1.3. Criteria for assessing productivity in poultry farming

Intensive poultry farming uses different criteria for assessing productivity.

Growth

This may be expressed in average weight at a given age (in days or weeks), e.g. 1,700g at 63 days or 9 weeks.

Example: if average weight at 50 days is 1565g the ADG is 1565/50 or 31.3g per day (ADG = average daily gain).

Laying rate

Equals the number of eggs gathered per 100 laying hens.

Example: lot of 200 laying hens. 146 eggs gathered: laying rate is: 146 x 200/100 i.e. 73%.

Mortality rate

Equals the number of individuals dying when starting with 100 individuals.

Example: lot starting with 450 individuals, 400 remaining at 21 weeks. Mortality at 21 weeks is thus: (450-400) x 100/450 i.e. 11.1%.

The feed conversion rate (FCR for short)

- During the growth period (broiler or pullet).

This may be expressed in total amount of food consumed divided by the total weight of the stock, e.g.: a lot of 2,000 pullets consumes 7,300 kg of feed to reach a total weight of 3080 kg. The FCR is thus 7300/3080 i.e. 2.37.

It may be expressed by average feed consumption divided by the average weight of the stock, e.g. taking the preceding data, one may obtain 7300/2000 i.e. 3.65 kg average consumption and 3080/2000, i.e. 1.54 average weight. The FCR is thus 3.65/1.54 i.e. 2.37.

- During the laying period (layer or breeding stock).

This is expressed in quantity of feed consumed divided per dozen eggs gathered, e.g.: a lot of 450 hens lays 320 eggs and consumes 56 kg of feed. The FCR is 56/26.6 i.e. 2.1.

Fertility and hatching rates

These two parameters only apply to the rearing of breeding stock.

The fertility rate represents the number of fertile eggs per 100 eggs gathered. It gives an indication of the fertility of the breeding stock.

The hatching rate represents the number of chicks hatching per 100 eggs incubated. It gives an indication of the performance of the hatchery.