Pir Mehr Ali Shah

Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi

Office of the controller of Examinations
Mid Exam / Spring 2021 (Paper Duration 12 hours)
To be filled by Teacher

Course No.: PS-102 Course Title: Introduction to Poultry Production

Total Marks: 6 Date of Exam: 27-04-2021
Degree: DVM Semester: 2nd Section: A & B (Morning)
Marks
Q. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Obtained/
Total Marks
Marks
Obtained
Total Marks in Words: Six Only
Name of the teacher: Dr. Zaib-ur-Rehman
Who taught the course: Signature of teacher / Examiner:

To be filled by Student

Registration No.: 20-ARID-3222 Name: Bisma Aslam

Answer the following questions.

Q.No.1.How free range system affect the viral and parasitic diseases of poultry, and how farmers
can prevent these diseases? (Marks
02)
Answer:
Free-range system
In free-range housing system, barns and aviaries for housing with birds to a range through pop-
holes, directly or indirectly through verandah. Availability of water is generally outdoor. Pop-holes
can be shut in the evening except one that is left open to exclude foxes. A large number of farms
have wire mesh grates and removeable material (small rocks, gravel, woodchips) along length of
the shed to minimize amount of dirt coming back to the shed and prevent the area around the shed
to become muddy. Both fixed and mobile shedding is used in free-range system.

Free-range egg layers must have adequate body weight at start of laying, good hen-housed egg
production, should reproduce and survive under harsh condition. Modern strains and local breeds
are raised successfully in free range production whereas local breeds have low egg production and
slow growth rate.

Effect of free-range system on viral and parasitic disease

The rate of mortality in free-range chicken is higher especially during the first 6 to 8 week of life as
compared to the intensively housed birds. The major reason for the higher mortality rate in free-
range system is disease.

 Parasitic disease
Free-range chicken and their eggs are more likely to be infected by pathogens as compared to the
caged birds and their eggs. The birds found in free-range system are susceptible to the same
metabolic diseases that effects intensively kept birds. But the environment provided to the birds by
free-range system can influence the severity of disease and make the birds more susceptible to the
syndromes that are rarely found in caged birds.

The survey of Pennycott and Steel (2001) in Wales and England for endoparasites showed that about
43% of flock of free-range system were found positive at 20 weeks of their age, 62% of the birds
were found positive at 33 weeks of age, 79% at the age of 46 week, and 81% are at 59 weeks of their
age. The survey showed that 13 flocks were not wormed at all during lay, a similar pattern is
demonstrated by these results. 38%, 46%, 77%and 92% of flock were found positive for worm egg at
20, 30, 46 and 59 weeks of their age. The study of Gastrointestinal helminths in Danish poultry
production system confirmed the high risk of infection of helminths infection in free-range system.
Different age and sex of free-range system birds shows a difference in the spread of ectoparasites,
endoparasites, and haemoparasites in different species. Studies in Zimbabwe showed that all the
chickens bear ectoparasites and endoparasites, whereas 32% were infected with haemoparasites.
In free-range system the spread of Cnemidocoptes mutans, Goniocotes gallinae, and Menopon
gallinae is higher in adult birds as compared to the young ones. While the prevalence rate of
Ascardia galli and Raillietina ecinobothrida is higher in the young ones then adults, but the
prevalence of Gongylonema ingluvicola and Skrjabinia cesticillus has a lower rate.

 Viral disease
Viral infection in free-range poultry include infectious bronchitis, infectious bursal disease,
infectious laryngotracheitis and Marek’s disease.

Farmer’s prevention of disease in free-range system

Diseases in free-range chicken can be transmitted by old flocks, wild birds, drinking water in the
paddock and predator. This transmission is hard to control. To offer maximum protection to free-
range birds, a farmer should use all the relevant and available vaccines.
These vaccines include infectious Bronchitis, Newcastle Disease, Egg Drop Syndrome, infectious
Larngotracheitis, Cholera, Coryza, Marek’s Disease, and fowl pox.

There must be:

 Frequent rotation of free-range birds before the build-up of parasites.
 New birds must be kept separate from the old one.
 Rearing chicks in confinement for the 8th week of age.

The thing which influences the population dynamics of parasites in gastrointestinal tract is
malnutrition of the host. Bundy and Golden suggested three major mechanism where the
nutritional status of host might influence the helminths parasites, including:
 Malnutrition of the helminths
 Changes in the gut environment caused by disease
 A change in host immune system mediated by nutrition.

Extent of parasitism increased as a result of immunosuppressive effect caused by the malnutrition in

the host. Amount of protein in diet might influence an effect on the establishment of A.galli
infection in gut of lying hen. Raising protein contents without changing other parameters in the diet
increases the mean worm burden. Whereas, a moderate decrease in diet significantly lower number
of adult worm in gut, but did not affect egg production.
The application of antibiotics control disease effectively for free-range chicken but their wide spread
use leads to the emergence of resistant bacterial population in poultry.
For free -range system, important strategy is the selection of breeds that are resistant to the
disease.

For example:
In Danish Landrance chickens and Lohman Brown a self-cure mechanism to A. galli is observed.
Birds for free-range production should have better feed conversion, storage plumage and not
susceptible to stress.

No.2. What are the preferences of poultry farming over livestock and agriculture?
(Marks 02)
Answer:

The poultry farming is favored our livestock and agriculture because it is less time-consuming with
high production rate and enriched supply of food for human’s necessity. The outcomes of the
poultry farming are used for the human consumption like, the eggs and meat are used for human
feasting. Poultry farming is the least time-consuming production and can be successful source of
income for the poor and surviving families.

Reasons for the preference

 Physiological factors:
Birds have much simpler physiology. They mature fast, require less feed.
They have a simple digestive system. They don’t require specific feeds that livestock requires
and can digest them quite efficiently. Cross-breeding is quite profitable and proves to be a
major factor in flourishing the farming.
 Birds have shorter maturity period. The maturity period of chicken is in between 16 and 24
weeks of ae depending upon breed.
 The fertility rate of poultry birds is higher as compared to the livestock. Hens lay infertile eggs
roughly every 24 hours.
 Less space requirement:
Poultry requires much less space as compared to other farming
techniques. On a very minimal level, a person can start chicken farming in his backyard as
poultry doesn’t need a wide area. It can accommodate in less space very well. Moreover,
livestock farming and plant-crop cultivation requires much space thus it becomes expensive and
difficult to start.
 Birds have simple organ systems which are easy to understand.
 Less amount of feed is required for the poultry birds to live instead of tons of the feed and can
be easily organized mostly are the leftovers of crop or agricultural wastes.
 Global consume of poultry food:
Poultry provides fresh and nutritious food and has a huge global
demand. Global consumers of poultry products prefer them due to their nutrients and
freshness. Poultry products are not much expensive and most of the people can afford those
easily.
 The development of the embryo take place outside of the body instead being inside the
mother.
 Low - maintenance farming:
Poultry farm structures do not require high maintenance. You can
minimize diseases and illness in poultry by following proper hygiene and care. Diseases are less
in some poultry birds like quails,turkeys etc.
 Life span is short which can be extended in layers and breeders.
 Easy marketing:
 Poultry, especially chicken is a common food source in most countries, so it is sold
easily and marketing is not required. Although marketing increases the cost value and other
selling factors, yet poultry can thrive well without it. Poultry is in high demand all over the
world, so it is a good source of employment for the common folks.
 Bulky return of investment:
Chickens have high fertility rate. They start laying eggs in about 12
months as 12 months is the peak of egg-laying period, so farmers find easiness in farming them
as it is a profitable return of their investment in a short time span. Thus, minimal capital chicken
farming can provide bulky profit to the owners.
 Low-capital farming:
Precisely talking about Pakistan, where the average population is below
poverty line and there is financial unstabililty, this farming can be easily started by poor farmers
on a small scale. Poultry is not expensive to raise, which helps a person to keep his costs down
and profits up. One of the hardest things about starting farming is the capital it requires. If a
person is just starting (a small start-up) and is having trouble finding financing for his farm, it
becomes impossible to get things started smoothly. Poultry farming eradicates this financial
problem. Farmers need about 100-120 chickens to get started on their poultry farm with a small
amount of other capital.
 Smaller size of the birds:
Poultry animals such as chickens, geese etc are smaller in size and are
easy to breed and manage. This is more beneficial for small farmers who have smaller land and
less facillities to accommodate and smoothly run a farm.
 The incubation period of chicken is shorter of about 21 days where as animals have large
gestation period.
 In poultry dressing percentage is more (60%) as compared to the large animals (50-55%).

In spite of all these, poultry farming also have following advantages. Poultry farming can be easily
managed by ladies and children. One can choose poultry farming as a part time or full-time
occupation. Poultry farming provides egg and meat which are highly nutritive supplementing foods
and have high quality proteins. Poultry manure is extremely rich source of nitrogen and organic
matter which can be use as fertilizers. Poultry farming has attained the status “Cottage industry” in
rural areas, since less investment is required to start its enterprises. Birds are also used as
experimental units in medical and animal research.

By considering these points, poultry farming is the best source of farming for families and for
commercial purposes nowadays. Poor families can adopt this for living purposes as well as part-time
occupation. Poultry farming yields enriched supply of food and profitable yield.

Q.No.3. Write a comprehensive note on the alternative housing systems for Poultry.
(Marks 02)
Answer:

Alternative housing system for poultry

Animal protection has been a basic issue for many years. By late 1960s, poultry production has
developed from a small-scale rural enterprise to an economically important branch of agriculture.
This development reflects both economic and technical progress. Production system for hygienic and
economic reasons as well as housing of laying hens in conventional cages took place. Directive
199\74\EC of European Council (CEC, 1999) defined three categories of production system for laying
hens. These are “unenriched cages” “enriched cages’’ and “Alternative systems’’.
Alternative system is defined as:
“Any system that is not a barren cage for a laying egg or equally barren deep litter house for meat
birds.”
Alternative production system for laying hen
EC directive (1999) ban conventional cages and cause a European Union wise change in the way of
housing of lying hens. This provision makes the task of keeping laying hen difficult as a large number
of new housing systems are emerging in the markets. It is not possible to give advice on the most
sustainable housing system for future as it depends on the country, the stockman and his marketing
of eggs, and the farms.

History of development of alternative housing system for laying hen

In the beginning of 20th century, housing, care and nutrition of poultry in the world were not often.
The change started in the early decades of 20th century when as a result of increased urbanization
egg production became an economically viable enterprise. To cope with these changes, production
of egg and poultry meat on large scale is necessary. At that time “alternative system” and the
“conventional cage system” was the most successful.

 In 1998, it was reported that J.Hulpin, professor of university of Wisconsin, built the first cage to
house laying hens in 1911. He identified the trials at Ohio Agricultural Experiment station in
about 1924 (a first experiment study with cages arranged in batteries).
 Use of conventional cages under commercial conditions started in California in 1930 (cages
were considered as an alternative to overcome the problems of large-scale poultry farming).
Trouble faced at that time were mainly Coccidiosis, Marek’s disease and Cannibalism.
 Ebbell introduced first large fully metal conventional system on Ovatline Farm in Niederwangen
in 1935.
 the “ideology of efficiency” (development towards intensive indoor conventional cages) started
in the beginning of 20th century and ended in Switzerland some 56 years later, also phased out
in EU by 2012 and even in California by 2015.
 In 2008 law of “Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act” was brought out.
 Scientists, and other member of Animal welfare organization proposed set of five basic
freedoms for farm animals. Also, in 1973 need of animal welfare consideration became an
important issue.
 The complete ban of cages from January 2012, in Switzerland and Austria suggest furnished
cages as an “alternative” to conventional cages.

Types of husbandry system for laying eggs

Regarding cage system, furnished cages (enriched cages, modified cages) and for non-cage systems
single level system (deep litter, barn) and multilevel systems (aviaries, multi-tier system) are
considered. Whereas, is history floor system (Pennsylvania systems) are considered.

Furnished cages:
These have important characteristics of conventional cages such as wire mesh floor to separate
birds from their manure reducing risk of disease. Size of group in single cage should be small to avoid
aggressive behavior. It provides easy management. Furnished cages overcome some inherent
disadvantages of conventional cages. Elson (1978) propose “gate away cages” an alternative of
conventional cages providing more freedom to the hens to move. A cage of 60 hens having a flat
floor, one or two raised perches also providing a dust bath facility.
The EU stipulates a minimum space of about 750 cm2 area per hen of which 600 cm2 shall have 45
cm free height above area. LAYWEL defined three categories including large (115 hens), medium
(15-30), and small one (15 hens). The floor space per hen must be at least 800 cm2 including 90cm2
litter area per hen. A nest area per hen should be 90 cm2 which results in the total area of 890 cm2 .
The production of egg laid in nest boxes varied from 88% and 99% with an average of about 92% to
95%. Perch use during night time varied in 65% and 80-87% in larger and smaller cages respectively.
During day time they varied between 15% and 40%.

Disadvantage:
A particular problem is litter and scratching area. Area is small and covered by plastic mat which
disappear by the scratching activity of hen. For the proper use of this area, frequent administration
of additional material is needed. The area is too small to allow all motivated hen to dust bath at the
same time. However, Mortality and feather damage in medium and large furnished cages were low.

Non-cage systems:

 Single layer system:

Often combined with the covered outside runs (winter garden) and pasture. These are used for large
scale poultry housing. The stocking density varies from 6-9 birds m-2 ground floor and unstable
area. These systems are equipped with raised perches “aerial perches”. Cost of building this system
is low therefore is an economically viable investment. This system is therefore restricted to organic
production and housing bird in free range production.

 Fully slated layer system:

These are built as an alternative to deep litter pens in early 1970. They provide high stocking
density of about 16 m-2 and good hygiene with improved freedom of movement. Later on, its
stocking density is reduced but still this system failed to pass obligatory authorization and testing
procedure of Switzerland and are banned but sometime used in European countries with a covered
run.

 Multi-tier or Aviary systems:

These systems attempted to improve single-layer system by providing elevated perches and
additional floor on different levels. EU directive stipulated maximum stocking density to 9 birds per
meter square. Four different functional areas including, an area for resting, lower tiers with wire or
plastic mesh flooring and feed facilities serving as feed areas, the floor (lower level of barn) covered
with litter material and the fourth area equipped with nests.
There are three designs for multi-tier system. The early system has nest boxes outside the system
either at the wall of barn or in middle between two rows. In newer designs, nests are integrated into
rows between elevated floor, or at equal distance to the raised floor, and the entire floor is littered.
These systems are called row systems. The third type is the so-called “portal” system. The caretaker
walk walks below and in the system during flock inspection.
Although potential for good welfare of lying hens is greatest in multi-tier systems especially when
equipped with indoor runs. Whereas, an important issue of this system is qualification of stockman
and management personnel.

Alternative system for meat poultry

A large number of poultry species are farmed for meat production. These are kept in barren barn
systems with litter or mesh floors. These species are also kept in alternative system. In contrast with
alternatives in laying hen system, alternative system for meat encompasses changes to housing,
husbandry procedures and use of different breeds. Some important aspects in alternative system in
meat poultry include reduced stocking density, lighting schedules, use of low input feeds and
improved air and litter quality. Litter, food and water are always available but the accessibility to
third dimension is missing. In few first days, broiler explore environmental components involving
perches, ramps and elevated floor. A covered outside run adds space, scratching area, fresh air and
daylight, and if furnished, these components encourage the activity of broiler.
Example of alternative meat chicken systems are numerous and most depend on specific
requirement of local or organic labelling system such as Label Rouge, Poulet de Bresse, Freedom
Food and Freiland.

Conclusion:
Alternative system for laying hens, pullets and meat chicken should provide an environment where
the bird can find resource they are motivated to seek. Poultry houses must have the facilities that
minimizes the conflict between the hens and optimizes management. Multi-tier system and aviaries
have potentials to meet these requirements but still this system need constant endeavors to
improve them.

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