Contribute to the production of fertile gamebird eggs

This standard is about contributing to the production of fertile gamebird eggs. It can be applied to any gamebird that is produced under controlled conditions.

This standard is aimed at those who work in game production on either a full- or part-time basis.

To meet this standard you will be able to:

• obtain suitable gamebirds for breeding
• establish a breeding flock of gamebirds
• manage a flock of gamebirds to facilitate gamebird egg production
• maintain the production of gamebird eggs
• manage the handling and storage of gamebird eggs.

1. contribute to the development of a breeding programme to achieve required fertile gamebird egg production, in accordance with relevant legal requirements and those of the organisation that you work for
2. contribute to the production of fertile gamebird eggs by the effective implementation of the gamebird breeding programme
3. organise the establishment of breeding pens to support planned fertile gamebird egg production
4. select breeding stock to optimise the potential returns from breeding activities
5. contribute to the development of feeding and care regimes for the gamebird breeding stock in order to maintain their nutrition and welfare
6. organise the preparation and care of gamebird breeding stock to maintain their welfare, facilitate fertile gamebird egg production and comply with relevant legislation
7. follow established procedures to minimise the effect of the factors that can disrupt fertile gamebird egg production
8. maintain fertile gamebird egg production operations within known resource availability and according to welfare requirements
9. administer prophylactic and disease treatments to gamebird breeding stock, in accordance with relevant legal requirements
10. recognise and effectively deal with any difficulties that impact on the gamebird breeding programme
11. ensure fertile gamebird eggs are handled and stored in an appropriate manner to maintain their viability
12. maintain effective communication with others to facilitate effective gamebird egg production
13. ensure accurate records of egg production are maintained
14. ensure work is carried out safely, in line with relevant health and safety requirements

1. the relevant legal requirements and relevant codes of practice pertaining to the production, transport and welfare of game birds
2. the health and safety requirements associated with the production of fertile gamebird eggs
3. how to implement a gamebird breeding programme to achieve the planned targets
4. the reproductive requirements of the gamebird being produced
5. how to organise gamebird breeding pens to achieve the required egg production
6. the specialist handling requirements of the gamebird breeding stock
7. the methods used to monitor the fertility of individual gamebirds
8. the expected levels of fertile gamebird egg production and how gamebirds can be prepared in order to maximise gamebird egg production
9. the advantages and disadvantages of closed and caught-up flock systems
10. the welfare and nutritional requirements of gamebird breeding stock, including the pre- breeding nutritional requirements
11. common gamebird diseases and their symptoms – the possible causes and treatments
12. how to administer treatments to gamebirds and the legal requirements associated with veterinary medicine and notifiable diseases
13. the expected levels and common causes of mortality
14. the requirements for collecting, cleaning and storing fertile gamebird eggs to maximise their hatchability
15. the expected periods and levels of production linked to the calendar months
16. the causes of common difficulties which can affect fertile gamebird egg production and how to minimise their potential
17. the importance of good egg fertility and the variations in fertility which occur during the egg-laying season
18. the record keeping requirements associated with the production of fertile game bird eggs and the importance of their accuracy.

Develop and implement a breeding programme to cover six of the following processes:

• catching breeding stocks
• transport of laying birds
• preparation of laying birds
• monitoring fertility
• egg collection and storage
• disposal of the breeding flock
• over-wintered stock

Establish procedures to deal with the following factors:

• variations in environmental conditions
• resource shortfalls
• pest and predator actions
• disease
• equipment failure
• variations in expected egg production

Recognise and effectively deal with difficulties that may arise, including:

• egg eating
• soft shells
• vent pecking
• over mating
• low fertility
• egg binding
• disease
• stress in birds
• egg peritonitis

Maintain the following operations:

• egg collection
• egg cleaning and storage
• caring for breeding stock
• disposal of breeding flocks

Gamebirds – pheasant, partridge, duck

Resources – people, materials, feed and water, equipment, power, time