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Poultry Industry in Republic of Moldova Egg Production

Republic of Moldova is a small, ex-Soviet Union country, which is heavily relaying on agriculture, economical sector that accounts for 28% of GDP and 60% of exports in 2004 (Moldova 2007). By volume, livestock production has the following structure: bovine - 36%, poultry - 29.2%, swine - 27.7%, sheep and goats - 5.3% and other products - 1.8%. The situation of the livestock sector remains to be determined by the state of farmers households, the principal segment of livestock production belonging to them: milk production - 87%, cattle and poultry breeding - 80%, eggs production - 70% (Agriculture of the Republic of Moldova 2009). Almost every family from the village keeps poultry for personal consumption or domestic sales. However in 2005, there were registered a population of 14,000,000 chickens including chickens from 32 registered poultry farms, they producing in 2005, 43,000 tons of eggs (Moldova 2007). In 2011 these numbers considerably increased due to external investments in poultry sector. Therefore the numbers of poultry farms increased to 47 and the chickens population increased to 23 million. This also leads to an increase in poultry products, which are about 45 thousand tons of meat and 700 million eggs, annually (Moldova 2007). Some of these poultry farms are specialized only on meat production, some others are specialized only in eggs production, however there are mixed farms specialized in production of meat, eggs, quail, pheasants, chicks and hatching eggs (Poultry CIS 2011). The animal performances are influenced by many factors such as nutrition, health conditions and type of holding. In order to support egg production, producers initiate the photo stimulation and manipulation of the diet around 18 weeks of age. Minor nutrients have also been manipulated such that calcium levels in the diet are approximately five to seven times greater than phosphorus levels. When a flock first enters egg production at 18 to 22 weeks of age, the rate of egg lay will be around 10 to 20 percent. The flock quickly reaches peak egg production (90 plus percent) around 30 to 32 weeks of age. After 30 to 32 weeks of age, egg production continually decreases to approximately fifty percent around 60 to 70 weeks of age. Post-molt egg production will increase such that peak egg production reaches about 80 percent. Peak production following a molt is short-lived and the flock generally returns to 50 percent production by 100 to 110 weeks of age. Many producers will induce a second molt. The second molt is commonly dictated by the current egg prices and the availability of replacement pullets. The majority of hens are between 100 and 130 weeks of age when they reach the end of their egg production cycle. Thus hens may be molted a second time and then sent to a spent hen facility (120 to 130 weeks of age) or sent directly to a spent hen facility following the first molt (100 to 110 weeks of age). After the flock

empties the layer house, the house is disinfected before another flock enters it (Meunier, R. A. & Dr. Latour, M. A. 2011). It is known that the food affects the egg quality and quantity. The experiments show that the quality is especially injured in flavor if hens eat in excess onions and fish. To produce eggs, what is called a narrow nutritive ratio should be fed; that is, a proportion of one part protein to four or five of carbohydrates and fat. This ration should include wheat, corn, oats, barley and green food as well as grit or sea shell. The egg production is also influenced by the time of hatching the eggs and the chicks maturation. In order to have a profitable egg production the eggs must be incubated in the early March so in October the chicks should reach the age of laying eggs (Kains M.G 1910). Layers are usually raised on full feed. The feed is given to birds via the chain system. The chain system transports feed into the metal feeder at specific times throughout the day. In general, 2 inches of feeder space is allotted per pullet and 2.5 inches or more for each adult laying hen (Animal Care Series, California Poultry Workshop, 1998). Young birds are fed a high protein diet (20 percent) during the first few weeks of life. This level constantly decreases until it reaches approximately 12 to 15 percent protein during egg production. In addition to dietary protein checking, producers must closely study other ingredients: such as lysine, methionine, calcium, and phosphorus, which are precisely monitored to support maximum egg production (Meunier, R. A. & Dr. Latour, M. A. 2011). In Moldova and Romania as the most common are Leghorn hens, followed by the breeds of mixed production of meat and eggs such as Australorp, Amrock, Cochinchina, Naked Neck from Transilvania, Langshahn, New Hampshire, Orloff, Orpington, Plymouth, Hamburg breed, Italian breed, Rhode-island, Sussex and Wyandotte (Pasari de curte 2010). There are four types of eggs, classified according to the way the chickens are raised. These eggs are categorized agreeing to European standards, so the consumer may know what kind of eggs he's buying. The first digit of the code points to the raising method of chickens, this information is written on the eggs packing. can move freely. 3 - eggs produced by chickens that are raised in battery cages. Numbers point to : 0 - organic, ecological eggs - labeled with 0 digit before the producer number. 1 - eggs produced from birds that can spend most of their time outdoors 2 - eggs produced from chickens that are raised in an industrial system but they

The transport of eggs is made with sanitary-veterinary authorized cars, according to the European standards (Egg production and market 2010). Moldavian poultry industry is determinated by farmers households, however with the increase of external investments in the poultry sector also increased in numbers of poultry farms. The poultry farms are automated to feed the hens with a nutritive ration in order to produce qualitative and quantitated eggs that meet European standards. Word count: 1007

References Agriculture of the Republic of Moldova 2009, Livestock production and progressing industry, Moldovagate.com, data viewed March 6, 2012, URL: <http://moldovagate.com/en/article/show/224> Egg production and market 2010, Short presentation, AviVest.ro, data viewed March 6, 2012, URL: < http://www.avi-vest.ro/prezentare_en.html> Kains M.G 1910, Profitable Poultry Production,Poultry Editor American Agriculturist Weeklies, New York, Orange Judd Company

Meunier, R. A. & Dr. Latour, M. A. 2011, Commercial Egg Production and Processing, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, data viewed March 6, 2012, URL: <http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/poultry/publication/commegg/> Moldova 2007, World mark Encyclopedia of Nations, Encyclopedia.com, data viewed March 6, 2012, URL: <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Moldova.aspx> Pasari de curte 2010, Gaina, Animalutul.ro, data viewed March 6, 2012, URL: <http://www.animalutul.ro/pasari/ingrijire/pasari-de-curte-gaina/168/> Poultry CIS 2011, Moldova, Ptitsegrad.ru, data viewed March 6, 2012, URL: <http://www.pticegrad.ru/pticefabriki_sng-6.php> The Axedum 2010, Axedum SRL, online video, accessed on March 6, 2012, URL: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msNMmkfyFFQ&feature=channel>