Poultry Business Research Articles

Experimental Investigation into the Design, Optimization, Toxicity, and Anti-Viral Efficacy of Proliposomes Loaded with Ivermectin Against Infectious Bronchitis Virus Using an Embryonated Chicken Egg Model

Background: Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes a significant illness in birds, making it a leading source of financial loss in the poultry business. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of proliposomes (PLs) containing ivermectin (IVM) against IBV using embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). Methods: A three-factor, two-level (23) full factorial design was employed; carrier/lipid phase ratio (A), stearyl glycyrrhetinate amount (B), and phospholipid type (C) were studied as independent variables, while product yield (PY), entrapment efficiency (EE), particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), and cumulative percentage of drug released after 6 h (Q6h) were characterized. The selected formulations (PL2 and PL6) were subjected to further characterizations, including IVM toxicity and anti-viral activity. Results: The PY% ranged from 88.6 ± 2.19% to 98.8 ± 0.45%, EE% was from 71.8 ± 2.01% to 96.1 ± 0.51%, PS was from 330.1 ± 55.65 nm to 1801.6 ± 45.61 nm, PDI was from 0.205 ± 0.06 to 0.603 ± 0.03, ZP was from −18.2 ± 0.60 mV to −50.1 ± 1.80 mV, and Q6h was from 80.95 ± 1.36% to 88.79 ± 2.03%. IVM-loaded PLs had lower toxicity in ECEs than pure IVM; the mortality rate was substantially reduced in IBV-infected ECEs injected with PL2 rather than pure IVM. As further evidence of IVM’s anti-viral action against IBV, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that the PL2-treated group exhibited further reduction in IBV’s copies in comparison with the pure IVM-treated group. Conclusions: PLs loaded with IVM are an innovative and potentially effective way to inhibit IBV.

Empirical Study on Consumption Pattern of Poultry Meat in Srinagar City

The consumption pattern of chicken has witnessed significant changes over the years, reflecting shifting preferences, dietary habits, and socioeconomic factors. With an increasing emphasis on health and wellness, consumers are opting for chicken as a healthier alternative to red meat. In India, the meat products sector witnessed remarkable growth, with the Gross Value Added (GVA) surpassing INR 3 trillion in 2021. The market is projected to expand further at a CAGR of 9.2%, reaching INR 3133.41 billion by 2028, driven by the escalating demand for protein-rich foods. Notably, the poultry business is thriving in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir, contributing significantly to this growth. This study delves into the consumption patterns of poultry meat among residents of Srinagar city, focusing on Groups- Government Employees, Private Employees, and Self-Employed individuals. Utilizing a stratified sampling technique, the research ensures representation from diverse employment sectors. The survey, encompassing 152 respondents, revealed that majority (67.8%) consumed poultry on weekly basis, with an average monthly household consumption of 7.20 kilograms, translating to a monthly expenditure of Rs 1052.63 on poultry. The study identified broiler chicken as the preferred type . Interestingly, demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and education level demonstrated no significant impact on poultry consumption, while household size, employment nature, number of earners, and income exhibited notable associations. Regarding consumer preferences, internal factor smell and freshness was found to be the most influential while among external factors, affordability had the greatest impact on consumer preference. Overall, internal factors had a higher influence on consumer preference, with a total mean rating of 3.5184, compared to external factors, with a total mean rating of 3.3509. Recognizing substantial impact of internal factors on consumer preference, processing companies should prioritize aligning products with these preferences through market research, innovation, quality assurance, and heightened consumer education.

Financial Re-Engineering and Customer Performance of Poultry Business in Nigeria

The poultry business is the largest private sector employer and contributes 25% to Nigeria’s agricultural gross domestic product. The process of capturing poultry business performance using the balanced scorecard performance pillar of customer performance had not been completely integrated in prior research. Therefore, this study looked at how financial re-engineering affected the customer performance of the chicken industry in Nigeria using proxies for business strategy, business processes and systems, business technology, organizational structure, and organizational culture. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study were 4324 active farmers and support services of the key poultry business stakeholders in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The sample size of 450 was determined using Taro Yamane sample size formula. Strata random sampling technique were used to select the respondents from the geo-political zones. A structured and valid questionnaire, using 5 level Likert-scale, were administered to the respondents with a response rate of 84%. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.87 to 0.95. Descriptive and inferential (multiple regression) analysis were used to analyse the data at 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that all financial re-engineering exerted significance effect on customer performance (Adj.R2 = 0.520 F(5,379) = 82.950, P < 0.05). The study concluded that financial re-engineering has significant effect on customer performance of poultry business in Nigeria and recommended that poultry business owners and management in Nigeria should integrate financial re-engineering into their processes in order to optimize production and attract premium customers with attendant total performance expectations.

Effect of Strategic Management on the Sustainability of Poultry Business in Calabar South, Cross River State

This research examined effect of strategic management on sustainability of poultry enterprises in the Calabar South Local Government Area, in Cross River State. Primary data were gathered from poultry business operators in the area, and descriptive survey research design employed. The population was unknown due to no official records of poultry farmers in the area therefore, snowball sampling technique was adopted by which an identified poultry business owner referred the researcher to the next poultry farmer until a sizeable sample size of 58 was reached. The research instrument was strategic management and sustainability of poultry business questionnaire (SMSPBQ), which was pretested for validity and reliability. The test-retest approach used for reliability of the instrument yielded correlation coefficients of 0.948 in the test and 0.912 in the retest. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypothesis was tested using multiple regression model at 0.05 significance level. The findings indicated that all the research variables were significant implying that goal setting, strategic planning, strategic orientation, changing environmental conditions and marketing strategy were significant for sustainability of poultry business in Calabar South LGA. The implication of the findings was that strategic management practices are essential for the long-term success of poultry business in Calabar South LGA. Therefore, poultry business operators should adopt strategic management practices in the management of poultry business in the area.

LIFE AND NUTRITION OF COMMERCIAL EGG-TYPE CHICKENS

As lucrative and enterprising as a poultry business can be, if adequate knowledge about the birds and proper managerial skills are lacking, it might end up as a disaster. Poultry production accounts for the major part of all meat produced in many developing countries and are of considerable significance to rural as well as national economies. Poultry birds have various nutrient requirement based on the objective for raising the birds, be it for egg production or meat production or both? This write up gives a brief history of egg type chickens, different breeds, their behavioral and production tendencies and an account of how they have become a source of financial income to the farmers who commercializes their production. The paper further explains the nutritional requirement of egg-type chickens and reasons for these requirements. Furthermore, the paper brings out the benefits of supplying the birds with their nutritional requirements as well as the danger in deficiencies of these requirements.

The therapeutic efficacy of neem (Azadirecta indica) leaf extract against coinfection with Chlamydophila psittaci and low pathogenic avian influenza virus H9N2 in broiler chickens

Avian chlamydiosis is a serious avian infection that carries a significant zoonotic danger to the poultry industry. The respiratory co-infections caused by the low pathogenic avian influenza virus H9N2 (LPAIV H9N2) also cause significant financial losses in the poultry industry. The purpose of this study was to examine the pathogenicity of Chlamydophila psittaci, and LPAIV H9N2 individually and in combination in broiler chickens, as well as to determine whether or not aqueous neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract is effective against infections caused by these pathogens. Therefore, 120 broiler cobb chicks were equally divided into 4 groups (30 birds each) with triplicates with 10 birds. Broilers in group 1 (G1) were infected with only C. psittaci, broilers in group 2 (G2) were infected with only LPAIV H9N2, broilers in group 3 (G3) were infected with C. psittaci and LPAIV H9N2, and broilers in group 4 (G4) remained not challenged and non-treated with any therapeutic or preventive treatment (negative control). At 21 d postinfection (dpi), birds in G1, G2, and G3 were divided into 3 subgroups of 10 birds each: subgroup (A) remained infected and untreated (positive control), subgroup (B) infected and received oxytetracycline for 5 consecutive d, and subgroup (C) infected and received 8% aqueous neem leaf extract for 5 consecutive d. The multiplication of C. psittaci in birds in G1, in various tissues was evaluated using Giemsa staining and the data showed that multiplication was much higher in the lung, spleen, and liver from 6 h to 21 dpi, but low in the heart from 8 to 21 dpi. During simultaneous co-infection in G3, the birds developed significant clinical symptoms and postmortem lesions (PM). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect viral shedding from oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs between 2 dpi and 8 dpi, with cycle threshold (CT) values ranging from 22 to 24. In contrast, bacterial shedding began 6 h after infection and continued until 21 dpi, with CT values ranging from 23 to 26. Administration of an aqueous neem leaf extract at an 8% concentration (Group C) resulted in a numerical rise in average body weight across all treatment groups in the third and fourth week, as well as a reduction in LPAIV H9N2 and C. psittaci replication in the respiratory and gut of treated birds compared to those treated with oxytetracycline (Group B). Overall, respiratory co-infections pose a considerable risk to the poultry business, which is a big threat. To control C. psittaci and LPAIV H9N2 in broiler chickens, oral supplementation of 8% aqueous neem leaf extract is recommended. This treatment improves the birds' performance, as evidenced by an increase in their average body weight. In addition, the application of 8% aqueous neem leaf extract lowers C. psittaci replication within tissues and diminishes LPAIV H9N2 shedding.

CRISPR/Cas13a-based genome editing for establishing the detection method of H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus

Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H9N2 has significantly threatened the poultry business in recent years by having become the predominant subtype in flocks of chickens, ducks, and pigeons. In addition, the public health aspects of H9N2 AIV pose a significant threat to humans. Early and rapid diagnosis of H9N2 AIV is therefore of great importance. In this study, a new method for the detection of H9N2 AIV based on fluorescence intensity was successfully established using CRISPR/Cas13a technology. The Cas13a protein was first expressed in a prokaryotic system and purified using nickel ion affinity chromatography, resulting in a high-purity Cas13a protein. The best RPA (recombinase polymerase amplification) primer pairs and crRNA were designed and screened, successfully constructing the detection of H9N2 AIV based on CRISPR/Cas13a technology. Optimal concentration of Cas13a and crRNA was determined to optimize the constructed assay. The sensitivity of the optimized detection system is excellent, with a minimum detection limit of 10° copies/μL and didn't react with other avian susceptible viruses, with excellent specificity. The detection method provides the basis for the field detection of the H9N2 AIV.

Analysis of Poultry Farmers’ Utilization of Agricultural Credit in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

This study analyzed poultry farmers’ utilization of agricultural credit in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The population for the study consists of all the registered poultry farmers in Jos South Local Government Area. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaires and interview schedule and were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study showed that majority (86%) of the poultry farmers’ were men, with a mean age of 42 years. Majorities (89%) were married and had five people on average per home. The study also showed that 51% of the farmers were educated beyond high school with a mean farming experience of 9 years and average stock size of 1658 birds. The responders received an average credit amount of ₦357224 while the average amount utilized for poultry business was ₦290164. About 75% of the farmers utilized the loan given to expand their existing farm business. Gender, household size, farming experience and flock size were the significant determinants of agricultural credit utilization by the poultry farmers. Inadequacy of the credit amount received (58.0) and competing family needs (32%) were the main obstacles to using agricultural credit among the poultry farmers. The study recommended more budgetary allocations and farmer’s friendly policies by financial institutions to enable bigger volumes of disbursements to farmers.

MEMAHAMI EFEKTIVITAS MANAJEMEN KEUANGAN: Analisis Kualitatif Pada Usaha Mie Ayam di Karangjati Kabupaten Semarang

This research effort aims to examine the role of financial management in the context of chicken maize sellers that function as micro and small. Using a qualitative methodology, the study investigates financial management practices adopted by chicken poultry business owners, in addition to their impact on financial well-being and operational sustainability. This analysis covers aspects such as financial strategy, cash flow administration, investment decision-making, spending regulation, and mitigation of financial risks. The results of this research can offer an in-depth insight into the difficulties and tactics faced by chicken meat vendors in dealing with the financial aspects of their micro and small enterprises. The implications of these findings could serve as a basis for formulating a more robust financial management approach for micro and small operating in the field of culinary trade, those involved in the sale of chicken grain.

The awareness and behaviour’s farmer towards highly pathogenic avian influenza prevention in Tra Vinh, Vietnam

Disease outbreaks are partly the direct result of the expansion of poultry flocks. To understand farmers’ behaviours, their awareness of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the study was con ducted. A total of 150 farms in three districts of Tra Vinh Province were included. Purposive sampling was used to choose respondents who have at least 20 poultry heads and a three-year operation. Descrip tive and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze data. The findings indicated that most farm ers (65.3%) were males with an average age of 50 years. Farmers received < $100/month from poultry production. The farm scale of poultry business was less than 100 heads per farmer, and birds were reared traditionally, using by-products, floor feeding, and no automatic watering systems. Selling broil ers dominated, whereas egg sales were uncommon and were generally reserved for domestic use. In addition, farmers were aware of HPAI prevention (>90% were, poor knowledge that was not validat ed). Additionally, farmers' awareness significantly increased by the enhancement in education, training, income, and full-time employment at poultry farms. It can be concluded that the small-scale poultry farming employs traditional practices with a keen awareness of infectious diseases. However, to raise farmers' awareness, strategies should concentrate on profession, education, training, and income.

The effect of EM-4 dosage in fermentation on the quality of soy milk waste (SMW) as an alternative feed ingredient to increase production cost efficiency in the poultry business

The increasing consumption of soy milk, especially in European countries, has an impact on high soy milk production. This causes increasing the waste and it will have an impact on environmental pollution. This research aims to obtain the best dose of EM-4 in fermented soy milk waste (SMW) as an alternative feed to increase production cost efficiency in the poultry business. This research was conducted with laboratory experiments using a completely randomized design (CRD). This research used 5 levels of EM-4 (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5 and 10%) and each treatment was repeated 4 times. Statistical analysis showed that the EM-4 level was very significant (p<0.01) in increasing the quality of texture, moisture content, temperature, sugar and crude protein; reduce crude fiber; and significantly (p<0.05) improved SMW color. The average SMW texture score ranges from 1.00-3.00; moisture content (12.75-15.10%); temperature (27.68-29.33°C); sugar concentration (0.00-5.00%); crude protein (13.66-18.68%), crude fiber (5.07-9.67) and color score (2.50-3.75). It was concluded that fermentation using EM-4 as an inoculum could improve the quality of soy milk waste (SMW) as an alternative feed to increase production cost efficiency in the poultry business. The best quality of SMW was obtained in fermentation with an EM4 level of 7.5%

Modelling and assessing new SME digital business status for visualising virtual economics and sustainability economic indicators: Empirical evidence from poultry business

SMEs are generally recognised as financial contributors to regional economic development. Despite the enormous contributions of digital SMEs to sustainable economic growth and regional development have not yet been reported. This paper assesses and models SME businesses to gain a digital business status and model. These days, visualising economic growth is challenging and powerful to identify business performance and realise sustainable regional development. This research analyses empirical data obtained from a poultry business to form a standard model for implementing a new SME digital business model and status. This standard model is a guideline to measure the other SME businesses and productions. Localisation of the SDGs was analysed using thematic analysis. Mathematical computation is used to visualise virtual economic growth geographically. Hence, our digital business model and status demonstrated business performance, management, and economic growth.

A computational approach to design a multiepitope vaccine against H5N1 virus

Since 1997, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, such as H5N1, have been recognized as a possible pandemic hazard to men and the poultry business. The rapid rate of mutation of H5N1 viruses makes the whole process of designing vaccines extremely challenging. Here, we used an in silico approach to design a multi-epitope vaccine against H5N1 influenza A virus using hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) antigens. B-cell epitopes, Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and Helper T lymphocyte (HTL) were predicted via IEDB, NetMHC-4 and NetMHCII-2.3 respectively. Two adjuvants consisting of Human β-defensin-3 (HβD-3) along with pan HLA DR-binding epitope (PADRE) have been chosen to induce more immune response. Linkers including KK, AAY, HEYGAEALERAG, GPGPGPG and double EAAAK were utilized to link epitopes and adjuvants. This construct encodes a protein having 350 amino acids and 38.46 kDa molecular weight. Antigenicity of ~ 1, the allergenicity of non-allergen, toxicity of negative and solubility of appropriate were confirmed through Vaxigen, AllerTOP, ToxDL and DeepSoluE, respectively. The 3D structure of H5N1 was refined and validated with a Z-Score of − 0.87 and an overall Ramachandran of 99.7%. Docking analysis showed H5N1 could interact with TLR7 (docking score of − 374.08 and by 4 hydrogen bonds) and TLR8 (docking score of − 414.39 and by 3 hydrogen bonds). Molecular dynamics simulations results showed RMSD and RMSF of 0.25 nm and 0.2 for H5N1-TLR7 as well as RMSD and RMSF of 0.45 nm and 0.4 for H5N1-TLR8 complexes, respectively. Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) confirmed stability and continuity of interaction between H5N1-TLR7 with the total binding energy of − 29.97 kJ/mol and H5N1-TLR8 with the total binding energy of − 23.9 kJ/mol. Investigating immune response simulation predicted evidence of the ability to stimulate T and B cells of the immunity system that shows the merits of this H5N1 vaccine proposed candidate for clinical trials.

Poultry feed fortified with moringa leaves and tumeric leaves to produce functional eggs: a review

Human population is growing every day, and their diets often contain far less protein per day than is advised. The poultry business has faced difficulties, particularly in the tropics and in developing countries, due to the shortage and high price of poultry feeds, which make up 60–80 percent of the total cost of poultry products. This reflects both the relatively low cost and the customer’s need for these high-quality and secure items. Eggs are one of the high food’s proteins. One of the advantages of egg protein compared to other animal protein its high digestibility, meaning every gram protein that enters will be digested in the body perfectly. A typical strategy to prevent these negative effects is to increase the intrinsic antioxidant content by the dietary insertion of natural antioxidants, such as feed fortification with a combination of moringa leaves and turmeric leaves. Nowadays, Moringa oleifera has mostly been employed on farm animals to improve their well-being and productivity. Because moringa leaves have well-established health benefits, they are frequently utilized as functional ingredients in chicken feed., the production of eggs that were higher in carotene and lower in cholesterol than the control eggs due to favourable impacts on the health of the hens and the quality of their eggs Turmeric, a plant with several medicinal use, belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is known under the name Curcuma. Numerous research has documented the medicinal benefits of turmeric, notably its antioxidant properties. This review's objective was to analyse the antioxidant activity and cholesterol-lowering effects of functional eggs made with fortified moringa leaves and turmeric.

Entrepreneurial Prospects of Animal Breeding and Genetics: The Perspectives of Undergraduates in Two Nigerian Universities

The study explored the entrepreneurial prospects of animal breeding and genetics from the viewpoints of undergraduates at two Nigerian institutions. The study looked at how undergraduates perceive the potential for entrepreneurship in the fields of animal breeding and genetics; it determined whether they intend to pursue entrepreneurship in any of the identified fields of the discipline; and examined the relevance of the curriculum to the entrepreneurship knowledge needed to succeed in the fields; and identified the difficulties that these undergraduates might face in their entrepreneurial intention endeavors. The study adopted a qualitative methodology to explore the entrepreneurial prospects of animal breeding and genetics from the viewpoints of undergraduates at two Nigerian institutions. 30 undergraduate students from two universities were taken to represent the sample for the study. An open-ended survey created on Google form was used for the collection of data. The link of the Google form was sent to the students’ platform in the Department of Animal Genetics in the two selected universities. The findings demonstrated that Animal Breeding and Genetics undergraduate students perceive the potential for entrepreneurship in animal breeding and genetics to be numerous including setting up animal clinic, animal breeding laboratory, establishing a poultry business, setting up a consultancy outlet on animal breeding and genetics, among others. Majority of the undergraduate students indicate their intention to pursue entrepreneurship in animal breeding and genetics instead of looking for the white-collar jobs. Furthermore, the current curriculum in Animal Breeding and Genetics in the two universities are very relevant to the fields and the knowledge they have gathered so far is enough to succeed if taking into entrepreneurship after the completion of the bachelor’s degree programme. The challenges envisaged by the respondents include lack of initial capital to setting up entrepreneurship business in Animal Breeding and Genetics, cooperation, understanding and support from parents and family members, government policy including registration of the business, among others. Data and information gathered through the administration of the open-ended survey was analysed thematically following the objectives of the study. The study drew it conclusion based on the findings from the study and also makes appropriate and relevant recommendations.

Investigation of aspergillosis outbreak in young ducklings: Unraveling the role of hatcheries in Aspergillus fumigatus transmission.

Aspergillosis is a disease that affects several species of birds and causes substantial losses in the poultry business. The purpose of the investigation was to identify the pathogen responsible for a respiratory outbreak among juvenile ducklings. An epidemic of Aspergillosis infected a total of 800 Muscovy ducks that were being reared in El-Beheira Governorate. Tissue samples were obtained to isolate suspected fungi from diseased birds and the hatchery environment. In addition, identification and molecular characterization were performed on the obtained fungal isolates. Affected birds displayed acute respiratory manifestations such as difficulty breathing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, and a mortality rate of up to 28.1%. Postmortem examination revealed bronchitis, tracheitis, congested lungs, air sacculitis, severe multifocal granulomatous pneumonia, a congested, enlarged liver, and a congested kidney with nephritis. Mycological examination revealed seven Aspergillus (A.) spp. isolates from ducklings and six from hatcheries. Isolate colonial morphology and microscopical examination were as follows: A. fumigatus, A. niger, Syncephalastrum racemosum, and four untypable isolates. These isolates were further identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) gene was detected. Four representative isolates were submitted for sequencing and further phylogenetic analysis. The source of duckling infection might be linked to the hatchery environment due to the observed similarity of isolates from both affected birds and the hatchery, as evidenced by phylogenetic analysis. Our findings demonstrated the significance of appropriate hatchery control in preventing infection in young ducklings. Furthermore, the use of molecular identification techniques would be helpful for tracing the source of infection and rapid diagnosis of Aspergillus in the field.

Determinants of saving and investment strategy among poultry farmers in kwara state

Many farmers in Nigeria have not been able to finance their businesses due to poor savings, and for any meaningful investment to be obtained, a sound saving mobilization has to be pursued. Thus, this study analyzed the determinants of saving and investment strategies among poultry farmers in Kwara state Nigeria. Using the list of 350 registered poultry farmers in the state, 175 farmers were randomly selected for the study. The analytical tools employed are descriptive statistics, multiple linear and binary logistics regressions. The pattern of savings showed that more than 99% of the respondents make savings with commercial banks. The result further indicated that the average value of investment of the respondents stood at ₦718,312.7 per cycle. The pattern of investment indicated that poultry business took the highest percentage of 45.28. The mul5tiple regression analysis revealed that the coefficient of education, poultry size, number of mortalities, savings and amount of loan obtained were statistically significant factors influencing investment in poultry farming. On the other hand, poultry farming experience, farm income, amount of nvestment and loan obtained are the major determinants of savings. The major constraints hindering savings among poultry farmers are distance to savings institution, lack of confidence in banking sector and poor savings habit. On the other hand, outbreak of pest and disease, poor market structure, insufficient capital are the major bottlenecks hindering investments in the area. The study recognized the need for mass education and enlightenment campaign for mobilizing savings and intimating the farmers on investment opportunities. Policies and straegies aimed at providing timely formal and informal loans to poultry farmers should be vigorously pursued.

Halal Critical Point Assessment for Chicken Broiler Upstream Operations

Halal critical point (HCP) in the poultry business focuses has been only emphasized at the slaughter process and downstream production of chicken meat products. However, there is no extensive investigation on the implementation of HCPs at the upstream stage of broiler supply before it is transferred to halal slaughterhouses. This research aims to assess the halal critical point (HCP) involved in commercial broiler farming operations that might be halal critical, and therefore needs halal risk control. There are seven phase of operation in the broiler process, includes brooding, growth, feed withdrawal, medicine withdrawal, catching procedure, logistics, and slaughterhouse. The qualitative research approach using document analysis and semi-structured interview was used to gather more in-depth information and the halal critical controls were proposed. The findings of this research could assist the industry in maintaining the halal integrity of poultry-based products. Thus, enhance the halal authorities responsible for drafting halal development policy in the improvement of the halal management system along the broiler supply chain.

Surveillance on avian influenza and new castle disease in rift valley water body areas of Ethiopia

HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) is one of the most serious public-health threats to arise from the animal reservoir. The diseases can kill up to 90% of a flock and generate epidemics that can spread quickly, wreaking havoc on the poultry business and putting severe trade restrictions in place. New Castle disease (NCD) is also a persistent threat to the poultry business and is a limiting illness for poultry farmers around the world. It is one of the most serious diseases in Ethiopia, with high mortality and huge economic losses. For this and the like purposes risk-based surveillance was conducted in selected sites in Oromia, Amhara, and Southern Nation Nationality Peoples Region (SNNPR) rift valley water body areas and 5-10 km radius districts from January to April 2019. The goal was to assess the presence or absence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and New Castle Disease (NCD) in migratory birds and domestic chicken in water body areas, as well as to assess the level of community awareness in the study areas. Total 6866 samples were collected, including 819 sera samples and 1836 tracheal and cloacal swab samples from backyard domestic chickens within a 5-10 km radius of rift valley lakes, and 4211 fecal droplet samples from wild/migratory birds. Avian influenza serum samples tested by HA/HI and Fecal droplet samples tested by RT PCR came back negative. The results for NDV swab 1336 samples tested by RT PCR were 182 samples positive, and 819 samples tested by HI were 72 samples positive. In the public health aspect, a questionnaire survey was completed by 180 members of the respective community. As a result, the respondents have a solid understanding of the migratory birds that visit their area.

Spirulina-based poultry feed: opportunities, challenges and future prospects

There is a concerted effort to find newer sources of feed additives that are not only economically viable but superior in nutritional composition and less dependent on agricultural crop sources that are primarily intended for human use. Furthermore, as a commercial enterprise, it is essential for the development of the poultry sector to maximize earnings in a sustainable manner. Meat and egg prices are highly volatile, being determined mostly by market forces at the expense of feed. Many problems in the poultry business could be addressed by exploring the potential of microalgae as an animal feed ingredient. Typically, the protein content of the substituted feed component should be high, have a well-balanced amino acid profile, be easily digested and not pose any nutritional risks to the bird. Green technology is introduced into the poultry sector value chain through the use of microalgae-based feed supplements which provide sustainability and carbon-capturing potential during the algae production phase. Microalgae such as Spirulina (Arthrospira sp.) can be used as a feed resource for chickens because of their high nutritional value. Animals fed with a diet consisting of spirulina showed improved growth and development, resistance to diseases, improved fertility and enhanced aesthetic and nutritional quality of their products. However, there is a significant gap in our understanding of how animals respond to Spirulina in the diet. Thus, this study examines the history and present state of knowledge concerning the use of Spirulina as a poultry feed additive, as well as the industry's current and future opportunities, challenges and prospects.