Spiking reduces fertility drop in older poultry flocks

Aging hens physiologically need to be mated more often to sustain the same level of fertility as a flock of 35 weeks. Meanwhile roosters become less interested and able to complete mating. So, to get the same fertility level, the older the flock the more attention should be paid to rooster management. Implementing a spiking programme might prove helpful. By Wiebe van der Sluis, Rooster 45, Doetinchem, the Netherlands When broiler breeders reach 40 weeks, their fertility levels naturally declin