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An Introduction to Platinum Brooding®: Disciplined Brooding
Managing poultry health in a constantly changing world is a theme that has received increased attention
and focus from the international poultry industry, academia and governments. In the not so distant past,
deficiencies in brooding were often overlooked or even tolerated. Perhaps this was associated with
slower growth rates and the use of less efficient genetics. The genetic potential of the modern broiler
chicken is truly remarkable. Advances in all areas of broiler production including genetics, nutrition,
management and health have resulted in continuous and significant improvements in efficiencies of
production.
In the current era of enhanced automation, precision nutrition, and genetic selection programs, the
specific requirements of neonates are numerous and the negative impacts associated with brooding
deficiencies are significant.
Deficiencies in brood management will negatively impact body weight targets, feed utilization, flock
health, flock uniformity and meat yield. Additionally, deficiencies in brood management may result in
increased incidence and/or severity of disease.
Brooding is so critical that detailed brooding programs have been developed and continue to be
developed. One of these programs, Platinum Brooding®, revolves around the continuing education of
producers and producer service persons, the establishment of accurate measurements and the thorough
and accurate completion of a Platinum Brooding® checklist. The Platinum Brooding® program is now
established as an important component of integrated poultry health management continuing education
opportunities.
The Platinum Brooding® Program was introduced to clients of Canadian Poultry Consultants Ltd. (CPC) in
March of 2001. Since then, the Platinum Brooding® class has evolved into a regular, formal, on-farm
education opportunity for those who care for broiler or leghorn chicks. In Canada, the Platinum
Brooding® class is held at a commercial broiler farm in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Formal courses and presentations are held at various other locations across North America.
The Platinum Brooding® program is a “hands on” experience and gives the attendee an opportunity to
review and participate in a commercial broiler setting. The material seems to make more sense when
discussed and reviewed in a barn or a house or a shed. Feed, light, litter, water, air, security, sanitation all
reviewed on site and in a group setting there is also an opportunity to discuss with others and learn from
their own experiences in the field. These experiences also result in feeding the dynamic nature of this
learning process, as there are always improvements being made.
The Platinum Brooding® program has been presented at numerous veterinary, nutritional, industry and
corporate meetings over the years and has received detailed critical review by numerous experts. The
program has been mandated as a new grower entry requirement by the BC Chicken Marketing Board and is supported by the Alberta Chicken Producers Board. It is
also part of the Aviagen International Production School in Alabama. The Platinum Brooding® program
is integrated into the curriculum of the Master of Avian Medicine program at the University of Georgia and this course is also held at the University of Arkansas and the University of Alberta.
The Platinum Brooding® program is being further fine-tuned and expanded through further development
of www.platinumbrooding.com and www.canadianpoultry.ca where visitors can review scholarly articles
and educational content relevant to the poultry industry.
Genetic potential of modern poultry cannot be achieved without strict attention to brooding, and the
Platinum Brooding® program provides a disciplined approach to this critical production period. It is now
universally accepted that disciplined brooding, following the Platinum Brooding® principles, will improve
most if not all production parameters with subsequent benefits to health, food safety, animal welfare,
and environmental stewardship.
Dr. Stewart Ritchie
Canadian Poultry Consultants Ltd. | S.J. Ritchie Research Farms Ltd.
Partners
Asea
About Aviagen : Since 1923, Aviagen® has established itself as the world's leading poultry breeding company, developing pedigree lines for the production of commercial broiler chickens under the Arbor Acres®, Indian River®, and Ross® brand names. The Rowan Range® and Specialty Males® are specialty breeding stock from Aviagen that offer greater flexibility for customers to meet specific or niche market requirements. The company is based in Huntsville, Alabama, USA with a number of wholly-owned operations across the United Kingdom, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., and joint ventures in Asia. Aviagen employs more than 3,900 people and has a distribution network serving customers in 130 countries.
The BC Hatching Egg Commission (BCBHEC) is a five person board with a Chairman appointed by Order in Council of the Government of BC and four Producer members. The BCBHEC is accountable to the BC Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) and derives its authority under the BC Hatching Egg Scheme and the Natural Products Marketing Act (BC). The BCBHEC regulates the activities of 56 Hatching Egg producers in the province of BC which collectively produces approximately 8 million dozen hatching eggs annually. The BCBHEC employs 4 full time staff, two part time employees and enforces a number of programs inclusive of On Farm Food Safety Assurance Program and BC Bio-security. For more information please visit www.bcbhec.com or call 604-850-1854.
Bio Agri Mix is a Canadian company founded by Paul Lake and three partners in 1983. Bio Agri Mix is currently the largest manufacturer and supplier of medicated feed additives, water soluble medications, cleaners and disinfectants to the Canadian livestock industry. Integral to Bio Agri Mix is our:
· Granulated feed additive technology, which optimizes both product performance and human safety
· Focus on Quality. Bio Agri Mix is Health Canada, FDA, HACCP and ISO 9001 approved with no product quality recalls throughout our 33 year history.
We are proudly Canadian serving the Canadian livestock industry. For more information, please visit our website www.bioagrimix.com
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is a world's leading animal health company. We are a forward-looking company with a proven track record, producing pharmaceutical products and vaccines for livestock, pets and wildlife. We're at the cutting edge of product development and innovation, providing millions of doses world-wide annually to keep livestock and pets healthy.
In poultry production, good performance is a direct result of healthy flocks. Birds must function well on every level, particularly in the immune, respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.
A variety of infectious and non-infectious agents may affect bird health, causing losses in meat and egg-production. Protecting the bird from these agents begins by building a solid immune foundation and shielding the vital organs of the bird.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada’s avian vaccines will help establish barriers along the most common pathways for infection by avian pathogens. Our vaccines protect against respiratory, enteric, and Bursal diseases as well as diseases that may affect egg production capacities. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health always recommends when using our vaccines, that the chickens be maintained under good environmental conditions and that exposure to disease viruses be reduced as much as possible. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s global network of veterinarians and avian health experts bring the knowledge and experience to help today’s poultry producers make smart, science-driven decisions about vaccine choices, diagnostics, equipment and more. Please visit www.Boehringer-Ingelheim.ca for more information.
Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. (CBS Inc.) is an innovation-focused company that manufactures a wide range of products used in feed, food, industrial and environmental applications.The company was established in 1984 and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with GMP+ manufacturing and warehouse locations east and west, serving customers internationally.Science Based-All of the company’s products are based on a strong foundation of research and development. Each is designed to deliver specific, clear benefits that represent safe, natural ways to improved performance, profitability and environmental stewardship.Wide Range of Top Products-CBS Inc. products are designed to provide high-quality solutions that meet all the demands of today’s marketplace.Culture of Innovation-The company’s product line-up is continually broadened with new, innovative options emerging from its research and development pipeline.Commitment to Service-
All products and customer relationships are backed by a diverse team of well-qualified staff and technical support, linked to a broader network of expertise.Keeping at the Leading Edge-CBS Inc. is dedicated to working directly with customers and their industries to help them get the most out of products and stay at the leading edge, through new innovations, top products, exceptional service and science-based approaches that are second to none. Contact: Krisjan Jones at 1-800-561-2474 kjones@canadianbio.com.
Founded in 1989 by Dr. Stewart Ritchie, Canadian Poultry Consultants is on the leading edge of optimal poultry brooding and education. Canadian Poultry Consultants was previously Canadian Veterinary Nutritional Laboratories & McCausland Consulting Services. We are a team of poultry veterinarians, technicians and analysts dedicated to the principles of preventative management. Our team consists of Dr. Lindsay Kehler as well as veterinary technicians including Mike McIlwee and other support staff. Dr. Ritchie is the Past President of the American Association of Avian pathologists and is the creator of the Platinum Brooding® program, the Coccidiosis Prevention Planner©, and the Platinum Brooding Checklist© App and Dashboard, the BC Euthanasia course, and Managing Metabolic Heat©. Contact: Dr. Stew Ritchie, Dr. Lindsay Kehler or George Jacob at 1-877-449-3447 or admin@canadianpoultry.ca.
Ceva Animal Health - Poultry protein is an important food source for cultures across the globe. Protecting the global supply of high quality poultry meat and eggs to the fast growing human population is critical. This is why Ceva has made a major commitment to poultry vaccination technology. Through our poultry vaccines, equipment and services, Ceva can help protect both animal health and human health, as well as to support food safety and security. Contact Don Hanson, Poultry Business Manager, don.hanson@ceva.com
Chicken Farmers of Canada is responsible for ensuring that Canada’s 2,800 chicken farmers produce the right amount of fresh, safe, high-quality chicken and that farmers’ views are taken into account when important agriculture and policy decisions are made. Our directions and policies are determined by a 15-member Board of Directors comprised of farmers appointed by the provincial chicken marketing boards. Non-farmer directors — one from the restaurant industry, another from the further processing industry, and two representing the processing industry — are appointed by their respective national associations. This way, Chicken Farmers of Canada and its stakeholders work together on behalf of Canada’s chicken industry, from farmer to consumer. For more information, please see www.chicken.ca and www.chickenfarmers.ca.
Chr. Hansen Inc. was founded in 1874 by the Danish pharmacist Christian Ditlev Ammentorp Hansen. Since then, Chr. Hansen has continued to revolutionize and set the standards for manufacture of microbial solutions for poultry. We believe that microbial challenges require microbial solutions. With that in mind, we are the owner of one of the world’s largest commercial collections of bacteria, numbering more than 25,000 strains. We believe in the value of research, and that’s why the majority of our product innovations stem from our strong platforms in bioscience technologies and in-depth understanding of the needs in the poultry industry. Through that knowledge, we enable producers and farmers to boost their efficiency and profitability, while meeting all regulatory requirements for safety, stability, and reliability. Contact : John Dickerson: Regional Sales Manager, Poultry, usjod@chr-hansen.com.
DSM Nutritional Products, LLC is one of the world’s leading suppliers of vitamins, carotenoids, eubiotics and feed enzymes to the global feed industry. With 48 premix plants strategically located around the world, we are able to provide our customers with products and solutions that help them succeed in a dynamic and ever-changing global market, enhancing both profits and environmental sustainability. Our alliance with Novozymes, the largest enzyme producer globally, has allowed DSM to maintain the lead position in all key feed enzymes (phytase, NSP, protease). We are uniquely involved in all three steps of the value chain: the production of pure active ingredients, their incorporation into sophisticated forms, and the provision of tailored premixes. Being the only fully integrated player allows DSM to differentiate itself all the way through the value chain. DSM proudly sponsors Platinum Brooding. We feel strongly that following the principles of Platinum Brooding allows producers to maximize their profitability and want to ensure the effective delivery of this critical message through the program and courses. Contact: Dr. Thomas Frost, Director of Nutritional Solutions. thomas.frost@dsm.com.
IDEXX Laboratories is a scientific leader in Veterinary diagnostics, providing test kits and software monitoring systems for managing herd and flock health and productivity. With over 6000 employees throughout the world, IDEXX continues to innovate, bringing new solutions to veterinarians, universities, producers and government laboratories. Please also take a moment to visit the Idexx Learning Center site at Idexxlearningcenter.idexx.com . Contact: Please call/email Kristen Roza-Sutherland, DVM at +1 207 321 9812 or Kristen-Roza-Sutherland@IDEXX.com.
Jamesway is a global provider of industry leading and "Worry-Free" incubators, hatchers, ventilation systems and related
accessories as well as facility design and automation services for chicken, duck and turkey hatcheries. Known as the
company that "never lets you down", Jamesway has been selling, servicing and supporting customers for over 100 years
and has a client base which numbers in the thousands in virtually every country in the world.
Jamesway is a proud sponsor of the Platinum Brooding Program which enables hatchery managers to get the best yield
possible for each hatch. This course has been profoundly important to brood managers since its inception in 2001. During the one day course, participants are led through the latest industry developments including the thorough, accurate and precise measurements associated with such critical factors as feed, light, litter, air, water, space, security and sanitation. Contact: Ken Long – Sales Director North America - Email: Ken.Long@jamesway.com Mobile: 1 404 434 7303. Christian Jordan – V.P. of Sales and Marketing – Email: Christian.Jordan@jamesway.com Mobile: 1 937 231 1313.
For more than 20 years, the Jones-Hamilton Company Agricultural Division has brought research-backed solutions to poultry producers around the world as the knowledge leader in all matters related to pH. Jones-Hamilton, who has produced and distributed chemicals and compounds since 1951, launched their flagship agricultural product PLT® litter amendment in the 1990s. PLT has become the industry-leading solution for successfully growing birds on built up litter. Its ability to eliminate ammonia and lower litter pH for a more favorable litter ecology allows birds to optimize their genetic potential. Jones-Hamilton is a proud sponsor of the Platinum Brooding Program, working to educate poultry producers on house management best practices including litter management and water acidification.
Contact: Blake Gibson, Business Development Manager, bgibson@jones-hamilton.com.
Overseen by Dr. Stewart Ritchie, Dr. Lindsay Kehler, Mike McIlwee and support staff, S. J. Ritchie Research Farms Ltd. (SJRRF) is a poultry research trial facility and licensed producer of broiler chicken in British Columbia, Canada. Certifications include Platinum Brooding®;Safe, Safer, Safest, On-Farm Food Safety Assurance Program (OFFSAP), BC Poultry Biosecurity Program, Animal Care Program, and CPC Poultry Euthanasia Accreditation. SJRRF conducts blind two-treatment mini-pen and two-treatment floor trials in a commercial environment to best reproduce commercial results. SJRRF also monitors off-site trials for broilers and other poultry and provides veterinary consulting services. Contact: Dr. Stew Ritchie, Dr. Lindsay Kehler or George Jacob at 1-877-449-3447 or admin@canadianpoultry.ca.
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Zoetis is a global animal health company dedicated to supporting customers and their businesses in ever better ways. Building on 60 years of experience, we deliver quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostic products and genetic tests and supported by a range of services. We are working every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant.
Our name, Zoetis (zō-EH-tis), has its root in zo, familiar in words such as zoo and zoology and derived from zoetic, meaning “pertaining to life.” It signals our company’s dedication to supporting the veterinarians and livestock producers everywhere who raise and care for the farm and companion animals on which we all depend.
Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes a diverse portfolio of animal health medicines and vaccines designed to meet the real-world needs of veterinarians and the livestock farmers and companion animal owners they support.
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