Zootecnica International - World's Poultry Journal - English edition - 10 October 2023 by Zootecnica International

Zootecnica International – October 2023 – POSTE ITALIANE Spa – Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale 70%, Firenze

Numerous reasons for high egg prices Gut health & brain functioning: implications for poultry Gangrenous dermatitis a threat to broiler chickens

10 2023

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EDITORIAL An accumulation of changes over a very rapid time frame can be upsetting. In recent decades we have built a more fluid attitude, but hesitation, uncertainty and negativity towards what is new still prevail. It is also true that the speed with which new developments follow one another has made it difficult to manage them all in a calm manner. This is part of certain distinctiveness inherent in human nature. Perhaps we can take note of this distinctiveness and learn to evaluate its wisdom. Sometimes, towards the new, it is better to express curiosity rather than fear. After all, the human species has also evolved thanks to the ability and stubbornness of men and women who have encouraged further curiosity, and in doing so often faced unpopularity and dangers.

SUMMARY WORLDWIDE NEWS.......................................................................... 4 REPORTAGE

Numerous reasons for high egg prices........................................................... 10

DOSSIER

PH changes in egg compartments during embryo development in broiler chicken........................................................................................... 16

FOCUS

Gut health & brain functioning: implications for poultry..................................... 18 Influence of precision glycans on layer cecal community................................. 22

MARKETING

Just a short-term dip? A situation analysis on investments in alternative proteins............................... 26

TECHNICAL COLUMN

Formaldehyde-free hatching egg disinfection.................................................. 32

NUTRITION

An evaluation of the protein and energy requirements of long-life laying hens................................................................................... 34

VETERINARY

Gangrenous dermatitis a threat to broiler chickens.......................................... 38

MARKET GUIDE.................................................................................44 UPCOMING EVENTS.......................................................................47

INTERNET GUIDE.............................................................................48

WORLDWIDE NEWS

World Egg Day 2023: celebrating ‘Eggs for a healthy future’ World Egg Day will be celebrated across the globe on Friday 13 October. Last year’s event saw over 100 countries across the globe celebrate on social media, with competitions, digital campaigns and festivals held to mark the special day.

World Egg Day 2023 will be celebrated around the world on Friday 13 October. This year’s theme ‘Eggs for a healthy future’ highlights the power of the egg in improving nutritional, societal and environmentally sustainable outcomes, leading to healthier futures for all. “World Egg Day celebrates the egg as an incredibly unique, accessible and affordable source of protein and essential nutrients,” said Greg Hinton, Chairman of the International Egg Commission (IEC). “This year, we want to shine a spotlight on the important nutritional attributes of the egg, as well as its versatility, showcasing how it can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways, any time of the day, all over the world. Eggs

can combat common nutrient deficiencies that often go unaddressed but are crucial for optimal health and performance. Beyond their nutritional powers, eggs are also one of the most environmentally sustainable animal-source proteins. They have the potential to play an increasingly important role that benefits both people and planet – all the more reason to celebrate eggs with us this year!” World Egg Day takes place on the second Friday of October every year, and since the first event in 1996, celebrations have grown and evolved. Last year saw over 100 countries across the globe celebrate World Egg Day. To support egg businesses with celebrating, the International

- worldwide news -

Egg Commission (IEC) has created an industry toolkit which includes themes and key messages, readymade social media graphics and inspiration from 2022’s activities. This year for the first time, the IEC has also created a children’s activity pack to spread the message of egg nutrition to the younger generation. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the benefits of the egg and promote it, in terms of its nutritional value and sustainability. Eggs are the highest quality protein naturally available and contain 13 essential nutrients, including vitamins A, B and E, as well as folate, iron and zinc. www.internationalegg.com/ourwork/world-egg-day/

WORLDWIDE NEWS

Poultry quarterly Q3 2023: improving conditions as lower-priced feed flows through global poultry value chains The outlook for the global poultry industry is expected to be stronger than in Q1 2023, mainly driven by lower feed prices flowing through poultry value chains globally. in the first months of this year, when the US, Brazilian, Chinese, Indonesian, and Vietnamese industries were struggling with oversupply. More production discipline is needed in most of these markets, given the significant production expansion. Still, these improved global conditions should help to offset some of the negative pressure. In the case of Indonesia, the Q2 2023 government-driven culling program should also help to rebalance the market. Feed prices are expected to drop further in 2H 2023, to 10% to 15% below 2022’s historic high levels. This means feed costs will still be historically high, but significantly below recent peak levels. Record corn and soybean harvests in Brazil, and optimistic projections for US corn and soybean and European wheat harvests are behind the expected lower feed prices. In Q1 2023, global trade reached a record-high level. This indicates an ongoing (albeit temporary) shift to increasing imports. More governments are opening imports to reduce price inflation in their domestic markets. Brazil has been the big winner in this bullish global trade setting and is well-positioned to benefit from expected strong trade in 2H 2023. The turning point from high to lower feed cost levels usually marks a good period for the industry, with margins tending to rise. These lower input costs happen when supply is still relatively tight in many global regions, like Europe, Mexico, Russia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Meanwhile, the supply balance is improving in other regions, like the US, Japan, and Thailand. Rising prices for competing meats, like pork and beef, further improve poultry’s relative competitiveness.

Report summary

Nevertheless, a rising number of high pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases in wild birds in Brazil have put the industry on high alert. If a commercial flock in one of the three southern states is hit by HPAI and major importing countries put restrictions in place, it would have a big impact on the local industry, especially as it is currently expanding (too) quickly. It would also heavily impact global trade flows and prices. Whole bird, breast meat, MDM, and chicken feet markets would be highly impacted, and prices would rise. Local prices in major import markets could also rise, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and Far East Asia.

This improving global market context is highly welcome following difficult conditions in some markets, especially

- october 2023 -

Source: Rabobank - RaboResearch

WORLDWIDE NEWS

2023 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry Industry safety professionals discussed proactive measures for employee and community safety, among a variety of other topics. The Conference is sponsored by the Georgia Tech Research Institute/ATRP and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).

The occupational health panel discussing onboarding, community health and stress management at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry. From the left: Mike Redmond, Mary Fletcher, Kacie Poole.

Henry Miller, risk consultant manager at Allied Universal, discussed company policies versus state laws as part of his presentation on Access Control/Security. Miller emphasized knowing your federal, state and local laws; knowing your company’s policies and company’s emergency response plans; knowing your own capabilities and limitations; raising your awareness and improving your own decision making; respecting the opinions of others and adhering to organizational policies; and contributing to a positive work environment that is driving toward the ultimate goal of safety. Matt Spencer, USPOULTRY’s vice president of HR & safety programs, discussed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Process Safety Management and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Plan standards for cryogenic chemicals. Requirements of each were outlined, as well as the distinctions between the standards. Spencer noted that USPOULTRY now offers an “Accident Prevention and Response for Cryogenic Chemicals” resource and further explained measures that can be taken to ensure safety while working with cryogenic chemicals. In addition, emergency planning and partnerships with local emergency personnel were explored. An occupational health panel, focusing on onboarding, community health and stress management, was moderated by Michelle Jones, workers’ compensation manager for Butterball, and included Mary Fletcher, senior director of

- worldwide news -

occupational health, Tyson Foods; Kacie Poole, corporate manager of occupational health and nursing, Simmons Foods; and Mike Redmond, regional occupational health manager, Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Several strategies for improving employee and community health were shared, including ergonomics and stretching being presented during onboarding; partnering with local first responders and health providers to address community needs; providing a rotating monthly health emphasis for employees; and resources that can be offered to employees to assist with life events. Dr. David Schaller, director of safety and policy at Darling Ingredients, provided a practical guide for safe boiler operations. He noted several key things to examine to ensure that boilers are operating within safe limits, including the physical condition of the boiler, temperature readings, water levels, flame condition and boiler component operation. Dr. Schaller also shared best practices for adding water, completing repairs and how the boiler room should be equipped. He concluded with an examination of a boiler accident, allowing attendees to see where issues can arise.

WORLDWIDE NEWS

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WORLDWIDE NEWS

Discover the complete seed to food chain at VIV MEA and Horti Agri Next MEA 2023 in Abu Dhabi The animal farming, agricultural, and horticultural sectors are gearing up for transformation at an unprecedented pace. Against this backdrop, VIV MEA 2023 and Horti Agri Next MEA 2023 (HAN MEA) are poised to emerge as pivotal events within the Abu Dhabi Agriculture Food and Security Week. A showcase of innovation: VIV MEA 2023 VIV MEA 2023 serves as a platform for agricultural innovation, with a specific focus on the animal livestock value chain. This event highlights cutting-edge technologies and solutions, ranging from automated processes that streamline production to sustainable practices that contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future.

Cultivating connections: Horti Agri Next MEA 2023

Scheduled for November 20-22, 2023, at the ADNEC Venue in Abu Dhabi, these co-located events aim to revolutionize agriculture across the Middle East and Northern Africa by offering a platform for professionals, enthusiasts, and industry leaders to connect, learn, and thrive.

The first edition of HAN MEA 2023 offers a unique opportunity for attendees to delve into the world of advanced horticulture. The event explores precision growing, smart irrigation, vertical farming, and more, fostering collaborative connections between researchers, growers, and technology providers to drive the horticultural industry forward.

Animal protein production meets cultivation: a fusion of possibilities The co-location of VIV MEA 2023 and HAN MEA 2023 offers a unique opportunity to explore the entire agribusiness industry’s spectrum. These events emphasize the interconnectedness of animal production, precision farming, rural cultivation, and advanced horticultural techniques. By showcasing how advancements in one sector can catalyze innovations across the entire food production supply chain, the two trade shows hold particular significance in a region striving to enhance food self-sufficiency.

Unveiling expert insights Both events feature extensive speaker and expert programs. Industry thought leaders, researchers, and pioneers will share insights through seminars, workshops, and panel discussions. Notable speakers include Henry

- worldwide news -

WORLDWIDE NEWS

smart farming, PMRT seeks solutions to emerging challenges. Held the day before VIV MEA 2023, the Aquafeed Extrusion & Nutrition Conference is a one-day event focused on aquatic feed production, extrusion, nutrition, and aquaculture. Covering various aquafeed topics, this conference provides valuable knowledge, solutions, and research for aquaculture professionals.

Taking action: registering for transformation Gordon-Smith, CEO of Agritecture, moderating AgritectureXchange, a panel discussion series addressing agricultural hot topics in the region. Additionally, experts from Dutch Green House Delta, Hub Orange, and Wageningen University will provide invaluable insights.

Attendees can be part of this transformative journey by registering online, ensuring access to conferences and panel discussions of their choice. This streamlined process maximizes the value participants derive from VIV MEA 2023 and HAN MEA 2023, enabling them to absorb every insightful session, forge valuable connections, and explore innovative solutions.

The Poultry Marketing Roundtable (PMRT), now in its 3rd edition, brings together stakeholders to discuss and address future uncertainties in the poultry industry. As the future unfolds with smart cities, smart marketing, and

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REPORTAGE

Numerous reasons for high egg prices Anyone who has been to the grocery store recently realizes that eggs have become very expensive. In December 2022, the average price of a dozen eggs in the U.S. was $4.25, more than twice what they cost a year earlier. However, when you start looking for the reasons behind this, do not believe the conspiracy theories circulating on social media.

Tom Tabler, Department of Animal Science University of Tennessee

The reasons are not your local feed store or co-op, large feed manufacturers, or the table-egg companies that furnish eggs to the grocery store. The actual culprits causing high egg prices these days are Avian Influenza, inflation (the price of feed, transportation and labor), cage-free laws, and the eating habits of American consumers. In other words, it’s as simple as supply and demand. And many backyard flocks have quit laying since mid-December, so add Mother Nature to the list of culprits as well. Let’s explore what’s really driving the high price of eggs these days.

- reportage -

Avian Influenza The number one reason for high egg prices is the ongoing Avian Influenza outbreak that started approximately a year ago. During 2022, the U.S. lost approximately 58 million head of poultry to Avian Influenza and disease-related control efforts. Of these 58 million head, approximately 43 million were table egg layers or hens that lay eggs for grocery stores. While the industry is diligently working to replace these lost birds, it takes approximately six months from the hatch date for a female chick to reach sex-

REPORTAGE

ual maturity and start laying eggs. With 43 million fewer birds laying eggs each day compared to a year ago, there are significantly fewer eggs available for sale. And Americans eat a lot of eggs, an average of 278 per person last year according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fewer eggs and a strong demand mean higher prices at the grocery store. We are likely not out of the woods yet where Avian Influenza is concerned. Biosecurity is the best defense against Avian Influenza so both large commercial operations and small backyard flocks should follow sound biosecurity practices every day. Some experts expect the current threat to continue for another 18 months, which means we must be vigilant and on guard to protect our flocks well into the future. All flocks are at risk, including commercial, backyard, hobby, free-range, organic, etc., as well as 4-H and FFA youth poultry projects. Avian Influenza does not magically appear in a commercial poultry house or backyard chicken pen. It must be placed

there somehow. Perhaps by direct contact with infected wild birds, their nasal secretions or droppings, but more likely by indirect contact such as someone unknowingly tracking the virus inside the poultry house or coop on their shoes or clothing.

Inflation Inflation is right up there with Avian Influenza and has driven up the price of many items in recent months, including eggs. Also falling victim to inflation are other associated items such as the feed, diesel fuel and labor it takes to get eggs to the store. Feed grains like corn and soybeans make up the majority of commercial poultry diets, and both have increased in price. On January 2, 2020, March corn was selling for $3.94/bushel on the futures market. March soybeans were selling for $9.44/bushel on the futures market. At the time of this writing, March corn is selling for $6.74/bushel and March soybeans are selling

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REPORTAGE

“Poultry housing is extremely expensive and additional houses are required to maintain the same number of hens in a floor or aviary system compared to a cage system. Not only is more space needed but the added costs to convert conventional housing systems to cage-free systems is significant”

for $15.24/bushel. Much of this feed cost is passed on to the consumer, as is the increased cost of diesel fuel/transportation to move eggs from the farm to the grocery store. Supply chain disruptions and increased labor costs since the start of the pandemic have also driven up costs of consumer goods, and eggs are no exception. Conspiracy theories exist on social media that blame local feed stores or large feed companies for manufacturing feed that make backyard chickens stop laying eggs so that customers are forced to buy high-priced store eggs. But examining feed tags can assure consumers that everything chickens need from a nutritional perspective is in that sack of feed. Has the tag changed in the last month or the last six months? If the feed formulation changed, you would see differences in what is listed on the feed tag. There are no ingredients that would possibly be detrimental to egg production on the tag. If you have never paid attention to that tag before, now is the time to start. That tag is extremely valuable and provides you with useful information if you take the time to read it.

The feed tag A commercial feed is nutritionally suitable for its intended use as represented by its labeling (the feed tag). A feed tag allows the purchaser to select a product to meet their

production needs. The feed tag provides basic product information that would help the purchaser determine how to use the product safely and obtain the best benefits and results from its use. In addition, that tag is designed in a uniform format and composition and in a specified order to provide a level playing field for both the purchaser and distributor. A commercial feed tag contains information describing the feed product and details necessary for the safe and effective use of the feed. This information is mandated by law and the feed manufacturer must include this information on the feed tag. All commercially available feeds must contain a tag or label that includes the following information: •

the net weight;

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the product and/or brand name;

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a guaranteed analysis stating the level of those nutrients guaranteed by the company;

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the common name of each ingredient. Some states may permit the use of collective terms for ingredients of similar type;

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the name and principal mailing address of the manufacturer/seller;

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adequate directions for use of all commercial feeds containing drugs;

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precautionary statements for safe and effective use.

If the feed includes a medication, additional information must be included on the tag. In addition to the information required for non-medicated products, medicated feeds must also contain the following information: •

the purpose of the medication;

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directions for use of the feed product;

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the names of all active drug ingredients;

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the concentration of all active drug ingredients in the feed;

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a warning or precautionary statement for withdrawal period when required by law;

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warnings against misuse.

Specific guarantees must be present on the tag for complete feeds and supplement feeds intended for many animal species and classes. In certain instances, a specific guarantee is not required when the commercial feed is neither formulated for, nor represented in any manner as, a source of that nutrient. The guarantees are to be expressed in percentages unless otherwise noted. For all

- reportage -

REPORTAGE

classes of poultry feed and supplements the guarantees include: •

Minimum guarantees for crude protein, lysine, methionine, crude fat and phosphorus.

•

Maximum guarantees for crude fiber.

•

Minimum and maximum guarantees for calcium, salt (if added), and for total sodium if total sodium exceeds that furnished by the maximum salt guarantee.

A feed tag contains a wealth of information, and it is important that you understand the information provided. If you purchase medicated feed, follow label directions and any withdrawal times that appear on the tag. Also, feed according to label directions as a medicated feed cannot be fed any other way or is a violation of the law.

Cage-free laws Another factor adding to the high price of eggs is the increasing number of states that have adopted or are con-

sidering adopting cage-free laws for laying hens. Placing hens in an aviary or floor-type housing setting is doable; however, fewer birds per house are placed in a floor or aviary system compared to a cage house system. Fewer birds per house mean fewer total eggs available to sell, further widening the gap between supply and demand and driving prices higher. Poultry housing is extremely expensive and additional houses are required to maintain the same number of hens in a floor or aviary system compared to a cage system. Not only is more space needed but the added costs to convert conventional housing systems to cage-free systems is significant. This cost is passed along to the consumer. Consumers and retail outlets want these changes, but they must be willing to pay for them. It is often difficult to make the cost of this additional housing cash flow in today’s challenging economic times. Many table egg companies that have made cage-free commitments to their customers are struggling to meet those commitments because they can’t justify the cost to do so. Consumers may demand cage-free housing for

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REPORTAGE

ents. One large egg has an abundance of nutrients, including:

hens but are then unwilling to pay the increased price for cage-free eggs, making it difficult for egg companies to recover their costs. And companies that can’t show a profit usually don’t survive. As of March 2021, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service indicated 70.7 percent of the U.S. layer population was housed in conventional cage-type housing while 29.3 percent was in cage-free production. Approximately 66 percent of U.S. hens must be in cage-free production by 2026 to meet projected demand, according to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

Consumer eating habits The egg industry has added nearly three eggs per person per year between 2011 and 2022, with per capita consumption rising from 248 in 2011 to 278 in 2022. Consumers are more positive about eggs today than they were 10-12 years ago as there is better understanding that dietary cholesterol (of which eggs are a source) and serum cholesterol in our bodies are two different things. Eggs are also a good source of protein and other nutri-

•

70 calories,

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6 grams protein,

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5 grams fat,

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0 grams carbohydrates,

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0 grams sugar,

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0 grams fiber,

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70 milligrams sodium,

•

147 milligrams choline,

•

185 milligrams digestible cholesterol.

According to United Egg Producers, per capita consumption of eggs has increased 15 percent in the past 20 years. This increased consumer demand, in conjunction with the loss of 43 million birds related to avian influenza in the past year, changing management styles related to cage-free housing laws, and increased feed, transportation, and labor costs have created a perfect storm that caused the record high egg prices seen in December 2022. Retail prices tend to follow about four weeks behind wholesale price trends. Furthermore, retail price trends are often less volatile than wholesale trends. For example, for every 10 percent shift in wholesale egg price, consumers can expect retail price to shift only about 2 percent. Any additional Avian Influenza outbreaks in commercial table-egg layer flocks would be a wild card, however, and could change things dramatically.

Weather and season If your backyard chickens have stopped laying eggs, consider the weather and the season of the year. And remember this… eggs are a gift from our chickens. Chickens don’t have to lay eggs. Eggs require much work from the hen, and she puts a lot of effort and nutrients into each egg. But she will do that if she doesn’t feel threatened and is not concerned about body maintenance needs and self-preservation. However, regardless of what you may have heard, chickens are smart birds. They have known for centuries that when the days grow short, and the weather turns cold in the fall that hard times may be on the horizon. They go into self-preservation mode to survive the threat of the oncoming winter. This often means they stop laying eggs and use all those nutrients they were putting into their eggs for body maintenance needs to help them survive the winter. When spring re-

- reportage -

REPORTAGE

turns with long days and warm weather, the hen sees that the threat of winter has passed, and she again goes back to laying eggs. Unless hens are given additional light during winter so that the days are at least 16 hours long, many hens stop laying eggs between Thanksgiving and Christmas and don’t start laying again until spring. A cold spell in late December 2022 brought bitterly cold below zero temperatures, and any backyard chickens that were still laying eggs at that time went into self-preservation mode due to the cold weather. Also, chickens are very sensitive to changes in the length of the daylight period, and this same December period brought the shortest days of the year. The combination of short daylength and bitter cold likely forced many backyard flocks out of egg production mode and into body maintenance mode. Most hens will likely come back into production this spring when the days grow long again. It is not a conspiracy between local feed stores and large feed companies that caused your hens to stop laying eggs this winter. It’s a naturally occurring need for self-protection and self-preservation, ensuring they are still around when springtime comes.

Summary A perfect storm has driven egg prices to record levels. While some theories are blaming large feed and egg companies and local feed stores, this is not the case. Avian Influenza is the primary reason egg prices are so high these days. The loss of 43 million table-egg layers has caused a serious decrease in the egg supply at a time when demand for eggs is quite strong. Other factors that are compounding the Avian Influenza situation are high inflation (including the rising costs of feed, transportation and labor), cage-free housing rules and regulations, changing eating habits of American consumers that includes increased egg consumption, and repercussions from natural weather patterns that have taken many backyard flocks out of production for a period of time. While egg prices have started to fall from the record high levels of December 2022, additional cases of Avian Influenza in commercial layer flocks could quickly reverse that trend. Biosecurity should be the top priority to keep commercial and backyard flocks safe. By courtesy of The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and UT Extension

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DOSSIER

PH changes in egg compartments during embryo development in broiler chickens Broiler chickens spend one third of their lives developing inside an egg. Hence, understanding and optimising the in ovo environment is fundamental.

A.A. Khaskheli1, S. Niknafs1, M.M.Y. Meijer1, P. Ferket2 and E. Roura1 1 Centre for Nutrition

and Food Sciences, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, Australia 2 Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, USA

The pH of body fluids is tightly regulated to maintain critical physiological functions such as gas exchanges. Enzymes equally have an optimum pH range that determines their efficiency. Changes to these conditions, may impact on the efficiency of O2 transport or enzyme activity. Embryonic development requires a continuous flow of O2 delivery and supply of amino acids and energy through the activity of digestive enzymes. Albumen and yolk provide most nutrients to the embryo during incubation, the amnion provides protection, and the allantois serves as an excreta reservoir (Moran,

- dossier -

2007). It is anticipated that each structure will have a tightly controlled pH during incubation. The current study was developed with the objective to better understand the dynamics of pH changes in egg compartments. We hypothesized that the high respiration rate during embryonic development would be associated with CO2 release and partial depletion of bicarbonate, which is thought to be the main buffer in the egg. Thus, we expected metabolic alkalosis (a decrease in pH) to occur in all main water-rich compartments (albumen, amnion, and allantois).

DOSSIER

The pH changes in albumen and yolk were measured using a laboratory pH meter (HANNA instruments, Model HI98163) on embryonic days (E) 0 (T1), E3 (T2), E6 (T3), E9 (T4), E12 (T5), E15 (T6), and E17.5 (T7). The pH changes in amnion and allantois were studied on E9 (T4), E12 (T5) and E15 (T6). Data was analysed using ANOVA in R Studio. Significance level was set at P<0.05.

on pH showed a negative correlation with incubation day (P<0.05). Similarly, allantois which had a higher pH at E9 (8.83), decreased over time to 8.16 on E12 and 6.54 on E15. The yolk pH was negatively correlated with the pH of the albumen, amnion, and allantois (P<0.05), while the pH of amnion, albumen, albumen, and allantois pH were positively correlated (P<0.05).

The results showed higher albumen pH on E0 (9.21, P<0.05) than in successive days with values in continuous decline to 8.94, 8.31, 8.10, 7.39, and 7.18 on E6, E9, E12, E15 and E17.5, respectively. Albumen pH was negatively correlated with incubation day (P<0.05) showing maximal negative increments (P<0.05) between E7 to 9 and E13 to 15. In contrast, yolk pH increased from E0 to 15 with values of 6.67, 7.03, 7.56, 7.73, and 8.046 on E0, E6, E9, E12, and E15, respectively. However, by E17.5 the pH decreased back to 7.734 (P<0.05). Yolk pH was positively correlated with incubation day (P<0.05). The pH of amnion decreased over time, being higher (7.64) on E9 than on E12 (7.36) and E15 (6.83) (P<0.05). Amni-

During the course of incubation, the pH of water-rich compartments (albumen, allantois, and amnion) decreased, while the pH of the fat-rich compartment (yolk) increased, thus confirming our hypothesis. Evidently, a dynamic homeostasis of metabolic acid-base balance is critical for embryonic respiration and development. Acknowledgements: This study was supported by AgriFutures and Delacon. References: Moran Jr ET (2007) Poult. Sci. 86: 1043-1049. From the Proceedings of the Australian Poultry Science Symposium 2023

IPPE - october 2023 -

FOCUS

Gut health & brain functioning: implications for poultry Healthy gut microbiota supports intestinal health and brain functions while preventing from physical and mental disorders. Indeed, signals from the gut microbiota can affect brain functioning via the microbiota-gut-brain axis promoting poultry welfare, health, and performance outcomes. Microbiota-gut-brain communication Aitor Arrazola, Research biologist, Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour & Welfare

Gut microbiota helps digest complex, dietary feedstuff, like fibre (otherwise undigestible by the host), into more easy-to-absorb nutrients by the gut walls. Yet, beyond contributing to break down nutrients, gut microbiome also produces essential metabolites (such as vita-

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FOCUS

mins) and signaling compounds needed for proper functioning. Such metabolites support physical health, and new research suggests that bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract also release metabolites that are biologically active in the brain. Upon digestion, peptides and shortchain fatty acids produced by gastrointestinal bacteria can modulate the activity of the digestive tract, immune system, and even brain functions. In the brain, products from these beneficial bacteria can indeed affect host’s behaviour, leading to improved performance, increased activity levels, resilient immune system and stress response, and enhanced emotional well-being. During digestion and fermentation, chickens can absorb these microbiota-produced metabolites in the gut tract that are, then, transported to the brain. Once here, bacteria-produced metabolites can bypass the brain blood barrier due to small particle size and support proper functioning within the brain. For example, in different brain regions, microbiota-produced metabolites can modulate stress perception, prime activity levels, and regulate feeding behavior. Consequently, gut microbiome signals can upregulate positively body functions mediating the communication between the gastrointestinal tract and brain. This microbiota-gut-brain communication behaves as one complex environment that integrates the interplay of gut microbiome, bacteria-produced metabolites, and neuron functioning within. Certainly, bacteria-produced metabolites regulate a complex physiological cascade that includes hormonal control and neuron activity in the central nervous system. Within this interplay, peptides and short-chain fatty acids (acetic and butyric acid) produced by gut bacteria are key signals within the gut-tobrain pathway that can prevent the development of neurological disorders and malfunctioning. These new findings suggest that the gut-to-brain axis can be used therapeutically to treat behavioural disorders, support physical and mental health, enhance stress resilience, and assist with overall wellbeing in poultry used for production. For example, microbiome-produced butyrate in the gut can promote stress resilience and mitigate stress-related problems by lowering the activation of the stress response in the brain. Also, the interaction between healthy microbiota and the intestinal tract strengthens the immune system response and its competence against other pathogens. Developing a functional microbiota-gut-brain communication can, therefore, yield new venues to build up stress resilience and develop a skilled

- october 2023 -

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immune system in poultry. In return, healthy gut microbiota can improve lifelong poultry health, welfare, and performance. On the other side, poorly-develop microbiome in chickens raises health and welfare concerns about their low performance, mainly due to reduced feeding motivation associated with malaise and upset gut. Additionally, unhealthy gut microbiota in poultry also brings food safety concerns linked with foodborne diseases such as Salmonella and Campylobacter infection.

Implications for poultry industry Public pressure is moving forward increasing standards of care for poultry to support their health and welfare without compromising food safety. To do so, dietary probiotic supplementation brings new solutions to tackle these challenges by enhancing the microbiota-gut-brain communication. For example, major challenges linked with poor health and welfare in broilers are associated with excessive body weight gain and low activity levels (e.g., foot lesion, breast blisters, and leg problems). In this case, a functional gut-to-brain signaling can plausibly prime activity levels in broilers to prevent these disorders caused by excessive inactivity. In the case of layers, microbiota signaling to the brain can reduce stress perception and flock arousal under stressful conditions with proven benefits on production outcomes like improved

laying persistency, reduced risk of feather pecking, and enhanced feed efficiency. Dietary probiotic supplementation, using the right species, has been shown to boost feeding behavior, reduce instances of severe feather pecking, and alleviate the stress response under challenging conditions. Yet, whether bacteria-produced metabolites on its own (as dietary supplements) can support this gut-to-brain axis signaling is still questionable. Scientific-based results suggest that probiotic supplementation can practically upregulate the microbiota-gut-brain communication on-site in poultry flocks. Nonetheless, two main challenges associated with probiotic supplementation are 1) overcoming host colonization resistance and 2) determining the right dosage, duration, and strain specificity to achieve the desire effect on the host. To avoid colonization resistance, soon after hatch is a sensitive time window for probiotic provision as chicks lack intestinal microbiota on their first days of life. This practice is indeed advised to help beneficial bacteria establish within the gut tract as soon as possible and prevent naïve chicks from being colonized by environmental and dietary pathogens. Then, once established, healthy microbiome acts as a barrier against unhealthy bacteria. Still, even after early administration, probiotics should be provided occasionally to guarantee their survival rate over time within the host.

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Influence of precision glycans on layer cecal community

F. Petranyi1, Y. Bajagai1, S. Ramirez2 and D. Stanley1 1 Central Queensland University, IFFS, Australia 2 DSM Nutritional

Products, Singapore

Glycans are ubiquitous complex polysaccharides present in all biological systems. Industry and the scientific community are becoming increasingly more aware of the importance of intestinal health in animal productivity and welfare. Novel strategies are emerging in developing intestinal health, targeting products that aim to control microbiome functions and alter the beneficial/pathogenic genera ratio in the gut. Precision glycans can be developed to improve intestinal health and functionality, and recent reports showed encouraging results. Here we present the effects of precision glycan-based intervention on the caecal intestinal microbiota in layers.

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Introduction Glycans are polysaccharides, essential biomolecules with well-established benefits for the host and abundantly used as prebiotics to support balanced microbiome function. Host produced glycans, such as mucins, are crucial for the defensive purpose of the intestinal epithelial barrier against pathogens. Glycans are often projecting on the cell surface and are frequently secreted molecules, thus presenting a perfect pathogen trap or barrier. In addition to host produced glycans, many studies have investigated enormous benefits to intestinal health via supplementation of dietary glycans. Dietary supplementations with specific glycans can modulate microbiota, improving enteric health and preventing dysbiosis by rebuilding diverse microbial communities. This is presenting us with the opportunity to develop precision glycans, optimised to maximise and harness the best intestinal benefits and bring about the new generation of prebiotics to match or outperform next-generation probiotics.

Table 1 – Significantly altered cecal genera. Genus

P-value (DESeq2)

FDR

Saccharimonadales

0.0000033

0.00032

0.047

Anaerofilum

0.0000066

0.00032

0.14

CTR

Enterorhabdus

0.000031

0.00096

0.052

CTR

Mucispirillum

0.00004

0.00096

0.048

0.092

Blautia

0.000061

0.0012

0.58

0.3

CTR

Subdoligranulum

0.00012

0.0019

3.84

1.14

CTR

Odoribacter

0.001

0.014

0.13

0.24

Ruminococcus

0.0063

0.076

0.42

0.15

CTR

Parasutterella

0.016

0.17

0.42

0.75

Mailhella

0.029

0.28

0.011

0.11

Romboutsia

0.036

0.31

0.43

CTR

Megamonas

0.043

0.35

1.01

0.46

CTR

Precision glycan inspired Precision Biotic (PB) is developed on a functional metagenomics platform to control pathogenic functions in the poultry gut and improve intestinal health. A natural coccidiosis challenge study reported that PB resulted in similar or better performance to the Avilamycin and consistently exhibited significantly enhanced performance compared to the phytogenic, essential oils-based treatments (Ramirez et al., 2021). In another study, two precision gly-

CTR mean PB mean

Higher in

can metabolic modulators of different glycan sizes were investigated across 19 geographically distinct high powered trials conducted using 33,880 broiler chickens. One of the products displayed a reduction of cFCR of 0.06 g feed/ g BW gain compared to control, while the other precision glycan product reduced cFCR. While both products improved FCR, one of them increased and the other one reduced feed intake. In this study, we investigated the effects of PB, previously shown bene-

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sis and interpretation were done using Hellinger transformed ASV table at an ASV and genus level. DeSeq2 was used for univariate significance comparisons at the genus level.

Results

Figure 1 – LEfSe analysis identified Clostridium sensu stricto and Corynebacterium as significantly associated with control, and Eubacterium hallii group associated with PB.

ficial in broiler enteric challenge, in a commercial layer trial comprised of 40,000 layers housed in experimental sheds, specifically designed for this type of experiment.

Method The experiment was performed in a large commercial layer farm in a shed designed to take two groups of 20,000 birds each, with the two treatments on opposite sides of the shed, separated by a utility room in the middle and with a wire fence separating the birds in the range with an outdoor buffer zone between the two treatments. The 40,000 of 18 weeks old pullets from the same batch of Hyline chicks were randomly assigned to either control or PB supplemented group. The birds are given the same batch of feed with the supplement automatically premixed to the treatment side of the shed at the dose of 400ppm. The

birds were provided with a standard company layer ration optimised for maximum health and performance under the current farm environmental conditions and layer breed. Ten weeks after the shed placement and treatment supplementation, when the birds were 28 weeks of age, caecal content was collected for microbiota analysis via 16S amplicon sequencing. Microbiota analysis was done via amplification of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA. Sequencing was completed on the Illumina MiSeq platform using 2x300 bp paired-end sequencing. The data were analysed using Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology 2 (QIIME 2). After demultiplexing with Cutadapt, Phred quality scores were set to a minimum of 30 using only top quality sequences. Dada2 was used to error correct and chimera clean the data and taxonomy was assigned using SILVA database. Data analy-

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In total, 39 of 40 samples were successfully sequenced with the smallest sample size of 4,228 and the largest sample containing 12,056 sequences with no significant differences between the groups in a number of sequences per sample. The caecal microbial community was significantly different between control and PB supplement using Adonis multivariate analysis and Bray-Curtis distance at an ASV (P=0.0003) and a genus level (P=0.002). Supplementation marginally increased cecal diversity. Table 1 shows the genera affected. Genera increased in the supplemented group included Saccharimonadales, Mucispirillum, Odoribacter, Parasutterella and Mailhella, while reduced include Anaerofilum, Enterorhabdus, Blautia, Subdoligranulum, Ruminococcus, Romboutsia and Megamonas. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe), an algorithm for high-dimensional biomarker discovery, was used to determine main features related to the treatments (Figure 1) and it additionally identified clostridia and Corynebacterium as the biomarker for the control group and Eubacterium hallii group associated with PB.

Discussion The inclusion of PB introduced distinct changes to the microbial com-

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munity of layer caeca. One of the strongly inhibited microbial communities (no sequences detected in control birds) were members of the genus Saccharimonadales. As with other newly identified or reclassified genera, there is not much literature available to draw meaningful conclusions on its role in layer intestinal health. Recently, Padovan et al. (2021) thoroughly investigated the threat posed by pathogenic vibrio species in tropical Australia. They identified 42 Vibrio species and reported a significant negative correlation with Saccharimonadales. Mucispirillum, another genus increased in the PB group, is better characterised, reported in insects, mice, poultry, dogs, pigs, goats and humans. The name is connected to the flagella and the ability to move through the mucus. It is possible that novel glycans interacted with mucin to make the environment more favourable for Mucispirillum. Interestingly, Mucispirillum was also reported as a Salmonella antagonist protecting the mice against colitis. Odoribacter are named by the foul smell they produce in the mouth. The effects are high strain-specific and members of this genus have been reported as significant members of oral and faecal microbiota, able to confer protective immunity against cancer or, in contrast, as increasing the risk of multiple sclerosis relapse in children or being increased in lupus and obesity. Based on our abundant data collected from poultry farms, this genus is a part of normal poultry microbiota, and its particular roles should be further investigated for both benefits and an opportunistic pathogen ability.

group, Parasutterella, should not be confused with Pasteurella genus responsible for fowl cholera. Parasutterella is a more novel and uncharacterised genus that represents one of the main prominent gut members. It has been reported as improving lipoprotein levels in human participants consuming resistant potato starch and as potentially promoting intestinal inflammation. Mailhella, a sulphate reducing genus, is also one of the more recently noticed genera detected in layers of the caecum. In addition to more neutral genera affected by PB, the benefits of reduction of true clostridia are well characterised. A range of layer commensal bacterial genera was reduced in the PB group, including Blautia, Subdoligranulum and Ruminococcus, mostly considered as beneficial. Ruminococcus is one of the major mucin utilising genera and is considered beneficial; however, as we stated above, the benefits and pathogenicity are often strain level specific. Ruminococcus was also reported as associated with prediabetes and inflammatory bowel disease and there is growing evidence of the role of primary and secondary mucin degraders in intestinal inflammatory diseases. More research is needed to further investigate possible PB and mucin intestinal interactions. References are available on request From the Proceedings of the Australian Poultry Science Symposium 2022

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Another genus increased in the PB

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Just a short-term dip? A situation analysis on investments in alternative proteins This paper will analyse the situation after the end of the Corona pandemic, which had a major impact on the sales of alternative foods. eating these products, as predicted. Sales growth for most companies was much slower than expected. Some even withdrew from production others reduced their product portfolio or laid off employees.1 Compared to 2021, investments in start-ups and companies active in the alternative protein sector decreased significantly. However, this is not true for all continents, as in some regions the momentum of previous years continued. This paper will analyse the situation after the end of the Corona pandemic, which had a major impact on the sales of alternative foods.

Sharp decline in investment Between 2010 and 2020, approximately $6 billion was invested globally in the development of alternative proteins, including $3 billion in 2020 alone. The following year saw an explosion in available funding to nearly $5.1 billion.

Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst The author is Prof. Emeritus of the University of Vechta, Germany

In an editorial of November 21st, 2022 in the New York Times, one could read “For a while, it looked like Beyond Meat was taking over the world”. This was referring to the market for meat substitutes. However, in 2022, the company and several start-ups, which produced and marketed plant-based meats, experienced an unforeseen drop in sales and investments in the technology of producing alternative proteins. Clearly, the companies did not succeed in convincing new groups of buyers of the benefits of 1

The Corona pandemic had resulted in a significant increase in retail sales of alternative foods and a growth spiral seemed to have been set in motion, promising high profits (Table 1). The disillusionment set in by 2022, however, at least in North America, Latin America and West Asia. Sales volumes either fell significantly or were far below expectations. In addition came critical comments about some companies’ products in terms of quality and taste, as well as their marketing strategies. Some market leaders in quick serve restaurants reduced the range of offers or discontinued the distribution of such products. Surveys showed that the proportion of consumers who either wanted to try such products or to eat them

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/business/beyond-meat-industry.html.

- marketing -

MARKETING

permanently was more or less constant or increased only slightly. There was also criticism of the high price of plantbased meat compared to low-priced offers of conventional meat in retail stores. Table 1 – The development of global investments in companies and start-ups in the development and production of alternative proteins; data in mill. US-$ (source: GFI 2022 State of the Industry Report: Plant-based Meat, Seafood, Eggs and Dairy). Year

Plant-based

Fermentation

Cell cultures

Total

2018

626

744

2019

703

331

1,125 3,005

2020

2,213

613

379

2021

2,028

1,690

1,341

5,059

2022

1,188

842

896

2,926

Change 2021 to 2022 in %

- 41.7

- 50.2

- 33.2

- 42.2

The stagnating or even declining sales revenues, especially for refrigerated products, prompted some companies to offer frozen goods that were cheaper in price. This made up for some of the losses in sales. Leading US foodservice companies also increasingly turned to markets in Europe and Asia.

Regional shifts in investments made Investments did not decline evenly across the globe between 2021 and 2022. While Latin America (-76%), North America (-63%) and West Asia/Africa (-21%) in particular saw major declines, they continued to increase in East and South Asia/Oceania (+43%) and Europe (+24%). This changed the regional investment pattern considerably, as can be seen in Figure 1.

2022

2021

2020

2019

2 4

5 3 5 3 3

2018

100 [%]

N America

Europe

Asia/ Oceania

Western Asia/ Africa

Latin America

Figure 1 – Regional shift of investments in alternative protein production between 2018 and 2022 (design: A.S. Kauer based on GFI data). 2

While in 2018 North America was still in an unchallenged first place with a share of 89% of global investments, in 2022 their share had fallen to 42%, i.e. it had lost more than half. The clear winners were Europe and Asia. It is worth noting that the share of West Asia/Africa is almost exclusively due to investments made in Israel. After a rapid increase from $14 million in 2018 to $620 million in 2021, there was, however, also a 26.8% drop to just $454 million. This slump is mainly a consequence of the still remaining technical problems in the production of meat from cell cultures, especially in the necessary scaling up of bioreactors, which are essential for a continuous supply to the market. In addition to Israel, substantial funding was provided in Asia in Singapore ($214 million), China ($176 million), South Korea ($80 million) and Japan ($76 million). In Australia, too, $169 million was invested in the technological development of alternative proteins.2

Stagnation respectively decline in sales of alternative proteins During the Corona pandemic, consumer behaviour changed decisively. While sales dropped sharply due to prolonged travel restrictions and restaurant closures, they increased in the food retail sector. In private households, meals were increasingly prepared again, for which the necessary ingredients had to be provided. With the end of the pandemic, the situation changed again. Sales in the food retail trade declined, while out-of-home consumption increased again, but did not reach the same volume as before the pandemic. Developments in system gastronomy changed considerably. While some chains expanded their range of meat alternatives, others ended their test phases in selected cities or countries due to unsatisfactory sales. Table 2 impressively documents this change in consumer behaviour for the USA. It is worth noting that, in contrast to other products, sales of egg replacers still increased between 2021 and 2022, but also suffered strong losses compared to previous years. The number of units sold in grocery stores decreased particularly significantly between 2021 and 2022 for meat (especially beef patties), ready meals and plantbased bars, which consumers had turned significantly to during the pandemic. A detailed analysis of the GFI at product basis and form of supply showed that in 2022 frozen goods were preferred over chilled fresh products because of their lower price.

Green Queen Media: The APAC Alternative Protein Industry Report 2022. https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/apac-alt-protein-report-2022.

- october 2023 -

MARKETING

Table 2 – The development of sales for selected plant-based food items in the USA between 2019 and 2022; data in % (source: GFI 2022 State of the Industry Report). Product

Unit sales

Sales volume 2019 - 2022

2021 - 2022

2019 - 2022

2021 - 2022

Milk

-2

Meat

-1

-8

Prepared meals

-7

Plant-based bars

-2

-8

- 30

Eggs

348

611

Total alternative products

-3

aspects had moved to the forefront in the advertising of the products for a few years, a return to the known aspects (animal welfare, lower resource consumption, climate change) in addition to the health benefits can be observed.

In Europe, the drop in sales was not as severe as in the USA, but there too, sales volumes and the number of sold units fell significantly. As can be seen in Table 3, sales volumes and the number of units sold of ready meals, which had experienced a real boom during the pandemic, fell most sharply as well in Europe as a whole as in Germany. The buyers’ appreciation of meat also dropped significantly. Figure 2 documents the share of the ten leading European countries in total plant-based food and plantbased meat sales in 2022.

Meat from cell cultures, market approval is not everything After Good Food, a subsidiary of JUST Egg, received market approval for cell-cultured chicken meat in Singapore in December 2020, almost two years passed before further progress was reported in the application of this technology. An important step is likely to be the classification of the technology used by UPSIDE Foods as a safe form of producing in chicken meat by the

Analyses of the causes for the declining buyer interest in alternative proteins could show that above all the taste of the products, the large number of ingredients used, and also the high technical effort in production were reasons for the declining or stagnating sales. After health

Table 3 – The market development for selected plant-based products in Europe and Germany between 2019 and 2022; data in % (source: GFI Europe: Deutschland 2020-2022). Europe Product

Sales volume 2019 - 2022

Unit sales

2021 - 2022

2019 - 2022

2021 - 2022

Meat

Prepared meals

Germany Meat

Prepared meals

- marketing -

FDA (U. S. Food and Drug Administration) on November 16th, 2022. However, this decision is not yet the market approval. Further testing procedures are still necessary in the production facilities that are currently being set up. It will be several years before the product is available on the market in larger quantities. Good Food was able to achieve another success after the market approval in Singapore. In March 2023, the company received market approval for cell cultures chicken meat. It can be assumed that the positive decisions of the FDA will open up new access to funding for Upside Foods and Good Food. However, the market approval is not everything, as has been shown in Singapore. To be successful in the market, the potential buyer must not only be convinced of the quality of the offered product, but it must also be available at a price that does not deviate too far from that of conventionally produced meat in retail stores. This prerequisite continues to cause problems, however, because the production of large bioreactors, which are indispensable for the continuous production of quantities of interest to the market, not only requires high financial resources, but also the development of an efficient and safe control technology. Obviously, there is still a lot of development work necessary in this field (cf. Windhorst 2022). Interviews with potential consumers showed that some of them were sceptical or even rejected the complex technology that is necessary to obtain meat from cell cultures because they considered it as unnatural. In 2022, this will have prevented some investors from continuing to provide funding on the same level as

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Summary and perspectives

Plant-based food total Total: 5,678 mill.

3.3%

2.9% 1.8% 2.9% 3.5% 7.2%

33.7%

7.5% 7.9% 12.0%

17.3%

Germany United King. Italy Spain France Netherlands Sweden Poland Belgium Denmark Others

Plant-based meat substitutes Total: 1,971 mill.

2.7%

1.5% 2.3% 1.9%

4.2% 4.3% 5.6%

31.9%

8.3% 11.0% 26.3%

Germany United King. Netherlands Italy France Sweden Spain Belgium Poland Denmark Others

Figure 2 – The share of the ten Europe leading countries in total plant-based food and plant-based meat substitute sales in 2022 (design: A.S. Kauer based on GFI data).

before, in addition to the unspecified period of time that will elapse before market penetration. The importance of alternative proteins for feeding a growing world population has finally also been recognised in politics. The governments of several countries (e.g. Australia, China, India, Israel, Singapore, USA, UK and Germany) and the EU have provided funding for research into the technology used in the development of alternative proteins. However, the funding amounts are small compared to the funds provided by private investors or funding institutions.

Several years of rapidly increasing sales of plant-based foods have led to the provision of substantial investments in this technology. The increase in food retail sales was a result of restaurant closures and travel restrictions during the Corona pandemic. After the pandemic ended, food retail sales fell sharply, causing financial problems for a number of companies and start-ups. The failure to meet consumers’ expectations prompted several investors to stop providing funding. North America, Latin America and West Asia were particularly affected. In contrast, investments continued to be made in Europe and East Asia, albeit to a lesser extent than between 2019 and 2021. Regarding the production of alternative foods from cell cultures, the decrease in investments was due on the one hand to the looming duration of years until market-relevant quantities would be available and on the other hand to a recognisable scepticism among potential consumers towards products with a high technological input. It can be assumed, however, that recent decisions regarding the technologies used and the market approval of alternative products will result in a new wave of investments.

References The Good Food Institute (GFI): 2022 State of the Industry Report: Plant-based Meat, Seafood, Eggs, and Dairy. https://gfi.org/resource/plant-based-meat-eggs-anddairy-state-of-the-industry-report. The Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe: Investments in Sustainable Protein in Europe. https://gfieurope.org/industry. The Good Food Institute (GFI) Israel: State of the Alternative Proteins 2023. https://gfi.org.il/resources/israel-state-of-alternative-proteins-february-2023. The Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe: Deutschland: Entwicklung des Marktes für pflanzliche Lebensmittel im Einzelhandel 2020-2022. https://gfieurope.org/de/ deutschland. Green Queen Media: The APAC Alternative Protein Industry Report 2022. https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/ apac-alt-protein-report-2022. Windhorst, H.-W.: The revolution is taking shape. In: Fleischwirtschaft international 2023, no. 1, p. 34-39.

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I WANT AZA! 31

TECHNICAL COLUMN

Formaldehyde-free hatching egg disinfection Hatching eggs are commonly disinfected prior to incubation. For many years, the disinfectant of choice has been formaldehyde (or formalin, which is 37% formaldehyde in water). are products based on hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid or on quaternary ammonium compounds and glutaraldehyde. Electrolyzed oxidizing water has also shown good results. These alternatives do however have one big disadvantage, which is that they cannot be applied as a gas. Rather, they are liquids and need to be applied as such. The main challenge therefore is to distribute these liquid disinfectants evenly and in the right amount over the total egg surface of all the eggs loaded on the setter trays in the fumigation room. Another challenge is to limit the time between loading and unloading the fumigation room to the 1 to 1½ hours that was previously needed when applying formaldehyde, so as not to disturb the workflow in the hatchery. The best option for distribution is ‘dry fogging’, which is the creation of droplets of 5 to 10 microns. These droplets fill the room as a dense fog, ensuring contact with each and every egg. If the droplets are bigger than this, the eggs close to the nozzle will Formaldehyde is easily converted into a gas, so that all that is needed for it to reach the total surface of all the eggs in the fumigation room is a little air recirculation. Formaldehyde is also an effective and inexpensive disinfectant. However, its carcinogenic properties mean that more and more countries are banning its use, so that hatcheries are looking for an alternative, also with improved labour conditions in mind.

Gerd de Lange, Senior Poultry Specialist, Pas Reform Academy

Several good alternative disinfectants are available, which once properly applied and dosed achieve a good microbial death rate on the eggshell and have no negative effects on hatchability and chick quality. Examples

- technical column -

be overdosed and the eggs in the centre of the trolley will remain untouched. Overdosing may lead to closing of the egg pores or damage to the protective cuticle, depending on the disinfectant used, while under-dosing will give poor disinfection results.

TECHNICAL COLUMN

“The best option for distribution is ‘dry fogging’, which is the creation of droplets of 5 to 10 microns. These droplets fill the room as a dense fog, ensuring contact with each and every egg”

Dry fogging sounds easier than it is. While there are many devices available that claim to create small droplets, they often produce droplets over a large range, with only a small proportion below 10 microns. For proper dry fogging, high-quality, fully tested compressed-air supported nozzles are required. The number of these nozzles per fumigation room should ideally be based on 15 minutes fogging time. The rest of the one hour disinfection process is then available for 30 minutes contact time and 15 minutes extraction time. Water is used as a carrier for the disinfectant and dosing should be properly calculated based on the required active ingredient per cubic metre fumigation room.

Advice •

Invest in good technology that is able to create droplets of 5-10 microns for optimal distribution of the liquid disinfectant over the entire surface of every egg.

•

Ask the nozzle supplier to help calculate the dilution ratio and the total quantity of liquid needed to cover all the eggs without excessive wetting.

•

Evaluate the disinfectant type, dilution ratio and quantity based not only on the reduction in microorganisms, but also on their effects on weight loss during incubation, the cuticula, hatchability and chick quality.

- october 2023 -

NUTRITION

An evaluation of the protein and energy requirements of long-life laying hens

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Work on the protein and energy requirements of long-life layers has been sparsely reported, and as a result, is poorly understood. This study measured the response of individually housed Hy-Line Silver Brown hens aged 80 to 90 weeks to three levels of dietary AMEn, and four levels of standardised ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys).

The hens manipulated feed intake such that calorie consumption remained constant across all levels of AMEn. Birds with a higher daily egg output (g egg per day) consumed more SID Lys daily, but dietary SID Lys levels had a small but significant negative impact on egg output. The current understanding of the energy and protein requirements of laying hens is applicable to the feeding of long-life layers, although care should be taken not to overfeed protein. R. Kleyn1 and M. Ciacciariello2

Introduction

1 Spesfeed Consulting

(Pty) Ltd, South Africa & University of KwaZuluNatal, South Africa 2 University of KwaZulu-

Natal, South Africa

Improved production efficacy in laying hens has been achieved by selecting individual birds that lay longer clutches of eggs. In addition, the length of the productive life of

- nutrition -

hens has been extended to one hundred weeks of age or more. These ‘long-life’ layers were predicted to produce 500 eggs by 100 weeks of age, and this is now being achieved commercially. Primary breeding companies have used genomic tools to address several issues, including clutch lengths, control of egg size, reducing the decline in egg quality, improving shell breaking strength and bone quality and improving the oviduct’s weight and efficiency. Little research has been carried out into the nutrition and metabolism of the long-life hen, principally because the stock has not been available. Most of the information available is based on supposition and anecdotal evidence. In an attempt to better understand the nutrient requirements of long-life hens, an experiment was carried out using indi-

NUTRITION

vidually housed Hy-Line Silver Brown hens aged 80 to 90 weeks post-hatch. An evaluation of the protein and energy requirements and their impact on daily egg output and quality was conducted.

Method This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the University of KwaZulu Natal (AREC/044/017), and investigated three levels of dietary AMEn and four levels of SID Lys on production parameters in 192 individual HyLine Silver Brown layers, from 80 to 90 weeks of age. Data for the period 87 to 90 weeks of age were used for analytical and modelling purposes. The birds were housed individually in wire cages (500 mm depth × 450 mm height × 350 mm width) in an open-sided convection house. A completely randomised 3 × 4 factorial block design was used, with 16 replicates per treatment. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum, and the photoperiod was maintained at a constant 16 hours/d by artificial lighting. Eggs were collected daily, and hen day production (% eggs produced per hen per day) was calculated. Egg weight (g) was measured three times per week, and the

mean was determined. Feed intake (FI) was determined weekly, while body weight (BW) was determined before and after the four-week data collection period. The change in BW (g/d) was calculated for this period. Daily egg output was calculated as the product of egg weight × hen day production (g egg/hen day-1) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated as the ratio of average daily FI (g) to daily egg output (g/day). The daily intakes of AMEn and SID Lys were calculated as the product of FI and dietary level. Diets were formulated using similar ingredients to provide three levels of AMEn (11.0, 11.75, 12.5 MJ/kg) and four levels of dietary SID Lys (6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 g/kg). SID Lys was used as the reference amino acid (AA) but contained the same ideal AA profile. Feed analysis was undertaken by Evonik Africa (Pty) Ltd. Data were analyzed by full factorial ANOVA using JMP® Pro 14.2.0. Each hen represented a single data point. Linear regression prediction equations were used to model FI, FCR, egg output and nutrient requirements. Any hen that fell outside the specified FCR range of 1.5 to 2.4 was excluded to reduce the effect of body protein and energy on deposition or mobilisation and minimise the impact on SID Lys and AMEn utilisation.

Table 1 – Main effects of dietary treatments on production parameters, body weight, feed intake, FCR nitrogen-corrected AMEn and SID Lys intake of Hy-Line Silver Brown layers from 87 to 90 weeks post- hatch. Hen day (%/day)

Egg weight (g/egg)

Egg output (g/day)

Feed intake (g/day)

Body weight (g)

FCR (g feed/g egg day-1)

AMEn intake (KJ/day)

SID Lys intake (mg/day)

11.00

70.96

60.65

43.11

111.9c

1984

2.719

1226

837.5c

11.75

72.20

59.95

43.00

102.6b

1953

2.567

1199

766.5b

12.50

70.00

60.17

42.19

96.72a

1956

2.406

1201

721.8a

6.0

74.66

59.13

44.33

108.6

2010

2.652

1264

652.1a

7.0

73.54

60.35

44.14

104.2

1960

2.444

1211

728.1b

8.0

67.12

60.97

41.00

101.4

1940

2.697

1177

808.8c

9.0

68.90

60.57

41.64

101.3

1948

2.467

1182

912.0 d

Dietary energy (AMEn)

0.814

0.664

0.871

<0.001

0.469

0.243

0.716

<0.001

Digestible lysine (Lys)

0.176

0.157

0.370

0.155

0.130

0.520

0.132

<0.001

AMEn x Lys interaction

0.631

0.150

0.554

0.861

0.965

0.436

0.865

0.759

AMEn (MJ/kg)

SID Lys (g/kg)

Significance (p =)

abc Means within columns not sharing a common superscript are significantly different at the 5% level of probability.

Mean performance; Hen day 71.07%, Egg weight 60.26 g, Egg production 42.77, Feed intake 103.88, Bodyweight 1964 g, FCR 2.563.

- october 2023 -

NUTRITION

Results

adjust FI to meet their requirements (Eq. 1).

The main effects for the period 87 to 90 weeks of age are shown in Table 1. There were no significant interactions between the protein and energy levels of any diets used. The transition from 11.0 to 12.5 MJ/ kg dietary AMEn decreased daily FI by 15.7% (96.7 versus 111.9 g/day; P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in AMEn intake. The FCR differed by 13.3% (2.72 versus 2.05; P<0.001). The increase in dietary SID Lys from 6.0 to 9.0 g/kg increased daily SID Lys intake by 33.8% (683 versus 914 mg/day; P<0.01), but this had no significant impact on egg weight or egg number. The SID Lys level of the diet had no significant impact on AMEn intake, FI, egg weight, egg mass or FCR, and no interactions were observed. Individual hens were able to

Dietary SID Lys content was not significant and excluded from the model. AMEn intake was predicted with high accuracy (r2=0.796; P<0.001) (Eq. 2), with body weight (P<.001), and daily egg output (P<.001) being the only factors that impacted energy intake. The prediction of daily egg output as determined by AMEn intake (kJ/d) is both significant (r2=0.780; P<0.001) and linear (Eq. 3), whereas the impact of dietary energy level on egg out was NS (Eq. 4.) The energy requirement for maintenance was 193 kJ/kg body weight, and that of egg output was 18.6 kJ/g. The response of daily egg output to SID Lys intake (mg/d) was significant (r2=0.274; P<0.001), with the only variable having an impact being daily egg output (P<0.001). Body weight had an NS impact and was

Table 2 – Prediction of AMEn intake (kJ/d) egg output response to AMEn intake and dietary level, SID Lys intake (mg/d), egg output response to SID Lys intake and dietary level and feed intake (g/d) using linear regression (n=125 measurements with 12 diets). Dependent variable

Independent variable

Parameter estimate

Standard error

p-value

Feed intake, g/d (r 2 = 0.834)

Intercept

75.198

14.568

<0.001

Body weight, g

0.016

0.004

<0.001

Egg output, g/d

1.621

0.098

<0.001 <0.001

Equation 1

2 AMEn intake, kJ/d (r2 = 0.796)

-6.674

1.018

0.193

0.059

<0.001

Egg output, g/d

18.609

1.159

<0.001

Egg output, g/d (r 2 = 0.780)

Intercept

0.659

2.240

0.769

AMEn intake, kJ/d

0.038

0.002

<0.001

Egg output, g/d (r 2 = 0.020)

Intercept

73.602

13.939

<.001

AMEn MJ/kg

-2.240

1.184

0.061

SID Lys intake, mg/d (r 2 = 0.274)

Intercept

245.524

80.1901

0.003

Egg output, g/d

11.597

1.676

<0.001

AMEn, MJ/kg Body weight, g

Egg output, g/d (r 2 = 0.325)

Egg output, g/d (r 2 = 0.026)

Intercept

-8.232

11.650

0.481

SID Lys intake,mg/d

0.119

0.030

<0.001

SID Lys intake2, mg/d

-6.0 x 10 -5

1.9 x 10 -6

<0.001

Intercept

56.200

4.358

<0.001

SID Lys g/kg

-1.188

0.573

0.040

- nutrition -

excluded from the model (Eq. 5). Increasing the levels of dietary SID Lys from 6 to 9 g/kg, had a significant, linear but negative impact on egg output (r2=0.020; P<0.040) (Eq. 6). Those hens consuming higher levels of AMEn consumed less SID Lys, but this had an NS effect on egg output. Egg weight remained the same regardless of the SID Lys intake achieved, which is at odds with the results in younger hens.

Discussion The advantage of housing and measuring individual hens is that outcomes are not blurred by averaging the measurements from two or more individuals, giving rise to a more accurate measurement of underlying biological factors. Conversely, the social and spatial constraints between hens living in a colony of cohorts are absent. This social interaction likely limits FI under commercial, particularly cage-free conditions. The finding that long-life hens can adjust their FI to match their requirements is contrary to the findings of other workers, who suggested that modern genotypes may have lost the ability to regulate energy intake in this manner. These differences are likely explained by the fact that there is nothing to impede FI in individually housed hens, whereas this may not be the case when hens are housed in colonies, as found by Scappaticcio et al. (2022) The energy requirement for maintenance declined from 352 kJ/kg of body weight to 193 kJ/kg, while in the case of daily egg output, this value increased from 9.16 kJ/g to 18.6 kJ/g when compared to younger hens. This re-

NUTRITION

sult may not be an accurate reflection of energy partitioning in long-life hens, as many of the individual birds had either gone out of production or were in the process of doing so, suggesting that body reserves were utilized for egg production. The hens lost body weight. Thus, it was likely that some endogenous protein was available for egg production. Increasing the levels of dietary SID Lys from 6 to 9 g/kg, had little impact on long-life strain hens in terms of hen day production, even though those hens consuming higher levels of AMEn consumed less SID Lys. Those diets formulated to provide 6 g/kg of SID Lys may have exceeded the hen’s requirements. This would suggest that SID Lys was not deficient in any of the diets offered in this experiment. Contrary to expectation, higher dietary SID Lys levels lead to reduced performance. The protein requirement of long-life hens may be considerably lower than that of younger hens.

derstanding of the energy and protein requirements of laying hens is applicable to the feeding of long-life layers, although care should be taken not to overfeed protein. References are available on request From the Proceedings of the Australian Poultry Science Symposium 2023

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Conclusions Long-life hens can meet their energy requirements by adjusting FI, much the same as hens of any age or genotype. This implies that nutritionists can make decisions about dietary energy levels in the same manner for hens of all ages and genotypes. Hens with a higher daily egg output consumed more SID Lys, but incremental increases in dietary SID Lys did not result in responses in daily egg output, while surplus dietary protein may well have a negative impact on performance. Thus, the protein requirements of the long-life layer differ from those of younger birds. It is likely that the current un-

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VETERINARY SCIENCE

Tom Tabler, Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee Victoria Ayres, School of Agriculture, Tennessee Tech University Pramir Maharjan, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University Yi Liang, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering/Poultry Science, University of Arkansas Jonathan Moon, Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University Jessica Wells, Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University

Gangrenous dermatitis a threat to broiler chickens Gangrenous dermatitis (GD) was first reported in the United States in the early 1930s. Although GD has been recognized for many years as a sporadic disease, the prevalence and severity of this condition has increased over the past two decades in the U.S. and elsewhere. It is a disease that affects primarily commercial broiler chickens and turkeys and is responsible for severe economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. GD is generally fatal, often within 24 hours. When an outbreak occurs, it often appears that growers may have healthy birds and dead birds, but few birds in between. It often occurs in fast-growing broiler chickens between 4 and 8 weeks of age although GD has been reported

- veterinary science -

VETERINARY SCIENCE

in broiler breeders, commercial layers and turkeys. Economic losses are substantial because much of the mortality occurs late in the flock when much of the feed has already been consumed. Death losses that range from 50 to 400 birds per house per day are not uncommon. The disease has been known by a variety of names, including avian malignant edema, gas edema, necrotic dermatitis, gangrenous cellulitis, red leg, blue wing and wing rot.

What causes gangrenous dermatitis? A wound to the skin usually starts the process in motion. This is quickly followed by a secondary bacterial infection with Clostridium perfringens type A, Clostridium septicum or Staphylococcus aureus (alone or in combination). These bacteria are usually not able to penetrate intact skin. They need help from a scratch or a wound to gain entrance; however, infectious agents can be ingested if healthy birds peck at dead birds that have died with the disease or if litter and feces are contaminated with large numbers of disease-causing organisms. Staphylococcus aureus is often associated with milder forms of GD. Cases are generally much more severe and have much higher mortality when Clostridium is the cause. Clark et al. (2008) indicated that for GD to occur and affect large numbers of birds, generally three things were required: •

some type wound or injury to the skin,

•

disease organisms (Clostridium or some other species) present in sufficient numbers to cause disease, and

•

some type of immune suppression.

Immunosuppression can be triggered by a variety of infectious factors in the poultry house environment such as infectious bursal disease virus, chicken anemia virus, Marek’s disease virus, reoviruses, etc., and environmental factors such as skin injuries and wet litter. There is no shortage of sources for potential skin injuries, even on well-managed poultry farms. Chicken toenails are a source of numerous cuts and scratches that broilers receive during the growout period. Growers should monitor their houses and eliminate any potential injury risk (sharp edges along walls, exposed nails at bird level, ladders left in the poultry house, etc.). It would be vir-

tually impossible to remove all disease-causing organisms from the poultry house. Clostridia and staphylococci are ubiquitous (present everywhere) in the poultry house environment and in the intestine and on the skin of the birds. Fortunately, it is not necessary to remove all disease-causing organisms. We only need to maintain numbers below the threshold where the birds would be overwhelmed by the magnitude of disease-causing organisms. Presence alone of disease-causing organisms does not automatically result in sickness or a disease outbreak. Other contributing factors likely play a role in development of clinical disease. Clostridia are extremely hardy and capable of surviving harsh environmental conditions for long periods of time. It is, therefore, unlikely that they can ever be totally eliminated from the poultry house environment. In addition, they are spore-forming bacteria that, when they detect that their environment is becoming unfavorable, form a spore that helps them survive until conditions improve. The spore is resistant to desiccation, practically all disinfectants, heat and cold.

What to do? Birds with a strong, or even a reasonably competent, immune system are generally not affected by GD. Therefore, it is often believed that factors that result in immunosuppressive effects such as diseases mentioned earlier like infectious bursal disease, inclusion body hepatitis, reoviruses, chick infectious anemia, Marek’s disease, etc., may set a flock up for GD. In addition, mycotoxins (particularly aflatoxin) in the feed can result in immune suppression, as can birds subject to stressful situations like overcrowding, heat stress or wet litter conditions. Additional stressors such as coccidiosis, nutritional deficiencies, environmental extremes and management issues may also suppress the immune system, leading to greater risk of GD. It is common for farms that have had GD before to have repeat outbreaks unless corrective action is taken. This is often because there are large numbers of Clostridia present in the litter, capable of exceeding the threshold the birds can manage and overwhelming the immune system. Corrective action may take several forms. A complete cleanout and disinfection of the house(s) is usually the

- october 2023 -

VETERINARY SCIENCE

best choice to reduce bacterial numbers and spore counts after an outbreak; however, even a complete cleanout may not completely eliminate the problem on farms with a history of GD. In addition, a complete cleanout is not always an option. Short downtimes between flocks, availability and cost of new bedding materials and unfavorable weather conditions may make a total cleanout impossible. As an alternative, there are field reports that indicate different degrees of success using various litter treatments to cause a dramatic reduction in pH of the litter, which may restrict microbial growth. Sodium bisulfate, aluminum sulfate, salt and other products have been used to reduce the occurrence of GD.

NOTE OF CAUTION TO GROWERS Do not apply any product to the litter or poultry house pad without first consulting with your flock supervisor or live production manager and receiving the green light from your integrator that the product in question is safe to use and approved by your integrator. Furthermore, growers should read the label on any product they use and understand all the consequences associated with any product they apply and how that product may affect the litter for future use.

numbers below the critical threshold so that the overall pathogen count is not a threat to the flock. In-house windrowing can eliminate most (not all) of the pathogens present in the litter, including Clostridium, when done correctly. Construct the windrows as soon as possible after the birds leave. Do not wait 3-4 days to start. Windrowing takes advantage of primarily heat generation to kill microorganisms although competitive exclusion (replacing “bad” bugs with “good” bugs) and high ammonia levels may also play a role in reducing pathogen numbers. Pathogens grow most effectively at a temperature range similar to the body temperature of their host; with chickens, this is a temperature around 105-107 F. If the temperature can be increased a few degrees, growth rate of the pathogens can be inhibited. Raising the temperature 20-30 F above optimum can kill many microorganisms. Therefore, establish the goal of a minimum target temperature of 130-135 F inside the windrow. If this can be reached, this is hot enough to kill most pathogens. It is thought that if the litter temperature increase associated with windrow composting is sudden enough that it may catch Clostridium off guard and unprepared to form a spore in time to save itself. However, acting quickly after the flock leaves to construct the windrows is critical, as is determining litter moisture content. Litter that is too dry will not allow the windrow to heat. If less than 30 percent moisture is present in the litter, the windrow will have a difficult time achieving a temperature of 130 F or greater, and bacterial growth may be inhibited, but the bacteria will not be killed. Too much moisture will have a similar effect. Litter moisture greater than 60 percent may prevent the windrow from heating because the litter is too wet.

What to look for

Windrowing litter between flocks is another alternative to a total cleanout to reduce the total pathogen load of the litter. Remember, it’s not necessary to kill all the pathogens in the litter; however, it is critical to reduce pathogen

Gangrenous dermatitis has characteristic lesions that help identify it once you know what to look for. GD often starts with small pimples on the skin that quickly progress to include much larger areas of the bird. What often first attracts attention are what appears to be small areas on the top of the wings that look like raw sores or bloody spots. These may appear small early on, but there is generally much more of the bird affected than just the wing; however, the top of the wing is easy to see as you walk the flock and can alert you to the fact that something is wrong. You may pick up on the wing damage be-

- veterinary science -

VETERINARY SCIENCE

fore the mortality starts to increase. If you miss the wing damage, you won’t miss the rapid and steep increase in mortality as the disease spreads through the flock. Birds with the disease never show clinical signs for long because they die very rapidly, generally within 24 hours. Lesions on the skin may appear in a variety of colors from dark red to purple to green (Figures 1 and 2). Lesions most often appear on the abdomen, breast, legs and wings. Gas or gelatinous fluid often accumulates under the skin, between the skin and muscle tissue. Therefore, the skin often has a “spongy” feel to it because of gas buildup between skin and muscle tissue. Muscle tissue is also affected and may appear as raw, moist areas in locations where the skin has deteriorated. Dead birds deteriorate and decompose extremely rapidly. You may pick up dead birds early this morning and know you have them all but then go back before noon and find numerous dead birds that look like they have been dead several days instead of only a few hours. You must pick up dead birds multiple times each day should your farm be affected with a GD outbreak. Healthy birds pecking at dead birds can contract the disease, and live birds that have the disease can infect healthy birds via feces, feeding equipment, etc. Birds with the disease don’t live long, but they can do plenty of damage before they die. Often, a fairly accurate diagnosis can be made by the rapid increase in mortality and the characteristic gross lesions. It is not something you will easily forget if you ever have a case on your farm. Therefore, should you have it a second time (which often happens until the Clostridium numbers in the litter are reduced), you’ll quickly know what you are dealing with.

Severe subcutaneous edema and serosanguineous exudate due to clostridial infection in a chicken with gangrenous dermatitis. ©Merck Veterinary Manual - Courtesy of Dr. Bruce Charlton

Be advised, it can be tracked from house to house, so take precautions and practice sound biosecurity when working in your houses. If you have an outbreak in one house, work that house last and dedicate footwear for each individual house to help prevent tracking it to the other houses. Growers should closely monitor feed inventory. Do your best not to run out of feed. If your feed inventory runs low, contact your flock supervisor or the feed mill to make sure you are scheduled for a feed delivery soon. Bird activity greatly increases when hungry chickens receive feed. This results in an increase in the number of cuts, scratches and skin damage. In addition, make sure migration fences are in place on schedule to prevent overcrowding in some quadrants of the house that can

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As with many other aspects of broiler production, management factors play a critical role in preventing and controlling a GD outbreak. Reports of outbreaks are often greater in summer and fall than in spring and winter. Daily mortality collection is important throughout the year but is especially critical during hot weather. It’s easy to miss a dead bird from time to time, but do your best not to miss one single dead bird from one day to the next. Collection of all mortality at least once daily is critical to disease prevention. Unsanitary conditions, poor farm management practices and stressful environmental conditions (wet litter, high humidity, overcrowded conditions) may predispose flocks to GD. In addition, chicken house pads with a soil pH>6 may also be at a greater risk of GD infection. Wet litter (> 60 percent moisture) should be considered a risk factor for GD. High in-house humidity resulting from cool cell usage throughout the summer and fall may increase litter moisture content, thereby increasing GD risk.

Summary Gangrenous dermatitis is a serious health concern for many commercial broiler operations that has increased in recent years. Its somewhat come-and-go nature can make it more difficult to determine all the factors that play a role in its occurrence. Prevention should be the overall goal because managing a GD outbreak is stressful, labor-intensive, time-consuming and expensive.

lead to increased skin damage and a greater GD risk. Avoid loud noises or any activity that may frighten the birds and result in increased scratches or skin damage. Follow a lighting program that helps keep the birds calm and controls their activity level. Calm flocks will have fewer scratches and skin damage than nervous, flighty flocks. Anything you can do that reduces stress and/or lessens the possibility of a skin injury will reduce the risk of a GD outbreak.

Clostridium and other disease organisms that cause GD are everywhere in the poultry house environment, making it unlikely they can ever be totally eliminated. Fortunately, total elimination is not necessary; we just need to maintain their numbers below the threshold that the birds are able to resist a challenge and remain healthy. It’s when pathogen numbers get above that threshold that we see sick chickens. Growers should focus on sound management practices, farm hygiene and good litter and house environment conditions to reduce the GD threat to their flocks. By courtesy of The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and UT Extension. References are available on request

- veterinary science -

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zootecnicainternational.com

Drinking systems for chicks, broilers, breeders, layers, ducks, turkeys, rabbits and pigs Conveyor systems for egg collection Climate systems: Pad Climate (evaporative cooling for paper or plastic pads) and Top Climate (with high pressure nozzles) LUBING SISTEM SRL via Marco Polo,  (Z.I.)  Campodarsego, Padova Italy tel. +   fax +   info@lubing.it lubingsystem.com www.lubingsystem.com

www.vencomaticgroup.com

THE BEST FOR YOUR EGGS!

Let’s talk about water impex nl

via San Lorenzo, 9b 35010 Campo San Martino (PD), Italy Ph: +39.049.9620774 Web: www.flexy.it - Email: info@flexy.it

UPCOMING EVENTS

2023

November, 8 to 12

P.O. Box 5546 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Tel.: 800 23632 and international +971 (0) 2 444 6900 Fax: +971 (0) 2 444 6135 Website: www.adnec.ae

XII European Symposium on Poultry Genetics 2023 Hannover, Germany For information contact: Dr. Steffen Weigend Tel: +49 5034 871 5180 Email: steffen.weigend@fli.de Website: espg2023.org Venue Leonardo Hotel Hannover Airport Petzelstraße 60, 30669 Hannover, Germany

November, 20 to 22 VIV MEA - International Trade Show From Feed To Food for The Middle East and Africa ADNEC, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

2024

February, 19 to 21 35th Annual Australian Poultry Science Symposium Sidney, Australia For information contact: Website: www.apss2024.com.au Venue Sheraton Grand - Sydney Hyde Park 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney New South Wales, Australia

April, 17 to 19 PEAK 2024

January, 30 to February, 1

Minneapolis, USA

IPPE International Production & Processing Expo

For information contact: Midwest Poultry Federation Tel.: 763 284 6763 Email: info@midwestpoultry.com

Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Georgia, USA For information contact: Anne Sculthorpe, CEM, Senior Exhibit Manager Email: asculthorpe@ippexpo.org Tel.: +1 678 514 1976

For information contact: Organizer VIV worldwide VNU Exhibitions Europe P.O.Box 8800 3503 RV Utrecht, the Netherlands Tel.: +31 (0) 30 295 2999 Email: viv.mea@vnuexhibitions.com Website: www.vivmea.nl

Kris Early, Media/Press/Sponsorship Coordinator Email: kearly@uspoultry.org Tel.: +1 678 514 1979 Email: info@ippexpo.org Website: www.ippexpo.org Tel.: +1 770 493 9401

Venue Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) Khaleej Al Arabi Street

Venue Georgia World Congress Center 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Venue Minneapolis Convention Center 1301 Second Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403

May, 13 to 15 Middle East Poultry Expo Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center Riyadh, Saudi Arabia For information contact: Website: www.mep-expo.com/en/contact-us Email: info@mep-expo.com Venue Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center King Abdullah Rd, King Abdullah Dt., Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia

INTERNET GUIDE Agritech

commerce@agritech.it

www.agritech.it

Arion Fasoli

info@arionfasoli.com

www.arionfasoli.com

Aviagen

info@aviagen.com

www.aviagen.com

Aviagen Turkeys Ltd

turkeysltd@aviagen.com

www.aviagenturkeys.com

Aza International

info@azainternational.it

www.azainternational.it

Barbieri Belts

info@barbieri-belts.com

www.barbieribelts.com

Big Dutchman

big@bigdutchman.com

www.bigdutchman.de

Biochem

info@biochem.net

www.biochem.net

Carfed International Ltd

carfed@carfed.co.uk

Carfed Italian Branch

carfed@carfed.it

www.carfed.it

Cobb Europe

info@cobb-europe.com

www.cobb-vantress.com

Codaf

info@codaf.net

www.codaf.net

Corti Zootecnici S.r.l.

info@cortizootecnici.com

www.cortizootecnici.it

DACS

mail@dacs.dk

www.dacs.dk

EuroTier

eurotier@dlg.org

www.eurotier.com

Facco Poultry Equipment

facco@facco.net

www.facco.net

FIEM

fiem@fiem.it

www.fiem.it

FierAgricola Verona

fieragricola@veronafiere.it

www.fieragricola.it

FierAvicola

info@fieravicola.com

www.fieravicola.com

Gasolec

sales@gasolec.com

www.gasolec.com

Giordano Poultry Plast

info@poultryplast.com

www.poultryplast.com

GI-OVO B.V.

sales@gi-ovo.com

www.gi-ovo.com

ISSN 0392-0593

Hendrix Genetics

info@hendrix-genetics.com

www.hendrix-genetics.com

Hubbard

contact.emea@hubbardbreeders.com

www.hubbardbreeders.com

Hy-Line International

info@hyline.com

www.hyline.com

Subscription Rates (1 year / 11 issues): Europe Euro 100 Rest of the World Euro 120

Impex Barneveld BV

info@impex.nl

www.impex.nl

Intracare

info@intracare.nl

www.intracare.nl

IPPE

info@ippexpo.org

www.ippexpo.org

Jamesway

sales@jamesway.com

www.jamesway.com

Lubing System

info@lubing.it

www.lubingsystem.com

Marel

info.poultry@marel.com

www.marel.com/en/poultry

Mbe Breeding Equipment

info@mbefabriano.it

www.mbefabriano.it

Menci

commerciale@menci.it

www.menci.it

Meyn

sales@meyn.com

www.meyn.com

MOBA

sales@moba.net

www.moba.net

Officine Meccaniche Vettorello

luciano@officinevettorello.it

www.officinevettorello.com

Petersime N.V.

info@petersime.com

www.petersime.com

Reventa

info.reventa@munters.de

www.reventa.de

Riva Selegg

info@rivaselegg.com

www.rivaselegg.com

River Systems

info@riversystems.it

www.riversystems.it

Royal Pas Reform

info@pasreform.com

www.pasreform.com

Roxell

info@roxell.com

www.roxell.com

Ska

ska@ska.it

www.skapoultryequipment.com

Socorex

socorex@socorex.com

www.socorex.com

Space

info@space.fr

www.space.fr

Specht Ten Elsen GmbH & Co. KG info@specht-tenelsen.de

www.specht-tenelsen.de

Sperotto S.p.A.

info@sperotto-spa.com

www.sperotto-spa.com

TPI-Polytechniek

info@tpi-polytechniek.com

www.tpi-polytechniek.com

Val-co

intl.sales@val-co.com

www.val-co.com

Valli

info@valli-italy.com

www.valli-italy.com

VDL Agrotech

info@vdlagrotech.nl

www.vdlagrotech.com

VDL Jansen

info@vdljansen.com

www.vdljansen.com

Vencomatic Group B.V.

info@vencomaticgroup.com

www.vencomaticgroup.com

Victoria

victoria@victoria-srl.com

www.incubatricivictoria.com

VIV Europe

viv.europe@vnuexhibitions.com

www.viveurope.nl

Editorial Director Lucio Vernillo Editorial Staff Daria Domenici (zootecnica@zootecnica.it) Account Executive Marianna Caterino (amministrazione@zootecnica.it) Editorial Office Zootecnica International Vicolo Libri, 4 50063 Figline Incisa Valdarno (FI) Italy Tel.: +39 055 2571891 Website: zootecnicainternational.com Licence Registrazione Tribunale di Firenze n.3162 Spedizione in A.P. Art.2 comma 20/B legge 662/96 - Filiale di Firenze

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English Edition Year XLV October 2023

www.poultryplast.com

Giordano Poultry Plast has been designing, developing and producing innovative products and solutions for poultry farming and egg transport for over 60 years. All the products are suitable for different poultry species and for every stage of their life. The product range includes transport coop and boxes, manual and non-manual drinkers, in-line or individual feeders and slats, designed and engineered to maintain a high quality of hygiene on the farm. Not forgetting the complete egg handling package that includes trays for different egg sizes up to more complex and automated systems.

Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 11 - 13 October 2023 (Stand no. E47)

Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan 01 - 03 November 2023 (Stand no. 307L)

Atakent Kazakhstan Center for Business Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan 01 - 03 November 2023 (Stand no. 11-051)

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. 20 - 22 November 2023 (Stand no. 07B003)

SPECHT is everywhere where hens are! • Rearing in aviary system

• Layers in Varia-System

• Rearing in cages

• Group cage system (enriched cage)

ORIGINA

estock eco and liv friendly

ORIGINAL

• Feeding system

• Layer battery

• Egg belt

• Cage floor

POULTRY EQUIPMENT

GmbH & Co. KG

• Manure drying system

Dassendaler Weg 13 • D-47665 Sonsbeck (Germany) Telefon +49 (0) 28 38 912-0 • Telefax +49 (0) 28 38 27 91 info@specht-tenelsen.de • www.specht-tenelsen.de

• Egg collecting system