A survey of randomly selected 50 layer farms was conducted in and around Lahore district. Data regarding farming structure, location and dimension of sheds/farms, feed and feeding, watering, labour management, lighting schedule, equipments, litter management, biosecurity and sanitation, vaccines and vaccination, health cover after disease outbreak, deworming, culling, environment control, egg production; storage and marketing, molting, availability of extension services, sale of old birds, record keeping and economics were collected through a questionnaire by interviewing individual farmers/supervisors.

The results showed that almost literate people were doing layer business. Most of farms comprised more than one shed but the capacity was not fully utilized. The farms were located at a reasonable distance both from Lahore and main road. Almost all sheds were constructed in right direction and dimensions. Mostly commercial feeds were in use and storage facility was present at most of farms with a proper storage period. Almost all farmers had water from hand pumps and dunkey pumps which had numerous problems like E. ç2jj, salts like sodium chloride and nitrates etc. Automatic drinkers were mostly in use and frequency of filling water tank was more in summer. Nominal wages were given to labour with no special reward and criteria of selecting labour was honesty, hardwork and experience. Lighting period at most of farms was according to company's schedule. Plastic and steel equipments were mostly used and brooding was done by coal and electric brooders alongwith karosine oil stoves. Rice husk and saw dust were litter materials commonly used, however, rice husk was found to be slightly more common. Practices of biosecurity and sanitation were not followed as required. Generally, vaccines had their origin from private companies and found to have reasonable results. Mortality rate was comparatively high due to unsatisfactory managemental practices. Cost of mdication was also higher due to repeated attacks of diseases. Deworming have found to be a routine practice and had good effect on production. Culling was not practiced properly due to lack of technical know how. Environment extremes both heat and cold were observed to be the major problems in layer production. Egg production at most of farms and practices of collection and marketing were found better. Molting was still not a common practice however most of those who did it, found molting beneficial and economical. Extension services were mainly provided by private sector. Record keeping was commonly practiced. It was concluded that there were lot of managemental problems at the farms which resulted into poor production as compared to the advanced world.

SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Latest information regarding management and production should be disseminated to the farmers through launching of short term training courses/programmes.

2. Field technical staff should be offered refresher courses in order to be in touch with new diagnostic techniques.

3. Horizontal transmission of diseases can be reduced by following strict biosecurity measures including regular disinfection of farms, equipments and litter. Foot baths should be made available by each farmer.
4. Provision of required temperature and humidity is prerequisite in attaining maximum egg production. Provision of constant environment can be made through the use of cooling and heating systems.

5. Good quality feed at reasonable prices is now the need of the hour. Government should give subsidies on import of required ingredients as well as legislation should be done to bound feed manufacturers to give quality feed.
6. Most of farmers are facing many problems due to low quality water. This can be reduced by guiding farmers for regular chlorination and disinfection.

7. Vaccines and medicines available in the market are both of low quality and expensive. This needs special check on importers and manufacturers.

8. Farmers should be encouraged to shift on cages instead of deep litter system in order to enhance labour efficiency and production.

9 . Cleaning of dirty eggs should be adopted by every farmer to limit the entrance of disease producing germs in the eggs to avoid health hazards to humans.

10. Medicine withdrawal time is a crucial topic which is absolutely ignored by our farmers, resulting antibiotics resistance in humans. Legislation should be made upon it.

11. Egg marketing should be based on grading. Larger eggs should have more prices than smaller ones so that farmers could get proper profit of their product.

12. Government should encourage the establishment of egg processing and storage plants in order to limit the difference of demand and supply of eggs throughout the year.