Problems and Constraints

y Climate Chickens and other poultry species are warm-blooded animals (homeotherms) and have the ability to maintain rather than a uniform body temperature. However, their control mechanism is only efficient when the ambient temperature is within the certain limits, beyond which their productivity is drastically reduce and may even result to death. The ideal temperature range for laying hens, for example, is 12.8 to 23.90C. Because of its tropical location, the average annual temperature in the Philippines is slightly above 26.70C and relative humidity is usually higher. During the cold months, it rarely goes below 23.90C, but in the summer months, a daily temperature of above 32.30C is common. In intensive housing, as is the accepted practice in commercial poultry production, the heat that the birds generate further increases the ambient temperature of the poultry house. To alleviate this condition, poultry raisers install cooling facilities that also add to the already high cost of production. High temperature and relative humidity are also conductive to the growth of most of the disease organism viruses, bacteria, worms, and other parasites of birds. This makes control of poultry diseases much more difficult and expensive. Poultry meat and eggs also deteriorate at a faster rate in warm and humid conditions. This could also lead to serious losses if refrigeration facilities are not installed. Trade and Economic Policies As poultry production becomes more intensive and commercialized, poultry producers will become more sensitive to country policies, particularly trade and economics. Since the 1990s, trade liberation, currency devaluation, and increased interest rates among others have contributed to serious losses among local poultry producers. Because much of the production inputs breeding stocks, feedstuffs, equipment, and veterinary supplies are imported, local cost of production of poultry products become necessarily much higher than those produced in countries where there inputs are much cheaper. Hence, encouraged by lower tariff rates and the removal of quantitative restrictions under the trade liberation policy, the importation of poultry meat has dramatically increased. Understandably, local producers fear that local consumers will increasingly depend on imported poultry products. Inadequate Infrastructure Facilities As a business enterprise, poultry farming needs to be supported by an adequate network of public transportation and communication as well as infrastructures. The state should also insure that they are protected from lawless elements. They also need access to good credit facilities and extension services. To the extent that this are inadequately provided, farmers will be discouraged to go into poultry farming. Those who will engage in this venture have to contend with higher losses, poor production efficiency, and high cost of production. Opportunities and Challenges Notwithstanding the many problems and constraints that prospective poultry producers have to face, new developments that provide wide opportunities and exciting challenges for profitable poultry production in the Philippines have also emerged. Among these developments are as follows; o Increasing Population and Demand for Poultry Products In 2002, the estimated number of Filipinos was 78 million. In 2007, the number of Filipino increased to 91 million and is still expected to increase in the next decade at the rate of 1.8 percent per year. With the annual growth in per capita consumption of poultry meat increasing about twice that of the countrys population, the demand for poultry meat is expected to double in the next decade. Increasing consumer preference for higher food quality and safety Increasing demand for organically produced products

o o

Innovations to Counteract Adverse Effects of a Tropical Climate

y Feeds and feeding In the tropics, the feed intake of birds is very much affected by weather conditions. During warm days, feed consumption is decreased resulting in fluctuation in performance. To address this problem, many feed millers have developed specific rations for warm and for normal days to adjust for feed intake and level of nutrients required. Vitamins and other similar substances are now incorporated in the feeds to provide constant protection from stress. Improvements in the yield of corn promises to reduce cost of feeds. In the most poultry feed preparations, corn (yellow or white) constitutes 50 to 80 percent of the formulation. Commercial hybrid corn and transgenic yield 2 to 3 times higher the traditional varieties. Housing In the tropics, one of the biggest problems is high temperature and humidity in most times of the year. Better housing designs are developed that facilitate effective ventilation. The use of open-sided walls and monitor-type of roofing resulted in relatively cooler conditions

inside poultry houses. Light materials that provided better comfort for the birds. A good example of innovations in housing is the development of the tunnel ventilation. Breeding Many breeding companies have developed breeds, which are more tolerant to warm conditions. The Kabir from Israel and the Sasso from France are some examples of breeds of chicken developed for better heat tolerance and ranging ability. This trend has also placed focus on the conservation of genetic diversity to preserve traits that are related to heat tolerance. The interest on the improvement, utilization, and conservation of the native-type stocks has been renewed. Many companies in the temperate countries have established satellite breeder farms in tropical countries to facilitate adaptability of their stocks to the tropical climate. Organic production and animal welfare The growing popularity of organic production and the enactment of the Animal Welfare Act have likewise contributed to the innovations to alleviate stress due to harsh environmental conditions. Raising chickens on the range not only provide poultry species comfortable living conditions but also satisfies the requirement for humane treatment. Global Trade The advent of globalization and trade liberation helps in alleviating the effects of a harsh environment on poultry production. In cases where the production of poultry products in any country in the tropics decreases, the importation of products could easily be done to avoid shortage in supply.

Housing and Equipment for Chickens

 Benefits of housing Proper housing is necessary not only to provide comfort to the chickens but also for the convenience and ease of work of the caretaker. The benefits derived from housing are the following; o Protection Against Inclement Weather o Control of temperature, humidity, and ventilation o Protection against predators o Effective flock health program  House Features o Comfort o Floor space o Economy of construction A good poultry house need not to very expensive to construct. Light materials such as bamboo slats, nipa shingles, and coco lumber could be used especially in backyard operations. These materials are relatively cheaper to use but less durable and are fire hazards too. However, in commercial-scale poultry houses, more expensive but durable construction materials are used. Galvanized iron (GI) and aluminum sheets are commonly used for roofing s. For flooring, wood, welded wire, and plastic are commonly used. For walling or siding materials, nylon net, mesh wire and bamboo slats are commonly used. The cost of constructing these houses per bird capacity may be higher but their life span is longer compared to small and medium-sized ones. o Shape The shape of the poultry houses is not very critical in backyard operations. However, in commercial operations, long and narrow poultry houses are preferred because of better ventilation and lighting. Long and narrow houses also provide longer feeding and drinking spaces as compared to square-shaped ones. o Width The width of a poultry house is more critical in commercial-scale than in backyard-scale operations. To minimize ventilation problems especially during warm and humid months, the width of a large-sized, open-sided poultry house should not exceed ten meters. In places with very consistent mild climates, the width could be increased to about twelve meters. o Height The height of poultry houses in the tropics is critical in both backyard and large-scale operations. The recommended height should be about 2.5 meters from the foundation to the roofline. Too high houses may be vulnerable to strong winds and typhoons. On the hand, too low houses may have ventilation problems resulting in high temperatures and relative humidity. o Length The length of a poultry house is determined primarily by the topography of the land where it is to be constructed. For small poultry houses, the length is not very critical. For large poultry houses, however, the practical limit on length is determined by the size of the mechanical feeders, egg collection belts, and manure belts to be installed. o Roof style and materials

In the tropics, the common roofing styles of narrow poultry houses are the shed (single span), gable (even span), and the combination of shed and gable. For wide poultry houses, the monitor and the semi-monitor types of roofing are popularly used because they provide better air movement.

Shed

Combination

Gable type

Monitor Semi-Monitor

In rural areas, inexpensive and cooler roofing materials such as nipa shingles and dried cogon leaves are commonly used for small poultry houses. They are, however, less durable and regarded as fire hazards. For largely poultry houses, GI and aluminum sheets are popularly used because of their durability. o Walls Most poultry houses in the tropics are open all sided for better ventilation. Slatted bamboo, poultry wire, welded wire, and nylon nets are commonly used as siding materials. In addition, windbreak materials such as canvas, sacks, and empty feedbags are oftentimes installed on all sided for protection against strong winds, heavy rains, and typhoons. o Floor type In the tropics, the elevated type of flooring is popularly used in commercial broiler and layer productions because it provides better ventilation and sanitation. In commercial broiler and layer breeder operations, the elevated litter floor type of housing is commonly used during growing stage. During laying stage, breeder broilers and layers are kept in houses with litter-slat type flooring. An all litter-type of flooring is not popular used in the tropics because of problems on sanitation. In addition, the supply of good quality litter materials is a problem in many areas. o Orientation In the tropics, poultry houses should be oriented longitudinally in an east-west direction for better ventilation and heat regulation. If the house oriented longitudinally in a north-south direction, a large part of the house will be exposed to direct morning and afternoon sunlight during warm months. This situation could result to further heat build-up inside the poultry house. Furthermore, as the chickens move to the cooler parts of the house, the temporary but

significant reduction in floor, drinking, and feeding space allowances might drastically affect their performance.

 Farm Location o Good drainage and free from flooding The poultry farm must have good drainage. Water used in cleaning equipment and housing facilities must be drained properly. Stagnant water serves as a good breeding place for mosquitoes and other harmful insects that could affect the Health not only of the chickens but also of the farm personnel. Flat sites should be elevated by hauling gravel and soil to let the water runoff the plain. o Far from residential areas The farm should be established away from residential and other densely populated areas. Ideally, the farm should be located at least one kilometer away from the nearest poultry farm and residential areas. Zoning provision in the area should be properly considered to avoid problems related to air, noise, and water pollution and other human health-related concerns. o Good access to utilities The farm should be located in an area where there is access to reliable and inexpensive sources of electricity and water. o Good access to road and market The farm location should have good access to a road for the delivery of inputs needed in the operation and the transport of products to the market. o No security problems The farm should be located in a place where peace and order are maintained.