• Options of conducting trials with straight run or all male flocks are available
• Bias is avoided by adopting completely randomized block designs in:
  • Distributing chicks within pens
  • and pens within a house
• Trials are undertaken for raw materials, complete feeds, feed additives, water soluble medications, vaccines and for breed comparisons.

• The objective of this facility is to simulate the actual field conditions in terms of :
  • Environment: Heat or cold stress
  • High stocking density
  • Exposure to infective agents
• A separate complex with 32 pens of similar dimensions is available for such studies.
• Pens are completely separated from each other in order to avoid cross contamination and mixing of the birds/litter materials within the adjoining pens.
• Designated exclusive workers work in this facility.
• Equipment to induce thermal stress is available
• Stock culture of Eimeria spp. Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella and Escherichia coli are available.
• Specific ATCC strains can be arranged if requested for.
• A group of poultry veterinarians assesses the load of challenge to be induced and if the load looks ethically permissible then only challenge studies are undertaken. The main objective is to abode by the ethical norms of the country and to prevent cruelty on the experimental birds.

• A metabolism study room having controlled temperature is available for metabolism study.
• The birds are put into specially designed metabolism cages where they are individually fed.
• The facility can conduct metabolism trials for major nutrients
  • either by total tract apparent digestibility method (faecal collection)
  • or by apparent ileal digestibility method involving markers (Celite, TiO₂ or chromic oxide).
• Drinking water is offered individually and is quantified. This facilitates the scope of water medication studies.

• Semi-automatic broiler meat processing facility is in operation which measures yields of dressed meat, internal organs and commercial cuts, chemical composition of meat, drip loss and water holding capacity as well as cooking loss estimation.

The details of the parameters which are measured are detailed out in the Agrivet Laboratory section