An epidemic of high pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) occurred in the Netherlands in 2003. A census survey of 173 infected and 401 uninfected commercial poultry farms was carried out to identify factors associated with the introduction of the HPAI virus into poultry farms. Data on farm size, production characteristics, type of housing, presence of cattle and pigs were gathered by the Nationa...

Organic poultry production has substantially increased in the last few years. On organic farms, welfare of poultry is enhanced due to enriched housing conditions as access to a free range area. This may reduce feather pecking and keep the health status at least on the same level as on conventional farms. However, welfare of organic poultry may be further improved if: (a) laying hens are already...

This study examined flock size and management, level of internal and external parasite burden and seroprevalence of antibodies to poultry pathogens in indigenous chickens in Bokaa village, Kgatleng district, Botswana. The mean flock size was 22.6 +/- 6.85 with a range of 11-34. The mean body weights of cocks and hens were 2.28 +/- 0.56 kg and 1.70 +/- 0.38 kg, respectively. Housing and commerci...

Commercial poultry production is rapidly expanding worldwide to meet the needs of the increasing human population. Further, with the reduced cost and enhanced incomes the per capita poultry meat consumption is increasing. Many poor and middle class farmers in developing countries are taking up poultry to supplement their income and this industry has become a major income source to them. The ind...

An important economic goal of the poultry industry is to increase the productivity. However, the productivity of this industry is threatened by climatic, physical, and social stressors [7]. High temperature in poultry-house reduces feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency. Furthermore, high ambient temperature causes the release of corticosterone and catecholemines. Corticoids depress ...

The levels and composition of agricultural dusts are influenced by animal species, production strategy, housing type and ventilation efficiency. Agricultural dust within animal houses is complex and consists of feed particles, microbes and their products, dander, fecal matter, gases, metals and other organic and inorganic components. Livestock and poultry production facilities may be categorize...

VILLAGE POULTRY PRODUCTION IN THE SUDAN. A survey form provided by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division was used to collect data on village poultry production in the Sudan. The production system in the households was based on scavenging indigenous domestic chickens, at times accompanied by pigeons, guinea fowls, ducks or turkeys. The average flock size was 18.8 birds and included 44.3% hens, 10% cocks, ...

Poultry management experts think in terms of tens or hundreds of thousands of birds. They usually prefer systems which require a skilled mechanic as much as a poultry caretaker. As a result, chickens are often seen as some sort of odd little machine that has feathers, squawks, and struggles if caught. This loss of contact between the caretaker and his charges is often associated with lackof rec...

IntroductIon In the last half century, significant increases in the productivity of modern poultry stocks have been achieved for both the meat and the egg production sectors of the global poultry industry. Synergies have resulted from advances made in all the major activities of poultry management and housing, nutrition and ration formulation, applying poultry genetics knowledge in commercial b...

Analysis of field data collected over several years in three poultry housing systems (narrow caged-layer houses, high-rise caged-layer houses, and broiler-breeder layer houses) indicated that the baited jug-trap was a reliable method of sampling house flies, Musca domestica L.; sticky ribbons provided additional information on two other fly species. Relative frequency of house fly capture indic...