HERFS/AUTUMN BONUS TYDSKRIF 2026

The importance of uniformity in laying hens Danielle van der Merwe – Technical Advisor: Poultry We often hear of uniformity being emphasised in broiler breeder and broiler production, where importance is placed on egg weights and body weights. Hatcheries prefer eggs that aremore uniform for ease of hatching, and after the abattoirs require a bird of a particular size that fits the equipment. But how important is flock uniformity inmodern layer production systems, and how do we achieve uniformity? It may come as a surprise, but uniformity can be a strong predictor for feed efficiency, rate of lay at peak production, persistency of lay and egg quality. Feeding the flock As with all livestock, when we feed the modern layer, we can only cater to the average bird. Individual feeding is impossible on most commercial layer farms. This means when feeding, we essentially feed “one” bird, the average bird. Nutritional requirements, feed intakes, and management practices are designed to suit the average hen and are not tailored to suit the needs of every individual hen. It is a “one size fits all” scenario. The more uniform a flock, the better this strategy will work, as feed allowances and nutrient compositions will meet the needs of the majority of the hens, and the more consistent the production will be. In most commercial laying systems, hens are allowed ad lib access to feed; however, trough fill and feeding times are often calculated based on the average hen’s intake. When uniformity is low and feed distribution is uneven, there is a risk that some areas in the feeders will run empty before the rest of the feeder line. Some hens will not have feed for a period, which may affect production. Figure 1 below shows a feeder line with varying feed levels; on the left, there is still an adequate level of feed in the trough, while on the right, there are patches of bare trough. Figure 1: Varying feed levels in a gantry-fed feeder line Herfs/Autumn 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 128