The PoultrySite Digital - June 2011 - Issue 6 by 5m Publishing

Global Poultry Trends

Progress in Sustainability Success stories from China

Egg output trends in Africa and Oceania

Regional News, Company News, Events in Your Area Plus much, much more..!

2010

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POULTRY Digital Expert Knowledge at your Fingertips June 2011 - Issue 6

Commercial Assessment of Poultry Welfare There are advantages and disadvantages to the current methods of assessing the welfare of commercial poultry, according to Professor Marian Dawkins but new technology is poised to make a significant contribution to our understanding of this field. Jackie Linden, senior editor of ThePoultrySite, reports. The assessment of poultry welfare on a commercial scale is necessary for both research and on a regular basis for auditing, said Professor Marian Stamp Dawkins of the University of Oxford, an internationally renowned expert in the field of animal welfare. She was delivering the Gordon Memorial lecture at the annual meeting of the UK Branch of the World's Poultry Science Association at the University of Nottingham in April. A small-scale assessment would offer more complete control over the conditions, she said, but what is true for a flock of 50 birds may not hold true for a commercial flock of 50,000. She identified what she described as the 'package problem', explaining that advice differs depending

on the source so that that from animal welfare groups is different from the 'green' movement, for example. Add to this the vital consideration of food safety, and Professor Dawkins said that welfare is more likely to be taken seriously by all stakeholders if it is included in a package of concerns. Animal welfare is not the public's only concern, she said, adding that the FAO report 'Livestock's Long Shadow' does not mention animal welfare at all and neither does the UK government's report on future food security, 'Food 2030'. Consumers make their purchasing decisions based on factors other than animal welfare. In a survey Continued on page 4...

June 2011 - Issue 6

Expert Knowledge at your Fingertips

Commercial Assessment of Poultry Welfare

Challenges Facing the Global Poultry Industry to 2020

Rising Incomes are Key to Increased Egg Demand

There are advantages and disadvantages to the current methods of assessing the welfare of commercial poultry, according to Professor Marian Dawkins.

This feature explores the consequences of animal welfare regulations, food safety, house environment and a number of issues relating to nutrition.

Starting the final series of exclusive articles on the global egg industry, respected industry watcher, Terry Evans, turns his attention to Africa and Oceania.

Editorial

Strength in Numbers Achieves Sustainability

A word from the Editor

Farms in China are demonstrating that community-supported schemes provide a more sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture, according to Model Farm Project.

Regional News

Events

Jackie Linden

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

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The latest news from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania

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Editorial Welcome to ThePoultrySite Digital Issue 6

Improving the Welfare of the World’s Poultry The welfare of food-producing animals is moving up the list of priorities in most developed countries for consumers, retailers and law-makers and this is the main focus of this latest issue of ThePoultrySite Digital, issue 6. We have a report on the commercial assessment of poultry welfare by Professor Marian Dawkins of the University of Oxford. A world-renowned expert on animal behaviour and welfare, she gave the Gordon Memorial Lecture at this year’s annual meeting of the UK branch of the WPSA. She described different methods of assessing poultry welfare, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. Combining a camera and image analysis system is showing promise for the assessment of broiler leg health on-farm, Professor Dawkins explained.

output in Africa and Oceania, two regions that include a huge range in terms of economic development and gross domestic product. There are difficulties in obtaining reliable data from these countries in terms of egg production and human population, yet the humble egg offers undoubtedly offers one of the best options to provide a growing population with high-quality protein cheaply. Last but by no means least, the challenges facing the world’s poultry industry between now and 2020 are summed up by researchers from Brazil in a paper presented at this year’s Australian Poultry Science Symposium. Animal welfare and its consequences were also covered in their paper. Jackie Linden ThePoultrysite.com Senior Editor

Bird welfare is also at the core of a distance learning scheme for those employed in the processing sector. Available in several different languages, the course can be tailored to an individual’s needs and is proving to be a better way to explain the message of respecting animal wellbeing than conventional training methods. One of the elements of sustainability includes the consideration of animal welfare, and three case histories from China show the benefits that can come to a whole community by providing simple and integrated farming systems. Continuing our series on Global Poultry Trends, attention is turned to the future trends in egg

Feature Article Commercial Assessment of Poultry Welfare Continued from Frontpage...

carried out last year, animal welfare was the number 4 priority and although 40 per cent of consumers bought at least some organic food on the grounds if its perceived health benefits, animal welfare was a lower priority for them. Also important, Professor Dawkins highlighted, is the so-called 'sustainability package', and whether animal welfare impacts it at all, positively or negatively. She gave the example of a study of commercial free-range broilers, assessed in terms of animal welfare, economics, environmental impact and taste in the Poultry in the Natural Environment (PINE) project. The hens were kept in movable 600-bird houses. Campylobacter were isolated from this birds and study of the clonal complexes revealed that the strains present in the chickens were the same as those in humans, while those in wild birds were different. Commercial-scale assessments address both the scaling and package problems as well as providing information on costings and practicalities, Professor Dawkins said. DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMERCIAL TRIAL Professor Dawkins explained that there are four main types of commercial trials: natural experiments (epidemiology); research (manipulation); trials conducted by companies and the analysis of commercial data already collected.

For this epidemiological study, factors were investigated that correlate with feather damage. There was a great deal of natural variation in terms of

the amount of feather damage and the age at which the critical threshold was reached. Factors identified as important included feed intake, carbon dioxide (air quality) and sound level, said Professor Dawkins. Birds that remained on the same farm for rearing and laying had better quality feathers for longer, although the change of location would have been confounded with other changes of feeder type, personnel etc. Natural experiments have the potential disadvantages of missing 'treatments', absence of a control and correlation rather than causation although this type of trial is relatively easy to manage, according to Professor Dawkins.

Natural experiments Research trials Taking feather-pecking in layers as an example, she said that the behaviour is a serious welfare problem and it is also an economic issue. It is important to prevent feather-pecking as it is difficult to stop later on and control measures (beak trimming) may also have welfare implications. 4

As an example of a research trial using manipulation, Professor Dawkins gave the example of an experiment investigating the effects of stocking density on broiler welfare, which was carried out by 11 major companies in Denmark and the UK.

Each company used each stocking density in two separate trials. From the results, it was clear that each company had very different average mortality levels. There were large effects of company in terms of overall mortality and for each cause but stocking density turned out not to be among the most important factors. Variations in air and litter quality accounted for much of the difference between the individual companies. The disadvantages of research trials, said Professor Dawkins, are that they are more difficult to carry out, involve a certain degree of interference and may involve ethical issues. On the other hand, they give better control over the variables and crosscompany comparisons can give a fuller picture.

fessor Dawkins, because the Act allows the animals to be observed but a licence is required for anything else. This presents challenges for company-run trials and especially in some particularly sensitive areas such as feed restriction of broiler breeders. Some of the challenges of this type of trial can be overcome, she said, by building up a good co-operation between the parties, respecting both company confidentiality and the need for academic publications, a good trial design and statistics and finally, clarification of the legal position.

Company research Yet more difficulties can arise from commercial trials, said Professor Dawkins. Firstly, she mentioned possible conflicts between the commercial and research aims, and second, auditing is required to verify company data. Third, there may be problems with the experimental design and finally, there may be problems getting a Home Office licence, which is needed for almost all welfare research in the UK. Professor Dawkins cited the example of a trial of this type investigating the welfare needs of commercial ducks and how to provide a water source for ducks without compromising hygiene. Four treatments were used, including nipple drinkers and showers, and these had to be licensed under the 1986 Act because they are not normally provided for ducks. The ducks showed a preference for the showers. This highlights a need to clarify the law, said Pro-

Commercial level assessment A data bank for poultry welfare could be achieved by pooling production and welfare data, much of which is already collected in the UK and the EU, for example, said Professor Dawkins. New technology would be needed, for example, the automated assessment of welfare information already collected and/or done on a smaller scale, in order to build up a full picture of the situation. Currently, outcomes measured for broiler welfare include mortality, hock condition and foot pad dermatitis (after slaughter). There is also some data on gait score in growing broilers although this 5

Feature Article Commercial Assessment of Poultry Welfare work tends to be labour-intensive, somewhat subjective, presents a biosecurity risk and presents only a snap-shot of the situation at the time of assessment. NEW TECHNOLOGY SHOWS PROMISE New technology for welfare research needs to be developed, which is inexpensive, easy to use and fully automated, said Professor Dawkins, who then described a camera system using optical flow analysis to compare patterns of intensity in successive images. It does not track individual birds, she explained, but it does reflect the speed and uniformity of the individuals within the flock. A broiler flock with a high proportion of lame birds will appear to have poor uniformity of movement and so a graph of the flows will be skewed and/or have a long 'tail' when plotted on a distribution graph. Professor Dawkins explained that this measure of optical flow is highly correlated with gait score: a higher percentage of lame birds will be shown as low mean flow, together with high level of skewing. Furthermore, the wireless system used is very tough, inexpensive and gives continuous readings throughout the flock's life. In summary, Professor Dawkins stressed the need for commercial level assessment of poultry welfare as part of a package of information on poultry production for producers, retailers and consumers.The new technology of camera and image analysis has much to contribute towards this assessment, she said. FURTHER READING For more information on the new technology mentioned in this article, click here. 6

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Feature Article

Strength in Numbers Achieves Sustainability Farms in China are demonstrating that community-supported schemes provide a more sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture, according to Model Farm Project. With issues of food security, climate change and successfully harvests, thus sharing the ‘growing depleting natural resources fast taking centre risk’ with the farmer. For example, if the strawstage, the call for sustainable food production has berry crop is unsuccessful, customers receive never been louder. Community-supported agriculfewer strawberries but if, say, the potato crop has ture (CSA) could provide a viable solution. Emergbeen good, they will receive more potatoes ining in the 1960s, CSA was a stead. response to concerns regard"The call for sustainable ing the urbanisation of agriculfood production has never The Model Farm Projtural land and use of ect (MFP) is a partnerbeen louder" pesticides, herbicides and anship between the World tibiotics in farming. Focusing Society for the Protecon supporting communities and enhancing levels tion of Animals (WSPA) and the Food Animal Iniof consumer-producer trust, it constitutes a move tiative (FAI) and promotes CSA schemes within away from industrial agriculture and towards a reits international network of ‘viable, humane and connection with food. sustainable model farms’. It does so due to the numerous ‘sustainability benefits’ of CSA. In essence, CSA schemes consist of a community of individuals who pledge to support a farming opCOMMUNITY AGRICULTURE IN PRACTICE eration by paying for produce in advance. Growers and consumers provide mutual support, sharing Three CSA schemes within the MFP network; all the risks and benefits of small-scale, local, food are based in Beijing, China, and focus on antibiotic production. and pesticide-free, low-input production, with a reliance on nutrient recycling. Vegetables and fruit are the most common crops, typically grown on small, independent, family farms. Little Donkey Farm, Haidian District, Beijing Dairy, eggs and meat products may also be offered. Food is delivered or collected, usually weekly, but rather than buying products at predetermined prices, CSA members only receive what the farm 8

CSA KEY BENEFITS Benefit

CSA Approach

Economic stability

By providing a guaranteed market through prepaid annual sales, consumers

Environmental sustainability

The majority of CSA schemes practice ecological, organic or biodynamic agriculture, avoiding pesticides and inorganic fertilisers. This benefits the environment, as does the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions due to transportation.

Animal welfare

With CSA, there is often the belief that healthy animals make for healthy eating. Thus animals have access to outdoors or space to perform natural behaviours. At Little Donkey Farm, for example (see below), there is no tail docking or tooth clipping and a deep litter pig system provides pigs with room to root, forage and create wallows. The litter is also used as compost.

Provenance and produce quality

As produce only travels short distances to reach the consumer, it is therefore fresh and of known and trusted origin.

Strong consumerproducer relationships

CSA members are often actively involved in the growing process, encouraged through newsletters and recipe sharing, farm visits and food collection.

Adaptability

CSA schemes can be tailored to meet the needs of the producers and consumers in question, in terms of how production is supported and produce is delivered. For example, payment may be made annually for set weekly deliveries or produce can be delivered until this 'credit' runs out, much like 'pay-as-you-go' mobile phone schemes.

This 15-hectare farm is operated by the Haidian Government and representatives of Renmin University of China and run by the Green Ground Eco-Tech Centre. The CSA programme launched in 2009 and approximately 250 families buy vegetables on a weekly basis, with eggs and pork also available. There are also â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;self-farmingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; customers

who grow produce on rented 30-square metre plots. Annual per-plot fees include seeds, compost, tools and growing advice. As well as receiving fresh, organic, vegetables, customers can support and protect local agriculture and farmland. For more information on Little Donkey Farm, click here. 9

Feature Article Strength in Numbers Achieves Sustainability Green Cow Farm, Xibaixinzhuang, Shunyi Beijing

they can get fresh produce with the best flavour and can also visit my farm.” For more information on Bejing God’s Grace Garden Plantation, click here.

The CSA scheme at Lejen Chen and Shan En’s sixhectare farm has run for approximately seven years. Twenty members receive boxes of vegetables on a weekly basis. Eggs and milk are also available and produce is used in the nearby restaurant, Mrs Shanen’s. The farm is home to 17 pigs, eight cows, 16 geese and more than 200 chickens. Members help with weeding, farm work and events. According to Mrs Chen, this provides a connection with nature and the animals, fostering a greater appreciation for food. “Members now see the ‘cultural’ aspect of agriculture,” she says. For more information on Green Cow Farm, click here. Bejing God’s Grace Garden Plantation, Fangshan District, Beijing

Therese Rose Zhang’s 10-hectare farm is certified organic and a member of IFOAM. The CSA scheme began approximately 10 years ago. Mrs Zhang has 10 cows, 12 goats, 400 laying hens, 200 ducks and 50 geese. She sells vegetables, eggs and milk to up to 50 regular customers on a weekly basis. Each customer pays in advance, drawing down against this credit. “I like the fact that I can exchange my produce directly with clients,” says Mrs Zhang. “In return,

MFP AND CSA: THE FUTURE The MFP works with individual farms to improve animal welfare and production efficiency by providing advice regarding vaccination, nutrition, housing and through tailored animal welfare training. The approach is farm-focused and very much a two-way learning process. The MFP also provides an independent assessment of the farms, which helps improve consumer trust. Through its work, the MFP has identified the potential and need for continued growth of CSA, both within China, with its largely agriculture-reliant population, fast-growing middle class and increasing livestock consumption, and elsewhere. The MFP is now concentrating on building a network of farmers in order to promote humane and sustainable farming among consumers and within the agricultural community.

FAI works to help the food and farming sectors to develop a 3e business model. Integrating environmental, economic and ethical strategies strengthens investment decisions and drives sustainable progress.

Feature Article

Global Poultry Trends Rising Incomes are Key to Increased Egg Demand Starting the final series of exclusive articles on the global egg industry, respected industry watcher, Terry Evans, turns his attention to Africa and Oceania. Rising incomes are key to raising egg production and demand in most of the countries of these continents.

Global Poultry Trends is a series of articles exclusively prepared by industry watcher, Terry Evans, for ThePoultrySite

In keeping with the other regions that have been analysed in the past few months, relatively few countries account for the bulk of egg production in both Africa and Oceania.

tle change in the annual output for most of these countries during the past four years. Forecasting is challenging with such a lack of reliable data, and in some instances, contradictory views on the state of the industry.

In Africa, five countries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; account for 1.8 million tonnes or almost 70 per cent of the total for the whole of Africa estimated at nearly 2.6 million tonnes in 2010. Production is even more concentrated in Oceania where Australia and New Zealand account for about 95 per cent of the regional total of some 335,000 tonnes. Africa's output represents four per cent of the world total of some 64.5 million tonnes, while Oceania accounts for about 0.5 per cent. AFRICA Although only representing a small percentage of global production, Africa is the most difficult region to evaluate, as it is almost impossible to obtain data on production levels in the five countries that dominate this region.This is evident from the accompanying FAO data (table 1), which shows lit12

Global Poultry Trends 2010

Nigeria serves as an example here as the FAO data on layers and egg output has not changed since 2007, having risen from 400,000 tonnes to almost 553,000 tonnes between 2000 and 2007. But, on the basis of reports, it looks as though production in Nigeria has increased by some 50 per cent over the decade towards the 600,000 tonnes a year level in 2010. With consumption estimated at 3.5kg per person per year and the human population set to expand from around 160 million to 176 million between now and 2015, there would appear to be good scope for egg industry growth. However, it has to be appreciated that eggs are a luxury for a large section of the population and it is only if real incomes improve generally, and specifically for this group, that this will be reflected in a growth in egg uptake per person. Second largest egg producer in the region is South Africa. In 2009 production contracted by four to five per cent but the latest reports point to a recovery in 2010. Again it must be stressed that this

Table 1. Hen egg production in Africa ('000 tonnes) Country Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Rep. Chad Comoros Congo Cote d'Ivoire Dem. Rep. Congo Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jam. Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Reunion Rwanda Sao Tome/Principe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Sudan Swaziland Togo Tunisia Uganda United Rep. Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe AFRICA WORLD

2000 101.0 4.3 7.2 3.2 39.4 3.0 12.6 1.9 1.4 3.5 0.8 1.2 33.0 7.0 176.7 0.2 1.7 28.6 2.0 0.7 21.7 12.2 1.0 60.8 1.5 4.2 60.0 14.9 19.5 11.9 4.9 12.5 235.0 14.0 1.6 7.8 400.0 5.8 2.2 0.4 17.6 2.2 8.0 2.5 318.0 45.0 1.1 6.3 82.0 20.0 33.8 44.0 22.0

2004 180.0 5.0 9.4 4.1 43.8 3.0 13.4 1.8 1.5 3.7 0.8 1.2 37.2 6.9 240.0 0.2 2.0 36.6 2.0 0.8 25.2 17.3 1.1 60.0 1.6 4.2 60.0 14.9 20.0 9.9 5.3 14.0 232.0 14.6 2.9 8.2 476.0 5.9 2.6 0.5 24.3 1.4 8.9 2.5 356.7 47.0 1.2 6.4 82.0 20.0 35.1 46.4 25.2

2005 175.0 5.2 9.4 4.2 45.1 3.1 13.4 1.8 1.5 3.7 0.8 1.2 28.7 6.9 240.0 0.2 2.0 35.0 2.0 0.8 25.2 18.6 1.1 57.9 1.6 4.2 60.0 14.9 20.2 10.1 5.3 13.0 232.0 14.6 3.0 8.3 500.4 6.0 2.7 0.5 27.0 1.2 8.9 2.7 365.5 47.0 1.3 6.4 84.0 20.0 35.1 46.8 25.9

2006 178.5 4.3 10.1 4.2 46.3 3.1 13.4 1.8 1.5 3.8 0.8 1.2 27.9 6.9 240.0 0.2 2.0 37.5 2.0 0.8 25.7 19.7 1.2 66.7 1.5 4.5 60.0 14.9 19.5 10.4 5.4 12.2 244.0 14.0 3.1 7.5 526.4 6.1 2.5 0.5 28.0 0.9 8.9 2.5 414.0 47.0 1.1 7.3 83.0 20.0 35.1 46.4 26.9

2007 195.7 4.3 10.9 4.2 47.5 3.0 13.7 2.0 1.5 3.9 0.8 1.2 25.0 6.9 292.6 0.2 2.0 37.5 2.0 0.8 26.4 20.9 1.3 68.6 1.6 4.8 60.0 14.9 19.8 10.7 5.4 11.7 244.0 14.3 3.2 7.6 552.8 6.2 2.6 0.5 31.5 1.0 9.0 2.5 438.0 47.0 1.1 8.1 87.0 21.0 35.1 46.9 27.6

2008 184.4 4.3 13.8 4.5 48.7 1.5 13.7 2.0 1.5 3.9 0.8 1.2 30.4 6.9 294.8 0.2 2.0 37.5 2.0 0.9 26.4 22.2 1.3 69.0 1.6 4.8 60.0 14.9 19.8 10.7 5.4 11.0 244.0 14.3 3.2 7.6 552.8 6.5 2.8 0.5 36.0 0.6 9.0 2.5 473.0 47.0 1.1 8.7 89.0 21.0 35.1 46.9 28.3

2009P 185.0 13.8 4.5 1.5 13.7 2.0 1.5 4.0 0.8 1.2 290.0 2.0 2.0 0.9 26.4 22.2 1.3 70.0 1.7 5.0 60.0 10.7 5.4 10.0 244.0 3.2 8.0 2.8 0.5 9.0 450.0 -

2010F 185.0 4.3 13.9 4.5 49.0 1.5 13.8 2.0 1.5 4.1 0.8 1.2 35.0 7.0 290.0 0.2 2.0 37.5 2.0 0.9 26.5 22.5 1.3 71.0 1.7 5.2 60.0 15.0 20.0 10.8 5.4 10.0 245.0 14.3 3.2 8.2 575.0 6.6 2.9 0.5 40.0 0.8 9.1 2.5 470.0 47.0 1.1 9.5 91.0 21.0 35.1 46.9 29.0

1,923.3 51,113.0

2,226.3 55,375.5

2,250.8 56,614.6

2,352.8 57,866.1

2,488.5 59,575.3

2,531.7 61,202.4

2,505.4 62,426.4

2,564.3 64,500.0

Countries producing less than 50 tonnes have been excluded, P, Preliminary; F, 5M forecast; - no figure; * not FAO, Source: FAO

Global Poultry Trends 2010 Rising Incomes are Key to Increased Egg Demand Table 2. Egg production ranking in Africa in 2010 (forecast; '000 tonnes) Nigeria South Africa Egypt Morocco Algeria Tunisia Kenya Libyan Arab Jam. Burkina Faso Sudan Zambia Senegal Ethiopia United Rep. Tanzania Cote d'Ivoire Zimbabwe Ghana Guinea Uganda Malawi Madagascar Mozambique Benin Cameroon Mali Mauritius Togo Sierra Leone Niger Dem. Rep. Congo Reunion Mauritania Liberia Botswana Angola Chad Namibia Rwanda Somalia Cape Verde Eritrea Gabon Lesotho Burundi Central African Rep. Guinea-Bissau Congo Swaziland Gambia Comoros Seychelles Sao Tome/Principe Equatorial Guinea F, forecast * not based on FAO data

575.0 470.0 290.0 245.0 185.0 91.0 71.0 60.0 49.0 47.0 46.9 40.0 37.5 35.1 35.0 29.0 26.5 22.5 21.0 20.0 15.0 14.3 13.9 13.8 10.8 10.0 9.5 9.1 8.2 7.0 6.6 5.4 5.2 4.5 4.3 4.1 3.2 2.9 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.2

includes all eggs, including those from hatchery supply flocks. The volume of table eggs consumed this year will likely be approaching 400,000 tonnes. Third in the production league (table 2) is Egypt. This country was hit badly by H5N1 avian influenza in 2006, the disease having since become endemic in the country. Some producers consider that efforts to prevent the spread of the disease could make it difficult for them to stay in business. Producers are also facing the difficulties associated with rising feed costs.To try and counter this, Egypt is looking to invest in land in neighbouring countries focussing its attention on establishing land lease deals in Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. Tourism is important to the development of Egyptian food markets hence anything which impacts negatively on the tourist trade will damage the demand for eggs. However, observers on the ground are confident that the commercial egg sector will show continued growth to 2014, resulting from increased demand from a rise in the human population and a sizeable expansion in GDP per person. Morocco would appear to be fourth largest producer though the data for recent years are FAO estimates and not official figures. The final country in the 'Big Five' is Algeria but official data is again lacking. It is clear that the developments of the egg industry in these five countries will determine the rate of growth for Africa as a whole for the foreseeable future. OCEANIA Egg production in Oceania, according to the FAO, expanded by just 31,500 tonnes or about 16 per cent since 2000 coming close to 231,000 tonnes in 2009.

Figure 1. Egg production in selected African countries

3,000

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;000

tonnes

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500 0

Algeria

Egypt

Nigeria

Morocco 2000

2005

South Africa

AFRICA

2010F

Table 3. Hen egg production in Oceania ('000 tonnes) Country Australia Fiji French Polynesia Guam Kiribati Micronesia New Caledonia New Zealand Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Isl. Tonga Vanuatu

OCEANIA WORLD

2000

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009P

2010F

143.0 3.2 1.4 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.6 43.0 4.5 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3

132.0 2.7 2.2 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.8 47.9 4.8 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4

138.6 3.8 2.4 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.9 50.9 5.0 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4

171.3 3.5 2.4 0.7 0.3 0.2 2.0 51.0 5.0 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4

161.7 3.4 2.4 0.8 0.3 0.2 2.0 46.6 5.0 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.4

160.0 3.4 2.4 0.8 0.3 0.2 2.0 46.6 5.0 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3

159.3 5.0 0.2 5.0 0.5 0.3 0.3

256.0* 5.0 2.4 0.8 0.3 0.2 2.0 62.0* 5.0 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3

199.4 51,113.0

194.2 55,375.5

205.2 56,614.6

237.8 57,866.1

224.0 59,575.3

222.2 61,202.4

230.9 62,426.4

335.2 64,500.0

Countries producing less than 50 tonnes have been excluded, P, Preliminary; F, 5M forecast; - no figure; * not FAO, Source: FAO

Global Poultry Trends 2010 Rising Incomes are Key to Increased Egg Demand There appears to be a large discrepancy between the figures put out by the FAO and those released by egg industry sources in Australia. Thus, while the FAO estimates for production in Australia in 2007, 2008 and 2009 were around 160,000 tonnes, according to the Australian Egg Corporation Ltd (AECL), output in 2007 was around 220,000 tonnes while the AECL figure for 2009 stands at 256,000 tonnes. In 2008, the FAO recorded the Australian national flock to be around 14 million, which compared with the AECL figure of 14.2 million but the FAO figure for eggs produced stands at 2,807 million (which equates to an output of some 160,000 tonnes at an average egg weight of 57g), but this puts the average yield at just over 200 eggs per bird. In contrast, the AECL calculates that some 3841 million eggs were produced (or 238,000 tonnes) at close to 271 eggs per bird. Indeed. The AECL 2009 output figure corresponds to some 283 eggs per bird, which is in line with what could be expected.

Table 4. Egg production ranking in Oceania in 2010 (forecast; '000 tonnes) Australia New Zealand Fiji Papua New Guinea French Polynesia New Caledonia Guam Solomon Isl. Samoa Kiribati Tonga Vanuatu Micronesia

256.0* 62.0* 5.0 5.0 2.4 2.0 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2

F forecast * Not based on FAO data

A similar picture emerges when looking at data for New Zealand where, according to the FAO annual output of all hen eggs is around 47,000 to 50,000 tonnes, while in the view of the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand Inc, production of table eggs is around 62,000 tonnes a year, which is the figure used for 2010 in table 1.

The quantity of eggs converted into egg products in both Australia and New Zealand is considered to be around 15 per cent of total production, while the total processed throughout Oceania is unlikely to represent much more than 0.5 per cent of global egg product output estimated at 4.8 million tonnes as shell egg equivalent.

On the assumption that the revised figures for Australia and New Zealand are realistic, then the total for Oceania will have risen to around 335,000 tonnes or some 100,000 tonnes more than that shown by the FAO statistics and as a result, the estimate for global output rises to 64.5 million tonnes.As it seems likely that the FAO data for previous years are understated, the apparent increase in volume and percentage growth could be overstated.

You can view other articles in our series Global Poultry Trends by clicking here.

Challenges Facing the Global Poultry Industry to 2020 Consequences of animal welfare regulations, food safety, house environment and a number of issues relating to nutrition and feeding were identified as future challenges to the poultry industry by A.M. Penz Jr and D.G. Bruno of Provimi America Latina in Brazil in a presentation at this year's Australian Poultry Science Symposium. The increasing demand for animal products resulting from demographic factors, technical and scientific developments, diminishing resources, and increasing consumer demands for more food safety, lower environmental impact, and better animal welfare conditions will determine the development of the poultry industry during the next decade. In this scenario, the traceability of poultry products will be essential. This requires the careful selection of input suppliers, with the focus on product quality rather than on price. Monitoring flock health status will also be the key for the safe expansion of the poultry industry. As to the rearing environment, heat production by broilers should be taken into account, and its utilisation considered as an alternative energy source. In the field of nutrition and food technology, the most significant aspects will be the use of enzymes, the evaluation of non-nutritional factors, which may maximise ingredient utilisation by the birds (feed processing and particle size), the utilisation of new synthetic amino acids on an industrial scale, the application of new feed formulation

concepts to improve dietary energy utilisation, the use of nutraceuticals to modulate intestinal microbiota and the immune system as an alternative to therapeutics, and the use of special pre-starter diets. Feedstuffs should no longer be considered as commodities. Qualitative and nutritional criteria should be used for their purchase and segregation in feed mills. Technologies allowing the immediate analysis of feedstuffs, such as NIRS, will be required. Genetic engineering will become an important tool to improve feedstuff nutritional quality and, perhaps, bird performance. In this sophisticated context, growth modelling and data-analysis using computer systems will allow more robust decision-making, which will be the key for the sustainability and success of the poultry industry. INTRODUCTION In the last few years, agricultural production has experienced significant development due to an increasing demand for food by the world's popula17

Feature Article Challenges Facing the Global Poultry Industry to 2020 tion, as well as in average income and urbanisation. The United Nations (UN) estimates that there will be eight billion people on the planet by 2030, whose income will be, on average, 32 per cent higher than in 2006. In addition, meat consumption/person per year will increase by 26 per cent in the same period, and this increase in consumption will be chicken meat, in particular (FAO, 2010; OECD-FAO, 2010). However, these are not the only factors that will influence the evolution of the poultry industry in this coming decade.Technical factors and the evolution of science and technology, the availability of natural resources and water (which are becoming increasingly limited), and the maintenance of trade barriers must also be considered. "Among the

recycling and disposal on the environment (van der Werf and PrudĂŞncio da Silva, 2010). The objective of this article is to discuss some of the challenges that the poultry industry will have to face during this coming decade and the production, nutrition, and technology trends that will allow it to overcome these challenges. ANIMAL WELFARE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

The welfare of animal production can be accessed from two perspectives: through anthropomorphism, where consumers put themselves in the place of livestock and make conclusions about their welfare often based in challenges subjective ideas, or through animal performance. Animals for the next decade are The price of raw materials that are reared in poor welto create standardised for feed production will also fare conditions are not able to parameters for poultry express their maximum geinfluence poultry production in the next few years. Acwelfare assessment and netic potential. Consumer cording to OECD-FAO concerns relative to poultry robust systems to moni(2010) estimates, feedstuff welfare are becoming increastor those parameters." prices will be higher than the ingly relevant in the meat marhistorical average between ket. 2010 and 2019, but lower than the peaks experienced in 2007 and 2008. There is a positive correlation between the strictness of welfare legislation and income of the citiFinally, consumer demands will have a strong inzens of a country and consequently their fluence as these demands are becoming increaspurchasing power (van Horne and Achteringly concerned with animal welfare issues, food bosch,2008). These concerns are evident, particusafety, and environmental impact relative to poullarly in the European Union, and examples are try production. New methods to assess the ecoDirectives 1999/74/EC and 2007/43/EG, which esnomic and environmental impact of poultry tablished the ban on conventional cages for comproduction have been developed. An example is mercial egg production after 2012, and maximum the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), an ISO-stanbroiler density, respectively. dardized procedure that proposes to evaluate the Among the challenges for the next decade are to impact of poultry production during the entire create standardised parameters for poultry welflock life cycle, from raw material purchase, waste fare assessment and robust systems to monitor production and treatment, to production surplus those parameters. 18

This is the aim of the Welfare Quality project developed in the European Union, which proposes to assess animal welfare focusing on animals, and not on environmental or management factors, and using objective indicators that can be easily measured in the field, according to four principles: good feeding, good housing, good health status and adequate behaviour (Arnould and Butterworth, 2010). FOOD SAFETY Food contamination by pathogens is the main concern of consumers (IFC, 2010). Supplying this demand for safer food requires transparency and commitment by all the parties involved in the process of food production, including governments. Each step of the food supply chain will be increasingly controlled, with emphasis on risk monitoring through preventive and corrective actions (analysis and monitoring critical control points). This requires careful selection of input suppliers, focusing on product quality and not price, which requires evaluation and maintenance plans, understanding the process and the materials used by suppliers, and technical knowledge on physical, chemical, and microbiological risks. In the feed mills during the next decades, automation will increase, with lower exposure of workers to operational risks, and more emphasis will be placed on critical control points, which will be monitored just in time, and on real-time traceability. Andree and Schwaegele (2010), who participated in the development of a project to analyse existing or potential vulnerable points in food production chains, said the loss of information or of traceability is the main risk factor for the entrance of contaminants into the process of animal feed production. Giving proper attention to these new requirements is of great importance for the poultry industry, particularly considering the exporting

countries, which must comply with the increasing demands of the importers. Health monitoring of the flocks is and will become increasingly important, not only to prevent foodborne disease but also to avoid performance losses and to ensure bird welfare. Compliance with health programmes (cleaning and disinfection, vaccination, pest control, disease monitoring), immediate notification and record of abnormal situations, health monitoring programmes and measures for infection control and eradication must be put in place, particularly in a scenario where the use of antimicrobial compounds is increasingly restricted. ENVIRONMENT Thermal comfort inside poultry facilities is essential, as unfavourable environmental conditions significantly affect production. Both excessive cold and heat may cause production losses and impair bird health and welfare and, in extreme situations, increase bird morbidity and/or mortality.The evolution of technology and of the knowledge on thermoregulation physiology and behaviour will reduce mistakes in poultry house design and in bird management that can cause thermal discomfort. The development of information technology allows new techniques in the study of broiler thermal comfort, such as the use of real-time image analysis using video cameras, image-acquisition hardware, and image-analysing software programmes to acquire, process and evaluate information (Moura et al., 2010). Interestingly, inside broiler houses, 80 per cent of the heat is not produced by lamps or brooding systems but by the birds themselves. Proper evaluation of this heat production may allow creating mechanisms for the utilization of this energy, which could be translated in significant cost savings. 19

Feature Article Challenges Facing the Global Poultry Industry to 2020 NUTRIENT UTILISATION AND FEED FORMULATION

dried grain solubles (DDGS), for example in the US, should be developed.

Out of the trends currently observed and that will define how nutritionists are going to formulate diets in the next 10 years is the increasing cost of raw materials and the pressures to reduce feed costs and nutrient environmental excretion will be emphasised.

In this context, enzymes will be increasingly used, as they improve ingredient digestibility and nutrient absorption (Cowan et al., 1996), as well as reduce the detrimental effects of anti-nutritional factors, thereby allowing higher flexibility in the use of feedstuffs as well as reducing feed costs (Ferket, 2009) and pollutant excretion in animal waste (Penz-Jr and Bruno, 2010).

The biofuel industry will cause diets to be formulated more accurately, avoiding large safety margins. The biofuel industry will compete for raw materials used for animal feeding, and will require the utilisation of its byproducts. In this case, knowledge of the analysis of the nutritional content and digestibility of these materials, which are not yet standardised, as in the case of distillers

"Health monitoring of the flocks is and will become increasingly important."

Higher emphasis will also be placed on anti-nutritional factors that change energy and nutrient availability for broilers, using particle size and diet processing to maximise nutrient supply. Better pelleting, expansion and extrusion processes, among others, will be developed, in

terms of physical aspects (temperature, moisture, pressure, time) and their effects on nutrient utilisation (Ferket, 2009). Skinner-Noblet et al. (2005) observed that pelleting improves effective dietary energy value by changing the behaviour of broilers, which includes higher feed intake of birds fed pelleted feed. Methodologies to evaluate the impact of heat stress during corn (MĂŠtayer et al., 2009) and soybean meal drying (Helmbrecht et al., 2010) on their nutritional quality are currently available. Corn particle size and density may also result in different nutrient digestibility, and should be better evaluated. Hetland et al. (2002) observed higher starch digestibility in broilers fed whole wheat grain as compared to those fed ground wheat. Parsons et al (2006) concluded that higher particle sizes promote a linear increase in the feed efficiency of broilers. Figueiredo et al. (2009) observed that corn density is directly related to its metabolisable energy content. As to protein nutrition, new synthetic amino acids, produced at competitive prices, will become commercially available. In addition to lowering feed costs, this will also reduce nitrogen excretion in the environment (Nahm, 2002). Research on the next limiting amino acids after threonine will be extremely important, and their requirements will have to be evaluated not only relative to lysine, but also as to minimum intake and impact of their use under practical broiler production conditions (Kidd, 2009). For instance, the use of valine for broilers, whose beneficial effects were demonstrated by Corzo et al. (2009), is becoming a reality. Energy is usually the most expensive nutritional component of poultry diets. Therefore, a higher efficiency in its utilisation will result in lower feed cost. One of the strategies to be considered is for-

mulating diets not only takes into account a feedstuffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s metabolisable energy but also its net energy defined as metabolisable energy minus energy loss due to heat increment, that is, the energy that is effectively used for production. This strategy may allow reducing feed cost and nutrient excretion (Mohen et al., 2005) and it is currently being discussed in Australia by the Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (Clements, 2010). The utilisation of trace minerals will be determined by a better understanding of their interaction with the immune system, as well as on the quality of their sources, preventing final product contamination with residues. In addition, further research on the differences between organic and inorganic sources is also needed.

Feature Article Challenges Facing the Global Poultry Industry to 2020 INTERACTION BETWEEN NUTRITION AND INTESTINAL HEALTH Use of additives: an economic, political or technical issue?

(Geyra et al., 2001; Viola et al., 2009). It was demonstrated that access to energy and nutrients immediately after hatching accelerates intestinal development and consequently, broiler growth (Uni et al 1998).

The restrictions on the use of antimicrobials as In this context, the supply of specific nutrients and growth promoters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; due to consumer demands the establishment of specific management pracand to the recent understanding of the interaction tices dedicated to this phase will become increasbetween nutrients and intestinal health, intestinal ingly important, and pre-starter diets will be microbiota and the immune system â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will require extensively supplied. nutritionists to change their paradigms. It seems that there will be an increasing need to concenAnother technology that is becoming more poptrate efforts in the modulation of the intestinal miular is in-ovo nutrition, when nutrients are incrobiota and immune jected into the amniotic fluid system through the use of of embryos during the last "To accommodate ingre- stage of incubation, stimulatnutraceutics, instead of controlling enteric diseases with dient differences, the seg- ing the development and therapeutic compounds regation concept must be maturation of the intestinal (Ferket, 2009). Moreover, villi before hatch. implemented in feed complying with the recommills." mendations related to flock Foye et al (2007) observed health management and that chicks submitted to infarm biosecurity will become increasing critical. ovo feeding had higher concentrations of digestive enzymes. Kornasio et al. (2010) also found higher Today, there is a wide range of nutraceuticals availbreast muscle yield in broilers fed in-ovo caused able in the market, including acidifiers, prebiotics, by the influence of nutrients on muscle satellite probiotics, essential oils, enzymes, osmoregulators, cells. nucleotides, zinc oxide, etc. FEED MILL Perinatal nutrition Regarding feed mill structure, in the near future, Due to genetic improvement and a reduction in there are at least two challenges for the animal market age, the perinatal period of broilers corprotein industry. responds to 50 per cent of their life cycle. Therefore, nutritional management during this stage, The first one is related to the regulation issues imaimed at ensuring the proper supply of water and plemented by different countries, looking forward feed to the birds, will become increasing critical. to product traceability and production sustainabilStudies have shown the consequences of feed ity. In 2005, the EU nations established the regulaand/or water restriction during the first hours of tory 183/2005/CE that was implemented at the chickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, resulting in intestinal villi damage beginning of 2006.The main objective was related 22

to animal feed hygiene, to guarantee animal and human feed and food safety. Regulations like these stimulated different countries, especially the meat exporter ones, to start implementing good manufacturing practices (GMP) locally in their feed mills. All these new regulations require investments in feed mill structures and good database information to preserve traceability of the final product that the consumers would have available. The second one is the understanding of the segregation of ingredients concept. So far, corn and soybean are mainly considered by their traders as commodities.The final nutrient composition does not always make an important difference in negotiations. In the future, this oversimplification will not be acceptable, once feedstuffs will continue representing at least 70 per cent of the final cost of a business that more and more will be tied by cost efficiency. So, ingredient nutrient variations caused by plant cultivar, processing, harvest year, nutritional density, presence of mycotoxins, etc., will need to be more seriously considered if the main purpose of the business will be reaching the precision nutrition concept. As an example, Zhou et al. (2010) observed that amylose-to-amylopectin ratio is one of the main factors that determines true metabolisable energy of corn, and can be used to predict available energy for poultry. Li et al. (2000), through genetic engineering, were able to improve the nutritional quality of corn, developing low-phytate varieties. Neoh and Ng (2006), studying soybean meal coming from Malaysia, USA and Argentina, were able to identify differences in apparent metabolisable energy of the samples that influenced the performance of the broilers. Therefore, it is clear that at least these ingredients can no longer be considered as commodities, and

their qualitative and quantitative aspects must be taken into account when someone is making purchasing decisions. To accommodate ingredient differences, the segregation concept must be implemented in feed mills.This will demand investments in silos to store different batches, according to nutritional characteristics of the ingredients. For corn and other cereals, besides investment in silos, feed mills will need to implement cleaning structures and gravity separators should become a common practice to separate them based on their densities. However, the implementation of ingredient segregation is limited to wet chemistry techniques, which are usually expensive and time-consuming.This limitation may be overcome by the use of NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy), that allows immediate analysis of energy as well as amino acid composition and digestibility of each feedstuff batch (Penz-Jr et al., 2009). So, the design of new feed mills will have to consider the use of NIRS, providing more storage, dosing, and milling flexibility, which will allow savings that are not feasible today due to the lack of this physical infrastructure. USE OF AVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION The progress in information technology will allow the application of growth models and several related mathematical equations, which will estimate animal growth according to rearing conditions.The ultimate objective will be optimising the rearing process as a function of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. Feed intake and broiler growth prediction models under different scenarios, such as those developed by Emmans, Fisher and Gous, will allow better definition of strategies that will favour production efficiency.

Feature Article Challenges Facing the Global Poultry Industry to 2020 Gous (2005) also mentioned that the idea of abandoning the conventional formulation proposal and adopting a dynamic proposal, based on several factors in addition to those considered in least-cost formulations, is not new. In addition to growth models, simulation models could also be used to evaluate risks and to optimize financial return using data mining (correlations, classifications, associations, neural networks, and clustering) and data analysis by bioinformatics, meta-analysis, and holo-analysis techniques (Ferket, 2009). Geographic information systems (GIS) are already used for production zoning and viewing, allowing correlation of performance parameters with the geographical location of poultry houses in terms of altitude, latitude and longitude. These tools are becoming increasingly important to make decisions as to which product should be used to maximise the economic performance of birds under different rearing conditions. However, the efficient use of these tools depends on the availability of detailed and accurate data, with a complete house inventory. There are even more futuristic tools that control animal performance in real time. The IMS technique (Integrated Management Systems) aims at providing a completely on-line and real-time system, with no human interference, except when a problem is detected. This technique is operated by a visual image analysis (VIA) system that, using video cameras placed inside the poultry house, allows the continuous collection of images. By measuring bird area and length, bird body weight and carcass yield may be determined with an accuracy similar to that of conventional tables (Penz-Jr et al 2009).This technique is already used for pigs in Europe, and prediction measures for broilers are still under study because the feathers make the true measure of 24

meat surface area difficult (Green and Parsons 2006). In scientific innovation, a new field of knowledge nutrigenomics must be considered. Nutrigenomics studies the molecular relationships between nutrition and gene response, and aims at understanding how gene expression is induced by nutrients or feeding regimes, with consequent influence on performance parameters. To view the references used in this article, click here.

Effective Training Helps Improve Poultry Welfare Effective training has always been important to the livestock industry but recent advancements now require businesses to go beyond due-diligence to a more formalised training approach, according to Paul Cook and Andrew Raybould of RL Consulting. Originally, training was a process where basic knowledge and information was passed on to new recruits simply by working alongside more experienced staff, this meant bad practices were very often passed on to new staff. Over last decade, the industry has advanced in many ways, providing ever-changing opportunities and challenges. Examples include: the development and utilisation of new technologies, such as computerised ventilation and feeding systems, allowing farms to fine-tune their husbandry systems the emerging understanding and need to address environmental concerns both locally and globally our responsibilities to ensure the safety of our food products the now well-established need to produce our animals to the highest standards of animal welfare the management of our employees to ensure their safety and ethical working practices, and

the customer and consumer becoming more interested in the welfare of the animals. These factors have increased the need for effective training to keep teams abreast of the latest issues and practices. During this period, an additional new requirement has emerged, in that customers now require training to be more formalised. Training has become a cornerstone of many of the assurance and accreditation inspections that are in place within the industry and increasingly through retailersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own schemes and standards. GOING BEYOND DUE-DILIGENCE TRAINING The incorporation of training into these assurance standards has driven a requirement for a more formal approach. Many schemes demand that formal training is delivered on an annual basis and that there are records maintained to demonstrate compliance. There is a danger that training systems become more focused on scheme compliance and lose focus on the core purpose, which should be the continued personal development of the individual. 25

Feature Article Effective Training Helps Improve Poultry Welfare In other words, there is a danger that completing the training record can become the primary concern, as opposed to ensuring delivery of a course with appropriate and fresh content, via an effective delivery method. DELIVERING THE MOST EFFECTIVE TRAINING POSSIBLE There are several considerations to be made when deciding on your training format: What is the skill/knowledge level of the candidates? Is the course up-to-date and relevant? Does the training promote interaction from the candidates? Can the effectiveness of the course be assessed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is the candidates understanding of the subject verified/tested? What impact does training a group of candidates have on the on the day-to-day running of the business? Are there potential language barriers? Does the training empower the individual and give them a sense of responsibility? The course should be structured to bring together people with similar training requirements and abilities. In the modern business, there are many situations where training is given to candidates from more than one nationality, which brings about problems of language barriers and the expense of using translators. This situation is now being addressed by online training courses that are multi-lingual and allow the candidate to take the training in their preferred language.These on26

line training courses benefit companies operating internationally, or at multiple sites, to allow them to deliver consistent training throughout all their facilities and to all the relevant staff. It is important that the training ensures the candidate appreciates the importance of their role within the business.The training must give the candidate some skills or knowledge to allow them to perform their role in a positive and beneficial manner. It is vital that welfare training is up to date and in line with current legislation. The often repetitive nature of moving or handling large numbers of animals can desensitise staff to the welfare of the individual animals, so regular

training focusing on this aspect is crucial. Staff working with live animals may not be aware of their impact on the quality of the finished product, especially when they are disconnected from the food processing areas of the business. Very often training staff can be as simple as putting a group of people in a room and showing them the same DVD or presentation year after year, this very quickly loses its impact and is of no benefit to the staff attending the training.There are always plenty of emerging issues and best practices which can make courses relevant, interesting and up to date. How the training is presented can have an enormous affect on level of knowledge retained by the staff. In a large group of people it is easy for an individual or even the whole group to lose focus and derive little benefit from the training. Specific oneto-one training is a better approach, but this is obviously far more expensive and time consuming than training a group of people. There are several research papers which suggest that candidates learn more and retain more information when the training is interactive. This ensures that the candidate is focused and engaged with the subject matter. This can be achieved in various ways, from practical assessment to the use of the latest online multimedia technology.

Whichever method of training is selected it is essential that the business recognises its effectiveness and ability to transfer knowledge and skills to staff. An easy and effective way of achieving this is through simple multiple-choice type questions which provide a benchmark to ensure that the training has been understood by the candidate. There are on-line training courses which use interactive training technology along with multiple choice question, and upon successful completion presents a certificate of merit to the candidate for successful completion of the course. This certificate provides the business with the evidence to show the individual staff member is trained and also satisfies the widely accepted need to have due diligence training associated with animal welfare. There are several training associations and bodies available within the industry, those of note include Bristol University, which can provide training and consultancy for specific issues on slaughter. Animal Welfare Training which provides the Animal Welfare Officer training suited to middle and senior management. Fundamentals training is an online course offering entry level welfare training from RL Consulting. For more information, click here.

The logistics of group training can be difficult to schedule during normal working hours. Often very small groups must be trained, which may lead to inefficiency. Alternatively training may need to be carried out before or after shifts when staff may be less receptive. Online welfare training courses can provide a simple alternative, as it allows individual staff to complete a course at a time and place which is convenient to them and the business.

Regional News Americas

Beak Trimming is Best for Long-Term Hen Welfare CANADA - Despite discussion to ban beak trimming of layer chicks to prevent feather pecking later, Professor Classen of the University of Saskatchewan reports research that the practice is beneficial in terms of performance and there are no significant welfare implications when it is carried out correctly. Beak trimming is a practice long employed in the egg production industry, according to Today's Farmer. Over the years, moderate hot-blade beak trimming (50 per cent) has been found to be a very effective method of controlling the incidence of feather picking and cannibalism in laying flocks. Yet a number of animal rights groups have targeted the practice, calling it bird mutilation. Their protest is partly responsible for a number of countries within the European Union banning the practice. As a result, Professor Hank Classen of the Uni-

WVPA Congress Approaches MEXICO - XVII Congress of The World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) will take place in Cancun on 14 to 18 August, and the organisers are welcoming registrations. This year is the World Year of the Veterinarian.Veterinary medicine as a profession began 250 years ago with the founding of the first school of Veterinary Medicine in Lyon, France. For more information on the XVII Congress of the WVPA or to register, click here. 28

University of Saskatchewan has led a research project over the past years, which has examined all aspects of the practice. It was hoped that the addition of scientific evidence to the debate over beak trimming would result in logical policy decisions by both governments and industry stakeholders. In a report, released at the London Poultry Show, Professor Classen's research showed that hotblade beak trimming administered at 0, 10 and 35 days of age resulted in improved feed efficiency and hen feathering during the production period for all three trimming ages. In a report, released at the London Poultry Show, Professor Classen's research showed that hotblade beak trimming... Read More...

Researchers Study Sustainable Layer Housing US - The University of California, Davis, and Michigan State University have received $6 million from the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply to support research on the sustainability of laying hen housing in the United States. The first study of its kind, the three-year 'CSES Laying Hen Housing Research Project' will explore the interactions and trade-offs among... Read More...

Europe

Centre of Excellence for Poultry Research Formed AUSTRIA & HUNGARY - An â&#x201A;Ź820,000-project has been set to improve the competitiveness of the Austrian and Hungarian poultry industries, focusing especially on nutrition, health and food safety. A collaborative agreement governing a three-year cooperation was signed on 24 May 2011 between the Vetmeduni Vienna and the Georgikon Faculty of the University of Pannonia. The collaboration does not just relate to common research and consultation activities but also aims at helping poultry producers and improving food safety. The partners in the project, which is entitled 'Centre of Excellence' for Poultry, include the Vetmeduni Vienna and the agricultural faculty of the University of Pannonia.The initiative is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and its objective is to establish a knowledge centre to foster the activities of businesses in the border region, to improve their efficiency and to ensure the production of safe poultry products.

recognised experience in the fields of poultry nutrition and poultry health, on the basis of which they intend to work together in research and education, focusing on issues that emerge in practice. The results of the joint work will be incorporated into the two institution' teaching programmes and consulting services. During the course of the project, the partners aim to organise joint research programmes, seminars and workshops and to release information materials. To maintain contact with the key players in industry, an interactive web site has been launched [click here]. The opening ceremony on 24 May was attended by the rectors of the two institutions. The ceremony included lectures on the situation of the Austrian and Hungarian poultry industries and the challenges they face. Afterwards, the agreement was signed by the two universities.

The two partner institutions have internationally

Presidency Urges Compromise over Cloned Foods

Vets Concerned about Welfare

EU - The Hungarian Presidency hopes for the Council and the Parliament to agree on the new draft regulation on foods from cloned animals, Minister of State for EU Affairs, the Presidency declared

At the 30th International Veterinary Congress, the country's federal association of the state veterinarians (Bundesverband der beamteten TierĂ¤rtze; BBT) called for greater consideration of health and welfare in animal breeding programmes.

The Presidency statement, read at the European Parliamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenary debate on 10 May, called the failure of the previous regulation...

The veterinarians in the public service expressed great concern over the developments in livestock breeding.