Minimum standards for registration and Stockmanship of layer farms along with good management practices.

 

Minimum Standards for Registration and Stockmanship Registration

1.   Individuals or entities keeping or having charge of farmhouses custody such number of hens and/or fowl per farm as may be quantified by the Registering Authority of the concerned State or Union Territories shall apply to get their farms registered with the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) of the concerned State Governments/Union Territories.

2.      The AHD of the State shall, while granting registration, impose such conditions as it may deem fit as per other existing local laws.

3.  The registration request shall comprise the farm design, bio-security for commercial layers’ preparation as arranged from time to time by the Division of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (Govt. of India) and other relevant information (required under the rules).

4.      The registering authority, if satisfied that the enclosures are as per the rules, shall register the farms and issue a certificate of registration.

5.      The registration certificate will be legal for five years from its issuance date. The certificate may be changed from time to time through a request made by the person retaining or liable for the farm to the registration authority, within three months from the date of expiry of the current certificate of registration.

6.      Every farm operating before the commencement of these rules shall, within three months from the date of its commencement, register itself with the AHD of the concerned State.

7.      The registration certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place at the farm. Stockmanship (Duty of Poultry Farm Proprietor or Farm Worker)

1. The owner/operator/highest-ranking official of firm/company/society/ organisation shall be responsible for ensuring the compliance of these rules as per the given environmental conditions for the welfare of layer hens.

2.      In case of contract farming between contractor and farmers, where inputs for poultry farming are provided to the farm owned by the contractor, both the farm owner and the servicer shall be answerable for confirming obedience to these instructions.

3.      Where a farm is owned by a government, the responsibility of compliance with these rules shall be on the head of the institution.

Good Management Practices in Stockmanship

1.      Effective welfare of flock depends mostly on farm owner’s/farm workers/ stockman who should be aware of the welfare needs of layer poultry birds.

2.    Sufficient well-motivated and competent personnel are employed to carry out all necessary tasks. Staff should be well accomplished and managed, fully familiar with the tasks they will be mandatory to start and capable in the use of any apparatus.

3.     The required Stockmanship knowledge and skills related to general management, feeding, breeding and healthcare can be acquired through training or by working with an experienced person on-farm.

4.   For birds to become accustomed to the stockman’s presence without fear, there should be a frequent, quiet but close approach from an early age so that birds are not unduly frightened.

5.      All caretakers should have a full and obvious sympathetic of the welfare needs and basic ecology of the birds. However, they should be able to:

·        Identify whether or not the birds are in good strength.

·        Understand the implication of behavioural variations in the birds.

·       Escalate the appropriateness of the total situation for the birds’ health and welfare.

Welfare Issues in Commercial Layers

1.      Welfare Issues in Chicks

·         The killing of Male Chicks

·         Chick Handling

·         Variation in Chick or Pullet Sizes

2.      Welfare Issues in Housing

·         Spacing

·         Osteoporosis and Bone Fracture

·         Cage Layer Fatigue

·         Behavioural Deprivation and Stress

3.      Welfare Issues in Environment

·         Light

·         Ventilation

·         Air Quality

4.      Welfare Issues in Management of Adult Layers

·         Beak Trimming

·         Emaciation

·         Spent Hens

·         Moulting