By Maile Matsimela
South Africa offers a diverse range of commercial egg-laying hen breeds suitable for various production systems and environments. Commercial layers provide maximum egg output under well-managed conditions.
For commercial-scale egg production, hybrids like Hy-Line, Amberlink and Lohmann-Brown are recommended.
This article provides an overview of the commercial egg-laying hen breeds available in South Africa, their characteristics, production capacity and historical introduction to the country. The information presented aims to assist in making informed decisions when selecting breeds for egg production.
White Leghorn
White Leghorn originated in Tuscany (Livorno), Italy and was introduced to South Africa primarily through importations from England, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Germany in the early 1900s. It produces 280-300 large white eggs per year. It has a red single comb that flops over on hens with red wattles and has yellow legs and white earlobes. They are active foragers but can be flighty and noisy. Leghorns rarely go broody, and they are non-sitters unless left undisturbed. They have excellent feed conversion ratio.
Hy-Line
Hy-Line is a commercial hybrid developed internationally and has widely been adopted in South African commercial egg industry. It has an egg production capacity of up to 320 eggs per year. The laying period starts at approximately 18 weeks of age. It is known for its uniform dark brown eggs with high feed efficiency and is adaptable to different housing systems.
Amberlink
Amberlink was developed by Dekal and has also been adopted commercially in South Africa since its introduction. It has an egg production capacity of up to 320 eggs in their first year. Their laying period starts at around five months of age. They are known for their large to extra-large brown eggs. Amberlinks have a good feed conversion and are commercially adaptable.
Lohmann-Brown
Lohmann is a German-developed hybrid that has also been widely adopted since was introduced to South Africa. It has an egg production capacity of up to 320 eggs by 72 weeks of age. Their laying period starts at about 19 weeks. They are known for their good temperament with daily brow egg production. Lohmanns are adaptable to various climate conditions.
Feed conversion ratio explained
Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is a measure of how efficiently birds convert feed into egg mass. It’s typically expressed as kilogram of feed consumed per kilogram of eggs produced and/or of feed consumed per dozen eggs produced. A lower FCR indicates better efficiency, which means the hen is more economical in converting feed to eggs.
Several factors can influence the feed conversion ratio in South African conditions.
Environmental conditions:
- Temperature: Higher temperatures typically reduce feed intake.
- Housing systems: Cage vs. free-range affects energy expenditure.
Management practices:
- Stocking density: Optimal density for Hy-Line Browns is around 733 cm²/hen.
- Feed quality and composition.
- Water quality and availability.
Age of birds:
- FCR typically worsens as birds age.
- Hy-Line Browns show a FCR of 1.96 at 20-60 weeks, increasing to 2.28 by 90 weeks.
Breed characteristics:
- White egg layers (like White Leghorn) generally have better FCRs than brown egg layers.
- Lighter breeds typically have better FCRs than heavier breeds.
Economic implications
The difference in FCR between breeds can have a significant economic impact on large-scale operations.
- With current feed prices in South Africa, a difference of 0.5 in FCR can translate to substantial savings over a production cycle.
- Hy-Line Browns and Amberlinks appear to offer the best feed efficiency among brown egg layers.
- White Leghorn/Lohmann Selected Leghorns offer excellent feed efficiency for white egg production
Recommendations based on feed conversion efficiency alone:
- For white egg production: White Leghorn/Lohmann Selected Leghorns strains (FCR 1.9-2.1).
- For brown egg production:
- Amberlinks (FCR 1.8-2.0) appear most efficient.
- Hy-Line Browns (FCR 1.96-2.28) offer good efficiency with well-documented performance.
- Lohmann Browns (FCR 2.64) may be less feed-efficient but could have other desirable traits.
However, breed selection should also consider other factors, like egg size, shell quality, bird temperament and market preferences.
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