Ingles

Selecting for better nest acceptance
//11 Oct 2011
From January 2012, the EU-wide cage ban for layers will come into practice. This demands a different management approach, specifically for aviary systems, as the behaviour of layers plays a part. Specific selection, such as for nest acceptance, oviposition time and duration of stay in the nest, are important traits for avoiding floor eggs.By Dr. Wiebke Icken, Lohmann Tierzucht, Cuxhaven, Germany

In order to meet consumer preferences, breeding goals are constantly being readjusted. A number of different aspects concerning laying performance, egg quality, feed efficiency as well as the health and behaviour of laying hens are considered.

For continuous improvement, more than twenty characteristics are included in the selectionindex, which is the basis of every breeding programme. In the overall selection index, each characteristic is weighted in relation to market requirements and exactly defined to meet those needs. In recent years, egg producer’s demand for good nesting behaviour, especially nest acceptance, has grown, but until now it has been difficult to record the necessary individual bird information.

 Group housing system
First of all, the selection traits have to be specifically captured for all selection candidates and preferably in a housing system which is similar to the production system. Such accurate data recording in group housing systems is a challenge to the breeding company and their testing methods. In the past, production information for individual birds was only possible in singlebird cages.

Behaviour patterns of Lohmann Brown (LB) and Lohmann LSL were captured mainly in conventional group cages on a family basis. Therefore, four to six full sibs are housed in one cage and the family information is included in the selection. In this way, behavioural characteristics relating to feather cover have been improved by breeding. These cage-based testing methods, however, do notallow data collection of nesting behaviour traits and thus, a completely new testing system was developed by Lohmann Tierzucht and the Bavarian State Research Centre, Freising, Weihenstephan.









Management aspects

|[pic] |
|Birds have transponders on their legs in order to allow |
|individual selection.|


The so-called “Weihenstephan funnel nest box” (FNB), enables hen specific data recording in a non-cage environment, which is additionally used in the breeding programme of Lohmann layers. Since 2005, Lohmann pedigree hens have been tested in these special nests for their laying performance, egg quality traits, nesting behaviour and nest acceptance. Therefore, in thattime, the number of saleable nest eggs has increased and simultaneously, floor eggs have decreased.

Management and training at the beginning and during the rearing period can influence the most important nesting behaviour trait, nest acceptance. After transfer to the production house, the adjustment of the lighting programme in relation to performance and frequent collection of non-nest eggs,are the most important management aspects which have to be considered for a successful production period.

Individual egg registration
As a basis for genetic improvement, Lohmann geneticists use the variation in nesting behaviour between selection candidates. Differences between layers of one flock are automatically determined with the aid of the FNB. Each hen is tagged with a transponder on herleg and the funnel nest floor is equipped with an antenna. This antenna transponder mechanism, technology well known in dairying, guarantees the clear identification of each hen in the nest.

Trap devices at the entrance of the FNB ensure that the single nest box is only occupied by one hen at any one time. The funnel nest floor locks the nest while a hen is inside and helps to orientate the...