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Historical and current molting practices in the U.S. table egg industry
1Department of Animal Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, USA. don.bell@ucr.edu
Poultry Science
|June 24, 2003
Summary
Induced molting extends the productive life of commercial egg-laying flocks, increasing overall productivity and reducing costs. This practice is now standard for optimizing layer flock utilization and economic efficiency in the poultry industry.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Poultry Science
- Agricultural Economics
Background:
- Commercial egg production historically involved a single laying cycle per flock.
- Induced molting allows layer flocks to be returned to production for additional cycles.
- This practice aims to improve flock utilization and economic returns for producers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the management practice of induced molting in commercial egg production.
- To highlight the economic and productivity benefits of induced molting.
- To provide context for the decision-making process between molting and all-pullet programs.
Main Methods:
- The abstract describes induced molting as a management practice.
- It outlines the historical context and current prevalence of molting.
- Economic factors such as flock performance and market prices are cited as decision-making criteria.
Main Results:
- Induced molting increases total flock productivity.
- It reduces production costs by spreading fixed expenses over more units.
- The practice leads to reduced industry investments in breeder and rearing operations.
Conclusions:
- Induced molting is a key strategy for optimizing commercial layer flock utilization.
- It offers significant economic advantages, including higher productivity and lower costs.
- The decision to molt is based on a comparison of economic factors and flock performance.