Live Birds Research Articles

Rapid detection of poultry meat quality using S-band to KU-band radio-frequency waves combined with machine learning-A proof of concept.

Rapid changes in consumer preferences for high-quality animal-based protein have driven the poultry industry to identify non-invasive, in-line processing technologies for rapid detection of muscle meat quality defects. At production plants, technologies like radio-frequency waves (RF waves) can identify and separate myopathy-conditioned meat, reducing misclassification errors due to human fatigue and inexperience. Previous studies have shown that advanced diagnostic tools combined with complex data analytics, such as support vector machines (SVMs) and backpropagation neural networks (BPNNs), can classify chicken breast myopathies post-deboning. This study demonstrates RF wave use for myopathy detection at four processing stages. Using 107 (48-day old) broilers, RF wave data in amplitude and phase were collected from live birds, pre-chilled without giblets (WOGs), post-chilled WOGs, and freshly deboned fillets (3-3.5h post-slaughter) and examined by hand-palpation for woody breast categories (1-normal; 2-moderate; 3-severe). Data preprocessing involved false discovery rate and predictor analysis to identify specific signature frequencies and develop classification models using supervised machine learning (ML) algorithms. Variable clustering analysis identified seven to eight different frequencies at various processing stages. Preprocessed data with identified signature frequencies were used to develop classification models using BPNN and SVM. BPNN demonstrated superior classification accuracy compared to SVM, with accuracy ranges from 90.0% to 96.1% for live birds, 78.9% to 97.1% for pre-chilled WOGs, 82.1% to 95.9% for post-chilled WOGs, and 94.2% to 98.2% for deboned fillets. Integrating specific RF range devices or sensors with supervised ML algorithms like SVM and BPNN in poultry processing can effectively detect muscle myopathies at different processing steps during in-line processing.

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization and Antibiogram Pattern of Livestock Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Livebird Markets Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Study’s Excerpt The prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in poultry markets within the Gusau metropolis was examined. Phenotypic and molecular (PCR) detection methods were combined to identify the LA-MRSA isolates. Multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes were observed in 72.2% of the isolates. Full Abstract Poultry farms have been identified as hotspots for the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA). In this study, a total of 320 swab samples were randomly collected from fecal litter, Hands of poultry handlers, Soil, Feed, and Water from five different poultry markets in the Gusau metropolis. The LA-MRSA isolates involved were detected culturally and identified phenotypically by the use of PCR assay. The pooled prevalence of the LAMRSA isolates in the samples was 22(100%). The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of LAMRSA among the samples collected at 95% confidence interval and 0.05 level of significance. There is no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of LAMRSA among the samples. Findings from the antibiogram study conducted revealed that all the 22(100%) LAMRSA isolates were resistant to Penicillin antibiotics, with resistance to other antibiotics following the order: Nitrofurantoin, 17(77.3%), Sulphamethoxazole, 13(59.1%), Chloramphenicol 6(27.28%), Ciprofloxacin 5(22.7%) and Erythromycin 4(18.2%). A total of 14 multidrug resistant phenotypes were identified from the 22 LAMRSA isolates with 16(72.2%) demonstrating cross resistant to ≥3 of the six different classes of antibiotics used. The MDR rate in soil samples was the highest (27.3%) (p<0.05) compared to other MDR isolates from the other sources. Of all the isolates, 22(100%) demonstrated a MAR Index ranging from 0.2-0.8. These are disturbing trends with significant risks to humans and animals. Suggesting a potential for inoculation of self and transmission to others, particularly through those who sell and make daily contact with live birds. Therefore, the government should awaken the consciousness of poultry farmers/handlers by way of sensitization on the need to improve water quality and practice routine personal and environmental hygiene as it relates to poultry management, with a focus on antibiotic stewardship within the one health framework so as to lower endemicity and equally break the chain of transmission of LA- MRSA across the farm to fork continuum.

China's International Trade of Parrots from 1981 to 2022 Based on the CITES Trade Database.

Parrots are popular with pet consumers and are one of the most traded groups of live birds around the world. China has been considered as an important country in bird trades, but we know little about China's import and export of parrots. Using the latest data available from the CITES Trade Database, we analyzed China's import and export of CITES-listed live parrots from 1981-2022 to better understand the patterns and dynamics of these trades. China imported 155,339 parrots of 173 species and exported 608,987 parrots of 42 species during the study period with an annual average of about 18,500 individuals, accounting for c. 5% of the global average number. The most imported parrots to China were Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), while the most exported ones were Fisher's Lovebirds (Agapornis fischeri), Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), and Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus). Since the early 21st century, China's imports of parrots gradually increased, but exports decreased more pronouncedly, making China's international parrot trade volume declining in the past 20 years. China's international parrot trade routes also changed over time, with the destination of parrot exports shifting from Europe to Africa and the Arabian region, while more parrots being gradually imported from countries in South America and Africa. The vast majority of parrots exported from China were captive-bred non-native species like Fisher's Lovebirds, while a substantial proportion of imported parrots were wild-sourced and the proportion has been increasing in the last decade. The fact that China exported much more parrots than imported suggests existence of large-scale parrot farming and domestic parrot trade in China. Attention needs to be paid to monitoring China's import of increasing proportion of wild-sourced parrots from South America countries and its potential impacts on their wild populations. Close monitoring of and more studies on domestic and illegal parrot trade are essential to fully understand the role China plays in the international trade of parrots.

Toward a Global History of the Nuclear Age

The environmental history of the nuclear enterprise has grown increasingly important, not the least because of the strong conviction that an ongoing, and self-proclaimed “renaissance” in nuclear energy must be a major part of world energy scenarios in the battle against global warming and the need to abandon carbon-based energy production. This article suggests a number of ways to take advantage of the recently available primary sources by using a global approach to make sense of nuclear environmental history. It calls for looking at environmental impacts across a variety of ecosystems: desert, Arctic, tropical, limnological and oceanic. It insists on considering the entire nuclear enterprise from mining to enrichment to fission. It suggests focusing on interactions between the atom, nature, and the lives of mammals, fish and birds in the nuclear world. In the end, this analysis shows that the atom is not green, and that the argument that nuclear power is a solution to global warming ignores the troubled relationship between the natural environment and peaceful and military technologies.

Characterization of Avian Influenza Viruses Detected in Kenyan Live Bird Markets and Wild Bird Habitats Reveal Genetically Diverse Subtypes and High Proportion of A(H9N2), 2018-2020.

Following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in countries bordering Kenya to the west, we conducted surveillance among domestic and wild birds along the shores of Lake Victoria. In addition, between 2018 and 2020, we conducted surveillance among poultry and poultry workers in live bird markets and among wild migratory birds in various lakes that are resting sites during migration to assess introduction and circulation of avian influenza viruses in these populations. We tested 7464 specimens (oropharyngeal (OP) and cloacal specimens) from poultry and 6531 fresh fecal specimens from wild birds for influenza A viruses by real-time RT-PCR. Influenza was detected in 3.9% (n = 292) of specimens collected from poultry and 0.2% (n = 10) of fecal specimens from wild birds. On hemagglutinin subtyping, most of the influenza A positives from poultry (274/292, 93.8%) were H9. Of 34 H9 specimens randomly selected for further subtyping, all were H9N2. On phylogenetic analysis, these viruses were genetically similar to other H9 viruses detected in East Africa. Only two of the ten influenza A-positive specimens from the wild bird fecal specimens were successfully subtyped; sequencing analysis of one specimen collected in 2018 was identified as a low-pathogenicity avian influenza H5N2 virus of the Eurasian lineage, and the second specimen, collected in 2020, was subtyped as H11. A total of 18 OP and nasal specimens from poultry workers with acute respiratory illness (12%) were collected; none were positive for influenza A virus. We observed significant circulation of H9N2 influenza viruses in poultry in live bird markets in Kenya. During the same period, low-pathogenic H5N2 virus was detected in a fecal specimen collected in a site hosting a variety of migratory and resident birds. Although HPAI H5N8 was not detected in this survey, these results highlight the potential for the introduction and establishment of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in poultry populations and the associated risk of spillover to human populations.

Differences in phenology across three trophic levels between two Afrotropical sites separated by four degrees latitude.

Birds time their life cycle events to favourable windows in environmental conditions. In tropical environments, where photoperiod variation is small, birds show high variability in the timing of life cycle stages, yet these species have been severely underrepresented in phenology research. Here, we investigated temporal patterns in bird life cycles and resource availability in two sites in tropical Africa: Weppa (Nigeria, 7° N) and Elat (Cameroon, 3° N). In these sites we captured common bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus), a widespread generalist, and recorded breeding and moult over a 12-month period. Simultaneously, we surveyed fruiting tree and arthropod abundance. Our aim was to quantify seasonal patterns in moult and breeding in bulbuls at both sites, and link them to fluctuations in local fruit and arthropod abundance and precipitation. Moult was more seasonal than breeding in both sites, and seasonality of both life cycle events was stronger in Nigeria than Cameroon. The peak timing for moult was 1.5 months earlier in Nigeria than Cameroon. Seasonal variation in abundance of fruiting trees and arthropods was different between sites, as were the associations with breeding and moulting. In Nigeria, we found a positive association between moult and arthropod abundance, and a negative one with fruiting tree abundance. In contrast, in Cameroon moult was associated with higher precipitation, while breeding occurred at times with higher fruit abundance. Our results provide evidence that, even in similar habitats separated by four degrees in latitude, seasonal patterns across three trophic levels are variable. Understanding links between environmental conditions and life cycle events can reveal potential vulnerabilities of tropical species, and guide conservation efforts.

KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS BURUNG DI TAMAN HUTAN RAYA PANCORAN MAS – DEPOK

Species richness of birds was influenced by vegetation structure, canopy cover, and the ability of the land to support bird life. Data on bird species diversity is needed as a basis for management planning in the area. As a Conservation area and life support area, the Pancoran Mas Great Forest Park (Taman Hutan Raya) must be supported by various scientific data and information for management purposes. One is the richness of bird species found in the Tahura Pancoran Mas area. This research aims to identify and inventory bird diversity and determine the composition of their habitat vegetation. This activity will be carried out in June - August 2022. Bird data collection uses the transect route method, while habitat data uses the census method. The birds found consisted of 13 species of birds. The diversity index value is 2.178 (medium) and the evenness index is 0.98 (stable). The species of birds identified are insect and fruit eaters, there is only 1 type that eats fish. There are 86 species of trees, with the dominance of each phase being fruit producers. Trees function as providers of food for birds in the form of fruit, insects, and seeds

Facial blushing and feather fluffing are indicators of emotions in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus).

The study of facial expressions in mammals provided great advances in the identification of their emotions and then in the comprehension of their sentience. So far, this area of research has excluded birds. With a naturalist approach, we analysed facial blushing and feather displays in domestic fowl. Hens were filmed in situations contrasting in emotional valence and arousal level: situations known to indicate calm states (positive valence / low arousal), have rewarding effects (positive valence / high arousal) or induce fear-related behaviour (negative valence / high arousal). Head feather position as well as skin redness of comb, wattles, ear lobes and cheeks varied across these situations. Skin of all four areas was less red in situations with low arousal compared to situations with higher arousal. Furthermore, skin redness of the cheeks and ear lobes also varied depending on the valence of the situation: redness was higher in situations with negative valence compared to situations with positive valence. Feather position also varied with the situations. Feather fluffing was mostly observed in positively valenced situations, except when hens were eating. We conclude that hens have facial displays that reveal their emotions and that blushing is not exclusive to humans. This opens a promising way to explore the emotional lives of birds, which is a critical step when trying to improve poultry welfare.

The ecological traits of birds in the context of future changes of their ranges under the impact of global climate change

Over the next 70 years, the average annual temperature in Europe is projected to increase by 4.1 °C. In Zhytomyr Oblast, this figure is likely to increase by 4.4 °C. The amount of precipitation in Europe is expected to increase by an average of 60.3 mm per year, with Zhytomyr Oblast experiencing an 87.2 mm per year increase in precipitation compared to the current state. As a consequence of the global climate change, the habitat-preference index will decline for 159 species (60.1%), remain virtually unchanged for 20 species (7.6%), and improve for 83 species (31.7%). The primary factors influencing the differentiation of avian ecological niches by climate regimes are thermal gradient, precipitation gradient, and temporal variability of precipitation throughout the year. With regard to the landscape aspect, bird species can be differentiated according to their campophi­lous/dendrophilous characteristics, their water-intensive/rural or urban/rural tendencies. Soil conditions are a determining factor in the landscape aspect of ecological niches. As a consequence of the global climate change, the habitat preference index will increase for species that are more thermophilic and prefer conditions with higher precipitation. According to predictions, over the coming 70 years, the number of campophilous birds will increase as compared to dendrophilous birds as a result of the global warming. Moisture-loving campophiles will be outcompeted by rural species, and rural species will be outcompeted by urban species. In response to the climate change, populations of bird species are shifting their geographical ranges to regions with suitable climatic conditions. The knowledge of the characteristics of ecological niches is the foundation for anticipating alterations in species distributions in response to global climate change in the future. The estimation of niche parameters is contingent upon the model employed to fit the observed data. The beta model is a flexible and versatile tool that enables comparisons to be made between species complexes. The thermal projection of ecological niche was employed to categorise bird species into ecological groups based on the position of the optimum zone and the width of tolerance amplitude. Ecological groups differ in their prospects in the context of global climate change. It can be predicted that the trends of stenotopic megatherms will improve, whereas those of all other bird species will deteriorate. The most pessimistic scenario is expected for stenotopic microtherms. The analysis of the ecological properties of birds in the region identified 10 functional axes, three of which correlate with the sensitivity of bird species to the global climate change. The prediction of impact of landscape factors on species distribution is challenging. However, the structure of the functional axes allows us to identify which ecological niche parameters, determined by landscape conditions, are more sensitive to birds. Functional axes 1 and 6 indicate a positive trend in urban bird life in the context of global climate change. It is anticipated that positive prospects will emerge in connection with the global climate change for birds belonging to the families Anseriformes, Podicipediformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Gaviiformes, and Pelecaniformes. Conversely, negative prospects are expected for forest birds (Columbiformes, Strigiformes, Piciformes) and birds of forest and open spaces (Falconiformes). The functional axis 1 correlated with bird weight. A positive correlation between bird weight and the predicted change in the habitat-preference index over the next 70 years was identified exclusively for species belonging to Charadriiformes. The positive effect of weight on the probability of habitat improvement within Charadriiformes can be attributed to the fact that rurally occurring species within this order are usually heavier than those in natural ecosystems, and those in urban habitats are heavier than those in rural habitats. Functional Axis 4 identifies the group of urban birds whose habitat conditions are likely to deteriorate in the near future due to global warming. This group includes woodpeckers, which can be considered an indicator of the biodiversity of bird communities that are sensitive to the global climate change.

High Prevalence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: A Virus in Vietnam's Live Bird Markets.

In recent years, Vietnam has suffered multiple epizootics of influenza in poultry. From 10 January 2019 to 26 April 2021, we employed a One Health influenza surveillance approach at live bird markets (LBMs) and swine farms in Northern Vietnam. When the COVID-19 pandemic permitted, each month, field teams collected oral secretion samples from poultry and pigs, animal facility bioaerosol and fecal samples, and animal worker nasal washes at 4 LBMs and 5 swine farms across 5 sites. Initially samples were screened with molecular assays followed by culture in embryonated eggs (poultry swabs) or Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (human or swine swabs). Many of the 3493 samples collected had either molecular or culture evidence for influenza A virus, including 314 (37.5%) of the 837 poultry oropharyngeal swabs, 144 (25.1%) of the 574 bioaerosol samples, 438 (34.9%) of the 1257 poultry fecal swab samples, and 16 (1.9%) of the 828 human nasal washes. Culturing poultry samples yielded 454 influenza A isolates, 83 of which were H5, and 70 (84.3%) of these were highly pathogenic. Additionally, a positive human sample had a H9N2 avian-like PB1 gene. In contrast, the prevalence of influenza A in the swine farms was much lower with only 6 (0.4%) of the 1700 total swine farm samples studied, having molecular evidence for influenza A virus. This study suggests that Vietnam's LBMs continue to harbor high prevalences of avian influenza A viruses, including many highly pathogenic H5N6 strains, which will continue to threaten poultry and humans.

Influence of larval and adult diets on the maturation of male and female reproductive organs of the avian vampire fly, Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae)

AbstractThe invasive avian vampire fly, Philornis downsi, Dodge and Aitken (Diptera: Muscidae) is a threat to the long‐term conservation of Darwin's finches and other landbirds in the Galapagos Islands. Adult flies feed on fermented fruit, but their larvae are obligate parasites that feed on, and often cause the mortality of, the developing nestlings. Various techniques for the control of this parasite are currently under study, but the inability to rear flies in captivity has slowed progress. To help understand the reproductive behaviour of P. downsi, in this study, we measured the reproductive organs of male and female flies to determine the age flies mature physiologically, as well as the influence of the larval and adult diets on this process. Both females and males reared from larvae that had developed in the wild on live birds reached physiological maturity at 6 days; in the males, this was associated with increased pigmentation of the testes and the presence of free sperm, and in the females, mature eggs. Females reared in the laboratory on an artificial diet produced mature eggs at 6 days. However, the ovaries of laboratory‐reared females were statistically smaller than those of wild females, suggesting that egg production was affected by larval diet. Physiological maturity was delayed in laboratory‐reared males, taking twice as long. The testes of these males had more unpigmented areas and deformities indicating that the artificial larval diet was insufficient. Enrichment of the adult diet could help compensate for this. The addition of methoprene (M) to the diet was found to have a positive effect on the sexual development of the flies. In females, a diet of sugar + yeast hydrolysate (YH) in a 3:1 ratio combined with M favoured the development of larger ovaries and the production of mature eggs at an earlier age (3 days). In the case of males, a diet with YH increased testis size and M accelerated the growth of testis length even when males were fed only with sugar and without YH. Additional studies are recommended for improving the diets for mass‐rearing this highly harmful fly.

Paradigmatic-Syntagmatic Structure Relation in the Narrative of Animated Music Video “Sabda Alam” as a Campaign Design for Endemic Birds in Indonesia

There are many media campaign models, one of which is an animated music video. In 2021, an animated music video entitled “Sabda Alam” by students of SMK Raden Umar Said (RUS) Kudus won appreciation from national and international filmmakers at the Balinale International Film Festival 2021. As an audio visual-based campaign design, “Sabda Alam” has become one of the creative economic product models produced by vocational high school students. This video presents a narrative about the life of endemic birds in Indonesia that are threatened with extinction. The urgency of the issue of endangered species underlies the importance of this study to analyze the structure of visual narratives in animated music video designs that is able to carry campaign messages in ways that attract attention. This research uses a combination method, namely qualitative and quantitative analysis using a paradigmatic and syntagmatic structural approach in semiotic theory. Qualitatively, examines the visual narrative of animated music videos based on three storyline structures, namely the beginning, middle, and ending storyline. In each part of the storyline, analysis refers to the visualization of visual signs of the subject, event, and setting in the scene. While quantitatively, this study formulates the audience's level of understanding of the campaign message in the animated music video. The results of the analysis of the structure of the visual narrative show that there are paradigmatic associations from the scenes that link the existence of interest as a message clue. While syntagmatically, analysis refers to the existence of a function in the scene about something. The two are interrelated to produce a campaign message about the importance of protecting endemic birds in Indonesia. This study can be an academic reference, both in vocational high schools and universities, in developing inspiring campaign media designs in the creative industry.

Review: Myopathies in broilers: supply chain approach to provide solutions to challenges related to raising fast growing birds

This review is a summary of a Poultry Science Association symposium addressing myopathies in broilers’ breast meat, focusing on the interactions between genetics, nutrition, husbandry, and meat processing. The Pectoralis major myopathies (WB = woody breast; WS = white striping; SM = spaghetti meat) and Pectoralis minor (“feathering”) are described, followed by discussing their prevalence, potential causes, current and future ways to mitigate, as well as detection methods (in live birds and meat) and ways to utilize affected meat. Overall, breast myopathies remain an important focus across the poultry industry and whilst a lot of data and knowledge has been gathered, it is clear that there is still a lot to understand. As there are multiple factors impacting the occurrence of breast myopathies, their reduction relies on a holistic approach. Ongoing balanced breeding strategies by poultry breeders is targeting the longer-term genetic component but comprehending the significant influence from non-genetic factors (short-term solutions such as nutrition) remains a key area of opportunity. Consequently, understanding the physiology and biological needs of the muscle through the life of the bird is critical to reduce the myopathies (e.g., minimizing oxidative stress) and gain more insight into their aetiology.

Chicken intestinal organoids: a novel method to measure the mode of action of feed additives.

There is a rapidly growing interest in how the avian intestine is affected by dietary components and feed additives. The paucity of physiologically relevant models has limited research in this field of poultry gut health and led to an over-reliance on the use of live birds for experiments. The development of complex 3D intestinal organoids or "mini-guts" has created ample opportunities for poultry research in this field. A major advantage of the floating chicken intestinal organoids is the combination of a complex cell system with an easily accessible apical-out orientation grown in a simple culture medium without an extracellular matrix. The objective was to investigate the impact of a commercial proprietary blend of organic acids and essential oils (OA+EO) on the innate immune responses and kinome of chicken intestinal organoids in a Salmonella challenge model. To mimic the in vivo prolonged exposure of the intestine to the product, the intestinal organoids were treated for 2 days with 0.5 or 0.25 mg/mL OA+EO and either uninfected or infected with Salmonella and bacterial load in the organoids was quantified at 3 hours post infection. The bacteria were also treated with OA+EO for 1 day prior to challenge of the organoids to mimic intestinal exposure. The treatment of the organoids with OA+EO resulted in a significant decrease in the bacterial load compared to untreated infected organoids. The expression of 88 innate immune genes was investigated using a high throughput qPCR array, measuring the expression of 88 innate immune genes. Salmonella invasion of the untreated intestinal organoids resulted in a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokine and chemokines as well as genes involved in intracellular signaling. In contrast, when the organoids were treated with OA+EO and challenged with Salmonella, the inflammatory responses were significantly downregulated. The kinome array data suggested decreased phosphorylation elicited by the OA+EO with Salmonella in agreement with the gene expression data sets. This study demonstrates that the in vitro chicken intestinal organoids are a new tool to measure the effect of the feed additives in a bacterial challenge model by measuring innate immune and protein kinases responses.

Comparison of Economic Feasibility of Different Chicken Genotypes Under On-Station Condition

The main objective of this study was to compare the economic feasibility of Cosmopolitan (C), Improved Horro (H), ♂Improved Horro*Cosmopolitan♀ (HC), and ♂Cosmopolitan*Improved Horro♀ (CH) in reference to Indigenous (L) and Koekoek (KK) genotypes. The study employed a completely randomized design, with a total of 180 samples (36/genotype) for egg sales, 54 samples (9/genotype) for live bird sales, and 36 samples (6/genotype) for meat sales. Each genotype's eggs, live birds, and meat sales were triplicate. All data were analyzed using the GLM model in SAS Software. At 8–24weeks, KK had the highest feed intake (AFI8–24) compared to HC, CH, and C; nevertheless, L had the lowest next to H. At 8–52 weeks, KK, CH, and HC hens had the highest feed intake (AFI8–52), whereas L, H and C hens had the lowest. L had the lowest meat yield (MYD) next to H, but the KK had the highest between 8 and 24 weeks followed by the HC, CH, and C. Live genotypes and meats sales showed that KK had the highest costs (TC1) and meat sales (TC2) followed by HC, CH and C, but the lowest for H and L. KK had the lowest total live sale return (TR1), whereas H had the highest followed by L, CH, HC, and C.L had the lowest total meat sale return (TR2), while KK had the highest followed by HC, CH, C, and H.L hen had the lowest total egg sale return (TR3) followed by C, while the highest was achieved by CH hen followed by H, KK and HC.H had the highest live net return (NR1) followed by L, CH, C, and HC, while KK had the lowest. Meat net return (NR2) was the lowest for L and the highest for KK followed by HC, CH, C, and H. H had the highest net return of egg sales (NR3) followed by CH, C, KK, and HC, but L had negatively least. H registered the highest cost-benefit ratio (TR1/TC1vs.TR3/TC3) compared to other genotypes (live chicken and eggs). KK showed the highest cost-benefit ratio (TR2/TC2) followed by HC, CH, C and H, whereas L had the lowest for meat. In conclusion, the net return and cost-benefit ratio for live genotypes, meats and eggs were notably positive and feasible except L had (for egg case) negative net return and cost-benefit ratio.

3D printed orthopedic prostheses for domestic and wild birds—case reports

Regardless of the species, birds are exposed to injuries that lead to amputation of part of the body structure and often euthanasia. Based on the need for new technologies that improve the quality of life of birds with locomotor problems, the present case reports aimed to describe the development of custom-made three-dimensional (3D) prostheses for domestic and wild birds that suffered amputation or malformation of the hind limb. Using the measurements of the bird, a digital model was created for 3D printing using fused deposition modeling technology (FDM) by the Brazilian company 3D Medicine. In this study we report the use of 3D prosthesis for the rehabilitation of three birds with locomotor disorders in Brazil, the animals adapted to the custom-made prosthesis with an improvement in quality of life, better distribution of body weight, locomotion, and landing. This study describes the development of 3D prostheses for birds in Brazil, the first report of this technology for these species, and the pioneering development of socket prostheses for small birds. 3D prostheses offer a high-efficiency solution to improve the quality of life of animals with amputations and malformations of the hind limbs. In addition, 3D technology provides valuable tools for veterinary medicine, developing custom-made models for the most different anatomical demands of animal patients.

Genotypic Characterization and Virulence Features of Bacteria Associated with Chicken Meat in Rivers State, Nigeria

Microbial investigation of live poultry birds were carried out in three different locations (Aluu, Elioparanwo and RSU) in Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas, Rivers State, Nigeria. In this study a total of 125 samples of muscle (25), breast (25), intestine (25), wing (25) and leg (25) of poultry birds were analysed using molecular techniques and evaluating there virulence features. The birds were processed and microbiological analysis was done using standard procedures, molecular identification of the isolates was carried out. The mean total heterotrophic bacterial count of the muscle, breast, intestine, wing and leg in the three different locations ranged from 16.6±2.3 to 25.2±3.5, 1.6±0.2 to 24.8±8.6, 0.11±0.1 to 8.9±2.7, 1.1±0.8 to 10.6±1.8 and 3.4±0.1 to 4.9±0.9 CFU/g, respectively. The mean total coliform counts of the three locations ranged from 2.1±0.3 to 2.1±0.2, 1.8±0.2 to 0.9±0.6, and 0.32±2.5 to 0.32±0.25, 2.6±0.3 to 7.7±0.9 and 2.3±0.4 to 2.9±0.3 CFU/g, respectively. Virulence features of A. caviae (CP072326, OL45594) shows proteolytic activity, catalytic DNase, motility, starch hydrolysis and biofilm formation. A. baumanii (ON606300) showed Lipolytic activity, catalytic, starch hydrolysis, capsule formation and biofilm formation. C. braakii (ON557391) was positive for Motility, catalytic and proteolytic. JQ231164 C. freudii (motile, catalytic, proteolytic and biofilm formation. E. hormaechei (ON834331, ON834332) was positive for motility, starch hydrolysis and biofilm formation. MN733229 M. odoratiminus (Lipolytic, motile, catalytic, DNase, proteolytic, ureolytic, heomolytic, capsule formation and biofilm formation. The study revealed that microbial contamination of Chicken meat could arise from bacteria present in the environment and on birds. These findings, thus underscored the urgent need for improved biosecurity measures, enhanced hygiene practices to safeguard both poultry health and public health. There should therefore be stringent implementation of food safety measure throughout the poultry value chain from farm to table.

Birds after Geertz: The Rise and Fall of Songbirds in Indonesia

Abstract: In the fifty years since Geertz described the “popular obsession” with fighting cocks in Bali, a new obsession with birds has grown to eclipse it: the keeping and training of endemic species of songbirds to enter them into song competitions. Songbird competitions are at the vortex of a “songbird craze” that has spread from Java to much of Indonesia. Propelled by the intense love that Indonesian men harbor for birds with beautiful song, and a mix of multispecies affects and imaginaries stretching across avian natural history, bird aesthetics, multispecies sociality, money politics, divination, and the law, the huge demand for songbirds now threatens dozens of endemic songbird species with extinction. I describe the political-ecological history of this multi-species but also “non-innocent” care that is driving what has been called “the Asian songbird crisis.” I show how Geertz is useful to understand this multispecies love, which environmental concerns about extinction mostly fail to appreciate. At the same time, I also highlight that a Geertzian approach “cages” birds in universes of symbolic meaning that fails to appreciate the ecological, biological, and political lives of birds. In a spirit of anti-anti-Geertzianism that seeks to strike a balance between defending and disavowing Geertz’s insights into why Indonesians care so intensely about birds, the paper describes the cosmo-ecology, cosmo-sociality, cosmo-aesthetics, cosmo-politics, cosmo-legality, and cosmo-economics of songbirds in contemporary Indonesia. Along the way, it also traces what has happened to birds, to Indonesia, and to anthropology since Geertz.

Vaccination of poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza - Part 2. Surveillance and mitigation measures.

Selecting appropriate diagnostic methods that take account of the type of vaccine used is important when implementing a vaccination programme against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). If vaccination is effective, a decreased viral load is expected in the samples used for diagnosis, making molecular methods with high sensitivity the best choice. Although serological methods can be reasonably sensitive, they may produce results that are difficult to interpret. In addition to routine molecular monitoring, it is recommended to conduct viral isolation, genetic sequencing and phenotypic characterisation of any HPAI virus detected in vaccinated flocks to detect escape mutants early. Following emergency vaccination, various surveillance options based on virological testing of dead birds ('bucket sampling') at defined intervals were assessed to be effective for early detection of HPAIV and prove disease freedom in vaccinated populations. For ducks, virological or serological testing of live birds was assessed as an effective strategy. This surveillance could be also applied in the peri-vaccination zone on vaccinated establishments, while maintaining passive surveillance in unvaccinated chicken layers and turkeys, and weekly bucket sampling in unvaccinated ducks. To demonstrate disease freedom with > 99% confidence and to detect HPAI virus sufficiently early following preventive vaccination, monthly virological testing of all dead birds up to 15 per flock, coupled with passive surveillance in both vaccinated and unvaccinated flocks, is recommended. Reducing the sampling intervals increases the sensitivity of early detection up to 100%. To enable the safe movement of vaccinated poultry during emergency vaccination, laboratory examinations in the 72 h prior to the movement can be considered as a risk mitigation measure, in addition to clinical inspection; sampling results from existing surveillance activities carried out in these 72 h could be used. In this Opinion, several schemes are recommended to enable the safe movement of vaccinated poultry following preventive vaccination.

Occurrence of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster in exotic birds.

Avian gastric yeast (Macrorhabdus ornithogaster) is a microorganism that infects aviary birds worldwide, both captive and wild. A total number of 352 birds, belonging to 18 avian species, were examined from 2019 to 2022 for M. ornithogaster, using fecal smears of live birds or cytological samples of the proventriculus taken at necropsy. These cytological samples were taken from birds that died from different causes. Some of the birds exhibited symptoms such as lethargy, regurgitation, weight loss and anorexia. Faecal samples were collected from all the birds and analysed for gastric yeast using a direct smear and Gram-staining method. The microorganism was diagnosed most frequently in budgerigars (55.5%), the African gray parrot (33.3%), and nymphs (34.3%). The prevalence of M. ornithogaster in canaries was 10%. The infection was detected in 31% of the examined birds, which shows that the occurrence of M. ornithogaster in exotic birds is common. No clinical signs were observed in the vast majority of birds that tested positive for gastric yeast.