Poultry Digest December/January 2012 by Primary Media

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Poultry Digest

Volume 27, Number 3 December 2011/January 2012

Growth with gain is the key to success for Pepeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ducks

The Mortons made the move from chooks to ducks

Is a feed conversion ration of 1:1 a realistic and appropriate goal for broiler chickens in the next ten years?

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10 CoVer story

Contents

Growth with gain is the key to success for Pepe’s Ducks Pepe’s Ducks, the dominant supplier of duck meat in the South Pacific region, was founded by Pepe Bonnacordo back in 1973 with just 22 ducks reared in his back yard at Parramatta in NSW. On those modest foundations, the company, still owned by the Bonnacordo family, has grown to be a significant player in the Australian poultry industry, processing more than 70,000 birds per week.

14 sPeCial feature Peter Brown, Grower Farming Manager, Pepe’s Ducks.

Poultry Digest December 2011/January 2012 Volume 27, Number 3 editorial enquiries Peter Bedwell or rosemary embery 0419 235 288 or 0409 944 472 sales: Peter Bedwell Phone: + 61 2 4368 2220 Mob: 0419 235 288 or Mob: 0409 944 472 fax: + 61 2 4368 2260 email: ilvaril@iinet.net.au website: www.primarymedia.com.au Poultry DiGest consists of a bi-monthly management magazine and an annual industry review. Published by C D supplies Pty ltd (aCN 091 560 557)

Production: rosemary embery email: rembery@iinet.net.au offiCe aDDress: 7 Kerns rd, Kincumber Nsw 2251 Ph: (02) 4368 2220 fax: (02) 4368 2260 suBsCriPtioNs: australia one year – $55.00*. send payment and full details to (subscritpions only): Primary Media, GPo Box 1846, sydney Nsw 2001 New ZealaND one year – $a80. otHer CouNtries asia Pacific including the subcontinent – one year: airmail – $a80; rest of the world – one year: airmail – $a92. send payment in australian dollars. *australia subscription rate includes Gst.

CHaNGe of aDDress for suBsCriPtioNs oNly: send details, along with the old address label, to GPo Box 1846, sydney Nsw 2001 (subscriptions only). all Material CoPyriGHt (editorial and advertisements) and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of Poultry DiGest, the pulishers do not accept any responsibility or liability for the material herein.

the Mortons made the move from chooks to ducks Paul and Silvia Morton are now contract growers for Pepe’s Ducks and operate a four shed 24,000 bird capacity farm at Oakville in NSW. When they acquired the farm it was used to grow broilers.

20 NutritioN feature Is a feed conversion ratio of 1:1 a realistic and appropriate goal for broiler chickens in the next 10 years? Based on historical data and near-future projections, it seems unlikely that the poultry industry will reach a 1:1 feed conversion ratio within the next 10 years. This does not mean that this target will not be reached at all. In fact, when one considers true dry matter conversion, this possibility seems more realistic.

26 NutritioN feature Quality assurance and quality preservation of feed ingredients and finished feed An objective of FeedSafe is to ‘enable livestock producers to achieve expected levels of performance by delivering stock feed of consistent quality to animals’. Rick Carter from Kemin discusses this issue.

News 4 University of Glasgow scientists urge balance in the war of microbial resistance Scientists at the University of Glasgow are urging policymakers to reconsider priorities in efforts to understand and control antimicrobial resistance. 8 Founder of Big Dutchman dies at 100 Jack DeWitt, who founded Big Dutchman in 1938 with his brother, Dick DeWitt, passed away at his home in Zeeland, MI on January 6, 2012.

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News university of Glasgow scientists urge balance in the war of microbial resistance Scientists at the University of Glasgow are urging policymakers to reconsider priorities in efforts to understand and control antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is when microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and parasites, are no longer killed by the drugs that have previously been effective. In the case of bacteria, there is increasing concern over the spread of resistance and the possibility of returning to the situation 100 years ago when many diseases affecting humans and animals were untreatable. Antimicrobial resistance in humans is frequently attributed to veterinary use of antimicrobials, but the relative contribution to the problem from animals and humans is poorly understood at the population level. Despite this, proposals are under consideration by the European Parliament to phase out the precautionary (or prophylactic) use of some antibiotics in animals in the hope that the rate of increase in the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance would be slowed. The plan has been opposed by the British Veterinary Association, which said that the ban would compromise animal health and welfare. Dr Alison Mather, working with an interdisciplinary research team within the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, exploited long-term surveillance data of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 from co-located humans and animals in Scotland, demonstrated how animal and human DT104 populations differ significantly in several ways such as prevalence, linkage, time of emergence, and diversity. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggest that the local animal populations are unlikely to be the major source of resistance in humans, and questions policies that restrict the use of antimicrobials in local domestic animals. Professor Daniel Haydon, Director of the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, said: “In our study, there were significantly more human-only types of resistance than we might have expected if the animal and human microbial communities were well-mixed, suggest-

ing that the risk of resistances passing from animals to humans is lower than previous research has indicated. “We also found that, in the majority of resistances which are common to both animals and humans, the resistances appeared first in humans. “While it’s inevitable that contact, direct or indirect, between animals and humans will lead to some transmission of disease and resistance in both directions, it appears unlikely that the animal population is the major source of resistance diversity for humans.” Professor Stuart Reid, the senior author of the work and now Principal at the Royal Veterinary College, London, added: “It remains true that the use of antimicrobials promotes resistance in microorganisms and of course we advocate prudent use in all species but our work does call into

question the, at times, singular focus on veterinary usage. “Whilst our study has focused on a single bacterial species, our findings do demonstrate that we must ensure that our local policies do not impact disproportionately on domestic livestock without considering imported foodstuffs and animals abroad, as well as the medical use of antibiotics. There is still much to be done if we are to understand the problem at the level of the global ecosystem.” The research was carried out by the University of Glasgow, in partnership with the Scottish Salmonella Shigella and Clostridium difficile Reference Laboratory at Stobhill Hospital; Health Protection Scotland; the Public Health Agency of Canada and the University of Guelph in Canada. The report, entitled ‘An ecological approach to assessing the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in animal and human populations’, is available from http://tinyurl.com/dxr7prd

Major themes announced for australian Poultry science symposium 2012 Hosted by the Poultry Research Foundation and WPSA (Australian Branch), the 23rd Australian Poultry Science Symposium will be held in the Veterinary Science Conference Centre, Camperdown Campus, University of Sydney from the 19-22nd February 2012. Major themes include a mythbusters approach to feed additives, macroeconomic and retailer drivers behind poultry production, new insights into laying hen nutrition and shedding light on the performance gap in free-range production.

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

The Global Presidents of WPVA and WPSA will also give forward-looking presentations as to the role of their respective organisations to 2020. Almost 100 papers have been submitted and a record number of delegates are expected to attend. The conference dinner will be held aboard the Starship Sydney for a cruise round Sydney harbour. Invited speakers and a full program can be found on the PRF website at http://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/apss/ where the registration portal is now open.

Participants in the APSA 2010 workshop to improve poultry production in developing countries, SE Asia and Pacifc Region.

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News founder of Big Dutchman dies at 100 Jack DeWitt, who founded Big Dutchman in 1938 with his brother, Dick DeWitt, passed away at his home in Zeeland, MI on January 6, 2012. While Jack was only 24 days away from turning 101, Big Dutchman, now a worldwide leader in automated poultry and swine production systems is almost ready to celebrate its 75th birthday. Jack DeWitt and his brother Dick DeWitt founded the company in 1938 when they set out to market their invention, which would soon revolutionize the poultry industry. The ‘Big Dutchman’ automated poultry feeder was the first automatic feeding system, featuring the flat chain concept, which remains the most popular poultry feeding technology in the world today. As Dick loved to tell, “we had a pretty good idea that sure beat shoveling out bird feed by hand. We just had to take it out to the rest of the world”. Jack and his brothers were the sons of Dutch immigrants who settled on a farm near Holland, Michigan. After graduating from College and returning from the service, Jack joined his brother Dick to run

a poultry and hatchery business in Zeeland. Here they designed and developed and began the production of the automated poultry feeder. By the early 1950s, Big Dutchman established itself in the US and the brothers were determined to establish plants and sales forces in their Netherlands homeland and other European countries. By 1958, they added a sales representative in Germany, a young farmer named Joseph Meerpohl, who would later become sole owner of Big Dutchman. After numerous overseas trips and earning several awards and federal recognition for his contributions to foreign trade, Jack sold his interest in the company in 1968. He went on to be a community leader with many organisations and responsibilities. Today, Big Dutchman globally is headed by Josef ’s son, Bernd Meerpohl and headquartered in Germany with more than 1600 employees and subsidiaries on every continent. Bernd had been able to meet Jack when he and Clovis Rayzel (President of Big Dutchman Inc.) came to celebrate Jack DeWitt’s 100th birthday. On January 6 of 2011, hundreds of

Jack DeWitt, founder of Big Dutchman

family and friends turned out at an open house birthday celebration in Jack’s hometown, Zeeland, just a few miles away from Big Dutchman USA, which he began almost 75 years ago. The ‘Big Dutchman family’, as Meerpohl calls his global company, will always remember Jack as the salesman with an eternal optimism and a simple (but successful) customer-oriented sales philosophy, who took every opportunity to fire up his team with his ‘keep selling’ mantra.

Nfu scotland slams poor stats on layer cage ban compliance NFU Scotland went to Brussels recently urging Commission officials to learn lessons from the debacle surrounding implementation of the laying cage ban. No fewer that 14 member states and 14 percent of EU egg production failed to meet the deadline when the ban on conventional cages came into force on January 1, 2012. The Union went to Brussels in January seeking reassurances from Commission officials that history won’t repeat itself when Europe’s legislation banning the use of sow stalls in the pig sector comes into force at the end of this year. The UK has had a unilateral ban on sow stalls in place since January 1999. NFU Scotland’s Pigs and Poultry Chairman, Phil Sleigh, who went to Brussels said: “Despite having almost a decade to prepare, no fewer that 14 of our fellow Member States have failed to fully enforce

the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive and will face legal proceedings in the coming weeks according to the European Commission. “Warnings and threats of fines from the Commission about the consequences of non-compliance have been largely ineffectual in encouraging many countries to convert conventional battery cages into enriched welfare friendly cages on time. The deadline has now passed and Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain have all failed to meet it. “According to the Commission’s latest figures, more than 46 million hens are still in illegal conventional cages across Europe, representing a staggering 14 percent of Europe’s egg industry. “Those eggs run the risk of entering the UK and undermining our producers who have taken on board the considerable

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

cost involved in compliance. “Our producers deserve legal protection from having their markets undermined by illegally produced eggs but it is a huge disappointment that this has, so far, been undeliverable at a UK or an EU level. “With the sow stall ban just around the corner, the Commission must learn lessons from this laying cage debacle and put more robust measures in place to penalise those pig producers who do not comply and protect those producer who do meet the rules. The use of such stalls has been outlawed here for the past 13 years and we would welcome speedy and comprehensive compliance across the rest of the EU pig sector. Along with the NPA, I have met with animal welfare officials recently in Brussels in order to raise this issue as a matter of urgency.”

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Cherry Valley day old ducklings from one of Pepe’s hatcheries.

Growth with gain is the key to success for Pepe’s ducks

By PETER BEDWELL

epe’s Ducks, the dominant supplier of duck meat in the South Pacific region, was founded by Pepe Bonnacordo back in 1973 with just 22 ducks reared in his back yard at Parramatta in NSW. On those modest foundations, the company, still owned by the Bonnacordo family, has grown to be a significant player in the Australian poultry industry, processing more than 70,000 birds per week. The New Zealand arm of Pepe’s ducks is a stand-alone company producing more than 20,000 birds per week for the NZ

domestic market and exports to the Pacific region and some Asian markets. In Australia Pepe’s operates 23 grower farms of which two are company owned, as are four breeder units and two hatcheries. Like many of Australia’s leading poultry industry integrators, Pepe’s Ducks grew from the inspirational determination of its founder and his family into a significant enterprise with the help of a professional management team and well-trained employees. Today John Houston is the General Manager of the Australian operations and his son Matthew Houston is the Managing Director of the New Zealand Operation. Peter Brown is the Grower Farming Manager and looks after the growing operations. Poultry Digest visited Pepe’s Windsor NSW processing plant and offices in January to learn more about ducks and the market for the product from John Houston and Peter Brown. The first surprise was that the majority of Pepe’s Duck’s production is sold to restaurants and the food service industry in general. “Some companies in the food production seem to equate success with the

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

number of representatives they need to service their market,” said Mr Houston. “We know of companies in the food industry with similar turnover to Pepe’s that have more than 20 sales staff on the road. In answer to the question, how does Pepe’s service its selling operations? Mr Houston’s short answer was, “I do”. In contrast to the minimalistic selling approach, the majority of the 150 plus full time employees are concerned with running sophisticated growing and processing operations. “Ducks require fairly high maintenance,” explained Mr Brown. “They are fussy eaters and our birds’ diet consists mostly of prime quality wheat so feed costs are inevitably higher than for the chicken meat sector where a variety of materials, such as sorghum can be used. “Water quality and flow rates are also vital as ducks not only drink water but also use it for preening,” he said. “Biosecurity is vital and we concentrate on keeping our bird’s environment as clean, and thus as disease free, as is possible. We inspect our birds at farm, management and veterinary levels on a very regular basis. Pepe’s Ducks in fact received The w

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v Australian Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award and was the runner up in the Australian Livestock Producer of the Year category at the Australian Farmer of The Year 2011 awards. The Kondinin Group in partnership with ABC Rural present these awards to Australian farmers. At the presentation it was stated that Pepe Bonacocordo had idnetified the need for a biosecurity strategy for the industry back in 1994. As a result the duck meat industry had developed its own quality systems and biosecurity standards. “As a result of these strict regimes we are able to reduce disease,” Mr Houston said. “Though ducks are basically very hardy creatures they do not respond well to stress factors like over stocking or dirty and wet litter. “They let us know very quickly if their conditions are not ideal as performance suffers if their conditions are less than optimal and we spend a lot of both time and money on litter maintenance as well as high quality feed. “Overstocking for instance, creates feathering problems and depressed growth rates, so we just don’t do it,” Mr Brown emphasised. These high cost factors lead Mr Houston back to his favourite topic – growth! “Of course we want to increase the volume of duck meat Australians eat. At the moment its running at around 1 kg per person per year and we envisage that volume will increase at about 10% pa into the foreseeable future,” he explained. Not for the first time in Poultry Digest’s conversations about duck meat production the phrase ‘ducks are not like chickens’ came up. “We can’t rear ducks in the same way that chickens are grown and neither can we market them in the same way either. “Duck meat in Australia, and around the world for that matter, is regarded by consumers and food service industries as a premium product,” he said. “Pepe’s Ducks has thrived and grown because it has been successful in maintaining that premium product over other poultry meats like chicken meat. ‘We need that premium because the cost of rearing our birds and producing the very special qualities our customers demand, are high – much, much higher on a per kg basis than chicken meat, for instance. “So yes, we want to build volume, but not at the cost of quality, so that’s why we concentrate on the food industry where good restaurants and their chefs can build on the value of our ducks to enhance their profitability as well.

Left: John Houston, General Manager of Pepe’s Ducks with the Australian Biosecurity Farmer of The Year award. Below: The ducklings are basically hardy creatures but are fussy eaters which don’t respond well to stress factors like over stocking or dirty or wet litter.

“We are active in supplying consumers direct but only in limited sectors like farmers markets where food enthusiasts are likely to shop and be more than happy to pay for the quality we need to keep our operations running well. “Apart from quality, bird size is also important. There is a ‘golden zone’ of 1.9 to 2.3 kg dressed,” Mr Houston said. For the better part of Pepe’s Ducks growth period, UK-sourced Cherry Valley genetics were dominant but in 2005 the French sourced Grimaud bird was introduced. “The Grimaud has qualities that appeal to many sections of our market. “Skin quality for instance, better suits traditional Asian cooking methods and though our demand for duck meat spreads across the entire Australia population, there is no doubt that a lot of our growth in recent years has come from demand from

POULTRY DIGEST December/January, 2012

our Asian migrant communities as well as the impact of cooking shows that has increased awareness of duck as an alternative meat. “It is also a bigger bird that we can grow out to around 3 kg dressed,” Mr Houston stated. “One of the key concerns in our growth strategy is to find and keep dedicated people in what is a fairly specialist livestock industry,” he said. “We are looking for people at all levels and to fill positions throughout the production process. This includes dedicated contract growers who are prepared to learn new skills or improve on their existing experience to suit the particular needs of growing ducks. “We are considering ways to reach students with a leaning towards agriculture by working with agricultural colleges to CONTINUED ON PAGE 45 w

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The conventional curtain-sided sheds make excellent housing for ducks.

The Mortons made the move from chooks to ducks

By PETER BEDWELL

aul and Silvia Morton, with the help of their son Caio, are contract growers for Pepe’s Ducks and operate a four shed 24,000 bird capacity farm at Oakville in NSW, situated not far from Pepe’s headquarters and processing plant at Windsor. When they acquired the farm 12 years ago it was used to grow broilers for Baiada and Paul and Silvia grew for that company for some years before converting the sheds for duck rearing three years ago. The conventional curtain-sided sheds

had been converted to free range broiler rearing before the Mortons moved to Pepe’s. These sheds make ideal housing for ducks which, provided they get a good start, are adaptable to a reasonably wide temperature range. The sheds are ventilated simply using manually operated curtains and stirrer fans. There is not the requirement for high levels of automation and associated cooling pads/fans/minivents which are typical of converted (or new) tunnel ventilated broiler accommodation. Peter Brown, Pepe’s Ducks Farming Manager who with John Houston, Pepe’s General Manager, had been explaining the specifics of duck rearing to Poultry Digest, came to the Morton’s farm to point out some of the key features of successful rearing. A batch of Cherry Valley day old ducklings had been delivered to the farm from one of Pepe’s hatcheries and the birds had settled in at the start of a 42 day growing period. “At the end of the growing period the birds will have reached around 2.9 kg which results typically in a 2.3 kg dressed bird for sale,” Mr Brown said. Pepe’s grows both Cherry Valley and

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

Grimoud genetic varieties and the Morton’s farm rears both. “They are placed on a starter diet for the first two or two and a half weeks, then go to market weight on grower rations: we anticipate a 67/68 gms per day weight gain,’ he said. The ducklings are initially housed in brooding surrounds to keep them in an area heated by Gameco-supplied brooder gas fired units. “We like to have the brooding area heated to about 32 degrees C when the ducklings are placed,” Mr Brown explained. Plentiful water supply is available from fonts placed in the brooder area and there are feeder trays so the birds have easy access to their starter diets, also access to automated feeding pans. Paul commented that the whole process of getting the birds settled and feeding was much less labour intensive than the paper feed system used when starting broiler chicks. Peter Brown, when explaining aspects of duck rearing at Pepe’s headquarters, had emphasised the importance of litter CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 w

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v CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 management and now he pointed out just ‘how its done’ in sheds that were being prepared for a new batch. “Wet patches are removed and existing litter worked with a rotary hoe before a fresh batch of clean shavings are placed in the shed. Typically around 60 cubic metres for a 5000 bird batch,” Mr Brown explained. As we examined the shed where a batch had just been completed it is noticeable that there is no odour and the existing litter appears to be in good condition; a sure sign of a well managed shed. The Mortons are glad of their change to ducks and as John Houston pointed out to Poultry Digest “ducks do keep people interested”, and Paul agrees. Prior to striking out as a contract grower first of broiler chickens and now ducks, Paul had worked in a variety of roles in the poultry industry including R&D in his time with both Inghams and Baiada. In another interesting career move he also spent some time in exotic overseas locations including Florida building large fiberglass pleasure boats. Silvia Morton grew up in San Paulo, the Brazilian city that is the largest in the southern hemisphere. She is just as enthusiastic about being a duck farmer as her husband Paul and has a lively interest in the world’s poultry industries. The Mortons are just as optimistic about the future of ducks in Australia as their integrator, Pepe’s . Though the levels of shed technology in duck rearing may be far more simple than on typical broiler farms this doesn’t mean that you can take your eye off the birds. “Constant supervision is necessary to avoid problems and we are well aware of this,” Paul concluded.

Top right: Peter Brown, Pepe’s Ducks Grower Farming Manager with Paul and Silvia Morton. Centre: Litter management is vital in the sheds. Left: Sheds are ventilated using manually operated curtains. Above: Gameco-supplied brooder gas fired unit.

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

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NUTRITION FEATURE

Is a feed conversion ratio of 1:1 a realistic and appropriate goal for broiler chickens in the next 10 years? By M. de BEER, D.ELFICK and DA EMMERSON

ased on historical data and nearfuture projections, it seems unlikely that the poultry industry will reach a 1:1 feed conversion ratio within the next 10 years. This does not mean that this target will not be reached at all. In fact, when one considers true dry matter conversion, this possibility seems more realistic. With emerging technologies and new selection, nutrition and management practices, there is a still lot of room for improved efficiency. The global trend toward sustainability also fits well with the direction of the poultry industry. Research has shown that of all animal species, poultry production has the smallest carbon/ nitrogen footprint and continues to reduce this footprint per unit of meat produced. Our existing progress in efficiency has not come at the expense of animal welfare. Data show that mortality and condemnation rates are lower than ever and skeletal, heart and lung health has not been compromised by modern selection practices. Perhaps most importantly, these advances in our industry have ensured that poultry meat remains highly affordable for much of the world’s population. The industry has shown itself to be highly responsible in its consideration of the environment and of social and economic issues, and further advancements in efficiency will continue this success story.

Introduction Progress in feed conversion ratio (FCRfeed consumed per unit body weight) of broiler chickens has been quite staggering over the past three decades. Despite the radical improvements and years of intense selection, there is still significant withinand between-strain variation in traits such as growth and feed conversion. Emmerson (1997) presented data from 45 broiler crosses showing that there was more than 10% between-strain variation in body

Marc de Beer DSM Nutritional Products

weight, growth rate and feed conversion and up to 30% variation in abdominal fat. Significant within-strain variation also still exists. Therefore, we can expect genetic progress to continue at a similar rate for many of these economically critical traits. Whether a 1:1 FCR is achievable in the next 10 years is less clear. It would require us to almost double the current rate of year-on-year progress. Although many advances have been made in selection, nutrition, health and management, a doubling of our progress seems unrealistic, but ingenuity and commitment within various sectors of the industry has prevailed before. The question of whether a 1:1 FCR is an appropriate goal can be answered in more concrete terms. Previously, advances in certain traits were accompanied by challenges in other areas of production. For example, intense selection for growth was often associated with reduced reproductive performance, increased carcass fat, skeletal abnormalities and ascites. These issues have presented producers with challenges in the past but modified

20 POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

selection schemes have successfully ameliorated some of these complications. Understanding the causes of some of the negative traits and developing tools to measure susceptibility has enabled significant genetic improvements to be made in many of them. Skeletal problems such as tibial dyschondroplasia, and others such as ascites, are examples of such disturbances that have been significantly improved through section using novel techniques. Thus, with continued focus on all of these physiological support traits, there seems no basis to claim that a 1:1 FCR is not an appropriate goal due to animal welfare and ethical concerns. Historically, the industry has been very responsible in this regard. Furthermore, life cycle analysis and other environmental impact studies have illustrated the benefits of low FCRs for the environment and for sustainability. The poultry industry’s commitment to efficiency has resulted in a lower environmental impact and ultimately a lower cost of high-quality protein to the consumer. Sustainability has become a significant focus area for the agricultural sector as a whole and it encompasses economic, social and environmental issues. Is a 1:1 FCR achievable in the next 10 years? According to Aviagen’s (2007) broiler performance objectives, a 2 kg male broiler should achieve an FCR of approximately 1.54. This objective is based on the performance of top quartile customers around the world. It is certainly achievable with good health, nutritional and management related inputs. There is a tremendous amount of variation in measured FCRs in the field. Within Aviagen’s database of field performance, adjusted FCRs can vary by up to 50 points from one operation to another. w

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NUTRITION FEATURE v This variation proves that in any one flock, the influence of nutrition, management and disease can far exceed the influence of genetics alone. Genetic companies are predicting continued improvement at a rate of 2–3 points of FCR per year with no immediate plateau in sight. Based on these projections, a current FCR of 1.54 and no change in the potential plateau over the next 10 years, we could expect FCRs of 1.24–1.34. This would certainly represent the top end of industry performance. Havenstein (2003) estimated that genetic selection was responsible for 85–90% of the improvement in broiler growth and feed efficiency. According to his assessment, the other 10– 15% was due to nutrition. If we assume that in the best case scenario, the genetics companies give us a total of 30 points improvement over the next 10 years, we could hope for an additional improvement of 4.5 points due to advances in nutrition. That gives us a total improvement of around 34.5 points in FCR. With current FCRs for 2 kg male broilers of 1.54, we could expect FCRs of 1.2 in the next 10 years. It is hard to imagine us reaching a goal of a 1:1 FCR in the next decade, but achieving an FCR of 1.2 would represent a phenomenal achievement for our industry and the benefits would be felt all the way from the global environment to the individual consumer. Stepwise improvements in FCR due to breed changes or major advances in nutrition, feed delivery or health and management may get us closer to 1:1 than these projections suggest. If the question is extended beyond the next 10 years, it is more likely that this goal can be achieved. Although a 1:1 feed conversion may seem unrealistic to some, if it is considered on a dry matter basis, a different picture emerges. On a dry matter basis, a 1:1 FCR is actually closer to 2.52:1. This value was calculated assuming that feed contains 11.5% water and a whole chicken contains 65% water. Thus, a 2 kg bird with a 1.8 FCR would have an FCR of 4.55 on a dry matter basis. This should be encouragement and motivation enough to aim for such a target. Is a 1:1 FCR an appropriate goal? Sustainability has become the watch word of the early twenty-first century. Often the definition ‘to meet the needs of

the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) is used. However, it provides no benchmarks. The International Reporting Initiative, an organization that provides a framework for reporting ‘sustainability’, considers three ‘pillars’ for sustainability; economic, environment and social. These three pillars are used in several models, but one of the most frequently referred to is that of interlocking and overlapping circles of influence. Aviagen collects large amounts of field data and as such can establish the trends in traits such as growth rate and feed conversion. The company looked at the average number of days to reach 2.3 kg. Based on these data it showed there had been an improvement in days to 2.3 kg of 10 days over the last 15 years. This trend shows no sign of slowing. Aviagen also looked at the amount of calories required to reach 2.3 kg. These data show that birds require 370 fewer kilocalories to reach 2.3 kg than they did in 1995. This gives some indication of the improvements that have occurred in feed conversion. Despite these radical improvements in growth rate and FCR, there has been no increase in mortality or other welfare and health-related traits during this period. If anything, these parameters have improved. This is clear evidence that the genetics companies have taken a very balanced and responsible approach to improving FCR. Although improvements have been significant, they have not come at the expense of bird welfare and health. For more than 30 years, genetics companies have used highly controlled individual pen tests to enhance FCR. This technique has almost halved the amount of feed required to generate a unit of poultry meat since the 1970s. Individual pens, although cost-effective and of high welfare standards, do not address the behavioural aspects of feed efficiency. In 2005, Aviagen started selecting pedigree chickens using performance testing stations in their breeding program. These stations allow birds to be grouphoused and demonstrate the behavioural aspects of feed intake and efficiency. This technology will allow Aviagen to make faster improvements in FCR, with improvement rates around 2.5% per annum. This improvement rate is close to the predicted increases in world chicken

22 POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

meat output. This being the case, the industry will be close to truly sustainable with inputs reducing at around the same rate as growth. Furthermore, since the late 1990s, Aviagen has not utilised prophylactic antibiotics or coccidiostats in its breeding programs. High quality breeding and broiler stock should be sufficiently hardy to perform in the absence of these feed additives and the conditions under which the birds are selected should reflect this. The environment With large scale population growth and finite resources, any farming activity needs to be considered in the context of its impact on the global environment. Of all land-animal protein sources, poultry meat production appears the most environmentally efficient, followed by pork and sheep meat (primarily lamb), with beef the least efficient. According to a report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2006), this results from “several factors, including: the very low overheads of poultry breeding stock (c. 250 progeny per hen each year vs. one calf per cow); very efficient feed conversion; high daily weight gain of poultry (made possible by genetic selection and improved dietary understanding”. Although the estimate of progeny per year may be significantly exaggerated, it is still clear that progress in FCR has resulted in a smaller potential for greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller carbon/nitrogen footprint per unit meat produced. The report estimated the global warming potential (GWP) of all these species and found that poultry has the lowest potential of all for global warming. This was measured in CO2 equivalents produced. Genetic selection of broilers over the past 20 years has resulted in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 25%, and this reduction is predicted to continue for the next 20 years. Commercial geneticists feel that this is a very conservative estimate given the enhanced technologies available today and in the near future. Selection targets for efficiency, especially in FCR and meat yield, have primarily driven this reduction at the same time as reducing the wholesale price of high quality, healthy animal protein to the customer. Environmental traits will be increasingly CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 w

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NUTRITION FEATURE

Quality assurance and quality preservation of feed ingredients and finished feed By RICK CARTER, PhD Kemin AgriFoods

n objective of FeedSafe is to ‘enable livestock producers to achieve expected levels of performance by delivering stock feed of consistent quality to animals’. The Code for Good Manufacturing Practice states that a ‘raw material sourcing and purchasing program must be implemented that minimises potential product quality and safety risks, be they biological, chemical or physical’. The onus lies with both suppliers of raw materials and feed manufacturers to ensure the feed delivered to livestock is fit for purpose and of consistent quality. The sophistication of modern feed formulation software along with advances in near infrared technology have helped nutritionists ensure the necessary nutrition objectives are met. The physical quality can also be assured with the use of sieve sets, pellet durability and pellet hardness testing tools and of course visual assessments. However, controlling some of the invisible chemical and biological quality parameters is more difficult and challenging, and could be assisted by devising a system that prescribes specific assurancepreservation programs for both raw materials and finished feed depending on Figure 1: Processes that can lead to raw material and feed quality compromises INVISIBLE THREATS TO FEED QUALITY

CHEMICAL

OXIDATION

MICROBIOLOGICAL

MOULD

BACTERIA

NUTRIENT LOSS

FEED INTAKE

FEED INTAKE MYCOTOXIN RISKS SALMONELLA RISKS

the relative risk. This article will consider oxidation as a chemical quality consideration and mould/mycotoxins along with bacteria/Salmonella as biological quality considerations (figure 1). Risk factors and relative risk rating Assigning individual raw materials and specific finished feeds to high, medium or low risk would be determined in-house, whilst the factors contributing to the risks are quite well understood but often overlooked. There are known factors that contribute to the risk of mould and bacteria growth in raw materials and feed (ie. microbiological quality), and to oxidative damage of fats, oils and fat soluble ingredi-

ents as well as feeds containing these ingredients (ie. oxidative quality). An example of a risk chart that could be constructed is shown in table 1. Assuring and preserving quality There are various practices that can be used to ensure and preserve raw material and feed quality. These include: • quality of storage, eg. leak-proof, aeration • location of storage, eg. cooler side of buildings • hygiene of storage, eg. regular cleaning and checking • use of mould inhibitors, Salmonella inhibitors and anti-oxidants at levels in accordance with the relative risk ratings Examples of preserving ingredient oxidative stability by using appropriately w

Table 1: Risk rating chart for raw materials and finished feed. (H=high risk, M=medium risk, L=low risk)

Risk factor 1. Quicker turnover a) cool, dry conditions b) warm, humid conditions c) ‘typical’ moisture d) higher moisture e) warm, humid conditions & higher moisture f) mainly saturated fat g) higher unsaturated fat level h) ‘typical’ fat levels i) high fat levels 2. Slower turnover a) cool, dry conditions b) warm, humid conditions c) ‘typical’ moisture d) higher moisture e) mainly saturated fat f) higher unsaturated fat level g) ‘typical’ fat levels h) high fat levels 1

Raw materials Microbiological Oxidative

Finished feed Microbiological Oxidative

L M L M

L M L M1

L M L H

L M-L2 L M-L1,2

H n/a n/a n/a n/a

M L M L M

H n/a n/a n/a n/a

M L M-L2 L M-L2

M H M H n/a n/a n/a n/a

M H M H1 M H M H

M H H H n/a n/a n/a n/a

M-L2 H-M2 M-L2 M-L1,2 M-L2 H-M2 M-L2 H-M2

, hydrolysis/free fatty acid production risk; , use lower risk rating when fat/oil/fat soluble ingredient has been separately protected; n/a, not applicable 2

26 POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

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NUTRITION FEATURE Figure 2. Oxygen absorption over time for an untreated tallow sample and a sample from the same source with a liquid antioxidant under an oxygen challenged accelerated test.

Figure 3. Oxygen absorption over time for an untreated poultry oil sample & a sample from the same source treated with a liquid antioxidant under an oxygen challenged accelerated test 350

500.00

Control 300 Oxygen absorption: mg/50g

Oxygen Absorption (mg/50g)

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v formulated antioxidants are shown in figures 2 (tallow), 3 (poultry oil) and 4 (meat meal). Comparing tallow and poultry oil, the oxygen absorption values after 24 hours were 201mg and 315mg respectively indicating the lower oxidative stability of poultry oil. These values compare with about 60mg for meat meal which typically contains about 10% fat (figure 4). The inclusion of 500g/tonne of a liquid antioxidant prevented the liquid fat sources from losing their stability whilst 250g/tonne stabilized the meat meal. Figure 5 and Table 2 show clearly how a mould inhibitor can be used to help preserve the microbial stability of feed ingredients, ie. millrun (figure 6: 14.2% moisture at 25Â°C and 32-46% Relative w

Figure 4. Oxygen absorption over time for an untreated meat meal sample and a sample from the same source treated with a liquid antioxidant under an oxygen challenged accelerated test.

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Figure 5. Carbon dioxide production (%) in the headspace air above untreated millrun and the same millrun treated with a liquid mould inhibitor at two dose rates (MCL, MycoCURB Liquid)

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NUTRITION FEATURE Table 2. Effect of treating barley with a liquid mould inhibitor over 4 months of storage; values are mould counts in colony forming units (cfu) per gram. Samples Untreated barley Treated barley: 1kg/t MycoCURB® Liquid

March 200 100

April 10,000 200

May 3,000,000 400

June 5,000,000 300

Accelerated Carbon Dioxide Production (%)

v Humidity) and cereal grain (table 2, barley). Mould and other micro-organisms produce carbon dioxide as they grow but this was dramatically inhibited when a mould inhibitor was applied to millrun. The use of a liquid mould inhibitor also prevented mould growth in stored barley. An example of mould inhibition responses from using an appropriately formulated product in a finished feed is shown in figure 6 (13.4% moisture mash feed at 25°C and 32-46% Relative Humidity). The effect of mould inhibitor dose rate can be seen on the microbial stability of the mash feed as indicated by decreasing CO2 production as the dose rate increases.

Summary

• Feedsafe and Good Manufacturing Practices aim to ensure that purchased raw materials and finished feed delivered to livestock are fit for purpose which includes minimizing potential product quality and safety risks, be they biological, chemical or physical • invisible threats to raw material and feed quality include chemical degradation by oxidation as well as biological degradation from bacteria and mould growth • the quality compromises imposed on feed by these threats include nutrient losses and reduced feed intake along with further potential risks from mycotoxin and Salmonella contamination • a systematic approach to managing these

107

117

120

Figure 6. Carbon dioxide production (%) in head-space air above untreated mash feed & the same feed treated with a liquid mould inhibitor at various dose rates (MycoCURB Liquid) (dark blue = un-treated; purple = 1.5kg/t; yellow = 3.0kg/t; light blue = 4.5kg/t) potential threats is to develop a relative risk chart for raw materials and finished feed based on factors known to influence the risk • management and manufacturing practices can then be linked to the chart according to the risk ratings • a range of practices can be adopted including interventions with suitable

antioxidants, mould and Salmonella inhibitors applied at dose rates in line with the risk profiles developed for specific raw materials and finished feeds. Dr Carter is a Technical Services Manager for Kemin Industries (Asia) Pty Ltd and can be contacted in Sydney on phone number (02) 9482 2357).

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NEWS Higher education fees a threat to agriculture A call to raise the fees for agricultural courses at university by up to 25% has alarmed the Victorian Famers Federation Young Agribusiness Professionals (YAPS). Aaron Sanderson, YAPs committee Chair, said that he was amazed at the Higher Education Base Funding Review recommendation, given the recent Inquiries into agricultural education highlighting the need for skilled workers. “Increasing the fees for agricultural courses when the industry is already experiencing a lack of skilled workers is ridiculous. “With 2012 being the Australian Year of the Farmer, this is the ideal time for the Federal Government to demonstrate that it values agriculture as an industry and for its role in food security for this country”. Raising the fees for agricultural courses will have a detrimental impact

Pig, Poultry & Dairy Focus Asia Early bookings for Pig, Poultry & Dairy Focus Asia 2012 are well ahead of the figures for the 2010 edition of Asia’s leading independent, technical livestock conference. Pig, Poultry & Dairy Focus Asia 2012 will be held at the Queen Sirikit Center in Bangkok, Thailand on February 8-10 2012 and will focus on ‘Productivity through Health & Nutrition’. Some 90 or so international experts from some 20 different countries will be focusing on the latest developments that livestock producers should be harnessing to improve the efficiency and profitability of their businesses. The four keynote speakers will focus on sustainable animal production, improving productivity and performance through genetics, new vaccines and enzymes in animal nutrition in an opening joint session. The main body of the conference will divide into pig, poultry and dairy programmes that will primarily focus on developments in health and nutrition management and highlight ways for improving productivity and profitability. Go to www.nccexhibition.com.

into future enrolments, Mr Sanderson said. “Many of our members have said that education is already pricing itself out of the market for those who wish to study agriculture. Increasing the fees further will place further limits on those who want to get an agricultural degree.

“If we want to have a strong and healthy industry that’s sustainable long term, we need to ensure that agricultural students aren’t priced out of the industry because they can’t afford to study. “The Government must reject these recommendations and focus on making agriculture a national priority” Mr Sanderson said.

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MANAGEMENT FEATURE

The relationship between shed cleanliness and hen productivity By L E EDWARDS, PhD University of Melbourne

he relationships between the average concentration of total airborne dust in 33 caged laying sheds, the duration and frequency of cleaning methods used by stockpeople, and the productivity of the hens was studied. Regression analyses indicated that the average dust concentration was lower when stockpeople spent more time cleaning in the sheds. In comparison, hen day production was lower when stockpeople used a high proportion of noisy cleaning methods, and the peak in egg production was higher when the concentration of airborne dust was higher. Mortality rates were higher in sheds where stockpeople used a greater variety of cleaning methods. Larger sheds, as indicated by the number of tiers of cages, had lower average dust concentrations and mortality rates, and higher hen day production. The results of these regression analyses indicate that while an increase in the use of noisy cleaning methods may pose a stressor for laying hens, exposure to higher concentrations of airborne dust do not appear to impair productivity. Introduction Recent observations on cage-egg farms examining between-farm relationships have found that laying hens that were exposed to high levels of man-made noise in the laying shed not only displayed high fear of humans, but also produced more eggs and had lower concentrations of corticosterone (a stress hormone) in their egg albumen (Edwards, 2009). One explanation for the unexpected relationship between noise and egg production may relate to the cleaning routines used by stockpeople in the laying sheds. The majority of noise that occurs in laying sheds is related to motorised cleaning procedures, and it is plausible to suggest that sheds that experience the most manmade noise are also the sheds that receive the most cleaning. Potentially, the flocks studied by

Edwards (2009) that were exposed to a lot of noise may have been producing well because they were living in sheds that were cleaned more often, resulting in a cleaner living environment. It was hypothesised that the frequency of cleaning in laying sheds and the amount of noise made during cleaning are related to the productivity of the laying hens in those sheds. To investigate this hypothesis, the present study assessed the cleanliness (airborne dust concentration) of commercial laying sheds and compared this to the cleaning routines employed by the stockpeople and the productivity of the hens. Materials and methods Thirty-three laying sheds on eight egg farms in Victoria were visited between November 11 and December 23, 2009. Data were collected on the following variables: the average concentration of airborne dust in each laying shed; the physical features of each laying shed that may affect air flow and dust concentrations; an interview withstockpeople regarding the cleaning routines in each shed, and the productivity records for each shed (where possible). The methods used for collecting these data are described below. Sampling airborne dust concentrations: The average total airborne dust concentration (mg/m3) in each laying shed was assessed using a handheld air sampler (DustTrack TM Aerosol Monitor, Model 8532). The researcher sampled each shed by walking down each aisle once with the air sampler held at chest height, and these data were used to calculate an average value for the shed. After the first reading was taken at the start of the day, the researcher then sampled the shed on an hourly basis for eight hours (usually from 8am to 4pm). Thus the average airborne dust concentration at each hour could be used to calculate an overall daily average for each shed (Mean Dust, mg/m3). Shed details: For each laying shed the following variables were recorded: the

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

number of fans present (No of Fans); the temperature that the shed was maintained at (Shed Temp); the age of the birds (Flock Age); the number of birds in the shed (Flock Size); the average number of birds in each cage (Birds per Cage); the area of the shed in m2 (Shed Area); the number of rows of cages (No of Rows), and the number of tiers of cages (No of Tiers). Interview with stockpeople: Ethics approval to conduct research involving humans was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Melbourne (Ethics ID # 0932600.1). All stockpeople who conducted cleaning inside the sheds were asked to participate in an interview regarding the frequency and method of their cleaning routines. The results of these interviews were analysed and the following variables were calculated: the total number of different types of cleaning methods used in the shed (No of Methods); the total number of hours spent cleaning in the shed per week per 1000 birds (Hrs / 1000 Birds); the total number of hours per week per 1000 birds spent cleaning using loud cleaning methods such as a leaf blower or air hose (Noise Hrs / 1000 Birds); the proportion of total cleaning time that consisted of loud cleaning procedures (Prop Noise); the number of days since the shed was last cleaned using any method (Days Since Last Clean), and if the shed was blown out with a leaf blower or air hose as part of the cleaning routine, the number of days between blowouts (Days Between Blowouts). Productivity records: From the productivity records that were available and adequate, the following variables were obtained: the cumulative mortality rate on the day of sampling (Mortality) (n = 24); the hen day production on the day of sampling (HDP) (n = 29), and the peak hen day production (Peak HDP) (n = 21). The value from the appropriate breed standard (ISA, 2006; Hyline, 2009) was subtracted from the actual productivity value to give a + or â&#x20AC;&#x201C; value, indicating how

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 33

MANAGEMENT FEATURE well the flock was performing in comparison to the breed standard. It was these comparisons to the breed standards that were used in the analyses. The data were checked for normality and transformed where necessary. The mean dust concentration and productivity data were then subjected to a forward linear regression analysis.

Table 1: Forward regression analyses for the relationships between shed parameters, cleaning routines, airborne dust concentration and productivity measures. Predictors Hrs/1000 birds

B -0.45

sed 0.14

t -3.30

P .003

Shed Temp No of tiers

0.12 -0.06

0.01 0.02

8.86 -3.88

.000 .001

HDP

Prop noise No of tiers

-21.91 1.80

8.23 0.79

-2.66 2.28

.013 .031

0.33

Peak HDP

Mean dust SqRt

13.41

2.35

5.72

.000

.61

Mortality

No of methods No of tiers

0.46 -0.49

0.10 0.20

4.45 -2.48

.000 .023

0.47

Variable Mean dust SqRt

Results Stockpeople spent less time cleaning in the shed (P = 0.003), when the sheds were maintained at a warmer temperature (P = 0.000) and when there were less tiers of cages in the shed (P = 0.001). These three variables explained 71% of the variation in average dust concentration. Flock productivity was associated with cleaning routines, shed parameters and airborne dust concentrations. Hen day production (HDP) was greater when stockpeople made less noise while cleaning (P = 0.013) and when there were more tiers in the shed (P = 0.031), with 33% of the variation in HDP explained by these two variables.

The Peak HDP was greater when the average airborne dust concentration was greater (P = 0.000), and this relationship explained 61% of the variation in peak egg production. Mortality rates were greater when stockpeople used a greater variety of cleaning methods (P = 0.000) and when there

Adj R2 .71

were less tiers of cages in the shed (P = 0.023), and these two variables explained 47% of the variation in mortality rates. Discussion The mean dust concentrations observed in this sample of fully-enclosed, environmentally controlled laying sheds in

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POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 34

MANAGEMENT FEATURE v Victoria were all below 1.27 mg/m3, which is comparable to those reported in the literature (< 2 mg/m3) for caged laying sheds (Ellen et al., 2000). The results of this study found that both average airborne dust concentration and flock productivity on caged egg farms were related to the cleaning routines used by stockpeople. In addition, one factor associated with the size of the shed, the number of tiers of cages, was also associated with dust concentration and productivity. The relationships between dust concentrations, time spent cleaning and shed temperature are as expected. If the amount of time spent cleaning by stockpeople is effective in reducing airborne dust concentrations then a negative relationship between these two variables is expected. In addition, it is not surprising to find a positive relationship between shed temperature and dust concentration, as warmer sheds are more likely to have lower ventilation rates, which would presumably reduce the removal of airborne dust. The negative relationship between dust concentration and the number of tiers can not be readily explained, as it would be expected that more tiers would be associated with a larger flock and thus a larger source of airborne dust. The number of tiers in the shed was also positively associated with egg production and negatively associated with mortality rates, and it is plausible to suggest that the larger sheds may be representative of more modern sheds, in which improvements to cage design, ventilation and automatic systems (e.g. feed distribution) have been implemented. In this sense, a larger shed may be

representative of an improved living environment for laying hens when compared to a smaller shed with fewer tiers. However, as no measurements were made of the quality or age of the sheds, this is conjecture. The lower hen day production associated with the use of a high proportion of noisy cleaning methods suggests that these cleaning methods may be a stressor for the hens. Laying hens will avoid exposure to loud noise when given the opportunity (MacKenzie et al., 1993), and exposure to loud noise (90 dB) has been associated with increased fear and stress in laying hens (Campo et al., 2005). Thus, a stress response resulting from exposure to loud noise during cleaning may result in compromised productivity, and could be responsible for the observed relationship between egg production and the use of noisy cleaning methods. The positive relationship between peak egg production and average dust concentration suggests that the observed dust concentration does not limit egg production. The positive relationship between mortality rates and the number of cleaning methods used by stockpeople suggests that this is not a measure of shed cleanliness. Again, there is no obvious explanation for these results, however it is interesting to note that sheds that used a motorised form of cleaning (such as blowing out dust with leaf blowers or air hoses) also used fewer different types of cleaning methods (6.6 Motorised vs 14.3 Non-motorised, t = 8.36, P = 0.000). Thus, hens that were exposed to a low number of cleaning methods were also exposed to more noise and experienced a lower mortality rate.

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

If motorised cleaning methods are more effective than non-motorised methods, these methods may provide a cleaner living environment for the hens that could be reflected in lower mortality rates. In conclusion, these results indicate that despite not knowing the particle size or toxicity of the airborne dust, the total concentration of dust in the air was related to the peak productivity of the hens and the amount of time spent cleaning by stockpeople in the sheds. It appears that while an increase in the use of noisy cleaning methods may pose a stressor for laying hens, exposure to higher concentrations of airborne dust may not limit egg production, as was expected. Acknowledgements The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Prof. Paul Hemsworth, Malinda Monk, and the financial support of the Australian Poultry CRC. Reerences: Campo J L, Gil MG, Davila SG (2005) Applied Animal Behaviour Science 91, 75-84. Edwards LE (2009) The human-animal relationship in the caged egg industry. PhD thesis. University of Melbourne, Melbourne. Ellen H H, Bottcher R W, von Wachenfelt E, Takai H (2000) Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 6, 275-282. Hy-line (2009) Hy-line variety brown; Commercial management guide 2009-2011. ISA (2006) Product performance: ISA Brown. Mackenzie JG, Foster TM, Temple W (1993) Behavioural Processes 30, 143-156.

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 35

News Poultry Housing tips – Best performing tunnel fans 2011 By MICHAEL CZARICK Extension Engineer When building a new house or retrofitting an older one for tunnel ventilation, fan selection is one of the most, if not the most important decision a producer has to make. A house’s fans are essentially the engine of the ventilation system and as a result have a significant effect on a producer’s ability to maintain the proper environmental conditions throughout the year. Furthermore, with rising electricity prices selecting the right energy efficient fan can save a producer thousands of dollars a year. As a result, when selecting fans it is crucial that a producer compares fans not just on initial cost but on fan performance and operating costs as well. University of Illinois BESS Laboratory “Agricultural Ventilation Fans Performance and Efficiencies” test booklet is the leading source for agricultural fan performance data (an electronic version of the test booklet can be found at www.bess.uiuc.edu.) Along with a fan’s air moving capacity at various static pressures BESS Laboratory provides producers information on a fan’s energy efficiency rating (cfm/watt) and air flow ratio (an indicator of how well the fan holds up under high static pressures). A detailed explanation of exhaust fan performance factors can be found in the May 2006 issue of Poultry Housing Tips. Table 1 lists the top performing tunnel fans (48” or larger, single phase, 60 hz) T est #

Manufacturer

07204

Acme

Model

BDR54J1

02207

BDRV54J2-C2

02210

BDRV54J-C2

02217

BDRV54J2-C3

02214

DDPSV54J-C

04278

DDPGV54J-C

00245

BDR54J-C

00207

DDPS48J-C

02209

BDRV54J1-C2

98142

DDPS48J-C Aerotech

WF541V1CD

06139

WF541T 1CEP

06115

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

05233

MNBRDD52LE

10236

MNBCCE54M

10255

MNEFCE54M

01216

MNBRC52L

05235

MNBRDD52L

07230

NBRID52L-SQ

05234

MNBRDD52L Chore-T ime

MNBCC54L MNBRDD52LE

Shutter

C fm

Cfm/watt

Cfm

Cfm/watt

0. 05"

0. 10"

25, 100

27. 7

23, 500

24. 5

27, 400

25. 4

25, 900

22. 7

0. 81

27, 400

25. 5

25, 800

22. 5

0. 79

26, 100

25. 8

24, 400

22. 4

0. 77

27, 100

25. 2

25, 400

22. 2

0. 79

25, 900

25. 3

24, 200

22. 2

0. 76

25, 500

25. 4

23, 800

22. 1

26, 500

25. 2

24, 700

21. 8

26, 100

24. 2

24, 500

21. 4

0. 79

20, 400

23. 9

19, 100

21. 3

0. 77

27, 100

24. 0

25, 500

21. 1

0. 77

21, 400

23. 2

20, 300

20. 9

0. 83

26, 000

22. 3

0. 77

Y Y

WF541T 1CJ American Coolair

05236

09081*

WF541T 1CEJ

07390

10238

BDRV54J-C3

04274

06141

Cone

BDR54J

07206

Y Y Y

27, 800

25. 0

Air Flow Ratio

0. 76

0. 77 0. 76

27, 800

24. 6

25, 900

21. 7

27, 400

24. 2

25, 600

21. 7

0. 76

27, 300

23. 6

25, 400

20. 9

0. 77

26,900

25.6

25600

0.77

24, 100

26. 1

22, 200

22. 8

0. 76

0. 77

23, 900

25. 4

22, 100

22. 3

0. 76

29,800

23. 7

28,100

21.5

0. 81

27, 900

24. 5

26, 000

21. 5

25,900

24. 6

24,300

21.7

0. 77

25, 100

24. 2

23, 500

21. 4

0. 78

24, 600

24. 3

23, 000

21. 3

0. 76

24, 900

23. 8

23, 100

20. 9

0. 77

Y Y

0. 80

52157-22

27, 700

25. 3

25, 800

22. 0

0. 78

11251

53464-21

31,800

24.0

29,800

21.1

0.79

11252

53464-22

28,100

26.3

26,200

23.3

0.77

04336

49451-22

21, 200

24. 8

19, 700

21. 6

0. 76

04326

49515-22

05192

08250

B Y

49519-22 Hired Hand

04343 09081p*

49511-22

05186

6603-7132 6603-0606

Pro T erra Systems

Y Y Y

A52157-22

21, 100 26, 400

24. 4 23. 9

19, 600 24, 600

21. 3 21. 2

23. 6

24, 500

20. 8

0. 76

24. 3

25, 200

21. 8

0. 80

27, 000

23. 3

25, 300

20. 8

0. 78

27, 700

25. 3

25, 800

22. 0

0. 78

A49451-22

21, 200

24. 8

19, 700

21. 6

0. 76

A49515-22

21, 100

24. 4

19, 600

21. 3

0. 77

A49511-22

26, 400

23. 9

24, 600

21. 2

0. 76

A49519-22

26, 400

23. 6

24, 500

20. 8

0. 76

21, 900

25. 4

20, 300

22. 1

0. 76

05203

Val-Co

HGS48G340NGA

Table 1. Alphabetical listing of best performng tunnel i fans as tested by BESS Labs 2011 (Top 7%) A ( =Alum

Jabiru Gold Natural and Synthetic Pigment blends.

“The Producers No. 1 Choice for Uniformity of Quality Yolk Colours” w w w w w w w w w w w w w

Jabiru Gold Natural Liquid Pigments Jabiru Gold Natural Dry Pigments Jabiru Gold blend of Natural and Synthetic pigments both in liquid and dry form Jabiru Natural Red pigment in liquid and dry form Jabiru Natural Yellow pigment in liquid and dry form Jabiru Red 10% Synthetic Canthaxanthin in liquid form Jabiru Astaxanthin 10% dry for Aquatic pigmentation Commercially Proven Throughout Australia Producers No 1 Choice for Yolk Pigmentation Efficacious, and Highly Stable in dry and liquids Non Toxic, and easy to include into your layer and broiler rations Specialised Multi Filling Liquid Applicators available on request The most cost effective way to pigment egg yolks and broilers

0. 76

26, 400 26, 700

04326p

05186p

very important, it is important to keep in mind that there are other factors to consider when purchasing a fan, such as quality of construction, local dealer reputation, warranty and type of shutter (some types significantly reduce cleaning requirements). Though it can be difficult balancing all the factors when it comes to purchasing fans for a tunnel-ventilated house, in the long run you will find that it is time well spent.

0. 77

B B

04336p

05192p

based on the published test results produced by the BESS Laboratory through December of 2011. The fans in Table 1have an energy efficiency rating of at least 20.8 cfm/watt @ 0.10” static pressure and have an air flow ratio of at least 0.76, thus representing approximately the top 7% of all tunnel fans tested by the BESS Laboratory. Though fan performance is of course

inum Shutter, G=Galvanized Shutter, P=Plastic Shutter, R=Roll Seal Shutter, B=Butterfly Shutter, D=Door) new test for 2011

Trade and brand names are used only for inform ation. The Cooperative Extension Service, The University of Georgia College of griculture A and Environmental Sciences does not guarantee nor warrant the standard of any product menti oned; neither does it imply approval ofany products tothe exclusion of others that may also be suitable.

Ray Beazleigh, Jabiru Agribusiness Pty Ltd

ABN. 17 117 945 141

PO Box 83, Bowral NSW 2576 Telephone 02 4861 5325 Mobile 0418 201 629 Fax (02) 4861 1410 E-mail ray@jabiru8.com

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 36

News ten good reasons to choose agritech fibreglass silos 4 m3 to 75 m3 in size,” he said. There is a large spectrum of uses as Agritech silos are suitable for mealy and granular compound feed; premixes like wheat, barley, soya and heavy-density products like limestone, minerals even, fertilisers in dry form. “The modular design means that the silos are compact and easy to transport by truck or container.

According to Joe Vella who runs Protective Fabrications based at Werombi in NSW, Agritech fiberglass silos offer numerous advantages over the steel alternatives. He is now the distributor for Agritech fiberglass silos and predicts a revival in interest for the product that has been sold in Australia previously. “The Agritech range offers a wide choice of capacities that are available from

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Management of wet litter in broilers and layers Increased satiety (feeling of fullness) in layers Reduced stress and feed intake in older layers

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POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

“Depending on how well the capacities sizes are mixed, we can load 40 complete silos in one single truck load,” Joe explained. “Unlike plastic products, fibreglass is strong in all environmental conditions: from -40° C to + 60 ° C and is resistant to UV-radiation thanks to the outer treatment with a white, parapphined gel-coat. “A transparent strip in the cone allows for an easy and immediate check of the feed level in the silo,” he said. “The design offers a deep discharge angle (67°) and large outlets (Ø 780 mm.) resulting in the easy descent of all feed kinds, also there are no bridges and far less scope for adherences. “Fiberglass is non-conductive. Therefore, unlike in steel bins, condensation is far less likely to sit on the inside walls and as a consequence, feed will be kept fresh will much less risk of by fungal or bacterial contamination. “Feed remains more nutritious from the first to the last day of storage which in turn leads to healthy animals and less feed waste: all benefits that save money. “Agritech silos are easy to assemble and no crane is needed as our silos are supposed to be mounted horizontally. “The process requires just two workers for three hours to erect a 9 ton Agritech silo. Steel bins need a crane for the entire assembly time, which could be up to is three times longer,” Joe said. “The fiberglass silos are corrosion-free, unlike steel bins and it is reasonable to expect 25 years of service without maintenance. “In the unlikely event of damages, repairs are easy and quick to perform using polyester resin and glassfibre that can be supplied as required by Agritech. “When the repair process is correctly carried out, the silo will look as new,” Joe concluded.

POULTRY DIGEST Magazine has moved. New number: (02) 4368 2220 or fax: (02) 4368 2260. Mobile: 0419 235 288. New address: 7 Kerns Rd, Kincumber NSW 2251

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 37

News aas now sole distributor for agrilight Brisbane-based Australasian Agricultural Services has announced it has been appointed the sole distributor for Agrilight in Australia. Agrilight based in the Netherlands (HQ) and also Canada and is a leading company for lighting fixtures for the livestock industry with clients all over the world. They are the inventor and manufacturer of special and energy-efficient lighting fixtures for the dairy, poultry, beef cattle and pig industries. “Agrilight sets itself apart with it expertise in the field of lighting technology and in the specific application of light for various types of livestock,” said Peter Mathews from AAS. “Light intensity, daylight hours and the colour of the light all influence animal welfare and consequently animal behaviour. “The right balance of these three factors has positive influence on the livestock. Correct, uniform lighting contributes to improved health and productivity among other things. “With poultry, the correct light colour can prevent cannibalism and feather pecking and the light regime that is used can promote growth. “In addition to this good light levels make a considerable contribution to improving working conditions for yourself an your colleagues. “Agrilight makes the next step in the evolution of shed lighting with the Agriled fixture. “By combining an energy saving lamp and LED light in one fixture, Agrilight

combines the best of both lighting worlds. The Agriled Blue, specifically for poultry sheds, is equipped with six power LED’s. These produce a monochromatic blue light used as trapping light. By integration of this trapping light it is no longer necessary to install two separate

fixtures. This provides a considerable profit in time and installation costs. AAS would be pleased to design an optimal lighting plan for your shed. Contact Peter Mathews on (07) 3396 0166 or mobile 0408 260 406 or email: peter@ausagservices.com.au

Peter Mathews from AAS Pty Ltd.

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 38

News Chamberlain Grifco – an australian icon with the backing of a global giant Grifco Precision Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of US based, The Chamberlain Group, is well known to the Australian poultry industry. Its feeder, drinker line and curtain winches have been a feature in Australian and New Zealand poultry sheds for more than 20 years. Adrian Nix, who has been responsible for marketing Grifco’s poultry range for many years points to the advantages of being part of the world wide Chamberlain organization. “Chamberlain itself is one of the major divisions of The Duchossois Group, a privately-owned, diversified, multinational company that has all the strength, and financial stability that comes from being billion dollar-plus corporation,” Mr Nix explained. “The Chamberlain Group, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of residential and commercial door operators, access control products and gate operators.” “With the considerable resources of Chamberlain behind us we have been able to make the investment in modern equipment and to recruit and train staff so we can continue to manufacture

Top: L to R: Adrian Nix, who is responsible for Grifco’s poultry range, Luke Porter, Commercial Marketing Manager and Tony Sinclair, Commercial Sales Manager for Chamberlain. Above: Stainless steel Australian made Grifco broiler shed winch.

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POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

the Grifco product range to the highest possible engineering standards,” he said. In the five years or so since Poultry Digest last visited the Grifco facility in West Gosford NSW, Chamberlain has invested in new computerized and automated manufacturing plant enabling them to remain at the leading edge despite competition from imported electric winches manufactured in low cost regions. In discussing the challenges of imports with Adrian Nix, Chamberlain’s ANZ Commercial Sales Manager Tony Sinclair and Commercial Marketing Manager Luke Porter, they stated that their strategy is to maintain product quality, great customer service, and to stay in close touch with customer requirements. “The only way to insure best quality and a long lasting product is to control all steps in the manufacturing and distribution process,” Mr Nix said. “The environment in any poultry shed is highly corrosive and tough on equipment like winches and their power units so we employ the best raw materials, perfect the manufacturing process and rigorously test the end product before supplying to farms. “Right now we are concentrating on satisfying demand in the Australian and New Zealand markets but we have sold some products into other of our near neighbours and even SE Asian markets,” Mr Nix concluded. At a time when Australian manufacturing industries face more than a few challenges it is good to see that a long established local company with the backing of a strong parent organization can compete because of the integrity of its quality and reputation.

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 39

New ProDuCts ebmpapst offers high tech ventilation for pig and poultry farms Fan maker ebmpapst is a German based manufacturer with a global reach and a range of more than 14500 products. Based in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, the company’s Australian base in Melbourne consists of a sales office and warehouse facility. Offering cooling and ventilation solutions to many of Australia’s leading companies including major retailers, in 2012 ebmpabst will be marketing its Green Tech fans to the intensive livestock sector, including the pig and poultry industry. The Australian Managing Director of ebmpabst, Dr Simon Bradwell, is well qualified to become more involved with our pig farmers: not only does he have an engineering related PhD – he grew up on a pig farm in the UK. In December Pork Journal visited the ebmpabst facility to discuss with Dr Bradwell, Sales and Application Engineer Christopher Hauck, and Communications Coordinator Caroline Bommes, the potential for the company’s GreenTech low energy consumption products in Australia’s pig farming industry. “What we offer Australian farmers is significant energy cost savings in cooling and ventilating their sheds,” Dr Bradwell said. “In Europe, high energy costs have driven the many industries we serve to seek technologically advanced equipment not only to reduce costs, but comply with energy use legislation. “Australian companies are becoming more aware of likely increasing power bills but are yet to feel the full force of inevitable changes that will take place in the energy supply chain. “Our high efficiency and ‘intelligent’ EC fans, suitable for use in pig sheds, will never compete on base cost alone but will quickly reward farmers who embrace ebmpapst’s products due to significant reduced energy costs, as well as improvements in the efficiency of their farms,” Dr Bradwell explained. “Conventional fans that are in common use in intensive livestock industries are usually voltage controlled, consume large amounts of electricity, and are basically inefficient. “GreenTech EC fans designed and manufactured by ebmpabst, pay for themselves relatively quickly and this was

Left: High efficiency and intelligent Green Tech EC fan. Below: Dr Simon Bardwell, Australian Managing Director of ebmpapst reveals how Green Tech EC fans save energy consumption.

demonstrated recently on a Danish pig farm where two similar sheds, one fitted with conventional fans and the other with our GreenTech EC units, when compared, resulted in 70% less energy consumption using GreenTech EC fans,” Dr Bradwell stated. Science in the fields of animal health, nutrition and overall shed design have helped keep the pig industry more competitive in a global market place. If energy costs are to be the next big challenge – as it looks like they are likely to be, growers may well need to consider products that not only perform as required but also reduce electricity consumption – it looks like ebmpapst may have some answers as power bills rise.

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POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 40

NUTRITION FEATURE v CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 considered in breeding goals for the future, but these interlink with social issues across many parts of the globe. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment listed the following as some of the socio-economic issues facing the globe: • 1.1 billion people survive on less than $1 per day. Seventy percent live in rural areas where they are highly dependent on ecosystem services. • Inequality has increased over the past decade. During the 1990s, 21 countries experienced declines in their rankings in the Human Development Index. • Over 850 million people were undernourished in 2000–2002, up 37 million from the period 1997-1999. • Per capita food production has declined in sub-Saharan Africa. • Some 1.1 billion people still lack access to improved water supply, and more than 2.6 billion lack access to improved sanitation. • Water scarcity affects roughly 1–2 billion people worldwide. • Global improvements in levels of poverty are skewed by rapid economic growth in India and China; poverty elsewhere (especially in sub-Saharan Africa) is profound and persistent. Free or inexpensive sources of non-vegetable protein are in decline. For example, the loss of capture fisheries is reducing an inexpensive source of protein in developing countries. Per capita fish consumption in developing countries, excluding China, declined between 1985 and 1997. As wild populations of fish and animals shrink and human populations become increasingly urbanized, the provision of low-cost animal protein will be increas-

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ingly desired by consumers world-wide. Poultry, with its scalability, high throughput and excellent FCR, is an opportunity for people in both established and emerging markets. Animal welfare Some of the most sensationalised claims about the negative impacts of genetic selection relate to reduced bird welfare and poor skeletal health. Many campaign groups and welfare-orientated scientists have made claims as to the negative physiological health status of broiler chickens caused by commercial selection practices and leg defects, especially tibial dyschondroplasia (TD). Some groups have gone as far as to recommend or campaign for the end of intensive broiler farming (CIWF, 2010). These claims may have been valid in the 1980s, when most breeding companies were using mass selection or selection index technologies in their programs. However, 20 years of continued focus on these areas using traditional inspection methods, medical technologies such as X-rays and genetic technologies to elucidate relationships between traits has reduced the incidence of these issues to a very low level on effectively run commercial production facilities. Although effective measurement of the reduction in these problems is difficult, large datasets such as those available from the Canadian Meat Inspection Service indicate dramatic improvements in the underlying genetic susceptibility of modern broilers to these issues and in awareness of the management requirements of these improved individuals. Today, most incidences of TD are associated with incorrect formulation of diets. One study that is often quoted by welfare activist groups was carried out in Denmark (Sanotra, 1999) and showed a 57% incidence of TD in commercial broilers in 1999. Six years later, in a repeat of this study (Pedersen et al., 2005), the incidence had dropped to 0.7%. In the first study it was later reported that the diet had been deficient in calcium, which was most likely to have caused the TD issues (K. Laughlin, Pers. Comm.). Another issue that has been debated is ascites, and again there is strong evidence that a major reduction in the incidence of ascites incidences has occurred (Figure 5), although this may still be a practical issue at altitude, in poorly ventilated houses with low air exchange or where birds are chilled in the early stages of growth. Economic impact Sometimes the economic impact on the consumer is overlooked when the benefits of improved efficiency are discussed. Globally, the broiler industry consumes 417 million parent stock (PS) per year, the equivalent of an estimated 58 billion broilers. The US industry alone now generates over US$44 billion per year in retail sales (USDA, 2006). Over the years, selection for improved efficiency has been extremely successful. The cost of producing a pound of live chicken dropped from US$2.32 in 1934 to US$1.08 in 1960 to US$0.45 in 2004 in today’s money (USDA, 2006). This has ensured that growth in poultry meat consumption has outpaced that of other meat types. The economic impact of improved efficiency is likely to become increasingly important in maintaining food prices for the consumer. Food price indices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (Figure 6) show a large spike in cereal prices and food prices in 2008 and early 2011. Meat prices followed the same trend, albeit with a smaller magnitude. With the global energy demand growing and resources

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NutritioN feature dwindling, this trend towards more volatility and higher prices is likely to continue. Grain and other raw material prices have increased radically in recent years. We have no choice but to focus continually on efficiency of production in order to provide a healthy, affordable source of animal protein to the world’s growing population. Genetic Diversity Statements have been made that commercial breeding populations lack genetic diversity and that the formation of commercial breeding companies and their subsequent selection strategies have been the direct cause of this. All of the large commercial companies keep substantial populations within each ‘line’ to maintain variation and control inbreeding. There has also been a move for many of the breeders to acquire more varied stock types to give more depth to their programs and provide greater choice to consumers. In some, primarily developed countries, there is a move away from standard commercially farmed chickens, to something that is perceived as higher ‘quality’. This is achieved by restrictions on diet ingredients, exposure to the range, organic nutrition and restriction of growth rate. The demand stems from a small but significant percentage of consumers to whom producers are responding. All of these strategies tend to reduce ‘sustainability’ through usage of greater amounts of feed and increased greenhouse gas production. They also increase cost. Care should be taken that lower income consumers are not legislated out of eating chicken, as this remains one of the healthiest and most cost-effective animal proteins available.

Conclusions In developed nations, the percentage of household income spent on food can be as low as 7.4% (USA); however, in less-developed countries it can be more than 50% (India and Philippines). The improvement of chicken production efficiency over the past 50 years, coupled with many other agricultural advances, has helped bring high-quality, low-fat animal protein within reach of all but the very poorest of individuals worldwide. Continued advances in genetics as well as associated improvements in the optimisation of broiler a 1:1 FCR sometime in the not too distant future. Concerted efforts by breeding companies have reduced the levels of physiological issues associated with modern fast-growing broilers. At the same time, improvements in absolute performance have greatly reduced the carbon/nitrogen footprint of the industry and will continue to do so. Undoubtedly, there will be emerging issues of welfare, sustainability and consumer ethics that will come to the forefront and our industry is well positioned to address them. References: Aviagen Incorporated (2007) Ross 308 Broiler Performance Objectives. http://www.aviagen.com (accessed on December 15, 2010). Compassion in World Farming- CIWF (2010)www.ciwf.org.uk/what_we_do/meat_chic kens/ default.aspx (accessed on February 13, 2011). Williams AG, Audsley E, Sandars DL (2006) Determining the environmental burdens and resource use in the production of agricultural and horticultural commodities. Main Report. DEFRA Research Project IS0205. Bedford: Cranfield University and DEFRA. Available at www.silsoe. cranfield.ac.uk, and

www.defra.gov.uk. Emmerson DA (1997) Commercial approaches to genetic selection for growth and feed conversion in domestic poultry. Poultry Science 76, 1121–1125. Food and Agriculture Organization (2011) http://www.fao.org/docrep/ 010/ai465e/ ai465e06.htm (accessed on February 7, 2011). Havenstein GB, Ferket PR, and Qureshi MA (2003) Growth, livability, and feed conversion of 1957 versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science 82, 1500– 1508. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. http://www. maweb.org/en/Condition.aspx (accessed on January 21, 2011). Pedersen JS, David B, Waldenstedt L (2005) Gemensam Nordisk Fjæderfætidsskrift Monitoring of leg quality in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Sanotra GS (1999) Registrering af aktuel benstyrke hos slagtekyllinger (Velfærdsmoniteringsprojekt). Dyrenes Beskyttelese, Köpenhamn. (Danish Animal Welfare Society), Copenhagen, Denmark. United States Department of AgricultureUSDA (2006) Poultry Yearbook, http://usda.mannlib. cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfodo/do cumentID=1367 (accessed on February 3, 2011). World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford University Press, UK.

*Marc de Beer is from DSM Nutritional Products, 45 Waterview Boulevard, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054, USA; marc.debeer@dsm. com; D. Elfick and DA Emmerson are from Aviagen Inc., 5015 Bradford Drive, Huntsville, Alabama 35805, USA.

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PRODUCT NEWS Hi βeta, an effective source of betaine and more HCl and a proportional drop in anhydrous betaine. “Then there really is no difference between the two forms whatsoever i.e. you can add whichever form you like as when in the GIT the forms will interchange depending on pH. “Depending on the pH of the solution (concentration of H+), the relative proportions of these two ‘species’ (Betaine Hydrochloride and Betaine Anhydrous) will vary in accordance with the acid dissociation constant (pKa = 1.84). Note: • At pH = 1.0: 87% of the betaine will be present as the hydrochloride and 13% as betaine anhydrous • At pH = 1.8: 50% will be betaine hydrochloride and 50% will be betaine anhydrous • At pH = 2.0: 40% will be betaine hydrochloride and 60% as betaine anhydrous CONTINUED ON PAGE 44 w

Brett Ruth is the Managing Director of Rural Chemcial Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd, the Australian developer of Hi βeta (Betaine HCL) an alternative betaine source. In this article he explains the differences and advantages of Betaine HC1 when compared to Anhydrous Betaine. “We are developing Hi βeta in Australia as an effective and economic source of betaine for use in poultry and pig feeds,” said Brett Ruth, Managing Director of Ruth Consolidated Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd. “I would like to highlight some of the research we have done which supports the statement that Hi βeta is “betaine and more”. Osmolyte properties “There are two commercial forms of betaine (trimethyl glycine), anhydrous betaine and betaine HCl,” said Mr Ruth. “From a biochemical standpoint, betaine’s function as an osmolyte is based on the fact that it is a Zwitterion, i.e. carry-

ing both a positive and a negative charge on the same molecule at the same time. “As far as the animal is concerned, a betaine HCl molecule and an anhydrous betaine molecule are identical. “Any difference will be determined not by the betaine, but by the pH in the intestinal tract. “Since there will not be enough betaine HCl in the recommended formulation to materially change the pH in the intestinal tract, there will be no difference. “In the gut, above pH 3 essentially all the added betaine HCl will be present as anhydrous betaine and below pH 3 there will be an increasing amount of betaine

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PRODUCT NEWS DuPont Virkon s – biosecurity convenience in a single pack When time is at a premium and producers need to disinfect livestock housing at turnaround; maintain fresh foot dips; ensure cleanliness of livestock water supplies and disinfect vehicles, DuPont Disinfectants can offer a highly flexible disinfection option in a single convenient pack, DuPont Virkon S, according to Mike Pritchard from Lienerts, Australian distributor of Virkon S. “The outstanding attributes of this farm disinfectant technology are designed to cover all the key areas that producers need to address during routine biosecurity programs,” he said. “With independent performance data against 500 strains of viruses, bacteria and fungi, including Foot and Mouth disease, Avian Influenza, Salmonella and IghamAdYrbk 1/17/08 5:10 PM Campylobacter, the ‘breakthrough’ Virkon S formulation has been selected and approved by Governments worldwide for Emergency Disease Control programs. “Offering flexible, fast-acting disinfection for a wide range of biosecurity uses and the most challenging surfaces, Virkon S at a

dilution rate of 1:100, has proven efficacy against E. Coli, Salmonella arizona, Staphylococcus aureus, Avian poxvirus, Avian reovirus, Infectious Bursal Disease Virus and Newcastle Disease virus,” he said. For livestock vehicles, Virkon S has also been put through its paces by the Motor Industry Research Association - (MIRA) the UK’s official vehicle engineering and testing body – and been shown to have “no significant long-term effects on the common materials used in vehicle applications”. “Adding to the convenience package, Virkon S provides producers with proven speed of kill and disinfection efficacy in the foot dip setting,” Mr Pritchard said. “An important study carried out by Dr Sandra Amass Page 1 from Purdue University, Indiana showed that Virkon S cleans contaminated boots in just 30 seconds resulting in optimum disinfection. Good quality water is essential for efficient livestock production but frequently water quality on farms can be poor and can act as a medium for the infection by

pathogens. Poor water quality impacts on animal health, productivity and welfare. Biofilms in water systems increase pathogen levels and protect pathogens from disinfectants. “Virkon S provides a proven broad-spectrum of activity and can be used in terminal and continuous programs. When used at dilutions of 1:1000 (0.1%) it is safe and suitable for animals to drink water treated with Virkon S. “With such multi-purpose versatility, producers can ‘put all their eggs in one basket’ for a change and rely on the single pack of Virkon S to ensure the efficacy of their biosecurity procedures.” Dupont says that by collaborating with customers, governments and NGOs it can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

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PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 44

PRODUCT NEWS v CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42 • At pH = 3.0: 7% will be betaine hydrochloride and 93% as betaine anhydrous “In summary, both betaine forms will be inter-converted in solution, depending on the exact pH of the solution and both forms have equal osmolyte properties. Microbial levels and pH of commercial betaine products “We conducted trials to measure pH and microbial levels in commercial betaine products in aqueous solutions. “The products compared were HI βeta (betaine HCl), and anhydrous betaine. “Hi βeta (betaine HCL) is acidic in aqueous solution, with a pH of 1-2, and does not support microbial growth. anhydrous betaine, either dry or liquid, however is neutral-alkaline in aqueous solution, with a pH of 7-9, and supports considerable bacterial growth.

Effects of betaine on pH of feed “A bench-top trial was conducted at University of Sydney, Camden. Graded concentrations of betaine were added to a standard commercial broiler starter diet. Ten grams of diet were added to 10 grams water to represent a typical 50% DM slurry as found in the proximal GI tract of a broiler,” said Mr Ruth. “The addition of HI βeta (betaine HCL) from 0 to 150% of recommended commercial inclusion levels resulted in a pH drop from 6.91 to 5.89. anhydrous betaine, across the same dose range resulted in a much smaller pH drop from 6.91 to 6.75. “It appears that HI βeta acidifies the diet and so may have potential as a feed acidifier and as a promoter of phytase bioefficacy. “The possible interaction between HI βeta and phytase will be tested in future research.

Effects of betaine products on pH and microbial levels Product Time pH Microbial levels, CFU/mL

Betaine HC1

Betaine anhydrous Betaine anhydrous liquid 47% 0 7 days 14 days 0 7 days 14 days 0 7 days 14 days 1.19 1.21 1.26 8.78 8.29 6.84 9.45 9.12 7.44 <10 3.6 x <10 <10 <10 2.5 x <10 3.6 x 6.4 x 105 103 106 104

CFU-Colony Forming Units. Predominant organism found to be filamentous bacteria. 97% microbes indentified as Bacillus licheniformis.

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Use of betaine in premixes “Australian premix manufacturers have reported problems when adding anhydrous betaine into premixes,” Mr Ruth said. “An unacceptable texture is produced. As a result, they will not add anhydrous betaine to their premixes. “We have tested HI βeta in premixes containing lysine, vitamins, trace minerals and limestone. Accelerated storage was provided using the following sets of conditions: • One week at 20oC in a closed container • One week at 20oC in an open container • One week at 40oC in a closed container • One week at 40oC in an open container “The premix was examined each week for any visible changes in physical appearance and properties. “After four weeks storage under the above conditions, there were no visible changes to the powder, which remained dry, free-flowing and stable. HI βeta therefore appears suitable for addition to premixes,” said Mr Ruth. Effects of betaine HCL on carcass yield “An interesting and economically important feature of betaine HCl, which has not been picked up in previous betaine research, is a positive effect on carcass yield (dressing %). “We have shown betaine HCl improves carcass yield in both broilers and pigs. This effect is due to the osmolyte effect of betaine HCl which reduces the energy requirements of the GIT, and results in a smaller, lighter intestine.

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Summary “Our research enables us to confirm a number of interesting features of Hi βeta including being equal as an osmolyte, an acidifier, failure to support microbial growth in aqueous solution, reducing pH of a feed/water mixture, ability to use in premixes and improving carcass yield in broilers and pigs,” Mr Ruth concluded.

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PDDec/Jan2012:PDFEBMAR09 25/01/12 12:51 PM Page 45

v CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 attract people to our industry before they complete their studies and choose a career path. “Funnily enough, facets of the industry that present us with new challenges like existing and impending food safety standards, could for new entrants, make the job of rearing commercial duck flocks more interesting. “High levels of reporting standards now expected from livestock industries – and the poultry sector in particular – will further stretch the intellectual capacities of both our existing and future employees. There will be a cultural change in the industry. “We already use HACCP protocols in our hatcheries for instance, so we have experiential expertise to build on as we extend more stringent compliance standards through all aspects of our business,” Mr Houston explained. “The particular aspects that make duck rearing attractive to those already working in livestock industries has helped us to recruit some very skilled and dedicated people, including Peter Brown who came across from the chicken meat industry. “Working in our industry is not all about challenges either, it’s about reward and stability. “One of the reasons that we are so focused on growth is so that we can expand and offer stable jobs with proper career paths for those that want to work with us as we grow,” he said. Moving from the positive aspects to future challenges Mr Houston had concerns about how new food standards would be administered and operate. “Obviously food safety is of primary concern to us at Pepe’s as it would be to anyone in our livestock industries but the possible complexity and associated administration protocols are certainly going to impose both a time and cost burdens to companies like ours,” he said. “To ensure that Pepe’s continues to be

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at the forefront of it’s industry, the company has worked closely with Tocal College, located in the Hunter Valley of NSW, in focussing on upskilling its farmers. “In 2011, one Pepe’s farmer received his Diploma of Agriculture, specialising in poultry and six farmers also received their Certificate 4 in Agriculture, specialising in poultry. “A further 16 farmers received their Smarttrain AQF Chemical Application certificate. “Pepe’s will continue to work with Tocal College with a program of continuing education, focussin on the poultry

industry,” Mr Houston concluded. We might leave the last words on Pepe’s Ducks to the owner and founder of the business, Pepe Bonaccordo who introduces his company’s website (www.pepesducks. com.au) with the statement that, “there’s never a dull moment with duck farming – it’s that excitement and passion for the business that drives me, even after 38 years.” Lots of Pepe’s employees share the boss’s passion for their task and the growing company he founded looks forward to introducing more of the right people to this fulfilling experience.

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NEWS VFF warns of electricity changes

Global feed tonnage reaches 873 million The world’s feed production has reached an estimated 873 million tonnes, according to a global survey commissioned by Alltech. Conducted through Alltech’s regional managers, the survey assessed the tonnage of 132 countries and all species. “This new global estimate is quite significant, especially when compared to the 2010 WATT report, which indicated 717.6 million tonnes,” said Aidan Connolly, Vice President of corporate accounts at Alltech. “Feed production is an increasingly global phenomenon and this survey is the broadest in its reach and, therefore, also complete in terms of its review of the state of play in the world feed industry.” Asia has secured a role as the number one feed producing region with a tonnage of 305 million, and China is the leading country with a total tonnage of 175.4 million. Europe follows Asia with 200 million. North America, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa round out the listing

with 185 million, 125 million and 47 million respectively. In terms of species, poultry feed now represents 44% of world feed, which may reflect the cost, health and religious preferences for this white meat. Ruminant feed is calculated at more than 220 million tonnes but this does not include a similar quantity of dry matter fed as silage or forage on farm. Pig, equine and pet feeds have not changed significantly, but aquaculture is the fastest growing feed sector, totalling nearly 30 million tonnes. “As we look to feed seven billion people in 2012, it is clear that the efficient production of meat, milk and eggs has never been more important,” said Dr Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “Alltech has invested in this evaluation of the world’s feed industry as part of its ongoing commitment to information and technology transfer between providers and customers.”

Poultry Digest

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The State Government has announced changes to the management of electricity in the fire danger period. The VFF urges members to inform themselves of possible impacts to their farms. Andrew Broad, VFF President, said that the changes to electricity management can impact electricity reliability. “Power lines will be managed differently during the high fire danger period this year and has the potential to affect electricity reliability for the six weeks after 23 January,” said Mr Broad. “There will be about 6,000 customers in the West of the State that will get a letter notifying of the change. “The changes to the management will mean that every fault will require a crew to investigate before power will be returned during that six week period. “If farmers experience any problems with electricity reliability they should be contacting their distributor.

POULTRY DIGEST, December/January 2012

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