" How do we optimize egg production? We all know that a lot of t hings have to fall into place... programs such as housing and nutrition, but the biggest factor is understanding the r eproductive system in both male and female breeders , ” remarked Chad Mason , breeder - hatchery m anager with Columbia Farms, a division of House of Raeford , at USPOULTRY’s 201 4 Hatchery - Breeder Clinic held in Nashville, Tenn .
As part of his presentation on Breeder Production and Fertility , Mason emphasized the importance of optimizing the feed diets of chicks from the start and monitoring and changing programs when necessary to ensure maximum fertility . He advised that building a healthy male and female reproductive system by avoiding overfeeding and over fleshing ensures maximum fertility and peak production. Mason commented , “ Successful breeder management is all in the details, details, details .”
Scott Martin , hatchery s pecialist with Cobb - Vantre s s , gave a presentation on Chick Holding and Post Hatch . He stressed that e stablishing environmental controls for safely transport ing chicks to farms should be every hatchery manager ’ s concern. During transport, he stressed, “It is imperative to avoid condit ions that may cause chick mortality for the firs t few days , such as dehydration and lethargic, overheated birds . ”
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