Technical / ISABROWN performance specifications

....ISABROWN PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS


PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS		RESULTS AT 76 WEEKS
Age at peak production Peak production rate Liveability in rearing at 18 weeks.	26 weeks 94 - 96% 98%	Number of eggs per hen housed Total egg mass per hen housed Feed efficiency (kg/kg) 18 - 76 weeks Liveability - 18 - 76 weeks	339 21.4 2.06 - 2.16 93.7%

EGG SIZE		BODYWEIGHT
Age at 60 grams Average to 76 weeks	26 weeks 62.8g	IAt 18 weeks Depletion	1.54 - 1.60 1.90 - 2.05

ISABROWN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

ADJUSTING EGG WEIGHT TO MEET MARKET REQUIREMENTS

Egg producers want to produce eggs of a size, which
matches market demands, and in the end satisfies the
needs of their customers and optimises their margins.

ISA Brown's adaptability to varying conditions of
production allows it , through different management
techniques, to meet the producer's needs for either
large or small eggs. This adaptability has largely
contributed to the ISA Brown's commercial success.

The principal factors that influence egg weight:
1 - Bodyweight of the pullet at sexual maturity
The age at start of lay has a direct effect on the adult
weight and, therefore, on the egg size throughout the
whole laying period. Earlier maturing flocks will
produce a greater number of eggs, but these eggs will
be smaller than those from delayed flocks because the
pullets are lighter.
Rather than giving light stimulation according to age,
we advise not starting to increase daylight until the
pullets have reached the bodyweight planned
(see table 1 opposite)

2 - Nutrition
a) Linoleic acid
Egg size can be influenced by the use of vegetable oil
in the layer ration. We advise a daily intake of 1.6g of
linoleic acid at point of lay and 1.4g after 28 weeks.
b) Amino acids
The increases in the bird's bodyweight at start of lay,
and therefore of its egg weight, depends on it being
able to satisfy its requirements for amino acids. For that
to be achieved, the required amino acid concentration
of the diet will depend on the average feed consumption
for the period 18 - 28 weeks. During this period feed
consumption is at least 7g lower than the period 28 -72
weeks and therefore amino acid concentrations in the
diet need to be higher to ensure adequate intake.
c) Energy level
Neither egg weight nor growth appears to be affected
by the energy level of the feed. However, a high ME
level in the diet will lead to lower consumption and
hence reduced bodyweight and egg size. We advise a
constant level of 11.5MJ/ME throughout the laying period.

A specially formulated early lay diet will enable
the correct bodyweight increase to be achieved
from start of lay until peak production and,
therefore, the correct egg weight may be
achieved.

For more information on How to achieve the desired egg weight contactTom Barron ISA on 01733 223333
or 01722 690111.

Table 1. Bodyweight target according to egg weight desired

Bodyweight
at
stimulation

Target egg weight
(Expressed as difference from standard)

-1g/std

Standard

+ 1g/std

+ 2g/std

1100g

+ 2 hours

1175g

1250g

+ 2 hours

1325g

1400g

+ 2 hours

1475g

+ 1 hour

1550g

+ 2 hours

+ 1 hour

* Then 30 minutes per week until 16 hours

REARING ISABROWN

The two most important criteria of pullet quality are
uniformity within the flock and proper bodyweight at a
specific age. Almost anything that adversely affects
a pullet will usually be reflected in lower bodyweights
and poorer flock uniformity.
The goal for flock uniformity is to have 80% of the
pullets within plus or minus 10 % of the average flock
bodyweight. Principal factors in achieving target
bodyweight and evenness:

1 - Nutrition
Each tissue and organ in the bird developes at different rates. Variation exists throughout the growing period
with respect to nutritional demands for these various
tissues and organs.
For example, growth during the first six weeks of a
pullet's life is not in fat, but in high protein organs such
as heart, liver and kidney. Critical periods exist during
the growing period and simply feeding to bodyweight
while ignoring these critical periods of development
may have a detrimental effect on performance in the
laying house. It is essential to have the correct amount
and balance of amino acids, other nutrients and energy
in the diet at different stages of the growing period.

Table 2. Nutritent levels required for growing stage

Super
chick

Chick
grower

Pullet
grower

Pre-lay

0 - 4
weeks

5 - 10
weeks

11 - 15/16
weeks

2 weeks
prior to
2% lay

Energy

MJME

12.1

11.7

11.5

Protein

20.5

18.5

15.5

16.5

Lysine

1.17

0.98

0.74

0.82

Methionine

0.5

0.45

0.36

0.38

Oil

3.5

3.2

2.7

3.2

2 - Lighting Long day lengths throughout the rearing period allow the birds to increase their feed intake and therefore their growth. For this reason we advise using a slow step down lighting pattern during the first few weeks, and after six weeks of age remaining on a minimum of ten hours light per day. 3- Feeding Techniques Birds will always start by eating the larger particles and leave the finer ones. The accumulation of fine particles in the feeding system leads to under consumption. Therefore feeders need to be emptied every day. 60% of the feed should be distributed three hours before lights off and 40% given in the morning time. There should be a period during the middle of the day when the feeders are allowed to empty which allows birds to eat all the finer particles. It is recommended that this feeding routines should be started between four and eight weeks of age to climatise the birds. For more information on Rearing ISABrown contact Tom Barron ISA on 01733 223333 or 01722 690111	Table 3. Lighting pattern, showing bodyweight for age, for use with ISABROWN in rear
	Age		Bodyweight	Hours light
	Days	Weeks	Bodyweight	Hours light
	Day old			22
	2			22
	3			22
	4			20
	5			20
	6			20
	7	1		18
	8			18
	9			18
	10			18
	11			18
	12			18
	13			18
	14	2		16
	21	3		14
	28	4	293	13
	35	5	390	12
	42	6	485	10
	49	7	580	10
		8	670	10
		9	760	10
		10	850	10
		11	940	10
		12	1030	10
		*	*	*
	* Increase light whenever the bird reaches the correct bodyweight for egg size required (see 'Adjusting egg weight to meet requirements

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE