Avian influenza (bird flu): Guide to the use of Poultry Valuation Rate Cards
- Introduction
- Valuation principles
- How to use valuation rate cards
- Disputed valuations
- Frequently asked questions
Introduction
This is a simple method for the determination of value of poultry where approved valuers are not available. The value of the birds is related to species, type, age, sex and husbandry system and can then be read from prepared valuation rate cards.
Where a Valuation Rate Card is available for the poultry to value, the system can be used by an SVS officer.
Valuation principles
Egg layers (all types)
The valuation rate cards for all egg-laying species / systems are based
on the principles used for Salmonella valuations that have been in use
for many years. These take the valuation of the birds from transfer onto
the laying site to up to peak value (generally between 20 – 30 weeks
of age depending on species and system) as being the cost of production
plus a notional margin. Peak value is the point at which the birds begin
to generate income from egg sales. From this peak value point onwards,
the valuation of the bird is depreciated on a straight-line basis to the
end of lay value.
Meat / table birds and layer replacements
Valuations for all table birds and layer replacements have been done on a similar basis to that for egg laying strains – that is, values are based on production costs plus a notional margin. In the case of table birds, the peak value figure is achieved at the final slaughter age. The intention is that the valuation for birds at normal slaughter age fairly reflects what the producer would actually receive for the birds immediately prior to processing.
Layer replacements are birds being reared for subsequent transfer to laying sites. These include pullets destined for cage, barn or free range laying site and pullets and cockerels destined for broiler and layer breeder sites. The are valued using the same principles as those for table birds, rather than those used for layers.
High value birds, e.g. geese and seasonal turkey, etc
There are some table bird operations that have a very high market value at normal slaughter ages relative to costs of production. In order to address this issue and arrive at valuations that are fair and reasonable, different valuation principles have been developed which are based on costs of production during the early stages of rear and actual market value at typical slaughter ages. The use of these rate cards to arrive at a valuation is however identical to those for all the other system / species.
How to use valuation rate cards
Is a Valuation Rate Card available ?
1. Establish what the species/system of production is, and check if a Valuation Rate Card is available for that species/system. Where appropriate, check delivery tickets and/or by reference to guidance notes.
2. These valuation rate cards are available.
Age of poultry
1. Establish the age of the birds to be culled. Where appropriate use age when culling to take place, e.g. birds are 15 day old commercial broilers as hatched on the day of valuation but culling will not take place until the next day, enter the value on Valuation – Calculation Sheet EXD33 as that of "16 day old commercial broilers as hatched”.
2. Ensure the description in the Calculation Sheet (EXD33) accurately describes the poultry and reflects the Valuation Rate Card used to determine value.
3. Some rate cards express ages in days, others are in weeks.
4. For evidence of age check production records, receipts, delivery tickets etc
Determine Value
1. Read off the appropriate value from the valuation table. Please note that all valuations given in the rate cards are in pence per bird but that the Calculation Sheet requires entry in pounds.
Disputed valuations
The Valuation Rate Cards have been developed to produce fair and equitable valuations for the species/systems covered, and have been designed to take account of minor differences between how individual producers rear stock of the same species/system. However the Valuation Rate Cards may not fit every possible production system/type and where a producer disputes a valuation saying their stock should be valued at a higher level than the standard figure, Animal Health valuer has the option of taking one of the following steps:
- Where the query is felt to be of a straightforward nature and capable of being resolved on farm, the query should be referred to Vet Ops in NDCC (CPD until NDCC established An example of a ‘straightforward’ query would be in the case of clear evidence being provided of more expensive stock being used – e.g. a specialist strain of free range egg layer. In this situation it may be possible to provide advice at the time;
- Where the dispute is more complex or cannot be resolved quickly by reference to NDCC/CPD, determine the value using the most appropriate table and ensure the owner/agent is made aware of the procedure to dispute a valuation.
Frequently asked questions
The age of the birds does not exactly match the ages given in the valuation rate cards.
Calculate a pro-rata figure, e.g. 42 day old female commercial broilers. The table for female commercial broilers stops at day 35. To find the value at day 42:
- calculate the cost increment between day 34 and day 35 from the table, (35 day value is 104p and increment between day 34 and day 35 is 3.5p);
- multiply this incremental daily value by the additional number of days, (7 x 3.5 p = 24.5p).
- add this to the value at day 35 to give a 42 day old cost, (24.5p + 104p = 128.5p)
The flock to be slaughtered comprises of birds of different ages.
Most intensive broiler and layer farms will have a number of houses and each house will contain birds of different ages. In these situations, houses must be valued individually. This is not the same as sites where birds of different ages are run together as one flock - (usually small-scale domestic poultry flocks). In the absence of detailed and credible information on bird ages and numbers being available, the only practical way of valuing the flock is to take an average age for all birds in that group. Record in writing the reasons for reaching that average.
How should breeder flocks containing males and females be valued?
In the case of broiler breeder and layer breeder flocks, the valuation should be based on the total number of birds eligible – irrespective of whether they are males or females. In the case of turkey breeder flocks, males (‘stags’) should be valued separately to females (‘hens’), and the valuation rate cards already take this into account.
The species/system is not covered by a valuation table
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the rate cards are as comprehensive as possible, there are some species/ systems to be slaughtered that fall outside of the scope of the rate cards. These include those species/systems for which rate cards are still under development / updating and those for which it has been decided that Valuation Rate Cards are not appropriate.
Where rate cards are ‘under revision’ or there are no plans to develop them, specialist valuations will be required. This should be arranged via Vet Ops in the NDCC (Contingency Planning Division before NDCC established).
Page last modified:
November 14, 2007 13:09