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By Dr. Haseeb Anwar and Dr. Zia-ur-Rahman , University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
The poultry sector is among the largest and still growing industries of Pakistan. According to the economic survey of Pakistan (2008-09) the total population of birds increased to 1,061 million in 2008-09, from 895 million in 2006-07, with the total including 28.42 million layers. The total egg production was 10,197 million in 2006-07 and in 2008-09 it was reported to be 11,258 million, similarly total poultry meat production also increased from the previous years which was 651 thousand tonnes in 2008-09.Yet the maximum production potential of our commercial layer could be further explored and in this regard technical know how and skills should be assessed and summarised to make more comprehensive future recommendations. In the process of the production cycle as the layers get older, their egg production and egg external quality decreases. Forced/induced molting is still a common practice all over the world to restore their reproductive system capacity, and promote a new laying cycle.
Induced molting
In the avian species the phenomenon of self molting is a natural thing in which the bird may lose up to 50 % of their body weight after a phase of fasting. The concept of this natural molt was brought into the practice of artificially induced molting in the commercial layer industry, which is used to rejuvenate and boost the reproductive tract for the beginning of next production cycle. Among the different molting techniques the generally in practice method for the induction of molt is feed withdrawal.
In the avian species the phenomenon of self molting is a natural thing in which the bird may lose up to 50 % of their body weight after a phase of fasting. The concept of this natural molt was brought into the practice of artificially induced molting in the commercial layer industry, which is used to rejuvenate and boost the reproductive tract for the beginning of next production cycle. Among the different molting techniques the generally in practice method for the induction of molt is feed withdrawal.
Dietary zinc has also been used by many researchers to induce the molt and it has been proved to be a better inducer of molt as compared to other molting techniques. A previous study of our lab proved the efficiency of zinc induced molting over fast induced molting regarding the immune status and dynamics of pituitary hormone producing cells. Based on this study and other literature reports, zinc induced molting was selected in the current study to induce the molt in white leg horn birds at the end of their first production cycle.
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Source: World Poultry, No. 27, Vol. 4, 2011
