The PoultrySite Digital - August 2012 - Issue 20 by 5m Publishing

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Poultry Lighting: LED Bulbs Provide Energy Savings and Durability Tips on the best use of LED lighting for poultry from Professor Susan Watkins, Extension Poultry Specialist at the University of Arkansas. Lighting significantly impacts poultry production. Too little lighting during brooding or too much during grow–out can result in lost performance and profits. Solid side wall, tunnel–ventilated poultry barns are more energy efficient to operate but do require artificial lighting sources.

The expense of lighting a poultry barn with 60–watt incandescent bulbs can be as much as 30 to 40 per cent of the electrical operating cost (US$100 to $250 per flock or barn, depending on barn size and flock age to market).Therefore, lighting improvements should not only be beneficial for the birds but also energy efficient to minimize production costs. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are commonly used as replacements for incandescent lighting. This feature is continued on page 4

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Chicken Output to Exceed 40MT in 2013 in the Americas - P7

EDITORIAL

If chicken meat production maintains the expected growth this year and next, total output for the region will exceed 40 million tonnes in 2013, according to industry watcher, Terry Evans, in his latest analysis of the global poultry industry.

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Using Sustainable Materials and Alternative Energy Forms - P12 Farmers instinctively want to do the right thing sustainably. After all, farmers maintain, protect and enhance a large part of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape by the very nature of what they do. Small-holders and large scale producers alike carry a unique responsibility to manage the countryside, writes Louise Barnett for EcoSheet in the UK.

Get Ready for Hot Weather - P17 There have been unusual weather patterns around the world in recent months, including abnormally high temperatures and low rainfall across much of the US. Jim Donald, Jess Campbell, Dennis Brothers and Gene Simpson of the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn University offer tips on keeping broiler house ventilation systems working effectively.

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Editorial This month’s edition of ThePoultrySite Digital has the theme ‘Housing & Equipment’, focusing particularly on lighting and ventilation. Sometimes overlooked and taken for granted, these are vital for the health, wealth and productivity of our birds, not to mention on overall costs and environmental impact.

Housing & Equipment Jackie Linden ThePoultrySite.com Senior Editor jackie.linden@5mpublishing.com

Lighting is the topic covered in the lead feature, in which a University of Arkansas poultry professor explains how LED bulbs offer energy savings as well as durability. The lighting cost for a poultry house with 60–watt incandescent bulbs could account for up to 40 per cent of all electricity usage and US$100 to $250 per flock or barn. Optimising the lighting system by replacing these old bulbs can lead to significant savings in the long term. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, summer has finally started and temperatures are soaring. Turning to the topic of ventilation for the second ‘Housing & Equipment’ article, researchers from the National Poultry Technology Center (NPTC) at Auburn University offer many practical tips on keeping broiler house ventilation systems working effectively. Improving the sustainability of poultry housing is the focus of a third article of this month’s theme. One high-profile farmer has opted for a material made entirely from unwanted waste plastic for housing her new poultry flock. As well as offering good insulation properties, she says the new board is more durable that plywood, easier to clean, lasts much longer and can be recycled at the end of its life. Last but by no means least, a new chapter in our series, Global Poultry Trends, starts this month with seasoned industry watcher,Terry Evans, examining the prospects for the chicken meat industry in the Americas, a region that accounts for well over 40 per cent of global production. Jackie Linden

CONTACT Editorial Jackie Linden jackie.linden@5mpublishing.com Tel: +44 (0) 1234 818180

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Poultry Lighting: LED Bulbs Provide Energy Savings and Durability feature continued from page 1

While this source can save as much as 60 per cent of the lighting cost compared to incandescent bulbs, industry wide, CFL bulbs in poultry barns experience high failure rates due to bulb sensitivity to power fluctuations. A second common problem with CFL bulbs is dirt accumulation on the spirals which reduces bulb lumen light output, plus the bulbs naturally lose light output over time (lamp lumen depreciation, LLD). The bulbs also contain mercury, which is considered an environmental risk factor, so they require special disposal procedures. Cold cathode compact fluorescent bulbs (CCFL) are a second energy–efficient light source, but they are also sensitive to power fluctuations, contain mercury and lose light output over time.

Is there any information available regarding bulb efficiency and long–term lumen output or lamp lumen depreciation (LLD)? Do the bulbs have an Energy Star rating from third party testing? If applying for rebate programmes for LEDs, it is important to confirm if the Energy Star rating is required or if only certain types of lamps qualify.

LED, light–emitting diodes, have entered the market for poultry production in the last three years. LED technology involves light emitting from electrons, and this light source is now being used in broiler, turkey, layer and breeder production facilities with success. When brood lighting is adequate, bird performance with LED bulbs is proving to be as good as, if not better than, performance under traditional light sources. The LEDs are 80 to 85 per cent more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and the well–designed technologies have had no failures and are maintaining 70 to 80 per cent of their light output two years after installation in broiler barns. Since this technology is a growing field with new bulbs hitting the market at a rapid rate, poultry producers interested in LEDs should do their homework before purchasing.

2,700-3,000K – Warm Kelvin, orange–red colour, e.g. incandescent bulb

The following are key concepts to understand when selecting any bulb: Has the bulb been tested or demonstrated in poultry barn environments?

Have bulbs been cleaned under typical poultry barn wash–down procedures? Bulbs with an IP65 rating are actually rated for wash down. What is the Kelvin (K) rating? Kelvin refers to the colour temperature of the light.

3,400-3,700K – Neutral Kelvin, e.g. NextGen Ill. Poultry LED PL30 5,000-6,000K – Cool Kelvin, blue–white colour, e.g. Once Innovation Agrishift LED What are bulb lumens? Lumens are a measure of the total all–around light output. Bulbs like eight–watt cold cathodes with 325 lumens have very low light levels, whereas a 36–watt CFL could have 2,400 lumens, giving high light levels suitable for brooding. It is also important to understand that the lumen rating that new bulbs have is usually much higher than what some types of bulb technology emit after at least six months in operation in poultry facilities. How many foot–candles of light will my birds have?

If yes, have results been released to the public? What was bird behaviour under the lights? A consistent observation by producers with LED bulbs is that the birds behave more calmly, even when the light level is raised from dim to full light. A possible reason is that LED light does not flicker compared to CFL bulbs, which can flicker at a level noticeable to the birds. Poultry have keen eyesight and are much more sensitive than humans to light flickering.

Foot–candles of light at the bird level is a significant production tool to assure young birds start well and birds closer to market are minimising energy losses. Foot–candle is a measure of the light intensity on a surface and helps to standardise the value of light sources. A common standard for describing lights is lumens per watt (lm/W). The order of magnitudes is incandescent, 15lm/W; CFLs, 60lm/W and LEDs, 75lm/W.

FEATURE ARTICLE vent damage. There are at least two designs commonly used, fins or enlarged casing above the diodes. A third option is open slits to allow heat release. Openings for heat release can increase failure risk of bulbs in poultry barns because of diode exposure to the production environment. Are the bulbs compatible with dimmers and should they be dimmed similar to current lights used?

Traditionally, newly hatched chicks have been given an average light intensity of at least two foot–candles for the first four to 14 days, depending on strain and dietary programme, with the majority of light focused over feed and water lines. Once birds have started well, then light intensity can be reduced.

Unlike incandescent bulbs which dim in a linear fashion (meaning as the dimmer is turned down some percentage, the bulb output decreases the same percentage), most LED technology dims on a non–linear basis, i.e. the dimmer may need to be turned down significantly before a resulting dimming of the bulb occurs. New dimmers are being programmed to overcome this. However, producers need to be aware that existing dimmers and LEDs may not be 100 per cent compatible, and this may need to be addressed to assure uniform and proper dimming of lights. Is the electrical system properly designed for LED lights?

What is the light angle output? The more restrictive the angle of the light output, the more shadows will appear between lights and at the wall. LEDs were first sold mainly as spotlights, and light output was limited to narrow circles, making these prototypes unsuitable for poultry production barns where grow lights may be located on 20–foot centres over feed lines. The LED industry is now providing lights with a wider band of light output better suited to poultry production. It is recommended that the angle of light output should be a range of 120° to 160° to minimise dark areas in the barn. With incandescent bulbs, as much of the light went to ceilings and walls as it did to bird level. For LEDs with the light distribution less than 180°, light is now directed specifically toward the birds, hence reducing energy wastage on lighting unnecessary surfaces.

Unlike standard incandescent lamps, LED, CFL and cold cathode lamps are non–linear loads. Non–linear loads are loads where the current is not proportional to the voltage. It is not uncommon for lighting circuits to share a common neutral conductor in poultry houses. Neutral currents from linear incandescent lamps have a cancellation effect, so the use of common neutrals with incandescent lamp circuits makes sense. It can reduce wiring costs. Neutral currents from the non–linear LED and CFL loads do not have a cancellation effect. In fact, the neutral currents can be additive. Be sure your neutral current is adequately sized when non–linear LED and CFL loads are installed on circuits using common neutrals. In new poultry house construction where non–linear loads will be utilised, common neutral conductors are not recommended. Check with a licensed electrician if there are concerns.

How does the bulb get rid of heat? When the diodes are on, heat is produced.While far less than the heat of an incandescent bulb, this heat must still be directed away from the diodes to pre-

Chicken Output to Exceed 40MT in 2013 in the Americas

FEATURE ARTICLE

Feature Article

Chicken Output to Exceed 40MT in 2013 in the Americas If chicken meat production maintains the expected growth this year and next, total output for the region will exceed 40 million tonnes in 2013, according to industry watcher, Terry Evans, in his latest analysis of the global poultry industry. Global chicken meat production growth could well slow to around two per cent a year in the next decade, which contrasts with around four per cent in the 10 years to 2010. Nevertheless, the total is likely to approach 91 million tonnes this year and possibly 93 million tonnes in 2013. This compares with less than 59 million tonnes back in 2000 (Table 1). In broad terms, chicken meat production currently represents almost 88 per cent of poultry meat output compared with less than 86 per cent some 12 years ago. Regarding international chicken meat data, it should be noted that the figures released by the FAO are for all chickens (i.e. table birds and culled layers) while the data published by other authorities such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) do not include estimates of the meat from culled layers. The five major regions (Table 1) have exhibited differing rates of growth. Based on FAO figures, over the period 2000 to 2010, both Africa and Asia have recorded increases of around 4.5 per cent a year, while growth in the other regions has been below four per cent, averaging 3.9 per cent in Europe, 3.7 per cent in Oceania and 3.5 per cent in the Americas. Since 2010, all the regions have recorded slower growth rates reflecting lower profitability in the face of higher costs (principally feed), while in some countries, disease outbreaks have also played a role in this scenario.

Chicken Output to Exceed 40MT in 2013 in the Americas

Table 1. World chickenmeat production (million tonnes) World chickenmeat production (million tonnes) Region Africa

2000

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011E

2012F

2.8

3.4

3.7

4.0

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.7

Americas

27.2

32.7

33.7

35.3

37.4

36.7

38.4

39.2

39.4

Asia

18.7

22.5

23.5

24.9

26.4

27.2

28.6

29.9

31.0

9.4

10.7

10.8

11.7

12.1

13.4

13.8

14.2

14.5

Europe Oceania WORLD

0.7

0.9

1.0

1.1

1.3

58.7

70.2

72.3

76.7

80.8

82.5

86.2

89.2

90.9

E and F: author's estimate/forecast, Source: FAO

Since 2000, production in the Americas has escalated by a little more than three per cent a year from 27.2 million tonnes to an estimated 39.4 million tonnes this year. This has been slower than the global total of around 3.7 per cent hence this region has seen its share of world output slip three percentage points from 46.3 per cent to 43.3 per cent. For 2013, a 2.0 per cent gain would push total production above 40 million tonnes. The year 2010 is the latest for which figures are available for all countries (Table 2) and these reveal that there were seven countries in the Americas producing at least a million tonnes of chicken meat a year and combined, they accounted for over 35 million tonnes or more than 91 per cent of the total (Tables 2 and 3). However, just two countries – the US and Brazil – were responsible for 27.7 million tonnes or 72 per cent! While production in the USA grew by some three million tonnes or 22 per cent in the decade to 2010, Brazil’s industry expanded by a massive 4.7 million tonnes or 79 per cent. According to USDA economists (Table 4), broiler production in the top seven producing countries in the region grew at an average 3.7 per cent a year between 2000 and 2012 from 24.5 million tonnes to an estimated 37.8 million tonnes. If the envisaged expansion of two per cent is achieved next year, output from these seven countries will climb to around 38.6 million tonnes. As the data for Peru has been taken from FAO statistics, a small proportion of the annual totals for this country will include culled layers. It looks as though broiler output in the US will approach 17 million tonnes in 2013. In Brazil, the figure should exceed 13.5 million tonnes, while in Mexico, third in the ranking table, output might hit the three million tonnes mark.

The US is the world’s largest chicken meat producer, output (i.e. total production less condemnations) having climbed to a record near 16.7 million tonnes in 2011. However, the impact of higher costs on profit margins is expected to produce a near one per cent cut–back this year to 16.6 million tonnes. A more optimistic view is taken of 2013 with production recovering by 1.7 per cent to 16.8 million tonnes. The actual extent of any increase will be influenced primarily by two factors, namely the degree to which processors consider that chicken demand will reflect any recovery in the US economy and also, how integrators feel about changes in the costs of production, especially feed prices. According to US economist Dr Paul Aho, there were a couple of factors that could lead to lower maize prices but recent drought conditions (up to mid–July) make that scenario unlikely. If there were to be a good maize crop this year, the proportion going for ethanol production would drop; the opposite will be true should the harvest be poor. The dramatic rise in maize prices has boosted production worldwide. In 2000/01, maize production outside America was less than 340 million tonnes while the US produced some 250 million tonnes, giving it a 42 per cent market share. This year, production outside the US could reach 600 million tonnes compared with an early estimate of 350 million tonnes within the US, reducing its market share to 37 per cent or less. However, should the recovery in the US economy slow down, the rate of expansion in chicken output could be curtailed somewhat.Tough economic conditions through 2011 resulted in several companies either having to close or be acquired by competitors. Dr Aho considers that as much as 80 per cent of US

FEATURE ARTICLE

Table 2. Chicken meat production in the Americas ('000 tonnes eviscerated weight) Country Antigua/Barbuda

2000

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0.3

0.4

0.2

957.8

1,010.0

1,159.0

1,244.0

1,400.0

1,501.0

1,598.0

Bahamas

6.7

6.5

6.8

6.5

6.6

6.7

Barbados

10.4

15.0

13.9

13.6

14.0

14.3

8.6

13.8

13.6

13.4

12.6

13.0

Argentina

Belize Bermuda

0.1

134.4

153.8

140.0

151.1

166.3

166.1

168.3

5,980.6

7,865.8

8,164.0

8,988.0

10,215.5

9,940.4

10,692.6

Canada

903.9

1,000.1

997.5

1,030.1

1,041.2

1,036.1

1,048.5

Chile

378.1

456.7

523.3

486.3

509.5

513.4

503.8

Colombia

504.4

762.9

849.8

924.9

1,010.7

1,020.3

1,000.0

Costa Rica

73.2

91.0

98.3

110.4

106.6

110.6

105.2

Cuba

73.3

29.5

31.2

33.5

33.1

33.2

33.6

0.3

Dominican Rep.

211.0

296.6

313.4

329.5

299.5

315.0

Ecuador

193.8

209.8

300.0

336.0

330.0

329.5

341.0

76.1

98.6

101.4

106.8

96.1

97.7

104.6

French Guiana

0.4

0.5

Grenada

0.7

0.8

0.7

Bolivia Brazil

Dominica

El Salvador

Guadaloupe

1.3

1.4

1.3

1.4

140.1

151.0

167.7

151.0

166.3

166.0

167.0

11.8

22.7

20.7

25.2

23.2

23.1

7.9

8.1

8.0

Honduras

75.6

140.7

126.7

134.4

142.0

145.3

152.5

Jamaica

77.2

101.5

104.6

107.3

106.7

104.5

102.5

1.1

0.7

1.0

1.1

1.0

1.1

1.2

1,825.3

2,436.5

2,463.8

2,542.5

2,580.8

2,636.5

2,681.1

Montserrat

0.1

Netherlands Antilles

0.3

Nicaragua

47.3

70.6

83.6

89.8

91.0

89.6

102.3

Panama

81.3

94.6

95.9

113.2

114.9

118.7

125.8

Paraguay

33.0

42.2

44.5

27.9

34.9

36.2

37.0

541.7

656.3

710.4

770.4

877.2

964.4

1,020.0

Guatemala Guyana Haiti

Martinique Mexico

Peru Puerto Rico

59.6

49.6

50.0

52.4

52.0

52.2

Saint Kitts/Nevis

0.1

0.2

Saint Lucia

0.6

2.0

1.4

1.8

1.6

Saint Vincent/Gren.

0.4

0.3

0.4

0.5

Suriname

4.0

6.5

5.9

9.6

8.3

9.3

11.3

Trinidad/Tobago

38.8

65.4

68.4

60.0

59.6

59.9

57.1

13,944.0

16,041.3

16,216.8

16,627.6

16,994.1

16,334.0

16,971.0

0.1

56.2

51.8

60.4

50.1

75.3

72.8

69.2

692.7

739.4

734.9

780.1

802.3

800.0

848.1

AMERICAS

27,155.0

32,695.0

33,680.8

35,330.9

37,385.0

36,724.1

38,379.8

WORLD

58,698.2

70,208.0

72,319.7

76,676.9

80,785.7

82,511.5

86,205.0

US US Virgin Isl. Uruguay Venezuela Bol. Rep.

Source: FAO

Chicken Output to Exceed 40MT in 2013 in the Americas production could eventually come from just three or four companies. USDA long-term forecasts point to production increasing by only 1.3 per cent a year from now until 2021 when broiler output is expected to reach 19 million tonnes. While, as for all countries, the estimates of chicken meat production vary somewhat according to source, there can be no doubt that the industry in Brazil has recorded a rapid increase since 2000 with an annual rate of growth in the six– to seven per cent range. Currently, it is considered that the rate of increase has been halved to around three per cent, reflecting uncertainties regarding the likely growth in exports, domestic consumption and higher production costs. Chicken meat output this year is likely to amount to some 13.3 million tonnes. USDA forecasts anticipate a growth of around 2.4 per cent a year which would put the 2020 total at around 16 million tonnes. In contrast, a Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture/Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation study expects a much more optimistic 4.2 per cent a year increase to 2021/22.

Table 3. Chicken meat production ranking in 2010('000 tonnes) US

16,971.0

Brazil

10,692.6

Mexico

2,681.1

Argentina

1,598.0

Canada

1,048.5

Peru

1,020.0

Colombia

1,000.0

Venezuela Bol. Rep.

848.1

Chile

503.8

Ecuador

341.0

Dominican Rep.

315.0

Bolivia

168.3

Guatemala

167.0

Honduras

152.5

Panama

125.8

Costa Rica

105.2

El Salvador

104.6

Jamaica

102.5

Nicaragua

102.3

Uruguay

69.2

Late in 2011, the Brazilian anti-trust regulator approved the merger of Sadia and Perdigão to create Brasil Foods SA (BRF), which now supplies 35 per cent of the domestic market and accounts for nearly half of Brazil’s exports. BRF is currently building a processing plant in the United Arab Emirates capable of producing 80,000 tonnes a year of furtherprocessed chicken products.

Trinidad/Tobago

57.1

Puerto Rico

52.2

Paraguay

37.0

Cuba

33.6

Guyana

23.1

Barbados

14.3

Belize

13.0

Suriname

11.3

Continued vertical integration in Mexico is helping offset the negative impact of high grain prices, according to a USDA report and as a result, it is anticipated that production this year will show a small gain over 2011 at a shade over 2.9 million tonnes, while three million tonnes could be achieved in 2013. As well as the worst drought for 70 years, the industry is having to contend with high grain prices as well as increased competition for feed from the pork and beef sectors. The country was also been hit by a series of outbreaks of highly-pathogenic avian influenza from the end of June 2012. The initial focus of the outbreaks was in Jalisco, the country’s leading egg-producing state with the resulting cull soon running into the millions. If the infection spreads to other regions, Mexico’s chicken meat industry could suffer production and trade difficulties for some time to come.

Haiti

8.0

Bahamas

6.7

Saint Lucia

1.6

Guadaloupe

1.4

Martinique

1.2

Grenada

0.7

Saint Vincent/Gren.

0.5

French Guiana

0.5

Netherlands Antilles

0.3

Dominica

0.3

Saint Kitts/Nevis

0.2

Antigua/Barbuda

0.2

US Virgin Isl.

0.1

Montserrat

0.1

Bermuda

0.1

Source: FAO

FEATURE ARTICLE Table 4. Leading broiler producers in the Americas ('000 tonnes eviscerated weight) 2000

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013 F

13,703

15,870

15,930

16,226

16,561

15,935

16,563

16,698

16,559

16,833

Brazil

5,980

9,350

9,355

10,305

11,033

11,023

12,312

12,863

13,250

13,600

Mexico

1,936

2,498

2,592

2,683

2,853

2,781

2,822

2,900

2,925

2,968

Argentina

870

1,030

1,200

1,320

1,435

1,500

1,680

1,770

1,850

1,924

Peru

542

656

710

770

877

964

1,020

1,086

1,151

1,208

Canada

877

977

972

1,006

1,017

1,011

1,023

1,026

1,035

1,040

Colombia Total of above

606

763

850

925

1,011

1,020

1,025

1,045

1,055

1,065

24,514

31,144

31,609

33,235

34,787

34,234

36,445

37,388

37,825

38,638

Source: USDA; FAO for Peru to 2010

Figure 1. Leading chicken meat producers in the Americas – 2000 to 2013 (forecast)

Although a much smaller industry than in the US or Brazil, chicken production in Argentina more than doubled between 2000 and 2011, reaching close to 1.8 million tonnes with an average growth rate of 6.7 per cent. Continued expansion is anticipated, boosted by increasing consumption allied to an expanding export trade. Consequently, production in 2013 is expected to come close to two million tonnes. Canada operates a supply-management scheme for broiler production via a quota system, the quantities being reappraised on an eight–week cycle. In the decade to 2010, output expanded at 1.6 per cent a

year but since then, growth has been limited to only 0.6 per cent and in general, it is considered that future growth will primarily be linked to population increases and to a lesser extent, dietary preferences. The two other countries with annual broiler outputs in excess of a million tonnes, according to the USDA (Table 4) – Peru and Colombia – recorded good annual growth rates of 6.5 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively, from 2000 to 2010. If Peru has managed to maintain that momentum, annual output will have exceeded that of Canada. However, in Colombia, production has since slowed to around one per cent per year.

Using Sustainable Materials and Alternative Energy Forms

Using Sustainable Materials and Alternative Energy Forms Farmers instinctively want to do the right thing sustainably. After all, farmers maintain, protect and enhance a large part of the UK’s landscape by the very nature of what they do. Small-holders and large scale producers alike carry a unique responsibility to manage the countryside, writes Louise Barnett for EcoSheet in the UK. Understanding and managing our environmental footprint is a key priority at the same time as producing the food we need to eat individually and as a nation. The Government’s chief scientist Professor John Beddington has called it ‘the perfect storm’ – the challenge of producing 50 per cent more food by 2030 while adapting to climate change. If anyone knows about climate change farmers do. After all, it’s us who notice the effect it is having on

harvesting and feeding. We get to experience it firsthand. Given all the challenges that farmers are facing at a time when the bottom line seems to be all that matters, how easy is it being green? And is it as simple as just having the right sustainable farming practices and production methods? Well not exactly. It’s true that that these lie at the heart of sustainability, however, we also need to consider other aspects of what we do, from the top to the bottom of the chain. For example, what about the buildings in which our animals are housed? How many of us can say that we use sustainable materials and alternative forms of energy in our animal housing to make them truly sustainable?

FEATURE ARTICLE Of the two, renewable energy is certainly higher up the awareness scale for farmers than sustainable building materials. Recent research by the NFU and NatWest is evidence of this as it revealed that 30 per cent of farmers across England and Wales will be involved in some form of renewable energy production, use or supply by the end of the summer. Around one in five will be producing clean electricity, one in six will have installed solar PV and a further one in eight will be using or generating renewable energy. The findings suggest agriculture will make a significant contribution to the UK target of producing 15 per cent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020, as set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive. One high profile farmer who has already seized the renewable energy opportunity and is looking into other sustainable construction options is TV presenter Kate Humble who has established a brand new centre for rural skills and animal husbandry in Monmouthshire. According to Kate, she has spent hours scouring the internet trying to work out what system or combination of systems would work best at the farm – ground source or air source? Biomass or PV? Sheep’s wool or fibreglass? She’s also explored effectively storing rainwater and using it for the water troughs, doing clever things with cow poo and even thinking about having a wind turbine installed on her land – although she thought twice about this and opted instead for biomass, a boiler system powered by wood for which you can get grants to help fund it. So what about the building materials that farmers typically use for housing their animals, food and equipment? Exactly how sustainable are they and what can we do to make them better? There are certainly some lessons to be learnt from the construction industry, which over the past few years has made great gains when it comes to encouraging sustainable construction, minimising waste and maximising recycling. This included a voluntary agreement by many of the country’s major construction companies with WRAP, the government-backed Waste & Resources Action

Examples of eco poultry hosuing

Programme, to halve construction waste to landfill by 2012. Likewise, the development of new technologies, including 100 per cent recyclable materials, has been another positive move and something the farming industry now needs to take on board. As farmers, we are a pretty self-sufficient lot and tend to use whatever materials we can to construct the buildings, fences and shelters we need to do the job efficiently. But that has often meant using materials that aren’t from a sustainable source and cannot be recycled at the end of use which means they usually end up in landfill. Plywood for example is used extensively in farming for a whole manner of construction needs; from animal housing and feeding troughs to storage, partitions and fencing. Yet whilst plywood is extremely versatile, it does have its limitations due to the very nature of the conditions it has to withstand.

Using Sustainable Materials and Alternative Energy Forms Explains one poultry farmer:“The problem with mixing plywood and poultry is that, inevitably, the plywood will erode fairly quickly due to the effects of mud, rain water, excrement and rotting food waste. Plus plywood does have a tendency to harbour pests such as red mite which is the scourge of the poultry farmer. “I would generally expect a construction made from plywood that is exposed to these kinds of elements to last no more than three years before I have to replace it. I then have to deal with its disposal and replacement, which requires a certain amount of time, effort and money. It’s an ongoing process across the farm.” From a sustainability viewpoint, plywood isn’t the ideal solution either as it cannot be recycled after use. Which means that 25 million sheets of the stuff are disposed of in landfill each year in the UK alone. The good news is that thanks to new technologies, there are now several sustainable alternatives which don’t cost the earth, perform in a similar way to plywood yet offer a host of benefits that plywood does not including increased disease resistance, cleanliness and more.

has already recognised as she has started using it for her animal housing needs on her Monmouthshire farm. She says: “EcoSheet is a tough, durable and practical alternative to plywood and costs almost the same,” explains Kate Humble. “We've lined an animal shed with it - it is easy to clean and it is a great insulator. Its other great appeal to me is that it makes really good use of one of the most problematic items of waste we produce - plastic. Not only is it made entirely from recycled material, it can be completely recycled if it does become damaged or broken.” Colin Bucknell from Devon, an animal housing manufacturer, is using EcoSheet in his chicken arcs: “Whereas plywood rots easily, EcoSheet doesn’t and it is easier to jet wash clean, making it more disease resistant.This is certainly true in the case of red mite, which has really been cut down as a result of using EcoSheet.” Many animal housing specialists and major agricultural merchants including BATA, Carrs Billington, Mole Valley, Wynnstay and Bridgmans now stock EcoSheet, which is comparable in price to treated plywood. For further details go to: www.EcoSheet.com

One such product is EcoSheet which is made entirely from unwanted waste plastic sourced from farms, businesses and homes. Due to its sustainable qualities, durable nature and cost effectiveness, EcoSheet is increasingly being used in the farming industry for animal housing for a range of livestock including poultry and pigs. EcoSheet has a number of advantages over plywood in practical terms, including the fact it doesn’t rot, doesn’t contain adhesives and preservatives and is easier to clean which improves animal welfare. It has a hard foam core helping to insulate birds and animals against temperature changes, is resistant to bird lime and animal urine and can be washed and treated easily against red mite. EcoSheet has the added benefit that it can be recycled again and again, making it a good, sustainable solution for farmers both environmentally and economically, which is something that Kate Humble

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Get Ready for Hot Weather

FEATUREâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;ARTICLE

Feature Article

Get Ready for Hot Weather Possibly offering an indication of the likely impacts of climate change ahead, there have been unusual weather patterns around the world in recent months, including abnormally high temperatures and low rainfall across much of the US. Jim Donald, Jess Campbell, Dennis Brothers and Gene Simpson of the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn University offer tips on keeping broiler house ventilation systems working effectively. Hot weather devastated the poultry industry in most parts of the US last year. From Texas to Maryland and Kentucky to South Alabama, no one escaped triple-digit temperatures for days on end.At the NPTC, the phone rang off the hook with questions from growers and managers looking for the magic bullet to stop rising mortalities and decreasing performance. In too many cases, after asking questions about the particular situation, the authors report that there was no simple solution, and most of the steps they could recommend to cope with this problem were things that should have been done in April or May, not put off until July or August. After last summer, we all know how bad hot weather can get. We can hope that this summer will not be so bad â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it would be foolish not to do everything we can reasonably do to be ready for another long, hot summer. Most of these steps are not hard to do and are not expensive. However, they must be done in advance. In other words, preventive maintenance is a must! Checklists are a great way to keep on track and set priorities on servicing equipment and houses. This newsletter provides checklists for preventive maintenance on the most critical parts of a poultry house environmental control system: fans, evaporative cooling, electrical systems and the back-up generator. Click here to print and carry these checklists with you (or give to helpers), as well as post in convenient places in your office or your houses as both reminders and records to make sure your houses and equipment keep running smoothly.

Get Ready for Hot Weather hour from the bird’s body. When the bird’s ability to dissipate heat from its body surface is diminished due to warmer surrounding air, the bird must compensate by increasing its respiration rate through panting. Then, if surrounding air is so warm that the bird cannot adequately compensate by panting, its internal body temperature will rise, causing severe heat stress, and eventually mortality. FAN MAINTENANCE CHECK-LIST

An unmistakable sign that this house will not meet the hot weather challenge. The poorly maintained and dirty shutter will restrict airflow, and the severely worn fan belt riding low in the pulley will result in lower fan rpms and thus lower wind-speed in the house. Conditions like these are not difficult or costly to remedy. Maintenance to correct ventilation and cooling system problems must not be put off until hot weather arrives.

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE OF HOT WEATHER Modern poultry house ventilation and evaporative cooling systems are designed to allow growing the maximum number of birds in a given house floor area. Extreme heat is a challenge to individual bird performance and survival, and extremely hot weather challenges our goal of maximising live weight production. To maintain comfort, birds must be able to dissipate about 12 BTU of heat per hour per pound of body weight. If the air temperature surrounding the birds is close to the desired temperature for comfort they will lose up to about five BTU per pound per hour from their body surface and lose about seven BTU per pound per hour through respiration or breathing. Under these conditions the heat balance of the bird is at equilibrium. They eat, drink, behave and grow normally. Problems arise if the surrounding air temperature increases above that normal level.Warmer air will not allow the transfer of the five BTU per pound per

Drives (Pulleys and belts) – The drives transmit power and provide the gear ratio between the motor speed and propeller speed. Anything that goes wrong with the drive system causes lost fan performance. Check belt tension – loose belts reduce the gear ratio, causing loss of airflow, and reduce belt life. Check belts for wear. Worn belts ride lower in the pulleys, changing the gear ratio and lowering fan performance. Check pulley alignment. Misaligned pulleys cause excessive belt wear and more drive losses. Check pulleys for wear: cupped out pulleys allow belt (even a new belt) to ride lower in the pulley, which changes gear ratio and lowers air flow. Shutters and guards – Anything that obstructs the airflow causes lost fan performance. Clean shutters once per week during tunnel ventilation. Dirty shutters require more energy from the airflow to open and reduce airflow and efficiency. Clean guards once a week because dirty guards present more surface area to obstruct airflow. Motors – Most electric circuits and electrical devices run more efficiently and last longer at cooler temperatures. Clean motors once per flock. Dirty motors run hotter, lose efficiency and have reduced motor life. Bearings – Lubricate bearings twice per year where applicable in spring and fall. Dry bearings require more power to turn, causing you to lose fan efficiency and shorten bearing life. EVAPORATIVE COOLING CHECKLIST Pads – Blow debris from outside of pad system to dog house with backpack blower with pads dry. This will push all debris and cobwebs into dog house to

FEATURE ARTICLE be later removed. If pads are damaged, they must be replaced. Dog house – Sweep all cobwebs and other debris off of the back of the pads with a broom. Once everything is on the floor, remove it from the dog house. Pad rinse – Close inlet curtain or tunnel doors. Wash excess debris from pads with water hose and spray nozzle carefully. High-pressure washer rinsing is not recommended. Wash anything left inside dog house out. (If pads require a chemical cleaning use only recommended chemicals and cleaning procedures.) Drain system – Drain the evaporative cooling system recirculation trough and sump tanks and clear all dirt/debris from the system. Leaving trash in the system causes premature fouling of filters, pads and pumps. Flush system – Flush the top header system and the trough to the best of your ability. Filters – Remove and clean or replace filters. Replacement filters must be stored on site and be readily available when needed. Filters must be checked once a week at times of high use. Do not operate system without filters and screens in place. Pumps, floats and tanks – Make sure pump intake screens are cleaned, floats are in place and adjusted and tanks are clean and free from debris. Pump screens must be checked at least once a week during periods of high use of cooling system or as often as system is drained and flushed. Water supply – Test run recirculation system to make sure the fill levels are adjusted properly and adequate water is available to fill system. Make sure the supply system fully wets the entire pad system and no dry streaks are left on pads. If supply water quality is a problem, additional filtration or treatment may be necessary. Distribution header – Flush distribution header. Loosen union at distribution header and carefully clean all distribution holes in header with screw-

Loose or cracked fan belts, as shown in above photo, can cause lowered airflow as well as threaten complete loss of airflow when the belt breaks. Worn belts or motor pulleys are often overlooked, and will cause lowered fan rpm’s and reduced house air flow.

driver or soft bristle brush. Do not change the size of the hole in the header. Run water in system to ensure all holes are free from debris or clogs. Inlet opening – Inlet curtain opening must be at least a minimum of 80 per cent of the area of the cooling pad system area. 600 square feet of six-inch recirculating pad requires at least 480 square feet of free air unobstructed inlet opening minimum. Bunched up curtains or partially opened tunnel doors must not restrict the tunnel inlet opening. Dog house tightness – The dog house on each side must be as air tight as possible. A little spray foam and carpentry work will go a very long way. All cracks, holes, and leaks must be sealed. Air that bypasses the recirculating pads is not cooled and works against the system. ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CHECKLIST Main panel – Main panel breaker must be checked on a weekly basis during the summertime to make sure it is not overheating. Breaker spots can be installed on both sides of each main breaker to help spot early warning signs of trouble. At least one exact replacement main breaker should be stored on site preferably in a common location on the farm site.

Get Ready for Hot Weather able. If replacing the breaker does not solve the problem, get a qualified electrician to troubleshoot the system. Electrical connections – Electrical connections in transfer switches, generators, service disconnects and main panels/subpanels should be checked and tightened every year. This should only be done by a qualified and/or licensed electrician. Damaged fan outlets, equipment outlets, light fixtures and junction boxes are fire hazards and must be repaired. Grounding lug – Grounding lug on ground rod should be checked for tightness at every house and generator shed. This is done by moving wire at lugto-rod connection. Solid acorn-style grounding lugs are recommended to tie ground wire to ground rods.

Worn fan belts ride low in the motor pulley, as shown in top photo above. Result: blade rpms are greatly reduced, thus robbing cfms, air speed and wind chill cooling. Belts should be tight and ride high in the motor pulley, as in bottom photo, to achieve maximum fan rpms and best wind-chill and evaporative cooling. Note: The same effect is caused by a worn pulley, even if belt is new. Re-tensioning the belt will not cure either problem, worn belt or worn pulley.

Controller back-up – Check that controller backup system is set to turn on automatically if controller fails. Make sure that if controller fails, siren and dialer operate properly. Make sure back–up batteries have been installed in dialer or backup controller box. Back-up thermostats – Test back-up thermostats for proper operation and temperature setting. Placing backup thermostats near cooling systems is not recommended. Circuit breakers – Check to make sure breakers are not overheating or tripping. Problem may be in the electrical system or the breaker itself. Make sure exact replacement circuit breakers are readily avail-

Lightning protection – Check to make sure lighting protection is in place and properly installed. Lightning protection works best when installed in layers to protect major electrical and electronic components. Protection systems must be sized to protect the equipment it is intended to protect. One-size fitsall is not the best way to go. Lightning protection must only be installed by a qualified or licensed electrician. GENERATOR SERVICE CHECKLIST Fuel level – Check the fuel level in the tank to make sure that you have at least 20 gallons of fuel on reserve in case of an emergency power outage. Maintaining a fresh fuel supply is a must. Fuel filters should be changed each year. Newer fuel mixtures may not have the same ‘shelf life’ as previous fuels so more frequent fuel changes might be necessary. Battery – Batteries should be replaced every three years, regardless of condition. Check all battery connections to ensure that there is no corrosion buildup and all connections are tight. Check the battery charge level to make sure there is a full charge on the battery. Many growers have installed inexpensive trickle chargers on batteries to ensure a full charge when needed. Fluid levels and air filters – All vital fluids must be kept at proper levels. Engine oil must be changed and

FEATURE ARTICLE fluids must be checked at least once per year. Oil, water/coolant and fuel gauges should be double checked. Air filters must be inspected and replaced as needed. Generator settings – Make sure back-up switch is set to turn the generator on automatically or switch to ON when the power fails. Back-up ‘key’ switches may be installed so that if electronic or analogue generator control board malfunctions occur, the generator can still be manually started. Transfer switch – Check transfer switching to make sure it is set to automatically transfer power when the grid power fails. Transfer switch testing must be done at least once a week when the generator cycles on. Most transfer switches have a backup means for transferring power installed in case electronic controls fail. Make sure all farm hands know how to manually transfer power in case of emergency. Feeder disconnects – Breakers or fuses must be inspected to ensure proper operation. Exact replacement breakers or fuses must be stored in generator shed in case of emergency. The goal in hot weather is to keep the bird dissipating body heat so that panting does not result. The first and most important tool we have to keep the bird from panting is air velocity or wind speed. As we increase the velocity of the air over and around a bird, the wind-chill effect greatly helps the bird’s ability to shed surface body heat. Every broiler grower has seen this phenomenon over and over again. Birds mildly panting in still air quit panting when the house is put into tunnel ventilation. In extremely hot conditions, especially as birds approach market age, the ventilation system must be operating at 100 per cent capacity, which is why fan and shutter maintenance is so important for achieving the goal of maximum live weight production. The second tool we have in a modern house is evaporative cooling. Reducing the incoming air temperature further accelerates the bird’s ability to lose heat from the surface of its skin. It is important to realise

that the effectiveness of the evaporative cooling system also depends on maintaining adequate airflow with adequate water applied to the pads. Clogged cool cells not only reduce cooling, they reduce the windchill effect of tunnel ventilation, which is why evaporative cooling system maintenance is so important. While first-class and top-functioning ventilation and cooling systems can take us a long way toward meeting the hot weather challenge, a point can be reached when we get into triple-digit temperatures with market age birds, where heat stress reduces performance and increasing mortalities are inevitable. In other words, the heat load of the house is more than the ventilation and cooling system can handle on that day. At that point, we are outside of the design envelope for that particular house on that particular day. The fact is that it is not only warmer air, but also heat given off by the birds that make up the severe hot weather challenge. This means that stocking density may need to be taken into consideration well in advance of anticipated hot weather. Houses with inferior insulation, hot air leaks and inadequate air speed will especially do better in severe hot weather if we take some of the heat load out of the house by reducing the density. People do not like to talk about reducing densities because of the effect on cash flow. For example, in a 40foot × 500-foot house, changing the hot weather density from 0.90 to 1.05 results in 3,175 fewer birds in the house. But at 6.5 pounds market weight, that reduces the total heat load on the poultry house by over 100,000 BTU per hour. Adjusting stocking density ahead of anticipated severe heat conditions is a business decision, and one that can make good economic sense, resulting in slightly lower live weight production but better overall flock performance and fewer mortalities. However, it has to be made at the time of placement, often four to six weeks ahead of the time we think the hottest conditions of the summer might prevail. Make no mistake, however, whatever the weather, a well-maintained Class A tunnel house will always get you closer to the goal of maximum live weight production.

Poultry Industry News JAMAICA BROILERS LIGHTS UP CHICKEN HOUSES WITH SOLAR PLAN JAMAICA - Poultry farmers contracted by the Jamaica Broilers Group have been corralled into a green energy project that the poultry producer says will slice the cost of production through reduced electricity bills. If that happens, it should also mean cheaper chicken for consumers sold under the company's Best Dressed Chicken label, reports The Gleaner. The project, valued at US$10 million, or the equivalent of J$890 million, will introduce energy-saving devices such as LED lamps, or light-emitting diodes, as a source of light, as well as solar photovoltaic systems, on chicken farms throughout its supply chain. One of the solar systems was installed less than three weeks ago and has so far generated 1.7 megawatts of power or the equivalent of one barrel, or about 42 gallons (159 litres) of oil. It is also equivalent to the energy from 5,800 cubic feet of natural gas. Read More...

CODE OF WELFARE FOR MEAT CHICKENS RELEASED NEW ZEALAND - New standards covering the welfare of chickens raised for their meat came into effect on the 26th of July. The minimum standards and best practice guidelines are set out in the new code of welfare for meat chickens. John Hellström, chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) which developed the code, says it will replace the code of welfare for broiler chickens which was issued in 2003. “The previous code concentrated solely on chickens that are fully housed. The new code has a broader scope and includes chickens that have access to the outdoors,” Mr Hellström says. Read More...

Housing & Equipment

Lighting - Crucial to Health, Welfare and Performance GLOBAL - The amount of light that poultry receive in their housing, its intensity and its colour all play a crucial role in the health, welfare and performance of the bird. The issues that surround lighting in poultry houses and how the birds react are discussed in a series of papers by the late Peter Lewis, Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and the late Trevor Morris, past President of the UK Branch of the World Poultry Science Association and past senior vice president of the Association in their book, 'Poultry Lighting - The Theory and Practice'. In their papers, they show that the response to the day length or photoperiod varies according to species and type of stock. The photoperiod is the period of light and dark given to the birds over 24 hours. They say that although photoperiods are often classified as stimulatory (long day) or non-stimulatory (short day) poultry respond "most dramatically to changes in the photoperiod". For example they say that the main effect of photoperiod during the rearing phase of pullets is its control over the timing of sexual maturation. The constancy of the photoperiod can also have an effect on laying hens and their productivity and even the weight of the eggs. The authors also discuss intermittent lighting programmes and how they can be used for breeding turkeys and broilers but are rarely used during the rearing period for growing pullets - largely because there is little opportunity to save on electricity and also because the lighting programme needs to maximise feed intake. The illuminance or light intensity during the rearing period of pullets showed small changes between

Poultry Lighting - The Theory and Practice is available through 5m Publishing and can be bought online here.

genotypes in their response to changes in intensity. It also can have a bearing on the speed of development to sexual maturity. In their papers, Lewis and Morris also examine the way birds respond to colour. Unlike humans, who have three types of cone in the retina of the eye, which perceive the red, green and blue colours as well as white, they point out, birds have a fourth cone.

Poultry Industry News "This, together with their optically clear lens and humours, allows poultry to be responsive to radiation below 400nm and to 'see' in ultraviolet light," they say. They show how they react in growth rate, male and female reproduction and behaviour. The reports show that long photoperiods, continuous illumination, continuous darkness, low illuminance and coloured light can have a deleterious effect on the integrity of the eye. The reports add that there are adverse effects through long daylengths on adrenal function and immunosuppression in poultry.

One conclusion that is drawn is that: "Evidence from studies involving growing pullets, laying hens, broilers, growing turkeys, breeding turkeys and geese suggests that, irrespective of the light's spectral composition or illuminance, growth and reproductive performance are similar under modern energy efficient and conventional incandescent sources of illumination." However, the study also says that there is also inconsistency in the evidence on how different light sources affect different species and types and there is also little evidence that different sources have any adverse effect on welfare or growth but leg integrity in one broiler trial under fluorescent lights was found to have been reduced.

Lewis and Morris show how poultry producers have changed from tungsten-filament lamps to more energy efficient longer lasting light sources in recent times and the different characteristics of the light that is now commonly used in poultry houses can produce different responses in the birds.

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ITALY - Following on the heels of the success of the recently upgraded EOS/EWS 53â&#x20AC;? range of exhaust fans Pericoli are pleased to re-introduce their full range of redesigned and engineered exhaust fans. The new range not only incorporates the improvements in their renowned quality, performance and efficacies but also has contributed significantly to an improved efficiency in manufacturing and production, thus containing rising costs.

NEW UPGRADED RANGE OF EXHAUST FANS FOR TERMOTECNICA PERICOLI

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The previous 25â&#x20AC;? model is now the EOS26.The minor changes in this direct drive model have resulted in an increase of 7.5 per cent in cfm/W performance. The previous 30â&#x20AC;? model is now the EOS/EWS 31. With minor changes (decrease) in the wall housing along with the incorporation of many features of the standard larger diameter/capacity fans has been increased the capacity by five per cent. Read More...

Housing & Equipment AFBF ASKS TO JOIN POULTRY FARMER’S LAWSUIT AGAINST EPA

NEXT GEN RECOGNISED AS LEADER IN AGRICULTURAL LED LIGHTING

US - Taking aim at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of a Farm Bureau member, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit concerning EPA’s authority to regulate poultry and livestock farms under the Clean Water Act.

US - Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman of the US Department of Energy, travelled to Arkansas to showcase the State’s Advanced Energy sector.

AFBF filed to intervene on the side of West Virginia poultry grower Lois Alt, who brought suit to challenge an EPA order demanding that Alt obtain an unnecessary and costly CWA discharge permit. AFBF was joined in the motion by the West Virginia Farm Bureau. Ms Alt sued EPA in June after the agency ordered her to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge permit. EPA’s order threatens Alt with $37,500 in daily fines for storm water that maycome into contact with dust... Read More...

The Deputy Secretary singled out NextGen Illumination, Inc. for its work in the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors. Next Gen Illumination, Inc. is a pioneer in the field of LED poultry lighting and has worked diligently to bring an LED poultry lighting programme to Arkansas through the Department of Energy and the Arkansas State Energy Office. Mr Poneman recognised the economic benefit of NextGen Illumination’s work to the nation’s growers and poultry industry. The NextGen poultry lamp is the industry leader and has been proven in thousands of farms across the world. Read More...

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Poultry Industry News FUEL SAVINGS AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE FOR POULTRY HOUSES

INGEDIZA SIGNS DEALERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA

UK - Poultry houses can now save up to 22 litres of propane for each continuous 24-hour period in a house installed with 14 new Direct Spark Ignition (DSI) brooders being introduced by Space-Ray to the worldwide poultry markets, according to a recent study conducted in Europe.

VENEZUELA & COLOMBIA - On 26 June, Eng. Jose A. Izaguirre, owner of the Grupo Ingediza, signed an agreement to become dealer for Vencomatic in Venezuela and Colombia.

Standard pilot lights waste fuel. Instead, the new Space-Ray Model SRB40CE No. 5 Direct Spark Ignition Brooder has a powerful spark ignition system that directly lights the main burner.This lowers maintenance since there is no standing pilot to clog up, blow out or waste fuel. The unique design of the Space-Ray radiant gas brooder allows quick, trouble-free access to the main burner orifice by simply sliding back a quick-release bracket. Read More...

Grupo Ingediza has a strong network in the poultry business. The company has had a strong foothold in the Venezuelan market and has recently expanded into Colombia. Colombia is opening up for the international market, looking for new technologies and automation in all sectors. At the moment, the market is seeking more automation from Vencomatic in feeders, drinkers, ventilation, etc. This helps the sector to become more professional and increase output. Also attracting much attention in the market recently is hatching egg hygiene in order to get improved results throughout the production chain.Vencomatic offers several solutions, like the automatic... Read More...

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GLOBAL - Santrev designs and builds poultry houses that set the global standard for quality and innovation.

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SANTREV: POULTRY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS

A family-owned business in Australia, Santrev combines generations of experience in poultry growing with more than 40 years of experience in shed building – a mix unique in the industry. Over the years, the company has built the broiler, breeder, layer and free range facilities that have become the industry benchmark, so we know what works for growers and what does not. Santrev has built hundreds of sheds and are the poultry grower's choice in Australia. However, the company also has international representatives in Asia, South America, Russia and the Middle East. No matter where you are located on the globe, it can offer consultancy or can source professional project managers to assist you build first class poultry sheds. Read More...

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Poultry Industry News HARMONIZING MEASUREMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

IMPORTANT AMENDMENT INCLUDED IN FARM BILL

GLOBAL - The International Poultry Council (IPC) is joining international private-sector livestock organizations in a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and other entities to strengthen the science of environmental benchmarking of livestock supply chains.

US - An amendment to the Farm Bill, recently passed, is aimed to prevent barriers to the free movement of animal products between states. Citing the example of Proposition 2 in California which permits the sale of only free-range eggs in the state from 2014, Congressman King's amendment will prevent states from introducing rules on production that put the same heavy burden on producers from other states who sell their goods there.

This new FAO-led partnership seeks to improve the way the environmental impact of the global animal agriculture industry is measured and assessed, which is the first step in improving the livestock industry’s sustainability. Participation by groups such as the IPC will provide the project with private sector technical and financial resources. “Poultry production is already seen as one of the most efficient users of scarce natural resources,” said Jim Sumner, president of the International Poultry Council. “The IPC is eager to work with the FAO in developing standard international methods for measuring the environmental impact of the global poultry and livestock industries.

Congressman Steve King (Republican - Iowa) achieved what he describes as a ‘legislative victory’ when an amendments he offered during the Agriculture Committee adopted the Farm Bill in July. The House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the 2012 Farm Bill, H.R. 6083, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2012 on 11 July. The first amendment has important implications for animal agriculture in the US. Read More...

POULTRY GROUPS JOIN AG COALITION IN APPEALING NFPA 150 AMENDMENTS

OUTAGES RAISE POULTRY INDUSTRY COST PAKISTAN - Crippling long-hour electricity loadshedding, coupled with scorching heat, has hit the poultry industry hard as each unit of electricity is costing up to Rs40 per poultry house to owners. Strongly protesting about severe power breakdowns particularly in Punjab, poultry industry stakeholders said that due to severe power outages, the poultry sector has to install two types of heavy generators, one operates in the absence of electricity while other standby generator that runs when first one is failed due to sizzling climate, reports The Nation of Pakistan. Owing to prolonged power breakdowns, generators also failed to operate and run at maximum 60 per cent of their capacity, costing us as much as Rs35 to Rs40 per unit, they added. Read More...

US - US Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and United Egg Producers joined a coalition of animal agriculture industry groups in appealing the 14 June 2012 decision of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to amend its 150 Standard for Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities. The existing standard requires automatic fire sprinkler and smoke control systems for housing facilities containing Category A animals – those animals that pose a potential risk to the health or safety of rescuers or the general public, such as dangerous zoo animals.The NFPA amendment would require the installation of sprinkler and smoke control systems in animal housing facilities for Category B animals – defined as all animals not included in Category A - which would expand the standard to include poultry barns. A move that the coalition members believe failed to meet applicable due process... Read More...

Housing & Equipment AGRILAMP: WORKING WITH FARMERS TO INCREASE PROFITS

NPK'S HARD CAR UNLOADER REDUCES UNLOADING TIME

GLOBAL - We all know the difference lighting can make to the average poultry farm in terms of energy use and cost reduction, but what if switching to AgriLamp lighting could not only reduce the running cost of your farm but also significantly increase your production?

US - The NPK Hard Car Unloader facilitates unloading packed, frozen or hardened bulk products such as DDGS, coke, ash, soybean meal, etc. from hopper bottom railcars.

How are your birds seeing things at present what with the increase of feed and energy costs? Or more importantly, how are your profits looking? AgriLamp is a company that is regarded as one of the world leaders in agricultural lighting research and development. Poultry is where the company began and still leads the market. It has years of experience in providing lighting for new farms and integrating AgriLamp into existing buildings and dealing with the technical changes that can sometimes be required.

A two-section hydraulic boom, which mounts on a support framework straddling railroad tracks, or portable system, manipulates a vertical probe that loosens material inside the railcar. Minimal effort of the articulating probe enables the material to flow freely through hopper doors safely, quickly and efficiently unloading the railcar. The speed and effectiveness of NPKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hard Car Unloader is unmatched. Facilities that normally processed 100 to 140 car unit trains in two weeks using six employees can now unload those trains in as little as 48 hours utilizing only three to four employees and an NPK Hard Car Unloader.

Poultry Industry News MEXICO IS SIXTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF FEED MEXICO - The Information Service Food and Fisheries (SIAP) department has reported that in 2011, Mexico recorded 28.3 million tons of feed intended for consumption by livestock and pets. Last year, the country added value through agro-industrial processes and 18 million tons of grains such as sorghum, corn and forage. According to statistics from the Information Service Food and Fisheries (SIAP), Mexico is recorded as the sixth largest producer of feed in the world and the second in Latin America. For 2012, Mexico expects to produce a slightly higher volume than in 2011. This production is estimated to have a market value of about US$1,121,021 and to employ 270,000 people. Read More...

AB VISTA LAUNCHES ONLINE CORN QUALITY SERVICE GLOBAL - AB Vista has launched a unique, fully automated, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;real timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; global Corn Quality Service. The service uses Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy to predict quality of corn (maize). The Corn Quality Service has been developed by AB Vista and its sister company, Aunir, which is a world expert in Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR provides an alternative method to wet chemistry for analysing corn quality. Aunir has developed a database of NIR spectra, from which proximate component values can be predicted and energy values estimated based on quality parameters. The results of NIR analysed via the Corn Quality Service provide AB Vista customers with instant and accurate predictions. This facilitates decision making and enables adjustments to be made in real time meaning that customers can... Read More...

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Poultry Industry News POOR GROWING CONDITIONS AFFECT GRAIN SUPPLY AND DEMAND

STUDY RELEASED ON FUTURE OF GRAINS, BIOFUELS AND FEED

US - Dry weather continued to influence the crop outlook in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released by the Agriculture Department, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

US - Today, feed costs account for 50 to 70 per cent of livestock and poultry production.What factors are driving these costs and how are scarce resources for food, feed and fuel going to be allocated in the future as we struggle to feed a growing population? These questions and more are answered in a landmark study from the American Feed Industry Association reporting on the factors impacting current feed costs.

The WASDE report showed smaller projected yields from June estimates across the board for US soybean and corn crops, despite increased planting acreage from last year. It also showed a decrease in projected ending stocks and feed use. According to AFBF economist Todd Davis, these trends will likely continue through the year. “The reductions in the July report reflect the World Agricultural Outlook Board belief that the drought has greatly reduced the production potential for corn and soybeans,” said Dr Davis. Corn yield was estimated at 146 bushels per acre, reduced by 20 bushels per acre from the June projections. Read More...

The analysis includes an economic outlook of how industry profitability, production efficiency, and demand will be impacted as it pertains to US feed grains and livestock and poultry feeding. Along with the key driving factors of future livestock and poultry industries, this study outlines variables and potential effects, addresses questions not answered, and covers short medium and long term horizons. The report, ‘Future Patterns of US Feed Grains, Biofuels, and Livestock and Poultry Feeding’ was presented by AFIA President and CEO, Joel G. Newman at the Federation of... Read More...

FORFARMERS ACQUISITION OF BOCM PAULS APPROVED UK - The European Competition Authority and the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority have approved the acquisition - announced on 29 March 2012 - of UK feed company, BOCM Pauls, by ForFarmers Group. ForFarmers Group Works Council had already approved the deal.The transfer of shares will take place on 11 July, at which point BOCM Pauls will form part of the ForFarmers Group. Through the acquisition of the activities of BOCM Pauls, ForFarmers will become the largest feed company in Europe with:

DUPONT, TEREOS START NEW NATURAL BETAINE PRODUCTION FACILITY IN FRANCE FRANCE - The joint investment by the two global leaders results in the world’s first facility to produce betaine from vinasse. DuPont, a world leader in market-driven innovation and science, and Tereos, a global player in the primary processing of sugar beet, sugarcane and cereals, celebrate the culmination of a joint investment by announcing the start-up of the first facility in the world to produce betaine from vinasse.

• 8.8 million of tonnes of feed, of which 6.5 million tonnes is compound feed and 2.3 million tonnes is straights and co-products...

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Poultry Industry News 2012 HARVESTS AT RISK FROM MYCOTOXINS

NO LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF FEEDING GM DIETS

UK - We knew it would happen, after a wet Diamond Jubilee,Wimbledon and concerns about the Olympics, this year’s harvest was bound to be at risk from mycotoxins.

GLOBAL - A study at the University of Nottingham, looking to the long term impacts of genetically modified (GM) plants in animal diets has concluded that GM plants are nutritionally equivalent to their nonGM counterparts and can be safely used in food and feed.

A recent UK report confirms that Fusarium infection on leaves has been identified in wheat crops in the west of the country for the first time that plant pathologists can remember. Fusarium development has been favoured by prolonged periods of wet weather. Leaf lesions are mostly the Microdochium species, largely Microdochium nivale, however, this fungus has been called by a variety of scientific Latin names including Fusarium nivale. Although M. nivale doesn't produce mycotoxins there is also evidence of Fumonisin culmorum present in the lesions, and this does produce mycotoxins. Leaf infections are a strong indicator of a problem in the ear and almost 90% of ear samples taken so far are infected with M. nivale. It is therefore highly likely that the grain will be contaminated with Fusarium species which means that there is higher than average mycotoxin threat from...

The review collected data concerning the effects of diets containing GM maize, potato, soybean, rice, or triticale on animal health. Twelve long-term studies were examined (between 90 days and two years in duration) as well as 12 multigenerational studies. The researchers studied many parameters using biochemical analyses, histological examination of specific organs, hematology and the detection of transgenic DNA. Results from all the 24 studies do not suggest any health hazards and, in general, there were no statistically significant differences within parameters observed.

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Feeding & Nutrition CAN CHICKENS GRAZE IN ORCHARDS WITHOUT COMPROMISING FOOD SAFETY? US - Grazing chickens in orchards is mutually beneficial to the birds and for fruit production. Orchards provide shade and food, while chickens control pests, insects, and weeds; eat dropped fruit, which prevents fungus and insect infestations; and also provide fertilizer. According to ATTRA, the USDA National Organic Program regulations require 90 days between fresh manure applications and harvest to be in compliance with USDA organic certification, so grazing should be complete 90 days prior to harvest. For more information on food safety on the farm, see the ATTRA publication An Illustrated Guide to Growing Safe Produce on Your Farm.This publication discusses ways farmers can reduce produce contamination risk, which creates a safer food system and increases consumer confidence in their own products and farm at the same time. Read More...

STUDY SUPPORTS NEED TO REFORM ETHANOL PRODUCTION MANDATE US - In response to a new economic study on the impact of corn ethanol production on food prices and commodity price volatility, a coalition of livestock and poultry groups is urging Congress to reform the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which mandates the amount of ethanol that must be produced annually. Conducted by Thomas Elam, PhD, president of FarmEcon LLC, an Indiana agricultural and food industry consulting firm, the study found that federal ethanol policy has increased and destabilized corn, soybean and wheat prices to the detriment of food and fuel producers and consumers. The RFS, first imposed in 2005 and revised in 2007, this year requires 15.2 billion gallons of ethanol to be produced. Most of that amount is blended into gasoline at 10 per cent. Read More...

Animal Nutrition

DROUGHT THREATENS FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF LIVESTOCK SECTOR US - Drought that is spreading across the country is increasing feed prices and quickly spelling financial disaster for livestock producers, says Purdue Extension agricultural economist, Chris Hurt. While crop producers face serious economic losses from reduced or non-existent yields, the lack of corn, soybean and hay crops could make the fallout even worse for milk, beef, pork, mutton, chicken, egg, turkey and duck producers. "The first thought is crop producers will bear the brunt of the financial losses, but losses in animal industries will be enormous over the next year - perhaps considerably greater than for the crop sector," Dr Hurt said. Unlike many crop farmers, livestock producers don't typically have any form of income protection comparable to crop insurance. Read More...

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Poultry Industry News OPTIMISING HATCHERY DESIGN FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE NETHERLANDS - Sander Koster of Pas Reform says: “Good design is crucial to cost–effective hatchery operation.” Having chosen a green field site for the new hatchery, it is important first to consider the lay-out of the facility carefully, followed by producing an engineering plan of drains, piping, ducting and cabling. Good design is crucial to cost-effective hatchery operation - and should avoid long walking distances anywhere on the site, to minimize the use of internal transport. To prevent cross-contamination, the plan should incorporate a uni-directional flow of people, eggs, air, trays, baskets and trolleys: ‘clean’ should never meet ‘dirty’. A well designed hatchery lay-out will set out five distinct areas for the eggs, incubation, newly hatched chicks, technical operations and personnel. Read More...

CONSISTENCY IS VITAL UK - Stuart Bird is an egg producer at C & P Bird Brothers Ltd. in north Bedfordshire. His family has been producing eggs for a wide variety of different customers, including high-street retailers, wholesalers, caterers and butchers for more than 40 years. Stuart buys in day-old pullets and rears them to 16 weeks before they are transferred into enriched colony cages. Here the chickens are in lay for around 56 weeks. He says: "We're rearing up to 150,000 pullets at any one time and keep up to 400,000 layers." The Merial Avian Team introduced Stuart to the benefits of Vaxxitek HVT+IBD soon after it was launched. He was particularly interested because Gumboro vaccines can be very hot vaccines that can damage a bird's immune system. Read More...

Incubation & Hatching COBB GERMANY HATCHERY WORKSHOP FOR LEADING PRODUCERS GERMANY - More then 30 participants from leading German poultry producers took part in a two-day workshop seminar organized by Cobb Germany at the MMT veterinary laboratory at Köthen. James Truscott, director of Cobb Germany, who welcomed the delegates from hatcheries, laboratories and farms, spoke of the need to expand worldwide food supply at a time of dramatic population growth. In the production chain for poultry meat he explained the correlation between the different stages and the importance of the hatch process in achieving good overall results. Hatchery expert Dr Ron Meijerhof described the influence of chick quality on broiler results, showing an example of a three per cent difference in hatchability using eggs from the same origin in two incubators.

ORKA INSTRUMENTS REPUTATION STAYS STRONG IN CHINA CHINA - Instruments manufactured by ORKA Food Technology are gaining market share and strong recognition in Chinese market. “Chinese egg industry is promising. Since 1985, Chinese egg output has led the world continuously. Also, there have been significant achievements in largescale breeding, egg processing and continuous improvement of layer farms etc. Along with egg industry developments such as egg quality examination, poultry breeding and relative downstream industry, the market demand and use of ORKA brand EggAnalyzer, Egg Force Reader and Eggshell Thickness Gauge are growing. In China, ORKA egg instruments are mainly used in poultry breeding, animal nutrition, food industry including agricultural universities, institutes, large-scale egg industry, entry-exit inspection and Quarantine Bureau and Food Service etc.