THE BIRDPRENEUR.

BIRDPRENEUR. Nigerian poultry production faces three main problems: lack of financial resources, reliance on old knowledge, and no connection to a market to sell its product. To help solve these issues Michael Iyanro founded BirdPreneur. Iyanro and his wife came up with the idea for their start-up one night watching television. “We were watching a television program and saw that the Nigerian population has grown to 198 million people,” says Iyanro. “We started thinking about what it will be like in 2050 and what the food requirements will be.” His childhood experiences of raising chickens with his mom led him to base the company on poultry. HOW IT WORKS The start-up not only educates Nigerian farmers on the technologies available locally, but also trains them on smart farming techniques, such as using resources more efficiently, to better grow food and make their farming practices effective. Individuals are identified through farmer associations in rural areas. Sign up

Breeding Resistant Chickens for Improved Food Safety.

Breeding Resistant Chickens for Improved Food Safety. A recent test developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in College Station, Texas, could make it easier to breed pathogen-resistant chickens. The test identifies roosters whose blood contains naturally high levels of two key chemicals, cytokines and chemokines. These chemicals mobilize the birds' innate immune response, according to ARS microbiologist Christi Swaggerty, in ARS's Food and Feed Safety Research Unit. Using the new test, commercial poultry breeders can single out roosters that have a strong immune response and use them to selectively breed a more robust flock. Such resistance, especially during the birds' first week of life, may lower costs related to animal well-being and food safety. Protecting chickens from pathogens involves sanitation, vaccination, biosecurity and use of antibiotics and other medications. But some chickens have an especially robust and efficient immune response and can resist pathogens, notes Swaggerty.

How to reduce noise, stress during broiler harvesting.

How to reduce noise, stress during broiler harvesting.Adopting gentler, yet efficient method for chicken capture can reduce birds’ stress levels, giving a higher-quality processed bird. The standard methods for capture and caging of broilers pre-slaughter, and the loading and unloading of the chickens at the farm and the slaughterhouse are noisy. This results in chickens experiencing stress, which can affect the final quality of the processed bird. #poultry Among factors contributing to this stress is the use of motorized equipment, such as forklift trucks. Forklift trucks raise noise levels, and this is particularly the case when used in closed poultry houses. The harmful effects on broilers of raised noise levels are an increase in blood flow to the thighs which is a physiological response designed to help chickens escape from the source of stress. While the birds may relax on the way to the processing plant, on arrival they are usually unloaded by forklift trucks, with a consequent increase in noise, and so the “flight” response reoccurs, and blood is pumped to the wings and legs.#poultry If there is a delay pre-slaughter, blood will be pumped away from the extremities, alleviating this problem. However, when birds leave the plucker, there may still be a slight pink color to the thighs and wings. While in many plants, this is considered unimportant, in others it is deemed a quality issue and birds cannot be classified as Grade A. #Poultry There is, however, an alternative to the traditional method of harvesting birds that does not rely on the use of forklift trucks with their associated noise, and results in less stress for the broilers. A quieter harvesting method The alternative approach to harvesting has three main elements: A retractable hydraulic arm ending in a fork, similar to that of a forklift truck. A track system of metal pipes with connections that do not impede the movement of cages or pallets that will move over them. Two winches, one used to deliver cages at the start of the track system and the other at its end.

How to reduce bacteria during poultry processing.

How to reduce bacteria during poultry processing.Key points from harvesting to chilling can minimize bacterial contamination of processed chickens. #poultry. Processed chicken must be produced in hygienic conditions, and microbial contamination kept to a minimum in order for it to be safe for consumers to eat and also have a good shelf life.Various operations, starting with pre-slaughter, need to be closely monitored in real time to ensure that birds are kept clean. It is worth remembering that pre-slaughter and processing are highly linked, meaning that broilers must be as clean as possible on arrival at the processing plant if hygiene standards are to be maintained throughout processing. These operations include feed withdrawal,(poultry) capture and caging, transport and lairage, scalding, plucking and evisceration. During withdrawal, feeders should be kept at their normal height until the capture team arrives. The house temperature also needs to be closely monitored during feed withdrawal, especially in open houses.#poultry. Many companies operating in hot countries spray birds with water after they are loaded onto the trucks, prior to leaving the farm. This has the double benefit of not only removing fecal matter from them and the cages, but also of refreshing the birds prior to travel to the processing plant. #poultry.

During transport, birds will again defecate, and so the process of contamination continues. As at the farm, some processing plants wash the birds with water and disinfectant once trucks have been weighed to remove the organic load and bacteria.

AGRIBUSINESS: How to choose the right bedding for broilers.

AGRIBUSINESS: How to choose the right bedding for broilers. It’s crucial for a broiler producer to get floor management right. This will improve the birds’ physical environment, reduce disease and result in better quality broilers. #poultry Floor management is one of the pillars of successful broiler production, as important as biosecurity, climate control and general animal welfare. Yet this essential aspect is all too often overlooked.

What does the bump on the egg indicate?

What does the bump on the egg indicate? A bump on the egg’s head might indicate a serious problem. The image below was provided by Roodbont Publishers and is part of the Look, Think, Act series that will be published weekly on World Poultry. Hover over the icons within the image for more information.

Why is this egg covered in blood?.

Why is this egg covered in blood?Eggs should not have blood them. This is what you can do to prevent it. The image below was provided by Roodbont Publishers and is part of the Look, Think, Act series that will be published weekly on World Poultry. Hover over the icons within the image for more information.

What are these stripes on the eggs.

What are these stripes on the eggs.Stripes on eggs does not have to do with pigment. The image below was provided by Roodbont Publishers and is part of the Look, Think, Act series that will be published weekly on World Poultry. Hover over the icons within the image for more information.

When hens can't stand properly..

When hens can't stand properly. If hens are not fully able to stand, it could have one of these causes. The image below was provided by Roodbont Publishers and is part of the Look, Think, Act series that will be published weekly on World Poultry. Hover over the icons within the image for more information

Golden yolk colour comes from healthy hens.

Golden yolk color comes from healthy hens. Color is one of the most important factors that affect consumer choices through the sensory evaluation of food, including egg yolks. Optimal hen health is required for the efficient deposit of color-influencing carotenoids in eggs. Good results when rearing laying hens are greatly influenced by the birds’ viability and health. A good sanitary programme, including vaccination, must be implemented in order to obtain the best protection during the rearing phase. The poultry house environment parameters must also be managed in order to create the best conditions for the good welfare of the birds. Nevertheless, laying hens are sometimes affected by health issues due to parasites (coccidiosis), worms, viruses or pathogens that can affect the gut, in particular, thus hampering the absorption of carotenoids and leading to pale egg yolks. A bright yolk color can therefore be considered as an indicator of the good health and performance of the flock.

Understanding and preventing respiratory disease in poultry.

Understanding and preventing respiratory disease in poultry. Respiratory disease is a serious threat to the poultry industry. Each year, it determines for many producers the difference between making a profit and suffering a loss. If the birds are showing signs of infection, a producer may respond with medication. But all too often, the birds with respiratory disease exhibit no signs of infection other than underperformance. Respiratory disease is not a single virus or bacteria; it generally is a complex of both, making prevention and treatment more complicated. Even though farmers are vaccinating most flocks, respiratory lesions still turn up at slaughter on a regular basis; and these defects hurt weight gain and carcass quality.#respiratory The primary culprit in respiratory disease is ammonia, which is a result of moisture reacting with poultry droppings in the litter. Ammonia destroys the cilia (hair like projects that trap dust and other particles) in the chicken’s trachea. This leads to erosion of the tracheal lining. The irritated tracheal lining is more susceptible to infection by viruses or bacteria, and this can cause additional destruction of the trachea. Finally, E. coli bacteria from the litter can get into the trachea and result in air sacculitis. #poultry The basic way to control ammonia is keep the litter dry and remove ammonia with ventilation.Understanding and preventing respiratory disease in poultry.

Cassava in the Livestock Feed Industry.

Cassava in the Livestock Feed Industry. Cassava called Manihot esculenta, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates. Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize. 

Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils and Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of dried cassava. Cassava can be processed into various products such as garri,tapioca, cake,bread and flakes for human consumption,but the peels can be processed and fed to animals. 

 Cassava is used in most tropical areas for feeding pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry. The dried peel of cassava roots are fed to sheep and goats, and raw or boiled roots are mixed into a mash with protein concentrates such as maize, sorghum, groundnut, or oil palm kernel meal and mineral salts for livestock feeding. Research has shown that cassava provides good quality carbohydrate, which may be substituted for maize or barley and that cassava rations are especially suitable for swine, dairy cattle, and poultry. 

 Cassava cannot be used as the main feed stuff because of its deficiency in protein and vitamins, but must be supplemented with other feeds that are rich in the required elements. The composition of a compounded ration varies depending on the specie of the animal such as cattle, pigs, or poultry and the kind of production which includes dairy, meat, or eggs. 

Oil cakes are the main ingredients in the feed for cattle, while feed grains are the most important for pigs and poultry. more

How a philanthropist uses poultry to help families.

How a philanthropist uses poultry to help families. Julius Matendechere, 57, goes about his business inside a bungalow turned a poultry farmhouse with a lot of ease. He is tending to over 5,000 chicks aged between one and three weeks. #poultry The chicks literally occupy all rooms in the four bedroom mansion, including the store, kitchen, dining, washrooms and any other available space. There are 600 lighting points that provide the chicks with warmth and light,and there are 20 charcoal stoves on stand-by. The farmhouse is located at Ishimkoko village in Butere, Kakamega County. Every week, Matendechere stocks 6,000 kienyeji chicks from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).#poultry Matendechere, an accountant by profession, has perfected the art of brooding, which involves giving special care and attention to chicks to ensure their healthy survival.He ventured into the business three years ago after leaving a lucrative job as a chief accountant in the government. The desire to give back to the people drove him into poultry farming.#poultry Matendechere, said families in Butere Constituency where he hails from can hardly afford two meals a day, so he thought it wise to embark on brooding and give out the birds to groups for free to help improve the living standards of struggling families, more

A new alternative to antibiotics.

The method of use of antibiotics in man, animals and in agriculture has been fingered as the major cause of antibiotics resistance which has emerged as a global problem. There has been various methods of curbing antibiotics use in different circles but now a latest alternative to antibiotics has been tried with successful outcomes.

 The new research carried out in Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and published recently in Nature Scientific Reports combines the use of metals and organic acids as a viable alternative to antibiotics. There has been various researches where different interventions have been applied with success. 

These numerous alternatives to antibiotics are already being tested by different researchers around the world. Two of the most popular alternatives are the use of metals such as silver, zinc, and copper which were used in ancient Egypt and Greece for treating infection and purifying water sources, and the use of organic acids such as food acid that is used as a preservative in the food industry.

 This new research now combined the 2 alternatives which is organic acids and metals at a low concentration, and found that the combination is extremely effective in eradicating pathogenic bacteria such as cholera, salmonella, and Pseudomonas, as well as eliminating bacteria that attack agricultural crops such as tomatoes, melons, and apples.

Hock burns in broilers.

What do you understand as hock burns in broilers. Hock burns refers to a blackish-brown discoloration of the surface of the skin at the hock in broilers. Hock burns also referred to as ammonia burns usually evident in soaked litter. This hock burn occurs after a long period of exposure with moisture and ammonia on poor quality litter. It is very important to monitor litter for health of the birds.

How to set up a broiler farm.

Broilers are birds raised for meat and have a short production span of 42 days. The uniqueness of the broiler breed in its ability to turn feed to meat at a short time makes it a viable investment opportunity for short term investors. The production must be started with active,alert and normal chicks without any deformity,the quality of the day old chicks will determine outcome of project. Healthy birds must be selected to prevent losses as consumers are interested in well muscled and good quality birds. #poultry The factors to consider when you want to set up a broiler farm are as follows : 1) Land 2) water 3)quality of chicks 4) feed 5) equipment 6) management. Land: the poultry site should be a well drained site,without swamps or waterlogged areas. The land must not be bushy,or surrounded by bushes to limit the risk of rodents,reptiles and other predators. The land should be accessed,topography noted and the environmental impact assessment of project should be documented. Water:there must be on site a functioning source of clean water. The source of water must be readily accessible and it must be treated to ensure safety. Quality of chicks, are very important as the quality will determine outcome. Quality day old chicks must be sourced from reputable hatchery,and chicks must be alert and active. #poultry Feed is important when you are thinking of production,as the quality of feed will determine rate of growth and profit potential. Feed could be sourced locally,purchased from miller or setting up a feed mill to cater for your birds. read #poultry Equipment: the brooder,feeder,drinkers and farm tools are also important in production. The size,spacing and location of feeder and drinkers is vital to success of the production. Management: its important to practice an all in all out system,do not mix different ages and batches of birds. Biosecurity measures must be in place to ensure safety of birds and farm lands. Labor is vital to the success of the farm, skilled and unskilled hands are necessary for overseeing different aspects of operation.Waste management is an environmental issue and as such proper waste disposal techniques should be put in place. Litter type and management is another factor as the success of the project depends on how you use,handle and dispose it. #poultry Vaccinations should be carried out as at when due. read There is a need to engage the services of a veterinarian to assist with animal health and welfare issues. #poultry

Management of infectious bursal disease virus( IBDV) in broilers.

The management of infectious bursal disease virus( IBDV) in broilers for most farmer is to ensure a strict and vaccination regime for their breeders. The maternal immunity passed on to chicks will usually help protect them until they are 3 to 4 weeks of age. This projection of conferred immunity sometimes does not work out like planned due to certain factors; 1) Efficacy of some vaccines. 2) Vaccine failure or break. 3) Early infection of flock before 2 weeks of age leading to permanent immune suppression despite maternal immunity. When IBDV infection in broiler flocks occurs after 3 to 4 weeks of age , when maternal immunity has waned it can result in reduced feed efficiency, slowed growth rate and uneven size of flocks. This will also lead to temporary immune suppression with a higher risk of secondary infections, which often become more critical in antibiotic-free production. The prevention of the damaging effects of IBDV by farmers can be initiated by simulating active immunity in their flocks. Live, attenuated vaccines used in layers with high success rate can also help prevent IBDv in broilers. Farmers have turned to in-ovo vaccination at hatchery at day 1 to forestall any disease occurrence. The common vaccines are the recombinant herpesvirus of turkey HVT- IBDV and immune-complex (IC) vaccines. . The efficacy of HVT-IBDV vaccines has been demonstrated as these vaccines have been shown to induce protection against multiple IBDV strains with no risk of bursa damage. The key to effective use of HVT-IBDV is that it should be the only recombinant vaccine used in the flock to prevent interference. Combining recombinant HVT-IBDV vaccines with other recombinant HVT vaccines e.g for Newcastle disease or infectious laryngotracheitis is not recommended because viral interference can occur between the HVT viruses. In cases where an HVT recombinant vaccine is needed to manage either of the respiratory diseases, an alternative to the HVT-IBDV vaccine is recommended. The immune-complex vaccines (IC) contain a mixture of modified-live vaccine virus and anti-IBDV antibody. The antibodies in these products bind to the IBDV vaccine virus. These antibodies greatly reduces the ability of the vaccine virus to replicate early in the broiler’s life ,thus damage to the bursa and immune suppression are minimal and often undetected. This ability to act early in the of the broiler makes the IC-IBDV vaccines a safe alternatives to HVT-IBDV vaccines. Vaccinating with an IC-IBDV vaccine in the presence of maternal antibodies to IBDV seems counter intuitive or counter-productive but these vaccines have been shown to stimulate active immunity to IBDV, even when maternal antibody titers are relatively high.

How to use green tea leaves to boost production in poultry.

The use of green tea as a feed additive to boost production in poultry has shown immense benefits in terms of quality of birds,size of eggs and the growth phase with the birds reaching maturity faster. 

The race to start production in poultry without antibiotics has brought a lot of innovations with many scholars turning to plants and plant extracts and herbs to boost production. 

 A study in Bangladesh has shown that antibiotic-free poultry production is possible by using green tea as a feed additive.The study showed that 0.25% of green tea ,250 grams in every 100 kilograms of feed as feed additive could bring better results than the use of antibiotics in poultry production. 

 Another study showed the potency of green tea additive as a potent deworming agent and also as an anticoccidial agent. Birds fed the extract demonstrated better gut health as demonstrated by absence of coccidiosis in the flock. Birds were bigger than birds not fed the tea extracts,as the birds had better feed utilization thus promoting growth. 

The green tea extract contains flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants, amino acids, xanthine alkaloids, vitamin and minerals, which are safe for humans making the extract a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters.

How to use garlic in poultry.

AGRO-VETERINARY : Garlic a herbal remedy for poultry. Garlic is a plant in the Allium family same as onion. Garlic contains a compound known as allicin, which is responsible for that distinct garlic smell and potent antibiotics properties. Allicin when ingested enters the body from the digestive tract and travels all over the body, where it exerts its potent effects . 

Garlic can also be crushed and applied topically to prevent mite infestation. Garlic is low in calories but rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Manganese. It also contains trace amounts of various other nutrients such as calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1. 

In poultry the crushed cloves are added to water served to birds and this ensures gut health. Birds are usually given garlic -water mix as a form of deworming medication, these birds are free from internal and external parasites. #garlic. 

AGRO-VETERINARY : Garlic a herbal remedy for poultry. Garlic is high in sulfur thus exhibiting actions of sulfonamides drugs and as such are good for gastrointestinal infections. Poultry farmers normally seek immune boosters for increased productivity of their birds,garlic offers such benefits. Crushed garlic -water mix acts as a tonic to boost immune system and also enhance appetite. 

Birds dosed with garlic-water mix grow faster and produce big eggs,while birds going into moulting phase can be triggered to produce more eggs of bigger sizes for a longer period. #herbal Garlic. 

 Birds fed on garlic have dropping that are not offensive,as the sulfur in the garlic nullifies the offensive ammonia odor. The crushed garlic gloves can also be added directly to the dropping site to prevent offensive odor in the poultry house. #herbal #agribusiness

Healthy tips for raising antibiotic free broilers (ABF).

An Indiana-based producer with more than 15 years’ experience raising broilers without antibiotics — offers these tips for ensuring a strong, healthy and efficient bird: Muller poultry has been raising broilers without antibiotics (ABF) and these are their tips. 

 1) Start with healthy stock that have been proven over the years.Miller Poultry now exclusively raises Aviagen Ross 708. While the line has a reputation for being a “big-bird breed” that requires more nutrients than other lines, they seem to have fewer leg problems — a common trouble spot in ABF production — and a higher yield at processing, according to live operations director Stephen Shepard. 

 2) Understand that gut health is the key to success in production. Birds with healthy guts absorbs food properly,grow fast and are disease free. Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis (NE) are their biggest health challenges. To help prevent coccidiosis — a prerequisite for managing NE — Miller Poultry leans on vaccines all year long for its organic birds.

 3) lightening techniques,the first 7 days in the life of birds are critical and hence great care must be taken to ensure growth and stability. The lightening procedure of lights on to ensure birds can see at night for feed can be manipulated for better effects. 

The use of LED lights have been shown to boost growth and hence productivity. see Miller Poultry is experimenting with LED tube lights along the water and feed lines, making the inside of a dimly lighted broiler house look like an airport runway at night. 

The lighting, Shepard says, attracts the birds and ensures good feed and water intake. 4) Rotate medication ,feed and vaccines. Miller Poultry was a big user of a recombinant vaccine for Marek’s disease and infectious bursal disease (IBD). In recent years, however, they’ve been rotating in traditional live IBD vaccines to get better protection against shedding — a known shortcoming with continuous use of recombinants. 

 Maintaining healthy bursas is important in any production system, it is especially critical for ABF operations to help optimize immunity. 

 5) Vaccinating year-round for Escherichia coli is a common practice in the industry for broiler-breeders and layers.E. coli typically emerges in broilers as a secondary infection to infectious bronchitis virus or reovirus, and can lead to high numbers of condemnations in the processing plant when birds are harvested . 

 Miller poultry administers the E. coli vaccine at day 1 via hatchery spray, sometimes in combination with a coccidiosis vaccine.