Celebrating 40 years of progress in Poultry World 7
The latest edition is available online and highlights a milestone for Poultry World, which celebrates 40 years of reporting on poultry production. We consider non-thermal egg processing to extend shelf life, infrared imaging to spot avian influenza, and take a closer look at Brazil’s corn industry which is discovering DDGS. This and more in the latest online edition.
40 years of reporting about poultry and pigs
Poultry World and sister publication Pig Progress celebrate their 40th birthday this month. It’s time to look back to when it all began and see how the titles changed and adapted in an ever-changing world of poultry and pig production.
Vigilance to keep diseases at bay
The world’s largest poultry meat exporter – Brazil – was recently confronted with a Newcastle disease infection – the first since 2006. This virus, and the ever-looming threat of avian influenza, has put the country on edge.
Currency rates have a profound effect on producers
Despite weakening global soybean prices, Indonesian feed producers are still incurring higher costs due to the appreciation of the US dollar against the rupiah. Meanwhile, a weaker real is enabling Brazilian farmers to better withstand lower commodity prices that are denominated in dollars.
Reaching the limits of expansion
The broiler and beef cattle farm of Andreas Fleer in Germany has grown extensively over the last 20 years to 360,000 broiler places, with 1,00 bulls and 400 rearing bull calves. Optimising the existing operation is key as it will be very difficult, or even impossible, to expand at the current location.
Litter management essential for health and performance
Because birds are in constant contact with litter, risk factors associated with poorly managed litter will adversely affect the health and performance of chickens unless proper poultry feeding and litter management practices are adopted.
The bigger picture – round house for organic broilers
Some 30 years ago, Herman Kemper saw a niche for broiler production and started with a few hundred organic broilers as an add-on business to his small-scale feed mill. Today, 20 farmers produce for the ‘Kemper Kip’ label in the Netherlands.
Spotting avian influenza with infrared imaging
Your flock management computer indicates that your broilers may be infected with avian influenza. While that may sound like something from the distant future, scientists have shown that it is possible to detect avian influenza and Newcastle disease with the use of thermal imaging and artificial intelligence before the onset of clinical signs.
Steering flock resilience with trace minerals
Which comes first when it comes to producing more resilient flocks – a more robust immune status or improved performance parameters? Both are important factors to consider. Precision nutrition, including the source of trace minerals fed, is one strategy nutritionists can use to nurture more resilient, higher-performing flocks.
Brazil’s corn industry is discovering DDGS
In Brazil they call it ‘grão dourado’, or the ‘golden grain’ – corn. Over the last decade, new opportunities for corn have emerged in the country, enabling it to be valorised even more, by turning corn into ethanol for fuel consumption and selling its by-products as animal nutrition. Pig Progress travelled to Mato Grosso state to learn more.
Non-thermal egg processing to extend shelf life
Non-thermal technologies, including high hydrostatic pressure, pulsed electric fields, ultrasound, pulsed light, cold plasma technology and ozonation, are effective methods for controlling microbial growth and to preserve the quality of fresh eggs and their derived products. The effect of non-thermal technologies on the sensory attributes of eggs and egg products is constantly improving.
Nigeria’s trouble to source feedstuffs
Poultry farming offers food security and a path to a better future for many Nigerians. However, the industry is facing unprecedented challenges due to dual threats of climate change and supply chain disruptions.
Optimising enzyme utilisation in poultry diets
Enzyme supplementation in poultry nutrition allows flexibility in diet formulation, enhances performance and litter quality, improves poultry health and reduces total production costs. How chickens respond to enzyme treatment, however, may vary depending on one or more factors as discussed in this article.
