83. The keeping of accurate records is essential and will aid management, bird welfare and auditing procedures. Responsibility for maintaining the information rests with the person in charge of the animals. The records should be readily accessible to other staff on the farm, to the veterinary surgeon and to those checking that welfare controls are adequate. All of the producers we met keep detailed records and recognise that it is good management practice so to do. Some of the information they record is not directly relevant to bird welfare and is not therefore covered in this report. Those relevant to welfare include the following:
Available floor area of the house.
Number of chicks placed.
Mortality, cause and number affected.
Feed, amount consumed (daily and cumulative).
Body weight, recorded frequently in relation to agreed/breeding
company targets.
Water, daily consumption.
Temperature, daily maximum and minimum.
Light, intensity and duration.
Vaccination, date and dosage.
Medications, date and dosage.
Disease, type, date and number of birds affected.
Disinfection, bacterial counts at farm cleanout.
Veterinary consultation, date and outcome.
Incidents, such as equipment malfunctions.
84. Accurate records should be kept which incorporate the information outlined above and should be readily accessible and available for inspection by veterinary staff and enforcement authorities.