Innovative Technology & Practices Transforming India’s Poultry Farming Sector
EVOLUTION, TRANSFORMATION AND REVOLUTION OF POULTRY SECTOR IN INDIA
Author Details:
Dr. Ashwini. A1 and Nagaratna2
- Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College Hassan
- Final Year B.V.Sc. & A.H., Veterinary College Hassan
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry are the bed rocks of civilization, culture, heritage and livelihood of India. Animal husbandry is an indispensible part of India’s agricultural system. Human-animal relationship dates back to the Sindhu- Saraswathi (Indus valley) Civilization as evident by the cave arts. Animal Husbandry practices in India began around 11,000 years before present with the domestication of animals. Animal genetic resources are nation’s traditional strength and provide a good option to manage agriculture sector in more profitable and sustainable manner.
Egg and meat, an elixir of life, has been an integral part of human existence since time immemorial. It has nourished generation, by providing essential vitamins, nutrients, fatty acids, trace mineral content, for our growth and development and it symbolizes sustainability. Poultry is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of agriculture with around 8% growth rate per annum, making India one of the world’s largest producers of egg and broiler meat. The poultry industry in India serves as a tool of socio-economic development. Poultry plays important role in country’s economy and significant growth has been registered in both egg and meat industry which involves low budget of investment. Major objective of poultry farming is to produce healthy and quality of eggs and meat. It is estimated that 30% of the total protein requirement for humans is derived from the livestock and poultry sector. Poultry farming, on a small scale and large scale has flourished all over India.
Animal husbandry is one of the fastest growing sectors contributing over 25.6% to Agriculture GDP (gross domestic product) and 4.11% to overall GDP. India is the third largest producer of eggs (114.5 billion) and the sixth largest in poultry meat production (4.34 Mt) in the world (20th livestock census, 2019). The progress of Indian poultry sector has been quite impressive despite several limiting factors, which was due to immense support from the policies of the government.
The term “Poultry” encompasses a wide variety of bird species like chicken (domestic fowl), duck, turkey, geese, pigeon, guinea fowl, pheasants, quail and other game birds. Mainly chicken and ducks are kept for commercial production of both eggs and meat. Other poultry species like Turkey, guinea fowl, geese and quails are maintained for meat.
WORLD EGG DAY:
The theme of this year’s world Egg day is to “EGGS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE” highlights power of egg in improving nutritional, societal and environmental sustainable outcomes, leading to healthier future for all. This day offers a chance to raise awareness of meat and egg among people all over the world. The purpose of this day is to increase public knowledge of value of meat and egg in balanced diet, as well as how it helps communities and livelihoods.
Poultry Farming: A lucrative endeavor
- Requires minimum capital to start the entrepreneurship
- Swift return/ profit
- Broilers have an excellent feed conversion ratio
- Good source of income throughout the year with minimum labour and expenditure
- Compared to land cultivation or dairy farming, poultry farming requires less water both for drinking and cleaning purposes
- Large quantities of agro-industrial by-products are utilized by poultry, thus converting all such waste materials into valuable edible products
- Provides both direct and indirect employment opportunities
- Manure is the rich fertilizer
- Utility of poultry feathers
- Good nutritive Value of Egg and Chicken Meat
- Better knowledge of the improved and scientific methods of feeding, management and health control
- Easy credit availability
- Rapid, assured and better returns compared to other livestock species
MILESTONES
- Establishment of Institute of Poultry Research was established at Izatnagar in 1938. So far, 22 breeds of poultry have been gazette notified
- During second five year plan, All India Poultry Development Project was initiated wherein regional centres were set up at Bangalore, Bombay, Bhubaneshwar, Delhi and Simla to acclimatize good quality stock under their respective agro-climatic conditions
- Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, near Bareilly (U.P.) was established in 1979 to provide strong research support to the poultry industry both in the public as well as private sector
- At present, livestock and poultry production has increased several folds in comparison to
1950-51 viz., 62.4 times in eggs, and 4.62 times in meat
Poultry Farming from Backyard to dynamic Agro-industry Venture
The poultry sector has experienced a paradigm shift in the structure and operation metamorphosing from a mere backyard activity into a major commercial agri-based industry over a period of five decades.
- The development of high yielding crosses of chicken, Japanese quail, Guinea fowl and turkey have played pivotal role in augmenting animal production. Specialized breeding programmes have resulted in development of high yielding poultry strains, which have revolutionized the Indian poultry sector.
- ICAR has pivotal role in shaping up both organized and un-organized poultry sectors through its research programmes including AICRP and Poultry seed projects
- Molecular genetics approaches have helped in pathways analysis and identification of gene(s) related to production/disease resistance traits.
- Biotechnological interventions such as transgenesis, gene knock down using RNAi technology, gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9, etc. are opening new vistas of improving production and/or quality of products.
- AICRP on poultry breeding started in 1971. The country-wide genetic selection and breeding programs under AICRP/ Network projects have increased the production of egg and meat.
INNOVATION/ TECHNOLOGY:
Technology will support
- Genetic improvement in poultry breeds
- The development of crosses of Chicken, Duck, Japanese Quail, Guinea fowl and Turkey have played pivotal role in augmenting Poultry production
- Higher rate and persistence of egg production
- Better feed efficiency
- Better egg size and quality (internal and external)
- Livability in layers
- Enhances the growth rate, muscle mass, carcass quality
- Increases feed efficiency and livability in broilers
- Dynamic policy innovations of Government like establishment of State Agriculture Universities and Veterinary Universities, Colleges and Research Institutes
- Vaccines and Diagnostics
- Balanced Poultry Nutrition
- Livestock Products Technology: Value addition of meat and eggs
Innovations improving Poultry sector
- Molecular and biotechnological innovations
In Poultry, number of gene sequence data has been generated and submitted to NCBI data base with accession numbers. The population structure estimation has been conducted using DNA markers such as RAPD, microsatellite, AFLP and SNP. Candidate genes analogue with performance traits like Growth hormone, IGF-1, IGF-2, Myostatin, TGFs, Ghrelin and Lectin have been widely studied.
- Transgenic chicken as bioreactor for production of human interferon alpha 2b in eggs
The transgenic cassette was transferred to the chicken genome through sperm mediated gene transfer (SMGT) method at ICAR-DPR. The eggs laid by transgenic birds contain interferon alpha 2b. This interferon alpha 2b was found to be glycosylated indicating the biological activity and also showed its antimicrobial activity in HEK293 cell culture.
- Application of RNAi technology for augmenting body growth/egg quality
Knock down chicken was developed by silencing myostatin gene through RNAi. The body weight at 6 weeks of age was enhanced by 26.9% in knock down chicken (Bhattacharya et al. 2016). Further, to minimize cholesterol contents in egg and serum, RNAi approach was adopted to knock down Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACACA) and sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP1) genes.
- Genome edited Nicobari chicken developed by CRISPR/Cas improves egg production
The efficiency of production of transgenic birds was high. Internal egg quality parameters like Haugh unit and yolk colour index were higher in the edited birds
Pink Revolution and Silver Revolution are the key drivers behind India’s expansion of Poultry meat and egg production.
PINK REVOLUTION: Refers to the revolution in the technologies used in the poultry and meat processing sector in the country. This involved modernization of the meat and poultry processing sector in India. Modernization is the mechanization and specialization of the standard of processes in the meat industry.
Government Policies Promoting Pink Revolution in India
The Indian poultry industry is now worth more than 700 billion dollars. It has been growing at rates between 8-15% annually. The government of India also stands for and promotes the Pink Revolution in India. Some of the instances where the government supports the revolution are listed below.
- No excise duty or income tax is charged in the meat and poultry sector.
- No restrictions on the export of poultry and poultry products
- Transport subsidiaries to some extent are being provided by the government
- Restrictions on Foreign Direct Investment have been lifted i.e. 100 % FDI is now permitted to tap available opportunities across the sector.
- To keep a check on the amount of meat wasted, the quality standards, deterioration, and contamination of produce, the government has launched a comprehensive scheme for the modernization of slaughterhouses across the country.
The importers of Indian meat are Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Saudi Arabia UAE, and Egypt. The major exporters of buffalo meat are Punjab, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The value added to the slaughterhouse by-products generates additional income, as well as the costs of disposing of those by-products, which can be minimized. Measures are taken to increase the efficiency of meat production of different species of animals using improved management practices.
SILVER REVOLUTION: This refers to the enormous increase in egg production in India as a result of the use of cutting-edge techniques and technology to promote effective growth in the poultry industry. Silver Revolution is a process of spectacular increase in the production of eggs as well as poultry production. The policies of the Indian government, private enterprises scientists, and veterinarians all played a significant part in increasing egg production in India. This process was achieved by using hybrid cocks as well as hens and application applied science to promote the egg production. The silver revolution set forward several goals to boost egg production for the consumption of safe and wholesome foods. The poultry rancher and plant growth expert Sri Banda Vasudev Rao revolutionized and promoted India’s chicken farming industry. The Silver Revolution in India produced a wave of social advancement. This upheaval not only increased egg production but also gave individuals in rural areas employment options. The poultry industry has helped over 100,000 individuals find direct and indirect jobs.
Other Technological Advancements which revolutionized the Poultry Farming:
- A) Technology in egg sexing and alteration domain:
Incubation and hatching of eggs are two important practices in egg laying industries. Sexing of chicks is usually done after completion of hatching.
The technology innovations being applied includes:
- SELEGGT GmbH
It is an automated, scientific approach of endocrinological (hormone based) gender identification in hatching egg. Eight to ten day incubated egg is checked by using sensors if egg is fertilized or unfertilized.
- EggxYT CRISPR Gene editing technology
In this technology involves by insertion of biomarker in DNA of male chick at parent stock, thereby creating optical signature in embryos, thus male chicks easily detected during breeding
- RNAi technology:
By this technology sex ratio can be altered which helps in generation of single sex population like female in layer poultry industry and males in broiler industry. This is possible by modifying activity of key sex- determining genes during embryonic stage. For this embryo requires DMRT, a Z- linked gene, targeting this using retro virus delivered RNAi can induce the development of partial or complete ovaries thus produce genetic males (zz) with similarly female development requires aromatase expression in chickens.
- B) Technology in Nutritional domain:
- MAKEFEED POULTRY Software:
Window-based user-friendly software developed at CARI, Izatnagar for formulation of low-cost poultry ration using locally available feed ingredients. The software helps the feed manufacturer and poultry farmers for least cost ration preparation for poultry.
- Augmentation of nutrient bio- availability in non- conventional feed stuffs:
This includes washing with water or without enzymes dries processing using acidified sodium chloride treatment for feed hygiene, roasting, autoclaving, alkali and acid treatment, fungal treatment and fermentation of feed ingredients. By addition of phytase, phosphorus utilization significantly increased. Mineral chelates, probiotics, probiotics play important role in enhancing the immune response as well as production performance of poultry.
- Technique of in ovo injection of nutrients:
Standardization of in ovo vaccination in chicken and turkey results in better post – hatch growth, increased immunity against common diseases.
- Nutrigenomics:
This helps to lower down the excretion of minerals, improves antioxidant status of the birds, availing alternative feed material, cost effective, enhance quality of poultry egg and meat.
- C) Technology in poultry products domain:
This has contributed to improve compositional changes like altering fatty acids and cholesterol level and adding therapeutic pharmaceutical compounds. Poultry meat and eggs are good source of essential nutrients. Designer meat and designer eggs are newer concept coming up and becoming popular among the masses. Designer food refers to the food that is designed to have some health benefits other than its traditional nutritional value.
- Designer meat:
Designer meat contains higher level of antioxidants (like Vit E, Se, Carotenoids, Phosphovitin and lecithin). Main advantage of designer meat is rich source of antioxidants. They have less susceptibility to lipid peroxidation and they prevent of fishy taint to the product. These Designer eggs minimize the destruction of fat soluble vitamins and natural fat soluble pigments to a considerable level.
- Designer egg:
Designer eggs rich in several vitamins like Vitamin A and E (Se, Zn, Cu and chromium) manufacturing technology for value added poultry products, which increases taste, price of egg and meat.
- D) Miscellaneous technologies in poultry industry:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Augmented reality
- Virtual reality
- Block chain technology
- The internet of things
Block chain technology:
By implementation of this system, the industry is tackling issues of traceability and transparency. This ensures transportation and storage conditions, integrity of product, also instill consumer confidence. Cloud Technology supports massive growth in operations, productivity, and automation in the poultry production process, and reduces in-office data entry.
CHALLENGES
- Livestock products technologies have enriched the food basket with a wide range of products but still, there exists a wide gap between demand and availability of animal products.
- The chances of replacing chicken meat by the other animal protein sources in the coming years cannot be ignored.
- Despite the huge livestock population in India, it accounts for only around 2% of the global market.
- Standardizing the quality and safety aspects of meat and poultry
- Creating standard policies for meat production and export
- Increased investment in the sector and more hygienic method for meat and poultry processing
- The improper disposal of an increasing volume of poultry slaughter house wastes, produced in the course of dressing over 300 million birds per year. The quantity of poultry wastes presently produced is estimated at 1,20,000 tonnes per year at the current level of production. It is estimated that poultry waste will double during the next five years
WAY FORWARD
Regardless of the number of challenges mentioned above, the meat and poultry processing sector in India has great potential for growth and growing successfully. Fortunately, along with challenges, the developments in science are creating new avenues for tackling the challenges and fulfilling the priorities and commitments. To overcome the hazard of waste disposal, it is necessary to process the poultry wastes to recover economically valuable and protein rich by-products like blood meal, feather meal and meat meal to be recycled into livestock feed. For this treatment, centralized slaughtering of birds has to be organized so that poultry offal in adequate quantities can be made available for rendering on a commercial scale.
CONCLUSION
Poultry sector is the critical sector of Agrarian economy for the sustainable and inclusive economic growth of the nation. A blend of Veterinary Science, management, technology, extension has contributed to journey of transforming the poultry sector in India. Ensuring food and nutritional security, improving rural livelihood along with environmental security in a sustainable manner, will remain the major goal of the agricultural development planning. India will strive to help achieve these goals through development of improved agricultural technologies along with their efficient and effective modes of dissemination. Poultry farming is a viable business activity and has got immense scope for growth in India. The development of poultry through the application of modem science and technology will greatly contribute to improving the socio-economic conditions of the poor farmers by making poultry farming more productive and remunerative. The introduction of better stock and efficient husbandry practices with an efficiently organized marketing system would make poultry a successful enterprise for Indian farmers. As there is a practical priority to double the farmer’s income (200%) we should all work inclusively to bring this to reality.
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Innovative Technology & Practices Transforming India’s Poultry Farming Sector
