An egg once held the weight of a 200-pound man. Though small in stature, farm fresh eggs have big power. Their shells provide homes to growing chicks and shield yolks from harmful bacteria. But how can a structure that’s only 0.3 millimeters thick provide so much security? The answer comes down to design.
“Architects through the ages have modeled buildings after the dome of the egg,” says Patrick Biggs, Ph.D., a flock nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition. “A dome shape offers strength and protection; any pressure applied to the top of the dome is spread throughout the structure. This simple power makes the egg one of nature’s leading designs.”
Building an egg shell
Similar to the supplies needed to build an architectural dome, hens require specific nutrients to produce eggs with strong shells. Calcium and vitamin D3 are two of the more important nutrients needed to build strong shells.
“Calcium is the most important nutrient for eggshell development, and vitamin D3 is vital to getting the calcium where it needs to go,” says Biggs. “In fact, each eggshell includes about 2 grams of calcium – that’s 40 percent of the shell.”
Biggs brings this number to the next level with some simple math.
“If the average backyard hen lays 180 to 200 eggs per year, that’s 0.8 to 0.88 pounds of calcium per year for eggshell development,” he says. “This calcium must come from the diet to support shell production.”
Calcium transport
After a hen consumes calcium, the nutrient begins the journey to egg shell production. It first enters the blood stream where it is carried to the shell gland and the rest of the body. To help calcium travel quickly enough to create strong egg shells, vitamin D3 also plays a large role.
“Vitamin D3 is necessary, because it increases the rate at which calcium passes through the intestinal lining into the blood stream,” Biggs says. “The birds require large amounts of calcium when the shell gland is active. For this reason, we add vitamin D3: to get enough calcium to the shell gland when it is needed.”
Providing the building blocks
Hens need to consume around 4 grams of calcium each day in order to get the 2 grams of calcium needed to make one egg shell – not all of the calcium goes to making egg shells. As stated previously, the nutrient – along with Vitamin D3 – must come from the hen’s feed.
“Be sure to provide hens a complete feed, like Purina® Layena® Pellets or Crumbles,” Biggs says. “This complete feed is formulated to provide the necessary four grams of calcium. On the other hand, the average scratch grains product provides only 0.1 grams of calcium and no vitamin D3.”
For optimally strong shells and fresh eggs, choose a feed that also includes an oyster shell mix, like Oyster Strong™ System. This new system, now included in Layena®, provides a consistent supply of calcium through the entire 20-hour shell building process.
“Oyster shell is a good way to provide calcium because of its large particle size,” Biggs says. “Smaller calcium particles break down quickly, but oyster shell particles have a slower transittime. This means the calcium source stays in the hen longer and plays an important role in egg shell formation at night when hens need calcium most.”
To learn more about how to form strong egg shells, visit www.OysterStrong.com or connect with Purina Poultry on Facebook or Pinterest.
Showing posts with label Poultry Research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poultry Research. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Researchers identify species of bacteria linked to lameness in broilers
Researchers at the University of Arkansas have identified a species of bacteria that had never before been associated with lameness in broiler chickens, bringing scientists closer to finding a way to prevent infections.
Using genetic tools and chickens raised on wire flooring as is used in commercial production, the research team determined the bacterium Staphylococcus agnetis is significantly involved with a condition leading to lameness in those broiler chickens, said Douglas Rhoads, university professor of biological sciences and director of the Cell and Molecular Biology interdisciplinary graduate program at the U of A.
The bacteria had been associated with inflammation of the mammary gland in cattle but not in the legs of broiler chickens. Lameness causes the chickens to suffer and the diseased birds are not fit for human consumption. Rough estimates are that lameness in the Arkansas poultry industry could cost growers about $20 million a year due the loss of birds, Rhoads said.
The team published its findings on Nov. 25 in PLOS ONE, the online, open-access journal from the Public Library of Science.
“Lameness in broiler chickens is a significant animal welfare and financial issue,” Rhoads said. “This is the first report of this poorly described pathogen in chickens.”
Bob Wideman, professor of poultry science at the U of A, had shown that growing young broilers on wire flooring is a contributing factor to lameness in broiler chickens. This study, which included Wideman, shows that S. agnetis is also a contributing factor for lameness in those chickens, Rhoads said.
The study arose from the doctoral dissertation work of Adnan A. K. Al-Rubaye, now an instructor and associate director of the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate program, with contributions from Sohita Ojha, a doctoral student in the program; and Joseph Koon, an undergraduate student at Ouachita Baptist University.
Genome assembly for the study was performed at the Arkansas High Performance Computing Center and the High Performance Computing Center at Oklahoma State University. Jeff Pummill at the Arkansas High Performing Computer Center and Brian Couger at Oklahoma State University were co-authors.
The National Institutes of Health and Arkansas Biosciences Institute partially funded the study.
Using genetic tools and chickens raised on wire flooring as is used in commercial production, the research team determined the bacterium Staphylococcus agnetis is significantly involved with a condition leading to lameness in those broiler chickens, said Douglas Rhoads, university professor of biological sciences and director of the Cell and Molecular Biology interdisciplinary graduate program at the U of A.
The bacteria had been associated with inflammation of the mammary gland in cattle but not in the legs of broiler chickens. Lameness causes the chickens to suffer and the diseased birds are not fit for human consumption. Rough estimates are that lameness in the Arkansas poultry industry could cost growers about $20 million a year due the loss of birds, Rhoads said.
The team published its findings on Nov. 25 in PLOS ONE, the online, open-access journal from the Public Library of Science.
“Lameness in broiler chickens is a significant animal welfare and financial issue,” Rhoads said. “This is the first report of this poorly described pathogen in chickens.”
Bob Wideman, professor of poultry science at the U of A, had shown that growing young broilers on wire flooring is a contributing factor to lameness in broiler chickens. This study, which included Wideman, shows that S. agnetis is also a contributing factor for lameness in those chickens, Rhoads said.
The study arose from the doctoral dissertation work of Adnan A. K. Al-Rubaye, now an instructor and associate director of the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate program, with contributions from Sohita Ojha, a doctoral student in the program; and Joseph Koon, an undergraduate student at Ouachita Baptist University.
Genome assembly for the study was performed at the Arkansas High Performance Computing Center and the High Performance Computing Center at Oklahoma State University. Jeff Pummill at the Arkansas High Performing Computer Center and Brian Couger at Oklahoma State University were co-authors.
The National Institutes of Health and Arkansas Biosciences Institute partially funded the study.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Research project to develop new type of poultry vaccine
Cheap and effective vaccines for poultry that will reduce infections in humans and minimize antibiotic use in the food chain are to be developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
With project funding of GBP5.7 million (US$8.7 million) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom, the award is one of three grants funded through a special scheme that offers world-leading research teams five years of funding and resources to address major challenges.
According to the LSHTM, poultry are the source of the world's most popular animal-based foods, and global production has tripled over the last 20 years. The world's chicken flock is now estimated to be around 21 billion, producing 1.1 trillion eggs and 90 million tons of meat every year.
Livestock health plays an essential role in any country’s economic prosperity but also for public health because infected poultry can pass on diseases to humans, particularly through foodborne infections from bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Vaccinating poultry is the most effective way of protecting them from disease and preventing food poisoning in humans. The most successful human vaccines that give long-lasting protective immunity are often glycoconjugates (proteins coupled to sugars). These vaccines are complex and expensive to produce but researchers at LSHTM have recently developed new glycoengineering technology that will facilitate the coupling of protein-sugar combinations for a new generation of inexpensive veterinary vaccines.
The project’s principal investigator at LSHTM is Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis.
“Developing effective, inexpensive vaccines for livestock has multiple advantages, not just in protecting animals from disease, but also in reducing infections in humans and antibiotics in the food chain that are often used in rearing livestock,” said Wren. “The BBSRC-funded proposal on veterinary vaccines will facilitate glycoengineering technology developed at the School to produce glycoconjugate vaccines that will simultaneously protect poultry against clostridia, Salmonella and Campylobacter infection and subsequently reduce the incidence of food poisoning in humans. The technology will also be used to develop glycoconjugate vaccines for cattle, sheep and goats, to protect against clostridia and coxiella infection.”
With project funding of GBP5.7 million (US$8.7 million) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom, the award is one of three grants funded through a special scheme that offers world-leading research teams five years of funding and resources to address major challenges.
According to the LSHTM, poultry are the source of the world's most popular animal-based foods, and global production has tripled over the last 20 years. The world's chicken flock is now estimated to be around 21 billion, producing 1.1 trillion eggs and 90 million tons of meat every year.
Livestock health plays an essential role in any country’s economic prosperity but also for public health because infected poultry can pass on diseases to humans, particularly through foodborne infections from bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Vaccinating poultry is the most effective way of protecting them from disease and preventing food poisoning in humans. The most successful human vaccines that give long-lasting protective immunity are often glycoconjugates (proteins coupled to sugars). These vaccines are complex and expensive to produce but researchers at LSHTM have recently developed new glycoengineering technology that will facilitate the coupling of protein-sugar combinations for a new generation of inexpensive veterinary vaccines.
The project’s principal investigator at LSHTM is Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis.
“Developing effective, inexpensive vaccines for livestock has multiple advantages, not just in protecting animals from disease, but also in reducing infections in humans and antibiotics in the food chain that are often used in rearing livestock,” said Wren. “The BBSRC-funded proposal on veterinary vaccines will facilitate glycoengineering technology developed at the School to produce glycoconjugate vaccines that will simultaneously protect poultry against clostridia, Salmonella and Campylobacter infection and subsequently reduce the incidence of food poisoning in humans. The technology will also be used to develop glycoconjugate vaccines for cattle, sheep and goats, to protect against clostridia and coxiella infection.”
USPOULTRY releases fourth video in series
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is releasing a fourth video in a series highlighting environmental stewardship on poultry and egg farms. The video features one of USPOULTRY’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award winners, Meiring Poultry Farm of Ft. Recovery, OH.
Bill and Janet Knapke own and operate Meiring Poultry Farm, which consists of 250 acres and has four pullet houses for layers, with a total capacity of 330,000 birds. The company also produces row crops and operates pullet houses for Cooper Farms. The Excellence Award is chosen for exemplary environmental stewardship by family farms engaged in poultry and egg production.
The Meiring farm utilizes a composter for chicken mortality and a nutrient management plan with 100 percent of its litter sold to a third party. To protect the land and preserve wildlife, Meiring has taken several proactive measures including the installation of field borders, filter strips, wetlands, windbreaks and other general tree planting. The farm participates in the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetland Reserve Program to further protect, restore and enhance wetlands, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat.
“We are a third-generation farm and are proud of the work we do. It is how we earn our living, and we make every attempt to incorporate the best environmental management practices possible in our operations,” said Bill.
“USPOULTRY and our members know the significance of exemplary environmental stewardship. We are pleased to be able to provide this video series highlighting the environmental efforts of our family farmers,” said Sherman Miller, Cal-Maine Foods and USPOULTRY chairman.
The video can be viewed on USPOULTRY’s YouTube Channel by clicking here.
Bill and Janet Knapke own and operate Meiring Poultry Farm, which consists of 250 acres and has four pullet houses for layers, with a total capacity of 330,000 birds. The company also produces row crops and operates pullet houses for Cooper Farms. The Excellence Award is chosen for exemplary environmental stewardship by family farms engaged in poultry and egg production.
The Meiring farm utilizes a composter for chicken mortality and a nutrient management plan with 100 percent of its litter sold to a third party. To protect the land and preserve wildlife, Meiring has taken several proactive measures including the installation of field borders, filter strips, wetlands, windbreaks and other general tree planting. The farm participates in the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetland Reserve Program to further protect, restore and enhance wetlands, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat.
“We are a third-generation farm and are proud of the work we do. It is how we earn our living, and we make every attempt to incorporate the best environmental management practices possible in our operations,” said Bill.
“USPOULTRY and our members know the significance of exemplary environmental stewardship. We are pleased to be able to provide this video series highlighting the environmental efforts of our family farmers,” said Sherman Miller, Cal-Maine Foods and USPOULTRY chairman.
The video can be viewed on USPOULTRY’s YouTube Channel by clicking here.
Thesis studies impact of natural biosurfacant on fat digestion
LYSOFORTE® has been examined as part of a Kemin-sponsored project through the Catholic University of Leuven.
In contrast to feed enzymes, only limited studies have been dedicated to investigating the modes of action of lysophospholipids added to broiler feeds. For some time, researchers have believed lysophospholipids simply act as an emulsifier in the first stages of fat digestion. However, Kemin researchers discovered other possible mechanisms of action for lysophospholipids. In order to further elucidate this important industry topic, the company sponsored the Ph.D. study, “Modes of action of lysophospholipids as feed additives on fat digestion in broilers."
The thesis presents information on how lysophospholipids are important to digestion and nutrient absorption. Ph.D. student, Ing. Matias Jansen, a Kemin Industries senior research associate in Europe, successfully defended the doctoral thesis on the broader impact of lysophospholipids on Dec. 2 at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
The study determined the impact of lysophospholipids on all three stages of fat digestion: emulsification, hydrolysis and absorption. The data indicates that in addition to their emulsifying capacities, lysophospholipids significantly improve the hydrolysis of triglycerides into monoglycerides and free fatty acids. The lysophospholipids enhance the absorption of monoglycerides and free fatty acids by the enterocytes. The study also clearly differentiates the modes of action of supplemented lysophospholipids from those of phospholipids delivered by lecithins added to the feed.
Secondly, Jansen studied the interaction between bile salts and supplemented lysophospholipids. The results indicate that at low bile salt concentrations, lysophospholipids significantly improve the digestibility of nutrients. Therefore, the addition of lysophospholipids is advised especially in the starter phase of broiler production.
In a third step of the study, the interaction between the fat type in the diet and lysophospholipids was investigated. The dietary addition of lysophospholipids significantly improved the digestibility of fat and other nutrients in diets formulated with mainly saturated fatty acids. These results confirm that lysophospholipids are able to uplift the value of fats and oils. This mode of action allows lysophospholipids to be used in feed reformulation, bringing economic benefit without compromising animal performance.
“This Ph.D. study highlights the complexity of the fat digestion process and demonstrates how lysophospholipids can improve it,” says Dr. Filip Nuyens, Kemin R&D director of the animal nutrition and health division in Europe. “This collaboration with the academic world is an outstanding example of how we can work together to understand the complex molecular mechanisms of lysophospholipids and gain insights that form the foundation of new innovations. Poultry producers face many challenges, and Kemin is committed to providing the industry strategic insight, innovation and the best solutions based on sound science.”
Kemin has developed a unique, natural biosurfactant highly-enriched in lysophospholipids—LYSOFORTE Booster Dry—with superior absorption enhancing properties. Kemin is the original pioneer in absorption enhancers. LYSOFORTE Booster Dry has been successfully tested in several animal species, such as broilers, layers, turkeys, pigs and fish, and a wide range of conditions over the last 20 years, producing a vast amount of scientific and practical information.
In contrast to feed enzymes, only limited studies have been dedicated to investigating the modes of action of lysophospholipids added to broiler feeds. For some time, researchers have believed lysophospholipids simply act as an emulsifier in the first stages of fat digestion. However, Kemin researchers discovered other possible mechanisms of action for lysophospholipids. In order to further elucidate this important industry topic, the company sponsored the Ph.D. study, “Modes of action of lysophospholipids as feed additives on fat digestion in broilers."
The thesis presents information on how lysophospholipids are important to digestion and nutrient absorption. Ph.D. student, Ing. Matias Jansen, a Kemin Industries senior research associate in Europe, successfully defended the doctoral thesis on the broader impact of lysophospholipids on Dec. 2 at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
The study determined the impact of lysophospholipids on all three stages of fat digestion: emulsification, hydrolysis and absorption. The data indicates that in addition to their emulsifying capacities, lysophospholipids significantly improve the hydrolysis of triglycerides into monoglycerides and free fatty acids. The lysophospholipids enhance the absorption of monoglycerides and free fatty acids by the enterocytes. The study also clearly differentiates the modes of action of supplemented lysophospholipids from those of phospholipids delivered by lecithins added to the feed.
Secondly, Jansen studied the interaction between bile salts and supplemented lysophospholipids. The results indicate that at low bile salt concentrations, lysophospholipids significantly improve the digestibility of nutrients. Therefore, the addition of lysophospholipids is advised especially in the starter phase of broiler production.
In a third step of the study, the interaction between the fat type in the diet and lysophospholipids was investigated. The dietary addition of lysophospholipids significantly improved the digestibility of fat and other nutrients in diets formulated with mainly saturated fatty acids. These results confirm that lysophospholipids are able to uplift the value of fats and oils. This mode of action allows lysophospholipids to be used in feed reformulation, bringing economic benefit without compromising animal performance.
“This Ph.D. study highlights the complexity of the fat digestion process and demonstrates how lysophospholipids can improve it,” says Dr. Filip Nuyens, Kemin R&D director of the animal nutrition and health division in Europe. “This collaboration with the academic world is an outstanding example of how we can work together to understand the complex molecular mechanisms of lysophospholipids and gain insights that form the foundation of new innovations. Poultry producers face many challenges, and Kemin is committed to providing the industry strategic insight, innovation and the best solutions based on sound science.”
Kemin has developed a unique, natural biosurfactant highly-enriched in lysophospholipids—LYSOFORTE Booster Dry—with superior absorption enhancing properties. Kemin is the original pioneer in absorption enhancers. LYSOFORTE Booster Dry has been successfully tested in several animal species, such as broilers, layers, turkeys, pigs and fish, and a wide range of conditions over the last 20 years, producing a vast amount of scientific and practical information.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Minnesota poultry lab to be renovated, expanded
Officials are preparing to break ground on an $8.5 million expansion and renovation of the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory in Willmar, Minnesota.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the lab expansion will be held December 21 at the Willmar Community and Activity Center, reported the West Central Tribune.
When completed in the fall of 2016, the new facility will provide a stronger defense against future outbreaks of the avian influenza.
The existing 3,665-square-foot laboratory was put to the test in 2015 during the avian influenza outbreak. Cases of avian influenza were confirmed at 108 sites in Minnesota in 2015, affecting an estimated 9 million birds.
Operated by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the 20-year-old lab runs tests on garden variety poultry diseases but it has never been equipped to test for the highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza. Because of that, couriers had to drive to the University of Minnesota’s diagnostic lab in St. Paul twice a day during the peak of the state’s avian influenza outbreak to get samples tested. In addition, some samples were even sent out of state to manage the overload of work.
During the construction process, the lab will temporarily be housed at an off-site location.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the lab expansion will be held December 21 at the Willmar Community and Activity Center, reported the West Central Tribune.
When completed in the fall of 2016, the new facility will provide a stronger defense against future outbreaks of the avian influenza.
The existing 3,665-square-foot laboratory was put to the test in 2015 during the avian influenza outbreak. Cases of avian influenza were confirmed at 108 sites in Minnesota in 2015, affecting an estimated 9 million birds.
Operated by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the 20-year-old lab runs tests on garden variety poultry diseases but it has never been equipped to test for the highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza. Because of that, couriers had to drive to the University of Minnesota’s diagnostic lab in St. Paul twice a day during the peak of the state’s avian influenza outbreak to get samples tested. In addition, some samples were even sent out of state to manage the overload of work.
During the construction process, the lab will temporarily be housed at an off-site location.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Study suggests seasonality impacts flock health
A retrospective study conducted in five Northern European nations using Elanco’s Health Tracking System (HTS) suggests that seasonality influences the enteric health of broilers, and also affects poultry producers’ economics. The Intestinal Integrity Index (I2) developed by Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Co., serves as a cumulative assessment of all factors affecting a flock’s enteric health which contributes to broiler welfare. Elanco’s HTS database was used to calculate the I2 index for flocks in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland during summer (June through September) and winter (October through May) months over a three-year period between January 2012 and December 2014.
Observations derived from the research indicate the difference in the I2 index between winter and summer groups resulted in an improvement of +0.44 points for the winter period. The cost of seasonality for producers was estimated using differences in average live body weight (LBW). Comparisons of LBW between winter and summer seasons revealed a difference of +22.04 g. In addition to the season’s effect on flock health, seasonality was also estimated to have an economic impact of €20 ($21) /1,000 kg of LBW for the three year period, or the equivalent of €16,000/yr ($17,000) for every million broilers of 2.4 kg LBW.
Elanco technical consultants Guillermo Gonzalez Garcia and Alexandre Teixeira Zocche, co-authors of the “Impact of Seasonality in the Intestinal Integrity of Broilers in Northern European Countries in the Period 2012-2014,” discussed findings from the study during the Symposium on Gut Heath in Production of Food Animals poster session, Nov. 9-11 in Kansas City, MO.
Dr. Alexandre Zocche, senior global technical consultant, poultry brands at Elanco, said the findings support the implementation of a multifactorial approach to promote better intestinal integrity protection, especially during the summer months. “The impact of seasonality on flocks’ intestinal integrity has long been a point of discussion in the industry, along with questions about how to effectively assess enteric health,” Zocche said. While further investigations need to be performed to more fully understand and evaluate which macroscopial GIT changes are more visible in the summer, Zocche said an effective anticoccidial strategy implemented during the summer months can ensure better protection of a flock’s intestinal integrity.
As 2016 approaches, Elanco is poised to embrace intestinal integrity as the cornerstone of enhanced enteric health and improved flock performance and economics. “Intestinal integrity is critical to the health and welfare, performance and economics of flocks around the globe,” said Zocche. “Enteric disease imposes costs across the value chain and Elanco is turning to value added diagnostics and data-driven technologies to help producers proactively measure, monitor and manage their flocks’ enteric health.”
Observations derived from the research indicate the difference in the I2 index between winter and summer groups resulted in an improvement of +0.44 points for the winter period. The cost of seasonality for producers was estimated using differences in average live body weight (LBW). Comparisons of LBW between winter and summer seasons revealed a difference of +22.04 g. In addition to the season’s effect on flock health, seasonality was also estimated to have an economic impact of €20 ($21) /1,000 kg of LBW for the three year period, or the equivalent of €16,000/yr ($17,000) for every million broilers of 2.4 kg LBW.
Elanco technical consultants Guillermo Gonzalez Garcia and Alexandre Teixeira Zocche, co-authors of the “Impact of Seasonality in the Intestinal Integrity of Broilers in Northern European Countries in the Period 2012-2014,” discussed findings from the study during the Symposium on Gut Heath in Production of Food Animals poster session, Nov. 9-11 in Kansas City, MO.
Dr. Alexandre Zocche, senior global technical consultant, poultry brands at Elanco, said the findings support the implementation of a multifactorial approach to promote better intestinal integrity protection, especially during the summer months. “The impact of seasonality on flocks’ intestinal integrity has long been a point of discussion in the industry, along with questions about how to effectively assess enteric health,” Zocche said. While further investigations need to be performed to more fully understand and evaluate which macroscopial GIT changes are more visible in the summer, Zocche said an effective anticoccidial strategy implemented during the summer months can ensure better protection of a flock’s intestinal integrity.
As 2016 approaches, Elanco is poised to embrace intestinal integrity as the cornerstone of enhanced enteric health and improved flock performance and economics. “Intestinal integrity is critical to the health and welfare, performance and economics of flocks around the globe,” said Zocche. “Enteric disease imposes costs across the value chain and Elanco is turning to value added diagnostics and data-driven technologies to help producers proactively measure, monitor and manage their flocks’ enteric health.”
USPOULTRY and Foundation approve grant for $87,124 research proposal
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved $87,124 for a new research grant at Auburn University through the Board Research Initiative program. The research funding was approved by the boards of directors of both organizations, based on recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee. The committee evaluates research proposals to determine their value to the industry and then makes recommendations to the boards for funding. Committee members are professional specialists from different segments of the poultry and egg industry who represent a variety of disciplines.
The research grant will address the following area of interest:
USPOULTRY and its Foundation operate a comprehensive research program incorporating all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the inception of the research program, USPOULTRY has reinvested more than $27 million dollars into the industry in the form of research grants, with the International Poultry Expo as the primary source for the funding. More than 50 universities and federal and state facilities have received grants over the years.
The research grant will address the following area of interest:
- Low Voltage Stunning of Poultry: Objective Verification of Insensibility and Refinement of Low Voltage Electrical Stunning”
(Research grant made possible by a gift from Wayne Farms)
USPOULTRY and its Foundation operate a comprehensive research program incorporating all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the inception of the research program, USPOULTRY has reinvested more than $27 million dollars into the industry in the form of research grants, with the International Poultry Expo as the primary source for the funding. More than 50 universities and federal and state facilities have received grants over the years.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Marel Stork launches Poultry ShowHow
In November, Marel Stork Poultry Processing held its first Poultry ShowHow in Copenhagen. Poultry processors from around the world gathered in Denmark to be informed about the latest developments in their industry.
Processors from countries such as UK, Poland, France, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Colombia and Australia gathered in the company's Progress Point demo center for a day full of product launches, live demonstrations and knowledge sessions. The participants were at the front row of experiencing a thorough, in-depth picture of the most advanced solutions Marel Stork has to offer now and in the near future.
Activities centered around the theme “from Complex to Relax,” with suggestions of ways that processors can relax, while their daily complex production challenges are being perfectly managed. Integrated line solutions revealed the obtainable reduction in complexity of the poultry process flow. Showcases featuring working portioning, grading, batching, packing and labeling lines provided a unique hands-on experience. The real-life systems and software solutions offered a clear outlook on the way Marel Stork envisions the future of poultry processing.
Arie Tulp, the company’s marketing and sales director, was very satisfied with the successful event. He said, "In Copenhagen, we could pay much more attention to our customers than we usually can at trade shows, that's why we feel our Poultry ShowHow is so significant and valuable to all participants."
Marel Stork specialists gave interesting presentations about key topics like smart product allocation, value-added fillet processing and smooth order handling. In addition to the company's expert presenters, two external speakers, Nan-Dirk Mulder (Rabobank) and Shai Barbut (University of Guelph) put the poultry industry into new perspectives.
"We were pleased to share our high-tech knowledge and to be able to exchange experiences with our customers in such a highly focused setting. All attendants expressed that this was a useful event," Tulp said. "Considering the visitors' enthusiastic responses, a second Poultry ShowHow in 2017 will certainly be put on our agenda."
Processors from countries such as UK, Poland, France, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Colombia and Australia gathered in the company's Progress Point demo center for a day full of product launches, live demonstrations and knowledge sessions. The participants were at the front row of experiencing a thorough, in-depth picture of the most advanced solutions Marel Stork has to offer now and in the near future.
Activities centered around the theme “from Complex to Relax,” with suggestions of ways that processors can relax, while their daily complex production challenges are being perfectly managed. Integrated line solutions revealed the obtainable reduction in complexity of the poultry process flow. Showcases featuring working portioning, grading, batching, packing and labeling lines provided a unique hands-on experience. The real-life systems and software solutions offered a clear outlook on the way Marel Stork envisions the future of poultry processing.
Arie Tulp, the company’s marketing and sales director, was very satisfied with the successful event. He said, "In Copenhagen, we could pay much more attention to our customers than we usually can at trade shows, that's why we feel our Poultry ShowHow is so significant and valuable to all participants."
Marel Stork specialists gave interesting presentations about key topics like smart product allocation, value-added fillet processing and smooth order handling. In addition to the company's expert presenters, two external speakers, Nan-Dirk Mulder (Rabobank) and Shai Barbut (University of Guelph) put the poultry industry into new perspectives.
"We were pleased to share our high-tech knowledge and to be able to exchange experiences with our customers in such a highly focused setting. All attendants expressed that this was a useful event," Tulp said. "Considering the visitors' enthusiastic responses, a second Poultry ShowHow in 2017 will certainly be put on our agenda."
Thursday, November 26, 2015
How probiotics affect poultry gut health and lameness
“Necrotic enteritis and dysbiosis are the two major challenges facing poultry production since the 2006 ban on antibiotic growth promoters in the European Union,” stated Professor Richard Ducatelle of Ghent University. He made the remarks during his presentation at the BIOMIN seminar on “The Multifacets of Gut Performance and Lameness,” which was held at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University in Belgium on Nov. 10.
Necrotic enteritis, widespread in broilers, costs the industry $2 billion worldwide annually. Dysbiosis, or dysbacteriosis—characterized by an imbalance between beneficial and harmful gut bacteria—and leaky gut constitute a multi-factorial disease with real consequences for poultry health and performance, according to Gunther Antonissen of Ghent University. “Inflammation, diarrhea, wet litter, digestibility issues, welfare problems, disease, and performance problems are all associated with the loss of intestinal epithelial integrity,” he explained. Fortunately, attention to feed formulation, management practices and feed additives can influence gut performance. Prof. Ducatelle outlined how both prebiotics and probiotics (direct fed microbials) can protect intestinal health.
“Poultry-to-poultry beneficial bacterial strains will persist longer in a bird’s gastrointestinal tract,” explained Dr. Wael Abdelrahman, Technical Consultant at BIOMIN. “Different probiotic strains will colonize different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and, if used together, will have an overall greater effect compared to a single strain probiotic,” he continued. Combining a prebiotic and probiotic can provide further benefits.
Tackling BCO lameness
Prof. Robert Wideman of the University of Arkansas provided insights into a lameness caused by stress and bacterial infection in broilers, including research findings on Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO). “BCO is a common cause of lameness in the US and EU that typically affects 1.5% of broilers grown past 40 days of age. ‘Epidemic’ outbreaks can affect more than 15% of a flock in some cases,” he noted. Peer-reviewed study results show that PoultryStar® can reduce the incidence of BCO lameness by more than half, even across different genetic lines.
Providing further evidence, Gino Totté, Director at Panagro Health and Nutrition, shared results from a farm in the Netherlands. Citing genuine performance and net return on investment gains in 75% of barns applying PoultryStar® for broilers, he highlighted “a clear reduction in BCO lameness accompanied by less antibiotic use.”
The harm of Campylobacter
“Campylobacter is not a harmless commensal,” declared Prof. Tom Humphrey of Swansea University. “It represents an international problem and has a direct impact on broiler performance, health and welfare.” The threat to human health is real: the World Health Organization named Campylobacter the number one food borne pathogen and long-term side effects can occur in about 1% of cases. Left unchecked, Campylobacter “will become a trade issue and a political issue as companies and regulators examine levels in poultry production more closely.” He emphasized the need for further research to better understand and control Campylobacter.
“A competitive exclusion strategy using synbiotic (combination prebiotic and probiotic) supplemented feed can play a role in reducing Campylobacter prevalence in birds,” remarked Luca Vandi, BIOMIN Technical & Marketing Director for EMA. He shared results of a scientific study showing a statistically significant reduction in Campylobacter levels in broilers using PoultryStar®.
With its long experience in scientifically formulated feed additives for livestock, BIOMIN has become a leading authority on gut performance and probiotics.
The conference, held in partnership with key local BIOMIN partner, Panagro Health and Nutrition, brought together more than 100 attendees from across the poultry industry representing 13 countries. It ended with a tour of the Ghent University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s facilities.
Necrotic enteritis, widespread in broilers, costs the industry $2 billion worldwide annually. Dysbiosis, or dysbacteriosis—characterized by an imbalance between beneficial and harmful gut bacteria—and leaky gut constitute a multi-factorial disease with real consequences for poultry health and performance, according to Gunther Antonissen of Ghent University. “Inflammation, diarrhea, wet litter, digestibility issues, welfare problems, disease, and performance problems are all associated with the loss of intestinal epithelial integrity,” he explained. Fortunately, attention to feed formulation, management practices and feed additives can influence gut performance. Prof. Ducatelle outlined how both prebiotics and probiotics (direct fed microbials) can protect intestinal health.
“Poultry-to-poultry beneficial bacterial strains will persist longer in a bird’s gastrointestinal tract,” explained Dr. Wael Abdelrahman, Technical Consultant at BIOMIN. “Different probiotic strains will colonize different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and, if used together, will have an overall greater effect compared to a single strain probiotic,” he continued. Combining a prebiotic and probiotic can provide further benefits.
Tackling BCO lameness
Prof. Robert Wideman of the University of Arkansas provided insights into a lameness caused by stress and bacterial infection in broilers, including research findings on Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO). “BCO is a common cause of lameness in the US and EU that typically affects 1.5% of broilers grown past 40 days of age. ‘Epidemic’ outbreaks can affect more than 15% of a flock in some cases,” he noted. Peer-reviewed study results show that PoultryStar® can reduce the incidence of BCO lameness by more than half, even across different genetic lines.
Providing further evidence, Gino Totté, Director at Panagro Health and Nutrition, shared results from a farm in the Netherlands. Citing genuine performance and net return on investment gains in 75% of barns applying PoultryStar® for broilers, he highlighted “a clear reduction in BCO lameness accompanied by less antibiotic use.”
The harm of Campylobacter
“Campylobacter is not a harmless commensal,” declared Prof. Tom Humphrey of Swansea University. “It represents an international problem and has a direct impact on broiler performance, health and welfare.” The threat to human health is real: the World Health Organization named Campylobacter the number one food borne pathogen and long-term side effects can occur in about 1% of cases. Left unchecked, Campylobacter “will become a trade issue and a political issue as companies and regulators examine levels in poultry production more closely.” He emphasized the need for further research to better understand and control Campylobacter.
“A competitive exclusion strategy using synbiotic (combination prebiotic and probiotic) supplemented feed can play a role in reducing Campylobacter prevalence in birds,” remarked Luca Vandi, BIOMIN Technical & Marketing Director for EMA. He shared results of a scientific study showing a statistically significant reduction in Campylobacter levels in broilers using PoultryStar®.
With its long experience in scientifically formulated feed additives for livestock, BIOMIN has become a leading authority on gut performance and probiotics.
The conference, held in partnership with key local BIOMIN partner, Panagro Health and Nutrition, brought together more than 100 attendees from across the poultry industry representing 13 countries. It ended with a tour of the Ghent University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s facilities.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Study reveals that evolution of chickens happens faster than thought
A critical component of an experiment that proved evolution happens 15 times faster than was previously believed relied upon genetic lines of chickens from Virginia Tech. The discovery utilized the DNA of lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens that have been developed for more than 50 years.
The research was published recently in Biology Letters, a journal of Royal Society Publishing. The discovery involved researchers from several universities, including the University of York, Oxford University, the University of Sydney, Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Virginia Tech.
“This experiment and many others involving everything from animal appetites to genetics could never have been done without the pedigree lines here at Virginia Tech,” said Paul Siegel*, distinguished professor emeritus of animal and poultry sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “This experiment was also an excellent example of international collaboration between six countries that was necessary for the success of the study.”
Siegel, along with Ben Dorshorst and Christa Honaker, also in the Virginia Tech Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, were co-authors on the paper.
The pedigree lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens were developed by Siegel, who began breeding them in 1957. From the common founder population, he produced two distinct lines of chickens selected for high- and low-body weight. Today, the high-weight line dwarfs its low-growth counterpart by an average of 12 times more by the time they reach the eight-week selection age.
In the latest experiment, researchers analyzed blood samples of chickens of the same generation using the most distantly related maternal lines to reconstruct how the mitochondrial DNA passed from mothers to daughters. Mitochondria are specialized structures in the cells of animals, plants, and fungi that generate energy, synthesize proteins, and package proteins for transport to different parts of the cell and beyond.
“Previously, estimates put the rate of change in a mitochondrial genome at about 2 percent per million years,” said Greger Larson, professor of archaeology at Oxford University, in a news release. “At this pace we should not have been able to spot a single mutation in just 50 years, but in fact we spotted two.”
The sampling scheme yielded 385 mitochondrial transmissions that were analyzed for linkages within the mitochondrial DNA.The rate of evolution was calculated by analyzing the number of observed mutations in the approximately 16,000 samples of mitochondrial DNA in the genome over 47 generations.The scientists then reconstructed the maternal pedigree based on the mitogenome sequences.
“Our observations reveal that evolution is always moving quickly, but we tend not to see it because we typically measure it over longer time periods,” Larson continued. “Our study shows that evolution can move much faster in the short term than we had believed from fossil-based estimates.”
The experiment also determined that mitochondria are not solely passed down from maternal lines. Strictly maternal inheritance has long been thought of as the characteristic of mitochondrial genomes.
“The thing everyone knew about mitochondria is that it is almost exclusively passed down the maternal line, but we identified chicks who inherited their mitochondria from their father,” said Michelle Alexander, lead author. This finding supports the theory that “paternal leakage” is not such a rare phenomenon.
This is not the first time the scientific community has benefited from the research done on Virginia Tech’s high- and low-body weight chicken lines. A 2010 article in the scientific journal Nature was a breakthrough in genetic studies of animal domestication, thanks in part to these two lines.
*In 2010, the American Poultry Historical Society inducted Siegel into the American Poultry Association Hall of Fame, the industry’s top honor. In 2011, he was given an honorary doctorate from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
The research was published recently in Biology Letters, a journal of Royal Society Publishing. The discovery involved researchers from several universities, including the University of York, Oxford University, the University of Sydney, Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Virginia Tech.
“This experiment and many others involving everything from animal appetites to genetics could never have been done without the pedigree lines here at Virginia Tech,” said Paul Siegel*, distinguished professor emeritus of animal and poultry sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “This experiment was also an excellent example of international collaboration between six countries that was necessary for the success of the study.”
Siegel, along with Ben Dorshorst and Christa Honaker, also in the Virginia Tech Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, were co-authors on the paper.
The pedigree lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens were developed by Siegel, who began breeding them in 1957. From the common founder population, he produced two distinct lines of chickens selected for high- and low-body weight. Today, the high-weight line dwarfs its low-growth counterpart by an average of 12 times more by the time they reach the eight-week selection age.
In the latest experiment, researchers analyzed blood samples of chickens of the same generation using the most distantly related maternal lines to reconstruct how the mitochondrial DNA passed from mothers to daughters. Mitochondria are specialized structures in the cells of animals, plants, and fungi that generate energy, synthesize proteins, and package proteins for transport to different parts of the cell and beyond.
“Previously, estimates put the rate of change in a mitochondrial genome at about 2 percent per million years,” said Greger Larson, professor of archaeology at Oxford University, in a news release. “At this pace we should not have been able to spot a single mutation in just 50 years, but in fact we spotted two.”
The sampling scheme yielded 385 mitochondrial transmissions that were analyzed for linkages within the mitochondrial DNA.The rate of evolution was calculated by analyzing the number of observed mutations in the approximately 16,000 samples of mitochondrial DNA in the genome over 47 generations.The scientists then reconstructed the maternal pedigree based on the mitogenome sequences.
“Our observations reveal that evolution is always moving quickly, but we tend not to see it because we typically measure it over longer time periods,” Larson continued. “Our study shows that evolution can move much faster in the short term than we had believed from fossil-based estimates.”
The experiment also determined that mitochondria are not solely passed down from maternal lines. Strictly maternal inheritance has long been thought of as the characteristic of mitochondrial genomes.
“The thing everyone knew about mitochondria is that it is almost exclusively passed down the maternal line, but we identified chicks who inherited their mitochondria from their father,” said Michelle Alexander, lead author. This finding supports the theory that “paternal leakage” is not such a rare phenomenon.
This is not the first time the scientific community has benefited from the research done on Virginia Tech’s high- and low-body weight chicken lines. A 2010 article in the scientific journal Nature was a breakthrough in genetic studies of animal domestication, thanks in part to these two lines.
*In 2010, the American Poultry Historical Society inducted Siegel into the American Poultry Association Hall of Fame, the industry’s top honor. In 2011, he was given an honorary doctorate from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Euthanasia of recently hatched chicks, poults research pre-proposals requested
The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative is requesting pre-proposals on the euthanasia of recently hatched chicks and poultry. In various segments of the poultry industry, there are instances when recently hatched chicks and poults may not be used for commercial purposes. Chicks and poults that will not be used must be humanely euthanized on a timely basis. Various euthanasia methods have been developed for hatchery use with maceration, gas euthanasia or a combination of the two systems being the most common.
Despite the current national and international approval of these two primary methods for chick euthanasia, the perspective and humaneness of these methods has been questioned by some retailers, animal activist groups, society and governments. Research is needed to objectively evaluate these methods to determine the specific equipment requirements and parameters needed to achieve the required euthanasia outcomes and to develop new and novel alternative methods for humane euthanasia of recently hatched poultry.
The areas of focus for the research will include objective measures to evaluate whether euthanasia methods provide humane euthanasia in recently hatched chicks and poults; evaluate maceration, CO2 gas, and a combination of gas plus maceration as methods of humane euthanasia; and develop alternative methods of humane euthanasia of recently hatched chicks and poults.
The deadline for pre-proposal submission is Nov. 6. For more information go to www.uspoultry.org, and click on “Research” for complete instructions and deadlines.
The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative was created by the Boards of USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation to address current issues facing the poultry industry. The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative operates alongside the current USPOULTRY research program and augments the success of the existing program by focusing additional resources toward defined areas of research.
Despite the current national and international approval of these two primary methods for chick euthanasia, the perspective and humaneness of these methods has been questioned by some retailers, animal activist groups, society and governments. Research is needed to objectively evaluate these methods to determine the specific equipment requirements and parameters needed to achieve the required euthanasia outcomes and to develop new and novel alternative methods for humane euthanasia of recently hatched poultry.
The areas of focus for the research will include objective measures to evaluate whether euthanasia methods provide humane euthanasia in recently hatched chicks and poults; evaluate maceration, CO2 gas, and a combination of gas plus maceration as methods of humane euthanasia; and develop alternative methods of humane euthanasia of recently hatched chicks and poults.
The deadline for pre-proposal submission is Nov. 6. For more information go to www.uspoultry.org, and click on “Research” for complete instructions and deadlines.
The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative was created by the Boards of USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation to address current issues facing the poultry industry. The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative operates alongside the current USPOULTRY research program and augments the success of the existing program by focusing additional resources toward defined areas of research.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Moringa oleifera extracts on broilers research wins award
Karthivashan Govindarajan, PhD candidate, won the first Veterinarian Nor-Feed Award for his work on the nutritional role of Moringa oleifera extracts on broilers.
His thesis, published this year, was conducted with the scientific team of the Universiti Putra Malaysia. Their works identified and highlighted the role of this plant’s active compounds on production performance and quality of poultry meat, in particular by improving the broilers’ antioxidant status.
“I am a strong believer in the elite potential of natural products as the source of active candidates in the field of nutrient supplement in both human and animal health and nutrition,” said the prize winner. “Adapting and optimizing Moringa oleifera leaves extract as a dietary supplement will surely help the researchers, farmers and feed professionals to provide an efficient and cost-effective feed for broilers.”
“Adapting and optimizing Moringa oleifera leaves extract as a dietary supplement will surely help researchers, farmers and feed professionals to provide an efficient and cost-effective feed for broilers,” he added.
His thesis, published this year, was conducted with the scientific team of the Universiti Putra Malaysia. Their works identified and highlighted the role of this plant’s active compounds on production performance and quality of poultry meat, in particular by improving the broilers’ antioxidant status.
“I am a strong believer in the elite potential of natural products as the source of active candidates in the field of nutrient supplement in both human and animal health and nutrition,” said the prize winner. “Adapting and optimizing Moringa oleifera leaves extract as a dietary supplement will surely help the researchers, farmers and feed professionals to provide an efficient and cost-effective feed for broilers.”
“Adapting and optimizing Moringa oleifera leaves extract as a dietary supplement will surely help researchers, farmers and feed professionals to provide an efficient and cost-effective feed for broilers,” he added.
Researchers explore how Avian Influenza virus enters poultry farms
Auburn University poultry scientists Joe Giambrone and Ken Macklin are using funding from the U.S. egg industry to investigate how the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, which has decimated poultry populations in the Midwest in the past nine months, spreads to poultry farms.
The bird flu virus, as it is more commonly known, is carried by infected but asymptomatic free-flying ducks, geese and other aquatic fowl migrating to and from Canada. Since December 2014, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has resulted in the death of more than 49 million commercial chickens and turkeys and backyard poultry in at least 15 states.
The predominant theory is that the virus enters poultry farms by means of fecal droppings and windborne feathers from infected waterfowl, but people, too, can introduce the virus to farms on contaminated shoes, shared equipment and vehicles.
In their year-long study, funded by a $38,000 grant from the Iowa-based Egg Industry Center, the two Auburn Department of Poultry Science researchers are studying other potential sources of transmission.
“Possible additional means include rodents and insects that are infected with or are carrying the virus and infected poultry-house water lines from ponds visited by infected migratory birds, but there is no conclusive evidence now on any of those possibilities,” Giambrone says. “Our focus is on those three potential sources.”
Specifically, the Department of Poultry Science faculty members are looking at possible transmission of the virus by litter beetles, mice and the biofilm that forms inside the drinking-water lines of poultry houses. All three conditions are commonly found on poultry farms around the world.
“Our previous work with another respiratory virus in poultry showed that biofilm ‘protected’ the virus in water lines, even when the water was chlorinated,” Giambrone says. That virus was also found in litter beetles and rats and in mud near the entrances to chicken houses.
The Auburn researchers’ findings will help improve the scientific community’s understanding of the epidemiology of avian influenza virus and could aid in the development of control and prevention strategies.
So far, Alabama’s $15 billion poultry industry has dodged the bullet in this year’s avian influenza epidemic, but the threat of massive outbreaks will return this fall as wild birds migrate south.
The bird flu virus, as it is more commonly known, is carried by infected but asymptomatic free-flying ducks, geese and other aquatic fowl migrating to and from Canada. Since December 2014, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has resulted in the death of more than 49 million commercial chickens and turkeys and backyard poultry in at least 15 states.
The predominant theory is that the virus enters poultry farms by means of fecal droppings and windborne feathers from infected waterfowl, but people, too, can introduce the virus to farms on contaminated shoes, shared equipment and vehicles.
In their year-long study, funded by a $38,000 grant from the Iowa-based Egg Industry Center, the two Auburn Department of Poultry Science researchers are studying other potential sources of transmission.
“Possible additional means include rodents and insects that are infected with or are carrying the virus and infected poultry-house water lines from ponds visited by infected migratory birds, but there is no conclusive evidence now on any of those possibilities,” Giambrone says. “Our focus is on those three potential sources.”
Specifically, the Department of Poultry Science faculty members are looking at possible transmission of the virus by litter beetles, mice and the biofilm that forms inside the drinking-water lines of poultry houses. All three conditions are commonly found on poultry farms around the world.
“Our previous work with another respiratory virus in poultry showed that biofilm ‘protected’ the virus in water lines, even when the water was chlorinated,” Giambrone says. That virus was also found in litter beetles and rats and in mud near the entrances to chicken houses.
The Auburn researchers’ findings will help improve the scientific community’s understanding of the epidemiology of avian influenza virus and could aid in the development of control and prevention strategies.
So far, Alabama’s $15 billion poultry industry has dodged the bullet in this year’s avian influenza epidemic, but the threat of massive outbreaks will return this fall as wild birds migrate south.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Poultry researchers study new vaccine options for ILT
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have announced the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, in which researchers have developed a new vaccine candidate for infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) to be applied in ovo. The project is part of the association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below. A complete report, along with information on other association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY’s website, www.uspoultry.org. The project summary is as follows.
Project #683: Designing a New Generation of Live Attenuated Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (ILTV) Vaccines for In Ovo Vaccination in Broilers(Dr. Maricarmen GarcÃa, Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens)
Researchers at the university have developed a new vaccine candidate for infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) to be applied in ovo. The group, led by Dr. GarcÃa, found that deleting a gene from the ILT virus makes the virus less virulent and more useful as a vaccine. The new vaccine gives good protection against ILT but is not safe enough to use in ovo in chicks with no maternal antibody against ILT. Continued efforts are being made to make the vaccine safer.
Project #683: Designing a New Generation of Live Attenuated Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (ILTV) Vaccines for In Ovo Vaccination in Broilers(Dr. Maricarmen GarcÃa, Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens)
Researchers at the university have developed a new vaccine candidate for infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) to be applied in ovo. The group, led by Dr. GarcÃa, found that deleting a gene from the ILT virus makes the virus less virulent and more useful as a vaccine. The new vaccine gives good protection against ILT but is not safe enough to use in ovo in chicks with no maternal antibody against ILT. Continued efforts are being made to make the vaccine safer.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Novus scientists compare chelated with inorganic trace minerals
Eggshell quality remains a key aspect of successful egg production for any layer operation. Broken and cracked eggs represent a significant loss to both the industry and to individual producers. As hens age, these losses grow more significant. With recent egg supply shortages and rising consumer prices, it is important for producers to optimize production. The most effective way to achieve the highest production possible is by boosting flock performance through optimal nutrition.
Zinc, copper and manganese are vital to realize optimal performance, particularly in layers, as these trace minerals have specific roles in metabolic activities directly related to eggshell formation. In a recent study, Novus International, Inc. investigated the impact of long-term use of MINTREX® chelated trace minerals compared to inorganic trace minerals on layer performance, eggshell quality, tibia breaking strength and immune response. Laying hens were allocated to six treatments with supplemental zinc, copper and manganese.
Results indicated hens fed either no supplemental trace minerals or lower levels of supplemental inorganic trace minerals had lower shell thickness when compared to high levels of sulfates. Further, analysis showed an improvement in shell breaking strength, shell thickness, tibia breaking strength and improved immune response in hens fed MINTREX® chelated trace minerals, when compared to inorganic trace minerals.
The full research study was published in The Journal of Applied Poultry Research (JAPR), and is available for download. The JAPR publishes original research reports, field reports, and reviews on breeding, hatching, health and disease, layer management, meat bird processing and products, meat bird management, microbiology, food safety, nutrition, environment, sanitation, welfare and economics.
For more information on MINTREX chelated trace minerals, visit www.novusint.com.
Zinc, copper and manganese are vital to realize optimal performance, particularly in layers, as these trace minerals have specific roles in metabolic activities directly related to eggshell formation. In a recent study, Novus International, Inc. investigated the impact of long-term use of MINTREX® chelated trace minerals compared to inorganic trace minerals on layer performance, eggshell quality, tibia breaking strength and immune response. Laying hens were allocated to six treatments with supplemental zinc, copper and manganese.
Results indicated hens fed either no supplemental trace minerals or lower levels of supplemental inorganic trace minerals had lower shell thickness when compared to high levels of sulfates. Further, analysis showed an improvement in shell breaking strength, shell thickness, tibia breaking strength and improved immune response in hens fed MINTREX® chelated trace minerals, when compared to inorganic trace minerals.
The full research study was published in The Journal of Applied Poultry Research (JAPR), and is available for download. The JAPR publishes original research reports, field reports, and reviews on breeding, hatching, health and disease, layer management, meat bird processing and products, meat bird management, microbiology, food safety, nutrition, environment, sanitation, welfare and economics.
For more information on MINTREX chelated trace minerals, visit www.novusint.com.
Friday, August 21, 2015
UK poultry producer to trial new Campylobacter control
U.K. poultry producer Banham Poultry has entered a partnership to help develop a feed additive that will aid in controlling Campylobacter infection in chickens.
The company is working with Akeso Biomedical and will use the latter’s Fe3C technology to reduce Campylobacter levels in its broilers. The technology, discovered by the University of Nottingham, prevents the binding of Campylobacter to the chicken’s gastrointestinal tract and subsequent infection.
Initial trials began in April, and in preliminary studies Akeso’s feed additive resulted in dramatically reduced infection levels in birds. As part of the development process, it is anticipated that Banham will evaluate the feed additives in commercial trials.
Lars Brattinga, general manager agriculture at Banham Poultry said: “This is a really exciting project for the industry. To reduce levels of Campylobacter, we need to take action throughout the supply chain. We still don’t know the source of Campylobacter, which is what makes it so difficult to control.”
The company is working with Akeso Biomedical and will use the latter’s Fe3C technology to reduce Campylobacter levels in its broilers. The technology, discovered by the University of Nottingham, prevents the binding of Campylobacter to the chicken’s gastrointestinal tract and subsequent infection.
Initial trials began in April, and in preliminary studies Akeso’s feed additive resulted in dramatically reduced infection levels in birds. As part of the development process, it is anticipated that Banham will evaluate the feed additives in commercial trials.
Lars Brattinga, general manager agriculture at Banham Poultry said: “This is a really exciting project for the industry. To reduce levels of Campylobacter, we need to take action throughout the supply chain. We still don’t know the source of Campylobacter, which is what makes it so difficult to control.”
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Choct receives AFIA Poultry Nutrition Research Award
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) in partnership with the Poultry Science Association (PSA) recognized Mingan Choct, Ph.D., professor at the University of New England, July 30, for his contributions to poultry nutrition. Bob Hill of H.J. Baker & Bro., Inc., presented the Poultry Nutrition Research Award to Choct during the annual PSA meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.
"In addition to his position with the University of New England, Mingan is the CEO of the Poultry Cooperative Research Center, which focuses on helping Australia achieve sustainable poultry production," said Richard Sellers, AFIA senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs.
Choct has established both the Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Center and the Poultry Cooperative Research Center.
Since 1995, Choct has been awarded more than $7 million in research and student support grants. More than 270 of his papers are published in journals and proceedings, and he has supervised more than 40 postgraduate students.
Choct earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Inner Mongolia University in China, Master of Science degree at the University of New South Wales in Australia and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney in Australia. He also received a diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors for completing a company directorship course.
The Poultry Nutrition Research Award is sponsored by AFIA as part of its continuing awards program that dates back to 1948. The award was presented to Joseph Moritz of West Virginia University in 2014.
"In addition to his position with the University of New England, Mingan is the CEO of the Poultry Cooperative Research Center, which focuses on helping Australia achieve sustainable poultry production," said Richard Sellers, AFIA senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs.
Choct has established both the Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Center and the Poultry Cooperative Research Center.
Since 1995, Choct has been awarded more than $7 million in research and student support grants. More than 270 of his papers are published in journals and proceedings, and he has supervised more than 40 postgraduate students.
Choct earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Inner Mongolia University in China, Master of Science degree at the University of New South Wales in Australia and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney in Australia. He also received a diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors for completing a company directorship course.
The Poultry Nutrition Research Award is sponsored by AFIA as part of its continuing awards program that dates back to 1948. The award was presented to Joseph Moritz of West Virginia University in 2014.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Poultry parasite vaccine research gains financial boost
Development of vaccines to help control parasitic diseases in food animals has been boosted by a grant of EUR 9 million (US$9.8 million) via the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
The PARAGONE project will focus on new vaccines to combat major parasitic diseases that have a significant impact in both poultry and ruminant production systems worldwide. It is being led by the UK’s Moredun Research Institute, and involves 17 international and industrial partners working collaboratively.
Currently, control of parasite infections relies almost exclusively on anti-parasitic drugs, which is not a sustainable option due to the increasing development of drug resistance among parasites as well as consumer concerns about chemical residues in food.
An alternative is to develop vaccines to help prevent disease and reduce the impact of parasite infection in food animals, providing a more sustainable, safer and environmentally friendly approach to disease control.
Vaccine development against multicellular parasites is a major challenge in human and veterinary medicine, with only two commercial veterinary vaccines currently available, Moredun says, and this lack of accessible vaccines is indicative of the difficulties associated with generating protective immunity against these complex pathogens.
Despite these hurdles, a number of prototype multicellular parasite veterinary vaccines have shown promise recently. In the PARAGONE project, previous successes will be built on, and extensive expertise and knowledge brought together to develop at least two further parasite vaccines towards commercialization.
The PARAGONE project will focus on new vaccines to combat major parasitic diseases that have a significant impact in both poultry and ruminant production systems worldwide. It is being led by the UK’s Moredun Research Institute, and involves 17 international and industrial partners working collaboratively.
Currently, control of parasite infections relies almost exclusively on anti-parasitic drugs, which is not a sustainable option due to the increasing development of drug resistance among parasites as well as consumer concerns about chemical residues in food.
An alternative is to develop vaccines to help prevent disease and reduce the impact of parasite infection in food animals, providing a more sustainable, safer and environmentally friendly approach to disease control.
Vaccine development against multicellular parasites is a major challenge in human and veterinary medicine, with only two commercial veterinary vaccines currently available, Moredun says, and this lack of accessible vaccines is indicative of the difficulties associated with generating protective immunity against these complex pathogens.
Despite these hurdles, a number of prototype multicellular parasite veterinary vaccines have shown promise recently. In the PARAGONE project, previous successes will be built on, and extensive expertise and knowledge brought together to develop at least two further parasite vaccines towards commercialization.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
New research on controlling necrotic enteritis
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Connecticut - Storrs, in which researchers provide new insight into controlling necrotic enteritis in broilers. The project is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below.
The project summary is as follows:
Project #F052: Identification of Novel Virulence Factors for Necrotic Enteritis of Chickens
(Dr. Joan Smyth and Neha Mishra, Department of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut)
(Dr. Joan Smyth and Neha Mishra, Department of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut)
Necrotic enteritis is a disease in broilers that is increasing in incidence as companies reduce the use of antibiotics in feed. Little is known about the causative organism, Clostridium perfringens, and new effective control measures are needed.
Researchers at the university, led by Dr. Smyth, recently completed a research project where they performed basic research on the organism to determine the factors which allow it to cause the disease. They discovered previously unknown bacterial proteins which may be important factors involved in the disease. Further study of these proteins is underway and may lead to new vaccines or other methods to control necrotic enteritis.
For a detailed summary, click here.
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