The term 'small-scale poultry farmer' covers micro-, small- and medium-sized broiler and egg production units. The South African Poultry Association classifies a small-scale broiler unit as one that delivers fewer than 4 000 birds per cycle. In contrast, small-scale egg production, according to South African agriculturalist Dr Gavin MacGregor, can start with nine point-of-lay pullets. Many semi-intensive free-range poultry operations are also classified as small-scale.
If your enterprise falls into one of these categories, you're more likely to be working with your local state veterinarian or animal health technician than a private practitioner. Veterinarians have an in-depth understanding of the chemistry, usage, dosage and withdrawal times of scheduled medications. It's therefore advisable to include them in the planning of a first-aid kit for your animals.
FAST FACTS
Management plays an essential role in the prevention of diseases in chickens.
The withdrawal time for antibiotics is longer in eggs than it is in poultry meat.
The most common injuries in chickens are caused by bird-on-bird pecking.
PLANNING
The nature of your enterprise and the likelihood of specific diseases occurring will dictate what you include in your first-aid kit. For example, the withdrawal time for certain antibiotics is far longer for eggs than it is for poultry meat, and discarding eggs intended for human consumption is not financially viable. Conversely, a few decorative roosters, hens, and chicks around a farmyard restaurant are likely to be around until they die of old age, so they can be given as many antibiotics as they require!
Esta historia es de la edición May 27 2022 de Farmer's Weekly.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 27 2022 de Farmer's Weekly.
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