Key Points in Rearing & Production

for Optimum Breeder Performance

Cody Polley – Director World Technical Support
Cody Polley ~ Director World Tech Support

✓Home-Based in Arkansas, USA;

✓Joined Cobb 1998;
✓Managed Pedigree & GP Complexes in Cobb for
16 years;
✓Last 6 years extensive international travel with
WT;
✓Breeder Specialist with focus in Asia and EMEA.
Education:
✓B.S. in Poultry Science from University of AR.

2
 World Tech
Support
Cody Polley Robin Jarquin
Director – EMEA & Director – North & South
Asia-Pacific America

David Beavers Andrew Bourne Shivi Rao Nicholas Anthony

Scott Jordan
Processing Specialist Broiler & Ventilation Sr. Nutrition Specialist Content Development
Hatchery Specialist
Specialist Manager

TBA Algis Martinez Matthew Wilson

Broiler & Ventilation Vitor Hugo Brandalize Irene Hanning
Processing Specialist Veterinarian Specialist Nutrition Specialist Sr. Technical Writer
Specialist

Winifridus Bakker
Tommy Lively Richard Weatherley Justina Caldas Alice Guo
Breeder, GGP & GP
Hatchery Specialist Broiler Specialist Nutrition Specialist Sr. Data Scientist
Specialist

Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.

 2020 Material Released

Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.

 New to Male
Supplements

• Nutrient Intake with updated

Feed Specs.
• Detailed Fleshing Score
tables.
• More highlights and
management tips
• Updated BW. Slightly higher
BW in production.
Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
New materials for 2020

• Guides • Supplements
• PS Breeder • C500 FF PS with Nutrient intake
• GP Breeder • C500 SF PS with Nutrient intake
• Processing • C500 GP supplements for B & D
lines
• Hatchery
• Optimum broiler development
• Broiler
•New Technology
• Breeder App
 Updated Cobb 500 Female Supplement (Preview)
• Feed intake recommendation with RANGE.
• Rearing (Dark Out, Open Sided)

Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.

 • Production feed intake with
table for feeding into Lay.

Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.

PS Supplement Updates

1.Feed intake with ranges

2.Nutrient Intake /bird/day
3.Updated Breeder 1 and Breeder 1 Nutrition
4.Feeding to lay example

No change to Bodyweight & Performance

Numbers.
Breeder Management App
Presentation Outline

• Rearing Growth Stages & Feed Management

• Managing Hens in Production
 Growth Stages
& Feed Management
 Early Frame Development

Rearing Phases
3000 Fleshing

2500
3
Avoid Early Uniformity Issues
Body Weight (g)

2000
77% Frame Dev. 8 wks
1500
Development &
Growth
1000

Immunity
500
Start
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Age in Weeks
 Frame Development
Wk % Develop.
Shank Length (mm) in PS Females
110 4 52%
105 106 107 108
100 102 6 65%
95 97
8 77%
90 90
85 10 83%
80
83
75 12 90%
70 70
65 14 95%
60 16 98%
55 56
50 18 99%
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
20 100%

Winfridus Bakker
Poor Uniformity At 10 & 12 Wks
Frame Size Difference At 30 Wks
 A minimum uniformity is important in rearing
for good performance
• Achieve minimum uniformity @ 70% (± 10%). >80% is optimum
• The natural uniformity = ±70-72%.
• Perform grading into 3 or 4 groups.
• With 1 grading, consider 3-4 weeks as an optimum age.
• Light stimulate low & high BW pullets in separate housing if possible
• Apply basic husbandry to keep the uniformity consistent.
• Adequate feeder space with dark-out feed distribution.
• Feed distribution in 3 minutes
• Adequate bird distribution during feeding time.
• Adequate drinker space & water volume; soft crop >4 hrs.
• Adequate environmental conditions (ventilation, dry litter, low dust
levels).

Winfridus Bakker
New Technology:
Grading Machines
Grading Machine
Developed in Brazil
• Birds are weighed on a platform
inside the machine
• Predetermined weights allow the
machine to push the bird into a
desired pen
• Machines are easily cleaned for
Biosecurity
Grading Manually
Brazil Sorting Machines
verses Manual Grading
• Manual or Conventional Sorting = 5,000-6,000 birds per
day
• Requires 8-10 employees, 4 (table/conventional) scales
• Accuracy depends on labor and scale type
• Mechanical Sorting machine = 11,000-12000 birds per day
• 4-5 employees with 3 machines
• Labor reduced by ½ with machine
• Cost of the machine: U$10,000/machine plus
taxes/transportation
• Note: All the machines (and the idea) are patented
 German Grading
Machine
• Females are weighed on a belt.
• Pushers move them to correct pen
SYMPLESELECT
• 25,000 females sorted in 10 hrs with 5 people with 2
machines
• 11,000 males with 2 persons in 5 hrs.
• 1st field trial achieved 4 additional HE/HH verses
manually graded house at 60 wks of age.
• Easily operated, cleaned and moved.
• See website for further details.
• https://www.sympleselect.com/?lang=es
Feeding for Uniformity
 FLAWS & Uniformity

• “S” Security – Poor Biosecurity can result in the need for

many vaccinations and possible sick birds.
• “W” Water – Should be a constant under normal
circumstances.
• “A” Air – Should be a constant under normal circumstances.
• “L” Light – Should be a constant under normal
circumstances.
• “F”- Feed is never a constant. Feed is controlled by us. Feed
has the most influence on BW control and Uniformity.
Female Feed Space after 12wks
• Chain Feeder: 15cm/bird
• (20cm/male)
• Round Pan: 12 birds/pan
• 10 males/pan
• Oval Pan: 14 birds/pan
• 12 males/pan
Progressive Feeding
• 0-4 wks = 5 cm
• 5-8 wks = 9 cm
• 9-12 wks = 13 cm
• >12 wks = 15 cm
 Maintenance &
Controlled Growth Phase
Rearing Phases
3000 Fleshing

2500
2
Body Weight (g)

2000
Maintenance ± 2% Ok
1500 (90% frame developed by 12wks)
Puberty Starts
1000
Controlled Growth 12-16wks
Immunity
500

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Age in Weeks
Pen Birds for Fleshing and Fat Check
(12, 16, & 20-22 wks)
Moment of Light
Stimulation (MOL):
• 95% fleshing of 3-4
• 85% with Pelvic Fat
while on BW STD
Fleshing condition in females
Rearing

1 2 3 4 5

OBJECTIVES for Fleshing & Pelvic Fat @ 147 days

Fleshing (1-5)
Week Pelvic fat
2 3 4
12 70% 30% - -
16 40% 60% 0% 0%
19 <10% 60% 30% >65%
20 <5% 60% 35% >80%
21 60% 40% >85%
❑Females will not start fat deposition until #3 fleshing is achieved.
82% Uniformity At 16 Wks

Flocks with good BW

and Fleshing
Uniformity at 16 wks
will respond more
evenly to the
acceleration of feed at
this age.
 Point of no return:
BW Turn Up Phase 14-15 wks
Rearing Phases
3000
Fleshing

2500
3
Acceleration of
Bodyweight
Body Weight (g)

2000

Turnup 16-20wks
1500 (36%)

Ovary & Teste

1000
development Starts

500 Fat deposits start. 85%

females with pelvic fat.
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Age in Weeks
 Off Target At 15 Wks

ON STD Below STD Above STD

3250

3000

2750

2500
Body Weight (g)

2250

2000

1750
Lower BW or uniformity <70% requires
1500
> 36% BW turn up during wks 16-20
1250

1000
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Age in Weeks
 Avoid Under Fleshed Birds After 16 Wks

Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.

#3 #2

Breasts at 16 wks of age

 At 21 weeks, #2 fleshed
birds with no fat reserve
will have delayed maturity
at light stimulation.

Breast Score #3 Breast Score #2

Breast At 21 Wks (#4)
Why do we need #4
fleshed birds?

We need to convert some #3 birds into

#4 to eliminate #2 fleshed birds.
Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
Rearing Feeding Pattern
Example Feed Increase Plan for Cobb Pullets

Week Week Completion Day Feed Increase Day Feed Increase (g)

14 98 14-1 3-5
15 105 15-1 8-9
16 112 16-1 7-9
17 119 17-1 7-8
18 126 18-1 5-6
19 133 19-1 3-4 (total feed 30-36g)
20 140 20-1 3-4
21 147 21-1 3-4, Light if ready
22 154 22-1 3-4
23 161 23-1 3-4
24 168 24-1 According to production if 5%
25 175 25-1 According to production
 What’s More Important at • Body Weight?
Light Stimulation? • Uniformity?
• Fleshing?
• Pelvic Fat Reserve?
• Age?
1. Conditioning: Fleshing and Pelvic Fat
2. Body Weight: Use as indicator to achieve #1
• Don’t chase formation of fat with feed and cause over weight birds.
3. Uniformity: BW Uniformity is more crucial < 14 wks when turn up
feeding starts.
4. Age: Delaying light stimulation is always an option, but?
5. Nutrition: Always have correct Specs!!
 Overview
• Achieve early BW targets through 4 wks.
• Frame uniformity is crucial through 8 - 10 wks.
• Maintain average uniformity of 75-80% in rearing.
• Constantly monitor feed programs & feed distribution. Successful feed
distribution is the key to good uniformity.
• Evaluate the conditions of the Pullets at 12, 16, & 20 wks.
• Know what a bird feels like relative to BW.
• Develop the feed plan from 16 to 20 wks to achieve 36% BW increase along
with fleshing evaluations.
• Pullet and Breeder managers should communicate before, during and after
transfer. Feed programs must not be confused.
• Implement Cobb Feed Specifications.
Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
Managing Hens in Production
How to achieve high performance
from your hens?

• Make the investment in Pullets!

• Prior to Light Stimulation:
• > 70-80% uniformity
throughout rearing cycle.
• Achieve on STD BW with
Proper Condition (Fleshing
& Fat).
• Don’t let husbandry
issues at transfer cause
damage to flocks.
 Where are the females?

Standing guard
Synchronize Males
Manage male ratios
and Females at MOL
properly
Key points to peak production
• Body weight Control: Many cases hens are overfed before start of lay and
through peak; consider 3 - 4g increases to start of lay
• Production Feed should not be used to “push” for egg production!
• Overweight hens will not produce better peaks or better persistency
• Related problems: easily stressed, higher feed maintenance, oversized eggs and typically higher
mortality
• Overweight hens lay eggs with larger mass; larger eggs means smaller
clutches
• Sex separate feeding MUST be in placed to ensure both males and females
are getting the right feed amount
• Give peak feed based on production performance
A good number of follicles
coming into peak production
3
2
1
4

5
6
Overstimulation with feed

8 12 More than 8 follicles > 1 cm

indicates overstimulation

5 1 6 9

11 3
2
4 10
13
7
Copyright Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
Examples of feed reduction
post peak
1. High Peak Feed (>460kcal): Consider a 4-5g reduction over a 2 week period
after maintaining peak feed for 1-2wks. Continue to monitor key indicators and
decrease 1g/wk till 38-40 wks of age.
Total reduction in feed amount = 10-12%
2. Normal Peak Feed (440-450Kcal): Consider reducing 1g/week after maintaining
Peak feed for 2-3 wks. Continue to reduce 1g /wk until 38-40 wks of age.
Total reduction in feed amount = 5-10%
3. After 38-40 weeks: Farm manager should continue to monitor key indicators and
decide further reductions. Normally reductions continue with 1g every 2-3 weeks
or even longer depending on production and body weight.
4. Breeder 2: Consider holding feed reductions for 2-3 weeks after introducing
Breeder 2 feed with same ME, and lower AA and protein.
Feed consumption times
COARSE CRUMBLE MASH
Consumption time: Consumption time:
PELLET?
1.5 – 2 hrs 2.5 – 3 hrs
Feed cleanup examples
Extended cleanup after 4 hours
 % Prod. & Feed intake Cobb Slow-2018
151 Chicks @ 64 wks 1.2 million PS
160g x3 weeks
100 160
160 5% Reduction @ 40wk
160
90 154
80 150 149 12% Reduction @ 60wk
86 144 150
70 141
74
60 140
Production 500 Slow 64
50 129 Feed g 55 130
40 IP
30 116 120
111
20 116 114 114 115 110
10
0 100
21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59
Breeder 2 feed will affect withdrawal rates (lower AA & CP with more CA) Winfridus Bakker
Feeding hens conclusions

• Be aware of what is taking place in the chicken house at crucial times: Transfer, Onset of lay,
Start of production feed, Peak production, etc.
• Don’t over feed hens prior to 1st egg and over stimulate with feed.
• Don’t over feed hens to lay! Wait for the eggs and give larger increases after 35% TE.
• Peak ME intake of 440 - 460 Kcal is acceptable depending on conditions and feed type.
• Don’t delay feed reduction. Evaluate reductions immediately after peak.
• Over weight hens are less persistent, lay larger eggs, and lay fewer eggs.
• Implement the Cobb Feed Specifications.
• Following the basics is the key to success!
Thank You.
Don’t forget the Human
Touch!