Cobb Breeder Administration Information: Spiking males throughout manufacturing

29 August 2024

7 minute learn

Editor’s observe: This text is an excerpt from the Cobb Breeder Administration Information and extra articles will comply with. The Information was designed to focus on essential components which might be probably to affect flock efficiency. The administration suggestions mentioned have been developed particularly for Cobb merchandise. The suggestions are supposed as a reference and complement to your individual flock administration expertise to be able to apply your information and judgement to acquire constantly good outcomes with the Cobb household of merchandise. To learn or obtain the entire Information or to view Cobb’s different administration guides, click on right here.

Spiking is the addition of younger broiler breeder males into an older main flock to compensate for the decline in fertility that typically happens put up 45 weeks of age. Flock information has repeatedly proven that having a spiking program in place previous to fertility lower produces the perfect outcomes. Many occasions, historic flock information can assist information when a flock must be spiked. For optimum outcomes, the hen flock must be between 35 to 40 weeks of age and spiking will be performed with usually scheduled administration procedures. Spiking as soon as within the lifetime of the flock is generally enough. Flocks spiked twice in an 8 to 10-week interval additionally produce good outcomes however is depending on the standard of the first males. Spiking is often not economical when the females within the flock are past 55 weeks of age.

Incorrect spiking can lead to a drop in fertility and hatchability as males try to ascertain a brand new social hierarchy. Poor spiking administration procedures can lead to a complete loss of the spiked males a number of weeks after spiking. Rigorously file elimination of main males and monitor the remaining main male ratio in order that spike males can then be added at the suitable time. It’s a good follow to eradicate males each week which might be unable to mate and maintain solely the extremely productive and energetic males within the flock.

Spiking can compensate for fertility declines related to:

• Decline in mating curiosity – frequent after 35 to 40 weeks
• Discount in sperm high quality – frequent after 55 weeks
• Decrease mating effectivity because of poorly managed males in poor bodily situation. Each day determine and take away birds with mobility points. Keep good high quality main males by culling males weekly that aren’t in a position to mate. The most effective outcomes are being achieved when complete male alternatives are performed at 25, 35, 45 and 55 weeks of age.
• Extreme male mortality leading to a lowered male to feminine ratio

Necessary standards for efficient spiking outcomes

• Spike males could also be transferred to the identical facility as the first males however housed in a pen (3 birds per m2;; 3.6 ft2 per fowl) separate from the flock. Alternatively, use a delegated home for rearing spike males to be launched to 35 to 40-week previous hen flocks.
• When utilizing separate spike male rearing farms, the spiking farms will obtain a set variety of male deliveries for a selected spiking program.
• Spike with a minimal of 20 % further males to extend the male ratio again to 9 % if the first male numbers have been lowered by way of culling.
• In manufacturing homes with out slats, home 9 to 10 % males at switch. Permit the male to feminine ratio to lower to 7.5 % by 40 weeks of age earlier than spiking again to 9 %.
• Spike males again to 9 % in slatted manufacturing homes when the male ratio goes beneath 7 %.
• Spiking with an inadequate variety of males is mostly ineffective because of main male dominance leading to excessive mortality of spike males.
• Spiked males ought to all the time be good high quality and freed from bodily defects. It’s common follow to make use of a heavier body weight commonplace in males if spiking applications will probably be used. The body weight differential between spike males and first males must be as little as doable to make sure a excessive success price.
• If early spiking is practiced (30 to 32 weeks), then fewer males (7 %) can be positioned at 21 to 22 weeks. Over time, extra males will be added to enhance the male ratio to 9 to 10 %. This choice should be based mostly on housing circumstances and ranges of dominant male conduct. This methodology will enhance feminine receptivity and mixing of sexes.
• A slight feed enhance simply after spiking 2 to three g/fowl/day (0.44 to 0.66 lb/100/day) must be useful since spiking considerably will increase male mating exercise.
• Conserving males in reserve in good situation is difficult. After 23 weeks, the longer they’re with out females, males will start to deteriorate. Within the holding pens, preserve loads of drinkers, feeders and barrier enrichments.

Biosecure spiking

• Biosecurity threat is the principle cause some producers select to not spike.
• Males ought to come from a single supply flock.
• The supply flock must be examined utilizing a PCR assay for Mycoplasma and different ailments as applicable (Avian Influenza, TRT and environmental Salmonella) 5 to 7 days earlier than switch.
• Verify for parasites (worms and mites) and any indicators of illness (fowl cholera).
• Within the case of a optimistic or suspect outcome, the transfer must be delayed.
• Plan the time and pathway of the transfer to attenuate contact with different poultry.
• Use an enclosed automobile to move birds if doable.

Anticipated outcomes of spiking

• Peak fertility response must be seen roughly 2 to three weeks after spiking. Usually, spiking ought to end in a 2 to three % enhance in total hatchability.
• Spiking stimulates mating exercise considerably within the main males and lasts about 6 to eight weeks.
• Male dominance and mating interference often will increase for two weeks after the introduction of younger spike males. Male mortality can enhance barely however not dramatically if the males have the right body weight and situation when added.
• Spiking doesn’t remedy pre-existing issues akin to over weight main males, and poor mixing.
• Counting on a spiking program might end in poorly managed main males, that are basically an important.

Intra-spiking

• Intra-spiking includes the alternate of 25 to 30 % of main males between homes on the identical farm, with out importing any new younger males, to stimulate mating. As with spiking, intra-spiking has higher outcomes when performed early within the manufacturing cycle (<45 weeks). Intra-spiking between 40 and 48 weeks all the time produces the perfect outcomes. Mating exercise ought to enhance very considerably after intra-spiking and final between 6 and eight weeks.
• A bonus is that the males exchanged are already skilled in mating and often have related weight and maturity as the unique males, bettering their possibilities to compete efficiently.
• Intra-spiking will increase male dominant conduct for 2 weeks after mixing because the social order is reestablished. There are often no issues with male or feminine mortality.
• Hatchability doesn’t enhance dramatically after intra-spiking, however the persistency of hatchability is improved. With a double intra-spiking process, count on a rise between 1 and 1.5 % within the total hatchability of the flock.
• Intra-spiking is cheap, easy-to-practice and, most importantly, hardly ever presents a biosecurity threat.

The graph beneath illustrates the useful results of flock spiking on share of hatchability to 60 weeks of age. For this instance, a flock spiked at 40 weeks and a flock intra-spiked at 40 and 48 weeks of age are in comparison with a non-spiked flock. The common flock hatchability for the non-spiked flock was 84.5 % whereas the intra-spiked flock was 85.8 % and the flock spiked at 40 weeks was highest at 87.4 %.

To optimize male consolation, conduct and high quality throughout spikes, these suggestions will be thought-about when planning the switch:

• Throughout winter (chilly months): if utilizing open-sided trailers, transfer males throughout daytime with applicable boards/tarps to forestall publicity to excessive chilly climate.
• Throughout summer season (hotter months): transfer males early within the morning or late night to forestall thermal stress.
• If doable, transfer males in an enclosed trailer to attenuate thermal discomfort and to optimize the flexibility to switch the males in late night or early morning when the remainder of the flock is seemingly resting.

Take care when dealing with the spike males. Workers ought to deal with a most of two birds per hand to scale back harm potential to the birds. Ideally, males must be dealt with by each wings or each legs (relying on welfare pointers or codes of follow) and must be positioned gently on the litter within the new home. 

Earlier than the switch, think about using a food-based dye to mark the brand new males (intra-spiking or full-spiking). This follow will allow farm workers to simply determine the brand new males inside the breeder flock and to confirm that males discover water and feed, are adjusting to the home and are mixing with the hens. After 3 to five weeks, the dye will fade and males must be totally acclimated to the brand new home.

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