Quality control and monitoring is one of the most vital aspects for maximizing hatchery performance, the reason being, the quality of chick is highly dependent on the environment and management of the hatchery. Putting maintenance programs and quality checks in place help reduce various kinds of risk, like, machinery failure which can have an ill effect on hatch and chick quality.
Aviagen accommodates activity schedules, check lists and up-to-date records so as to ensure that all the required routine checks and maintenance is done in a timely and orderly manner. Egg storage is an essential part of quality control, wherein, the temperature is constantly observed and maintained to prevent any fluctuations.This temperature needs to be adjusted right from from the farm, followed by the transport truck and eventually the hatchery’s storage room.
Quality control includes keeping in check the quality of ,
- Equipment
- Chick quality
- Nutrition and feeding
- Environment
- Litter
- Poultry health and diagnostics
Equipment needs to be checked as and when required to make sure that it is always working at its optimum use and the minute it starts wearing out, it must be replaced with new equipment to maintain the quality of chicks. Environment also at all times must be maintained at a level that is best suited for the chicks, for this purpose Aviagen ensures proper ventilation on the farm. Infrastructure planning is also very essential, the location and design of the farm should comply with the respective state pollution control board which includes spacing, appropriate fencing, proper drainage and should include storage and transfer of eggs, incubation and hatching facilities. For the purpose of optimal embryonic development , the optimal eggshell temperature needs to be maintained during the incubation process (EST 100*F – 101*F). Too high or too low eggshell temperatures will negatively affect chick quality and uniformity, this means that the incubator design needs to be a certain way. The ideal standard hatchery operations for quality control should include hatching eggs receiving fumigation, grading, selection and traying, egg storage, loading in setters, transfer to hatchers and chicks pull out and chicks room. Vaccination and cleaning programs are vital in order to prevent spreading of diseases and maintaining the chick quality. Aviagen not only makes sure that every process in hatchery management is checked but also enforces monitoring systems to mark any deviation from the forecasted desired results.