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July 2011 - Issue 7Expert Knowledge at your Fingertips

Regional News, CompanyNews, Events in Your AreaPlus much, much more..!

1

The turkey business may have changed since

Richard Hutchinson started his career in turkey

production 35 years ago but, now having reached

the position of Director for Sales and Marketing

at Aviagen Turkeys, he continues to look forward

with optimism. He opened his presentation to the

Temperton Fellowship saying: "I see many oppor-

tunities for turkey meat going forward."

BACKGROUND

Originally, the turkey market in the UK centred

on whole birds for the Christmas and Easter mar-

kets, and for Thanksgiving in the US. In the mid-

1970s, it was Italy that dominated turkey

production in Europe but the US led the way for

the industry, Mr Hutchinson said. Continued on page 4...

Challenges of Supplying QualityTurkey Meat to Meet Global Demand for Food

A look at past, present and future supply

and demand of turkey meat by Richard

Hutchinson of Aviagen Turkeys. Jackie

Linden, senior editor of ThePoultrySite,

reports from the Temperton Fellowship

presentation in London in June 2011.

How to Produce MoreQuality Turkey PoultsBreeder body weight management

& optimising incubation

Global Market AnalysisFAO’s forecast for poultry meat

production in 2011

July 2011 - Issue 7 Expert Knowledge at your Fingertips

2

A Reappraisal of the Potential of Dietary Fatty Acids to Ameliorate Heat Stress The strategic use of new oil seed varieties high in oleic acid may ameliorate the adverse effects of heat stressin poultry, according to P.J. Cronjé of Cronjé Consulting and Editing at the 2011 Australian Poultry ScienceSymposium.

16

Regional NewsThe latest news from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania

26

EventsKeep up to date with what is happening in the global poultry industry.

30

Company NewsNews from our advertisers

32

Get in Touch!For Editorial Enquiries:

Jackie Lindenjackie.linden@5mpublishing.comTel: +44 (0) 1234 818180

For Advertising Enquiries:

Alex GuyAlex.guy@5mpublishing.comTel: +44 (0) 1234 818180

01

Edito rialA word from the Editor

03

Challenges of Supplying Quality TurkeyMeat to Meet Global Demand for FoodA look at past, present and future supply and demand of turkey

meat by Richard Hutchinson of Aviagen Turkeys. Jackie Linden, sen-

ior editor of ThePoultrySite, reports from the Temperton Fellow-

ship presentation in London in June 2011. Page 1

Food Outlook Global Market AnalysisJune 2011A resurgence of avian influenza

and high feed prices may halve

poultry meat output growth, ac-

cording to the latest Food Out-

look report from the UN Food

and Agriculture Organization

(FAO). Page 8

How to Produce More Quality PoultsFor more quality poults, it is

necessary to optimise both egg

production and hatchability,

writes senior editor, Jackie Lin-

den. Page 14

Editorial

Welcome to ThePoultrySite Digital Issue 7

Turning to Turkeys In this issue of ThePoultrySite Digital, we turn our

attention to turkey production.

Having spent his whole career in the turkey busi-

ness, Richard Hutchinson of Aviagen Turkeys was

in the very best possible position to discuss the

past, present and future of turkey production in

his Temperton Fellowship presentation in London

recently.

He explained how the turkey market started with

a focus on whole birds for the Christmas and

Easter markets, and for Thanksgiving in the US.

Since then, the industry has changed markedly.

While the US still leads the way in terms of out-

put, Poland, Brazil and Canada, hardly present in

the 1970s, are now making a significant contribu-

tion to global turkey meat supply.

Read our report on Mr Hutchinson’s presenta-

tion to see why he is so optimistic about the fu-

ture of the turkey industry.

Continuing on the turkey theme, Dr Helen Wo-

jcinski of Hybrid Turkeys explained how to pro-

duce more quality turkey poults at the 2011

Turkey Science and Production conference earlier

this year. The keys, she said, are to maximise the

production of settable hatching eggs and then to

incubate those eggs appropriately.

Turning to the future of poultry production gen-

erally, a resurgence of avian influenza and high feed

prices may halve poultry meat output growth, ac-

cording to the latest Food Outlook report from

the UN Food and Agriculture Organization

(FAO).

In the report, world poultry meat output is fore-

cast to grow by two per cent to 100 million

tonnes in 2011, which is half the rate of the pre-

vious year but growth of this sector remains

much faster than that predicted for other meats.

With the hot summer months ahead in the

northern hemisphere, we also have a report on

the strategic use of new oilseed varieties to ame-

liorate the adverse effects of heat stress in poul-

try, in a paper by P.J. Cronjé of Cronjé Consulting

and Editing in Australia.

Jackie LindenThePoultrysite.com Senior Editor

3

Feature

Challenges of Supplying Quality Turkey Meat to Meet Global Demand for Food

4

By 2010, output had increased dramatically in

Germany and overtook Italy, while production has

increased also in France, which now produces

most turkey meat in the EU. Growth in the UK

has been more modest.

In terms of world markets, US is way ahead, while

Poland, Brazil and Canada, hardly present in the

1970s, are now making a significant contribution

to global turkey meat supply. The situation is

somewhat volatile in the US and output has fallen

from its peak in 2008, while output from Brazil

rose steadily between 1999 and 2008, based

mainly on export growth.

Not only has turkey met production shown a

general and modest upward trend in these coun-

tries, but killing weights have also tended to rise.

Average turkey meat consumption varies widely

between countries. Mr Hutchinson forecasts only

slow growth in uptake on those developed coun-

tries where total meat production is already more

than 80kg per capita. However, he sees good po-

tential where meat consumption is 50 to 60kg,

such as Russia and China.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TURKEY MEAT

In a world where consumers are always looking

of a healthy option, turkey has many advantages,

said Mr Hutchinson. He highlighted particularly

that the meat is low in both fat and calories, high

in protein and contributes important vitamins and

minerals to the diet. At the same time, turkey is a

very versatile meat with its mild flavour and suit-

ability to a range of cooking styles. And last but

not least, turkey meat represents good value for

money.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRIMARY BREEDER

Mr Hutchinson said that the objective of the pri-

mary breeder is to operate breeding programmes

that ensure selection is made in a balanced way

for a range of health, fitness and production traits.

He added that extreme care is taken to make sus-

tainable, predictable and consistent year-on-year

progress in all traits to satisfy the customers'

needs.

He stressed this requires a balanced breeding

programme and significant investment in technol-

ogy and research.

It is constant investment in breeding programmes

the ensures genetic progress, he said, giving

Continued from page 1...

5

examples of the evolution of FCR selection, the

design of water stations and leg strength improve-

ments.

Showing the range of both male and female

weights required in various countries, Mr

Hutchinson demonstrated that no one turkey will

meet the requirements of all the markets. Most

markets are served with heavy or heavy-medium

strains.

OPTIMISING BREAST MEAT PRODUCTION

The aim is to optimise the value of the whole car-

cass, Mr Hutchinson explained. This means achiev-

ing a balance between the breast or white meat

that is favoured in many markets, with the dark

meat. The breast contributes around 26 to 28 per

cent of the carcass weight, yet it contributes

around 60 to 70 per cent of the carcass value.

The breast muscle develops mainly during the pe-

riod of 12 to 25 weeks of age, and especially be-

tween 15 and 20 weeks, so the killing age largely

dictates the bird's carcass composition. A wide

range of factors impact breast meat yield in

turkeys, especially feeding/nutrition and the phys-

ical environment – from incubation and stocking

density to temperature, season and ventilation.

It is vital to get all these areas right, said Mr

Hutchinson, especially in developing markets.

WORLD TURKEY MEAT MARKETS AND

POTENTIAL FUTURE GROWTH

Reviewing the trends in turkey meat production

and consumption around the world from the US

and Brazil, through the EU nations and to North

Africa and the Middle East, Mr Hutchinson

showed that there is considerable potential for

growth in the global market. It is likely that

progress can most easily be made in those coun-

tries of the EU where turkey consumption is still

low as well as in its neighbours in North Africa,

the Middle East, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.

Increasing consumption could be achieved by

strong marketing, Mr Hutchinson said, focussing

on the product's strengths – its healthy and nu-

tritional profile and versatility. Also important, he

stressed, is to make the product attractive to the

chosen demographic by developing new products

and increasing consumer awareness of the meat's

possibilities.

In his summing up, Mr Hutchinson said that the

turkey meat market has many advantages to de-

velop for the future, as performance levels con-

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7

tinue to improve and investments are made in

processing and product development.

He added that for consumers, turkey meat offers

a healthy alternative to other meats and it suits

cuisines all around the world.

"Turkey is truly the meat of the future," Mr

Hutchinson concluded.

The Temperton Fellowship was established to com-memorate the contribution of Dr Harold Temperton,Director of the National Institute of Poultry Hus-bandry at Harper Adams University College from1951 to 1974. Chairman of the Fellowship is PeelHolroyd.

Feature Article

8

Food OutlookGlobal Market AnalysisJune 2011A resurgence of avian influenza and high feed

prices may halve poultry meat output growth, ac-

cording to the latest Food Outlook report from

the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to the latest Outlook report from

FAO, high feed prices, disease outbreaks and de-

pleted animal inventories are forecast to limit the

expansion of global meat production to only one

per cent in 2011, to 294 million tonnes. The in-

crease is anticipated to be driven by gains in the

poultry and pig meat sectors, while world bovine

and ovine meat outputs are expected to be con-

strained by a retention of animals for herd re-

building.

Strong demand for imports, especially in Asia

where a number of countries are facing tight sup-

plies and high domestic prices, is expected to fos-

ter a 2.4 per cent growth in world meat trade,

bringing it to 26.8 million tonnes. Much of the ex-

pansion would stem from increased flows of pig

meat, and to a lower extent, poultry and bovine

meats. On the other hand, trade in ovine meat

may stagnate, limited by short availabilities in tra-

ditional exporting countries.

Relatively high retail prices are foreseen to keep

per capita meat consumption in 2011 stalling

around 41.9kg. In the developing countries, steady

economic growth may foster a minimal increase

to 32.0kg, while per capita consumption in the de-

veloped countries is expected to remain at

78.4kg.

International meat prices have maintained steady

increases since January 2011, progressing by five

per cent over the first quarter, mainly sustained

9

by a 10 per cent increase in pig meat prices. In

the near term, the combination of strong world

import demand and limited export availabilities

points toward a further firming of world meat

prices in the next few months.

POULTRY MEAT

World poultry meat output is forecast by FAO to

grow by two per cent to 100 million tonnes in

2011, half the rate of the previous year, as high

feed costs and diseases constrain the profitability

of the sector. However, its growth remains much

faster than that predicted for the other meat sec-

tors.

High feed prices are currently challenging supply

growth in Brazil, China, the EU and the US

World meat markets at a glance (FAO)

2009 2010 Estimate 2011 Forecast Change 2011

over 2010

million tonnes %

WORLD BALANCE

Production 283.2 290.6 294.0 1.1

Bovine meat 64.9 64.9 65.0 0.2

Poultry meat 93.6 98.0 100.2 2.3

Pig meat 106.3 109.2 110.0 0.7

Ovine meat 12.9 13.0 13.1 0.5

Trade 25.2 26.2 26.8 2.4

Bovine meat 7.2 7.5 7.7 1.9

Poultry 11.1 11.5 11.7 1.6

Pig meat 5.8 6.1 6.4 5.0

Ovine meat 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8

SUPPLY AND DEMAND INDICATORS

Per capita food consumption (kg/year):

World 41.3 41.9 41.9 0.1

Developed 78.0 78.4 78.4 0.0

Developing 31.1 31.8 32.0 0.5

FAO MEAT PRICE 2009 2010 2011 Change:

133 152 175 19.9

Feature Article

Food Outlook – Global Market Analysis – June 2011

10

which, together, account for nearly two-thirds of

global output. In China, although the sector is

benefiting from increased availability of breeding

stock, high prices of other meats and restrictions

on imports, rising costs are expected to slow

down production expansion from the seven per

cent reported in 2010 to three per cent in 2011.

In the EU, only slight gains are anticipated, as the

sector adjusts to the higher costs of production

deriving from new EU broiler welfare rules im-

plemented in 2011. Output gains in Brazil and the

United States will be supported by strong con-

sumer demand due to lower relative prices of

poultry meat compared with other meats. In the

Russian Federation, poultry investments esti-

mated at nearly US$2 billion

in 2010, and policies focused

on enhancing meat self-suffi-

ciency, in particular through

import barriers and the pro-

vision of subsidised feed, will

keep production gains at

near double-digit figures.

Meanwhile, reports FAO, near-record resurgence

of Avian Influenza outbreaks since early January

in Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, the Republic of

Korea and Viet Nam, with the virus still circulating

in Bangladesh, Egypt and Indonesia and other

countries. This has reminded the global commu-

nity of the potential threat of H5N1 and other

diseases to national and global health. Diseases

are largely behind the expectation of a halving of

production growth in Asia to two per cent,

notwithstanding expectations of output gains in

India, Turkey and other smaller markets, such as

the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan,

Nepal and Turkey, where the number of poultry

farms doubled last year.

Poultry meat exports in 2011 are expected to ex-

pand by 1.6 per cent to 11.7 million tonnes, sub-

stantially slower than the four per cent growth

recorded last year. In Asia, shipments to the Re-

public of Korea will be supported by the recent

opening of a 50,000 tonne tariff-free quota and

vigorous consumer demand. Imports to Japan, the

Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China

and Viet Nam as well as to Middle East countries

are all forecast up. Purchases by Japan may for the

first time surpass the one million tonne threshold,

as additional supplies are needed not only to

compensate for the declining production but also

to respond to a possible shift of consumers away

from fish, which may especially favour poultry.

In South Africa, the 2011

expiration of 10-year-old

anti-dumping tariffs against

poultry from the United

States may support addi-

tional imports. Those in-

creases are likely to more

than offset reduced pur-

chases in several important markets.

In the EU, lower imports are expected in re-

sponse to the shifting definition of the use of

frozen poultry and confusions about the EU-27

licensing system applied in 2010, a policy move

that may prompt a WTO appeal by Brazil.

Deliveries to the Russian Federation, previously

the world's largest poultry market, are expected

to contract for the fourth consecutive year, fol-

lowing the halving of the country's TRQ to

350,000 tonnes. Likewise, China may cut poultry

imports, owed to the imposition of anti-dumping

and countervailing duties against product from

the United States, China's principal supplier.

Among exporters, the United States is expected

"A resurgence of avianinfluenza and high feedprices may halve poultrymeat output growth"

11

to witness a contraction of sales in 2011, which

may even lead to its relinquishing its position as

the world's top poultry exporter. The fall would

mainly reflect tight domestic supplies but would

also be due to market restrictions in China and

the Russian Federation. Consequently, Brazil is

likely to turn into the world's largest poultry ex-

porter in 2011, with deliveries to foreign markets

expected to exceed four million tonnes, equiva-

lent to over one-third of global trade prospects.

According to the FAO Outlook report, exports

from Thailand are expected to expand, sustained

by larger sales of cooked poultry products to

both the EU and Japan. Continued investments in

poultry operations in China may result in in-

creased poultry deliveries, especially to other

Asian countries.

Poultry meat statistics - Asia (thousand tonnes, carcass weight equivalent; FAO)

Production Imports Exports Utilisation

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

ASIA 34,640 35,421 6,057 6,382 2,032 2,198 38,665 39,611

China 17,601 18,102 1,815 1,890 1,056 1,143 18,360 18,849

- of which

Hong Kong,

45 45 1,039 1,145 550 600 534 590

India 2,670 2,720 - - 2 2 2.668 2,718

Indonesia 1,435 1,438 7 7 - - 1,442 1,445

Iran, Isl. R ep. 1,765 1,820 45 55 28 30 1,782 1,845

Japan 1,392 1,322 973 1,030 10 10 2,355 2,342

Korea, Rep. 647 660 117 121 17 16 747 765

Kuwait 44 44 300 320 1 1 343 364

Malaysia 1,100 1,120 32 30 22 25 1,110 1,125

Saudi Arabia 590 600 684 726 3 3 1,271 1,323

Singapore 95 100 123 120 7 7 211 214

Thailand 1,208 1,305 1 1 659 725 550 587

Turkey 1,300 1,400 95 105 120 130 1,275 1,375

Yemen 145 147 110 115 - - 255 262

12

Poultry meat statistics - Americas (thousand tonnes, carcass weight equivalent; FAO)

Production Imports Exports Utilisation

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

CENTRAL

AMERICA

4,028 4,081 1,239 1,316 40 42 5,227 5,355

Cuba 34 34 240 270 - - 274 304

Mexico 2,659 2,699 700 736 14 16 3,345 3,419

SOUTH

AMERICA

17,047 17,655 407 466 4,250 4,451 13,204 13,670

Argentina 1,346 1,472 7 6 250 293 1,103 1,185

Brazil 11,787 12,200 1 1 3,873 4,028 7,915 8,173

Chile 620 625 70 85 107 108 583 602

Venezuela 740 730 237 275 - - 977 1,005

NORTH

AMERICA

20,820 21,099 298 306 4,019 3,852 17,117 17,557

Canada 1,223 1,247 192 200 186 191 1,229 1,257

USA 19,597 19,852 95 95 3,833 3,661 15,877 16,289

Poultry meat statistics - Europe (thousand tonnes, carcass weight equivalent; FAO)

Production Imports Exports Utilisation

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

EUROPE 16,398 16,863 1,853 1,540 1,068 1,045 17,182 17,359

European

Union

12,272 12,321 806 805 1,010 986 12,068 12,140

Russian Fed. 2,635 2,872 672 403 8 8 3,300 3,268

Ukraine 900 1,063 156 105 17 18 1,040 1,158

Feature Article

Food Outlook – Global Market Analysis – June 2011

13

Poultry meat statistics - Oceania (thousand tonnes, carcass weight equivalent;FAO)

Production Imports Exports Utilisation

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

OCEANIA 1,049 1,067 61 64 33 33 1,076 1,096

Australia 886 900 7 9 26 26 867 881

New Zealand 140 144 1 - 7 7 134 138

Poultry meat statistics - Africa (thousand tonnes, carcass weight equivalent;FAO)

Production Imports Exports Utilisation

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

AFRICA 3,990 4,034 1,132 1,214 39 42 5,083 5,206

Angola 8 8 185 195 - - 193 203

South Africa 1,020 1,028 253 266 31 35 1,242 1,259

Poultry meat statistics - Overview (thousand tonnes, carcass weight equivalent;FAO)

Production Imports Exports Utilisation

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

2010 est. 2011

f’cast

WORLD 97,972 100,220 11,047 11,288 11,482 11,664 97,554 99,853

Developing

Countries

56,579 58,107 7,400 7,859 6,311 6,677 57,669 59,295

Developed

Countries

41.393 42,113 3,646 3,429 5,171 4,986 39,886 40,558

LIFDCs 26,273 26,849 2,341 2,404 546 580 28,067 28,673

LDCs 1,821 1,807 707 749 - - 2,528 2,556

LIFDCs = Low-Income, Food-Deficit Countries // LDCs = Less Developed Countries

Feature Article

14

To produce more quality turkey poults, it is im-

portant firstly to maximise the production of set-

table hatching eggs and then to incubate those

eggs appropriately, according to Dr Helen Wojcin-

ski of Hybrid Turkeys in Canada. She was address-

ing the 2011 Turkey Science and Production

conference in Macclesfield, UK, earlier this year.

IMPROVING EGG PRODUCTION THROUGH

BREEDER HEN BODY WEIGHT

MANAGEMENT

Genetic improvements in growth and feed con-

version are making it more difficult to achieve op-

timum egg production in heavy turkey lines, Dr

Wojcinski explained.

Selection treads a fine balance between the focus

on growth in the male lines and on egg produc-

tion in female lines, she said. The hens are changing

over time and modern lines would be too heavy

if they were fed free-choice throughout rearing,

as in traditional systems. Not only is over-feeding

a waste of feed, overweight hens have too much

abdominal fat and are prone to prolapses, failed

peak production and egg peritonitis and they may

lay fewer settable eggs.

According to benchmarking data service, Agri-

Stats, in the US, three turkey eggs were 'lost' per

bird between 2006 and 2009. An investigation re-

vealed that the hens were significantly heavier

when they came into lay and that over-consump-

tion of feed at around six to 13 weeks of age was

the problem.

Research has shown that faster average daily gain

in the conditioning period before lighting – be-

tween 24 and 30 weeks of age – improves the

peak in egg production as well as overall egg num-

bers.

If the birds were to be held back during this pe-

riod, they would be unlikely to achieve good peak

egg production. The Hybrid Converter hen, for

example, should gain around 400g per week over

this time to optimise growth rate into reproduc-

tion.

For more quality poults, it is necessary to opti-

mise both egg production and hatchability,

writes senior editor, Jackie Linden.

How to ProduceMore Quality Poults

Experience shows that optimum egg production

can be achieved by full feeding of the females to

six weeks of age, then switching to controlled nu-

trient intake either by timed feeding of a pre-de-

termined amount of feed daily or by free access

to a diet of lower nutrient density. Thereafter,

hens should be allowed to gain 400g per week

until lighting.

Summing up, Dr Wojcnski said that limiting excess

body weight gain improves egg production by be-

tween three and five eggs per hen, saves feed

costs and lowers hen mortality as the result of

fewer prolapses and cases of peritonitis.

CORRECT INCUBATION CONDITIONS FOR

MAXIMUM HATCHABILITY OF HEALTHY

POULTS

Hatching a quality poult requires the appropriate

incubation conditions, stressed Dr Wojcinski. She

explained that breed affects eggshell conductance

through differences in the size and number of

pores in the shell. These differences are not in-

dicative of egg quality but they need to be taken

into account in the incubation profile.

Signs of incorrect incubation conditions include

an extended hatch period, the presence of urates,

white poults and leg defects such as short shanks

and curled toes. These are symptoms of poor de-

velopment during the plateau stage of oxygen

consumption, which is around days 24 to 25 of in-

cubation.

Overheating during the last four days of incuba-

tion particularly means the poults are forced too

early, Dr Wojcinski explained, so they do not re-

sorb their yolk sacs properly so the sacs may rup-

ture and the birds may therefore be white in

colour, small and immuno-compromised. Over-

heating can also affect thyroid metabolism and

therefore feed intake, which may lead to starve-

outs later. Other important organs will be smaller

at hatch in poults that were incubated at too high

a temperature for the breed.

Overheating is also thought to impact leg health,

said Dr Wojcinski, which has implications for both

marketing and welfare. Reseachers in North Car-

olina State University investigated the effects of

normal versus lower oxygen levels and higher

versus normal temperatures during the last four

days of incubation on poult quality. Overheating,

they found, affected the weight and thickness of

the shank bones and led to weaker tendons due

to thinner collagen fibres. These characteristics

are associated with the subsequent development

of leg deformities and tibial dyschondroplasia.

Feeding programmes need to control breeder

hen body weight in order to maximise egg pro-

duction, Dr Wojcinski concluded. Incubation pro-

files are breed-specific, she said, so it is important

to follow the recommendations of the primary

breeder regarding the optimum temperature at

each development stage.

‘Orlopp Bronze’ breed

Image courtesy of Hybrid Turkeys

15

Feature Article

16

A Reappraisal of the Potential ofDietary Fatty Acids to AmeliorateHeat Stress

Although the concept of manipulating dietary fat

content to ameliorate the effects of heat stress

in poultry, pigs and cattle seems reasonable on

theoretical grounds, it has yielded mixed results

in all species. However, little attention was given

to the fatty acid composition of the fat sources

used, presumably because the premise on which

this strategy is based was that all lipid sources

have lower heat increments than the dietary car-

bohydrates that they replace.

Nevertheless, there is evidence that dietary sup-

plementation with long-chain fatty acids such as

palmitic, linoleic and oleic acid can ameliorate the

adverse effects of high temperatures in poultry

(Njoku and Nwazota, 1989; Balnave, 1998; Mujahid

et al., 2009).

Recent advances in the elucidation of the mech-

anism by which hyperthermia exerts its effects

strongly suggest that up-regulation of avUCP ex-

pression using specific fatty acids may prevent the

cascade of events that results in decreased pro-

duction and tissue damage during heat stress.

Furthermore, recent studies on the pathophysi-

ology of heat stress strongly suggests that the

strategic use of new oil seed varieties high in oleic

acid may ameliorate the adverse effects of heat

stress in poultry.

INTRODUCTION

Dietary fat is metabolised with greater efficiency

than dietary carbohydrate or protein. Thus, less

heat is generated during the metabolism of di-

etary fat than during the metabolism of dietary

carbohydrate or protein. A logical application of

this concept to the nutrition of livestock is re-

placement of a portion of the diet with fat to de-

crease dietary heat increment under heat stress

conditions. Despite many studies on the inclusion

of various sources of fat in the diets of dairy cows

exposed to hot environmental conditions, several

reviews on this topic concluded that the litera-

ture on the benefits of fat supplementation during

heat stress is inconclusive (Beede and Collier,

1986; Huber et al., 1994; West, 1999). Similarly, the

NRC (1981) reviewed the literature on the addi-

tion of fat to poultry diets fed during heat stress

and concluded that this practice has not been

consistently successful.

The strategic use of new oil seed varieties high

in oleic acid may ameliorate the adverse effects

of heat stress in poultry, according to P.J. Cronjé

of Cronjé Consulting and Editing at the 2011

Australian Poultry Science Symposium.

17

More recently, Balnave (2004) noted that as the

type of fat affects nutrient partitioning to adipose

tissue in broilers, interactions between environ-

mental temperature and fat source may be worth

exploring. Explication of the disparities between

studies on the use of high fat diets during heat

stress is difficult because sources of fat differ and

their fatty acid composition is often not defined.

Although no systematic study of the effects of dif-

ferent dietary fatty acids on animal responses to

heat stress has been conducted to date, a remark-

able series of studies conducted by Toyomizu’s

group at Tohoku University in Japan on the patho-

physiology of heat stress in poultry strongly sug-

gests that the adverse effects of heat stress could

be alleviated by strategic supplementation with

specific fatty acids (Mujahid et al., 2005, 2006,

2007a, 2007b, 2007c, 2009).

The aim of this review is to discuss recent ad-

vances in our understanding of pathology of heat

stress in poultry and to determine whether spe-

cific dietary fatty acids could play a role in ame-

liorating heat stress in poultry.

FATTY ACIDS ARE INVOLVED IN

PATHOLOGY OF HEAT STRESS

Although the reduction in feed intake that accom-

panies heat stress undoubtedly contributes to a

decrease in production under hot conditions, it

has been demonstrated that it is only responsible

for half the reduction in growth rate in broilers

(Geraert et al., 1996a).

In contrast to the expected effect of

decreased feed intake on adipose tis-

sue, heat stress increases the mass

of certain fat deposits by 33 to 64

per cent (Geraert, 1998). Fur-

thermore, the fatty acid com-

position of adipose tissue is altered by heat stress

(Geraert, 1998). Cells of the heart, kidney and

liver of heat-stressed broilers exhibit an abnor-

mally high accumulation of lipid droplets in the cy-

toplasm and massive fatty degeneration

(Aengwanich and Simaraks, 2004).

A similar pathology was described by Butler

(1976) for fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome, a

condition that occurs when layers are exposed to

hot weather: the liver is putty coloured and

grossly enlarged because of excessive fat infiltra-

tion, which accumulates as globules within the cell

to the extent that the nucleus is displaced and

some cells are ruptured.

Heat stress increases levels of plasma fatty acids

(Mujahid et al., 2007b), triglycerides

(Sahin et al., 2006), cholesterol

(Sahin et al., 2006) and enzymes

involved in the transport and

oxidation of fatty acids (Mu-

jahid et al., 2007b).

Feature Article

A Reappraisal of the Potential of Dietary Fatty Acids to Ameliorate Heat Stress

18

The respiratory quotient of heat-stressed birds

is decreased (Mckee et al., 1997) indicating that

hyperthermia promotes oxidation of fatty acids.

It is thought that fatty acid oxidation is increased

to meet the energy requirements of birds ex-

posed to heat stress (Mckee et al., 1997). How-

ever, the pathology of heat stress is indicative of

an imbalance be-

tween mobilisation

of fatty acids and the

ability to oxidise

them. Excessive fatty

acid oxidation and

accumulation of

fatty acids in mitochondria is conducive to oxida-

tive stress, a condition that causes significant tis-

sue damage.

HYPERTHERMIA CAUSES OXIDATIVE STRESS

Oxidative stress is characterised by excessive

production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such

as superoxide. ROS remove electrons from fatty

acids, mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids, creating

fatty acid radicals that in turn attack other fatty

acids. This process is called lipid peroxidation. If

left unchecked, such chain-reactions damage cell

membranes, which consist mainly of lipids, result-

ing in impaired control of cellular ion homeostasis

and eventually, cell death. ROS also damage pro-

teins and DNA.

Prolonged heat-induced oxidative stress initiates

a cascade of events involving systemic elevation

of levels of inflammatory cytokines, widely dis-

seminated intravascular blood coagulation and ul-

timately, multiple organ failure and death (for

review, see Cronje, 2005). In broilers, exposure to

five hours of heat stress per day (33°C and 60 to

70 per cent relative humidity) for 21 days resulted

in symptoms consistent with excessive oxidative

stress: congestion, oedema and haemorrhage of

the lungs, oedema and haemorrhage of the kid-

neys and necrosis of the liver (Aengwanich et al.,

2003; Aengwanich and Simaraks, 2004). Heat

stress also causes haemorrhages in muscle tissue

(Sandercock et al., 2001) and damage to the in-

testinal mucosa (Quinteiro-Filho et al., 2010) in

poultry.

There is ample

evidence show-

ing that heat

stress results in

oxidative stress

in poultry (Altan

et al., 2003; Sahin et al., 2006; Feng et al., 2008)

and that it causes extensive damage to lipids, pro-

teins (Mujahid et al., 2007a) and muscle mem-

branes (Sandercock et al., 2001; Petracci et al.

2009). Oxidative stress arises when the body’s

natural antioxidant defences are unable to cope

with ROS generated during oxidative phosphory-

lation in the mitochondria. Several studies have

shown that vitamins and minerals involved in an-

tioxidant defence are depleted by heat stress

(Sahin et al., 2003; Mahmoud and Edens, 2005).

That supplementation of heat-stressed birds with

antioxidants such as vitamin C (Mckee et al., 1997;

Sahin et al., 2003; Mahmoud et al., 2004), vitamin

E (Bollenger-Lee et al., 1998) and lycopene (Sahin

et al., 2006) has been shown to ameliorate heat-

induced oxidative stress is a strong indication that

heat stress induces over-production of ROS.

In 2005, Mujahid et al. demonstrated for the first

time that heat stress induces the production of

superoxide in the skeletal muscle mitochondria

of broilers and showed that oxidative stress in-

hibits growth independently of feed intake during

heat stress. Therefore, nutritional strategies

against heat stress such as increased dietary en-

ergy density or protein content only address half

the problem (decreased feed intake) and strate-

“Several studies have shown that vitamins and minerals involved in antioxidant defence are depleted by heat stress”

19

gies such as supplementation with antioxidants

only address the symptoms of the other half of

the problem (oxidative stress). A strategy that tar-

gets the cause of oxidative stress is lacking. How-

ever, the cause of oxidative stress in poultry

remained a matter of conjecture until the discov-

ery of avian uncoupling protein by Raimbault et

al. in 2001.

MITOCHONDRIAL UNCOUPLING PROTEINS

DECREASE OXIDATIVE STRESS

Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP releases energy, which

is used to drive metabolic reactions. An active cell

can hydrolyse more than two million ATP mole-

cules per second, but the energy stored in the

form of ATP in the human body is equivalent to

the energy stored in an AA battery, and therefore

only sufficient to satisfy the body’s energy needs

for a few seconds. This necessitates rapid regen-

eration of ATP from ADP using energy from in-

gested nutrients or endogenous reserves. Thus,

although the human body contains only 250 g of

ATP, it turns over its own weight in ATP each day.

The task of ATP turnover is accomplished by mi-

tochondria, of which there are 100 to 1,000 per

cell. Most ATP is produced in mitochondria by ox-

idative phosphorylation.

A schematic illustration of mitochondrial oxida-

tive phosphorylation is presented in Figure 1. The

mitochondrion contains an inner and an outer

membrane, which are separated by an inter-mem-

brane space. In the matrix of the mitochondrion,

oxidation of glucose and fat yields the ‘hydrogen

carriers’ NADH+H+ and FADH2. During oxida-

tive phosphorylation, electrons are removed from

NADH+H+ and FADH2 and are transported

through the respiratory chain until they are do-

nated to molecular oxygen, which is then reduced

to water. The transport of electrons drives proton

pumps that transfer hydrogen ions from the ma-

trix to the inter-membrane space, creating an

electrochemical potential difference across the

inner membrane. Protons may re-enter the mito-

chondrial matrix through the ATP synthase pro-

ton channel, which uses this proton-motive force

to generate ATP from ADP.

Proton re-entry via ATP synthase is normally reg-

ulated by the availability of ADP but protons may

also re-enter through uncoupling proteins

(UCPs), which act as a type of 'pressure-relief

valve' to prevent excessive accumulation of pro-

tons in the inter-membrane space. During the re-

duction of molecular oxygen to water, leakage of

electrons from the respiratory chain results in the

formation of superoxide radicals, which can be

Figure 1. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation

Glucose and free fatty acids (FFA) enter the tricarboxylic acid

(TCA) cycle as acetyl-CoA, producing NADH and FADH,

which donate electrons to the electron transport chain.

Movement of electrons down this chain provides energy to

transport protons (H+) from the matrix to the inter-mem-

brane space, creating a proton electrochemical gradient. Re-

entry of protons to the matrix via ATP synthase drives the

conversion of ADP to ATP. Electrons that reach the end of the

electron transfer chain are accepted by molecular oxygen

(O2) in the formation of H2O. However, some electrons leak

from the chain and form superoxide (O2-).

20

converted into other ROS. These ROS attack the

phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids

(PUFA) of the inner membrane. Thus, activation

of UCPs, which enables protons to leak back into

the matrix, reduces ROS production (Azzu and

Brand, 2009). As mitochondria account for more

than 80 per cent of cellular oxygen consumption,

they are the main site of ROS production (Manoli

et al., 2007). When the level of ROS exceeds the

capacity of cellular antioxidants to remove them,

the cell experiences oxidative stress. If left

unchecked, DNA and enzymes are damaged and

the respiratory chain malfunctions.

In addition to its role in decreasing ROS by in-

creasing proton leak, it has been proposed that

UCP3 exports fatty acids from the mitochondrial

matrix when fatty acid supply exceeds fat oxida-

tion capacity (Hoeks et al., 2003). As fatty acid an-

ions in the mitochondrial matrix are prone to

peroxidation, prevention of their accumulation

could reduce ROS production. Although there is

debate about the relative importance of the var-

ious mechanisms by which UCP3 exerts its ef-

fects (Azzu and Brand, 2009), there appears to be

general consensus that UCP3 plays a key role in

decreasing ROS production and protecting

against cellular damage. Therefore, heat-induced

down-regulation of UCP activity could provide an

explanation for the oxidative stress observed in

birds subjected to heat stress.

AVIAN COUPLING PROTEIN IS

DOWNREGULATED BY HEAT STRESS

Only one type of UCP has been detected in birds,

whereas five iso-forms are present in mammals.

Avian uncoupling protein (avUCP) was first

cloned in 2001 by Raimbault et al. from the skele-

tal muscle of chickens. The amino acid sequence

of avUCP is 70 per cent identical with those of

mammalian UCP2 and UCP3, but its tissue distri-

bution is restricted mainly to skeletal muscle,

which is similar to the distribution of UCP3.

Mujahid et al. (2006, 2007b,c) showed that heat

stress decreases the level of avUCP by up to 50

per cent and proposed that the associated inabil-

ity to regulate proton motive force caused oxida-

tive stress. They also observed that plasma fatty

acid levels increased three-fold and that levels of

enzymes involved in the transport and oxidation

of fatty acids and those involved in the Kreb's

cycle were elevated during the early stages of

heat stress (Mujahid et al., 2007b). The same

group recently showed that heat stress enhances

substrate oxidation via the electron transport

Feature Article

A Reappraisal of the Potential of Dietary Fatty Acids to Ameliorate Heat Stress

21

substrate oxidation via the electron transport

chain, resulting in an increase in mitochondrial

membrane potential and ROS production

(Kikusato et al., 2010). Mujahid et al. (2007b) con-

cluded that a sudden surge in mitochondrial sub-

strate oxidation combined with down-regulation

of avUCP may be responsible for the increase in

superoxide production during heat stress. This hy-

pothesis is supported by further evidence of

down-regulation of avUCP by heat stress in chick-

ens (Taouis et al., 2002) and a very strong linear

correlation (R2 = 0.92) between ROS production

and avUCP-dependant mitochondrial proton leak

(Rey et al., 2010). However, the mechanism by

which heat stress down-regulates avUCP is as yet

unclear.

The recent identification of a binding site for thy-

roid hormone in the promoter sequence of the

avUCP gene by Joubert et al. (2010) indicates that

thyroid hormone may play a role in downregulat-

ing avUCP expression during heat stress.

CHANGES IN THYROID HORMONE LEVEL

MAY DOWNREGULATE AVIAN

UNCOUPLING PROTEIN EXPRESSION

DURING HEAT STRESS

During heat stress, circulating levels of thyroid

hormone are decreased (Geraert et al., 1996b;

Tao et al., 2006; Lin et al., 2008), presumably be-

cause thyroid hormone increases metabolic rate,

and thus metabolic heat production. Although it

has been known for many years that thyroid hor-

mone stimulates metabolic rate and decreases

metabolic efficiency, the mechanism by which thy-

roid hormone affects energy homeostasis is

poorly understood. In 2001, De Lange et al. pro-

vided the first in vivo evidence that thyroid hor-

mone increases muscle UCP3 expression. More

recently, Rey et al. (2010) showed that skeletal

muscle avUCP abundance in ducklings was up-

regulated by administration of thyroid hormone

and decreased by pharmacological blockade of

thyroid hormone synthesis. Furthermore, the

production of ROS per unit of oxygen consumed

by muscle mitochondria was elevated in the hy-

pothyroid state and was attenuated by thyroid

hormone administration. In rats, thyroxine level is

linearly correlated with muscle UCP3 expression

(Sprague et al., 2007). Therefore, a heat-induced

decrease in thyroid hormone level may down-reg-

ulate avUCP expression, resulting in oxidative

stress and ROS-mediated tissue damage in birds

exposed to heat stress. There is evidence that

polyunsaturated fatty acids up-regulate UCP ex-

pression and that they compete with thyroid hor-

mone for the retinoid receptor X, which is

required for binding to some of their target genes

(Clarke et al., 1999). Thus, it is possible that di-

etary mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids

could be exploited to increase avUCP expression

and ameliorate heat-induced tissue damage in

poultry.

FATTY ACIDS UPREGULATE UNCOUPLING

PROTEIN EXPRESSION

Muscle UCP3 up-regulation appears to be specific

for long-chain fatty acids, as Hoeks et al. (2003)

observed no response in muscle UCP3 level

when rats were fed a high-fat diet consisting of

medium-chain fatty acids, but observed substantial

increases when a diet containing long-chain fatty

acids was fed.

Thompson et al. (2004) reviewed in vitro studies

in which specific fatty acids had been added to

cultured cell models or primary isolated cells.

None of the cell lines showed a response in

UCP3 expression to saturated fatty acids. In mus-

cle cells, the mono-unsaturated fatty acid, oleic

acid (18:1 n–9) and the polyunsaturated fatty

acids, linoleic acid (18:2 n–6) and linolenic acid

(18:3 n–3) increased the expression of UCP3.

22

Rodriguez et al. (2002) fed rats diets containing

40 per cent of dietary energy in the form of oils

rich in saturated fatty acids (palm oil or beef tal-

low), polyunsaturated fatty acids (sunflower oil)

or mono-unsaturated fatty acid (olive oil). The

level of UCP3 in muscle was 33 per cent greater

in rats fed the olive oil diet than in those fed the

other sources of fatty acids.

Based on this evidence, Mujahid et al. (2009) fed

olive oil to broilers to determine whether it Ro-

driguez et al. (2002) fed rats diets containing 40

per cent of dietary energy in the form of oils rich

in saturated fatty acids (palm oil or beef tallow),

polyunsaturated fatty acids (sunflower oil) or

mono-unsaturated fatty acid (olive oil). The level

of UCP3 in muscle was 33 per cent greater in rats

fed the olive oil diet than in those fed the other

sources of fatty acids.

Based on this evidence, Mujahid et al. (2009) fed

olive oil to broilers to determine whether it could

prevent mitochondrial ROS production and ox-

idative damage during heat stress. In their trial,

birds were fed a basal diet (a commercial broiler

diet) or the basal diet plus 6.7 per cent olive oil

for eight days before exposure to thermoneutral

conditions or 34°C for 12 hours. The addition of

olive oil to the basal diet prevented the decrease

in avUCP level and the increase in lipid peroxida-

tion observed in birds fed the control diet during

heat stress. Birds fed the basal diet lost weight

during heat stress, whereas those supplemented

with olive oil gained weight. The feed intake of the

olive oil-supplemented birds also decreased to a

lesser extent than that of birds fed the basal diet

during the 12 hours of heat stress period. Al-

though the practical implications of these results

are difficult to interpret because the two diets

were not isoenergetic, it establishes a mechanism

by which specific fatty acids could alleviate heat

stress. As oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fatty

acid, constitutes 70 to 80 per cent of the fatty

acids in olive oil (Tripoli et al., 2005), it is likely

that the up-regulation of avUCP observed by Ro-

driguez et al. (2002) and Mujahid et al. (2009) was

mediated by oleic acid.

The specificity of UCPs for certain types of fatty

acid may explain why the practice of feeding high-

fat diets to poultry exposed to heat stress has

been successful in some instances and has failed

in others. Furthermore, Hoeks et al. (2003) noted

that rats fed a high-fat diet containing medium-

chain fatty acids (C8:0 and C10:0; caprylic and

capric acid, respectively) gained less weight than

rats consuming an equal amount of net energy

from a high-fat diet containing long-chain fatty

acids (C16:0, palmitic acid), indicating that

medium-chain fatty acids have a thermogenic ef-

Feature Article

A Reappraisal of the Potential of Dietary Fatty Acids to Ameliorate Heat Stress

23

pression may be mediated by their affinity for per-

oxisome proliferator-activated receptors

(PPARs).

The PPARs were originally identified in frogs as

receptors that induce the proliferation of perox-

isomes, organelles that are involved in the break-

down of very-long-chain fatty acids (>18 carbon

atoms in length) to medium-chain fatty acids,

which are then shuttled to the mitochondrion for

further oxidation. Peroxisomal fatty acid oxida-

tion generates 30 per cent more heat than mito-

chondrial fatty acid oxidation (Baillie et al., 1999).

The PPARs are members of the nuclear hormone

receptor family, so called because unlike classical

hormone receptors, which are located in the cy-

toplasm and translocate to the nucleus after bind-

ing to their ligands, PPARs reside in the nucleus

and bind to DNA response elements. The avUCP

gene contains a binding site for PPARs in its pro-

moter sequence (Joubert et al., 2010). There are

three members of the PPAR subfamily, PPARα,PPARγ and PPARδ, all of which are activated by

fatty acids or their derivatives (Clarke et al.,

1999). Gene knockout experiments in rodents

have verified that UCP3 and UCP2 are not ther-

mogenic whereas UCP1 induces non-shivering

thermogenesis (Azzu and Brand, 2009). avUCP

does not appear to play a role in thermogenesis

in the chicken (Walter and Seebacher, 2009). The

distribution of these PPAR isoforms in mammals

differs between tissues, and the affinities of acti-

vating ligands differs between them (Guri et al.,

2006). This may explain why certain fatty acids in-

duce thermogenesis but not UCP expression, why

some fatty acids induce thermogenesis but also

increase UCP expression and why some fatty

acids do not induce thermogenesis but increase

UCP expression.

In addition to their effects on UCPs, PPARs also

affect the expression of genes for key enzymes in

fat and glucose metabolism, which represents an-

other avenue by which cellular responses to heat

stress could be manipulated. For instance, heat

stress is associated with fatty degeneration of

most tissues and the secretion of inflammatory

cytokines. Nagasawa et al. (2006) induced hepatic

fat accumulation and inflammation in mice by di-

etary means and showed that pharmacological

over-expression of PPARd reduced lipid accumu-

lation and the expression of inflammatory cy-

tokines.

NEW OIL SEED VARIETIES CONTAIN

BENEFICIAL FATTY ACIDS

Changes within the oilseed industry brought

about by concern about the harmful effects of sat-

urated fatty acids and trans fatty acids have re-

24

sulted in the development of plant varieties that

produce oils high in oleic acid. Saturated fatty

acids are converted to the trans configuration by

heat during frying and by hydrogenation, used by

the industry to improve heat stability for deep-

frying or to increase the solidity of oils used for

the production of margarine. Trans fatty acids in-

crease cholesterol levels in humans, adding to the

incidence of heart disease. As a result of these fac-

tors, there is a growing trend away from the use

of oils rich in palmitic acid (C16:0) and hydro-

genated oils in favour of oils that can provide the

required functionality without hydrogenation.

Oils low in palmitic acid and rich in oleic acid, a

cis fatty acid, or stearic acid (C18:0) meet these

requirements. Oilseed crops such as soybean,

rapeseed (canola), peanut, sunflower and cotton-

seed have now been bred or engineered to pro-

duce oil high in oleic acid (Liu et al., 2002). The

widespread availability of oils and oil meals de-

rived from high-oleic-acid plants and their increas-

ing incorporation into livestock feeds calls for

re-evaluation of the results of trials conducted be-

fore the advent of these plants on the use of high-

fat diets for heat-stressed poultry.

CONCLUSION

Recent advances in the pathophysiology of heat

stress strongly suggest that the strategic use of

new oil seed varieties may ameliorate the adverse

effects of heat stress in poultry. A systematic study

of the effects of different dietary fatty acids on

avUCP expression, PPAR activity and the re-

sponses of poultry to heat stress is warranted.

For references used in this article, click here

Feature Article

A Reappraisal of the Potential of Dietary Fatty Acids to Ameliorate Heat Stress

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US - Dr Kevin Keener's research at Purdue Uni-

versity has shown that cooling eggs after they are

laid may increase the natural defences those eggs

have against bacteria such as Salmonella.

Once eggs are laid, their natural resistance to

pathogens begins to wear down but a Purdue Uni-

versity scientist believes he knows how to rearm

those defences.

Kevin Keener, an associate professor of food sci-

ence at Purdue University, created a process for

rapidly cooling eggs that is designed to inhibit the

growth of bacteria such as salmonella. The same

cooling process would saturate the inside of an

egg with carbon dioxide and alter pH levels, which

he has found are connected to the activity of an

enzyme called lysozyme, which defends egg whites

from bacteria.

"This enzyme activity is directly related to the car-

bon dioxide and pH levels," said Dr Keener, whose

results were published in the journal Poultry Sci-

ence. "An increase in lysozyme would lead to in-

creased safety in eggs."

Regional News

Americas

26

Poultry Company Mega–Merger Stalls

MEXICO - The Government of Mexico is accept-

ing comments for a proposed rule regarding

maximum residues of veterinary products and

other chemicals in animal products.

On 12 May 2011, the Secretariat of Agriculture,

Livestock, Rural Development, Fishery and Food

published in the Diario Oficial (Federal Register)

a proposed rule regarding...

Read More

US Reports Low-Path Bird Flu inTurkey Flock

MINNESOTA, US - Routine surveillance has re-

vealed a subclinical infection of low-pathogenic

avian influenza (LPAI) in a turkey flock.

The veterinary authority sent an Immediate No-

tification dated 29 June to the World Organisa-

tion for Animal Health (OIE).

Read More...

Freshly laid eggs are saturated with carbon diox-

ide and have pH levels of about 7. Over time, the

pH level rises to 9 and carbon dioxide escapes,

Dr Keener said. As that happens, lysozyme be-

comes less active.

Dr Keener saturated purified egg white

lysozymes with carbon dioxide and tested differ-

ent pH levels. He found that at both high and low

pH levels, the addition of carbon dioxide would

increase lysozyme activity by as much as 50 per

cent.

Read More...

Cooling Eggs May Reduce Food-Borne Disease

New Hope in Battle against Salmonella in Poultry

UK - Bdellovibrio, described as a ‘living antibiotic’,

has been found to be effective against Salmonella

and safe when ingested by chickens in trials at

Nottingham University.

Scientists have tested a predatory bacterium –

Bdellovibrio – against Salmonella in the guts of live

chickens. They found that it significantly reduced

the numbers of Salmonella bacteria...

Read More...

Bird Flu in Europe Threatens Ex-ports to Russia

RUSSIA - Russia may ban live poultry imports

from Europe following several report outbreaks

of low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).

The Russian veterinary watchdog, Rosselkhoz-

nadzor, may ban imports of live poultry from

Germany, the Netherlands and possibly other Eu-

ropean countries in light of reports on an out-

break of avian influenza...

Read More...

27

End to Slaughter Without Stunning WelcomedNETHERLANDS - Welfare campaigning organi-

sation, Eurogroup for Animals, has welcomed the

recent vote by the Dutch Parliament which

makes stunning prior to slaughter, including for

religious slaughter obligatory in the Nether-

lands.

This is a step forward for animal welfare as it ends

the exemption for religious slaughter where ani-

mals are killed fully conscious without stunning on

religious grounds and this will alleviate the suffer-

ing of up to one million animals in the Nether-

lands, says Eurogroup for Animals.

The Bill, which received overwhelming support in

the Parliament (116 out of 150 votes), is based on

the strong scientific consensus that animals ren-

dered unconscious prior to slaughter suffer less

than animals bled while fully conscious.

Dr Michel Courat, Policy Officer for Farm Animals

at Eurogroup for Animals, commented: "This is a

major step forward for animal welfare and we

urge all of the 26 other European Union member

states to follow the example of the Dutch

government. It will however be possible for reli-

gious groups to get an exemption, but only when

they provide indisputably proof that their alter-

native method will not cause more harm to ani-

mal welfare than pre-slaughter stunning."

The ban is not directed against religious slaughter

as such, it only states that religion is not a suffi-

cient reason to let animals suffer unnecessarily,

according to Eurogroup. As such it is an invitation

to religious groups to explore the boundaries of

what their faiths allows and to implement new,

innovative animal welfare friendly methods.

Eurogroup has been monitoring the number of

animals slaughtered without prior stunning in the

EU and is very concerned that the amount of

meat coming from animals slaughtered in this way

is much higher than the amount required to meet

the needs of the religious communities in the EU.

Read More...

Europe

Japan Declared Free of AvianInfluenza

JAPAN - Japan declares itself free from notifiable

avian influenza with effect from 25 June 2011.

This date results from the three-month period

specified in Article 10.4.3 of the OIE Terrestrial

Animal Health Code after the last outbreak of

highly pathogenic avian influenza, which occurred

on 16 March 2011.

Read More...

Malaysia Looking to ProducePoultry Vaccines

MALAYSIA - Malaysia is exploring opportunities

to produce vaccines against Newcastle disease

and avian influenza which cause huge losses to

the national livestock industry, said Malaysian

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said Malaysia wants to collaborate with any

research institution which could come up with

the vaccines as there was a dire need for them.

Read More...

Poultry Industry Set to Continue GrowthINDIA - The growth trend in domestic poultry in-

dustry is likely to continue this decade, according

to a new market report.

According to Financial Chronicle, Indian poultry

market size is estimated at more than 470 billion

rupees (INR), with broiler meat and table eggs

contributing more than 95 per cent of the market.

The publication cites a new report from ICRA,

which says that, globally, India ranks fourth in

broiler meat production with annual production

of about 2.9 million metric tonnes, and ranks third

in table egg production, after the US and China,

with annual production of 57 billion eggs.

The poultry sector has transformed from a back-

yard activity into a major commercial activity in

last two decades, with the presence of large inte-

grated players who successfully implemented con-

tract poultry farming on a large scale.

Production has remained largely limited to south-

ern India and western Maharashtra, though states

like Haryana, Punjab, and parts of West Bengal

have seen increased adoption of poultry farming

as alternative source of income for largely agrar-

ian economy.

ICRA reports that the Indian poultry sector has

been growing annually at around eight to 10 per

cent over the last decade and at over 15 per cent

in the last three years. It projects the domestic

broiler meat demand to grow around 15 to 18

per cent, and table egg demand to grow at five

to seven per cent in the medium to long term.

28

Regional News

Asia

Call for End to Law on LiveTransport & Trade

EGYPT - Poultry traders are protesting against a

law banning the trade and transport of live

poultry.

Hundreds of poultry shop owners protested out-

side the TV Building near the Nile Corniche in

Cairo on Friday (24 June), demanding the Govern-

ment of Essam Sharaf rescind a 2010 law barring

trade and transport of live birds to help prevent

the spread of the bird flu virus.

Read More...

Agency Sets out Benefits &Costs of Egg Stamping

AUSTRALIA - The food standards agency has

stressed the benefits to food safety of individual

egg stamping and its low cost, even for smaller

producers. It will come into effect in November

2012.

There have been recent media reports about the

cost of implementing a new egg standard, in par-

ticular a requirement to stamp individual eggs.

Read More...

29

Ghana's Egg Industry ‘Vibrant’GHANA - The remark was made by the poultry

farmers' association chairman, with an announce-

ment that the layer population has increased from

18 million to 21 million birds over the last year.

The broiler industry has been hard hit by rising

feed prices.

Approximately 21 million layers are in the country

presently, Chairman of the Ghana National Asso-

ciation of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) has an-

nounced.

Peace FM reports Kwabena Asante saying the fig-

ure represent a sharp improvement over last

year's figure, which stood at 18 million. He said

the positive development is a clear indication that

the poultry business is vibrant.

Mr Asante debunked assertions that the poultry

business is at an all-time low, insisting that poultry

farming is contributing to Ghana's growth. Ac-

cording to him, about 529,300 metric tonnes of

maize, worth several millions of dollars, would be

needed to feed the chicken per annum.

He noted the significant rise in the number of

layers has the potential of creating jobs for

about 1,500 people. Mr Asante was speaking to

City & Business Guide during a day's forum for

Maize Value Chain Actors/Stakeholders at the

Miklin Hotel in Kumasi.

The event was organised by Ghana Agricultural

Development and Value Chain Enhancement

(ADVANCE), an agric development NGO in

the US with funding from USAID. Implemented

by ACDI, VOCA and ADVANCE, the event was

attended by poultry farmers, farmers, maize

processors, maize buyers, financial institutions,

among others.

Read More...

Africa & Oceania

Poultry Science AssociationAnnual MeetingSt Louis, Missouri, US

July 16th to 19th

PSA will hold its 100th Annual Meeting in 2011

jointly with the American Veterinary Medical Asso-

ciation (AVMA) and the American Association of

Avian Pathologists (AAAP).

30

Global Events

Keep up to date with what’s happening in the global poultry industry

17th World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) CongressCancun, Mexico

August 14th to 18th

You are invited to the XVII Congress of the

World Veterinary Poultry Association, that will be

held in one of the most beautiful beaches on the

Mexican Caribe.

We will be meeting poultry veterinarians from all

the world, exchanging professional experiences in

symposia and round tables in a scientific pro-

gramme prepared especially for us.

31

Great Yorkshire Show 2011Harrogate, Yorkshire,UK

July 12th to 14th

The Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) is an agricultural

show which takes place on the Great Yorkshire

Showground in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the

North of England annually from the second Tues-

day of July until the following Thursday. It is organ-

ised and run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society

(YAS).

Incubation & Fertility Research Group Meeting 2011Ede, Netherlands

August 30th to 31st

IFRG would like to invite you to the 2011 meeting

of the Incubation and Fertility Research Group

{WPSA Working Group 6 (Reproduction)} will be

held in Ede, The Netherlands on 30th – 31st

August, 2011. This meeting is for all those with an

interest in incubation and fertility in all avian

species.

26

MERCK ANNOUNCES NEW NAME FOR

ANIMAL HEALTH DIVISION

GLOBAL - Merck’s animal

health division, formerly known

as Intervet/Schering-Plough An-

imal Health, announced that, effective 29 June, it

will begin using the new name, Merck Animal

Health. It will be known as MSD Animal Health

outside the United States and Canada.

More...

CID LINES LAUNCHES NEW CLEANER

BELGIUM - Biorex is the new

standard in cleaning, according

to CID Lines.

More...

GRIMAUD FRÈRES SÉLECTION IN CHARGE

OF ESSOR SALES

FRANCE - From 1 July, Gri-

maud Frères Sélection has

taken over the selection programme and produc-

tion flocks of Essor guinea fowl.

More...

COBB WELCOMES CZECH VISITORS TO

WORLD HEADQUARTERS

ARKANSAS, US - A visit to the

Cobb-Vantress headquarters in

Siloam Springs in Arkansas pro-

vided Pavel Visek and Milos Zima

from the Xavergen group in the Czech Republic

with an insight into how the company is expand-

ing to meet growing demand for the Cobb 500.

More...

PETERSIME JOINS EUROPEAN

WELFARE PROJECT

BELGIUM - Petersime has joined the

Bio-Business Project, a European re-

search framework that examines the

impact of industrial developments on animal wel-

fare.

More...

CENTRAL EUROPEAN SEMINAR

BREAKS NEW RECORDS

HUNGARY - Aviagen Kft, Avia-

gen’s Hungarian business unit,

recently held its 5th seminar for

Central European (CE) Parent Stock customers

in the famous thermal resort of Heviz, near Lake

Balaton.

More...

PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ENZYME

SOLUTIONS

US - The enzyme solutions

available to nutritionists,

producers and others look-

ing to optimise nutrition in poultry and other

farm animals will be expanding as the result of a

strategic collaboration announced on 27 June be-

tween Novus International, Inc. and Verenium

Corporation.

More...

INTEREST IN VENCOMATIC INNOVATIONS

IN ISTANBUL

TURKEY - Vencomatic exhib-

ited at VIV Turkey, a well-at-

tended trade show held in Istanbul in early June.

More...

32

Company News

News from our advertisers

GROUNDBREAKING PREMIX FACILITY

OPENED IN TATARSTAN

TATARSTAN, RUSSIA - DSM

Nutritional Products, a sub-

sidiary of Royal DSM N.V. (The

Netherlands), the global Life Sciences and Materi-

als Sciences Company, and Tatenergo JSC (Repub-

lic of Tatarstan) have opened the first premix plant

in Russia under a newly created affiliate, DSM Nu-

tritional Products Rus.

More...

CHU JOINS CEVA'S GLOBAL R&D TEAM

US - Ceva Santé Animale is excited to

introduce Dr Steve Chu as its new Vice

President, Global Biology Research and

Development.

More...

WET BASKETS CAN IMPAIR CHICK QUALITY

THE NETHERLANDS - Chick transfers

should always be made into dry baskets,

says 'Tiny' Barten of Pas Reform.

More...

BIOMIN HOLDS FIRST MYCOTOXIN

AWARENESS FORUM

MYANMAR – Biomin's distributor

in Myanmar, Min Ye Tin of Yè Group,

recently organised the 1st Myanmar Mycotoxin

Awareness Forum.

More...

PFIZER VOLUNTARILY SUSPENDS SALE

OF 3-NITRO

US - The US Food and Drug (FDA)

Administration announced on 8 June

that Alpharma, a subsidiary of Pfizer

Inc., will voluntarily suspend US sales of the animal

drug 3-Nitro (Roxarsone), a product used by poul-

try producers since the 1940s.

More...

AVIAGEN GAINS COMPARTMENTALISATION

CERTIFICATION

UK - Aviagen Ltd has become

the first poultry breeder in the

world to achieve compartment

status for all of its facilities, paving the way for the

compartmentalisation concept to become a global

reality.

More...

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