiler house and litter dry
5. Add some extra roof hanging over doors and on sides to ensure that water falling from the roof doesn’t leaks inside
6. Floor should be always kept in dry state
7. Spray bactericidal spray around the poultry shed to minimize the multiplication and spread of various bacterial diseases
8. Poultry litter should never be accumulated or thrown near the poultry house as it is an excellent place for pathogens and parasites to multiply which can cause diseases in broilers.
Modifications inside the poultry house:
1. Control of environment inside shed
Control and modification of micro climate inside the poultry house is of immense importance, as it modulates the poultry thermoregulation, well being and growth. Temperature
Temperature inside is kept high for small chicks (34oC) and slowly decreased as they grow. In the first 14 days the chicks are not able to regulate their body temperature properly and are totally dependent on external heat for survival. This monitoring of temperature becomes more crucial in cooler rainy season. Chicks feeling cold will huddle together and will stop chirping. As cold stress increase, it increases poultry susceptibility to different infections increases (especially respiratory), thus adversely affecting energy utilization and growth. It is recommended to keep the floor temperature atleast 32oC at placement of brooding chicks, for initial 2-3 days. Heaters, brooder stoves, blowers, charcoal brooder, infrared gas brooder can be effectively used to maintain temperature inside the broiler shed. Additionally, electric bulbs or heater can serve as secondary warmth source for birds. Care should be taken to hang these heating devices well above the reach of chicks and broilers.
Farms where there is no optimum maintenance of temperature (especially during rainy season or winter) can suffer catastrophic initial chick mortality and economic losses.
Recommended temperatures in broiler shed with age are,
1st week: 95oF; 2nd week: 90oF; 3rd week: 85oF or one bird 2 watt brooding technique. Humidity
High relative humidity which is commonly seen during rainy season is responsible for growth of microorganisms and bacteria which cause various respiratory disorders. Cool air will result in a higher relative humidity and condensation will increase, resulting in wet litter and associated problems for birds.
Recommended humidity in broiler shed should be, 50-60 %
Temperature in the broiler shed can be monitored easily with simple minimum / maximum thermometer or automatic temperature sensor and humidity by dry/wet bulb hygrometer or automatic humidity sensor
Ventilation
It is also important to check if the air flow or ventilation is adequate in poultry house. Optimum ventilation is required for normal metabolism of broilers, control of relative humidity and maintenance of dry litter. The air (flow) inside the shed should be 10-30 meters/minute or 30 cumm/1000 kg. Oxygen (O2) levels should always be more than 20% while carbon dioxide (Co2) below 0.5%. Exhausts and fans should be installed inside shed for proper air movement.
Litter management
The litter in poultry house has several important functions like, bedding material, pecking material, absorption of moisture, prevent dust formation, dilution of excreta, to minimize bird to manure contact and to provide insulation from cold floor. For litter materials like, rice or paddy husk, hulls of cotton seed, soy bean and sunflower seed hull, crushed maize cobs, maize bran, chopped straw or chaff, dried leaves, peanut hull, coconut hull, groundnut hulls, sawdust, wood-shavings, coir pith, chopped straw, bagasse, cut sugar cane bagasse, grass, straw and even sand can be used.
Usually poultry are reared on deep litter systems and the minimum depth of litter should be 5 cm. It is advisable to rake the litter every day in the morning with the help of a spoke/rod or litter raker so that caked material is broken up and exposed to facilitate drying. Moisture levels in litter material will increase every day because of the water spillage and bird droppings and high humidity so, more litter can be added and forked into the existing litter for broilers during third week and fifth week. By fifth week the ideal thickness of the litter should be 4 inches. This wet litter serves as breeding ground for different parasites and microorganisms which transmit different diseases to poultry. To assess moisture levels in the litter, squeeze a handful, if the litter forms a cake, the moisture level is too high, if it doesn’t forms a ball then the litter is having optimum moisture.
If litter moisture goes beyond 25 %, excess ammonia will be produced and there will be irritation of eyes and nasal membranes leading to conjunctivitis, as well as poor feed intake and growth rate. Wet litter predisposes the broilers to diseases like coryza, bronchitis, coccidiosis and other respiratory diseases. Higher moisture levels in the litter may also cause lameness, disinclination to move, and weight loss. One common observation in rainy season is mud-balls on bird’s feet or bumble foot disease, mainly due to wet floor, manure, bedding and soil adheres to broilers claws and nails. Use of lime & bleaching powder reduces moisture & bacterial count in litter.
Some factors to consider which may help prevent the development of wet litter are; type of material, quality of litter, litter depth, water quality, drinker line management, lighting management, ventilation and temperature.
Stocking density
Overcrowding of birds increases the stress, reduces growth and makes them prone to various diseases. These stressful conditions are amplified due to high humidity and wet litter during rainy seasons. So, it is advisable to maintain an optimum or slightly lower number of broilers during rainy seasons.
Change in feed
Cold environment demands more energy for maintenance of body temperature and metabolism. So birds increase feed intake during the cold rainy seasons and also change their feeding habits. The diet should be nutritive and rich in fats/oils to meet the higher energy requirements.
Deworming the birds
Monsoon is the breeding season of many poultry parasites. These mature or immature parasites can enter the broiler shed with leaking rainwater. Constant wet litter also provides an optimum breeding ground for these worms and parasites. It is advisable to deworm the flock before or during monsoon to get rid of the parasitic load, which compete for the nutrients and cause many infections and diseases in birds.
Vaccination before rainy season is coming
The increase in numerous parasites and insects makes transmission of different bacterial and viral diseases very common during rainy season. It is best to vaccinate the entire flock before onset of during rainy season to prevent spread of infectious diseases, rather than treating them after infection. Follow the vaccination schedule strictly taking into consideration the age and condition of birds, type of vaccine, mode of administration and post vaccination care.
Faeces Management
A wet litter with feces provides ideal multiplication medium for parasitic and bacterial growth as well as it attracts different insects like flies and mosquitoes etc. Waste material should be disposed in a pit, 300 meters from the poultry shed. Regular spray of bactericidal or germicidal spray will keep the litter material free of disease transmitting microorganisms.
Smell
One of the simplest and best practices is to regularly smell the poultry food for any abnormal odors. Growth of fungus and other moulds is very common in rainy season. These spoiled food harbor microorganisms which can produce different toxins and might cause food poisoning to broilers. Wet litter and microorganisms produce ammonia, which is injurious to birds health and cause irritation, making them susceptible to various infections and respiratory disorders. So, regularly smell for the pungent and irritating ammonia odor in poultry shed and check that ammonia levels should always be below 25 ppm.
If the poultry house is managed efficiently, rainy season is a good opportunity for broilers to maximize growth. These small but very important managemental practices can enhance the growth performance, reduce the risk of diseases and make poultry rearing profitable for the farmers and business owner in rainy season.
“A stick in Time saves nine” or “Prevention is always better than cure” are to be remembered for effective broiler management during seasons.
