SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

The South African poultry industry was significantly impacted by highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks fromApril 2023. The H5N1 and H7N6 strains led to the culling of approximately 7,5million chickens, including 5million layers (20–30% of the national stock), reducing layer capacity by about 30% and causing prolonged shortages of day-old pullets and point-of- lay birds into 2024. These shortages and price volatility causedmany small-scale farmers to rear their own pullets to avoid high costs and long restocking delays. At the same time, rising egg prices created a perception of strong profitability in the eggmarket, attracting new entrants. According to the South African Poultry Association, 28% of egg producers began rearing their own pullets in 2024, many with limited experience, resulting in a growing knowledge gap in pullet rearing practices. Best times to rear layer pullets in South Africa in open-sided houses Leon Mmokela Mashiane - Technical Advisor: Poultry Commonmistakes in pullet rearing The entry of new point of lay producers with limited experience has resulted in widespread production of incorrectly reared pullets. These deficiencies manifest across four critical management areas: Nutrition: Inadequate understanding of phase feeding requirements and failure to achieve target body weights at key developmental stages. Vaccination scheduling: Improper timing of vaccinations, inadequate disease challenge programmes, and failure to establish proper immune competence before transfer to laying facilities. Management during rear: Poor uniformity control, inadequate feeder and drinker space, and insufficient monitoring of flock development. Incorrect lighting programmes: Perhaps the most critical and frequently mismanaged aspect, failure to properly control photoperiod during the rearing phase. Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 70