The recent gathering between a group assigned to address poultry issues in Lesotho and Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane indicates a possible move towards strengthening the country’s own poultry sector. According to the Lesotho News Agency, this government initiative proposes an active effort to investigate methods for enhancing Lesotho’s poultry production and possibly decreasing dependence on imports. The purpose of the task team’s trip to neighboring Eswatini was probably to gain knowledge from the practices that are already in place there. By analyzing how Eswatini handles import expenses ..read more

The 2024 Yaoundé International Poultry Exhibition (Savi) brought the spotlight back on a crucial question for Cameroon’s poultry industry: transformation. While the sector enjoys significant government support and boasts the second-highest meat production in the country, a shift from live bird sales to processed poultry products remains elusive. This year’s SAVI theme, “Cameroonian Poultry: Towards Transformation,” reflects a persistent challenge identified even at the event’s inaugural edition in 2014. Back then, concerns were raised about the dominance of live bird sales, and the need for a ..read more

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, presents a major risk to both poultry farms and the worldwide food supply. Detecting outbreaks early is essential for keeping them under control and reducing the financial impact. In the past, samples would be sent to labs located off-site, causing delays in both diagnosis and response. This is the point at which on-farm testing for avian influenza becomes important – an innovative method that has the potential to revolutionize the detection of diseases. Farm-side testing makes use of quick diagnostic tests (RDTs) that can be carried out directly on pou ..read more

A significant challenge facing the global poultry industry is minimizing antibiotic use while maintaining bird health and productivity efficiency. Antimicrobial stewardship, or the prudent use of antibiotics, has become more important as a result of the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry. This has led to a renewed emphasis on using alternative methods to improve poultry gut health. Digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune system performance are all significantly impacted by the gut microbiome of poultry, a complex ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes. A disturbance in this ..read more

Millions of birds are raised for food in Kenya thanks to the poultry industry, which significantly boosts the nation’s GDP. However, because native breeds are limited, many farmers find it difficult to optimize their income. In order to tackle this issue, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has created the “KALRO improved Kienyeji chicken.” This new variety offers farmer’s significant benefits since it matures more quickly, produces more eggs, and is resistant to illness. Increased Productivity Unlike regular indigenous chickens, which take six months to grow, th ..read more

The poultry industry in Ghana, which makes a substantial economic contribution to the country, needs a sizable investment to boost competitiveness and revive its operations. According to the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF), modernizing hatcheries, feed production facilities, processing plants, and marketing techniques will require an investment of $100 million. This investment request surfaced at a recent gathering that was centered on Ghana’s poultry value chain optimization. This was the first time that representatives from the Israeli Embassy and the Economic and Trade ..read more

The commerce minister of South Africa supported a suggestion to maintain anti-dumping tariffs on frozen bone-in chicken pieces imported from the United States, which gave a boost to the country’s poultry industry. This ruling follows an extensive examination that the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) began in December 2022. According to their research, which was released in a Government Gazette Notice, letting the taxes expire would probably have two unfavourable effects: it would probably lead to a rise in the importation of chicken that has been dumped and ..read more

For World Animal Vaccination Day, Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva), the fifth largest animal health company present in 110 countries worldwide, reminds us of the vital contribution of animal vaccination and its essential role in prevention management. Animal vaccination, a pillar of sustainable food production and One Health. FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, currently estimates that 783 million people suffer from severe hunger and are chronically undernourished, i.e. unable to access sufficient food, particularly animal proteins, regularly. The impact of the ..read more

The poultry sector in Kenya could be in for a rough ride. Strong opposition has been expressed by local producers to a rumored US drive to enter the Kenyan market for finished poultry products. This occurs in the middle of continuing discussions between the two countries to establish a new Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP). Leading this protest is the Poultry Breeders Association of Kenya (PBAK), which is the representative organization for hatcheries, breeders, and meat processors. They claim that the Kenyan government has not been transparent. The association asserts that it ..read more

Creating the optimal environment for young birds to thrive in during the brooding period will set producers up for success throughout the entire rearing period. The ideal environment consists of optimal floor and air temperature, access to ample food and water, fresh clean air, and dry litter.  Heat Chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature and require a warm space, so food consumption is used for growth, rather than warmth. Down feathers on chicks offer poor insulation and birds will quickly lose heat to the air, through contact with the floor, and from air movement. Efficient br ..read more