Cobb Breeder Administration Information: Body weight management, weighing & evaluation

18 July 2024

5 minute learn

Editor’s be aware: This text is an excerpt from the Cobb Breeder Administration Information and extra articles will observe. The Information was designed to spotlight important components which can be most certainly to affect flock efficiency. The administration suggestions mentioned have been developed particularly for Cobb merchandise. The suggestions are meant as a reference and complement to your personal flock administration abilities in an effort to apply your information and judgement to acquire constantly good outcomes with the Cobb household of merchandise. To learn or obtain the whole Information or to view Cobb’s different administration guides, click on right here.

There are two beneficial methods to feed a flock in rearing and be sure that the birds are in situation at 20 weeks of age.

1. Feed in response to the Cobb body weight profile that’s particular for the breed. Bear in mind {that a} feed change takes 2 to three weeks to be detected in body weight change. Subsequently, frequent will increase and reduces in feed change may be complicated and consequence in fluctuating bodyweights which might induce stress and have an effect on flock uniformity.
2. Feed in response to a pre-determined and confirmed feeding regime with particular feed specs. The birds are fed primarily based on a program and the birds’ bodyweights are stored between 98 and 102 % of the usual. If the body weight deviates an excessive amount of from the usual the feed quantities needs to be adjusted up or down in small increments starting from 1 to three g (0.22 to 0.66 lb/100 birds). Once more, remember that feed change takes 2 to three weeks to be realized in feed restricted birds.

The 2 described feeding strategies could also be used collectively. Initially, observe the primary idea by which the feed quantity is decided by the body weight improvement in rearing. As soon as an excellent feeding profile is decided, the second idea can be utilized making it simpler on administration generally. Utilizing each strategies will give extra constant outcomes and success in assembly manufacturing targets.

The target of body weight management is to rear all of the birds to the goal weight for age with good uniformity. Body weight targets are achieved by controlling feed allowances. Feed quantities throughout rearing are primarily based on body weight acquire and upkeep, whereas in lay they’re primarily based on these two components together with egg manufacturing and egg weight. Correct feed quantities can solely be decided if the body weight is measured precisely each week.

Hand Weighing

The scales used to measure body weight should have a most capability of 5 kg (11.02 lb) and be correct to +/- 20 g (0.05 lb). Scales have to be calibrated on an everyday foundation. It’s advantageous to make use of digital scales with a printout functionality. This may scale back human error and help the weighing group. At 3 weeks and older, weigh 3 % of the females and 10 % of the males or 50 birds at least consultant pattern. To extend accuracy of the sampling, use a catching pen, don’t randomly decide up and weigh birds. Place catching frames at set places throughout the barn – entrance, center and again. Weekly pattern weights have to be consultant of the entire home. Don’t place a catch body close to the principle hopper space as a result of birds on this space are likely to weigh above common from consuming feed from the hopper. 

Forcing birds into the pen or selectively catching birds and inserting them in a pen can lead to a non-representative flock pattern for weighing. As an alternative, the catch body needs to be positioned to permit the birds to freely enter the pen for a extra consultant pattern of the flock. Weigh each chicken individually contained in the catch pen, together with small birds, and don’t reject any weights, apart from sexing errors. After every chicken is weighed, launch the chicken into the home. Proceed weighing till the pen is empty.

Document every weight and calculate the common weight in addition to the flock weight distribution. Plot the common body weight on the suitable chart and use this knowledge to calculate the feed quantity for the next days. It’s additionally necessary to find out if the feeding program is working and maintaining the birds near the usual body weight.

Automated Weighing

Automated scales are gaining popularity with improved weighing tools and software program. They can be utilized every day and over a selected time interval every day. Usually, measurements are taken for 1 to 2 hour(s) previous to feeding. For example: if the lights activate at 7 AM, then scales function from 7 to eight AM or 9 AM with feeding beginning at both 8:01 or 9:01 AM.

On common, 100 females will step on the dimensions per hour. The automated scales are both a suspended or mounted platform, however there is no such thing as a clear benefit for both. The dimensions vary is usually set between +/- 25 to 30 % of the inhabitants imply body weight.

Within the graph above, the every day, automated weighing knowledge (blue dots) constantly observe the weekly body weight customary. At 16 and 17 weeks of age, hand weighing (inexperienced dots) was carried out close to the principle feed hopper and the body weight elevated in contrast with the mounted place of the auto scale. The variations in body weight have been corrected when the hand weighing was carried out close to the auto scale. It is a clear instance how location adjustments in hand weighing may cause misguided common bodyweights that end in adjustments within the feeding program, doubtlessly affecting conditioning of the females. That is notably necessary for flocks between 16 and 20 weeks of age when a set improvement schedule is required to get the females in the proper situation at 20 weeks of age.

Benefits of automated scales:

• Day by day weights obtainable and graphically represented. Most fashionable home controllers have software program for assortment and evaluation of body weight knowledge.
• Many suppliers supply stand-alone pc methods which might acquire knowledge from as much as 8 scales situated amongst a number of homes.
• Superb for homes with out pens.
• Fast response to any deviations from the usual – indication of doable feeding tools or distribution issues.
• Knowledge is extra constant in contrast with hand weighing.
• Much less labor – a bonus when it comes to biosecurity and labor value.
• If utilizing pens, calculate weighted common uniformity.

Disadvantages of automated scales:

• Not appropriate for weighing males.
• Scale placement in manufacturing is necessary to forestall weighing a mixture of female and male breeders. Scale placement on the slats will give a higher illustration of feminine weights.
• Much less chicken dealing with with automated scale methods can improve nervousness in a flock.
• Auto scales can be utilized till 30 to 35 weeks of age with good accuracy.
• After peak manufacturing heavier females are likely to keep away from scales.
• Would require personnel acquainted with knowledge assortment, analyzing and computing expertise.

To learn or obtain the whole Cobb Breeder Administration Information or to view Cobb’s different administration guides, click on right here.