LOHMANN BREEDING FOR SUCCESS ... TOGETHER

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.