Mr. Akshay Dhumal, Managing Director, Dhumal Industries (India)
An Exclusive Interview with Poultry TRENDS magazine, Mr. Akshay Dhumal, Managing Director, Dhumal Industries shares why adoption of Environmentally Controlled ( EC) houses is a must for the industry and how this changes production levels and increases efficiency.
Excerpts of the interview is as under:
Q. How do you see the trend of environmentally controlled sheds in India?
There is widespread awareness about EC Houses all across India now. Majority of the Breeders are upgrading to Environment Control.
The medium & large farmers will plan their own farms where along with enhanced bird performance they will also get better uniformity & biosecurity. These kinds of houses are also very well suited for processing.
Q. The initial investment for EC sheds is high, how do companies like yours help producers move towards EC houses?
It’s a myth that Initial Investment in EC Sheds is high with changing modern poultry scenario and land cost. The two most important parameters about rearing a bird in EC and Farming generally as well is the volume of birds one can grow & the initial investment in terms of COST PER BIRD. Both of these parameters are only viable in EC and modern farming, the cost per bird is well justified in terms of the ROI and enhanced bird performance that we achieve in these kinds of houses.
Dhumal Industries is the only company in India and among few in the world that has developed technical expertise in structures as well as the equipment inside which enables our team to design & execute complex EC houses end to end. Our integrated approach means we can integrate the structure and housing equipment in such a way that it optimises bird performance, improves bio-security, and helps the producers transition towards EC Houses in an efficient & effective way.
The work that companies like us have put in over the years have ensured that the Initial Investment in EC Sheds is kept to an optimal and the farmers reap the benefits in terms of a faster payback on their investment.
Q. Is it possible to design an EC house according to the budget and needs of the poultry farmer?
It is possible to design and economise an EC house according to the budget and needs of the poultry farmer without compromising on the quality of the product. An example is our Ecolite series of houses, wherein we have developed a high tensile pre galvanised EC compatible steel structure along with curtains or panels especially for the individual farmer who grows chicken for an integrator on a fixed growing charge. Considering a standard fixed charge growing scenario in India, the grower can payback his investment in 3.5 years & establish a stable income source and means of sustainability for years to come.
Similarly, it is possible to build our Ecolite EC Houses for Layers farmers within a budget and also incorporate our unique plastic metal composite cages which makes it more ergonomic for the birds & farmers, and facilitates improved operational and automation levels.
Q. How important is the adoption of EC houses for the industry at the moment? Will this dramatically change production levels?
Efficiency, Bio security & Green Technology with animal welfare will be key for our poultry Industry going forward. Poultry – chicken & eggs is one of the best, cleanest and most difficult to adulterate kind of protein source available to us. Dhumal takes immense pride to work in an Industry where we are solving a real problem and playing our part to make proteins available to the masses at a competitive price comparable to other protein sources.
Adoption of EC Houses is already a trend for the poultry industry at the moment and it has dramatically changed production levels and brought in efficiency. Now we move on to the next phase wherein we focus on Operating efficiency and economics inside EC Houses, making sure we consume the lowest per capita of energy and resources per bird inside the poultry house and ensuring it comes from green and sustainable mediums.
January 24, 2022 – HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – How can the food production chain meet the needs of the world’s ever-growing communities without overwhelming the planet? Aviagen® addresses this question through “Breeding Sustainability.” Sustainable poultry breeding contributes to a decrease in carbon emissions through a continuous improvement in biological efficiency, fitness and welfare traits. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) or the rate at which feed is converted to body weight is a key indicator of biological efficiency and has the greatest direct impact on the industry’s carbon footprint.
Due to an FCR improvement of 1.5-2.0 points per year, Aviagen contributes to a 1% year-on-year carbon footprint reduction. This video tells the story of the “FCR Advantage” through a balanced breeding approach, resulting in a yearly reduction in the poultry industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Feeding the world, preserving the planet – The FCR advantage
The global population is growing. The United Nations (UN) estimates just over 8.5 billion people by 2030, and the world will face the challenge of providing food for everyone. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030 predicts that meat production will need to rise by 44 million metric tonnes by 2030, with half of the increase supplied by poultry. The food industry currently contributes close to 25% of the world’s annual GHG emissions, and of this amount, poultry meat is responsible for about 6%.
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As a result of FCR improvements, the modern broiler generates 50% less carbon footprint than the bird in 1970, and fast forwarding to 2030, the bird of the future will create a 15% lower carbon footprint than the bird of today.
In 2020, 133.3 million metric tonnes of poultry meat were produced globally, at a carbon cost of 6 kilograms CO2 for every kilogram of meat. That translates to 800 million tonnes of CO2.
“To illustrate the impact with a hypothetical example, based on our FCR gains, if every bird were an Aviagen bird, this amount would be reduced by 8 million metric tonnes per year. To put it in perspective, this is the carbon equivalent of flying around the world on a Boeing 747-400 5,906 times,” explained Aviagen’s Director of Global Genetics Dr. Santiago Avendaño. “As a poultry breeder, we are at the beginning of the food production chain, and we take our responsibility of contributing to the sustainability of the entire industry seriously. We have worked for years to breed efficiencies that make poultry production more sustainable, while at the same time advancing bird health, welfare and performance. Because we care about the planet, our customers and the communities they serve, we are committed to continually breeding for sustainability for decades to come.”
Breeding a greener future
Aviagen has made Balanced Breeding one of its top 5 corporate commitments. Balanced Breeding simultaneously promotes the Environmental, Economic and Social pillars of sustainability, helping farmers around the world feed their communities with a healthy, affordable and sustainable source of protein, while breeding efficiencies that help to preserve our planet for today and for generations to come.
This year at the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE), which takes place Jan. 25-27 in Atlanta, Ga., US, Santiago will delve into this topic in his presentation entitled, “Poultry breeding’s contribution to the environmental sustainability of the meat sector.” You may join him in this discussion on Jan. 26 11:30 am in booth B3649. To talk “Breeding Sustainability” with the Aviagen team, IPPE visitors can stop by booth B4225.
About Aviagen
Since 1923, Aviagen® has been a preferred global poultry breeding company with a mission to help its customers — the world’s chicken meat producers — supply sustainable, affordable and nutritious protein to their growing communities. Putting into practice its corporate value of “Breeding Sustainability,” Aviagen implements efficiencies that make commercial chicken production environmentally and socially responsible and economically beneficial to producers, while at the same time promoting bird performance, health and welfare.
To meet varied market demands, Aviagen offers a full portfolio of breeding stock under the Arbor Acres®, Indian River® and Ross® brand names. The Rowan Range® and Specialty Males® target slower-growing and other niche market needs. Aviagen is based in Huntsville, Alabama, US., with operations across the UK, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, India, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the US, and joint ventures in Asia. The company employs close to 8,000 people, and serves customers in 100 countries.
For more information, please visit Aviagen.com, or follow Aviagen on LinkedIn.
After a gap of almost 2 years due to pandemic restrictions, the 2nd edition of IPDL Expo – North India’s biggest Poultry Exhibition was successfully organised from 17 to 19 December 2021 at New Grain Market, Karnal, HARYANA (India).
Organised by ADAMAS Events Pvt. Ltd., IPDL 2021 was supported by Broiler Breeders Association North (BBAN), Poultry Federation of INDIA (PFI), Poultry Farmers (Broilers) Welfare Federation (PFBWF), NSIC and MSME. Poultry TRENDS was the official media partner of the event.
Spread over an area of about 2800 sqm, the exhibition was dominated by exhibitors from poultry farm equipment companies Like Quality Systems, Keyul Enterprises, Dhiman & Sons, Pollex Equipment, S.V Industries and many more followed by processing equipment manufacturers like Deccan Automation, Qumach Industries and allied industries.
Few Veterinary / Pharmaceutical companies like Cadila Healthcare, Varsha Group, Shukla Homeo Pharmacy participated while majority opted to play safe and abstain from participation. However, large number of seniors from the pharma and veterinary companies visited the event and commended with the outcome of the event.
A total of 95 exhibitors showcased their products and services.
Unprecedentedly, the IPDL Expo was inaugurated by the very first trade visitor on day 1. The 3 days exhibition attracted over 5000 plus trade visitors from Haryana, Punjab, Jammu, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat as well as visitors from Nepal, who took the opportunity to network and update on latest available technologies.
Ensuring proper visitor safety issues, the organiser distributed free masks as well as hand sanitized every visitor on entry. Hand sanitizers were also available at each booth, and at the end of each day, the entire exhibition area was re- sanitized. The efforts were appreciated by one and all.
Mr. Ranpal Dandha (now President of PFI) was very enthusiastic about the event and shared that IPDL Expo was a very good initiative by organizers, especially for the North India’s market, which will support the industry to grow their business.
Mr. Gurwinder Bisla, President (BBAN) and Mr. F.M Sheikh, President (PFBWF) shared their happiness and excitement on the exhibition success.
The dates of next edition of IPDL Expo will be announced shortly. For participation queries, contact Mr. Yogesh Kaushik (Project Director) at +91 90343 66069. Website: www.ipdlexpo.com.
SAINT CHARLES, MO (January 20, 2022) – Novus International, Inc., is bringing new research and a new look to the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE), January 25-27, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
As a global leader in health and nutrition solutions for the animal agriculture industry, Novus has been a long-time supporter of IPPE. The event in 2021 was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Ed Galo, Novus vice president and chief commercial officer for Americas & EMEA said he and his colleagues are excited about this year’s in-person show.
“This is an industry built on relationships. There’s something about face-to-face conversation that fosters relationship-building in a way that a computer screen cannot match. We’re very excited to be back in Atlanta for IPPE,” Galo said.
IPPE attendeescan meet with company representatives at the revamped Novus booth, #8139 in Hall B, during the Expo. Representatives will be on-hand to share how Novus trace mineral, eubiotics, enzyme, and methionine solutions can positively impact animal protein production.
Researchers will showcase Novus solutions during the International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF), held in conjunction with IPPE. These posters will be on display from 1:00 p.m. EST, January 24 to noon on January 25 in Room B313 Foyer at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Effect of Zn Methionine-Hydroxy-Analogue Chelate supplementation on performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens from Dr. Liris Kindlein of the Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
Effect of an essential oil blend on growth performance of broilers under different coccidiosis control programs from Dr. Frances Yan, senior research scientist at Novus.
A carryover from the virtual IPPE in 2021, the TECHTalk session are short, informative live presentations where attendees can gain quick knowledge that can directly impact their business. Held at booth #8579 in Hall B, Novus is presenting a TECHTalk session titled Understanding Mixer Coefficient of Variation and Troubleshooting by Application Systems Manager Dr. Jonathan Wilson at 3:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 25.
Aviagen Applies Latest Technology to Give Customers and Internal Teams Best of Both Worlds for In-Person and Remote Support
New remote support high-technology solution is perfect complement to local personal support
Jan. 4, 2021 – HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Aviagen® teams in Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America have combined their talents to create a new hybrid platform for heightened customer service and internal flock management. The new solution is made possible by a combined package of the latest in bonded cellular networking, mesh Wi-Fi, Augmented Reality (AR) headsets, specialist software and other technology. Thus, through live-streaming capabilities, for example, customers will be able to bring Aviagen experts virtually to the farm, hatchery, or any area of their facility where they need help on a pressing issue.
“Being there for our customers to ensure their continual success is our number one priority, and this new suite of tools is meant as a complement to the world-class support our customers get from their local teams. Thus, they could have immediate remote access to our array of specialists, both local and global, in addition to regular face-to-face personal support,” explained Aviagen CEO Jan Henriksen.
The end goal — Strengthening customer service
As a result of the new virtual solution, no matter where they are located on the globe, poultry producers can have the opportunity to receive rapid advice on performance improvements and solutions to their daily challenges, directly from Aviagen’s team of global specialists in genetics, veterinary service, nutrition, flock management, incubation and hatching, and more. This solution optimizes organizational efficiency by providing on-the-spot answers to pressing issues within a poultry operation.
“Aviagen is passionate about continually improving our service to customers,” explained Aviagen President of North America Marc de Beer. “While AR and Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are largely associated with gaming and entertainment, we have found an ideal application in business, which will elevate our support efforts by providing the perfect complement to one-on-one care and collaboration from our local Aviagen customer teams.”
“We are committed to leveraging the latest and most advanced technology to champion the success of our customers,” added Rafael Monleon, Business Manager for Asia Pacific. “Our new solution will enable our Aviagen experts opportunities to collaborate with customers in remote locations, resulting in faster solutions to challenges and best-practice advice to optimize their operations.”
“We are happy to maximize the effectiveness of our customer service team by putting to use technology to further expand their abilities. These advanced tools demonstrate our innovation, not just as a breeding company, but also as a technology business,” concluded Ivan Lauandos, President of Aviagen Latin America.
An added bonus – Increasing internal efficiency and collaboration
Aviagen will also use this technology to improve information and idea sharing, as well as training for its internal teams located in Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America. In fact, the company has already started applying this innovation internally, and will introduce it to customers in early 2022 based on a structured region by region roll-out.
About Aviagen
Since 1923, Aviagen® has been a preferred global poultry breeding company with a mission to help its customers — the world’s chicken meat producers — supply sustainable, affordable and nutritious protein to their growing communities. Putting into practice its corporate value of “Breeding Sustainability,” Aviagen implements efficiencies that make commercial chicken production environmentally and socially responsible and economically beneficial to producers, while at the same time promoting bird performance, health and welfare.
To meet varied market demands, Aviagen offers a full portfolio of breeding stock under the Arbor Acres®, Indian River® and Ross® brand names. The Rowan Range® and Specialty Males® target slower-growing and other niche market needs. Aviagen is based in Huntsville, Alabama, US., with operations across the UK, Europe, Turkey, Latin America, India, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the US, and joint ventures in Asia. The company employs close to 8,000 people, and serves customers in 100 countries.
For more information, please visit Aviagen.com, or follow Aviagen on LinkedIn.
Food safety is one of the main buzz in the present time. As of now food safety was limited to only human and pet food with little concern of livestock feed. But with time now consumers are not only becoming more aware of the quality aspects of livestock rearing but also on the quality of inputs being fed to reared poultry & cattle. One important aspect of prepared feed quality is the stability of the final product.
Changes in physical, chemical or microbiological properties of feed can be considered loss of stability. Water activity (Aw) is one of several important parameters that affect stability of livestock feed. Water activity is a measure of the free moisture in a foodstuff. It is also defined as the quotient of the water vapor pressure of the substance divided by the vapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature.
The water activity scale extends from 0 (bone dry) to 1.0 (pure water) but most foods have a water activity level in the range of 0.2 for very dry foods to 0.99 for moist fresh foods.
Water activity need not to be confused with moisture content. Moisture content is the combination of free and bound moisture. Free moisture can be explained as water that is available to participate in physical, chemical and biological reactions.
Water activity plays a vital role in the microbial stability of ingredients and final livestock feeds. Bacteria, molds and yeast require water for growth; and every microorganism has a minimum water activity below, which it will not grow.
Mold can grow at water activity levels as low as 0.61. Types of mold, temperature and water activity play important role in determining growth characteristics like Penicillium roqueforti germinated at 0.82 Aw at 25°C, 0.86 Aw at 30°C and was unable to germinate at 37°C.
Formation of mycotoxins also depends on the type of mold, substrate and storage conditions, which include pH, temperature and water activity. Mycotoxins can be formed on cereal grains such as corn and wheat. Processing temperatures can kill the mold but will not remove toxins that are already formed.
Mold contamination can also occur during storage and transport of raw material. Development of mold during milling or in storage or in transit in raw material/final product can be avoided by maintaining the final water activity under safe level.
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Moisture content has been used as a gauge to control spoilage in grain, feedstuffs, and feed stability for many years. Moisture content is, simply, the quantitative amount of water present in a substance or material. It affects the physical properties of the product, for example, density, weight, conductivity, viscosity and others (Jung, Lee and Yoon, 2018). The method to measure water content includes chemical (Karl Fischer titration), spectroscopic, conductivity and thermogravimetric analysis (Zambrana et al., 2019). In this industry, thermogravimetric analysis is commonly used to measure the moisture content, which is generally determined by weight loss upon drying (LOD). However, in this feed industry, a general practice of LOD is to set higher oven temperature of 120ºC – 130ºC which rendered this method to be inaccurate by 1-2% (Ahn at al., 2014). This is another topic which I will not discuss here.
The reason why we need to introduce water activity as a measure is because the moisture content in the system is not a reliable indicator of chemical reactions and microbial responses in feed pellets as it is only a quantitative analysis that determines the total amount of moisture present in the feed. For example, one safe product may contain 12% of moisture while the other containing just 10.5% of moisture may be more susceptible to spoilage.
Water activity (aw) is a reliable measure for quality control in feed. Water activity was once defined as the amount of “free” or “available” water in a product as opposed to “bound” water. It was easier to conceptualize but failed to define the concept of water activity. The issue is not whether the water is “bound” or “free” but rather how tightly it is “bound” within the system. The correct definition of aw would be the measure of energy status or the escaping tendency of water in a sample. It indicates how tightly water is bound either chemically or structurally. A portion of the total water content in a product is strongly bound to specific sites such as hydroxyl groups of polysaccharides or carboxyl and amino groups of proteins (Mathlouthi, 2001). Water activity (aw) is expressed as:
It is the ratio of vapor pressure of water in a material (p), in a completely undisturbed balance with the surrounding air, to that of vapor pressure of pure water under identical conditions (po). Equilibrium relative humidity (%ERH) is the relative humidity of the surrounding where material neither loses or gains moisture at a particular temperature (Mathlouthi, 2001). For example, if we assume that the pellets reached an equilibrium with the surrounding air, then it can be said that the aw of the pellets will be larger or equal to the ERH(%)/100 of air drawn to the cooler. aw range extends from 0 (bone dry) to 1.0 (pure water).
The commonly used equipment to measure aw is a water activity meter in which can be a benchtop equipment to be used in a lab or a portable equipment to be used in the feed mill. In a pellet feed production, feed samples from the mixer, cooler and the final bagging are collected and the aw is measured to determine the safety and quality of the feed.
There are several factors influencing the aw such as temperature, presence of solutes or a combination of both. Water activity is temperature dependent. As the temperature lowers, most products will have a lower aw. Therefore, it is crucial to measure the water activity of the pellets in an area where there are no temperature fluctuations in the surroundings. Solutes such as sugar or salt present in the system will also affects the aw as they tightly bind with water, reducing the energy status or the escaping tendency of water in a sample (Reid, 2007).
Water activity is one of the most critical parameters in determining the quality and safety of feed. This is because water solubilizes the reactants and increases their mobility in the system, both of which can leads to faster deterioration in terms of feed safety, shelf life, flavor, texture and smell. Being aware of aw in feed is very beneficial in predicting the stability and safety with respect microbial growth, chemical and biochemical reaction rates, physical properties and etcetera. By controlling the water activity, it is possible to predict potential sources of spoilage and infections, maintain chemical stability, Control non-enzymatic and enzymatic reactions rate, optimize physical properties such as moisture migration, texture and etcetera.
Figure 1. Stability in terms of degradative reactions rates and microbial growth limits as a function of water activity. Adapted from Labuza at al. (1972).
While pH, temperature and other factors can affect if and how fast organisms will grow in a product, water activity maybe the most significant factor in controlling spoilage. Microorganisms have a limiting aw level below which they will not grow and aw is the one that determines the lower limit of available water for microbial growth. Even at high moisture content, if the energy status of water is sufficiently low, microorganisms cannot utilize the water to support their own growth (Tapia et al., 2020).
Figure 2. Water activity limits for microbial growth examples of products in those ranges. Adapted from Tapia et al. (2020).
Different scenario of damages due to uncontrolled water activity
The “availability” of water in the system affects the rate of biochemical reaction such as nonenzymatic browning, enzymatic reactions, lipid oxidization, nutrients degradation, protein denaturation, starch gelatinization, starch retrogradation and supports microorganism growth (Figure 1). In general, when water activity decreases, the rate of biochemical reactions decreases. Therefore, controlling water activity is crucial in every stage of this industry, starting from grain storage, feed production to animals’ performance.
Feed stored under hot and high/low humidity
In a hot and high humid environment scenario, escaping water molecules gets trapped in the bag of feed increase the aw above 0.70 As the free water molecules condenses on the surface of the feed, the feed will grow moldy, badly degrading the entire bag of feed.
In a hot and low humid environment, the water molecules evaporate from the feed and escape out of the bag. Even though aw will not increase up to 0.70 sufficiently for microbial growth, the loss of moisture in feed will result in feed shrinkage. During this process, the free water molecules also contribute as a solvent to biochemically degrade essential micronutrients and lipids, compromising the chemical stability.
It is not about whether the feed will get moldy that dictates quality and shelf life. It is much more to a moldy problem.
Figure 3. Picture on the Left shows 50kg bag of feed stored under hot and high humidity environment while picture on the Right shows 50kg bag of feed stored under hot and low humidity environment.
Extruded fish feed stored in humid and poorly ventilated store
Double liner bag does not necessarily offer better protection to feed quality and better shelf life. The heat evaporates water molecules from extruded feed and now the free moisture gets trapped inside the bag. These moving free water molecules act as a solvent to biochemically degrade the micronutrients and lipids, compromising the nutrient and feeding value. The continue releasing of moisture from extruded feed increases the aw above 0.70, in which supports microbial growth, resulting in moldy feed.
Figure 4. Left Picture show bags of feed under hot and humid storage without proper ventilation. Right Picture show molded extruded fish feed stored in double lining bag.
Layer mash feed
Minerals and vitamins are highly reactive in heat and humidity. In hot tropical weather condition, once the premix portion (various essential micro-nutrients) is mixed with other raw materials in the production of mash feed, the compounded mash feed becomes a ticking time bomb. Due to activated water activities, essential micro-nutrient starts to degrade the moment it comes off the mixer. Chemical stability of the mash feed has been compromised. Why!
Many do not realize that compounded mash feed after the mixer has aw level ranging 0.70 – 0.75. As the compounded mash feed transit to the farm bin, the hot pounding tropical sun in just one afternoon can greatly instigate more moisture movement from within the feed. This increases in free moisture constantly increase aw, which can usually reach 0.85 by the time the feed reaches the feeding trough, even within 24 hours of transitioning from the mixer, farm silo bin, and to the layer house see Figure 5. Increasing aw first causes bio-degradation of essential micronutrients, life mold proliferation, and activates microbial growth once aw reaches 0.80.
This problem greatly impacts the overall egg quality (shell thickness, shell cuticle, egg yolk, egg white) and layers gut integrity (gut microbiota, digestibility of protein, ammonia/wet droppings issue)
Figure 5. Picture on the Left shows water activity of mash feed collected from the mixer. Picture on the Right shows water activity of mash feed collected from the feed trough.
Due to the uncontrolled moisture movement, the rate of biochemical reactions increases, degrading the essential micro-nutrients such as vitamins, trace minerals and amino acids present in the feed. There are many factors which affect the stability of vitamins such as temperature, moisture, pH, oxygen, light, catalyst, inhibitors, interactions with other component, energy and time, shown in Figure 6 (Gadient, 1986). Most vitamins are stable up to three months if they are stored properly, however, once they are mixed with other components such as oxidative trace minerals in the mash feed, they start to lose their potency rapidly when exposed to moisture, air and temperature. Some of the major deficiency symptoms of water-soluble vitamins found in layer is that it affects the egg production, quality and hatchability as well as the growth and quality of chick (Leeson, 2015). Since the effect of deficiency of vitamins in hens are detrimental and vitamins are prone to destruction, quite often than exception, over formulation is a practice in poultry nutrition. Poultry breeder have put in their best recommendations based on genetics requirement with different scenarios. It did not cost much to be over-generous in the past. However, the cost of these essential micronutrients supplements has been increasing over the years. Over-formulation does not guarantee the bioavailability of vitamins to the animals.
Figure 6. Factors causing the loss of vitamin during storage and processing in feed (Gadient, 1986).
To be continued…..
Water activity is a critical parameter not only in controlling the quality of feed but also in preservation and handling of various feed ingredients. Keep watching this space for some interesting stuff next month on raw materials preservation & handling and use of water activity as a measure.
References:
Ahn, J. Y., Kil, D. Y., Kong, C. and Kim, B. G. (2014). Comparison of Oven-drying Methods for Determination of Moisture Content in Feed Ingredients. Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences. 27(11). 1615–1622. 10.5713/ajas.2014.14305
Airaksinen, Sari. (2005). Role of Excipients in Moisture Sorption and Physical Stability of Solid Pharmaceutical Formulations.
Araba, M. and Dale, N. (1990). Evaluation of Protein Solubility as an Indicator of Overprocessing
Soybean Meal. Poultry Science. 69. 76-83. 10.3382/ps.0690076.
Gadient, M. (1986). Effect of Pelleting on Nutritional Quality of Feed. Proceedings of 1986 Maryland Nutrition Conference for Feed Manufacturers (USA). 73-79
Jung, H. B., Lee, Y. J. and Yoon, W. (2018). Effect of Moisture Content on the Grinding Process and Powder Properties in Food: A Review. Processes. 6. 69. 10.3390/pr6060069
Labuza, T.P., McNally, L., Gallagher, D., Hawkes, J. and Hurtado, F. (1972). Stability of Intermediate Moisture Foods. 1. Lipid Oxidation. Journal of Food Science. 37. 154-159.10.1111/j.1365-2621.1972.tb03408.x
Leeson, S. (2015). Vitamin Deficiencies in Poultry. MSD Manual Veterinary Manual.
Mathlouthi, M. (2001). Water Content, Water Activity, Water Structure and the Stability of Foodstuffs. Food Control. 12. 409-417. 10.1016/S0956-7135(01)00032-9
Ibáñez M.A., de Blas, C., Cámara, L., Mateos, G.G. (2020). Chemical Composition, Protein Quality and Nutritive Value of Commercial Soybean Meals Produced from Beans from Different Countries: A Meta-analytical Study. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 267, 114531
o'Connor, L., Favreau-Farhadi, N. and Barrett, A. (2017). Use of edible barriers in intermediate moisture food systems to inhibit moisture migration. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 42. e13512. 10.1111/jfpp.13512.
Reid, D.S. (2007). Water Activity: Fundamentals and Relationships. In Water Activity in Foods (eds G.V. Barbosa-Cánovas, A.J. Fontana, S.J. Schmidt and T.P. Labuza). 10.1002/9780470376454.ch2
Tanaka M., Kimiagar M., Lee TC., Chichester C.O. (1977). Effect of Maillard Browning Reaction on Nutritional Quality of Protein. In: Friedman M. (eds) Protein Crosslinking. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 86. Springer, Boston, MA. 10.1007/978-1-4757-9113-6_22
Tapia, M.S., Alzamora, S.M. and Chirife, J. (2020). Effects of Water Activity (a w ) on Microbial Stability as a Hurdle in Food Preservation. In Water Activity in Foods (eds G.V. Barbosa-Cánovas,
A.J. Fontana, S.J. Schmidt and T.P. Labuza). 1002/9781118765982.ch14
Zambrano, M., Dutta, B., Mercer, D., Maclean, H. and Touchie, M. (2019). Assessment of Moisture Content Measurement Methods of Dried Food Products in Small-scale Operations in Developing Countries: A Review. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 88. 10.1016/j.tifs.2019.04.006
Eggs are an amazing self-contained food source. Each one represents the most complete source of protein available in a single form. That’s why it is so important to meet the needs of a growing population by consistently providing eggs that are of the highest quality, both internally and externally.
Dr. Koushik De, Technical Services Director- SCA Novus International
The eggshell quality is very important for the profitability of the layer operations. The target is to have the best eggshell quality during the whole life of the layers for having the biggest number of saleable eggs. Having a premium eggshell quality will allow to have more saleable eggs. For a good egg production, we need to produce the best pullet quality. The optimum characteristics of a premium pullet quality is the body development and good immunity status.
Whether they are bound for the table or a hatchery, high quality eggs begin with a well- structured hen nutrition program. Maintaining mineral balances supports shell strength, the internal structure of the egg and tissue integrity of the unhatched chick. And, as laying hens age, mineral nutrition plays an increasingly important role, ensuring continued production of plentiful, high-quality eggs and the overall well-being of the hen. Optimal nutrition means optimal performance.
Trace Mineral in eggshell formation:
The stages of eggshell mineralization are consecutively progressed in the distal portion of the isthmus (or red isthmus/tubular shell gland) through calcification at charged nucleation sites on the surface of the outer eggshell membrane. Then, organic aggregates are deposited on the surface of the outer eggshell membranes, where calcium carbonate spontaneously begins to precipitate in the form of calcite, and then microcrystals of calcite are arranged to form the shell attached to the outer membrane. When these processes complete, the eggshell has a well-orientated structure that is described as the mammillary cone layer, the palisade layer of the mineralized shell with the main component of calcium carbonate, and the cuticle composed of glycoprotein.
If we see the Calcification Process of the Egg shell it has two parts, the calcium shell, and the collagen membrane where the calcium shell will be deposited on. The strength and the structure of the collagen is influenced by the Zn, Cu and Mn. Using MINTREX in the diet will improve the structure of the collagen, making a better “basement” for the calcium crystal that will be deposited on top. The amount of Ca in small and big eggs is similar, so this collagen membrane will be more and more important as the eggs get bigger and the amount of Ca/cm2 decreases.
The calcium amount will depend on the balance of Ca/P/Vitamin D of the diet and the deposition of the Ca will depend on several enzymes where the co-factors are Zn, Cu and Mn. A highly Bioavailable Chelated Mineral will provide the right levels of trace minerals for the activity of these enzymes.
Trace Mineral in Bone Structure:
Bone has basically two Matrix. Organic Matrix which is the basal structure of the bone and is a bonding of multiple fibers, mainly collagen fibrils (fine fiber, approximately 1 nm diameter). The collagen fibrils are type I collagen; produced by the osteoblast, a specialized fibroblast. Collagen represents approximately 80 to 90% of the organic matrix
– Inorganic part: it gives the strength to the bone. It’s composed by hydroxyapatite crystals (Ca10[PO4]6[0H]2). These crystals are produced due to the osteoblast activity.
During the bone development Ca and P are very important but also the trace minerals play a key role in this process:
Highly Bioavailable trace mineral helps improving the collagen cross linking and ossification in bone tissue matrix.
If we split it down the bone structure in smaller components, at the end we will see a matrix formed by collagen & intrafibrillar matrix and areas where Ca & P are deposited in the spots. Cu & Zn are important for development of collagen and nanocrystals and Mn for IFB matrix. A highly bioavailable chelated mineral will ensure proper formation of Collagen and intrafibrillar matrix and thereby ensure proper Ca & P deposition.
Common Problems in Eggshell:
Economic Losses due to Poor Egg Shell quality & Egg Breakage:
How Much Trace Mineral is squeezed by Egg?
The feed of commercial layer and breeder can easily cause trace mineral deficiency in bird. Normally these diets contain high amount of Ca & phytate Phosphorus which is around 0.4-0.5% considering usage of bran in layer diet.
Let’s see below example,
Now let’s take Zn as an example and see how much of Zn is getting excreted and absorbed through feed.
From the above example we can analyze a significant amount of Zn is getting excreted in the environment.
Bis Chelate in Improving eggshell breaking strength:
MINTREX Chelated trace mineral is the only globally available bis chelate having 2:1 metal to ligand ratio and a neutral charge ensuring the metal has maximum protection. Novus experience has shown that when we use MINTREX minerals at reduced dosage (Zn: Cu 20:4) it can improve the eggshell breaking strength and can replace high level of ITM (Zn: Cu 80:16)
Low dosage of MINTREX improve eggshell breaking strength (kg/cm2)
Egg Shell Surface is smoother in MINTREX Group & denser than Control group.
Denser Eggshell in MINTREX Group
MINTREX improves eggshell strength and eggshell thickness in layer.
A trial comparing a diet supplemented with MINTREX and a normal feeding program showed improved eggshell quality late in lay, as well as improved egg weights without compromising shell strength. Comparisons with both inorganic trace minerals and other organic trace mineral sources indicate MINTREX improves tissue supply of zinc, copper, and manganese, and has a direct beneficial effect on connective tissue and bone development in poultry.
In layers, these effects support improved bird health, eggshell strength and egg quality factors which are critical to today’s industry performance parameters.
Novus meta-analysis of various research globally have shown that inclusion of MINTREX improves Egg shell quality by
Conclusions:
Egg quality, both internal and external, determines the degree of profitability in commercial layer operations. Trace minerals play an important role in enzyme activities that are responsible for maintaining eggshell formation and membrane quality. The risks associated with trace mineral deficiency include reduced egg mass and poor eggshell quality.
For any layer operation, getting more saleable eggs is the key to increasing profitability. Challenges such as dirty eggs, broken and weak shells can lead to poor interior quality, due to potential contamination from external pathogens. The most effective way to achieve the highest production possible is by boosting flock performance through optimal nutrition.
In addition to performance improvements, feeding layers a special mineral enriched diet can enhance the mineral content of eggs they produce. Zinc, copper, and manganese can be passed on to the egg in higher levels, provided the animal is fed a highly bioavailable source of those trace minerals. Consumers eating these eggs will then have the added benefit of consuming more healthy minerals in their diet. Only MINTREX chelated trace minerals consistently deliver more essential trace minerals to the bird, while also minimizing mineral excretion. That translates into healthier layers, more efficient production and ultimately, improved profitability for the producer.
Author: Dr. Koushik De, Technical Services, Director- SCA, Novus International
Introduction: Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most widespread diseases in broilers, imposing a significant economic burden on the poultry industry worldwide. Its total global economic loss is estimated to be over $6 billion annually, while its occurrence is estimated to result in a 12% reduction in body weight and a 11% increase in feed conversion ratio compared to healthy birds.
Dr. Sekhar Basak
Despite our present understanding of the disease, and the identification of Clostridium perfringens as the aetiological agent, the predisposing factors, which are essential for the outbreak of the disease, are not fully understood. These factors can influence the ecosystem and disrupt the balance in the intestine, leading to the outbreak of the disease.
Poultry management includes all those practices applied to poultry at the farm level, in order to allow them to express their genetic potential efficiently and effectively. It takes into account health, welfare, legislation and economic issues, but its effect on gut health has not been fully elucidated. This review focuses on managerial strategies, such as nutrition, health and husbandry, which could be used to control Necrotic enteritis in poultry without the use of antibiotics.
Caecal Haemorages, mild/ severe lesions
Nutrition management
The raw materials and physical form of poultry feed significantly affect the pathogenesis of Necrotic enteritis in broiler chicks. In particular, high levels of animal protein, fat and cereals, which contain increased content of non-starch polysaccharides, are well known Necrotic enteritis risk factors. They can alter the physicochemical properties of intestinal digesta, can affect the microbiota, can provide substrate and create an environment that favours the growth of C. perfringens in the intestine.
Feed management is a promising strategy for the control of Necrotic enteritis. Feed restriction is applied in poultry, in order to control the growth rate and to prevent metabolic disorders. Tsiouris et al. showed that feed restriction of broiler chicks limited the severity of Necrotic enteritis lesion and reduced the C. perfringens population in the caecum in an NE experimental model. The protective effect of the feed restriction against Necrotic enteritis was attributed to the neuroendocrine and immune system influence, as well as to the absence of nutrients in the intestinal tract. Furthermore, feed restriction improves blood circulation to the intestinal mucosa and may protect it from becoming necrotic.
Feeding of whole grains is a management practice used frequently in poultry, in order to reduce feed costs. The mechanical stimulation of the gizzard, in addition to the associated reduction of the pH in the intestine, provides an unfavourable environment for C. perfringens proliferation and could be used to combat enteric diseases in poultry. However, there are no scientific data available for the effect of whole grain feeding on Necrotic enteritis.
Health management
The best-known predisposing factor for NE is the mucosal damage caused by coccidial infection. In contrast, attenuated anticoccidial vaccination, which also causes mild intestinal lesions, showed a significant protective effect against subclinical experimental NE in broiler chicks. The protective effect of anticoccidial vaccine against NE was attributed to the stimulation of non-specific and specific immunity mechanisms, as a result of local inflammation. In addition, the reduction of severe coccidiosis lesions in the mucosa limits the mucous secretion and the available nutrients for C. perfringens proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract. Finally, the control of coccidiosis discourages the attachment of C. perfringens to the intestinal mucosa.
Immunity, specific and non-specific, against C. perfringens is an essential factor for the control of NE. The vaccination programme must target against immunosuppressive diseases of poultry, such as Gumboro disease, chicken infectious anaemia, Marek’s disease, etc. Moreover, vaccination against C. perfringens seems a logical preventive tool for protection against Necrotic enteritis. However, only a C. perfringens type.
Mycotoxins are numerous and commonly found in poultry feed. They are implicated with growth retardation in poultry and pose a risk to public health. In addition, in an experimental Necrotic enteritis model, broiler chicks fed a diet contaminated with 5 mg deoxynivalenol/kg of feed were predisposed to NE. Mycotoxins negatively influence small intestinal epithelial cell integrity and morphology, and are also related to immunosuppression, which subsequently could increase the severity of coccidiosis and NE lesions.
Husbandry management
Stocking density is a management factor with critical implications for the poultry industry, since excessive density can have a negative effect on the performance, welfare and health of birds. As far as Necrotic enteritis is concerned, high stocking density increased significantly the incidence and severity of Necrotic enteritis and liver lesions, as well as the pH and C. perfringens counts in the caeca in an experimental necrotic enteritis model. The stress of birds reared under high stocking density can negatively affect the humoral immune system and the poultry litter quality, which subsequently could increase C. perfringens in the litter and affect the intestinal microbiota.
Temperature is one of the most important physical environmental stressors, which could significantly affect the performance, health and welfare of poultry as well as the profit for the farmer. According to the results of the experimental study by Tsiouris et al, cold stress predisposes birds to develop Necrotic enteritis lesions, as a result of immunosuppression. Similarly, heat stress was associated with the outbreak of Necrotic enteritis in unchallenged birds and increased the severity of Necrotic enteritis lesions in experimentally infected broiler chicks. These effects can be attributed to the influence of high environmental temperatures on the immune system and on the intestinal microbiota. The role of heat shock proteins, which increased under various stressors including heat stress, is also important.
Additional husbandry factors, such as the poultry house microenvironment (e.g. air humidity, litter condition), which are also affected by temperature, may be involved and further research is needed. Furthermore, lighting programme is an essential husbandry factor, which significantly affects the performance, the welfare and the immunity of birds. However, there are no studies about its effect on Necrotic enteritis.
Conclusion
NE represents a classic example of a multi-factorial disease process in poultry. It is a consequence of imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem, as the presence of C. perfringens per se does not lead directly to disease. Additional factors that modify the intestinal ecosystem and allow the overgrowth of C. perfringens are required in order to elicit the clinical signs and lesions of NE. Thus, an outbreak of NE is considered as a gut health issue and depends on interactions between host, infectious, nutritional and managerial factors.
The ban of antimicrobials and the financial impact of Necrotic enteritis in modern broiler industry have led to the development of new strategies for its control. The identification of C. perfringens virulence factors and the control of predisposing factors are strategies of major importance. Optimization of poultry farm management practices, including husbandry, strict biosecurity and poultry house sanitation protocols, diet-related strategies and nutraceutical alternatives (probiotics, prebiotics, herbs, organic acids and enzymes) have become more relevant. Active immunization will be effective, as a part of a holistic approach for the control of NE and not on its own.
The past decade was characterized by great progress in understanding the aetiology and pathogenesis of NE in the gut of chicks. New research should focus on reducing the risk of the disease by enhancing or avoiding management practices as appropriate, controlling the pathogenic C. perfringens in the intestine, as well as by enhancing the immune system and the intestinal microbiota of chicks.
For further information on control of Clostridium perfringens and Necrotic enteritis, feel free to contact:
After achieving a healthy growth in India’s poultry sector in the last many years, time has come for the sector for adoption of automation and infrastructure creation at the marketing point for ensuring that quality meat is supplied to consumers.
India’s poultry sector, despite the challenging times of 2020 and 2021, has been one of the fastest growing segments of Indian agriculture and allied sector. In fact, while the agricultural production has been growing at around two percent, in the last decade, the production of eggs and broilers has been rising in the range of around 8-10% on an annual basis. The Poultry sector especially is growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) at a constant 10.5% and playing critical role in promoting livelihood options in the rural economy. Due to this steady growth, India has emerged as the world’s third largest egg producer and sixth largest producer of broiler meat. Economic growth, rise in urbanization and stress on consumption of protein rich food have contributed to steady growth in demand for poultry meat and eggs.
Despite several field and raw material rates challenges, the business-to-consumer demand for poultry remains good. Consumers are looking for additional sources of protein rich foods and poultry meat is preferred over other meat products as it is considered more hygienic and supplies are uninterrupted throughout the year in relatively economical prices compared to prices of mutton and fish. According to Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics, 2020, India’s poultry meat production was 4.34 million tonnes, contributing more than 50% of the total meat production in 2019-20. The egg production stood at 114.38 billion in 2019-20.
According to the National Action Plan for egg and poultry – 2022 prepared by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Govt. of India, more than 80% of India’s poultry output is produced by organized commercial farms. Major poultry companies have vertically integrated operations which comprise approximately 60-70 % of the total poultry meat production.
The broiler meat industry is witnessing growth because of adoption of the backward integration system. The companies, which are integrators, have hatcheries, feed mills, and primary processing facilities. The integration model ensures that farmers (who own farms with 5000 – 10,000 broilers capacity) are insulated against fluctuations in market prices as under the contract they remain assured of getting predetermined fixed prices. Directly and indirectly this poultry sector provides employment to around six million small and medium farmers.
However, for meeting rising demand for poultry products in the coming years, the poultry farmers need to adopt automation for ensuring efficient production system and improving infrastructure at the existing wet market.
A large chunk of the broiler and layer farms in India do not have climate control system, which exposes the broilers or layers to various climate changes, which could adversely impact productivity. Latest farming technologies such as climate-controlled farm houses, automated feeding lines etc. can help improve the productivity in farms. Feeding, water supply, temperature and humidity control are some of the variables that require automation in poultry farming.
With rising cost of labour as well as reduction in supplies of workforce in parts of the country, the automation at farm level has to be installed for bringing in efficiency in the production at broilers and layers farms. According to industry sources, automatic feeding system could reduce the labour cost and improve farming level and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) efficiency. With automation, FCR is bound to improve further thus making India’s poultry meat production more efficient. The broiler and layer farmers usually refer to feed costs as the critical component of controlling and lowering production costs.
Credit David Tadevosian Shutterstock.com
There has been gradual adoption of environmentally controlled (EC) sheds by commercial broiler farmers. The EC sheds ensure bigger harvests, better feed conversion and economy both on capital and revenue investments. Keeping air and floor temperature in the house fully under regulation are essential during brooding. Some of the elements of EC sheds include temperature and humidity maintenance, supplementary levels of heating and cooling at all times, increase of biomass in the shed and floors are prepared for keeping the even heat distribution.
The Commercial production of eggs and chicken meat on scientific principles has been well standardized, while the marketing system of eggs and broiler meat are not fully organized. Eggs are sold mostly from retailer next door for meeting the daily needs of consumers. Eggs go through the value chain of wholesale dealers, sub-dealers, retailers etc.
Broilers are sold live or slaughtered openly in the live market and according estimates around 90% of broiler meat is sold through wet market. There is need for creating infrastructure for hygienic slaughter. There is need for investment in improving marketing infrastructure for both broiler birds and eggs for attracting more health-conscious consumers especially in the post-COVID phase. Hence, there is a need for setting up of broiler meat processing plants in the near future and sale of processed chicken to increase both to cater domestic as well as export markets.
The demand supply situations witness significant seasonal fluctuation in broiler and eggs prices. The prices as well as demand mostly decline during religious festivals. The major industry players attempt to support prices by reducing chick placements when demand falls. However, the industry needs to put in place robust market information in advances by assessing demand pattern.
Photo credit azerbaijan_stockers
The demand for poultry and processed poultry products has seen an expansion especially since middle of 2020. There has been huge increase in e-commerce with expansion of home delivery as a response to COVID-19 lockdowns and the fear of exposure by shopping in traditional wet markets.
The online segment is expected to continue to drive broiler and eggs consumption in the coming years thus by pushing increasing per capita consumption of poultry meat and eggs.
Recently the Government had announced Special Livestock sector package amounting to Rs.9,800 crore over the next five years starting 2021-22. The poultry meat as well as egg sectors must take advantage of this financial assistance to boost infrastructure. A capital subsidy should be there on setting up EC sheds with improvement in infrastructure in the wet market that would boost demand as well as consumption.
India is the second largest egg producer and third largest meat producer in the world. Poultry sector is the highest contributor in the Agriculture GDP of India. There has been a consistent growth in the Indian poultry sector in last few decades.
Dr. Anjan Goswami (Author)
As per the industry experts and market research reports, the sector is likely to grow at a CAGR of 7-8% for next 10 years leading to a growth opportunity for all the stakeholders in the sector. However, different driving factors would play significant roles and differentiate an enterprise’s growth from the sector. To articulate more precisely, when we talk about the growth of any sector, primarily it is the revenue growth. However, the tools for measuring the growth of an enterprise may not always be only the revenue alone, it’s about an inclusive growth of resources, a consistent investment vis a vis its return on equity and most importantly, the profitability and sustainability of the entity. Therefore, the preparedness for the future to grow as an entity along with the growing industry trend is going to be challenging dynamics for each entity in the Indian poultry sector.
As per the latest research done by the leading market research firm Red seer, India’s overall meat market was Rs 330K crore in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2019 is set to grow to more than Rs 460K crore by 2024. Meat market includes fish (freshwater and sea fish), poultry (bird meat, ex-eggs) mutton (goat and lamb meat), pork and beef. However, the contribution of chicken meat in Indian meat market is highest. The online meat market has grown by 2.5X to 3X times in last two years since covid-19. It is a clear indication towards changing consumer behaviour towards more informed and concerned purchases. There has been 10-15% growth in average revenue per unit (ARPU), 15-20% enhancement in the average order value (AOV) and there has been 15-20% overall improvement in the customer retention in online meat market as the report suggests.
Courtesy: Accenture Consumer Research, conducted during April-2021
As has been reflected in the above diagram, a latest survey conducted on urban consumer behaviour reveals that the awareness about the overall social health and economy has increased over the time especially after the pandemic. An urban consumer is not only concerned about his/her own health and economy but also about the socio-economic impacts. Indian poultry meat and egg sector is the highest contributor in terms of animal protein supplement in our country. Therefore, the impact of change in consumer behaviour would be significant in the poultry sector and preparedness for future by each poultry enterprise is inevitable.
Drivers of Potential Growth:Future Opportunities and challenges in Indian Poultry Sector
Opportunities in Indian Poultry Sector:
Change in food habit from cereals to protein, 70% of Indian population is non vegetarian. Frequency of weekly consumption is high for 90% of the meat eaters, providing opportunities for growth.
World average processed chicken and eggs product contribution is 38% vs India’s 7%, an opportunity for growth.
Per capita consumption is at 3.6 kg Chicken meat and 63 eggs, much lower than world average, Projected to Grow.
Rural India market is yet to be explored, Rural consumption would expand the market reach, a growth driver.
Online meat, eggs and meat products market is picking up very fast, opening up scopes for direct to market strategic approaches.
The Challenges:
Poultry Production Challenges:
Regulations on Farming standards
Ground water usage
Land area utilization
Limited availability of inputs and resources
Throat cut cost competition
Bio waste production and environment protection
Restrict Usage of drugs and antibiotics
Stringent quality parameters
Cruelty to animals, Increased role of NGOs and whistle blowers
Green farming .. Organic farming
State of the art export centric processing infrastructure
Investment constrains
Challenges in the market:
Changing consumer behaviour
Global competitors
Import of Chicken meat and meat products
Quality standards and price competitiveness
Entrance of bigger multinationals
Mergers and acquisitions
Investment constrains
Lack of processing and value chain infrastructure
Lack of marketing efforts
Future of the Indian Poultry: The future of the Indian poultry can broadly be articulated in two broad segments
A) Future of the Industry Sector: The Moderators are
Macroeconomic Changes
Food habits changes
Consumer behaviour
Market Growth Potential
B) Future of an Enterprise: The Moderators for growth and sustainability of an enterprise are
Business model
Competitiveness
Continuous Innovation
Adaptability to changing business environments
Agility
Resilience
Future centric focus
The Trend: Automation-mechanization- Digitalization
Like any other sector, application of technology in each stage of value chain of the poultry from production to marketing cycle is going to be inevitable for enterprises in near future. The growing concerns about the sustainable environment, growing role of social organisations, throat cut cost competition, fight for market share and lack of availability of skilled work force will enforce the poultry producers to optimise sustainable production through automation.
The Future: Sustainable Poultry
The way forward:
A balance between the ongoing business avenues, profitability and related expansion vis a vis the future possible trend in the sector and a methodical plan for change dynamics in the sustainable business model would play a significant role in determining the enterprises’ sustainable growth along with the growing Indian poultry industry.
Sustainable farming practices: Sustainable farming practices are going to be inevitable in future in the poultry sector, that means the farm management practices are to be scientific not only to produce healthily chicken and eggs for consumers but also have to ensure least use and recycling of natural resources, lesser land area utilization and least damage to the fertile land area.
Investment on Infrastructure and resources: Investment on scientific fam premises, warehouses, automation, mechanization and digitalization, investment on raw materials, stocking capacity based on season and availability will be key to success. Nevertheless, attracting young talent, nourishing and retaining them into the sector would make a significant impact in the growth path of poultry sector.
Product Quality and cost competitiveness: The cost competitiveness in the form of better conversion, better yield, productivity and efficiency would be key.
Value addition and branding: Enhancing the product life cycle, stocking ability, forward integration, value addition and branding would help the sector improvising its customer reach with a higher willingness to pay.
Technology adeptness: Technology is going to be a key role player in poultry sector like any other sectors, syncing technology with business model enabling to maximize profit would be a game changer in building enterprise value.
Preparedness to face global competition: Global competitors’ presence in the growing market would increase with the participation of greater number of multinationals. Cost Vs Profit competition in quality and price would be change dynamics the entrepreneurs to be prepared for.
Cotemporary investments: Traditionally poultry entrepreneurs are more focused in raising investment either through debt or through owners’ equity. In the near future, the contemporary investment instruments in the form of equity participation, debentures, preferential etc. would play a significant role. The enterprise value building along with profits is required to be a focus for the promoters for sustainability.
Collaborations: Collaboration among competitors is another new dynamic for doing business wherein poultry entrepreneurs have to be open to collaborate with their counterparts for creating a synergistic impact on the business based on the individuals’ area of strength.
Market information: Information about market, trend in the sectors, price dynamics, production information and investment towards aggregating them in a systematic manner would make a difference in decision making processes.
Price competitiveness: Throat cut competition in price is an inevitable phenomenon in a country like India, wherein majority of the population still considers price to be as a primary factor in making a purchasing decision. Production of best quality as desired by customers and making them available at a competitive price would be a challenging decision for the poultry enterprises.
Summary:
Undoubtedly, there has been a significant change in the consumer behavior and a phenomenal growth in online meat sales market in last two years, but that does not necessary mean that every enterprise in the poultry sector has to follow the same path of selling meat online as there is intense involvement of value chain resource capability in managing cold chain and extending last mile delivery and strong hold on technology sync with business model. The more important for the poultry enterprises to observe and analyze the trend for creating opportunity by identifying one’s own strength of business areas through methodical analysis of the enterprise and create a business model to enable the enterprise remain competitive in the sector.
The business model design can be in any area – from production of eggs to the good quality meat. As far as market reach is concerned, 75% of the Indian population stays in rural and there is need to understand that production of chicken meat is not only for the urban consumers alone. In fact, the highest contribution of poultry meat consumption comes from either rural or the lower income category as chicken being most economic source of protein. The enterprises focus can be towards building quality brands and create a revolution in the form of supplying best quality chicken meat, meat products and eggs to the remotest districts of the country in a competitive price. It’s not only the business, but also the way of doing business would make a difference in determining the success of an enterprise going forward.
About the author
Dr. Anjan Goswami, Director in R J Feeds Pvt Ltd, and Navjeevan Hatcheries Pvt Ltd. have got over thirteen years of Enterprise management experience in the Poultry and Food Sector across all the verticals.
Dr. Anjan has mentored and co-founded enterprises in the digital healthcare and consumer service sector. He is the present Gen. Secretary of KPFBA. He brings exposure in the areas of Business Management strategy, financial analysis, investment advisory, due diligence, and corporate restructuring of businesses and has experience of successfully closing overseas M&A deals. The Equity, Debt investments, Joint Ventures, and M&A Agreements have been his area of expertise as well.
Dr. Anjan is a Doctoral Research Fellow at ISB Hyderabad, holds an MBA from the IIM, Bangalore. Apart from being a M.V.Sc, his academic exposure also includes advanced business management training from “Capsim Management Simulation Inc” USA and studies on rural sociology under the program “understanding rural India” from Azim Premji University, Bangalore.
It’s a myth that Initial Investment in EC Sheds is high with changing modern poultry scenario and land cost. The two most important parameters about rearing a bird in EC and Farming generally as well is the volume of birds one can grow & the initial investment in terms of COST PER BIRD. Both of these parameters are only viable in EC and modern farming, the cost per bird is well justified in terms of the ROI and enhanced bird performance that we achieve in these kinds of houses.
It is possible to design and economise an EC house according to the budget and needs of the poultry farmer without compromising on the quality of the product. An example is our Ecolite series of houses, wherein we have developed a high tensile pre galvanised EC compatible steel structure along with curtains or panels especially for the individual farmer who grows chicken for an integrator on a fixed growing charge. Considering a standard fixed charge growing scenario in India, the grower can payback his investment in 3.5 years & establish a stable income source and means of sustainability for years to come.
Efficiency, Bio security & Green Technology with animal welfare will be key for our poultry Industry going forward. Poultry – chicken & eggs is one of the best, cleanest and most difficult to adulterate kind of protein source available to us. Dhumal takes immense pride to work in an Industry where we are solving a real problem and playing our part to make proteins available to the masses at a competitive price comparable to other protein sources.
Jan. 4, 2021 – HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Aviagen® teams in Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America have combined their talents to create a new hybrid platform for heightened customer service and internal flock management. The new solution is made possible by a combined package of the latest in bonded cellular networking, mesh Wi-Fi, Augmented Reality (AR) headsets, specialist software and other technology. Thus, through live-streaming capabilities, for example, customers will be able to bring Aviagen experts virtually to the farm, hatchery, or any area of their facility where they need help on a pressing issue.
Changes in physical, chemical or microbiological properties of feed can be considered loss of stability. Water activity (Aw) is one of several important parameters that affect stability of livestock feed. Water activity is a measure of the free moisture in a foodstuff. It is also defined as the quotient of the water vapor pressure of the substance divided by the vapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature.
