Tropical Layer Chicken Management Guide: a Sustainable Approach

By Hauhouot Diambra-Odi

Tropical Layer Chicken Management Guide is designed to provide the layer-grower a broader understanding of the impact of animal production on our social and economic environment as well as methods to reduce its footprint on our physical environment. In other words, the layer-grower will explore ways to be sustainable using local feed resources, renewable energy and integrating different agricultural production systems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493185542

Hauhouot Diambra-Odi

Hauhouot Diambra-Odi, a native of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), earned a doctorate in poultry science and nutrition at the University of Georgia. He is currently an adjunct professor at the College of Natural and Applied Science, University of Guam, and previously worked as a secondary school principal in promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. His major scientific publications include composting and feeds and feeding trials for poultry, swine and sheep in a variety of international journals, in French and English. Hauhouot is member of Poultry Science Association, Federation of Animal Science Society, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Association of School Principals, American Association of School Administrators and IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) consultant. Hauhouot loves hiking, playing soccer, golf, and the art of cooking, and also enjoys collecting chicken artifacts around the world.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Hauhouot Diambra-Odi.

ISBN:                  Softcover                     978-1-4931-8555-9

                            eBook                          978-1-4931-8554-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 05/13/2014

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Dedication

This booklet is dedicated to my extended family and friends scattered all over the world, and particularly to my lovely wife and life companion Marcelle, my wonderful children Odi Jr., Foushi Stephanie and Jacques, and my two adorable grand children Milini and Patrick. Above all, I am forever grateful to the Lord for all His blessings, as I am very fortunate to call Guam my home!

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Lee Yudin, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and all my colleagues from the University of Guam for a warm welcome back, especially Dr. Mari Marutani, Dr. Jim McConnell, and Dr. Manuel Duguies for their continued support. Most of the research results provided in this booklet were obtained in collaboration with Dr. Farouq Abawi at the University of Guam, for whom I am grateful. A special gratitude is expressed to my friends Dr. Tim Guile for editing and writing the Foreword section, and Dr. Veikila Vuki for reviewing the manuscript. I would like to thank Mr. Ian McKelvie who granted me the permission to use quotes from Green Action Books To Go, Dr. Goli Ankon from Côte d’Ivoire and Mr. Manabu Manabe from Japan for allowing me to take photographs of their farms, used for illustrations in this book.

Foreword

It is a very satisfying feeling to be able to scan your eyes over your own farm, and say to yourself, "I am a grower." These four little words mean much.

If you have been impoverished and under- or unemployed, whether man or woman, you now are self-employed and have the means to improve your economic situation. This book will help lift you into the ranks of the employed.

Or if you, already an egg-producing farmer, have lacked technical information to protect your investment or grow your farm, this book will provide you with the technical information to protect or grow your dream.

Or if you, as egg-producing farmer, have felt overly dependent on imported or non-native feedstuff, this book will introduce you to the possibilities of using native (tropical) feed for egg-layers.

Or if you, as farmer, care for the natural environment where you grow, this book will teach you how to let your concern make a practical difference through farming in a natural, eco-friendly way.

Or if you, as consumer, feel frustrated by the rise in meat prices in the market place, this book will help you raise your own meat as well as eggs in a sustainable, nutritionally productive way to keep your family healthy.

With this booklet, Dr. Diambra-Odi has done both beginning and ever-learning poultry farmers in emerging economies a great service.

Timothy Guile, Ph.D.

Guam, USA

Okahandja, Namibia

Table of Contents

I.   Introduction

II.   Sustainable Animal Production Systems in the Tropics

a.   Definition

b.   Why Animal Agriculture Need to be Sustainable?

i.   The problem with current agricultural practices

ii.   Radically rethinking animal agriculture

iii.   The social movement of organic farming

iv.   Animal welfare and public opinion

c.   Sustainability and Productivity

d.   Sustainability and Profitability

e.   Sustainability and Biotechnology

f.   Sustainability and Public Health

g.   Role of women in sustainable agriculture

III.   Raising Pullets

a.   Introduction

b.   Feeding Practices

c.   Feeding and Nutrient Requirements of Pullets

d.   Monitoring Sexual Maturity of Pullets

e.   The Lighting Program

f.   Sanitation

g.   Health

h.   Water

i.   Beak Trimming

IV.   Raising Layers

a.   Introduction

b.   Hen Reproductive Physiology

c.   Getting Started

d.   Space Requirements

e.   Feeding and Nutrient Requirements

f.   Environmental Temperature

g.   Water

h.   Performance Objectives

i.   Signs of Problems

j.   Health and Sanitation

k.   Disinfection and Hygiene

l.   Health and Environment

m.   Recycling the Old Layer

n.   Housing

o.   Marketing

p.   Handling Manure

q.   Dead Bird