SOUTH AFRICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION CODE OF PRACTICE JUNE 2018 Final Document after 2018 Congress Resolution Incorporated Page 1 Contents 1 Background and Introduction ................................................................................................................. 5 2 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................... 7 3 Poultry Housing, Stocking Densities and Product Identification ............................................................ 8 3.1 Breeder Housing Systems ............................................................................................................... 8 3.1.1 Breeding Stock kept in Barn Systems ...................................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Breeding Stock kept in Cage Systems ..................................................................................... 8 3.2 Pullet Rearing and Egg Production Systems ................................................................................... 8 3.2.1 Commercial Pullets reared in Cage Systems ........................................................................... 9 3.2.2 Commercial Pullets reared in Barn Systems ........................................................................... 9 3.2.3 Commercial Layers kept in Cage Systems ............................................................................... 9 3.2.4 Commercial Layers kept in Enriched Cage Systems ................................................................ 9 3.2.5 Commercial Layers kept in Barn Systems ............................................................................... 9 3.2.6 Commercial Layers kept in Free Range Systems ..................................................................... 9 3.3 Broiler Production Systems ............................................................................................................. 9 3.3.1 Broilers reared in Barn Systems .............................................................................................. 9 3.3.2 Broilers reared in Free Range Systems ................................................................................... 9 3.3.3 Broilers reared in Cage Systems .............................................................................................. 9 4 Management Practices ......................................................................................................................... 10 4.1 Preparation of Housing Facilities .................................................................................................. 10 4.2 Receiving of Stock ......................................................................................................................... 10 4.3 Feed Management ........................................................................................................................ 10 4.4 Water Management ...................................................................................................................... 11 4.5 Environmental Temperature and Ventilation ............................................................................... 11 4.6 Light Control .................................................................................................................................. 12 4.7 Egg Collection ................................................................................................................................ 12 4.7.1 Collection of Hatching Eggs ................................................................................................... 12 4.7.2 Collection of Eggs for Human Consumption ......................................................................... 13 5 Stock Supervision .................................................................................................................................. 14 6 Euthanasia of Birds and Chicks ............................................................................................................. 15 6.1 Disposal of Small Numbers of Birds on the farm .......................................................................... 15 6.1.1 Cervical Dislocation ............................................................................................................... 15 6.1.2 Use of a Burdizzo ................................................................................................................... 15 Final Document after 2018 Congress Resolution Incorporated Page 2 6.1.3 Use of a Captive Bolt ............................................................................................................. 15 6.1.4 Stunning followed by Cervical Dislocation or Severing of the Arteries ................................ 15 6.1.5 Gas Killing .............................................................................................................................. 15 6.2 Disposal of Non-saleable Chicks and Hatch Debris ....................................................................... 16 6.2.1 Gassing .................................................................................................................................. 16 6.2.2 Maceration ............................................................................................................................ 16 6.3 Mass Euthanasia in the case of a Disease Outbreak ..................................................................... 16 7 Live Bird Sales........................................................................................................................................ 19 8 Special Management Practices ............................................................................................................. 20 8.1 Beak Treatment ..................................................................................................................... 20 8.2 Moulting of Layer and Breeding Stock ................................................................................... 20 8.3 Artificial Insemination ............................................................................................................. 20 9 Transportation of Broilers, Pullets and End of Lay Birds ...................................................................... 21 10 Health Control ................................................................................................................................... 23 10.1 The Establishment and Biosecurity ............................................................................................... 23 10.2 Flock Health................................................................................................................................... 23 10.3 Records.......................................................................................................................................... 24 10.4 Vaccination .................................................................................................................................... 24 10.5 Disease Monitoring and Testing ................................................................................................... 24 10.6 Parasite and Vermin Control ......................................................................................................... 24 11 Day Old Chick Hatcheries .................................................................................................................. 26 11.1 Hatchery Buildings ........................................................................................................................ 26 11.1.1 Location of hatcheries ........................................................................................................... 26 11.1.2 Building design ...................................................................................................................... 26 11.2 Egg Quality and Hatching Egg Storage .................................................................................. 26 11.2.1 Egg Quality ............................................................................................................................ 27 11.2.2 Handling of Hatching Eggs .................................................................................................... 27 11.2.3 Sanitation of Hatching Eggs .................................................................................................. 27 11.3 Hatchery Hygiene and Chick Health ..................................................................................... 27 11.3.1 Chick Health .......................................................................................................................... 27 11.3.2 The Hatchery Building and Hygiene ...................................................................................... 28 11.3.3 Staff and Visitors ................................................................................................................... 28 11.4 Handling of Chicks ................................................................................................................. 28 Final Document after 2018 Congress Resolution Incorporated Page 3 11.4.1 Chick Take-off ........................................................................................................................ 28 11.4.2 Chick Sexing ........................................................................................................................... 29 11.4.3