tailieunhanh - Small-scale chicken production - Part 6

11 Farm records As your business grows larger, you are strongly advised to improve your business administration so that you record the most important production figures. You can use these data to identify the weakest points in your business, so that you can tackle those problems better. To be able to do this well, you need to have some idea of the most important data of an egg-laying business. | 11 Farm records As your business grows larger you are strongly advised to improve your business administration so that you record the most important production figures. You can use these data to identify the weakest points in your business so that you can tackle those problems better. To be able to do this well you need to have some idea of the most important data of an egg-laying business. A reliable administration must be kept up to date daily. This takes time and money but it is the only way to make your business run efficiently. Important data The most important data are laying percentage and length of laying period egg weight feed consumption chicken losses. Laying percentage and length of laying period In countries where the poultry industry is well-developed the hens start laying when they are about 20 weeks. The production of the whole chicken stock then rises quickly to a peak after another eight weeks. At that point most of the chickens lay an egg almost every day. There are almost as many eggs to be gathered every day as there are chickens. This ratio of the number of chickens to the number of eggs gathered on one day is called the laying percentage . When the peak in production is reached . when the chickens are 28 weeks the laying percentage can be as high as 90 . Productive poultry stock is characterised by a quick rise of production to a peak. The peak production is high and maintained for some time. It then only slowly decreases. This results in a high average laying percentage over the whole laying period. Farm records 69 Depending on the production level the price of eggs and of nonproductive chickens at the end of the laying period the laying period for a well-run poultry business lasts 12-14 months. After this the chickens are sold or slaughtered. This can be shown on what is known as a production curve. Instead of getting rid of the chickens at the end of the laying period they can be given a rest period when they are allowed to moult.