Prolapse in commercial layers

Prolapse during production is usually related to poor skeleton development during rearing, even if body weight during production is at target. In future, try to achieve upper limit of target weight from 4 to 8 weeks of age. The following tips may help to reduce losses in this flock.
1. Do not exceed 16 hours light duration (better 15 hours). Also reduce light intensity (maximum 40 lux in open house, 20-30 lux in environment control house).
2. Adjust ME in feed to lower limit of recommendations.
3. Supplement Vitamin C @ 1 g/l drinking water in morning hours.

Steps 1 and 2 may slightly decrease egg produciton and egg size BUT you have to opt mortality or reduced production. Adopt these measures until 28 weeks of age. Thereafter resume normal practices.
DR ANJUM

Dear Mr Chandra,

I totally agree with Mr Ahmed Din Anjum & really thankful for the same.

Apart from that, please check the Calcium & phosphorus sources using in the Feed formulations.

Wish to suggest you to use the Meat cum Bone meal for the same but is from the renown sources for better skeleton development along with the Phytase enzyme.

I hope this practice will overcome your problems of prolapse and small size eggs too.

regards,

Dr Jaydip

Very good suggestions are given in this forum.

As we know, one of the first sign of a prolapse problem is the blood-streaked eggs and careful & vigilant management will lower the rate of prolapse problem.

We are also aware of following major causes which induce problem of prolapse in commercial laying hens:

• Over or under weight birds
• Increasing day length to stimulate for early maturity (Early Photo Stimulation)
• Unbalanced feed formulations
• Early reproductive age of the birds
• Laying double yolk eggs
• High light intensity
• Over crowding

It is better to spend some time at farms to observe vent pecking behavior. Those birds should be isolated immediately from the flock.

Litter pests like “Lesser mealworm” or “Darkling beetles” (A.diaperinus) also create problem of vent pecking in deep litter system to complicate the problems.

Lighting a very low watt red colored bulb may also help to reduce prone problem as birds will not be able to distinguish the colour of eversioned shell gland (Oviduct) in the back ground of red colour.

Thanks !

Assalam o alakum, all the respected participants have shared the valuable information regarding prolapses in commrcial layers, it is suggested that 2-3rd week body wt must b achieved . this will reduce 50% of prolapse chances. a well balanced feed is necessay i.e having all the essential a.acids.minerals ,&vitamins. light stimulation to the birds must b gradually. if the flock isnot on target wt , never stimulate the flock bcs an under wt flock is a threat to production when it is early stimulated.when flock is at 60% production then light should b 15hrs. at 80% light will b 16hrs. try not to go for more light but u can go up to 16.30hrs. socking density must b observed. ventilation must b adequate.a moderate increase in light stimulation is very beneficial. TREATMENT; an antibiotic like amoxycillin can b used to control secondary infections. light intensity should b b/w 40-60 lux. do not exceed. feed distribution must b equal.feeder/drinker must b adequate &at proper height. Ca, phosphorrous must be balanced. aA HIGH LEVEL OF Ca ALSO LEADS TO PROLAPSE bcs MUSCLES INVOLVED IN CONTRACTION &RELAXATION OF VENT ARE EFFECTED WITH Ca LEVEL. AVOID EXTRA Ca IN DIET IN EARLY STAGE OF PRODUCTIN.

prolapse has predisposal facters which are overcrowding, low levels of salt, calcium,phosphorus, poor development of the pelvice as result of low levels of estrogen levels in circulation due to poor nutrition which is not balanced,Over feeding during time of peak production resulting in large eggs. Early introduction of lighting period tostimualte early laying can cause cannibalisms. inadquate feeders and drinkers
beak trimming need to done properly to avoid cannibalism. It is important to note that this vices is difficulty to control once it has started. Try addressing the above mentioned facotor and give vitamins and salt that is 50 to 100 grams of salt in drinking water for 7 days. Paying attention to feed formulation, stocking density and feeder and drinker ratio

Regarding prolapsed
1. Light intensity management
In day light there will be 180 lux unit to 240 lux unit light intensity so with the addition of this light in night it still needs light for proper phosphorelation propose.(use of Ca+ and P+Vit D3) it needs about 5 lux unit to 20 lux unit light .
2. Use of Vit D 3 in diets : with the use of this vitamins properly Ca= and phosphorus will be used.
3. Decrease energy level because with it fat will increased in muscular layer and weakens the muscles and prolapsed occurs .
4. Feeding time should be monitored
5. Use of choline chloride in double quantity.
6. Intestinal scraping should be tested for coccidia population
7. Observing typical sound performing birds that may canabolise nex birds.
8. Make proper dark for 8-9 hours .
9. Adust prelayers feed (105 to 135 days.
10. Reduced more vitamins through drinking water.
11. Use citric acid to dissolve inorganic as well as organic ca through feed supplements.

Prolapse during production could be due to the presence mycotoxin in food and feed should be added to mycotoxin adsorbent.

Managing prolapse and pecking can be effectively carried out by first identifying the cause/predisposing factors. Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Some of the factors to look out for include:

A. Overcrowding: overcrowded birds are more predisposed to this behaviors. This is particularly important for floor managed bird/ deep litter system. When birds are overcrowded, litter microbial profile increases rapidly beyond manageable level, exposing birds to increased microbial contamination. Such contamination results in increased susceptibility to salpingitis, causing poor lubrication of uterine wall. During passage of egg through this tube, movement is impeded and inorder for such eggs to be laid, uterine eversion results. Neighbouring bird may peck result in bleeding and death. Managing this condition may require reduction of population with good litter management practice.

B. Ecotparasites infestation: e.g. lice infestation must be investigated and once present, must be treated using ectoparaiticides locally available. Efforts must be concentrated on removal of such ectoparasites that may be residing on both the birds and surrounding.

C. Nutritional factors: This may vary between low salt intake to increased microbial contamination in feed. Low salt level in feed may be caused by inadequate addition of salt to feed to improper mixing of salt to feed. the latter may be caused by high moisture in salt to be added. Short term remedy may include addition of salt in drinking water at 1 gram per litter to manage the resultant pecking behaviours..
High energy diets are also capable of predisposing to prolapse as a result of large egg sizes and increase fat deposits. The use of choline chloride has been particularly helpful. However, long measures include the reduction of Metabilzable energy while ensuring overfeeding is not a problem. Among other nutritional causes are high micro-nutrients levels in feed. Microbial contaminations in feed such as E. coli, Klebiella, Salmonella e.t.c . are other important factors to consider. Organic acids are commercially available to help reduce such exposures.

D. Water quality: poor water quality often results in salpingitis and proplapse with resultant pecking behaviours.

The use of water santisers along with water filters have been used with considerable success in regions where water contamination is a challenge.

Thanks for all, those recommendations are very practically good, but we can focus also on
1. Providing good ventilation,
2. Add England Salt to facilitate the oviposion process.
3. Minimum bird's density.
4. Increasing feed protein level.
5. Add mineral mixture to water.
6. Decrease lighting intensity to minimum level.


Good Luck

I am facing the problem of prolapse in commercial layer. Birds are placed in local cages and the age of the birds is 34 week of age. Daily mortality is 8 to 10 birds. So kindly suggest me its prevention.