Climate change has already provoked a northward shift in the geographic range of many bird species, and current climate projections favour the modification of avian distributions and migratory routes. Given that wild birds are recognised as pathogen-dispersing agents, there is concern that changes in migrant ranges and movement patterns will increase the frequency of bird-borne pathogens reaching Northern areas, such as Canada. Furthermore, climate change will likely affect vector, pathogen, and reservoir ecology, which could contribute to changes in the range limits, the intensity of disease transmission and, under some circumstances, the risk of emergence and re-emergence of pathogens affecting commercial poultry.

However, the role of wild birds in the perpetuation of disease is unclear. Even if climate change increases the introduction of zoonotic and bird-borne pathogens into Canada, it is difficult to predict whether this will increase the occurrence of diseases in poultry. It is likely that outbreaks will become more unpredictable, which will complicate efforts to identify periods and areas of high risk. Efforts to manage and control these events in the face of climate change will require proper biosecurity measures, in addition to more consistent surveillance of sentinel and high-risk carrier species to avert the potential risk of diseases dispersing into Canada.

The present study was conducted to document the rearing practices of village chicken production in the Northern midlands, agro-ecological zone comprising Kannur and Kozhikode districts of Kerala state, India. Data was generated from 65 and 63 chicken farming families of Kozhikode and Kannur districts respectively. The system of chicken rearing is extensive, with the provision of shelter only during the night. The birds are being managed mostly by women (89.06%). The decision on the sale of birds and eggs is made by women and the proceeds of sales go directly to them. It was found that as many as 43.75% of the chicken farmers in these areas have no other animal husbandry activities. The average flock size is 5.62 birds. Natural incubation using locally available materials as a nest box and sand as the nesting material is the common practice. The average number of eggs set under the broody hen for hatching is 10.41. Chicken coops are placed at an average distance of 5.45m from the house and elevated 0.39 m from the ground. The average floor area of the coops is 0.757 m2 and the night shelter provided per bird is 830.39 cm2. The walls and floor of the coops are made of wood and the roof with tiles or thatch in most of cases. Rice grain is commonly fed as supplementary feed with mostly no specific timing in feeding. Farmers depend on an array of herbs rather than chemotherapeutic agents and vaccines for the treatment and control of diseases. Most of the surplus males (59.38%) are discarded before one year of age, whereas females are less commonly culled (21.87%). The average culling age of males and females was 11.05 and 36.64 months, respectively. It was discovered that as high as 52.15% of the eggs and 59.38% of the cockerels produced are consumed in the home. When sold they attract at least a two-fold higher price compared to birds of industrial origin.

The potentials, problems and prospects of utilizing alternative feedstuffs in Nigerian poultry industry were reviewed. Research findings showed that alternative feed resources, particularly novel feed resources, were available and could be safely used in poultry nutrition. Several researchers indicated their suitability, a few envisaged the limitations to their effectiveness and some attempted to offer hints on their improvement. Generally, there was seemingly little scientific documentation about Nigerian cases that would have created the awareness for immediate adoption by prospective poultry farmers. This review therefore puts together the classifications of these feed resources with examples, their accessibility and safety to serve as a reorientation strategy to achieve research and value-addition plans of transforming the Nigerian livestock industry.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr D. Grastilleur, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.

Research results and facts about indigenous Muscovy duck production in Nigeria are reviewed with the aim of assessing its current status and delivering relevant information to stakeholders and other potential beneficiaries. There are large variations in phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of indigenous Muscovy ducks in the country, which could serve as a basis for genetic improvement. These ducks have the potential for a mean live weight of 2.73 and 1.52 kg and dressing percentage of 71.2% and 69.8% for drakes and ducks, respectively. Under scavenging, backyard farming conditions, the ducks can lay between 60 and 80 eggs each per year, and about 100 and 125 eggs per bird per year with an egg weight of about 72g under improved management conditions. The morphological, meat and egg attributes of local Muscovy ducks may be exploited in management decisions geared towards ensuring an increase in productivity, thereby making an important contribution to food security in a developing economy.

The socio-economic profile of small-scale broiler farmers was studied, the factors influencing profitability were analysed and constraints to broiler farming under rural conditions were identified in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from November 2009 to February 2010 from a total of 77 broiler farmers by direct interviewing using a semi-structured questionnaire, of which 40 were located in the Mymensingh, 22 in the Sherpur and 15 in the Kishorgonj districts of Bangladesh. Data were edited and categorised into different farm sizes (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 & 600 flock sizes). Among the 77 farms, three had 100 birds, 12 had 200 birds, four had 300 birds, 17 had 400 birds, 30 had 500 birds and 11 had 600 birds each. Data for productive performance and cost and returns were used to determine benefit cost ratios (BCR) and correlated between the selected factors. The most important factor affecting profit in this study appeared to be feed conversion ratio which resulted from quality of feed and chicks and the management techniques of the farm. It was also found that the farm size, training, education, farming experience and extension contact were significant factors affecting profitability of small-scale broiler farms. Lack of quality chicks appeared as a major complaint of the farmers and this constraint ranked highest. Price instability of both chicks and live broilers was a problem for the farmers, and ranked second among the constraints. Low price of finishing broilers, high feed cost and interruption in feed supply ranked in third, fourth and fifth places respectively. Other constraints reported by the farmers included lack of technical knowledge, biosecurity, variation in feed quality, lack of access to credit, influence of middlemen, power failure and lack of technical support or extension for farming. Finally, some conclusions and recommendations are made in order to promote small-scale broiler farming in Bangladesh.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr D. Grastilleur, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr D. Grastilleur, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.

Optimising the supply of dietary phosphorus (P) to animals requires sound knowledge regarding the availability of P from feed raw materials. Different definitions of available P have been proposed and various approaches are in use to determine P availability. These differences make it difficult to compare published data and to compile comprehensive feeding tables for use in the industry. This is disadvantageous in regard to feeding costs and sustainable handling of the limited global phosphate reserves. Working Group No 2 (Nutrition) of the European Federation of Branches of WPSA has developed a standard protocol for determination of available P in broilers. It is based on precaecal P digestibility and the details of this proposed protocol are explained in the following paper. Unresolved questions in regard to the determination of available P are also addressed. Researchers are encouraged to implement this standard protocol in future P availability studies and to contribute to its further improvement.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr D. Grastilleur, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.