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The new rules of the roost : organic care & feeding for the family flock
\"[This book] addresses the real problems that crop up when keeping chickens long term ... [and] cover[s] a wide range of topics including organic health remedies and disease prevention, pest management, organic nutrition, the best breeds for specific needs, and the simplest options for daily maintenance and feeding\"--Amazon.com.
Book
Design and Prototyping of a Robotic Structure for Poultry Farming
The identification and prediction of losses, along with environmental and behavioral analyses and animal welfare monitoring, are key drivers for the use of technologies in poultry farming which help characterize the productive environment. Among these technologies, robotics emerges as a facilitator as it provides space for the use of several computing tools for capture, analysis and prediction. This study presents the full methodology for building a robot (so called RobôFrango) to its application in poultry farming. The construction method was based on evolutionary prototyping that allowed knowing and testing each physical component (electronic and mechanical) for assembling the robotic structure. This approach made it possible to identify the most suitable components for the broiler production system. The results presented motors, wheels, chassis, batteries and sensors that proved to be the most adaptable to the adversities existing in poultry farms. Validation of the final constructed structure was carried out through practical execution of the robot, seeking to understand how each component behaved in a commercial broiler aviary. It was concluded that it was possible to identify the best electronic and physical equipment for building a robotic prototype to work in poultry farms, and that a final product was generated.
Journal Article
Comparative assessment of climate resilient potential in four poultry genotypes reared in hot-humid tropical environment: a preliminary evaluation
The general objective of this study is to comparatively assess the climate-resilient potential of four different poultry genotypes-Giriraja (n = 8), Country chicken (n = 8), Naked neck (n = 8), and Kadaknath (n = 8)—reared in a hot-humid tropical environment. Birds from all genotypes had ad libitum access to feed and water and were exposed to identical environmental temperatures in the experimental shed. Diurnal meteorological data were recorded inside and outside the shed daily. Blood biochemical, hormonal, and endocrine variables were monitored monthly until the birds reached 12 weeks of age. Significant variations (P < 0.01) were observed at different intervals in variables, including total protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Genotype-specific differences were noted in triglycerides (P < 0.01), albumin (P < 0.01), total protein (P < 0.05), and cholesterol (P < 0.05). Inter-genotype variations (P < 0.05) were also observed in serum cortisol, T3, and T4 levels. Distinct variations (P < 0.05) were also observed during specific intervals, particularly in cortisol and T3 levels. The study of hepatic mRNA expression of HSPs and HSF-1 revealed a significant breed difference (P < 0.05) in the expression pattern of HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110, while no difference was observed between genotypes for HSP40 and HSF-1. The study highlights the Naked Neck breed as an exemplar of resilience, showcasing its distinctive ability to maintain homeostasis under heat stress compared to other genotypes. The genetic and physiological insights gained from this investigation offer prospective pathways for aligning sustainable poultry farming with environmental exigencies.
Journal Article
Enhancing Environmental Control in Broiler Production: Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Improved Decision-Making with Large Language Models
The growing global demand for animal protein, particularly chicken meat, challenges poultry farming to adapt production systems through the adoption of digital technologies. Among the promising advances in artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs) hold potential to enhance decision-making in broiler production by supporting environmental control through the interpretation of climatic data, the generation of reports to optimize conditions, guidance on ventilation adjustments, recommendations for thermal management, assistance in air quality monitoring, and the translation of simulation results into actionable suggestions to improve bird welfare. For this purpose, the key limitations of LLMs in terms of transparency, accuracy, precision, and relevance must be effectively addressed. This study investigates the impact of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) on improving LLM precision and relevance for environmental control in broiler production. Experiments with the OpenAI GPT-4o model and semantic similarity analysis were used to evaluate response quality with and without RAG. The results confirmed the approach’s effectiveness while identifying areas for improvement. A paired t-test revealed significantly higher similarity scores with RAG, demonstrating its impact on response quality. This study contributes to the field by advancing RAG-enhanced LLMs for environmental control, addressing market demands by demonstrating how AI improves decision-making for productivity and animal welfare, and benefits society by providing small-scale producers with cost-effective and accessible solutions for actionable insights.
Journal Article
Broiler Chicken Cecal Microbiome and Poultry Farming Productivity: A Meta-Analysis
The cecal microbial community plays an important role in chicken growth and development via effective feed conversion and essential metabolite production. The aim of this study was to define the microbial community’s variants in chickens’ ceca and to explore the most significant association between the microbiome compositions and poultry farming productivity. The meta-analysis included original data from 8 control broiler chicken groups fed with a standard basic diet and 32 experimental groups supplemented with various feed additives. Standard Illumina 16S-RNA gene sequencing technology was used to characterize the chicken cecal microbiome. Zootechnical data sets integrated with the European Production Effectiveness Factor (EPEF) were collected. Analysis of the bacterial taxa abundance and co-occurrence in chicken cecal microbiomes revealed two alternative patterns: Bacteroidota-dominated with decreased alpha biodiversity; and Bacillota-enriched, which included the Actinomycetota, Cyanobacteriota and Thermodesulfobacteriota phyla members, with increased biodiversity indices. Bacillota-enriched microbiome groups showed elevated total feed intake (especially due to the starter feed intake) and final body weight, and high EPEF values, while Bacteroidota-dominated microbiomes were negatively associated with poultry farming productivity. The meta-analysis results lay the basis for the development of chicken growth-promoting feed supplementations, aimed at the stimulation of beneficial and inhibition of harmful bacterial patterns, where relevant metagenomic data can be a tool for their control and selection.
Journal Article
Pakistan’s backyard poultry farming initiative: impact analysis from a public health perspective
Commercial poultry rearing in Pakistan dates back to the 1960s. Meanwhile, backyard poultry setups have been providing meat and eggs for human consumption and supplementing the livelihood of farmers in many rural setups for ages. Different poultry rearing practices have varied approaches to feed supplementation, administration, biosafety practices, and flock size. All are important factors affecting disease spread and vulnerability. Recently, the Pakistani government announced the prime minister’s Backyard Poultry Initiative under the National Agricultural Emergency program to economically develop farmers, especially women. Widespread adoption of this scheme with little to no training of inexperienced farmers may lead to the emergence of zoonotic infections in the population. The focus of the current review is to examine the probable impact of the promotion of backyard poultry farming practices by the government on the spread of zoonotic illnesses, both in the farmers and consumer population.
Journal Article
Advancing Poultry Nutrition: AI Innovations for Sustainable Nutrient Requirements of Poultry: A Review
The poultry sector plays a crucial role in global food production by meeting the growing demand for affordable, nutritious protein sources. However, it faces significant challenges in providing sustainable and cost-effective nutritional solutions that improve poultry health, performance, and product quality. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to enhance poultry nutrition through the development of precise feeding strategies. AI helps monitor and optimize nutrient intake, thereby boosting feed efficiency, reducing waste, and lowering costs. This article examines how AI-driven innovations may advance the management of poultry feed ingredients, nutrient monitoring, and dietary formulations. By utilizing AI tools such as machine learning algorithms and real-time data analytics, poultry producers can track and assess the nutritional needs of individual birds. This allows for the development of more precise feed formulations tailored to the specific needs of different age groups, breeds, and environmental conditions. These AI technologies help select the best feed ingredients and enable precise adjustments to nutrient composition. This results in healthier birds, better feed conversion rates, and higher-quality poultry products. Additionally, AI advancements help reduce the environmental impact of poultry farming by reducing feed waste and resource consumption. This article highlights how AI-driven insights enhance decision-making, enabling the poultry industry to grow sustainably while promoting animal welfare, increasing efficiency, and producing high-quality poultry products that meet consumer expectations for both sustainability and nutritional value.
Journal Article
Solutions to the Dilemma of Antibiotics Use in Livestock and Poultry Farming: Regulation Policy and Alternatives
While the application of antibiotics in livestock production has undeniably propelled the rapid growth of animal husbandry, the escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance stemming from antibiotic use poses significant threats to global public health and sustainable agricultural development. To address this critical challenge, multifaceted strategies have been implemented through coordinated policy interventions and scientific innovations. This review systematically examines two pivotal dimensions: (1) evolving regulatory frameworks governing antibiotic usage and (2) emerging non-antibiotic alternatives, with a particular focus on their implementation mechanisms and technological maturation. The analysis of transnational antibiotic governance encompasses comparative policy evolution in the European Union, the United States, and China. These regulatory paradigms address critical control points including registration management policies, usage monitoring systems, and integrated surveillance programs. Concerning technological alternatives, six categories of antibiotic substitutes are critically evaluated: Chinese herbal formulations, plant-derived essential oils, antimicrobial peptides, microecological agents, acidifiers, and enzyme preparations. These solutions are functionally categorized into prophylactic agents (enhancing disease resilience) and zootechnical additives (optimizing feed efficiency). These antibiotic alternatives demonstrate certain efficacy in alleviating the challenges of antibiotic overuse, yet they still face multiple implementation barriers. Further investigations are warranted to establish standardized efficacy evaluation protocols and conduct technoeconomic feasibility assessments under commercial-scale production conditions. Ultimately, resolving the antibiotic dilemma requires synergistic collaboration between regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical innovators, and academic researchers. This work emphasizes the crucial interplay between evidence-based policymaking and technological advancement in shaping sustainable livestock production systems.
Journal Article
Effect of thymol on planktonic and biofilm cells in drinking water: An anti-cryptosporidium effect
There is a consensus that biofilm shows resistance to antimicrobial agents, especially in poultry farming. The current study assesses how thymol's antiparasitic properties affect the load of parasites, particularly Cryptosporidium oocysts load, in chicken drinking water. The first experiment used microscopic counting to evaluate in vitro the anti-cryptosporidium activity of NPEB (a thymol-based product) on drinking water samples. Thymol was added to samples in increasing doses (1, 2, and 4 g L-1 of NPEB). The anti-cryptosporidium efficacy in vitro was dose-dependent (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.001). Moreover, the antibiofilm efficiency of the thymol-based product against protozoan biofilm (Cryptosporidium oocysts) was tested using an experimental arrangement simulating the water supply system in poultry farming. In order to do that, we conducted two preventive and curative tests utilizing two distinct product concentrations (1 and 2 g L-1). A greater reduction was shown for the concentration 2 g L-1, which is in the order of three logarithmic units. The removed water from treated pipes with thymol (1 g L-1 of the product) showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the curative study as compared to controls. However, after just 24 hours of treatment, the amount of 2 g L-1 treated pipes was significantly reduced (p < 0.01).
Journal Article
A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Risks in the Poultry Farming Industry: Trends, Themes, Collaborations, and Technology Utilization
This paper explores the risks prevalent in the poultry farming industry, drawing upon an extensive examination conducted by researchers over the past decade. Employing a bibliometric analysis approach, a comprehensive search of the Scopus database was conducted using relevant keywords related to poultry farming risk and technology utilization. The search spanned from 2002 to 2022, yielding 345 pertinent documents. This study presents an overview of the current state of publications concerning poultry farming risk and its intersection with technology utilization. It delves into citation patterns, prevalent themes, and authorship analysis, focusing on the role of technology in mitigating risks. The comprehensive citation analysis highlights the impact of technology-related studies in the field. Frequency analysis employed Microsoft Excel, while VOSviewer facilitated data visualization. Harzing's Publish or Perish software was used for citation metrics and analysis. The findings reveal a consistent increase in publications on risk in poultry farming since 2002, particularly in relation to technology utilization. The United States emerges as the most active country in this area of research, with Wageningen University from the Netherlands identified as the most prolific institution contributing significantly to risk in poultry farming research, including technology applications. The research involved 32 scholars from 70 different countries and 32 distinct institutions, reflecting the multi-authorship and multicultural nature of the research. It is important to note that this paper focuses solely on the Scopus database, while future researchers may consider alternative databases for new studies, recognizing the expanding role of technology in addressing risks in the poultry farming industry.
Journal Article