Laying hens and Salmonella

EFSA evaluates reduction of Salmonella in laying hens
//22 Apr 2010
EFSA was asked by the European Commission to evaluate the impact on public health of different reduction levels of Salmonella in laying hens.
EFSA’s Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) Panel said that concerning eggs from laying hens, the type of Salmonella most frequently associated with human illness is by far Salmonella Enteritidis.

Based on scientific estimates, the Panel found a linear relationship between the number of Salmonella Enteritidis positive flocks in the different Member States and the number of eggs contaminated with this micro-organism. This implies that a reduction in the number of positive flocks would result in a proportional reduction in the number of contaminated eggs.

The Panel also said that it is difficult to give a precise estimation of the impact that a reduction of Salmonella-positive flocks may have on public health. This is due to the lack of information on the number of Salmonella contaminated eggs that may be produced by an infected flock, as well as on the number of human salmonellosis cases linked to the consumption of eggs.

For egg products, the Panel added that technologies commonly used to reduce the number of microorganisms (mainly through pasteurisation) may not be an absolute barrier to Salmonella contamination.

Regarding risk of salmonellosis associated with consumption of fresh meat from laying hens, the Panel concluded that there are insufficient data to make a quantitative evaluation.

A series of recommendations on data gathering and surveillance measures are also listed in the opinion in order to improve future assessments.

Source: EFSA

The OWNER of DOMINANT CZ visited Philippnes

About a month ago, the owner and Geneticist of Dominant CZ visited the breeder farm. It was an honor to have him as a guest in the farm and in the Philippines. His inputs on poultry genetics gave me a a better outlook in the free-range poultry industry for Filipinos. Dr. Milan Tyller used to be the head of the poultry genetics division of The Czech Republic. It is his passion to propagate a village system of free-range layer production, with a special focus on serving the rural farmer. The name Dominant CZ was established in 1955.

Are you ready for this?

India develops transgenic chicken
//21 Apr 2010
India has developed a transgenic chicken variety that is fleshier than normal breeds, and can reportedly also be used in the treatment of diseases.
The Truth About Trade reports that scientists said the transgenic chicken marks the first successful genetically modified poultry or livestock in the country. India, which is yet to allow the use of GM seeds in food crops, has been trying to develop transgenic varieties of fish.

The breakthrough research could help boost production in a country where the annual domestic consumption of poultry and poultry products is worth more than 300 bln rupees (US$6.8 bln.)

The tool used to genetically modify the chicken was developed by a team of 3 scientists at the Hyderabad-based Project Directorate on Poultry after 2 years of research using a gene of jellyfish and spermatozoa of a specific variety of chicken from the institute, reports continue.

"It is ready for commercial use," T.K. Bhattacharya, the senior scientist who headed the project, told Dow Jones Newswires, adding that transgenic chickens have already been developed in the US, Canada, the UK and China.

"These chickens can enhance productivity and give a huge quantity of flesh," Bhattacharya said, adding that transgenic birds can produce up to 300 eggs over 72 weeks, which is more than twice the number of eggs produced by normal varieties of chickens.

The institute hatched 263 chicks in its study group, of which 16 were found to be transgenic. The efficiency of the institute's method of producing transgenic varieties is about 6%, a statement said.

Our Selection of LEGHORN Breeders

Leghorn (chicken)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leghorn

White Leghorn Hen
Conservation status Recovering
Classification
APA Mediterranean
ABA
[show]Traits
Notes
Layer breed
Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
The Leghorn is a breed of chicken with origins in Tuscany, central Italy. The first birds imported to North America in 1853 were called Italians. By 1865 the breed was named after the Italian city of Livorno, on the western edge of Tuscany, which in English is also known as Leghorn.
White Leghorns are among the most popular commercial strains of layer chickens worldwide. Pure bred Leghorn varieties are less common. Both the American Poultry Association (APA) and the American Bantam Association (ABA) recognize a number of Leghorn varieties including white, red, black tailed red, light brown, dark brown, black, blue, buff, Columbian, buff Columbian, barred, exchequer and silver. Most have single combs but there are several color varieties that have rose combs.
Leghorns are excellent layers of white eggs (around 280 per year) with a superior feed-to-egg conversion ratio. Leghorns rarely exhibit broodiness and are thus well suited for uninterrupted egg laying. The Leghorn is a light breed that matures quickly to only 3 or 4 lbs and is not considered a viable meat producer. Leghorns are active and efficient foragers. They typically avoid human contact and tend to be nervous and flighty.
Due to their prolific egg-laying, they are preferred by laboratories for embryonic and avian biological research as well as being the number one breed used for large-scale commercial egg production in the United States.
Leghorns are noisy birds, and somewhat smaller than other breeds. However, they are larger in size than the Bantam.

Rhode Island White Breeders at 18.2 weeks old

Rhode Island Whites are one of the genetic base in the production of final hybrid certified true layers. Crossing this line to a male Rhode Island red will produce a feather sex-able male and female final hybrid chicks.
This means that when you get certified layers from us, you will get ALL FEMALES (98%-99%) because we can already remove the male chicks! It is the responsibility of your supplier to provide you 98-99% female layer chicks. If they are selling you layers with out removing the males, then you have to reconsider if you are really getting certified layers or surplus free-range broilers.

Ready to Lay in 3 weeks time!

Our Breeder layers are all set and we are just waiting for the matured time for the first egg drop to occur. Proper timing and management adjustments are important so they will not produce early or too late. The important production parameters must be correctly set to achieve good Quality Day Old Pullets (DOPs).


Seen here with my 2 daughters (young farmers! hahaha! ) are the female layers. Instant Petting zoo!




My second son as future Poultry Breeder farmer!

Farmers' Choice!: Basic Growing points of Farmers Choice/Superior F1 free-range chickens

Farmers' Choice!: Basic Growing points of Farmers Choice/Superior F1 free-range chickens

Video from a Vietnamese free-range farm