LOHMANN BREEDING FOR SUCCESS ... TOGETHER

Welcome to the PODCAST by LOHMANN

Today, we are diving into one of the most critical stages of the incubation process: the start. As every hatchery manager knows, the decisions made before eggs enter the settercan have a significant impact on hatchability, chick quality, and overall flock performance.

Our guest today is Davide Assirelli, Global Technical Manager Incubation at LOHMANN BREEDERS and author of the latest LOHMANN Toolbox article,"Pre-warming and SPIDES – TheRight Action." In his article, Davide explains why these two management tools are often misunderstood, how they differ in purpose, and how they can be used effectively to improve incubation results. According to Davide, SPIDES helps maintain embryo viability during extended egg storage, while pre-warming must be adapted carefully to storage duration and incubation strategy to achieve optimal hatch window uniformity and chick quality.

In the incubation process, the start is a real important step. Just like with horse, bike, or car racing, this procedure can lead to perfect performance or destroy, undermine

our process.

In the previous article we underlined the importance to

have a real good atmosphere for this process, in the best way

with air flow and air velocity, uniform temperature and dehumidification machine, and the relative advantage of make this start on eggs knowledge.

Today’s episode is all about oxidation—the silent process that gradually damages fats, oils, vitamins, proteins, and ultimately flock performance. It’s a hidden challenge that can reduce egg production, weaken shell quality, lower feed efficiency, and increase oxidative stress, often without obvious warning signs.  

To help us better understand this often-overlooked subject, we're delighted to welcome Asad Sultan, Regional Nutritionist for Asia at LOHMANN BREEDERS and the author of our latest Toolbox article, “Oxidation, Oxidants and Antioxidants in Layer Nutrition.” In this practical guide, Asad explains not only what oxidation is, but more importantly how farmers and feed millers can recognize it early and prevent costly losses through better feed management and antioxidant strategies.  

Over the next few minutes, we’ll explore ten key questions—from what’s really happening inside a tank of oil when oxidation begins, to why apparently “good-looking” feed may already be causing problems, and what practical steps producers can take immediately to protect both feed quality and flock performance.

Whether you’re a nutritionist, feed mill manager, veterinarian, or egg producer, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply on your farm tomorrow.

Oxidation is one of the most common but least recognized reasons for poor performance in commercial layer flocks.

It silently destroys the quality of fats, oils, grains, proteins, vitamins, and finished feed during storage, transport, and feed milling.

Even when diets appear normal, oxidized ingredients can reduce energy value, damage nutrients, create toxic by-products, and impair the health and productivity of laying hens.

Welcome to PODCASTby LOHMANN – where science meets practice, and performance starts long beforethe first egg is laid.

Today’sepisode dives into one of the most underestimated phases in poultry production:rearing. What really happens in those first weeks of life? And how doearly decisions shape the health, resilience, and performance of a flock forits entire lifecycle?

To explorethis, we’re joined by Mark Allen, Global Technical Manager – Flock Managementat LOHMANN BREEDERS.

With years ofhands-on global experience, Mark brings a fresh and practical perspective toflock management. In this episode, he challenges us to rethink rearing – not asa preparatory phase, but as a critical window where we “imprint” the immunesystem.

We’ll talk about:

• Why the first six weeks define long-term performance
• How feed becomes a training tool, not just nutrition
• The hidden role of gizzard and crop development in immune resilience
• And why successful producers start thinking more like trainers than caretakers

If you’reaiming for better persistency, stronger flocks, and smarter managementdecisions—this conversation is for you.

🎧 Let’s get started.

When we think about managing the performance of laying hens, we often focus on the production house - feed formulation, lighting schedules, egg curves.

But in reality, the true foundation for a successful laying cycle is laid much earlier, and in a much quieter way.

It starts on day one, in the rearing house, often unnoticed, but absolutely crucial: this is the time when we imprint the immune system.

In today’s episode, we focus on a topic that is gaining importance in cage-free systems: coccidiosis vaccination and post-vaccination management.

Vaccination is only the first step — what truly determines success is what happens afterwards. How does immunity actually develop? Why is oocyst recycling essential? And which management factors make the difference in the first weeks of life?

To answer these questions, we speak with our Global Technical Manager Veterinary, Dr. Andreas Bublat, who shares practical insights and field experience on how to build strong and lasting immunity in modern layer systems.

With the rise of more cage-free systems such as aviaries, coccidiosis has re-emerged as a significant challenge. One of the main reasons for its increased prevalence in these systems is the direct contact birds have with their own manure1. This contact allows the parasite to complete its lifecycle, enabling it to reproduce and spread.

Hatchery contamination can be one of the most serious challenges for the entire production management, since the hatchery is the main hub of the poultry industry, connecting breeder farms to commercial farms.
Preventing contamination within a hatchery depends on knowing 4 core principles.

It is common to see in nature how birds during foraging consume a certain amount of constituent materials including structural remains of plants . Such materials have traditionally been referred to as “FIBRE”.