Poultry farming is practiced under a wide range of conditions, which can be classified into one of the following broad farming systems:
i) Extensive system (Free-range extensive and Backyard extensive systems)
ii) Semi-intensive system
iii) Intensive system
In earlier days, poultry were primarily reared outdoor at the backyard under natural conditions. The birds were let out for scavenging in the morning hours and by the evening they return home to be kept under a night shelter with some water and left-over food or grains. You might have seen such backyard poultry units even now in some villages. Hardly, any expenditure is involved in the rearing of birds. Also, they produce less number of eggs and meat. Under emergency, they can be easily sold. The system of rearing birds under these conditions is broadly called as extensive poultry farming system. But as the scientists improved the efficiency of the birds to produce more eggs and meat, the needs of the birds also increased. As the ability of the birds improved, their requirements also increased in terms of housing, feeding, breeding, healthcare and overall management. The systems of rearing birds under these improved conditions are broadly called as semi-intensive or intensive poultry farming system. The system of housing being practiced by the poultry farmers is the broad basis for the classification of extensive / semi-extensive or semi-intensive / intensive poultry farming. Let us discuss briefly these systems.
1. Extensive System
Under free-range extensive system, the birds are not confined and can scavenge for food over a wide area. Rudimentary shelters may be provided, and these may or may not be used. The birds may roost outside, usually in trees, and nest in the bush. The flock contains birds of different species and varying ages.
Under backyard extensive systems, poultry are housed at night but allowed freerange during the day. They are usually fed a handful of grain in the morning and evening to supplement scavenging. Broadly no scientific housing, equipment, feeding and for that matter, disease control measures are followed. Many local (Desi) birds are being reared in our country in this way. Most of these birds are reared as a hobby and whatever (eggs and meat ) is obtained from them is taken as bonus. In each unit, the number of birds reared is limited to a maximum of 10 to 15.
2. Semi-intensive System
It is also called semi-extensive system. This system consists of a separate shelter for the birds during the night in which water and some feed is provided. Litter material is spread on the floor. This shelter will be fenced all round giving sufficient area for the birds to graze during the day. Obviously, area available for grazing depends on the land covered by the fence. However, this system is popular for rearing turkeys and ducks than chicken. In case of ducks, a pond for them to swim may also be provided.
3. Intensive System
Due to improvements in the ability of birds to grow and produce, extensive and semi- intensive systems are not commercially practiced in our country. The word “Intensive” means more concentrated or more numbers per unit area or more intensity (Fig.8.10). Therefore, in all the systems under this category, more birds can be reared in a given area than in semi-intensive or extensive systems. The birds are not allowed to move outside the house. That means they are restricted into a house (restriction of freedom to move) where they are provided with food, water and all other requirements. Since the birds are kept in-door always, they need to be provided with vitamin D through feed or water. Intensive system can also be called ‘in-house system’. But in the context of animal welfare they are called industrial production system with compromised welfare on some aspects.
In the intensive system of rearing poultry, the following are practiced:
· Deep litter system
· Cage system
· Slat system
· Alternate system
In India, deep litter and cage systems are more popular and widely practiced. Therefore, in the following sections, these two systems are discussed in detail for your understanding, while the others are discussed in brief
i) Deep Litter System
In this system, birds are left free on the floor. To avoid cleaning of the floor every day, material which can absorb moisture is spread on the floor before leaving the birds on it. The material which is spread to absorb moisture is called as “Litter material”. Therefore, litter material with faeces produced by the birds accumulates and bacteria in such material decompose and form very good manure. Since the litter becomes deeper day by day, the system is referred to as “deep litter system”. Birds do scratch and peck in the litter and even get certain vitamins and unknown growth factors while doing so. Most of the broilers in India are being reared under this system.
ii) Cage System
Increase in cost of land and wages of labour has made litter system costly. Therefore, alternate systems in which birds are totally restricted to meshwork compartments (cages) were introduced. This saves the cost on litter material, building and reduces labour requirement.. Most of the layers are grown in cages all over the world and it is a major welfare issue globally.
Cages suitable for all age and types of chicken are available. But, in our country, cages are popularly used for layers (Fig.8.13), whereas, others are generally reared on deep litter. Even in cages for layers, 3- bird cages are more popular than 1, 2, 4, 15 or 30-bird cages. Cages housing 15 or 30 hens are popularly called “Community or Colony cages”.
iii) Slat System
Dear student, most of the advantages of cage system were due to the fact that birds do not come in contact with litter or faecal material. Similarly, there are welfare related disadvantages in cage system due to restriction of bird’s movement within the cage. Hence, a system in which the birds are reared on raised floor (made of mesh work) allowing faecal matter to collect in a pit underneath was developed. This system is called slat system of poultry farming.
Slats can be made of wire or wood or high-impact plastic or any other strong material. They must be 2.5 to 5.0 cm wide and 2.5 cm apart running lengthwise of the building. They are fixed at 68 cm (2¼ ft) above the floor to allow collection of manure over a period of one year for which the birds are grown. The slats should be strong enough not to sag due to weight of the birds and their own. In general, this system is a combination of most of the advantages of both deep litter system and cage system.
iv) Alternate Systems
In some western countries, welfare of birds grown in cages has become a serious concern. Consumers are willing to pay for cage free eggs like in extensive system. Hence, birds are reared in specialized systems called barns, aviary or free range with good feed and disease control. Here, bird’s comfort is the main criterion and its production can be less than that in intensive systems. Such systems are not practiced in India yet.
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