Innovative Technology & practice transforming India’s poultry farming Sectors

Innovative Technology & practice transforming India^’s poultry farming Sectors

Renu Singh, Neeraj kumar gangwar and Shyama N Prabhu

Assistant professor Department of pathology, DUVASU

Abstract

India’s poultry industry has really taken off in recent years, following the trends around the world. It’s become self-sufficient and has a strong genetic base. This article looks at how modern technologies have changed the industry in India, from creating “designer eggs” and “designer meat” to changing the nutritional profile of eggs and meat to meet consumer needs. CRISPR and RNAi have revolutionized the industry, and Nutrigenomics has made it possible to inject more nutrients into eggs, improve the bioavailability of nutrients, and create cost-efficient, nutritionally balanced feeds with specialized software. All of this has had a huge impact, especially in the layers and broiler segments.The integration of cutting-edge technologies has enabled the poultry industry to reach new heights, contributing to its sustainability and its continued support to the nation’s food security. This has been further enhanced by the introduction of features such as blockchain and other innovations, which have enabled a more efficient and traceable supply chain. This has enabled India to become a self-sufficient food producer and play a leading role in the global poultry industry.

Key words: poultry industry, designer eggs, technologies and designer meat

1. Introduction

The Poultry sector has been a major component of the livestock industry for many years. It encompasses a variety of production levels, such as breeding, hatchery, feed, broiler, layer, and procressing plants. Over the past few decades, the poultry industry has seen a significant transformation, with modern technologies playing a major role in its growth. It is now one of India’s most promising industries, providing food security, employment, and meeting the dietary requirements of a growing population. India is the second-largest egg producer and third-largest broiler chicken producer in the world, and has seen remarkable growth due to technological advancements. Despite this progress, the poultry industry is still divided into organised and unorganised sectors. In order for the poultry industry to grow, it needs a supportive environment. This includes policies to help with disease surveillance, residue and vaccine quality control, feed standardisation, egg quality control, HACCP, GMP, and more. Government support and subsidies have been instrumental in the growth of the industry, which has a long history and is now one of the biggest in the world. In 1982, the NECC was set up to help keep egg prices stable and encourage egg consumption. Subsidies, credit, and training programs have also been put in place to help entrepreneurs in the poultry farming industry. All of this, combined with modern technology, has made the industry a major contributor to India’s economy and food safety.The poultry industry in India is currently undergoing a period of rapid expansion and transformation. It is one of the most expansive and dynamic poultry markets in the world, and has evolved significantly since its origins. Modernisation, commercialization, and a strong genetic base are the driving forces behind its success. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the present industry is the vastness of production. This remarkable level of egg production is the result of a combination of genetics, modern management techniques, and a heightened consumer appetite for poultry products.

Even though the Indian poultry industry has grown a lot in recent years and is well-versed in production, the implementation and use of technology-based information systems in the value chain is pretty low. There’s not much money being put into building IT systems and technology, especially for market research, demand calculation, and consumer behaviour. This means that the poultry is sold as commodities, and the price of the poultry is really up and down. Even though other industries are well-equipped with tech, farmers and producers don’t have direct access to markets or prices, so they don’t know if their products are available in the same market or not. Without a good IT system and the right data on the demand for supply and price, this can lead to information asymmetry.

In the poultry sector, the setting of prices by farmers and producers can be likened to the age-old microeconomic concept of the Prisoners’ Dilemma, where neither side is aware of the other’s decision and would continue to lower the price out of fear of losing. This has resulted in a high level of volatility in the market, which is a common occurrence in the poultry sector. In a competitive market, where all producers produce the same products, it is necessary to measure the demand in relation to the supply in order to determine the optimal and benchmark price point. In the digital age, information is disseminated in large quantities over multiple groups or platforms, making it difficult for farmers and stakeholders in the sector to interpret and interpret the information.

2. Modern Technologies in Poultry Farming

The poultry industry has been able to progress in all its fields due to the development of technology in management, nutrition and healthcare systems. This has resulted in the emergence of highly educated and knowledgeable organisations, which are open-minded and willing to embrace any new technology that is available for economic gain. These organisations are known as Smart Farms, Automated Farms, Mechanised Farms, and Digital Farms. The progress in all sectors of poultry has been driven by the advancement of technologies, which have enabled the successors of farmers to become highly qualified and have double degrees in technical and engineering, as well as medical and veterinary medicine. As a result, the poultry industry has been largely taken over by well-educated and educated groups, who are always looking for ways to increase profitability.

The poultry industry in India is booming thanks to modern technologies that have made it more efficient and sustainable. Automation and genetic advancements have all improved farm management, breed performance, and feed formulation. This has led to increased productivity and profitability, as well as food security and environmental impact. Automation is a major advancement in poultry farming, and smart farming practices powered by automation and are essential for modern operations. Farms are now equipped with sensors, monitoring systems, and air quality monitoring to keep an eye on temperature, humidity, and more. All of this has made the industry more resilient and efficient in an ever-evolving world.These technologies are not only innovative but also have a willingness to embrace and embrace any innovation that can be beneficial to modern poultry farming. These new farming systems are referred to as “Smart Farms, Automated Farms, Mechanized Farms and Digital Farms”.

3. Advancement in feed formulation and poultry nutrition technology

The Pearson’s square, Algebraic, and Hit-and-Trial methods of feed formulation are commonly employed. The Pearson’s Square method is a straightforward approach to achieving a desired nutrient by combining two ingredients, and is still applicable today. The Algebraic method, on the other hand, involves mixing two or more ingredients to obtain a desired quantity of a single nutrient. The Hit -and-Trial method is a general approach to feed formulation, which can be done manually or with the aid of a calculator. This method is suitable for preparing low-cost diets, although the mathematical approach is slightly complex and necessitates time and a pocket calculator.Now days, there is a wide variety of techniques available, which can be utilized to enhance the quality and efficacy of feed.

3.1.1 Least –cost feed formulation technology

This method necessitates the use of complex mathematical calculations (linear programming), which necessitates the utilization of computer technology. Organized poultry farmers and feed producers employ this method to formulate low-cost diets. Various types of data are required for this method, including nutrient requirements, chemical compositions, energy values, protein content, and the cost of ingredients. Having an understanding of daily fluctuations in the cost of feed ingredients will enable the formulation of the least cost diet to be more effective.

 

3.1.2 Software for feed formulation

Software can be created specially for the formulation of various mixed or concentrate mixtures as well as the total ration for the dairy animals. Make Feed is the perfect choice. It’s specially designed for poultry, with lots of unique features, and it’s easy to use. It’s windows-based, so even if you don’t know how to use a computer, you can still get the job done. Plus, it’s great for all kinds of poultry, from layer and broiler to quail and guinea fowl, so you can get the most out of your production.

 

3.1.3 In Ovo Injection of Nutrients

             Chickens and turkeys now have better post-hatch growth and immunity due to the standardization of in ovo feeding and immunization procedures. In ovo therapies using particular foods that have been found to modulate genes involved in immunity and growth have increased post-hatch growth and resistance to prevalent illnesses.

3.1.4 Nutrigenomics

             The  Nutrigenomics is an emerging field has the potential to revolutionise the poultry industry. Nutrigenomics addresses the challenges posed by resource limitations and changing expectations by utilizing techniques that affect the gene expression of poultry. Ecomomas E is an illustrative example of a nutrigenomics study in which it was demonstrated that the gene expression pattern in poultry could be maintained even when the Vitamin E content in the feed was reduced by as much as 80%, resulting in a significant reduction in feed costs. Prenatal Nutrigenomics has also been used to develop diets that decrease mineral excretion, improve antioxidant status, use alternative feed materials, reduce feed costs and enhance the quality of the poultry eggs and meat.

4. Advancements in Poultry Product Technology

The development of modern technology has enabled the adaptation of egg composition by either nutritional or genetic modification to meet the changing dietary needs of humans. This includes the alteration of fatty acid profiles and cholesterol levels, as well as the addition of therapeutic pharmaceutical compounds to the egg.

4.1.1 Designer meat” and “designer eggs:  The concepts of “designer meat” and “designer eggs” are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. Designer meat is composed of antioxidants (e.g. selenium), carotenoids, vitamin E and flavonoids, as well as herbal active principles such as alga, beta-carotenoids, linoleic acid, lutein, sulphonaphane, taurine, lumichrome, lycopene, curcumin, carnosine, and quercetin.

Eggs that are designer are packed with vitamins A and E, as well as micro minerals like selenium, iodine, zinc, copper, and chromium. They also tackle problems like iodine deficiency, and scientists have used genetics, nutrition, or pharmacology to lower cholesterol levels in eggs, making them healthier for the heart. Genetically modified chickens can even make eggs with special compounds, like insulin for diabetics, like Kanuma, which is an FDA-approved drug produced by a transgenic chicken.

4.1.2 Dried meat products:

Dried meat products are very beneficial because they don’t take up a lot of storage space, are easy to transport, and come in a variety of flavours. Plus, they last a long time at room temperature! The most important thing is that the manufacturing schedule can be changed depending on what raw materials are available and how many people are available.

4.1.3 Development of combination meat products:

A combination of meat products may be prepared by combining chicken and turkey meat, incorporating poultry by-products such as SGH, liver, or eggs, which have excellent binding properties and are acceptable to consumers, resulting in a lower cost. Eggs can be incorporated into the product formulation by up to 30%.

4.1.4 Egg powder:

Egg powder is made from whole liquid eggs and is dried using a spray drying process. You can make omelettes by combining one egg powder ingredient with three parts cold water and adding salt, spices, and other condiments to taste. Egg powder is also used in a variety of egg-based food products and in no-foood industries..

4.1.5 Albumen flakes and Scrambled egg mix:

This dried crystalline product is obtained by pan drying of egg albumen (white). It is commonly used in the production of angel food cake, candy, and other confections. Dehydrated scramble eggs mix is another ready to use product, similar to omelette mix. Dehydrated scramble egg mix is made with whole egg liquid and milk powder. It also contains table salt and white pepper. It is made with hydrogenated vegetables and oil for quick preparation.

It looks like the numbers are going up for meat and eggs production, but we’re still lagging behind other developed countries.

• We need to make the poultry meat sector more sustainable and profitable.
• We need to set up hygiene plants in rural areas and use poultry slaughter waste to reduce environmental pollution and the huge financial losses that come with it.
• We also need to make sure our packaging is made with eco-friendly materials so it’s safe to store and distribute poultry products.
• We need to update and upgrade our retail market chain to make sure we can keep our poultry products safe and secure.
• Finally, we need to come up with new and innovative processes for processing traditional poultry products, since they’re in high demand both domestically and internationally.

4. Advancements in Egg Sexing and Gender Modification Technologies:

The sex of chickens in global poultry farming has a significant effect on production performance as well as economic benefits. Males cannot lay eggs and typically have a lower meat-to-food ratio than broilers. Males are usually killed right after hatching because they are not needed in the industry and are not suitable for egg production or meat production.

Identifying chicken sex prior to hatching is a major challenge in large scale breeding applications. In order to accurately determine the sex of chickens before hatching, there are a variety of techniques available, such as molecular-based, spectral-, acoustic-, and VOC-based techniques. Molecular-based techniques are standard for accurate sexing, but require perforation by qualified technicians in certified laboratories. Spectral-based techniques offer great potential as a noninvasive method, but require complicated data processing and modeling to obtain egg contents. Acoustic-based techniques can be sensitive to environmental noise

4.1 Molecular-based technologies

            Molecular technologies like DNA testing, chromosome content in the cell nucleus, hormone concentration in the allantoic fluid, and molecular genetic analysis of blastodermic cells are all available.

4.1.1. Chromosome Content in the Cell Nucleus

Flow cytometry is really important for keeping track of DNA levels in birds, since the amount of fluorescing light in each nucleus is related to the amount of DNA inside the cell. It can tell the difference between male and female chickens based on the sex chromosomes they have. Males have two identical sex chromosomes (ZZ) in birds, while females have heterogametic sex chromosomes or ZW. It’s estimated that male and female chickens have around 2% different DNA levels. Flow cytometry breaks down the cells, then adds a special fluorescent agent and a nucleic acid, and then uses laser light to measure the DNA in the nucleus against different fluorescing levels to figure out the sex of the chicken eggs.

4.1.2 DNA Test by Polymerase Chain Reaction

The use of Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) in the field of sexing is a widely used method for the amplification of sex-related genes, particularly those found on the sex chromosomes Z and W of avian species. Griffiths and Co. (1991) developed a PCR-based approach for the in ovo sexualization of chicken eggs, which was further refined by Clinton and Co. (2001).

4.1.3. Hormone Concentration in the Allantoic Fluid

Molecular-based sexing can be further refined by sampling allantoic fluid, a medium for the excretion of nitrogenous metabolites from avian embryos. This fluid contains embryonic cells, allowing for the sorting of embryos based on estrogenic compounds. The allantoic fluid begins to form approximately five days into incubation, reaching its maximum volume between the 12th and 13th days. The estronesulfate content of the allantoic liquid can be used to determine the inoV sex of chicken eggs at nine days of incubation, with an accuracy of more than 98%. Previous studies have demonstrated that the hormone levels in male eggs are significantly lower than those of female eggs.

4.1.4. Molecular Genetic Analyses of Blastodermic Cells

The blastoderm is a small disc (4–5mm) of cells on the surface of a yolk after an egg is laid. It contains information about whether the chicken is a male or female. Different imaging techniques (3D X-ray Micro-CT and MRI) are used to locate the blastoderm.

4.2 Spectral-based techniques:

            Spectral-based egg sexing techniques include 3D- X-ray micro-computed tomography, optical coherence tomography, hyperspectral imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is a non-invasive, non-destructive technique that can be used to detect variations in DNA. FT-IR spectroscopy, for example, utilizes a mathematical process known as Fourier transform to convert the original interferogram data into the current spectra. This technique can be used to obtain molecular information about the sex of birds by examining the pulp cells taken from the feathers. This technique has the potential to provide rapid and non-invasive ova sexing of chickens eggs.

4.3 Morphology-based technologies

Morphology based method is based on the outer shell shape and blood vessel distribution. This method is rapid, low cast and no invasive in ovum sexing method. The blood vessel distribution is used to determine the sex on the 4th day of the incubation. The outer shape feature is used to determine sex prior to hatching. This method significantly reduces the cost of incubation of egg embryos.

4.4 Acoustic-Based Techniques

Egg heart rate is a type of embryo heartbeat signal that starts at 2 to 3 days of egg incubation. Heart rate frequency of normal hatched egg is not stable after the 9th day of egg incubation and varies from 1 Hz to 4 Hz. Heart rate data at 8 to 12 hours on days 15 to 19 of egg incubation was measured using lie detector recording systems. The results indicated that average heart rates of female embryos were 2 to 4 times higher than average heart rates of male eggs at 17 days egg incubation.

5. Advancement in early disease diagnosis and prevention

5.1.1 Nanotechnology and biosensor for early diagnosis of disease

Nanotechnology is playing a big part in the detection of viruses and their associated diseases. The Single Virus Tracking Technology (SVT) allows for the tracking of the individual stages of a virus throughout its life cycle, providing a dynamic understanding of the fundamental process of virus emergence in living cells. This technology has been used to detect avian influenza viruses in a timely manner. Biosensors have been developed to detect viruses more quickly and accurately, and the cost of these sensors has decreased significantly.

Nanobiosensors have made great strides in the detection of viruses and diseases associated with them. Various types of biosensors have been developed, such as affinity-based nanobiosensors, nano island affinity-based biometrics, graphene affinity biometrics, nanowires biometrics, optical nano biometrics, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biometrics based biometrics, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIR) and electrochemical biometrics.  By using of above mention Nano biosensor, viral detection has become highly sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective.

5.1.2 Edible Vaccines

Edible Vaccines provide chicken producers with the ability to deliver room temperature stable vaccine into the feed for both intestinal and systemic coccidiosis protection. The technology platform embeds genes for antigen-specific antigens into the corn plants to generate the vaccines.

5.1.3 Phytogenic Blends for parasite control

Phytogenic blends are used for coccidiosis control. It targets the specific receptors of the parasite and destroys the cuticle of the parasite.. They’re made up of terpenes listed as GRAS-approved, which are naturally found in food plants and are safe to use as flavorants. They use a special encapsulation technology to make them work in chickens’ intestines.

Conclusion

In recent years, the Indian poultry industry has undergone a significant transformation, from subsistence agriculture to commercialization. This sector is a major contributor to India’s economy and provides employment to a large number of people. Despite the difficulties posed by disease, feed costs, and market fluctuations, the industry has been able to remain resilient through the use of modern technology, such as automation. Automation has significantly improved the poultry production process and its operational capacity. It is essential for the industry to adhere to international quality and safety regulations, and technology application has become an essential part of progress and growth in all sectors. The optimal use of technology platforms and the utilisation of information can have a significant impact on the profitability of businesses and the sector. At this juncture, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the sector to educate farmers and small producers to make the most of technology and data in order to optimise their returns on investment. With a decrease in price volatility and the introduction of a demand measurement tool, Indian Poultry can reach a new level of success.

 

REFFERANCE

Griffiths, R. The isolation of conserved DNA sequences related to the human sex-determining     region Y gene from the lesser black-backed gull (Larusfuscus). Proc. R Soc. Lond.Ser.         Biol. Sci. 1991, 244, 123–128

Clinton, M.; Haines, L.; Belloir, B.; McBride, D. Sexing chick embryos: A rapid and simple          protocol. Br. Poult. Sci. 2001, 42,134–138

Bartels, T.; Fischer, B.; Krüger, P.; Koch, E.; Ryll, M.; Krautwald-Junghanns, M.E. 3D-    Röntgen- Mikrocomputerto and OptischeKohärenztomographiealsMethodenzur         Lagebestimmung des BlastodermsimunbebrütetenHühnerei. Dtsch. Tierärztliche   Wochenschr.2008, 115, 182–188.

Burkhardt, A.; Geissler, S.; Koch, E. Optical coherence tomography as approach for the minimal invasive localization of the germinal disc in ovo before chicken sexing.Biophotonics            Photonic Solut. Better Health Care II SPIE   2010, 7715, 77151W.

Nan Jia, Bin Li , Jun Zhu, HaifengWang, Yuliang Zhao and Wenwen Zhao (2023). A       Review of Key Techniques for in Ovo Sexing of Chicken Eggs.Agriculture 2023, 13,         677.https://doi.org/10.3390/ agriculture13030677

Innovative Technology & Practices Transforming India’s Poultry Farming Sector