Feed the Future Innovation Lab team members currently or formerly associated with Iowa State's Department of Animal Science. (Image source: Iowa State University)

Scientists at Iowa State, the University of California-Davis and livestock research institutions in Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania have undertaken a 10-year project to enhance African poulry production

Outbreak of diseases like the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) is seen as a serious threat to production. Despite the availability of vaccines and biosecurity measures, it would be difficult to practically implement these programmes in countries like Africa where chickens are likely to be present in small numbers and scattered around. Warm temperatures also increase the susceptibility of these birds to infection.

In order to effectively address these issues, a large, multidisciplinary initiative was undertaken by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to Improve Poultry, with their findings summarised in a recent paper published in the World’s Poultry Science Journal.

The project adopted a number of unique approaches which included the development of a series of focus groups to understand the priorities of smallholder poultry farmers and the interventions they would find suitable. Scientists also studied birds exposed to disease in natural situations, rather than in more controlled experimental environments. 

Results showed that a regional breed, indigenous to the Fayoum region of Egypt was nore resistant to infection fom pathogens and to heat compared to a commercial Leghorn line derived from chickens in the US. Several genes were also identified as important candidates due to their influence on NDV viral replication. Researchers were also able to learn about the genetics of NDV and the strains prevalent in the various poultry-producing regions studied. This information is likely to help in the development of more effective methods to fight disease in the future. 

Since its introduction in 2018, the Hubbard Efficiency Plus has been confirmed as the breed of choice for the Kenyan market. (Image source: Hubbard)

The first edition of the Hubbard Efficiency Plus Poultry School was organised by the Hubbard Customer Support team from 19-20 June this year

The progarmme offered in-depth on key topics and a workshop session that also allowed for numerous exchanges and testimonies of field experiences. The event was graced by the presence of John Dantier, who is the sales and technical representative for AVIPRO EAST Africa Ltd. and Hubbard's distributor of the Hubbard Efficiency Plus breeders in the region. He provided a clear insight into how AVIPRO East Africa Ltd. works hard to always serve their customers better with many continuous positive actions.

Since its introduction in 2018, the Hubbard Efficiency Plus has been confirmed as the breed of choice for the Kenyan market thanks to its impressive performance at both breeder and broiler levels.

Hubbard thanked all participants for their commitment, motivation and great participation during the training session and expressed his gratitude for having such valued customers. 

All the project proposals are required to justify how they are bringing significative sustainable solutions to overcome challenges of the swine or poultry industry. (Image source: Adisseo)

Building on the success of the previous edition, this Grant will allocate US$1mn over the next three years to fund research projects addressing key challenges in animal nutrition

Through this initiative, Adisseo aims to foster international collaboration among leading laboratories and drive innovaton in the industry. The selection process of this research grant will be overseen by a prestigious Scientific Committee with numerous academic professors present. 

In order to ensure that the selected projects align wih the grant objectives, the committee will rigorously evaluate proposals to confirm their potential to address complex industry challenges. For the third edition, the grant will support projects investigating nutritional approaches for monogastric (swine and poultry). 

This year, the pre-proposal application period is open from 2 September. The pre-proposal research projects will be announced on 21 October and the full dossier submission deadline is 29 November. 

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.adisseo.com/en/adisseo-research-grant-2024/ or contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

With the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the Academy, participants are poised to make significant contributions to the industry. (Image source: Wadi Group)

The four-day event was yet another resounding success, with industry professionals within the Wadi Group in attendance, alongside the Wadi Poultry management team and Aviagen specialists

Throughout the event, participants were immersed in a dynamic learning environment, where they delved into the latest advancements and best practices in poultry farming. The diverse array of topics covered by the international and local speakers spanned from innovative breeding techniques to sustainable feed management, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the industry's current landscape and future prospects.

Attendees were also given hands-on examples and practical demonstrations, which will allow them to apply the theoretical knowledge into real-life scenarios. Every aspect of poultry production was explored, from hatchery management to disease control strategies. All of these key topics will assist participants in enhancing their management skills, and in becoming forward-thinking professionals.

The event allowed participants to exchange knowledge regarding the latest technologies and techniques in modern production methods, and exchange ideas and experiences. With the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the Academy, participants are poised to make significant contributions to the industry, driving innovation, sustainability, and excellence in poultry farming for years to come.

“The Wadi Academy gives us the opportunity to share poultry knowledge and experiences with our internal personnel. All participants benefited from the key topics that were discussed, which covered all aspects of breeder and broiler management," commented the CEO, Poultry Sector, Wadi Group, Puzant Dakessian. We are proud to be the exclusive distributor for the Ross 308 in the Egyptian market, and we are continuously seeing impressive results at both breeder and broiler level. I would like to thank all of the speakers and the Aviagen team, who provided extremely valuable presentations to our customers throughout the Academy, and contributed to making this event a success.” 

Murat Yakar, regional technical manager, TMENA added, “Wadi do a great job in ensuring their internal personnel are well educated and equipped with the knowledge and tools they require to become successful professionals within the field. The Wadi Academy is designed to train internal team members and allow them to collaborate and share their experiences with other, experienced team members. Aviagen has collaborated with Wadi for many years, which has contributed to the success of the Ross breed in the local market. We look forward to collaborating together for future events within the market.”