Zootecnica International - N. 7/8 - July-August 2017

Zootecnica International – July/August 2017 – POSTE ITALIANE Spa – Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale 70%, Firenze

Poultry meat and egg production in Brazil Challenges in longer laying cycles Probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics for broilers lameness

7/8 Gospodarstwo Rolne “Piotrkowo”, Piotrkowo, Poland Rearing and Layer Farms equipped by Specht-Ten-Elsen

2017

The new feeders of the «Gió» range, specifically developed for great poultry farms, thanks to the easiness in the regulation of the feed and to the absence of grill (that avoid chicks perching) have many advantages: they are easy to use and their cleaning is extremely easy and fast too, leading to an overall reduction in labour costs.

CODAF Poultry Equipment Manufacturers • Via Cavour, 74/76 • 25010 Isorella (Brescia), ITALY Tel. +39 030 9958156 • Fax: +39 030 9952810 • info@codaf.net • www.codaf.net

EDITORIAL With the new millennium, scientists and sociologists have renewed their attempts to increase available food supplies. A more pressing concern is the availability of fresh water to support the world’s population, especially in developing countries. It’s estimated that by the year 2050 one third of humanity will be seriously impacted by a shortage of water.

Although there is more than adequate water available on the planet, only 1% to 2% is available as a fresh supply for agriculture, livestock and domestic consumption. The remainder of the World’s water is locked in the polar ice caps or is in the form of seawater.

Problems which must be addressed by the Global International Waters Assessment will include conservation in dams, more efficient use of water in agriculture especially in developing countries, preventing contamination from agricultural and industrial waste and improvements of purification and recycling.

The poultry industry should be especially concerned over the future of water resources: water consumption in plants increased and additional quantities of water are required for cooling systems, decontamination and in some cases removal of manure.

Visits to large integrated broiler and egg operations in the United States and Europe confirm an increased awareness of the cost and importance of water. The current emphasis in industrialized countries is to prevent contamination of rivers and lakes with phosphorous and nitrogen from the waste produced by livestock. In the developing countries especially in the tropical and semi-arid regions of the world, availability of water is a significant challenge.

Depletion of aquifers to obtain water for cereal production and to maintain poultry is unjustified in many countries with arid climates. Water should be preserved for the human population.

SUMMARY WORLD WIDE NEWS ........................................................................... 4 SPACE Preview ...................................................................................... 6 COMPANY NEWS ................................................................................ 10 REPORTAGE

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Specht Piotrkowo ........................................................................................... 16

MARKETING Poultry meat and egg production in Brazil .......................................................... 18

TECHNICAL COLUMN Future of broiler breeder management in the absence of beak treatment ............... 22 Turkey Hatcheries: past 25 years and future of single-stage ................................. 26 Selection for persistency and profitability ........................................................... 30

MANAGEMENT

38

On-farm surveys for an Avian Influenza risk assessment model ............................ 34 Challenges in longer laying cycles .................................................................... 38

NUTRITION Probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics for broilers lameness.............................. 42 Incorporation of calcium pidolate and oyster shell on eggs ................................... 46 The effects of in-ovo feeding ............................................................................ 50

VETERINARY SCIENCE Future of Blackhead Disease in poultry ............................................................. 54

42

MARKET GUIDE .................................................................................. 60 UPCOMING EVENTS.......................................................................... 63 INTERNET GUIDE ............................................................................... 64

WORLD WIDE NEWS

Feed Additives 2017 The premier business event for the specialty feed ingredients sector.

Feedinfo News Service presents Feed Additives 2017 – the new strategic business gathering for representatives from the specialty feed ingredients sector. The event will take place on the 27th-29th of September 2017 in the Frankfurt Marriott Hotel in Germany.

This must-attend event is tailor-made for the feed additives industry and will identify the current landscape and future trends of the sector to unlock new opportunities.

Providing three days of informative content, this event offers a neutral platform to learn up-to-date information about business-critical market insight, product innovation, global regulation and novel research and development.

Bringing together key stakeholders from the feed additives, premix and compound feed organisations Feed Additives 2017 will provide structured networking and essential information through a range of presentations and interactive sessions.

For infomation: Annabel Ly Tel. +44 (0)207 202 0914 Annabel.ly@briefingmedia.com

©organica

BELTS and ROPES for AVICULTURAL USE • Manure removal belts • Manure belt with holes for drying systems info@barbieri-belts.com www.barbieribelts.com

Barbieri srl Via Garibaldi, 54 • 26040 Scandolara Ravara (CR) Italy Tel. (+39) 0375 / 95135 • Fax (+39) 0375 / 95169

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- world wide news -

WORLD WIDE NEWS ®

ORIGINAL

MPF Convention honors long-time exhibitors for their commitment

POULTRY EQUIPMENT

THE „SPECHT VARIA PLUS“ SYSTEM The “Specht Varia Plus System” is the result of our experience for decades.

A total of 28 exhibiting companies were honored for their long-time commitment to the Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) Convention.

The companies received a special Longevity Award during the Fellowship Breakfast, held at the 46th Annual MPF Convention, in Saint Paul, MN. “We are grateful for the incredible support of our exhibitors, who have shown such amazing long-term commitment and dedication to MPF through the years – including some that have been with us from the beginning,” said 2017 MPF President Bruce Eastlund of ILC Resources. “Our organization is extremely fortunate to be able to work with so many returning exhibiting companies year after year to provide an excellent trade show experience for our attendees.”

The Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) Convention ended its very successful 20year run in Saint Paul with three sold-out exhibit halls, jam-packed education sessions, and registration just over the 3,200

mark – slightly higher than last year’s record of 3,100 attendees.

The 47th annual Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) Convention will be held March 13-15, 2018 at a NEW location – the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis, Minn.

Also new in 2018 will be a full two-day schedule for the Exhibit Hall – from 10 am – 4 pm on March 14 and 10 am – 4 pm on March 15.

The show will feature a Pre-Show Nutrition Symposium along with its usual array of social/networking events, education and exhibits. Also held in conjunction with the 2018 MPF Convention will be the North Central Avian Disease Conference, scheduled for March 12-13, and the Organic Egg Farmers Symposium on March 13.

For more information, visit MPF’s Web site, www.midwestpoultry. com. You will also find MPF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MPFConvention) and on Twitter - @MPFConvention.

- july/august 2017 -

rd according More space per bi irements of to the current requ animal welfare. under the Excellent overview as under installation as well in each tier. g area and Water, feed, restin in each level. nest are available n due to Good nest inspectio on the t their arrangemen outside. the Due to tiltable floor e nest th of ck automatic lo is possible. ensure The wide egg belts the eggs. sufficient place for in the Additional perches installation. el above the The additional lev nests is possible. manufacDirectly from the r own turer. Since 1961 ou fabrication. perience.

Benefit from our ex

GmbH & Co. KG

D-47665 Sonsbeck/Germany Dassendaler Weg 13 Telefon +49 (0) 2838 912-0 Fax: +49 (0) 2838 2791 www.specht-tenelsen.de info@specht-tenelsen.de Hans Theo Ten Elsen GSM: +49.173-8 79 65 82 Wilfried Ten Elsen GSM: +49.172-6 03 35 27

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SPACE PREVIEW

A dynamic expo benefitting the livestock industry SPACE 2017 will be held from Tuesday 12 September to Friday 15 September at the Rennes Exhibition Centre.

SPACE will be 30 years old this year, and strongly reflects the dynamics of its sector. The fair will again mirror what is happening in the livestock sectors. The poultry sector has been severely impacted by the recent, ongoing episode of avian flu.

It is also faced with a major future challenge, which will require compliance with new standards, and changes needed to meet consumer demand for cage-free eggs. In an ever-changing environment requiring agility and quick adjustments on the part of farmers, SPACE responds to these needs by providing cutting-edge solutions for our industry.

es, which will change the configuration of Hall 2-3 where they are located. Hall 10A-10B will be dedicated to the poultry sector. Some suppliers of livestock buildings have decided to exhibit in this specialized hall as well.

15,000 international visitors from 120 different countries are expected next September. SPACE is a "Planet Livestock," that each year attracts many thousands of professional visitors thanks to a virtually unique offering among international trade fairs: a wide diversity of exhibitors, a full and varied offer for each animal species, many services for international visitors, a friendly atmosphere and great new innovations.

SPACE 2016 welcomed 101,963 visitors from 120 countries.

There were 12,022 international visitors (15,042 in 2015). This decline in international attendance was due to several factors, including the fact that dates of SPACE 2016 coincided with the Eid Al Adha religious celebration. Competition from other expos worldwide, in particular EuroTier in Hanover, Germany, also had an inevitable impact on visitorship.

The surface area requested by exhibitors amounts to 60,191 m2. More requests for changes in terms of space and locations have being received this year than in previous years. Livestock equipment manufacturers have requested larger exhibit spac-

Despite this slight decrease, delegations from West Africa, Iran, Canada and the Philippines attended the 30th Expo, and many exhibitors were able to initiate or strengthen ties with these professionals. This year new promotions and partnerships have

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For the first time this year, the Embassy of Denmark is hosting a 90m2 area for the joint participation of a number of Danish businesses. The United States Consulate in Rennes, the Embassy of the Netherlands and Enterprise Ireland will also be on hand to organise meetings with businesses from their respective countries.

- SPACE Preview -

SPACE PREVIEW

Hall 9, Stand D104 www.abvista.com info@abvista.com

Open Air Stand - Door D www.agritech.it export@agritech.it stefano.baluvio@agritech.it for France

Hall 10, Stand B30 www.aviagen.com info@aviagen.com

Hall 10, Stand C66 www.aviagenturkeys.com turkeysltd@aviagen.com

Hall 2-3, Stand B21 www.azainternational.it info@azainternational.it

Hall 10, Stand E110 www.bigdutchman.com big@bigdutchman.de

Hall 10, Stand C64 www.cobb-vantress.com info@cobb-europe.com

Hall 10, Stand E109 www.facco.net facco@facco.net

Hall 10, Stand B24 in collaboration with SARL Josse www.poultryplast.com info@poultryplast.com

Hall 10, Stand B44 www.hendrix-genetics.com info@hendrix-genetics.com

Hall 10, Stand B41 www.hubbardbreeders.com contact.emea@hubbardbreeders.com

Hall 10, Stand A01 www.arionfasoli.com info@arionfasoli.com

Hall 10, Stand B34 www.hyline-france-com france@hyline.com

Hall 5A, Stand 2 www.intracare.nl info@intracare.nl

Hall 10B, Stand E116 www.jpe.org info@jpe.org

Hall 10A, Stand B42 www.lohmannfrance.com contact@lohmannfrance.com

Hall 10, Stand B26 www.pasreform.com info@pasreform.com

Hall 10A, Stand C73 www.sperotto-spa.com info@sperotto-spa.com

Hall 10, Stand B37 www.petersime.com contact@cidape.fr - info@petersime.com

Hall 2-3, Stand A12 www.roxell.com info@roxell.com

Hall 10, Stand E104 www.ska.it - ska@ska.it www.meneghin.it - info@meneghin.it

Hall 10, Stand F127 www.specht-tenelsen.de info@specht-tenelsen.de

Hall 10A, Stand A10 www.babolnatetra.com tetrakft@babolnatetra.com

Hall 10, Stand E100 www.valli-italy.com info@valli-italy.com

Hall 10, Stand B47 www.vdlagrotech.com info@vdlagrotech.nl

Hall 10, Stand B27 www.vencomaticgroup.com info@vencomaticgroup.com

Hall 10A, Stand C73 www.incubatricivictoria.com victoria@victoria-srl.com

Hall 2-3, Stand B17 www.vostermans.com ventilation@vostermans.com

- july/august 2017 -

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SPACE PREVIEW

met in July to award the Innov’Space label to the companies that had filed their applications and met the criteria.

From the “Research and Development Village” to the “Espace for the Future”

been developed with Colombia, Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan and Thailand.

The improved accessibility of Rennes in the near future will considerably enhance the appeal of our event. Staring on 2 July, the trip from Paris to Rennes will take just 85 minutes by high-speed train. In addition, given the importance and impact of SPACE locally, the Rennes airport is asking the airlines to increase aircraft capacity or add flights on certain routes during SPACE. Destination Rennes is also helping SPACE provide destination services worthy of an international event like this one.

Innov'Space will again address the strong demand of our visitors who are looking to discover new products and services.

The panel of experts, independent of the SPACE organisers,

In 1993, SPACE wanted to set up an area that would showcase the expertise and focus on the future issues and challenges for the livestock sector. The resulting Research and Development Village was run by the Chambers of Agriculture. Over the years, this village has become one of the most important features of the Expo. More than 15,000 visitors go there every year. In order to strengthen its status as part of SPACE, increase its appeal and rejuvenate its identity, the Research and Development Village has been renamed the “Espace for the Future”.

The Espace for the Future, still located in the same location in Hall 4, will focus this year on the theme “robotics for farmers”.

How can robots work for farmers and provide useful data? How can the development of robotics increase the appeal of farming in rural territories? All of these issues will be addressed and demonstrated in surprising ways at the Espace for the Future, for cattle, pig and poultry farming. Farmers will provide valuable examples about the technical and financial impact of using robots.

The program of the conferences and meetings at SPACE will again be full and varied, thanks to the conferences organised in our dedicated rooms, the FRGEDA forums “Farmers Talk to Farmers”, from Wednesday to Friday afternoon, in the small marquee near Gate C, the job-dating events organised by APECITA, and much more.

For the first time this year, the group Manger Français will organise meetings between professionals and local officials on Thursday 14 September, in order to promote the expertise and quality of the French productions. In partnership with SPACE, and for the second consecutive year, the local newspaper Ouest-France will host the Forum on Livestock Farming and Food. TERRE 2017 will take place on Monday 11 September, on the eve of the opening of SPACE, at Rennes School of Business. This forum will address various topical issues such as the consumption of meat, the health impact of animal protein, consumer expectations and how farmers are coping with these new challenges, animal welfare, and more.

In 2017, SPACE will be the unique global event for livestock professionals. International participation is therefore expected to be quite high.

More information on these visits can be found in the “International” section of the www.space.fr website by telephone at +33 (0)223 48 28 90 or by email: international@space.fr

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- SPACE Preview -

BREEDAZA The innovative rationing system

SPACE PREVIEW !

Image: Fotolia Fottolia - © Minerva a Studio

NEW

FOR BROILER BREEDERS

Leader Lea ader er in pig & ppo poultry oulltry ltrry equipm equipment mentt

I WANT

AZA!

AZA INTERNATIONAL has been working in the zootechnical sector for more than 50 years assuring high reliability and quality products at competitive prices.

Linear trough feeder for breeders suitable for 300 meters long systems with one single motor and loading point throughout the circuit.

Immediate and homogeneous feed distribution throughout the entire circuit.

Easy cleaning and no residual feed inside the trough.

Adjustable anti-cock grid.

FOR LAYERS AND PULLETS

THE MOST INNOVATIVE RANGE FOR POULTRY FEEDING : UÊ Broilers UÊ Pullets UÊ Breeders UÊ Layers UÊ Cocks UÊ Turkeys

UÊ Quails UÊ Ducks Pullets’ version

Linear trough feeder for layers and pullets.

Manufactured from sturdy light plastic material for easy winching.

The pullets’ version is equipped with a convenient midway drop designed for one day old chicks.

Cage version also available.

QUALITY MADE IN ITALY - july/august 2017 -

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AZA INTERNATIONAL S.r.l. - www.azainternational.it Via Roma 29, 24030 Medolago (BG) Italy - Phone +39 035 901240 - info@azainternational.it

COMPANY NEWS

Fernando Garcilopez appointed as Business Manager for Spain, Portugal and Italy for AB Vista His product portfolio will include Quantum Blue phytase and Econase XT xylanase for the monogastric industry, as well as a growing ruminant product portfolio.

Mr Juan Ignacio Fernández, AB Vista’s Sales Director for West and South Europe, says a key part of Mr Garcilopez’s role will be providing technical support and advice to distributors and customers in his area.

AB Vista has appointed Fernando Garcilopez as Business Manager for Spain, Portugal and Italy. Mr Garcilopez joins AB Vista with more than 15 years’ experience in the feed additives commercial and technical area, having worked with some of the key players in the animal nutrition industry.

“Advances in enzymes, and technologies such as Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy, enable customers to optimise their feed quality and improve profitability. Mr Garcilopez is a key part of our team conveying that message and working with customers in helping them to better understand the ingredient quality and the application of AB Vista products and services.”

Mr Garcilopez graduated from the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid, where he specialised in animal nutrition and production. He is also a qualified Agricultural Engineer.

Mr Ari Kiviniemi, AB Vista’s Global Sales Director, says the new appointment will benefit European customers who are looking to improve margins and animal performance while facing significant challenges.

“The appointment of experts who understand our customers’ needs is particularly valuable in constantly changing environments and mature markets like Spain, Italy and Portugal,” he said.

Other events Mr Garcilopez attended include the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN), taking place in Spain from the 8th to the 11th of May, as well as the International Phytate Summit (IPS3) series of regional follow-up events. These follow IPS3 itself, held by AB Vista in the US late last year, which saw leading experts collaborate on the current understanding of phytate and identify practical strategies to unlock all of phytate’s intrinsic nutritional value for greater profitability.

Optimal fat utilisation by Intra Liposol at broilers Marc Spackler M.Sc. - Technical Sales Manager

It is difficult - especially for young animals - to optimally digest the range of fats and oils in the diet.

This leads to a reduced feed efficiency and often also to wet manure.

In young animals the production of bile acid is still insufficient to emulsify and digest the amount of fats and oils offered. Intra Liposol is designed to supplement this deficiency. This innovation is a water-soluble organic emulsifying agent, which supports the digestion of fats. Adding this product to the drinking water will improve the digestion of fats leading to an improved growth performance and less visibly wet manure. To this end, research has been carried out on a modern company with two identical stalls, each with 33,000 chickens per stall of the breed Ross 308. In total there were three rounds, wherein there is always

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- company news -

COMPANY NEWS

Here the farmer has a product to put on the water if the digestive system fails, irrespective of the feed that is used. Weaker and young animals eat less, but keep drinking water and because Intra Liposol dissolved in the drinking water, it has been effective at the beginning of the digestive tract. When undigested fats or oils end in the manure or being stored in the liver, it is a pure loss, which also causes health problems for the animals.

Intra Liposol provides a tool to improve technical and financial results and animals grow sustainably.

For further information: Intracare BV - www.intracare.nl Voltaweg 4 - 5466 AZ - Veghel - The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0) 413 354 105 - Mob. +31 (0) 6 2327 1948 Fax +31 (0) 413 362 324 - Email: mspackler@intracare.nl

Controls

Intra Liposol

Number of chickens

± 99.000

± 99.000

Avg. growth / day (g)

57,6

59,4

FCR

1,55

1,52

Mortality (%)

3,6

3,8

European Broiler Index*

356

374

Foot pad score

38

27

15,0

12,4

Uniformity of variation (%)

one stable served as a control and one as a Liposol stable. In the Liposol stable, during the first four weeks, they have used 6 days and 1 day of Intra Liposol Intra Hydrocare added to the drinking water.

The daily growth was higher during all three tests in the Intra Liposol group with an average of +1.8 g/day and feed conversion improved 3 points. The EBI (European Broiler Index = daily gain (gr) x survival rate (%) /10 x feed conversion) is high, whereby the Liposol group in all rounds, gave an even higher score (+ 5%). For the foot score 100 feet are being scored, which will receive a "0" score per feet with no problem, a light problem "0.5" and a heavy lesion a "2". The Foot pad score was lower in all trials and improved on average by 29%. A possible explanation for this is that Liposol provides for an improved digestion, reduced wet manure and therefore less problems of foot lesions. Further, the variation in the uniformity was improved to 12.4%, which means that the slaughter weights are closer to each other.

All three tests proved that Liposol improves daily gain, feed conversion, EBI index score, uniformity and foot pad score. These improvements result in a clear positive effect, which is calculated leading to a + 21% improvement of margin.

Intracare in the spotlight at the Space 2017 At the Space, Synthèse Élevage, distributor for Intracare in France, will be present with 2 booths. In Hall 1, the hall mostly focussed on companies active in the bovine-dairy industry, Intracare will have a nice stand focussed on the Intra Hoof-fit range and Intra Repiderma. In Hall 5, dominantly focussed on animal feeding, hygiene and services, Synthèse will have its own stand and promote Intra Hydrocare towards the poultry and pig farmers.

In their news bulletin “La Lettre” (editions “volailles – poultry” and “Porc - pig”) they will publish articles about Intra Hydrocare. According to Franck Bouchet, Dr. vétérinaire at Synthèse Elevage in the Porc edition: “with HYDROCARE ®, water line cleaning and water sanitizing at pig farms is going fast, is economical (results in one rinse) and requires only a little handling. These cleanings are strongly recommended after treatments and upon digestive or nervous disorders.” Veterinarian Dr. Jean Leorat states in the Volailles edition “the Intra Clean Quick Scan is a direct approach to know the level of contamination. By monitoring at the start of the batch and during the following days, the scan immediately indicates if the lines are clean and what the quality of drinking water is during aging. If products containing sugars (antibiotics excipients) or vitamins, which have been distributed in the water, cleaning can be achieved by incorporation HYDROCARE one day a week at a dose of 200 ml per 1000 L.”

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COMPANY NEWS

Chairman Hendrix Genetics’ International Advisory Board retires Richard van Wijnbergen has retired as Chairman of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of Hendrix Genetics on April 20, 2017.

He will be succeeded by Aalt Dijkhuizen, who has been member of the board since 2007. Richard’s ten years of leadership has contributed to Hendrix Genetics’ current market position.

Under his inspiring chairmanship, Hendrix Genetics has grown into a global leader in multi-species animal genetics and research.

Thijs Hendrix, Président of Hendrix Genetics: “We are thankful to Richard for his advice over the past ten years and for his contribution to the success of our company. We wish him well for the future.”

Appointment of Aalt Dijkhuizen

Richard van Wijnbergen

With his extensive knowledge in agriculture, research and business processes Aalt Dijkhuizen, being member of the IAB for many years already, will replace Richard van Wijnbergen as Chairman of the IAB of Hendrix Genetics. Together with the other members of the IAB: Johan Terpstra, on behalf of shareholder NPM Capital N.V. (part of SHV Holdings N.V.), and Cyril Melin, on behalf of shareholder Sofiprotéol S.A. the board will continue to provide guidance and support to the company’s Executive Board and Management Committee.

Agritech celebrating its 30th anniversary Agritech has been since 1987 a leading company in the design and manufacturing of bulk storage systems both for dry and liquid materials in the animal farming sector. The company celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Their range of highly resistant fiberglass silos & tanks covers the needs of farmers from 2 to 100 m3 and they also manufacture any kind of bulk material loading and unloading conveyor, such as stationary and portable screw conveyors, feed transport tanks, flex augers. Moreover, their experience in the processing of fiberglass led them to develop a wide program of shelters and modular stables for animals (dairy, swine, poultry), which are also available with proper insulation for severe environmental conditions. The company has recently launched a range of PTO operated, wheeled bulk transport tanks to take feed or cereal from mills to silos and fill the latter with pneumatic discharge. The

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compressor they are equipped with grants fast material discharge (expected performance: 7000 Kg. / hour) into automatic feeders or silos with a height up to 10 m. Another product that is getting very popular is an insulated and refrigerated containment box for animal carcasses Mod. Agricool 120. Farmers can use it to stock carcasses of small animals (poultry, rabbits, lambs, piglets) at temperatures around or below 0° for several days in perfect hygienic conditions (no odor release or gas emissions).

Agritech’s box is provided with a special wheelbarrow in robust fiberglass that can be easily lifted and emptied into the carcasses disposal trucks.

Agritech s.r.l.

Tel. +39 030 99 68 222 r.a. - Fax +39 030 99 68 444 www.agritech.it - agritech@agritech.it

- company news -

COMPANY NEWS

New state-of-the-art incubator shocked the market with outstanding improvements in load and efficiency Leading Incubators Manufacturer develops the best quality/capacity incubator in the market.

Victoria S.r.l., the leading manufacturer of high performance incubators in Middle-East, Southeast Asia and Europe, has announced the launch of their latest and most advanced incubator ever created: the VIC48 Incubator.

“We are extremely thrilled to introduce in the market our new machine which has been developed using the most innovative materials and using advanced technologies, the VIC 48 is able to reach new standards of production fl exibility, efficien-

Generating high quality has always been its mantra. This incubator will deliver on the company’s promise of a perfect distribution of oxygen, humidity and temperature in the machine through a completely new ventilation system (made of 12 innovatively-designed blades) and an efficient system for trolleys.

While achieving fantastic performance, VIC48 is able to optimize the costs for clients. The humidification system which uses only pressurized water and not pressured air generates high energy saving.

cy and production load” - says the MD of Victoria S.r.l, Giuliana Maino. “The passion and hard work of our R&D depart-

Machine Characteristics

ment (and the whole company) to deliver value and quality to our customers was seen again in the development of VIC48.

Sizes: mt. 4.20 x 3,50 x 2,30 h (lxpxh)

It’s an honor to be able to work alongside this team”.

Built: Resistant structure, made with glass fiber sandwich panels (50mm thick) for high density and maximum insulation.

VIC48 has a market leading production load of 48240/51840 eggs,

supported

by

8

incubating

trolleys

(6030-6480

eggs/layer).

The introduction of a disruptive new trolleys, with a more elegant and effective design, has allowed the company to im-

Design: New design with the introduction of new windows of large size and made of three-layers glass to provide the best insulation in the market

Optional Expansion of Load

prove the overall load by 30%+, while keeping the extremely high performance that has made Victoria’s machines leader in the market.

The machine is also available with trolleys of 16 flats (instead of the standard 15th), to increase production load to 55296 eggs.

- july/august 2017 -

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COMPANY NEWS

Victor Lesigne

Thomas de Bretagne

Recent appointments at Hubbard Victor Lesigne joins Hubbard as Production and Technical Services Engineer Hubbard is very pleased to announce the appointment of Victor Lesigne as Production and Technical Services Engineer. He will report to Claude Toudic, Technical Manager EMEA and Brazil.

Victor graduated as Engineer at the Superior Institute of Agriculture in Lille in 2015. He has spent several internships abroad in various fields of agriculture and with within the R&D team of Hubbard. He joined the Hubbard LLC team in Pikeville Tennessee (USA) for 1 year during the years 2015-2016. He then had the opportunity to get a deeper knowledge and experience at both Grand Parent and Parent Stock management levels, within Hubbard LLC and with North-American customers.

Victor first will be assigned to the Production department in France, allowing him to further increase his knowledge by servicing the GP farms under the guidance of the experienced Hubbard GP Technicians of the French team. Later on he will be integrated into the Technical Service Department and progressively will get in charge of the technical follow-up of Hubbard Parent Stock customers. Ultimately, Victor will retain both GP and PS levels, ensuring a complete technical follow-up by maintaining a true link between the two levels of production.

The Hubbard teams wish Victor a very warm welcome and a lot of success.

Thomas de Bretagne joins Hubbard as Director R&D

Thomas joins the Hubbard team with a background in agricultural engineering and a career history focussed on animal selection from early on. In 2002, he joined the R&D team at Pen Ar Lan working on pig genetics, taking the lead in 2005. In 2010, when many new technologies were emerging in the field of cattle genetics (e.g. genomic selection and high-throughput phenotyping methods), he took charge of Groupe Evolution’s selection programmes until he joined Hubbard at the end of 2016.

Thomas will follow the guiding principle of R&D teams: making every possible effort to fulfil the expectations of both clients and markets. He will be travelling overseas extensively to meet with all Hubbard’s stakeholders and partners.

His main objectives are twofold. Firstly, to steer Hubbard through a new phase in selection marked by intensive use of emerging new technologies relevant to animal genetic selection - tools which are now becoming increasingly routine in genetics and enable Hubbard to select with greater precision - such as RFID, accelerometer sensors, imaging technologies, genomics, etc.

In addition, Thomas will contribute to Groupe Grimaud’s principal objective of sharing and exchanging methodologies, research and tools. He will therefore also strengthen and prioritise transversal projects.

Hubbard wishes Thomas a very warm welcome and a lot of success in his new job.

Thomas de Bretagne was appointed to the position of Director Research & Development. He will report directly to Olivier Rochard, CEO of Hubbard.

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- company news -

For further information, please contact: contact.emea@hubbardbreeders.com www.hubbardbreeders.com

COMPANY NEWS

Next Generation Egg Trays The EggsCargoSystem® presents the Next Generation Egg Trays: The Jumbo 2.0.

Over the last few years, the genetic of layers has changed. The laying period substantial increased and will increase even further. Mainly with free range and organic eggs, it results in eggs becoming larger.

To ensure our EggsCargo® Trays maintain to bring maximum comfort and protection to the eggs a new generation tray, The Jumbo 2.0 has been developed.

This Jumbo 2.0 Tray is suitable to pack middle-sized eggs as well as XL eggs with a weight up to 90 grams.

Due to the unique design in combination with the very best HDPE raw materials available, this Jumbo 2.0 Tray is extremely durable.

Naturally, the Jumbo 2.0 is compatible with the EggsCargo® pallet and divider.

Read more on website www.eggscargosystem.com

INCUBATORS WITH DOUBLE OPENING DOORS CAPACITY: 72360 / 77760 eggs (Broilers/Layers)

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15

REPORTAGE

Specht Piotrkowo In Piotrkowo, a small Polish town, some 130 km southeast of Gdansk, you will find one of the leading egg-producing companies of the country.

The farm "Gospodarstwo Piotrkowo", existing of 1 pullet rearing house and 3 commercial layer houses, produces eggs for the Polish market. All four poultry houses are equipped with "SPECHT� poultry equipment that is worldwide well-known for the high quality standards.

Not only the houses with their very modern and up-to-date "SPECHT" equipment and ventilation

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- reportage -

REPORTAGE

systems have contributed to the economic success of "Gospodarstwo Piotrkowo".

"SPECHT" -group systems.

Also, the fundamental philosophy of the management, to operate the entire farm, as much as possible, as a "closed system" has contributed to its success.

agricultural cropland of the farm. From these produces, the feed

For this reason, the farm only buys one-day-old chicks that are reared in the rearing house until the birds reach the laying maturity. Afterwards, the hens are moved into one of the three layer houses that are equipped with "SPECHT" -Varia cages or

ment the own mixtures.

Wheat, rape, triticale and beans are cultivated on the entire for the whole farm is made in the company-owned feed mill.

Only feed additives are bought in addition in order to comple-

Finally, it is recommendable to mention that the farm "Gospodarstwo Piotrkowo" markets all produced eggs farm itself.

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MARKETING

Poultry meat and egg production in Brazil Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst Professor emeritus and Scientific Director of the Science and Information Centre for Sustainable Poultry Production (WING), University of Vechta, Germany

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Brazil is one of the leading countries in the global poultry industry, not only in production, but also in trade with poultry products. In broiler meat exports it ranks in fi rst place before the USA. Despite the recent economic problems, the Brazilian poultry industry has shown a remarkable dynamics over the past two years, with the exception of turkey meat production. This paper will focus on the dynamics of production and trade.

First Part.

- marketing -

MARKETING

Growing domestic and global demand initiate growth in production After a phase of stagnation and even reduction between 2012 and 2014, broiler meat production has obviously recovered in 2015 (Table 1). The main reason for the production plateau was the considerable decrease of the domestic per capita consumption, for the export volume remained on a high level, as will be shown later. The most recent increase in the production volume was also a result of the outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI) in the USA in 2015 and the succeeding import ban imposed on US poultry products by about thirty countries (see Windhorst 2015 and 2016).

In contrast to broiler meat, the production of turkey meat has been decreasing continuously after the maximum of 442,000 t in 2012.

This is due as well to the decreasing domestic demand as to lower export volumes. Egg production increased by 36.9% between 2010 Table1 Development of broiler meat, turkey meat and egg production in Brazil between 2010 and 2015 (Source: ABPA 2016) Year

Broiler meat (1,000 t)

Turkey meat (1,000 t)

Eggs (mill. pieces)

2010

12,230

337

28,852

2011

13,600

305

31,554

2012

12,265

442

31,775

2013

12,310

364

34,121

2014

12,690

327

37,245

2015

13,140

327

39,511

+ 7.4

- 3.0

+ 36.9

Change (%)

and 2015. In 2015, a new peak in production was reached with 39.5 billion eggs. Here, too, the development in the per capita consumption played a decisive role.

Since 2012, the per capita consumption grew by 30 eggs and reached a value of 191 eggs in 2015. The parallel growth of the per capita pig meat consumption from 14.5 kg in 2013 to 15.1 kg in 2015 reflects the slow recovery of the economy even though increasing food prices because of the high inflation rates still have negative impacts on the purchasing power of the consumers. The growing per capita consumption of eggs and broiler meat reflects the affordability of these valuable protein sources even for low-income families.

Export dynamics reflects domestic and global demand A closer analysis of the development of broiler meat and egg exports shows that the dynamics is reflected in the changes in the domestic demand and the developments in the global market. From the data in Table 3 one can easily see that the exports of broiler meat, after five years of hovering between 3.8 and 4.1 mill. t, increased by more than 200,000 t in 2015 and reached a 12.7% higher export volume than in 2010. In 2015, about 33% of the production was exported.

Turkey meat exports also increased slightly, but in 2015 they were

- july/august 2017 -

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MARKETING

Table 2 Development of the per capita consumption of broiler meat, turkey meat and eggs in Brazil between 2010 and 2015 (Source: ABPA 2016) Year

Broiler meat (kg/year)

Turkey meat (kg/year)

Eggs (pieces/year)

2010

44.1

1.7

148

2011

47.4

1.7

162

2012

45.0

1.7

161

2013

41.8

1.6

168

2014

42.8

1.5

182

2015

43.3

1.5

191

Asia - the main target region for Brazil’s broiler meat exports Asia was the main target region for Brazil’s broiler meat exports in 2015. They shared two thirds of the total export volume of 4.3 mill. t. The other third was exported to Africa, the EU and the Americas. A comparison of the exports in 2014 and 2015 reveals that Middle Asian countries increased their imports by 210,000 t and reached a volume of 1.6 mill. t (= 37.4% of the overall exports). The rest of the Asian countries imported 1.2 mill. t (= 29.2% of the total export volume).

The extraordinary importance of the Asian countries for Brazil’s broiler meat exports is documented in Table 4. The five most important importing countries were all located in Asia; together they shared 47.8% of the total export volume. The considerable

still about 30% lower than in 2012. It has also to be considered that turkey meat production fell by 115,000 t since 2012. Egg exports increased by 6,500 t between 2014 and 2015 but were still considerably lower than in 2010. The increase in 2015 is, as was already mentioned, a result of the AI outbreaks in the USA and the imposed import ban on U. S. poultry products.

Year

20

Broiler meat

Turkey meat

Eggs

1,000 t

Index*

1,000 t

Index*

1,000 t

Index*

2010

3,812

100.0

158

100.0

28

100.0

2011

3,943

103.2

121

89.5

17

60.3

2012

3,918

102.6

179

11.4

27

97.1

2013

3.892

101.9

161

102.2

12

44.8

2014

4,099

107.3

126

79.6

12

44.0

2015

4,304

112.7

133

84.2

19

67.5

*2010 = 100

©research.robobank.com

The imported poultry meat products differed from country to country. In total, whole birds shared 32.6% in the export volume, cut up parts 57.7%, salted meat 4.2% and processed products 5.5%. There were almost no exports of whole turkeys.

Two thirds of the exports were cut up parts and one third processed turkey meat. Egg products only contributed 8% to the export volume of eggs. Here, the egg products are counted as shell egg equivalents.

Table 3 Development of Brazilian broiler meat, turkey meat and egg exports between 2010 and 2015 (Source: ABPA 2016)

- marketing -

Šbrasilescola.uol.com

MARKETING

import volume of the Netherlands is not consumed in that country. Some of it is further processed and then exported again some goes directly via Dutch importers to other countries.

Table 4 The ten leading countries of destination for Brazil’s broiler meat exports in 2015; data in t (Source: ABPA 2016; own calculations) Country of destination

Exports

Share (%)

Saudi Arabia

789,302

18,3

Japan

420,597

9,8

China

307.042

7,1

United Arab Emirates

303,737

7,1

Hong Kong

236,291

5,5

South Africa

222,270

5,3

Netherlands

192,641

4,8

Venezuela

132,080

3,1

Cuba

99,664

2,3

Russian Federation

90,534

2,1

10 countries

2,799,158

*65,0

Total**

4,304,055

100,0

* Sum does not add because of rounding ** Poultry sausage is here not included

It is worth mentioning that the Islamic countries in Western Asia, in particular those on the Arab Peninsula, mainly imported whole broilers while in all other regions cut up and processed broiler meat were the main imported products.

In 2015, Germany, one of the major importing European countries, imported 78,500 t of broiler meat directly from Brazil. Of the total import volume, 49,600 t were processed meat, 21,500 t salted meat and only 7,200 t cut up parts. Salted meat reaches high shares in the EU imports because of special tariff regulations.

Data sources and additional literature are available on request

- july/august 2017 -

21

TECHNICAL COLUMN

Optimal feather development and maintenance of good feather quality and cover throughout production is important in flocks that have not been beak treated

A practical approach to broiler breeder management in the absence of beak treatment Part 1

By Courtesy of Aviagen

22

In the absence of beak treatment adhering to proven and agreed best practice management practices is key. The roles of good stockmanship and promoting the development and maintenance of good feather cover have been highlighted here in Part 1 of this article. Part 2 to be published in the next issue of Zootecnica International will highlight the benefi ts of environmental enrichment as well as other general best practice management strategies that should be employed in non-beak treated birds.

- technical column -

TECHNICAL COLUMN

“If stocking densities are higher than advised and recommended feeding and drinking space is not adhered to, the potential for increased feather damage when birds try and access feeders and drinkers is high” Practical broiler breeder management will optimise production while maximising bird welfare even in the face of changing legislation. Welfare and production are not and have never been exclusive ideals, indeed an animal cannot be expected to achieve its potential if its welfare is impaired, but increasingly both consumers and legislation require that the relationship between welfare and responsible animal production is implicit. In broiler breeder production recent shifts to stopping beak treatment highlights this. However, shifts such as these do not mean major changes in the management practices for broiler breeders. Rather they highlight the need to adhere to already agreed and proven best practice management strategies.

Beak treatment Originally introduced as an aid to preventing damage due to pecking, beak treatment will no longer be allowed in many countries within the next few years.

In a number of European countries the absence of beak treatment for females is already commonplace and increasingly the beak treatment of males is being stopped as well. Field data shows there appear to be no major drawbacks, as indicated by comparable egg production levels between beak-treated and nonbeak treated flocks (Table 1), to stopping the beak treatment of females.

While not beak treating has the potential to improve the welfare of broiler breed-

ers, good management is still required to maintain welfare and performance in non-beak treated birds. Management strategies which ensure appropriate bird development and growth and the provision of an adequate environment and stimuli which promote scratching and natural foraging behaviour are key. However, these can be implemented practically and with ease and, as will be shown in the remainder of the article, are part of the normal best practice management strategies and recommendations for broiler breeders.

Stockmanship The stockman has an important role to play in maintaining the welfare, health

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TECHNICAL COLUMN

Table 2 Increases in dietary amino acids relative to lysine to support feathering Amino Acid

Increase (in relation to Lysine) above current recommendations Rear diet

Pre-Lay diet

Lay Diet

Methionine + cystine

20-25%

10%

5-10%

All other essential amino acids

5%

5%

Feathering Optimal feather development and maintenance of good feather quality and cover throughout production is essential in flocks that have not been beak treated.

Some feather wear during lay is to be expected but this should be minimised.

Feather quality and cover will be optimised through the provision of the correct environment and nutrition.

and production of a flock. Many potential problems can be resolved without difficulty if they are spotted early enough.

stockman can spot early signs of potential problems through close observation of bird behaviour.

Table 1 Comparison of 2015 breeder performance in the Netherlands (beak treated) and Poland (not beak treated) Netherlands

Poland

Number of flocks

146

177

Peak production %

87.5

88.7

Eggs at 30 weeks

30.0

32.8

Eggs/hen housed

172.7

175.0

Hatching eggs/hen housed

164.2

166.7

Mortality females %

10.4

8.7

Hatchability %

83.0

81.8

Chick/hen housed

136.5

137.0

Often the first sign of a potential problem or an inadequacy in flock environment is seen in subtle changes in bird behaviour.

Above and beyond ensuring the correct environment (feeders, drinkers, nest boxes, etc.) and nutrition are provided, the

24

Attention to detail and spending enough time with the flock to know what is ‘normal’ and therefore, importantly, what is ‘abnormal’ means that any potential issues will be detected at an early stage and can be dealt with before they develop further.

- technical column -

If stocking densities are higher than advised and recommended feeding and drinking space is not adhered to, the potential for increased feather damage when birds try and access feeders and drinkers is high. All birds should be able to access both feeders and drinkers uniformly at the same time with minimal competition for space.

Diets should be balanced in amino acid content and be fed in the correct amount to ensure that the birds are getting the nutrients they require. Of particular nutritional importance with regards to feathering are the amino acids methionine and cystine. Diets which are lacking in these essential amino acids will result in poorer feather quality. Further to this, field and trial data has shown that increasing the ratio, in comparison to lysine, of these amino acids improves feather quality.

To support feathering it is therefore recommended to increase the ‘safety margins’ of some key amino acids in the diet (Table 2). During the laying period increases in digestible methionine and cystine above 5-10% are not recommended, as there will be a risk of large egg size.

TECHNICAL COLUMN

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25

TECHNICAL COLUMN

Phillip Perry, Tecnical Advisor Jamesway

Turkey hatcheries The past 25 years and the future of single-stage A quick time travel back to a turkey hatchery in 1992 might show you a frazzled hatchery manager frantically trying to get eggs trayed, moving racks into incubator on time, pulling and processing a hatch and… jumping behind the wheel of a transport truck for an all-night drive to deliver poults to a farm.

The hatchery manager was considered part of the workforce or headcount and was expected to do labor as well as running maintenance on HVAC systems, incubators and hatchers, managing schedules and keeping abreast of the latest standards and developments. It was an all-consuming job and the manager had to have a plethora of skills; maintenance, troubleshooting, bio-security, veterinary and science expertise… and a class D driver’s license.

Phillip Perry Jamesway Incubator Company Inc.

26

Today’s hatchery manager has less to do with the hatchery operation and more to do with the management of people and processes. This is a result of changing labor laws, government biosecurity standards and the development of superior incubation technology. In the past 25 years the areas that have undergone the most change

- technical column -

and have had the most impact on the hatchery manager’s job are bio-security, animal welfare, technology, servicing and incubation/hatching.

To properly appreciate the evolution I will discuss each in its turn.

Bio-Security With the outbreaks of Avian Influenza (A.I.) in the mid 90’s and early 2000 along with other diseases, turkey hatcheries have included procedures for preventing the introduction of disease into their facilities. Some of these have included change of clothing, showering in and out, documentation of travel, and traffic within the hatchery. Since A.I. is associated with wild birds and their migration, hunting or contact with other birds can require several days away from

TECHNICAL COLUMN

the hatchery before and employee is allowed to return to work.

Owning pet birds or backyard flocks can also disqualify potential new hires. As further protection employees and visitors are now often required to sign a Bio-Security statement before entering the hatchery. This scrutiny is essential for preventing the spread of disease, but management of the procedures is one of the new burdens assumed by modern hatchery managers.

Animal welfare Because the modern consumer is increasingly concerned about how the animals raised for food are treated, the government has become actively involved in ensuring that best practices are observed and that the humane treatment of all animals is considered in farming. The largest markets for turkeys, restaurants and commercial outlets, have animal welfare statements and standards and are holding farms accountable for the well-being of the animals under their control. They will often have staff trained to conduct welfare audits on their suppliers. This has necessitated a mountain of documentation for employee training and the production of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the management of all birds. Proper training must be documented for handling, euthanizing, and waste disposal and the methods used must conform to the industry standards. The loss of a setter or hatcher (although rare and an unfortunate occurrence) is creating a ‘bleep’ on the radar

and may also be investigated. The manager’s job is to integrate these procedures and expectations into the hatchery without decreasing productivity or expense.

Servicing the poult for the farms The past 25 years has shown an evolution in some of the ways that a poult is conditioned for the farm. For example, the beak trim. The beak trim is a preventative measure to reduce damage caused by injurious pecking within the flock and designed to reduce ‘cannibalistic’ activity. A previous method involved using a hot blade to partially cut and cauterize the tip of the beak. This method was popularly replaced by the bio-beaker or laser debeaker. The poult’s beak was pushed into a head holder that contained two electrodes. When both touched the beak an electrical arc was produced and burned a hole through the beak. In a few days the tip would fall off at the rearing farm. Both of these methods were extremely time consuming and relied on skilled application and operation.

The introduction of robotics has revolutionized the procedure, application and personnel involved. Custom masks hold the poults head precisely directing a high intensity light on the beak tip. This allows the beak to ‘wear away’ in a much more humane and effective manner. Mortality has been significantly reduced and there is a substantial cost saving.

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TECHNICAL COLUMN

Another servicing procedure that has also seen the benefits of robotics and engineering is claw (toenail) conditioning. Claw removal prevents birds from injuring other birds during high activity. This procedure was once done with a hot blade that cut and cauterized. Modern technology now uses microwaves to remove the nail with minimal tissue damage.

efficient, it may seem that they are working harder than ever.

Greater efficiency means shorter deadlines and therefore, they and their staff, may have to put in a lot more time.

With all this technology and data available, the subjective view of a “Quality Hatch” has become less and less viable. At one

“With the outbreaks of Avian Influenza along with other diseases, turkey hatcheries have included procedures for preventing the introduction of disease into their facilities.

Some of these have included change of clothing, showering in and out, documentation of travel, and traffic within the hatchery” Over the past 25 years, as developments have been introduced, the turkey hatcheries have adapted to these new, more humane technologies and methods for performing standard services.

Technology Technology has changed the way the modern turkey hatchery works. Take a quick look around the operation. What you’ll see, somewhere, is a computer, maybe several of them. They tell equipment how to operate and the managers and staff what they need to do to get the job done correctly. Technology is now available that allows embryos to control their own temperature and hatching needs. Even though they are dealing with a live product, hatcheries collect data and analyze their results. A “quality hatch” is determined by the data. “Hatchability”, “hatch of fertile”, “hatch spread”, “moisture loss”, “poult yield”, “cull poults”, and “livability” are some of the markers used to monitor the success of a hatchery. Data, once gathered, can be compared to national statistics and rankings. Hatchery managers rely on technology and although it is supposed to make work more

28

time the hatchery relied on markers such as observation (bright yellow color, bright eyes, legs, hatch debris, meconium on tray, culls on trays, heavy panting, etc.), noise (calm, noisy or agitated poults) or touch (soft, mushy, or hard abdomen). These days managers spend less time viewing their hatches because they simply don’t have the time and rely more on monitors and data analysis.

Incubation and hatching Probably the most instrumental change in the turkey hatching industry has been the shift from multi-stage to single-stage technology. Since Jamesway Incubator Company first introduced their single-stage machine in 1993 (the ACI machine), the turkey industry has taken hold of the concept.

Jamesway has not sold a turkey multi-stage machine since 1994, although there are still many hatcheries in operation which continue to use multi-stage machines with good results.

Why the huge shift? The single-stage offers the hatchery manager so much more control. Instead of the success of a hatch being dependent on the manual management of the eggs, now

- technical column -

TECHNICAL COLUMN

it is dependent on the programmed management of the eggs.

The single-stage machine puts the emphasis on the machine to perform the procedures for managing the environment of the incubator. Once the incubation is programmed you can shut the door until the egg transfer, with a simple 10% candling or check of fertility at 9-10 days of incubation. Temperature, CO2, air velocity and, in the hatcher, maturity, have all been incorporated to produce excellent quality poults. The single-stage can maintain egg room conditions until the set is required and it can operate on specifics for the embryo’s developing needs.

The better hatch results combined with the reduction of management required make it easy to see why it has been called ‘worry free’ and why the trend has been towards this style of incubation.

The next 25 years?

The future of the turkey hatchery industry is beginning to take shape and we can see that the inclusion of technology and automation, combined with the superior performance of single-stage machines such as Jamesway’s Platinum 2.0, will pave the way for the industry to be able to manage the demands of consumer expectations, government regulations, profitability and growth.

The next 25 years should see turkey consumption increasing but with a sound footing on proper bio-security methods and animal welfare. The turkey industry has already chosen single-stage equipment for its future…and when we look at the data…the top US producers use Jamesway equipment.

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29

TECHNICAL COLUMN

Selection for persistency and profitability Prof. Dr. Rudolf Preisinger, Chief Technical Officer at the EW Group, held a presentation on the selection of Lohmann’s layer lines for the traits of persistence and profi tability during a celebration organized

by Ali, held at Fiumana Predappio (FC), Italy.

Geneticists must anticipate at least five years ahead as to what the market trends will be like as well as consumer orientation. When alternative breeding and organic egg production were introduced some years ago, no one believed that these would someday become dominant market trends. At the time when the prospect of a prohibition of beak treatment was outlined, no one would have ever imagined that it would actually happen in several European countries. The same goes for male chicks, whose culling will be prohibited and replaced by determining sex in the egg. In fact, European legislation forbidding any kind of amputation to animals has been in place for a long time now. In the next five years, the determination of sex in the egg will be a reality, as will be the demand for layer nutrition where only non-GM raw materials and ingredients are to be used in the formulation.

The Lohmann Tierzucht genetic selection programme in Europe

Professor Dr. Rudolf Preisinger

30

Future selection goals are geared towards extending the production period and increasing the number of eggs per hen, improving shell quality,

- technical column -

Professor Dr. Rudolf Preisinger

number of saleable eggs and hen liveability.

At Lohmann Tierzucht, chickens are tested in enriched cages as well as in colony systems. A special testing procedure has been developed for floor housing where the hen is equipped with a small sensor on the foot pad that monitors when

TECHNICAL COLUMN

the bird goes in the nest to lay, her behaviour and what she does in the nest.

What do you ask a hen laying today?

Laying hens have to be strong and robust, pay frequent visits to the nest, have a docile behaviour, maintain a good plumage until the end of their lives, and lay strong-shelled eggs every day.

Birds must be handled appropriately to avoid the phenomena of pecking, cannibalism and decreases in production.

A special set-up has been developed which involves the automatic closure of the nest entrance with a door. There is a hole inside the nest where the egg is laid into a final collection tube.

This set-up helps monitor deposition behaviour and the quality of the egg. It is also important that hens choose a nest quickly with the minimum of selection time.

A genetic programme must focus on the future market needs of the industry, which is becoming increasingly cage-free, for example in Europe and North America. Increased profitability can only be achieved with longer cycles, less feed consumption for eggs sold, where due diligence and respect is paid to animal welfare, and high egg quality, both internally and externally.

“Future selection goals are geared towards extending the production period and increasing the number of eggs per hen, improving shell quality, number of saleable eggs and hen liveability�

Testing Lohmann hens to determine persistence and productivity The production cycle must be broken down into segments in order to act on each segment in detail. Currently, the most relevant production features seen are persistent laying and shell stability throughout the production cycle. When individual Lohmann hens are tested for a period of about 190 days, 3% laid 189 eggs over a span of 190 days, i.e. almost one egg per day; 40% laid an average of one egg per day for 63 days; and 25% laid an egg for 15 days before taking an interval of about a day.

Such persistent laying over a period of 100 days or more, requires that the flock have adequate nutrition to support shell formation and egg size.

In this experiment, it was noted that most hens laid one egg per day for more than 50 days, almost without interruption. In 50% of the cases, the interval was only one day, or two at the most, and then the hen resumed laying immediately. The testing concluded that persistency of lay and shell stability are the keys to

- july/august 2017 -

31

TECHNICAL COLUMN

Table 1 Heritability for beak length in LSL and LB pure lines

success. The main challenge remains, that is to find hens that lay a strong-shelled egg every day.

Laying persistency and shell quality are of course only a few of a hen's reproductive traits and in fact, the overall selection process is much more complex and includes various indexes such as number of eggs; egg weight; yolk and albumen quality; colour and shell strength; nesting behaviour; limiting floor eggs and many more indexes.

Line

LSL

LB

A

.21

.31

B

.24

.25

C

.09

.13

D

.12

.16

paper from which, about 50,000 markers for each male can be analysed, i.e. 50,000 pieces of available information, all allowing for more accurate selection. Testing is then performed and the genomic data obtained improves the selection process. Genomic selection can be seen to improve laying persistency by about an additional 25%; gives a higher figure of egg per hen; feed efficiency improves; as does egg quality. In other words, genomic markers allow us to select the right candidates in advance and in a much more precise way.

The Lohmann hen will then have a perfect plumage, have high laying levels with an average of 100 eggs in 100 days and with only a one day break, then resume production for 90 days, 80 days etc., while being nourished appropriately to produce high quality eggs.

“A genetic programme must focus on the future market needs of the industry, which is becoming increasingly cage-free, for example in Europe and North America. Increased profitability can only be achieved with longer cycles, less feed consumption for eggs sold, where due diligence and respect is paid to animal welfare, and high egg quality, both internally and externally�

New selection traits. A look at the future The new traits on which genetics are focused today, are the reduction in the length of the upper beak - a subject that has been researched on for years; the shape of the beak; feather cover; nesting behaviour and laying on the perch.

Genomic selection Genomic selection and DNA analysis allow for a better selection of birds, especially for males. When a chick is hatched, a drop of blood is obtained and then placed on a piece of filter

32

- technical column -

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33

MANAGEMENT

A.B. Scott1, M. Singh1, M. Hernandez-Jover2, B. Barnes3, K. Glass4, B. Moloney5, A. Lee5, P. Groves1 and J-A. Toribio1

1

Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Australia

On-farm surveys for an Avian Influenza risk assessment model Consumer-driven expansion of free-range poultry products has led to signifi cant increases in the number of free-range poultry farms and the total percentage of the national fl ock dedicated to free-range production. Free-range management increases the risk of contact between commercial poultry and wild birds, thus potentially increasing the likelihood of Avian infl uenza (AI) outbreaks.

2

School of Animal and Veterinary Science, Charles Sturt University, Australia 3

Quantitative Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Australia 4

5

College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Australia NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia

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On-farm surveys were conducted to better understand the risks posed by free-range management on commercial chicken farms in relation to AI outbreaks compared to other management systems. The data collected will be used to inform mathematical models which will quantify risk reduction that may be achieved by actions implemented on-farm to mitigate AI virus entry.

Avian influenza virus and history in Australia AI has caused enormous losses in poultry production worldwide, including Australia. In most cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus infection, gallinaceous poultry are found dead prior to the observation of any clinical signs. Morbidity and mortality rates are very high (50-89%) and can reach 100% in some flocks.

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Australia has experienced seven HPAI outbreaks in poultry farms in Victoria (three separate outbreaks), Queensland (one outbreak), and New South Wales (three separate outbreaks) since 1976.

The latest outbreak affected two farms in Young, NSW in 2013. Most of these outbreaks were limited to one farm and all involved chickens, either layer (four farms), broilers (two farms) or broiler breeders (four farms). Three outbreaks affected farms of other poultry species, specifically ducks and emus. In all farms there was opportunity for direct or indirect contact with waterfowl. All viruses were of subtype H7 and of Australian lineages.

Most outbreaks occurred during spring and summer (October to January), with the exception of the Bendigo, Victoria outbreaks in 1985 and 1992 which occurred in late autumn and winter (May and July) respectively. Four of the last seven outbreaks have occurred in the last 10 years, suggesting outbreaks are occurring more frequently.

2014). Theoretically the expansion of free range production systems increases the likelihood of AI virus introduction into poultry flocks due to greater opportunities for contact between wild and domestic birds. However, the change in probability of outbreak occurrence with increased proportion of free range farms has not been quantified. On farm actions to reduce AI virus introduction and spread have also not been quantified. There is a need to better understand AI outbreak risk to inform the industry on preventative actions that can effectively reduce risk.

Conduct of on-farm surveys relevant to AI introduction and spread

Broiler-Turkeys

A research project commenced in 2015 to address these knowledge gaps. The research team is developing mathematical models to quantify the probabilities of AI introduction and spread in both layer and broiler production systems of all types (cage, barn, free

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“Theoretically the expansion of free range production systems increases the likelihood of AI virus introduction into poultry flocks due to greater opportunities for contact between wild and domestic birds. However, the change in probability of outbreak occurrence with increased proportion of free range farms has not been quantified�

AI and the expansion of free range poultry production in Australia Australia has experienced a significant expansion of free-range poultry production due to consumer demand in recent years. In 2006 the Australian Chicken Meat Federation (ACMF) regarded free range chicken meat production as a cottage industry. However in only five years free range chicken meat production grew significantly to about 15% of the total market in 2011 (ACMF, 2011). Similarly, the retail market share of free range eggs has increased from 10% in 2000 to 40% in 2013 (AECL,

range), and to quantify risk reduction that can be achieved by various onfarm preventive actions. These models require inputs relating but not limited to farm management practices, virus behaviour and wild bird ecology. Data on these inputs is being obtained from the literature, expert opinion elicitation and conduct of on-farm surveys.

This paper describes the on-farm surveys conducted during 2015 with the objective to document current farm layout and management practices relevant to AI introduction to a farm and then spread farm-to-farm on layer and broiler farms of all types in the Sydney basin region.

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water, however 13% use a different source, and of these 91% do not treat this source.

a) Sampling frame

b) Animals on farm, farm distances and movements

A comprehensive farm list sourced from various corporations, integrators and private consultants was created which listed most, if not all, chicken farms in the Sydney basin region, which extends from Seaham to Bateman’s Bay. This region was selected because it has had an AI outbreak in the past and it contained all farm types of interest. As AI risk is considered greater in layer chickens rather than broilers, a greater number of layer farms were surveyed compared to broiler farms (60% vs 40%). Farms were randomly selected from the comprehensive list. Farmers were contacted by telephone, the project explained to them and they were invited to participate in the project.

Preliminary results Sixty-four chicken farms were visited; nine cage layer, nine barn layer, 25 free range layer, 15 non-free range broiler and six free range broiler farms. a) Water source and treatment Sixty-nine per cent of farms use town water as the source of drinking water for the chickens. The next most common source was bore water (19%), followed by a natural nearby water body (8%) and then the farm dam (4%). Ninety-four per cent use treated water and this includes farms using town water which is assumed to be treated. Eighty-one per cent of farms that treat their own water use chlorination. Water used for environmental control methods such as foggers, cooling pads and irrigation of the range area is usually from the same source as the drinking

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The mean distance to the next poultry farm is 3.5 kilometers.

The mean minimum distance from a waterbody to shed is 191 meters. Eighty-eight per cent of farms have seen waterfowl on water bodies near the sheds, where farms have an average of 1.5 dams on the property. An average of 0.88, 1.11, 1.36 dams are present on cage, barn and free range layer farms respectively and an average of 1.4 and 2 dams are present on non-free range and free range broiler farms respectively. Fiftyfour per cent of farms reported seeing wild birds inside chicken sheds of which all report to be small birds such as sparrows and finches. The breakdown per farm type was 56% cage and barn layer farms, 52% free range layer farms, 47% non-free range broiler farms and 83% free range broiler farms. Overall, 54% of farms stated that the wild birds inside sheds occurred commonly. Seventy-nine per cent of farms have seen wild birds on top of or around feed storage areas, which in most cases are silos. More than half (58%) report wild birds present during feed spills, where farmers that do not report wild birds during this instance explain that it is due to prompt cleaning of the feed spill.

Most farms (63%) have dogs and/or cats on the property and 44% of farms have ruminants. No farms sell live birds at markets but 6% of layer farms sell chickens on the property as backyard hens. One company delivers the majority (97%) of pullets. One company takes the majority (84%) of spent hens from layer farms. For broilers, the delivery of day old chicks and

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the removal of chickens for processing are performed by the same delivery companies within that broiler company.

disinfection of vehicles (28%) and equipment (29%) between sheds and these were both rated ‘moderately important’.

c) Information sources and biosecurity

Ninety-two per cent of farms do not allow animals inside sheds and rated this as extremely important. Most farms remove manure (88%) and provide fresh littler/shed sanitization (96%) between batches and these were rated as ‘extremely important’.

Seventy-eight per cent of farms have workers that do not come into contact with other birds or poultry farms and this was rated as ‘extremely important’.

Farmers were asked where they get information from regarding poultry health and industry news, what methods of information delivery were used and to rate these sources and delivery methods in terms of reliability. Eighty-three per cent of farmers use a veterinarian as an information source and all rated veterinarians with the highest level of reliability. Newsletters were the most common form of information delivery (60%) and were rated on average as ‘moderately’ reliable.

Farmers were asked to indicate the biosecurity practices they followed on farms and rate them on a scale of importance.

Ninety-per cent of farms had a biosecurity manual and this practice gained an average rating of ‘extremely important’; the highest rating level.

The average rating for visitor recording systems was ‘very important’. It was found that 74% of farms overall had a visitor recording system in place with the prevalence being the highest in free range broiler farms (100%), followed by non-free range broiler (93%), free range layer (80%), barn layer (56%), and cage layer (25%). More than half of farms disinfect vehicles (64%) and equipment (71%) between farms. There is little

Implications and conclusions Waterfowl commonly visit water bodies on poultry farms that are in close proximity to chicken sheds which is a concern in terms of avian influenza introduction. Most farms follow basic biosecurity practices but actions can be put into place to increase the proportion of farms doing so. This can be through the implementation of biosecurity audits and/or through a series of workshops to educate farmers.

References are available on request Presented at the 2016 Australian Poultry Science Symposium, New South Wales, Australia

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Challenges in longer laying cycles. Stabilizing egg quality

M.M. Bain1, Y. Nys2 and I.C. Dunn3 1

College of MVLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland 2

Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Roslin, Scotland 3

INRA, UR83 Recherches Avicoles, Nouzilly, France

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In the past 50 years, selection, initially at the breed level and then using quantitative genetics coupled with a sophisticated breeding pyramid, has resulted in a very productive hybrid for a variety of traits associated with egg production. One major trait currently being developed further is persistency of lay and the concept of the ‘long life’ layer. The recent advent of molecular genetics offers considerable hope that these multiple elements can be balanced for the good of all in the industry including the hens. The ‘long life’ layer, which will be capable of producing 500 eggs in a laying cycle of 100 weeks, is therefore on the horizon, bringing with it the benefi ts of a more efficient utilisation of diminishing resources including land, water, raw materials for feed as well as a reduction in waste, and an overall reduced carbon footprint.

The modern layer The modern commercial layer is capable of producing over 320 eggs in a single laying cycle if she is kept under optimum conditions. A deterioration

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in egg numbers combined with a decline in shell quality are the main reasons for replacing a laying flock at or around 72 weeks. Poor shell quality at any time not only results in financial loss but also causes major contamination problems for

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the highly mechanised egg packing and handling equipment. Poor shell quality at 72 weeks does not mean that all hens in an ageing flock produce eggs of reduced quality, rather the variability in egg quality within the flock increases. The long-term maintenance of the tissues and organs involved in producing eggs is therefore a prerequisite for extending the laying cycle of commercial flocks.

However, despite a plethora of research in this area spanning over 50 years, we are still ignorant of all the processes and mechanisms controlling the complexity of egg formation nor do we fully understand the functional properties of the individual components of the egg, which are proving to be much more intricate than we ever imagined.

follicle reaching maturation within each 24 hr period. Over 12,000 oocytes are present in the ovary at hatch but only a small percentage of these will ever reach maturity. At ovulation, the yolk mass from the largest follicle is captured by the funnel shaped open end of the proximal oviduct or infundibulum. From here it travels down the oviduct and undergoes suc-

cessive deposition of the different components of the egg. Each component of the egg, the albumen, membranes and the shell, is secreted by different parts of oviduct according to a predetermined sequence of events. During the first four hours, the egg white is formed in the magnum, the longest section of the oviduct. The shell membranes are

Nevertheless, by 2020, breeding companies claim that they will have developed the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;long lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; laying hen capable of producing some 500 eggs in a production cycle lasting 100 weeks. This goal is being achieved using selection programs that base decisions on a triangulation of phenotype evaluation of pure lines extending beyond 55wks, cross breed progeny testing (which is now being carried out in diverse conditions throughout the world) and genotype information derived from DNA markers (microsatellite and SNP) which have been validated to show an association with phenotypic traits. Any improvement in persistency in lay must also go hand in hand with sustainable egg quality and the birds must remain healthy throughout the production period. Osteoporosis remains one of the major welfare challenges for the egg industry and therefore cannot be ignored in any discussion relating to extending the laying cycle. In this respect the correct nutrition throughout the laying cycle is of paramount importance.

Overview of the egg forming process The almost daily production of an egg by a commercial layer is only feasible due to the simultaneous development of a series of follicles in the left ovary. This follows a defined hierarchy with only one

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then deposited as the egg mass passes through the isthmus.

Five hours after ovulation the egg mass enters the shell gland, where it spends the next 19 hours. It is during this time that the shell forms.

the biological limit of one egg per day for example has virtually been achieved at peak production. It is now common practice for breeding companies to extend their pure line evaluation beyond 75 weeks.

The formation of the eggshell occurs in 3 distinct phases and is regulated by the precise temporal and spatial secretion of a complex array of proteins, some of which subsequently become incorporated into the calcified structure thereby modifying its biomechanical properties and/or participate in its antimicrobial defences. The resulting interwoven fabric of organic and inorganic constituents forms the mammillary and palisade layers of the shell. In the last 1.5 hours and just prior to oviposition the shell pigment and then the cuticle (a non-calcified organic layer of variable thickness) are deposited. The egg is then ready for oviposition. The timing and process of oviposition is controlled by neurohyopohyseal hormones and prostaglandins secreted by the ovary and to a lesser extent the shell gland. Eggs are usually laid during the first few hours after dawn or when the lights come on in the morning. The next ovulation takes place after expulsion of the egg but can also occur just prior to this in some cases.

Heritability calculations for egg production at 80-100 weeks are reported to be moderate (h2=0.24) for both white and brown egg layers. There is therefore further scope for genetic improvement in laying persistency.

The role of the neuroendocrine system Reproduction in birds is controlled by GnRH-I neurones in the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that integrates environmental and internal endocrine signals. Dunn (2013) suggested that subtle differences in the neuroendocrine system between individuals may be the reason why some birds are capable of a higher persistency in lay than others. Oestrogen and progesterone are critical to stimulating the growth and maintenance of the left oviduct. These sex steroids are produced by the developing follicles in the ovary at sexual maturity, in response to an increase in the circulating levels of gonadotrophins such as pituitary FSH and LH. As hens age, the cells in the hypothalamus that control these processes are thought to become less efficient. The net effect is that the oviduct loses weight, and functions less efficiently.

The oviduct itself must inevitably suffer damage due to wear and tear, possible low-grade infections, and probably it also becomes refractory to the prolonged stimulation. The number of days when no egg is laid subsequently increases as does the number of defective eggs. However, some individuals are clearly more capable of maintaining a high egg output with good quality shells for longer periods. Thus improving persistency in lay and sustaining egg quality in longer laying cycles should be achievable.

Selection and maintaining laying persistency The intensive selection for traits such as age at sexual maturity, peak production and laying persistency to 55 weeks has significantly reduced the genetic and phenotypic variations that previously existed in egg number in commercial lines. Indeed,

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Selection to stabilise egg quality in longer laying cycles For many years breeding companies have focused their efforts on achieving higher egg weights (60 g) by peak production and maintaining egg weight at or around this level for as long as possible (65.5 g by 50 weeks). Beyond this, egg weight creeps up with bird age whilst shell quality tends to deteriorate. Excessively large eggs must be avoided if the laying cycle is increased, as large eggs are notoriously difficult to handle. The selection focus now is on controlling egg weight after peak production and keeping egg weight stable beyond 90 weeks of age. The net effect is that the shape of the egg weight curve has become flatter, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;late egg sizeâ&#x20AC;? has decreased by 5-7 g.

The Haugh unit is the standard selection measurement for albumen quality. Curtis et al., (2005) reported that Haugh units deteriorate with hen age from an average 89.6 to 68.8 over the laying period. The heritability estimates for Haugh units range from 0.21-0.41.

The heritability estimates for Haugh units calculated over a longer laying cycle at 80-100 weeks are still within this range.

Thus, through selection it is also possible to maintain acceptable albumen quality in older laying flocks for a longer period in the future. Egg colour is only included in selection in brown egg laying populations for aesthetic reasons and not because this trait relates to the quality of the egg in any other way. The natural variation in brownness is considered to be important in some markets but this is not universal. Heritability for shell colour in brown lines ranges from 0.3-0.53, depending on the breed.

Eggshell strength on the other hand is vital in ensuring the integrity and safety of the egg contents but the problem here is deciding on which measurement to use. Most companies use a combination of several measurements, as they believe that each measures slightly different things. One breeding company for example uses puncture strength as a measure of flexibility and breaking strength as an indirect measure of shell thickness. Heritability estimates for breaking strength measured by quasi-static compression in brown and white lines have been reported to be 0.28 at 80-100 weeks. Thus sustained eggshell strength in older flocks is also a realistic and achievable goal.

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Nutrition and feeding for persistency in lay and good egg quality It is important that pullets receive an appropriate diet throughout the rearing phase so that they meet the recommended adult pullet target weight by 14-16 weeks of age and have the correct body composition to sustain egg production beyond 90 weeks. A specific growth curve must therefore be followed. This is particularly important in the case of the 'long life' layer where persistency in lay is expected. Any deviation away from the target pullet weight will influence the mean egg weight during the early laying phase (r2=0.85, p<0.01) and the total egg output for the entire period of production. Particular attention must be paid to the energy/protein ratio between 11-16 weeks, as increased energy content of the diet enhances the fattening score. Particle size, if not suitable for beak size, can also result in reduced feed intake and therefore weight gain during the rearing phase.

Too many dietary changes or rapid changes in diet during the rearing phase should also be avoided. At about 16 weeks of age, the energy and protein content of the ration must be adjusted again ensuring that the hen consumes sufficient feed to cope with growth and the onset of egg production. There are a number of ways of promoting feed intake around this time e.g. use of whole cereals and coarse water-insoluble fibre. It is particularly critical that this feed is both appetizing and always available as medullary bone reserves are being formed and the ovary and oviduct are developing at this time.

During the laying period, the first challenge is to adjust the energy and protein requirements to optimize egg output and to carefully control body weight. The growth requirement is only present for the first few weeks at the onset of egg production.

Energy required for maintenance thereafter depends on body weight and feather coverage and therefore increases with hen age. Compilation of literature clearly shows a strong and negative correlation between feed intake and dietary energy concentration. This adaptation is however only partial and so high energy diets can be used during the first part of the laying period to satisfy the continued requirement for growth and

to promote heavier, early egg weight without the risk of overfeeding and producing “fat hens”. The hen’s energy requirement however decreases as egg production becomes established.

To minimise fat deposition a lower energy diet can be used at this time, as the birds will be able to partially compensate by increasing their feed intake. Laying hens also adjust their food intake according to the relative size of the particles in relation to the beak size. Varying particle size allows further balancing of the energy intake. The crude protein concentration and amino acids in the layer diet are also important, methionine being the main limiting amino acid (AA). Consumption of an extra 1g of protein per day for example results in an average increase in egg weight of 1.4 g. However the amount of protein consumed is dependent on the dietary energy concentration and the form of the ration. Ideally the protein and AAs concentration in the diet should be estimated relative to the egg weight (mg/g of egg for AAs) and adjusted to optimise egg production throughout the laying cycle. However an additional difficulty is that the heterogeneity of the flock increases with flock age. The best strategy is therefore to focus on maintaining the production of the higher producing hens and to adjust the supply of proteins and AAs accordingly, providing the cost is not prohibitive.

‘Gap’ feeding combined with a ‘paired feeds’ throughout the daylight hours is a useful management tools to improve feed intake efficiency, and flock body weight uniformity during the laying period. Sequential feeding methods whereby the energy and protein levels in the morning versus the afternoon feed are varied is also under investigation. Knowledge of the hen’s specific needs for energy and protein throughout the day would allow optimisation of the daily intake and improved FCR. At present however there seems to be no clear evidence that the hen's requirement for energy or protein varies throughout the day and that laying hens can adjust their daily intake accordingly.

References are available on request.

From the Australian Poultry Science Symposium.

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Probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics for broilers lameness The pathogenesis leading to a form of lameness known as bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) appears to be initiated by mechanical microfracturing of susceptible growth plates, followed by colonization of osteochondrotic clefts or voids by hematogenously distributed opportunistic bacteria.

Pathogenesis of BCO When compared with mammalian growth plates, the avian growth plate is much thicker and the chondrocyte columns are unevenly aligned. These differences have been attributed to high longitudinal growth rates associated with very rapid growth plate turnover times in birds (estimated at 21 hours) when compared with rats (4 days) and humans (20 days). Mechanical stress chronically exerted on the growth plates creates osteochondrotic clefts or microfractures between and within the cartilage layers (e.g., physeal osteochondrosis or osteochondrosis dissecans).

R. F. Wideman Jr. Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, USA

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Osteochondrotic clefts often transect local blood vessels, thereby causing focal ischemia and necrosis.

Osteochondrosis dissecans has been observed in the leg bones and flexible thoracic vertebrae of apparently healthy broilers exhibiting no symptoms of infectious or traumatic lameness, suggesting that lameness is not necessarily caused by direct mechanical damage or osteochondrosis per se but rather by an ensuing bacterial infection.

Bacteria transmitted to chicks from breeder parents, contaminated eggshells or hatchery sources, or that enter the chickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s circulation via translocation through the integument, respiratory system or

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gastrointestinal tract, spread hematogenously and can reach both sides of the growth plate via numerous terminal epiphyseal and physeal vascular plexuses. These plexuses are formed when the central arteriole within a cartilage canal divides into a tuft of capillary loops that have a discontinuous or fenestrated endothelium, with openings large enough to permit cellular elements in the blood to pass into the cartilaginous matrix.

Hematogenously distributed bacteria possessing the specific ability to bind to exposed bone collagen appear in some cases to be more virulent in their capacity to trigger osteomyelitis.

The translocated bacteria can form obstructive bacterial emboli in the epiphyseal and metaphyseal vascular plexuses, adhere directly to the exposed cartilage matrix, and colonize osteochondrotic clefts and zones of necrosis. Bacterial foci and sequestrae within infected bone tissue are notoriously inaccessible to antibiotics and cellular components of the immune system. Bacterial sequestrae rapidly expand into focal zones of necrosis or large fibrinonecrotic abscesses in the metaphysis of infected bones. Terminal BCO presents as necrotic degeneration and bacterial infection primarily within the proximal ends of the femora and tibiae, as well as in the growth plates of the flexible thoracic vertebrae. The distal ends of the femora and tibiae are affected less frequently. High incidences of femoral, tibial and vertebral BCO lesions have been observed in lame broilers from commercial flocks. Multiple opportunistic organisms have been isolated from BCO lesions, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus cecorum, often in mixed cultures with other bacteria including Salmonella spp.

Mechanical model for experimentally triggering BCO The aetiology, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies for BCO have been difficult to investigate because the incidence can be low or non-existent in research flocks. Experimental models for triggering BCO are needed to confirm key triggering mechanisms and stressors, reveal innate limitations or

susceptibilities, and provide a reliable test bed for evaluating practical prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. Mechanical models reliably trigger BCO without the need to purposefully inoculate the birds with known pathogens. Our assumption is that the offending pathogens routinely are present but quiescent within the bird or in the environment, waiting for an effective triggering scenario (e.g., stress, immunosuppression) and attainment of sufficient body mass to create a conducive wound site (e.g., osteochondrotic clefts, focal necrosis).

Pathogenic bacteria may be vertically transmitted from breeder hens, introduced in the hatchery, or transmitted as an aerosol or via the drinking water or feed, and then harboured subclinically at sites that have yet to be identified (e.g., intestinal, respiratory or physeal-metaphyseal microbial communities) until appropriate predisposing conditions converge.

Our mechanical models were designed to create sustained footing instability and thereby persistently exert excessive mechanical stresses on susceptible leg and vertebral joints.

Based on our current understanding, these amplified forces cause micro-trauma and osteochondrosis of the epiphysealphyseal cartilage, followed by haematogenous bacterial colonization. For example, we developed portable obstacles known as “speed bumps” that consistently trigger moderate incidences of BCO in broilers.

The speed bumps are constructed in the shape of an isosceles triangular prism and are designed to be installed between feeders and waterers in litter flooring facilities, thereby forcing the birds to climb up and then down the slopes as they move back and forth to eat and drink. Speed bumps trigger 3-fold higher incidences of BCO when compared with broilers reared on litter flooring without speed bumps.

For the majority of our experiments the entire surface of the pen floor was covered with flat wire panels, thereby denying the birds access to litter and subjecting them to chronic footing instability as well as to behavioural stress. Incidences of lameness between 20% and 60% are reliably induced by this challenge, depending on the genetic susceptibility and

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hatchery source of the broilers being evaluated. This model consistently triggers pathognomonic BCO lesion progression, with most of the lameness developing after 5 weeks of age, as has been reported for field outbreaks of BCO. Lameness progresses very rapidly in broilers that appeared to be healthy during the preceding 24 to 48 h.

Broilers tend to exhibit relatively mild BCO lesion when they are euthanized at the earliest onset of clinical symptoms (hesitancy to stand, eagerness to sit, slight wing-tip dipping), whereas birds permitted to live until they become fully immobilized (unable to eat or drink) exhibit much more severe lesions. It also is apparent from necropsying survivors of a wire flooring experiment that severe lesions may occasionally be present in very large, apparently robust individuals that exhibit no signs of lameness or leg weakness. We speculate that broilers may purposefully avoid exhibiting overt symptoms of lameness in order to avoid being victimized by the predatory behaviour of their flock mates. Indeed, gait scoring does not accurately predict obvious skeletal pathologies or abnormalities detectable at post mortem examination.

The pathogenesis of BCO cannot be instantaneous and therefore apparently healthy broilers often possess sub-clinical lesions primarily consisting of the earliest macroscopic BCO lesion pathology. Sub-clinical lesions are equally likely to develop in males and females, in left and right legs, and the status of the proximal femur does not determine the status of the ipsilateral or contralateral proximal tibia and vice versa.

These observations are consistent with the interpretation that sub-clinical mechanical damage to one or more proximal leg bones needs not trigger overt lameness until the damaged area becomes infected. The resulting bacterial proliferation, immunological assault by responding phagocytes (macrophages and heterophils), and widespread lysis and necrosis of the metaphyseal trabecular bone and vasculature then culminate in intolerable discomfort and terminal lameness.

Efficacy of prophylactic probiotic administration Bacterial translocation and bacteraemia are essential features of our hypothesis for the pathogenesis of BCO. Tight junctional complexes comprise a key component of the intestinal barrier by sealing the apical surfaces of adjacent epithelial cells.

“Leaky” tight junctions provide paracellular portals through which pathogenic bacteria can cross the gastrointestinal epithelium and ultimately enter the systemic arterial circulation.

This process of bacterial leakage across the intestinal epithelial barrier, known as bacterial translocation, can lead to the haematogenous distribution of pathogenic bacteria that infect the bone. Factors known to modulate the integrity of existing tight junctions and influence the dynamic synthesis of new tight junction proteins include physiological stress and “crosstalk” (direct cell to cell signaling) between gastrointestinal epithelial cells and commensal or pathogenic bacteria of the intestinal microbial community.

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Heat stress and enhanced intestinal microbial challenges can impair the integrity of tight junctions and facilitate bacterial translocation across the epithelium of the small intestine in broilers. It also has been demonstrated that probiotics alone or in combination with prebiotics can attenuate intestinal barrier dysfunction in broilers challenged by heat stress or pathogenic bacteria.

Commensal and probiotic bacterial species that enhance intestinal barrier integrity by stimulating tight junction protein expression and the formation of occlusive tight junctional complexes also are effective in preventing bacterial translocation.

In view of concerns regarding the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria commonly associated with osteomyelitis, probiotics potentially can provide a plausible alternative for prophylactically reducing the incidence of BCO. Probiotics may interfere with the development of osteomyelitis by attenuating intestinal populations of pathogenic bacteria, by improving gut health and integrity to reduce bacterial leakage (translocation), or by priming the immune system to better eliminate translocated bacteria.

Probiotics are not antibiotics and are unlikely to be effective if administered therapeutically only after lameness has developed in a flock. Indeed, administering probiotics in the feed beginning at 1 day of age, but not after the onset of BCO lameness, significantly reduced the incidence of lameness attributable to BCO in five independent experiments conducted over the course of two years and using four different broiler lines. The first four of these experiments evaluated a proprietary probiotic containing Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animalis, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Lactobacillus reuteri. The fifth experiment evaluated a proprietary single microbe probiotic containing Enterococcus faecium. Prophylactically providing these probiotics in the feed consistently reduced the incidence of BCO lameness by at least 50% and without attenuating growth performance when compared with broilers that also were reared on wire flooring but were not provided probiotics in their feed. In subsequent studies a proprietary probiotic containing Bacillus subtilis significantly delayed the age of onset and reduced the cumulative incidence of BCO lameness in broilers reared on wire flooring, whereas experiments conducted with a different proprietary Bacillus subtilis probiotic had no significant impact on the incidence of BCO lameness. Accordingly, although the specific biological mechanism remains to be determined, these experiments provide the first evidence that some, but not all, probiotics can significantly interrupt the pathogenesis of lameness attributable to BCO. Trials conducted on accumulated litter in commercial broiler facilities also have demonstrated the practical efficacy of probiotics for reducing the incidence of BCO (Wideman, personal observations).

References are available on request Presented at the Australian Poultry Science Symposium, New South Wales, Australia

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NUTRITION

Isaac1,

D. M. Valderrama2 and X. Roulleau3 1

BEC Feed Solutions, Australia 2 University of Chile, Chile 3 Dietaxion, France

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Incorporation of calcium pidolate and oyster shell on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of egg production The degradation of egg-shell quality from birds over 50 weeks of age leads to loss of collected eggs and an increase in downgraded eggs.

- nutrition -

NUTRITION

This phenomenon is generally attributed to the reduced capacity for absorption and mobilization of body calcium in the aged birds. A second limiting factor is involved: the advanced age of the animals causes a reduction in the capacity to synthesize components of the egg’s internal membrane. This experimental study, conducted as part of a thesis, compares the influence of a source of calcium carbonate (oyster shell at 3 grams/layer/day) with calcium pidolate (incorporated at 300 ppm). The treatments are repeated four times on 12 Lohmann White hens (55 weeks old): egg production, egg-shell quality and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were studied over 8 weeks of production. In the calcium pidolate group, production was significantly increased by 5% (p <0.05) and the number of downgraded eggs due to shell quality problems was reduced by 25% (p <0.05). The egg weight was also improved. The combination of these improvements led to a decrease in FCR of 10%.

lows maintenance of egg shell quality and higher production parameters when compared with the addition of oyster shell- a CaCO3 source considered to be more bioavailable than limestone.

An experimental study From 50 weeks of age, reductions in eggshell quality cause a loss in collected eggs and an increase in downgraded eggs (less valued). This phenomenon is general-

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The incorporation of calcium pidolate, which is involved in calcium metabolism and synthesis of components of the egg shell internal membrane, alTable 1 Effect of the incorporation of calcium pidolate and oyster shell on egg production (% per day).

Week1

Calcium pidolate

Oyster shell

56

86.01 ± 2.64

86.90 ± 5.67

57

82.44 ± 6.33

74.70 ± 7.74

58

87.50 ± 3.57

76.79 ± 9.20

59

88.39 ± 4.05

83.11 ± 6.71

60

86.31 ± 6.03

80.93 ± 3.73

61

86.42 ± 8.46

81.60 ± 5.10

62

84.60 ± 6.60

82.12 ± 2.54

63

78.02 ± 5.78

78.62 ± 5.51

Test of variances equality (F-Test) Calcium pidolate

Oyster shell

Average

84.8117

79.6939

Variance

12.7852

9.5333

F

1.3411

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Student-Test: p = 0.029 (significant difference)

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47

NUTRITION

Table 2 Effect of the incorporation of calcium pidolate and oyster shell on downgraded eggs for shell quality problems (broken and dirty) (% of total collected eggs).

Week1

Calcium pidolate

Oyster shell

56

10.39 ± 3.29

10.28 ± 1.21

57

7.22 ± 3.15

9.46 ± 5.43

58

8.12 ± 3.15

12.45 ± 9.32

59

11.20 ± 4.09

11.87 ± 4.14

60

9.16 ± 7.29

13.55 ± 4.29

61

6.28 ± 1.41

12.98 ± 5.29

62

8.90 ± 3.57

16.11 ± 9.37

63

10.34 ± 6.43

16.91 ± 5.05

56 week old layer birds (Lohmann® white) were used in the trials. There were two dietary treatments and each treatment had 48 layers (12 layers x 4 replicates). The basal diet was formulated according to Lohmann® white specification but without phytase. Calcium carbonate (limestone) was incorporated in the basal diet at 60% grit and 40% powder. Treatment 1 consisted of addition to the basal diet of 300 g/ton of calcium pidolate (PIDOLIN® P Ca)-an organic calcium salt patented by Dietaxion.

Treatment 2 consisted of birds on control diet and given additional 3 g/hen/day of oyster shells with diameter above 2mm.

Both diets had a minimum calcium level of 4%.

Test of variances equality (F-Test) Calcium pidolate

Oyster shell

Average

8.7443

13.33

Variance

2.9241

6.4331

F

0.4545

This experimental study, conducted as part of a thesis, at the Research Department on Animal Production of the University of Santiago in Chile, compares the influence of a soluble source of calcium carbonate (oyster shell at 3 grams/layer/day) with calcium pidolate (incorporated at 300 ppm), in the feed of layers between 56 and 63 weeks old. This work focused on quantitative parameters (weekly egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio (kg of feed / kg of eggs) and qualitative (% downgraded eggs, % downgraded eggs due to egg shell problems).

Student-Test: p = 0.003 (significant difference)

ly attributed to a dysfunction of calcium metabolism (reduced capacity for absorption and mobilization of body calcium). A second limiting factor may be involved: the advanced age of the animals causes a reduction in the capacity of synthesis of components of the egg’s internal membrane.

Week1

Calcium pidolate

Oyster shell

56

2.73 ± 0.15

2.58 ± 0.26

57

2.74 ± 0.38

2.77 ± 0.26

58

2.72 ± 0.09

3.13 ± 0.21

59

2.62 ± 0.29

2.89 ± 0.33

60

2.86 ± 0.17

3.31 ± 0.28

61

2.79 ± 0.39

3.32 ± 0.57

62

2.84 ± 0.26

3.51 ± 0.79

63

2.59 ± 0.21

2.69 ± 0.17

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Table 3 Effect of the incorporation of calcium pidolate and oyster shell on feed conversion ratio.

Test of variances equality (F-Test) Calcium pidolate

Oyster shell

Average

2.7366

3.0233

Variance

0.0089

0.1161

F

0.0769

Student-Test: p = 0.05 (significant difference)

48

- nutrition -

NUTRITION

The layer birds were housed in a naturally ventilated shed in cages of 4 hens each. The feed was available ad libitum.

Daily egg collection was at 1pm. The egg count included total eggs collected, broken eggs, soft eggs, dirty eggs, blood stained eggs and small eggs. All eggs collected on Fridays were weighed.

higher for the calcium pidolate group, as compared with the oyster shell group.

Lower incidence of broken and soft eggs was found in the calcium pidolate group and feed conversion ratio was also significantly improved.

This study shows that calcium pidolate use is clearly preferable to an addition of oyster shell for improving production parameters and shell quality.

References are available on request From the Australian Poultry Science Symposium

The study compared the average of production parameters over a period of 8 weeks. The equality of variances of the data was checked with the F-TEST and the averages using a Student T-test.

Table 1 shows that calcium pidolate incorporation provokes a significant increase on egg production of 4 points (p < 0.05) during the total period (an increase of more than 5% production/hen/week) in comparison with the results of the group, which received oyster shell. The improvement is partly due to the direct effect of calcium pidolate and could also be attributed to the dilution effect on the diet due to the incorporation of oyster shell at 2.5%.

The percentage of total downgraded eggs of calcium pidolate group was different from the oyster shell group (p=0.05). It appears that this parameter only differs in the second phase of treatment (from week 60). The incidence of downgraded eggs represents the sum of broken and soft-shelled eggs divided by the total number of eggs collected.

The type of defect is not identified. The calcium pidolate group had a lower proportion of eggs downgraded due to shell quality. There is a difference of 4 points compared with oyster shell, which relates to 25% lower (p < 0.05) Average eggs weight shows a positive effect of the use of calcium pidolate: higher effect on average of 4% compared to oyster shell (p = 0.08). FCR of calcium Pidolate group is significantly improved by 10% compared to oyster shell group (p = 0.05).

Conclusions The production is enhanced significantly but egg weight was not significantly

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NUTRITION

ŠPas Reform

The effects of in-ovo feeding The embryonic and immediate post hatch developmental period represents a signifi cant phase in attaining quality broiler performance at marketing. An efficient transition period from late term embryo to a viable independent chick is necessary for achieving results. Immediately post hatch birds must undergo a shift from egg and embryonic nutrients to exogenous feed.

Zehava Uni Department of Animal Science, Israel Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment Hebrew University, Israel

50

Under practical conditions many birds have access to feed only 36-72 h after moment of hatch and during this time body weight decreases, intestine and muscle development is retarded. Moreover, as the modern broiler lines are intensively selected for a higher growth rate and increased pectoral muscles, there is an enhanced requirement of chicken embryos for energy and protein, and consequently the imbalance between requirement and reserves of nutrients stored within eggs may limit maximal growth and development of chicken embryos.

Accordingly, some of the challenges faced by broilers chicks include weakness, reduced feed intake, impaired growth, susceptibility to disease, and mortality. These symptoms may be due to limitations

- nutrition -

NUTRITION

in some nutrients and energy and to immature digestive system unable to reload depleted energy reserves from consumed feed.

Supplementing the amnion fluid with appropriate nutrients (by in-ovo feeding) is a novel way to feed critical dietary components to embryos and ‘jump-start’ development of the chick.

In-ovo feeding technology has established a new science of perinatal nutrition that will open opportunities for greater production efficiency and animal welfare.

The ability to digest and absorb nutrients prior to hatch Poultry embryos and hatchlings rely upon the fat, protein, carbohydrates, water, minerals and vitamins deposits in the egg compartments (albumen, yolk and shell). During the 21 days of embryonic development, the chick embryo utilizes essential nutrients from the egg compartment for tissue growth, extra embryonic tissue development and for its energetic needs.

Digestion and absorption of nutrients during incubation take place by two routes: the first track is absorption through the yolk sac membrane (YSM) directly into the blood. Absorption of yolk’s 25-30 nm sized particles, consisting of mainly very low density lipoproteins, is taken up by YSM epithelial cells by endocytosis.

Our current findings show that the uptake of yolk-nutrients, including di-and-tri peptides, amino acids and minerals, is mediated by a variety of membrane-bound transporter proteins. Moreover, the YSM also exhibit digestion abilities similar to the digestion abilities of the small intestine. mRNA expression analysis demonstrate that the YSM expresses many of the digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters typically associated with the intestine and that these genes are expressed in a tissue- and development-specific manner.

Yolk utilization is affected by the morphological and digestive changes occurring in the YSM. The total area of the YSM and its absorptive area increased up to E 17 and decreased until hatch. These changes may relate to the increasing demand for nutrients from the yolk and to the assimilation of the yolk sac into the embryo’s body cavity towards hatch.

The second route of consuming yolk nutrients during incubation is by their transfer directly from the yolk into the intestine. This was presented previously in post-hatch period, however, our findings show that from E 17 great portion of the yolk enters the small intestine thorough the yolk stalk probably by peristaltic movements. By this route the fat, protein, glycogen, minerals and vitamins are subjected to the chick pancreatic enzyme activity and can be absorb by the embryonic intestine and support the developing embryo.

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51

NUTRITION

In-ovo feeding, a management at the hatchery for supporting the hatchlings In the beginnings, in-ovo vaccination of the 80’ against Marek’s to be effective against early exposure to the virus. In fact, in-ovo techniques are mentioned as one of the biggest contributions of poultry research, and new in-ovo vaccines are still an active topic of research.

In 2003 Uni and Ferket introduced the concept of administrating high volume (0.4 - 1.2 ml) of nutrients to the amniotic fluid o the embryo, which consumes the amniotic fluid prior to hatch.

Their studies focused on improving embryonic development, intestine, health, bone and breast muscle and FCR. In-ovo feeding is expected to yield several advantages, among them reduced post-hatch mortality and morbidity; greater efficiency of feed-nutrient utilization at an early age; improved immune response to enteric antigens; reduced incidence of developmental skeletal disorders; and increased muscle development and breast-meat yield.

Uni and Ferket signal several advantages of in-ovo feeding: improved intestinal development and digestive capacity; increased growth rate and feed efficiency; reduced incidence of developmental skeletal disorders and improved bone mineralization; increased muscle development and breast meat yield.

In laboratory trials in-ovo feeding has increased hatchling weights by 1-7% over controls and this advantage has been observed to sustain at least 35 days.

Chicken embryos have capacity to digest and absorb nutrients prior to hatch. The development of the gut occurs throughout incubation, but the functional abilities of the gut only begins to develop about the time the amniotic fluid is orally consumed by the 17-19 day-old embryo. The weight of the intestine, as a proportion of embryonic weight, increases from approximately 1% at 17 days of incubation (17 E) to 3.5% at hatch. The activity and RNA expression of brush border enzymes and the major nutrient transporters (sodium-glucose transporter and ATPase) that are observed on E 15 began to increase on E 19 (two days prior to hatch) and increases further on the day of hatch. This absorption capacity increases close to hatch and continues to increase during the first few days post-hatch.

Poultry embryo villus height increases by 200-300% from E 17 until hatch, and small intestinal weight increases faster than body mass. Rapid intestinal growth is due to great increase in cell numbers and size, due to accelerated enterocyte proliferation and differentiation, and intestinal crypts formation.

Therefore, intestinal tissue growth, maturation and metabolism become of great importance in the last period on poultry embryonic development. The sooner the intestine achieves functional capacity the quicker the animal can utilize dietary nutrients, absorb minerals and vitamins and support the development of critical organs (skeleton, immune system, breast muscle).

52

Positive effects have been observed with in-ovo feeding solutions containing NaCl, sucrose, maltose, and dextrin betahydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate, arginine, egg white protein, and Zn-methionine.

Many other research groups worldwide (in Brazil, USA, China, Iran, Poland and India) experienced this methodology and point to the same advantages.

Nutrients for in-ovo feeding Various potential nutrient supplements can be included in the in-ovo feeding solution. Carbohydrates can be used as a source for glucose, which is crucial for the hatching process and hatchling development. Na+ and Cl- ions play a major role in the activity of apical and basolateral transporters and in the absorption of glucose and amino acids. β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite which affect muscle satellite cells and increases carcass yield, is a good candidate for the in-ovo feeding solution, as are minerals and vitamins which support the development of skeletal, immune and digestive systems in chickens.

Many nutrients were evaluated for their contribution to poultry hatchability, chick quality and production performance.

Indeed, any selected nutrients can be applied for in-ovo feeding

- nutrition -

NUTRITION

and that includes all amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids, and other modulators. A large verity of nutrients or supplements can potentially be included in the in-ovo feeding solution. Limitations are volume, timing, osmolality and viscosity of in-ovo feeding formulation.

In-ovo feeding and immune response In-ovo feeding may also enhance the protective function of enteric mucosa. Hatchlings are very susceptible to the colonization of enteric pathogens due to minimal competitive exclusion by symbiotic microflora that populate the mucin layer of the gut mucosa. The mucus gel layer of the intestinal epithelium is the first barrier to enteric infection. Smirnov et al.

(2006) observed that in-ovo feeding increased villus surface area at hatch and 3 days post-hatch by about 27% and 21%, respectively. Moreover, the proportion of goblet cells containing acidic mucin increased 50% over controls at 36 h after in-ovo feeding, which corresponded to enhanced expression of the mucin mRNA. Bohorquez (2010) also observed in-ovo feeding to significantly accelerate the maturation of the villi epithelial, mucus secretion, and colonization of commensal microflora in day-old turkey poults. Hence, in-ovo feeding may help improve the colonization resistance of enteric pathogens of neonatal chicks and poults.

Bhanja et al. (2010) reported higher expression of genes associated with humoral immunity, IL-6 and TNF-Îą in chicks injected with lysine, threonine or methionine and cystine.

Additionally, in-ovo administration of threonine also enhanced the expression of cellular immunity genes, IL-2 and IL-12, in chicks humoral immunity, IL-6 and TNF-Îą in chicks lysine, threonine or methionine and cystine. Additionally, in-ovo administration of threonine also enhanced the expression of cellular immunity genes, IL-2 and IL-12, in chicks. A further development of inovo feeding concept was presented by Pineda et al. (2012) who used silver nanoparticles, an antimicrobial agent, delivered them in-ovo and observed benefits in growth performance, microbial profile, and immune status of broiler chickens.

In-ovo feeding with minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates, was shown to elevate mineral levels and their consumption from the yolk during the prenatal period. This nutrient supplementation for broiler embryos showed a significant effect on their skeletal development since the minerals and vitamins included in the in-ovo solution are important for bone development.

Our study examined the effect of in-ovo enrichment with minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates on the structural, mechanical and compositional properties of long bones from the embryonic period until maturity. Results showed that generally, there was an early positive effect on the bones of in-ovo-fed hatching broilers, which slowly faded by d7. On d14 again the enriched group bones showed improved properties.

The increased mineralization levels and improved trabecular bone morphology during the last days of growth (d 28-d 54) hint to a long lasting and possibly permanent effect of in-ovo enrichment on the dynamics of bone development.

This work demonstrates the potential influence of embryonic nutrition on the performance of organisms both in the short term, prenatally, and in the long term.

Additionally, optimizing the in-ovo feeding solution content will probably strengthen the effect of in-ovo enrichment on bone development and properties.

Presented at the 2015 Arkansas Nutrition Conference Rogers Arkansas, USA

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In-ovo feeding and bone Current genetic growth potential and metabolic rate of meattype chickens (broilers) is extremely high. Due to this increased metabolic rate of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast growing embryos, the limited embryonic nutrient reserves are insufficient and some nutrients are depleted in the prenatal period. For example, during the last days of incubation the yolk, which is the major mineral source for the embryo, contains limited reserves of P, Zn, Cu and Mn. Accordingly, the consumption of those minerals is low. Since those minerals are important for broiler bone development, it is reasonable to assume that this limitation will hinder bone development. It is therefore not surprising that during the last prenatal days, most mechanical and geometric properties of the tibia and femur, in our current broiler breeds, remain unchanged or even deteriorate.

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53

VETERINARY SCIENCE

Future of Blackhead Disease in poultry Blackhead Disease, also known as Histomoniasis, is caused by Histomonas meleagridis, a fl agellated protozoan.

©Agro-Plus

Steven R. Clark, DVM

54

- veterinary science -

VETERINARY SCIENCE

A 2015 turkey health survey of US veterinarians in turkey production ranked blackhead position #13 (#11 prior year) compared to #22 in 2006; the survey ranked and scored 36 current disease issues (1= no issue to 5 = severe problem) and had a survey response (reply) of 100% (n=25). Blackhead, also known as Histomoniasis, is one disease with no efficacious drug approved for use in turkeys. There were 55 reported cases of blackhead (2015) an increase from 61 the prior year, and a record 108 in 2010. Histomoniasis occurs regionally and seasonally in turkeys, and can result in significant mortality.

Dimetridazole was extremely efficacious and previously approved for use in turkeys for the prevention and treatment of blackhead; it was banned in 1987. The lack of any legal treatment for histomoniasis is of concern, especially in the case of valuable turkey breeder candidate flocks. Losses to blackhead have been severe in several areas of Europe, and sporadic cases are occurring in North America. On April 1, 2015, the sponsor announced that it would discontinue marketing nitarsone, and the approval of of nitarsone in animal feed were withdrawn as of January 1, 2016; following this action, there are no FDA-approved, arsenic-based drugs for use in food producing animals. Nitarsone was FDA approved for the prevention of histomoniasis (blackhead disease) in turkeys and chickens, and was the only approved animal drug for this indication. There are neither effective nor approved products for treatment of blackhead outbreaks. Under the announced FDA phase-out plan, the strategy allowed affected producers the opportunity to consider alternatives for managing this disease in the future.Blackhead Disease, also known as Histomoniasis, is caused by Histomonas meleagridis, a flagellated protozoan.

Classically indirect transmission is accepted, whereas the bird ingests embryonated ova of cecal worms (Heterakis gallinarum) that contain the Histomonas organism. Histomonas meleagridis is pleomorphic; in the cecum Histomonas is flagellated whereas in tissues (cecal wall, liver) it is a strictly amoeboid organism.

Heterakis gallinarum, also known as cecal worm of poultry, acts as an intermediate host. A new parasitic cycle starts with the intake of ceca-dwelling forms of the protozoa Histomonas meleagridis by adult cecal worms in the ceca of the turkey. New research and field observations support the opinion that direct transmission is possible as well where the Histomonas are able to infect turkeys for a short period after being excreted. Since oral transmission seems impossible, it has been demonstrated that the mechanism for this is “cloacal drinking”. Dr. McDougald suggests that the Histomonas protozoa in the feces, directly infects new turkeys via the cloacal route, and can spread rapidly through the flock.

Past Dimetridazole was approved for use in turkeys for the prevention and treatment of blackhead (histomoniasis,

©Agro-Plus

Abstract

infectious enterohepatitis), and for increased weight gain (growth promotion) and improved feed efficiency. CVM had documented evidence that dimetridazole medicated premix and dimetridazole soluble powder had been used widely for the treatment and prevention of swine dysentery. This use of dimetridazole in swine was not approved. There was also reported evidence that dimetridazole was a carcinogen. There were concerns that the use of dimetridazole in unapproved food animals would result in illegal drug residues in meat, milk, and eggs and therefore represent human food safety issue. On December 16, 1986, FDA published a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing on a proposal to withdraw approval of dimetridazole. The approval for dimetridazole was revoked in a Federal Register document dated July 6, 1987.Histostat-50® (nitarsone, 4-nitrophenylarsonic acid; Zoetis, Florham Park, NJ) was approved for use in the feeds of chickens and turkeys at 0.01875% as an aid in the prevention of blackhead (21 CFR §558.369). Early medication was essential to prevent spread of the disease. Histostat once had limited approval internationally, including, Canada, Chile, Morocco and Israel. Nitarsone was used by the US turkey industry for approximately 50-years. The FDA approval for nitarsone was withdrawn as of January 1, 2016.

In the European Union (EU) Histomoniasis was well controlled with dimetridazole (DMZ) and Nifursol. The EU banned the use of dimetridazole, after 30-years, as a treatment (c.1995) and then as a feed additive (c. 2000). Salfuride as a feed additive was banned in March 2003 in the EU. Dimetridazole was banned in the UK in May 2002. The subsequent ban left the EU to prevent, control and treat blackhead with strict biosecurity and hygiene measures. Since the 2003 ban, acute and severe cases of Histomoniasis in turkeys have been documented in France, United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Germany and many other countries. A presumptive diagnosis of blackhead disease can be made based on clinical signs (depressed, underweight, morbid and reluctant to move), mortality patterns,

- july/august 2017 -

55

VETERINARY SCIENCE

Table 1 Treatment and control options for Blackhead Disease and current availability (status) of chemicals (drugs). Approval and status may vay by region.

1)

2)

Treatments (Curatives) a) Chemicals (drugs) i) Nitro-imidazoles (1) Dimetridazole. Banned (FDA, 1987; EU, 1995, 2001).

(2) Ipronidazole. Banned/Withdrawn (FDA, 1989). ii) Nitrofurans (1) Furazolidone. Banned (FDA, Aug 23, 1991).

(2) Salfuride. Banned (EU, 2002-2003) b) Management: no single treatment options available. c) Alternatives (phytogenics): none. d) Vaccination: not applicable.

Preventatives (Control) a) Chemicals (drugs) i) Arsenics (pentavalent organic) (1) Carbarsone. Not marketed circa 2000..

(2) Nitarsone. FDA approval withdrawn January 1, 2016. b)

Management: multifactorial approach. i) Accurate diagnosis ii) Control coccidiosis iii) Control worms iv) Depopulation v) Biosecurity vi) Pest control vii) Litter treatments viii) Control cecal bacteria ix) Management of soil/litter x) Install migration fences xi) Extra-label prophylactic & therapeutic drug options xii) Avoid “physiologic enhancement”

c)

Alternative approaches i) Phytogenics: nutrition (1) FitoTril (Ravet sp zoo. Wrocław, Europe) (2) Protophyt (Phytosynthese, France, Europe) (3) NatustatTM (Alltech, Kentucky, USA) (4) DeviSTAT (Devenish Nutrition, Fairmont, Minnesota, USA) (5) Orego-Stim® (Anpario, SpartanburgNottingham, South Carolina, USAUK) ii)

d)

Antibiotics: Andetodal Evidence (1) Paramomycin (Huvepharma, Bulgaria) (2) Tiamulin

Vaccination: not commercially available.

and macroscopic lesions. Upon necropsy the characteristics bulls-eye-like liver lesions and cecal lesions (cheesy caseous cores, inflammation of the serosal surface and occasional ulceration) are very indicative. Although not pathognomonic, sulphur yellow feces may be noted. A diagnosis should be confirmed by histopathology. Culture of the organism may be attempted using special media; bacterial contamination and subsequent overgrowth is a problem. Passage of liver and cecal homogenate on turkeys between 2 to 4 weeks is a time-consuming, complicated but efficacious method. Microscopic examination of wet smears with phase contrast techniques or

56

- veterinary science -

appropriate cytology stains can assist in diagnosis of the organism. Various PCR techniques have been investigated and may be available; these PCR techniques may allow for testing of organs as well as fecal samples.

Present and Future With the withdrawal of efficacious chemotherapeutics, there is increasing interest in the development and use of alternative intestinal health products to mitigate blackhead disease issues with nutritional compliments including: plants extracts, prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids, essential oils, enzymes, and volatile fatty acids, among others. Europe classifies such products as “phytogenics”.

Currently these products are supported by limited research and publications, particularly on Histomonas. These emerging, non-traditional interventions can be used to assist in preventing and/ or resolving intestinal health issues while avoiding issues of antimicrobial resistance and residues. Discrepancies in results evaluating alternative products may reflect the fact that environmental management becomes increasingly critical when antimicrobials and anticoccidials are not used. Efficacy of phytogenic products have been conflicting, possible due to variability in product quality and specifications and testing methodologies. Devenish (Fairmont, MN) DeviSTAT is a proprietary design with quality ingredients to improve intestinal health and immunity and inhibit disease-causing intestinal protozoa.

Recent research using modified invitro model showed significant activity against Histomonas. DeviSTAT is a proprietary blend of nutritional products, including essential oils and acids, noted that improve intestinal integrity, lower intestinal inflammation, enhance immunity and have reported antimicrobial activity. In vitro data does not guarantee in vivo results, therefore additional research using disease models are needed. Field evaluations are on-going. Oregano oil, such as, Anpario (Nottingham, UK) Orego-Stim®

VETERINARY SCIENCE

can be included in the feed or water and provides a costeffective approach to maintain healthy appetites and promote gut health during critical stages of life. There is anecdotal field evidence that Orego-Stim in feed (around 250 g/t) can help in ameliorating the clinical impact of blackhead when only drug treatment can resolve the infection. Typically where mortality was 50-60% with nitarsone-only medication, the concurrent supplementation of Orego-Stim in the feed reduced mortality to single digits.Hegngi demonstrated that prophylactic effect of both albendazole and fenbendazole provided beneficial results and may be attributed to the destruction of the transport vector, Heterakis larvae, or to direct killing of the sensitive flagellated form of Histomonas. Periodic treatment for adult cecal worms is ineffective because it is the larvae stage that introduces the organism. In the United States fenbendazole is approved, in turkeys as an in-feed medication, for the removal and control of round worms, both adults and larvae (Ascaridia dissimilis), and cecal worms, adult and larvae (Heterakis gallinarum).

Both cecal eggs and earthworms survive in the soil for long periods of time. Classical deworming programs focus on the more detrimental ascarids. However Heterakis gallinarum has a shorter prepatent time (24-30 days), compared to ascaridia (5-8 weeks).Both paromomycin and tiamulin have been reported to have antihistomonal activity. Paramomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is registered in Italy for the treatment of histomonosis, and available in select countries by special government authorization. Tiamulin, a pleuromutilin class of antibiotic, was prescribed via the drinking water for five days at 25 mg/kg bodyweight reported a rapid reduction in mortality in an infected turkey flock. Warning: animals being treated with tiamulin should not have access to feeds containing polyether ionophores (e.g., monensin, lasalocid, narasin, salinomycin and semduramicin) as adverse reactions, including death, may occur. Therapy is improved when used in conjunction with management intervention, especially methods to minimize the spread of histomonas within a barn. Paramomycin and tiamulin efficacy in the field and experimental settings has shown mixed results, which may limit its use with blackhead

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- july/august 2017 -

57

VETERINARY SCIENCE

•

Accurate diagnosis. The lesions are not pathognomonic (i.e., diagnostic). Identify organism on phase contrast microscopy, PCR or histopathology. A qualified laboratory should attempt culture.

•

Targeted intervention strategies will depend on such factors as record of blackhead occurrence on the farm or in the area, climate and weather, and soil or litter condition.

Some interventions might be intermittent, while others might be continuous as long as prevention is desired.

•

Control coccidiosis. It is essential to aggressively control coccidiosis, as even low numbers of oocysts increase severity.

•

Collaboration with the broiler industry to communicate biosecurity risks and reduce exposure of turkey farms to Heterakis through the appropriate use of approved dewormers.

•

Loss of family farms: without proven control measures, it will not be feasible for some family farms to continue raising turkeys.

•

Treat the litter or floors with salt, lime, copper sulfate or a combination of the aforementioned products. Reports also document increasing litter depth, in attempts to reduce access to the H. gallinarum from the soil.

•

Acidify the litter or lime slurry floor.

•

Multiple partitions in a barn to prevent whole house migration and subsequent direct transmission during outbreak.

•

Pest control. Field reports have suggested that darkling beetles and flies might indirectly spread the disease. Control wild bird pests, as they may spread the disease via droppings containing Heterakis eggs. Vector/Beetle control, flies and beetles can probably spread the blackhead organism and contaminated cecal worms.

•

Evaluation of nutritional supplements have demonstrated varied in-vitro and limited in-vivo activity against Histomonas.

•

Avoid stress and “physiologic enhancement”. Excessively wet litter is important in the proliferation of the direct transmission route of Histomonas meleagridis. A low pH of digestive tract is suspected to be effective in inhibiting (direct) transmission (such as might occur with skip-a-day feeding programs or other situations of feed deprivation).

•

Control intestinal worms.

•

Depopulation might be an option. Efforts to break the lifecycle of disease on a farm might include a program of depopulation, followed by a thorough cleaning and disinfection. The Histomonas organism is very susceptible to the environment and disinfectants.

•

Biosecurity. Remember that there is a wide range of host (broilers, turkeys, pheasants, guineas). Avoid transmission from one infected farm/barn to another (even one part of the house). Beckstead has documented that chicken litter may pose a risk of transmitting blackhead to turkey.

58

©iowaagliteracy

Table 2 Control measures for Blackhead Disease might include, supported by varying antidotal field reports:

treatment. Vaccination against blackhead disease has been researched and suggests that sufficient protective immunity is not developed after challenge. There is shielding of the parasite in the Heterakis eggs, before Histomonas meleagridis is released in the cecum. Hess has reported success using a cloned, attenuated Histomonas capable of producing immunity.Extensive research was conducted in the early and mid-1900s relative to interrelationships between nutrition and disease in poultry. Examples of such positive research showed the reduction in mortality, morbidity and pathology at therapeutic levels of Vitamin E and when used in combination with antihistomonal agents, such as, ipronidazole, in turkeys infected with Histomonas. During the 1960s-1980s, effective chemical and antibiotic agents diminished the efforts in disease control relative to nutrition, probiotics and natural product research. Based upon past research results, a re-evaluation of therapeutic levels of specific vitamins may be in order, especially in combination with other disease control agents. Dr. Beckstead (personal communication) states that in lieu of efficacious treatments, future research will focus on identifying disease reservoirs and vectors, determining the mechanisms of disease transfer, and identifying management practices that may lessen flock susceptibility. Beckstead recently has provided molecular characterization to identify genetic variation and determined virulence factors associated Histomonas meleagridis isolates from across the US. Molecular markers allow researchers to

- veterinary science -

©The Turkey Shoppe Oegema Farms

VETERINARY SCIENCE

trace outbreaks and associate strains with virulence.Minimizing direct transmission in infected turkey flocks via the cloacal drinking route is another important intervention. In situations where birds have not been able to move, many colleagues report that excessive littering down of the barns to reduce ongoing contact with environmental contamination is helpful.

There are field reports of having a break following total litter cleanout; this suggest that disturbing the soil introduced the organism or infected host. Installing multiple partitions in a barn can minimize the introduction of Histomonas from separating throughout the building. This method is supported by McDougald and Beckstead’s research confirming “cloacal drinking” and direct bird-to-bird transmission in turkeys. Installing partitions can be a critical intervention once a barn is infected. Some barns have installed concrete floors to improve cleaning and sanitation; also, concrete the pad outside of the barn entrance to minimize Heterakis contamination of the shavings (shavings never touch earthen ground on the farm) and equipment being carried into the barn.

Acidifying the litter or applying an agricultural lime slurry to the barn floor is an attempt to dry and kill the cecal worm eggs and the susceptible blackhead organism. Antidotal reports of litter acidification in the barn at the beginning of bird placement and periodically throughout the duration of the flock may be helpful in reducing numbers of Histomonas or Heterakis. Commercially

available poultry litter acidifiers include sulfuric acid, sodium bisulfate, or aluminum sulfate products. Some apply onto the floor after a total clean-out and also on top of the fresh shavings prior to bird placement. Earthworms are known reservoirs of blackhead infection and vectors of Heterakis carrying Histomonas. Some colleagues suggest that such floor/litter applications inhibit earthworms and contaminated soil, known risk factors, gaining access to barns and flocks.

In light of the recent losses of specific chemotherapeutics, the industry is likely to see an increased incidence and severity of blackhead cases in turkey flocks, especially in geographic regions densely populated with both chickens and broiler breeders and turkeys. Where possible, disease prevention and control efforts should focus on prevention and control of multifactorial aspects of blackhead disease, using a combination of approaches, including identifying sources of potential infection, assessment and changes to management protocols, and use of alternative, nonantimicrobial products. Strategies will include addressing both Histomonas and Heterakis in poultry flocks - chickens, breeders, and turkeys.

From the proceedings of the 10th Turkey Science and Production Conference contact: steven.clark@devenishnutrition.com

- july/august 2017 -

59

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UPCOMING EVENTS 2017 September, 6 to 8 Arkansas Nutrition Conference Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas

October, 25 to 28 International Poultry Forum CremonaFiere S.p.A Piazza Zelioli Lanzini, 1 26100 Cremona, Italy

Rogers, AR Contact: Feed Manufacturers Committee The Poultry Federation PO Box 1446 Little Rock, AR 72203

Contact: Tel. +39.0372.598011 Fax: +39.0372.598222

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Email: joyce@thepoultryfederation.com Website: www.thepoultryfederation.com

September, 10 to 14 IEC Global Leadership Conference Bruges 2017 Contact: International Egg Commission Global Headquarters Second Floor 89 Charterhouse Street London, United Kingdom EC1M 6HR

February, 5 to 7

Exhibition venue Expograd Yug Kongressnaya Str. 1 Krasnodar, Russia 350005 Organizers: KrasnodarEXPO (Business unit of ITE Expo) Tel. +7 (861) 200-12-34 Email: info@krasnodarexpo.ru Website: www.krasnodarexpo.ru

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September, 14 to 16 Turkey Commitee Meeting Hilton Branson Convention Center 200 East Main Street, Branson, Missouri Contact: The Poultry Federation Little Rock, AR Tel. (501) 375-8131 Fax: (501) 375-5519 Website: www.thepoultryfederation.com Email: joyce@thepoultryfederation.com

Tel. +39 045 829 8242/8285/8350/8210

November 28 to December 1

Website: www.internationalegg.com/ events/iec-global-leadership-conference-2017

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January 30 to February 1

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Tel. +44 (0) 20 7490 3493 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7490 3495

September, 12 to 15

January 31 to February 3

IPPE

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January 30 to February 1

VIV-MEA 2018 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) Khaleej Al Arabi Street P.O. Box 5546 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Contact: VIV Worldwide VNU Exhibitions Europe Ms. Renate Wiendels P.O. Box 8800 3503 RV Utrecht, The Netherlands Website: viv.mea@vnuexhibitions.com

February, 6 to 8 AgroFarm All-Russian Exhibition Centre (VVC Grounds) in Hall 75 Moscow, Russia Contact: International exhibitor service and stand rental: Gennady Mindru

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Tel. +49 (0) 69 - 24788-278 Fax: +49 (0) 69 - 24788-138

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Contact: MC “Expokhleb” Postal address: Pavilion “Khleboprodukty” (No 40), VDNH P.O. Box 34, Moscow, 129223, Russia Tel. + 7 (495) 755-50-38, 755-50-35 Fax: + 7 (495) 755-67-69, 974-00-61 Email: info@expokhleb.com Website: www.breadbusiness.ru www.mvc-expohleb.ru

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Internet Guide ABVista emea@abvista.com Agritech agritech@agritech.it Aviagen info@aviagen.com Aviagen Turkeys Ltd Avimpianti info@avimpia.it Aza info@azainternational.it Barbieri Belts info@barbieri-belts.com Bayer HealthCare Big Dutchman Biochem info@biochem.net Carfed Headquarters info@carfed.ch Carfed Italian Branch info@carfed.it Cobb Europe info@cobb-europe.com Codaf info@codaf.net Corti Zootecnici s.r.l. info@cortizootecnici.com DSM Nutritional Products Eurosilos SIRP contatti@eurosilos.it EuroTier eurotier@dlg.org Facco Poultry Equipment facco@facco.net Farmer Automatic info@farmerautomatic.de FIEM fiem@fiem.it Fiera di Forlì info@fieravicola.com FierAgricola Verona info@veronafiere.it Gasolec sales@gasolec.com Giordano Poultry Plast info@poultryplast.com H&N International info@hn-int.com Hubbard contact.emea@hubbardbreeders.com Hy-Line International info@hyline.com Impex Barneveld BV info@impex.nl Intracare info@intracare.nl Jansen Poultry Equipment info@jpe.org Kemin LAE-Anlagenbau GmbH info@lae-cuxhaven.de Linco Food Systems A/S linco@baader.com Lohmann Animal Health Lohmann Animal Nutrition Lohmann Tierzucht info@ltz.de Lubing MaschinenFabrik info@lubing.de Marel Poultry info.poultry@marel.com Maxitech info@maxitech.it Mbe Breeding Equipment info@mbefabriano.it Menci commerciale@menci.it Meyn sales@meyn.com MS Technologies sales@MSTegg.com Newpharm info@newpharm.it Officine Meccaniche Vettorello luciano@officinevettorello.it Omaz srl omaz@omaz.com Pas Reform info@pasreform.com Petersime N.V. info@petersime.com Prinzen BV info@prinzen.com Reventa info@reventa.de Roxell info@roxell.com Ska ska@ska.it Space info@space.fr Specht Ten Elsen GmbH & Co. KG info@specht-tenelsen.de Tecno Poultry Equipment info@poultryequipment.com TPI info@tpi-polytechniek.com U.S. Poultry & Egg Association info@uspoultry.org Val-co intl.sales@val-co.com Valli info@valli-italy.com VDL Agrotech info@vdlagrotech.nl Vencomatic info@vencomatic.com Victoria victoria@victoria-srl.com VIV Europe viv@vnuexhibitions.com Vostermans ventilation@vostermans.com

www.abvista.com www.agritech.it www.aviagen.com www.aviagenturkeys.com www.avimpia.it www.azainternational.it www.barbieribelts.com www.bayer.com www.bigdutchman.de www.languages.biochem.net www.carfed.ch www.carfed.it www.cobb-vantress.com www.codaf.net www.cortizootecnici.com www.dsm.com www.eurosilos.it www.eurotier.com www.facco.net www.farmerautomatic.de www.fiem.it www.fieravicola.com www.veronafiere.it www.gasolec.com www.poultryplast.com www.info@hn-int.com www.hubbardbreeders.com www.hyline.com www.impex.nl www.intracare.nl www.jpe.org www.kemin.com www.lae-cuxhaven.de www.baader.com www.lohmann.de www.lohmann-an.de www.ltz.de www.lubing.com www.marel.com/poultry-processing www.maxitech.it www.mbefabriano.it www.menci.it www.meyn.com www.MSTegg.com www.newpharm.it www.officinevettorello.it www.omaz.com www.pasreform.com www.petersime.com www.prinzen.com www.reventa.de www.roxell.com www.ska.it www.space.fr www.specht-tenelsen.de www.poultryequipment.com www.tpi-polytechniek.com www.uspoultry.org www.val-co.com www.valli-italy.com www.vdlagrotech.nl www.vencomaticgroup.com www.incubatricivictoria.com www.viv.net www.vostermans.com

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English Edition Year XXXIX • July/August 2017

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