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Know How / Layers / Health and welfare

From beak trimming to keel bone damage, there is a huge range of topics an egg producer must be across if they are to manage birds effectively and get the most from their flocks

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Case studies

POULTRY

How a free-range egg producer is achieving an 86-week lay

Extending lay to 90 weeks is remarkable in any system, and all the more so when it is achieved in just the fifth flock cycle. Arable farmer Michael Wilson diversified…

POULTRY

How an organic egg producer eliminated nuisance flies in sheds

Tim Clarke has introduced controls on his 9,000-bird unit at Nantywellan, near Llandrindod Wells, to reduce fly populations. The flies are known carriers of diseases such as salmonella, pasteurella, campylobacter…

LAYERS

How farm raised welfare with switch to fully beaked birds

Managing a switch to white, fully beaked birds requires close attention to detail but can improve production and welfare, according to Powys-based farmer Phil Davies. Mr Davies and wife Helen…

LAYERS

Benefits of smart sensors for layer flock health

Ammonia levels have been cut by 75% and antibiotics use reduced to zero after a high-tech sensor system was installed at Wern Farm in Powys. Damp air affecting litter quality…

POULTRY

How on-farm hatching can improve flock health and cut costs

On-farm hatching is delivering better broiler performance while improving welfare and cutting carbon emissions for one Hertfordshire producer. Tom Wornham’s family farm almost 200,000 birds for one of the UK’s…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How to take free-range layers to 100 weeks

Genetics and a programme of tailored nutrition have helped two Herefordshire farmers successfully lift the laying cycle of their flock of free-range hens beyond the UK’s 72-week average. As long…

Practical advice

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POULTRY

Advice on managing mycotoxin risks for poultry

Despite the rollout of new stricter limits on the permitted levels of mycotoxins in cereals for human consumption, no changes have been made to recommendations for parameters in animal feed.…

POULTRY

The benefits and uses of lucerne in poultry production

Lucerne is becoming more commonplace in UK poultry systems because of the benefits the crop provides to the welfare and productivity of flocks. Lucerne bales provide hens with important foraging…

POULTRY

Benefits of nutraceuticals for bird nutrition and health

Compound feed should contain everything a bird needs to grow successfully. However, other products – dubbed “nutraceuticals” – can be used to provide a boost to the bird’s nutrition and…

POULTRY

Advice on using water vaccination for broilers and layers

Vaccination remains one of the tried and tested ways to reduce the risk of production losses in flocks from rising disease challenges. Pathogens can have a devastating impact on farms,…

POULTRY

4 tips for effective cleaning between free-range flocks

A subdued supply of free-range eggs on the market is putting poultry producers under pressure to manage tighter turnarounds between flocks. At the same time, they are having to contend…

LAYERS

What to consider before extending layer life beyond 72 weeks

Genetic advances and meticulous health and welfare management mean it is now more viable for egg producers to extend layer life – and the rewards can be considerable. So how…

Insights

LAYERS

What new RSPCA Assured layer standards mean for farmers

Providing a minimum of 3% natural daylight in housing could cost free-range and barn-egg producers at least £1 a bird. Other requirements within the new RSPCA Assured welfare standards require…

POULTRY

Why avian flu vaccine rollout would cost £1.5k/shed a month

Vaccinating UK poultry flocks for avian influenza has been described as “cost prohibitive” because an EU surveillance requirement for swabbing and testing would set producers back £1,000-£1,500/month for every shed…

LAYERS

Advice on managing welfare issues in multi-tier layer systems

Multi-tier laying hen systems are growing in popularity, allowing more birds to be kept in a given shed footprint. However, it is important to understand the additional welfare considerations of…

LAYERS

What poultry sector is doing to address male chick culling

Every year 6.5 billion male chicks are culled worldwide. Hatched into the egg production sector, they have no value because the unsuitability of layer breeds for meat production makes them…

BROILERS

Q&A: Guidance on avian flu with England's chief vet

As winter approaches migratory birds fly in, bringing the risk of avian flu in the UK. We ask the UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, about the disease and how…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Why a tailored approach is key to good feather cover in layers

A major study has concluded there is no one-size-fits-all solution to feather pecking in flocks, and farmers should test a range of measures to assess which help control the problem. …

POULTRY

How the new poultry standards proposals will affect farmers

Earlier this year, two consultations on farm assurance standards for the UK poultry sector came to a close. Red Tractor and Defra propose changes that will help keep standards up…

POULTRY

How latest red mite treatments perform in poultry flocks

Red mite is a pervasive pest present on almost all commercial poultry farms with varying degrees of severity. Mites can drink up to 5% of a bird's blood every night, and…

POULTRY

What UK farmers can learn from German turkey beak trim ban

The laying hen sector in the UK is working hard to determine exactly how farmers might manage without beak treatments. But in Germany a ban has been extended to turkeys…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Why vitamin D supplements are vital for good poultry health

An adequate supply of vitamins and minerals is necessary in poultry for boosting defences and allowing the bird to reach its full genetic potential, writes Ruth Fennell, poultry graduate trainee with…

LAYERS

Beak trimming is still a big issue for UK egg farmers

For years, the spectre of managing commercial layer units without the ability to beak trim hung over the poultry sector. Encouraged by animal rights organisations, the prospect of a ban…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How stressed parents can cause layer offspring to peck

The link between a stressed parent flock and more anxious chicks has been identified for the first time, as Jake Davies discovers on a trip to Holland Our mothers all…

Online resources

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Cattle

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Sheep

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Pigs

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Poultry

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