Research Status of Alpha Linolenic Acid(ALA) and Its Application Advances in Livestock and Poultry Production

Alpha linolenic acid （ ALA）, a kind of polyunsaturated fatty acid extracted from plants and fruits, has a variety of biological functions. In recent years, ALA has attracted much attention as a natural green feed additive. The physical and chemical properties, metabolic process, physiological function of ALA as well as its application and mechanisms in livestock and poultry production are summarized in the paper.

Antimicrobial Use in Commercial Poultry Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices

Background: Antibiotic resistance is putting the commercial poultry production systems across the globe at risk of losses due to the failure of treatments for animals and human health which has been associated with overuse and misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming. One possible approach to the resistance problem is ensuring adequate knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial use by farmers on commercial production systems across the globe are applied. Therefore, the current study was carried out to determine factors that could promote antimicrobial use in commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County, Kenya. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial use. One hundred and fifty-six (n = 156) semi-structured questionnaires imprinted in a mobile Open data kit were administered to capture the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial usage in commercial poultry production systems of Kiambu County. Results: Out of the 156 commercial poultry farmers who participated in this study, females accounted for (64%) with 51% of them keeping layers between 50 - 500 birds as medium scale farmers. In the study, most of the farmers were 45 years and above (61%) and they had obtained a secondary level of education (34%). We further noted that 67% of the farmers obtain antibiotics through self-prescription/personal experience. Additional lack of veterinary officers (77%) and consultation services (72%) was also mentioned as key challenges in poultry production. The majority of the respondents (63%), indicated Tetracycline as the most commonly used antibiotic in their farms, with the most preferred subtypes of tetracycline and Amoxicillin being Oxytetracyclines (85%) and Amoxi (88%) respectively. Nearness to veterinary services significantly (P < 0.05) contributed to the use of antibiotics agents. Additionally, the area of residence, type of production, number of years in farming, and average number of birds kept also significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the level of knowledge and practice on antimicrobial usage. Conclusion: Generally, the level of knowledge and practice on antibiotic use among commercial poultry farmers in Kiambu County is still lacking. This was witnessed with continued use of antibiotics without a prescription from veterinary/livestock extension offices, which is inconsistent with the general recommendation on antimicrobial stewardship. Therefore, the current research calls for intervention measures such as extensive education to farmers on the rational use of antimicrobial agents in commercial poultry disease management, observance of withdrawal periods, and the impacts of residues on public health.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Selected <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>Isolated from Commercial Poultry Production Systems in Kiambu County, Kenya

Introduction: In the last two decades, the treatment of enteric infections has been complicated by the emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains. Occurrence of multidrug resistant Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobactaeraceae poses the greatest risk to public health by raising morbidity and mortality by six folds in developing countries. The present study aims to determine the antibiotics resistance patterns of selected Enterobacteriaceae isolated from commercial poultry production systems in Kiambu County. Methods: A laboratory based cross-sectional study was conducted in six purposively selected Sub-Counties of Kiambu County from October 2020, to February 2021. A total of 437 fecal samples were collected from each household. The antibiotic susceptibility testing using disk diffusion method was used against E. coli; Salmonella spps.; Shigella spps.; and Klebsiella spps. which were isolated and identified through standard biochemical. Results: Out of 437 fecal and stool samples collected, 591 isolates were recovered with E. coli (48.9%) being the most frequently identified, followed by Shigella spps. (18.8%), Salmonella spps. (18.3%), and Klebsiella spps. (14.0%). The study shows there was high prevalence of multiple resistance among isolates especially to Sulfamethoxazole (79%), Trimethoprim (71%), and Tetracyclines (59%), correspondingly. Additionally, the isolates showed the highest rate of susceptibility against Cefuroxime (94%), Gentamicin (93%), Ceftriaxone (91%), Cefepime (89%), Cefotaxime (85%), Ceftazidime (84%), and Chloramphenicol (77%), respectively. Discussion: Our study indicates that both fecal and stool materials from commercial poultry and humans can be reservoir of multi-drug resistance enteric’s which can be a potential route of transmission of resistance genes, which pose a great risk to public health of Kiambu Residence.

Microalgal-based feed:promising alternative feedstocks for livestock and poultry production

There is an immediate need to identify alternative sources of high-nutrient feedstocks for domestic livestock productionand poultry,not only to support growing food demands but also to produce microalgae-source functional foods withmultiple health benefits.Various species of microalgae and cyanobacteria are used to supplement existing feedstocks.Inthis review,microalgae have been defined as a potential feedstock for domestic animals due to their abundance ofproteins,carbohydrates,lipids,minerals,vitamins,and other high-value products.Additionally,the positive physiologicaleffects on products of animals fed with microalgal biomass have been compiled and recommendations are listed toenhance the assimilation of biomolecules in ruminant and nonruminant animals,which possess differing digestivesystems.Furthermore,the role of microalgae as prebiotics is also discussed.With regards to large scale cultivation ofmicroalgae for use as feed,many economic trade-offs must be considered such as the selection of strains with desirednutritional properties,cultivation systems,and steps for downstream processing.These factors are highlighted withfurther investigations needed to reduce the overall costs of cultivation.Finally,this review outlines the pros and cons ofutilizing microalgae as a supplementary feedstock for poultry and cattle,existing cultivation strategies,and theeconomics of large-scale microalgal production.

Comprehensive resistome analysis reveals the prevalence of NDM and MCR-1 in Chinese poultry production

Subject Code:C18 With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,a collaborative study by the research groups led by Prof.Shen Jianzhong(沈建忠)from the College of Veterinary Medicine,China Agricultural University and Prof.Timothy R.Walsh from Cardiff University demonstrates the

An ecohealth assessment of poultry production clusters (PPCs) for the livelihood and biosecurity improvement of small poultry producers in Asia

Background:Poultry production cluster(PPC)programs are key strategies in many Asian countries to engage small commercial poultry producers in high-value production chains and to control infectious poultry diseases.This study assessed the multiple impacts of PPCs through a transdisciplinary ecohealth approach in four Asian countries,and drew the implications for small producers to improve their livelihoods and reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases in the poultry sector.Methods:The data collection combined both quantitative and qualitative methods.It comprised:formal structured household survey questionnaires,measuring the biosecurity level of poultry farms with a biosecurity score card;and key informant interviews.Descriptive statistics were used to process the quantitative data and a content analysis was used to process the qualitative data.Results:This research found that poultry farms in clusters do not necessarily have better economic performance than those outside PPCs.Many farmers in PPCs only consider them to be an advantage for expanding the scale of their poultry operations and improving household incomes,and they are less concerned about-and have limited capacities to-enhancing biosecurity and environmental management.We measured the biosecurity level of farms in PPCs through a 14-item checklist and found that biosecurity is generally very low across all sample sites.The increased flies,mosquitoes,rats,and smells in and around PPCs not only pollute the environment,but also cause social conflicts with the surrounding communities.Conclusion:This research concluded that a poultry cluster,mainly driven by economic objectives,is not necessarily a superior model for the control of infectious diseases.The level of biosecurity in PPCs was found to be low.Given the intensity of poultry operations in PPCs(farms are densely packed into clusters),and the close proximity to residential areas of some PPCs,the risk of spreading infectious diseases,in fact,increases.Good management and collective action for implementing biosecurity measures are key for small producers in PPCs to address common challenges and pursue health-based animal production practices.

Awareness,Attitude and Behavioural Intention of Medium and Large Scale Poultry Producers to Poultry Waste Management Practices in Lagos State:A Principal Component Analysis

The study analyzed awareness,attitude and behavioural intentions of medium and large scale poultry producers to poultry waste management practices in Lagos State with reference to problems of poor on-farm harness of excessive poultry waste,retrogression/unmet global environmental and economic waste management standards,exorbitant waste management charges imposed by LAWMA.Purposive and simple random sampling(using the lottery draw approach)was used in the selection of sixty(60)medium scale poultry farmers and forty(40)large scale poultry farmers,making a grand total of one hundred(100)medium and large scale poultry farmers interviewed in the study.A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the selected medium and large scale poultry farmers with the aid of a list provided by the Poultry Association of Nigeria(PAN),Lagos chapter.Principal Component Analysis(PCA)was used to analyse the data.In the principal component analysis for medium scale poultry farmers,the key component named was that LAWMA should offer special service for isolated dead bird collection(V75);and for large scale poultry farmers,the key component was that the disposal of poultry waste in an environmentally friendly way is LAWMA’s duty(V76).The study recommended that the government makes provisions to offer awareness campaigns in order to improve environmental knowledge and encourage environmental enthusiasm amongst society.

Optimizing Hydraulic and Chemical Properties of Iron and Aluminum Byproducts for Use in On-Farm Containment Structures for Phosphorus Removal

Phosphorus (P) transported in runoff from broiler production areas is a potential source for nutrient enrichment of local surface waters. Capturing nutrients prior to runoff leaving the production area could reduce the risk of transport. Commercially available systems for nitrogen (N) and P removal from stormwater are available but too expensive for widespread adoption on small, privately owned farms. The P adsorption capacities and hydraulic conductivities of locally-sourced iron red mud (RM) and aluminum water treatment residual (WT) were determined for potential on-farm treatment use. The byproducts were air-dried and separated into ≤2-, ≤6-, and ≤12.5-mm particle size fractions. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC) was determined for each particle-size fraction and results evaluated for the material’s ability to transmit a 25-year, 30-min rainfall of 6.6 cm. While the HC of ≤6-mm particles of each byproduct did not differ (p > 0.05;4.1 and 4.6 cm·min-1), for ≤12.5-mm particles it was greater (p > 0.05) for WT than RM (15.4 and 8.0 cm·min-1, respectively). However, all byproduct size fractions transmitted flow sufficiently to accommodate the baseline storm. Phosphorous adsorption maxima of ≤2-mm fraction for RM and WT were 25 and 10 g·P·kg-1, respectively. Using a solution containing 6 mg·P·L-1, rep-resenting the measured runoff-P concentration from areas adjacent to poultry house ventilation fans, the ≤2-mm fraction of RM removed 98% of added P and WT 84%. The ≤6-mm fraction of RM and WT removed 56% and 57% of added P, respectively, while the ≤12.5-mm fraction adsorbed only 28% and 10%. Results indicate the potential use of low-cost RM and WT byproducts to sequester P in runoff prior to P leaving poultry farm production areas.

Impact of direct and indirect heating systems in broiler units on environmental conditions and flock performance

This study compared the impact of three indirect heating systems to direct gas flame heaters on a selection of flock performance and environmental indicators in commercial broiler units. No statistically significant differences（P≥0.05） were found in flock mortality rates, bird weight, water consumption, stress response, carbon dioxide, ammonia, temperature, relative humidity, litter quality, within-flock Campylobacter levels or mean Campylobacter counts when flock data from any of the three indirect heating systems were compared to flocks reared in houses with direct heating systems. Differences in litter quality were observed between upper and lower litter layers in all houses, regardless of heating type, which may have implications for bird health and welfare. Carbon dioxide concentrations in houses with direct heating systems were significantly higher than those in houses with indirect heating systems during the first 10 days of bird life（P≤0.05）. This was due to the increased use of heating systems during this period of the flock cycle. Differences in CO2 concentrations had no effect on flock performance, possibly due to the fact that concentrations did not exceed known safe levels. A statistically significant increase in stress response was observed in birds as a result of partial depopulation（thinning） within houses, irrespective of heating system type used（P≤0.05）. Stress associated with thinning may have consequences for bird welfare and food safety. In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that indirect heating systems do not appear to negatively impact on flock performance, stress response, within-flock Campylobacter levels or mean Campylobacter counts and do not appear to significantly alter environmental conditions within broiler houses when compared to houses equipped with direct heating systems. Indirect systems are a viable alternative for heating broiler houses in terms of flock performance, bird welfare and food safety.

Supply and Demand Levels for Livestock and Poultry Products in the Chinese Mainland and the Potential Demand for Feed Grains

The widening gap between the supply and demand levels for livestock and poultry products in the Chinese mainland poses a significant challenge to the secure supply of feed grains. Therefore, the accurate prediction of the demand potential for feed grains represents a key scientific issue for ensuring food security in the Chinese mainland. This study is based on an analysis of several factors, such as the Chinese mainland’s output, trade volume, apparent consumption of livestock and poultry products, and two different scenarios for predicting the future demand for feed grains are assessed. The results indicate that output and consumption of livestock and poultry products, as well as the country’s trade deficit and the pressure of the supply and demand balance with respect to these products, have been increasing in recent years. The analysis predicts that the demand for feed grains in the Chinese mainland will reach 425.5 or 389.6 million tons in 2030 based on the two scenarios. This finding indicates that with the increasing demand for livestock and poultry products in the Chinese mainland, the demand for feed grains will continue to increase, and the shortfall in feed grains and raw materials will expand further, especially dependence on external sources of protein-rich feed grains will remain high.

Detecting broiler chickens on litter floor with the YOLOv5-CBAM deep learning model

For commercial broiler production,about 20,000–30,000 birds are raised in each confined house,which has caused growing public concerns on animal welfare.Currently,daily evaluation of broiler wellbeing and growth is conducted manually,which is labor-intensive and subjectively subject to human error.Therefore,there is a need for an automatic tool to detect and analyze the behaviors of chickens and predict their welfare status.In this study,we developed a YOLOv5-CBAM-broiler model and tested its performance for detecting broilers on litter floor.The proposed model consisted of two parts:(1)basic YOLOv5 model for bird or broiler feature extraction and object detection;and(2)the convolutional block attention module(CBAM)to improve the feature extraction capability of the network and the problem of missed detection of occluded targets and small targets.A complex dataset of broiler chicken images at different ages,multiple pens and scenes(fresh litter versus reused litter)was constructed to evaluate the effectiveness of the new model.In addition,the model was compared to the Faster R-CNN,SSD,YOLOv3,EfficientDet and YOLOv5 models.The results demonstrate that the precision,recall,F1 score and an mAP@0.5 of the proposed method were 97.3%,92.3%,94.7%,and 96.5%,which were superior to the comparison models.In addition,comparing the detection effects in different scenes,the YOLOv5-CBAM model was still better than the comparison method.Overall,the proposed YOLOv5-CBAM-broiler model can achieve real-time accurate and fast target detection and provide technical support for the management and monitoring of birds in commercial broiler houses.

Applying multi-criteria analysis to select the most appropriate broiler rearing environment

The present study aimed to assess the most appropriate rearing system for broiler housing in tropical regions using the Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP).The research was done using data sampling from a field study carried out in eight mechanically-ventilated commercial broiler houses.Four had positive ventilation(open-sided conventional system),and the other four had negative pressure systems,which were named according to the curtains color and light management(blue-house with blue curtains,and dark-house with black side curtains).The data from the field research(rearing dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity;ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations;energy use;litter type and quality;and broiler performance)were organized,and the multi-criteria analysis AHP was applied.In the process,the decision-maker must define the problem and chose the criteria to evaluate the alternatives to make a suitable decision.The alternative selected needs to be according to the stakeholders’expectations.The alternatives consisted of houses using three ventilation systems(conventional,blue-house,and dark-house).The different chosen criteria were the thermal and aerial environment,broiler productivity,energy consumption,and litter quality.We selected data collected from the field experiment and from current literature to subsidize the selection of the criteria.The computation was done using field data results,knowledge from existing literature,and the expertise of three specialists.For the first time,the AHP technique is applied to select the most suitable broiler housing,considering the complex variables involved in the process.Results indicated the conventional system as the most appropriate alternative.Results of the conventional system showed the highest scores on most criteria in the pairwise comparison.Which considered broiler performance,gasses concentration,and electricity cost,providing natural ventilation open-sided conventional house as the most appropriate rearing system for broiler production in tropical countries.