Innovative Technology & Practices Transforming India’s Poultry Farming Sector

Innovative Technology & Practices Transforming India’s Poultry Farming Sector

*Shaikh S.R.¹, Siddiqui M.F.M.F.² and Sakhare M.P.³

Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, India- 431 402

*1 PhD Scholar, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India-431 402. salahuddinshkh@gmail.com; +91 8983195305 (Corresponding Author)

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India -431 402. drmfmfsiddiqui@gmail.com, +91 9960147171

3 I/C Professor & HOD, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MAFSU, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India – 431402. meera.sakhare@rediffmail.com, 09423759490

Abstract:

Today, poultry sector is one of the highest growing divisions of the agricultural sector in India today, with production of eggs and broilers growing at a rate of 8 to 10% per annum and ranked 3^rd in layer production and 5^th in broiler production in the world. The huge demand of meat and egg in near future can be satisfied by modern and innovative technologies which are need of the time. These technologies can be used to upgrade farm management, production, diseases & health management, food safety, food processing, supply chain, cleaning procedure, etc. Sensor monitoring system helps in monitoring of poultry production in real-time to track environmental conditions, health and productivity status of birds. Similarly, automation with robotic has revolutionized poultry production with improvement in egg collection, and waste management, reducing labor costs and improving efficiency.          The hectic and time consuming task of genetic selection and breeding have led to the development of superior chicken breeds with desirable traits like higher meat yield, disease resistance, and improved feed efficiency. Innovations in biosecurity measures can help in prevention of the spread of diseases and ensuring the overall health of the flock. Artificial intelligence powered systems helps in data management to optimize farming operations. In conclusion, these modern innovations in technology and practices in poultry industry are upgrading and transforming Indian poultry sector to meet the demand of modern market and consumers by providing timely, quality, sustainable products with overcoming new and emerging challenges.

Key words: Poultry, innovation, technology, farming, challenges

Introduction:

Poultry industry is a consistently growing with time and modern innovations. Egg consumption increased day by day as eggs are inexpensive, mild-tasting and are easy to process and include in other foods. Poultry meat production increased by 5 MT, while the egg production increased to 122 billion in 2021 with India ranks 3^rd in layer production and 5^th in broiler production (DADH-2021).

New and emerging technologies are set to transform the poultry industry in 2023. Indian poultry sector drastically updating from conventional farming practices to modern commercial production systems with technological interventions. Cognizant of the sector’s impact and potential, the Union Budget (2022-23) has allocated Rs 6,407 crores for the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, which is an increase of 44 % from the 2021-22 allocation.

To improve animal welfare and ensure the safety of poultry sector meat and meat-based products, scientists want to investigate more animal-friendly production strategies in the near future. Core concerns that need to be investigated further include maintaining a high standard of quality in meat production and introducing new products to the market (Kiran, 2022). There are tremendous opportunities for poultry farmers as nearly 95 % of poultry market are wet type means meat is not processed and consume directly in raw form. With processing and diversification of poultry meat export of poultry meat can be increase many folds which untapped till now. With passage of time, poultry farming is developed very much through continuous efforts of scientists and farmers (Mehta, 2020).

There are many technological innovations developed from time to time and judicial use of these technologies on farm is important. Technology paved the way for more advanced equipment which is needed for today’s poultry industry for sustainable production as per demand. It is not possible to discuss each and every new invention in details; hence few technologies which are commonly used by farmer are introduced in this article.

Innovative Technologies & Practices in Poultry Sector:

The objectives of new innovations and practices in poultry sector can be pointed as:

• In production system: individual real-time body weights, feed and water consumption
• In disease management system: the ability to spot disease or find morbid birds before the entire flock is affected, vaccination and medication
• In food safety standards systems: enhanced Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and E. coli detection,
• In food processing & management system: increased yield, meat quality, meat standards, etc.

Let’s discuss on new technologies applied in poultry industry.

1. 3D printing prosthetics:

Prosthetics can also usable in poultry just like humans. Injured poultry birds may negatively impact a farm’s climate, hence immediate treatment needed. Prosthetics can now be speedily created and readily applied to affected bird. 3D printing is a faster option with less downtime of farms in injured bird. However, 3D printing can also help farmers with top-quality lineage of their poultry preserve to the genetics of those high value breeding stocks.

2. Use of Robots:

Application of robots is increasing from human to birds and this is one of the most practical options in the poultry industry. There are a without number number of repetitive tasks routinely require during poultry production that robots could efficiently assist and indigently perform. Poultry houses require constant and consistent attention of cleaning and sanitizing, collecting eggs and checking birds. These are time consuming and monotonous works, but it would not bother a robot. Additionally, robots are more precise, thorough and honest about the work they do compared to their human counterparts. Robots can discourage chickens from laying eggs on the floor and also keep the birds moving for an added health benefit. These attributes can result in cost-savings for producers in product and labor while appealing to welfare advocates.

For more specialized tasks, including feeding and monitoring, Metabolic Robots are available which are designed robotic feeders that can increase feed efficiencies, lower mortality rates and alert the farmer of potential disease concerns. If the robots detect an ill bird based on data, generate signal and alarm and the bird suspected bird is removed immediately. These automations will reduce outbreaks of diseases and ultimately improving the safety of the entire supply chain from producer to consumer. In large-scale farms, farmers may need the help of robots to oversee the entire operation. It goes through all your poultry house floors using machine learning and imaging sensors to do functions like sensing the environmental temperatures as well as detecting and picking up floor eggs.

3. Drone’s monitoring:

Drone technology is more advance technology and can flexibility use in free-range or yard-kept chickens and turkeys rearing systems that roam fields freely which could hard to protect and monitor them. Adaptation of avian species to drones would probably require training but will most likely succeed outdoors, in near future. Drones are must-haves for larger-scale farms. It’s faster and easier to monitor the poultry farm’s environment as well as the flock in real-time through a drone flown across the entire area.

4. Electronic monitoring sensors:

Sensors probably represent the easiest of the eight technologies to implement. This is partly due to lower implementation costs, also because the benefits are immediately recognized. Big Dutchman having DOL 53 software system is a sensor designed to measure ammonia, a common problem in many hen houses. Both SKOV and Filipino Poultry use sensors to regulate and control the climate in the house, including ventilation and temperature. Due to availability of a wearable sensor researchers and farmers could gain a lot of insight into the health and disease status of poultry birds. RFID tags in poultry can help to monitor about natural environment, giving researchers the opportunity to learn from the birds. This raw information can analyse to determine everything from natural behaviors to mismanagement.

5. Applications of Artificial intelligence (AI):

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have become the backbone of many other technologies. Robots, for example, use AI in the processing plant to improve efficiencies. Automating a procedure such as chicken deboning requires recognition of the shape and size of each chicken and individual adaptation. Artificial intelligence is the best technology for automisation of process like deboning which requires precise recognition of the shape and size of individual chicken and adaptation accordingly. A computer can differentiate in densities and structures of meat versus bone and make the most precise cut possible. Sensors can collect the data, software process and tracks the information and AI adjusts the conditions of the house or alerts the farmer for any issue, such as a disease bird. All this information can be transferred to the farmer’s mobile phones. This is all done in real time and can curb concerns and small issues before they become disastrous to the entire flock. Apart from saving humans from doing these tasks, there are opportunities for cost savings, such as optimized feed expenditure and climate control, increased production through healthier flocks.

6. Virtual reality (VR) training application:

Virtual reality (VR) training could teach employees how to work in the house, manage the birds, manage feed, vaccinate, medicate, collection of egg without disturbing the birds.    VR can also help to allows chickens to enjoy the free-range experience while remain in the safety of the poultry house. The thought is that chickens are outfitted with a virtual headset and see through a screen projection using spectacles. By this way, birds can be raised anywhere, even in urban areas, and feel the freedom of their virtual world, free from predators.

7. Block chain in production safety:

Block chain’s opportunity in the poultry industry is its ability to resolve food safety and transparency issues. Blockchain can be used to monitor all aspects of the food supply chain, from farmers and producers to processors and distributors. This is a big step toward offering traceability and understanding where food comes from, something that is becoming of increasing concern for consumers.

8. Poultry Bone X-Ray Inspection Systems:

Chicken bone x ray detection systems are thought to help in prevention of one of the biggest challenges in poultry production especially in broiler and breeders, the presence of bones deformities that aren’t supposed to be outwards. It’s help to detect bone, cartilage, and other foreign materials in poultry. A good and precise chicken bone x-ray inspection system can detect bones down to 1.5mm in size. This gives you unmatched confidence that no bones will sneak through the chicken meat that customer satisfaction.

9. Incubator:

Modern incubators are having more advanced features to produce huge number of chicks with better efficiency, quality and number. Artificial incubators are having scope to meet the demand of current bulk production of poultry. There are many types, the most popular of which are diesel and electric incubators.

10. 3D Camera Technology:

3D camera technology can be used for high-precision weighing, abnormality detection, health monitoring of poultry. This type of technology can capture both the volume and shape of the birds. During night hours, the 3D camera technology uses an internal IR light source to come up with this function.

11. Air-Conditioned Bird Houses:

Poultry can flourish best when raised in a stress-free environment. The summer heat can get too hot, depending on where you’re from or doing poultry production. Poultry birds are having poultry thermo regulatory mechanism, hence house condition directly affect welfare and performance of birds. A good fan and air condition ventilation system can help maintain the air quality for birds at all times.

12. Geographic information system (GIS):

A geographic information system (GIS) is the latest technology in which computerized information system use to capture, store, edit and share all types of spatial or geographic data and information. GIS can make available good platform for the union of disease-specific information and their analysis in relation to population settlements, surrounding social and health services and the natural environment (Siddiqui et al,. 2018). GIS can be used in poultry industry to get easy access of various types of data like disease and health status, production status etc. at different locations.

13. Hatch care:

Hatch Care is a system of hatching that provides early chick feeding. The chicken incubation period is 21 days. Generally in hatcheries eggs transfer from a setter that keeps eggs of different stages of development for 18 days. During incubation, the eggs transfer to a hatcher where the hatching process takes place. The length of time it takes for the first chick to hatch to the last chick hatching can be 24 to 36 hours; this is called the hatch window. In traditional hatcheries, chicks will not have access to feed and water and then there will be additional time to deliver the birds to the farm where they will have their first opportunity to eat and drink. During the transport of chicks to the farm, access to feed and water (in gel form) is available (Georgie, 2017).

14. NestBorn®

On-Farm Hatching is practicing of hatching chicks on the farm rather than in a traditional commercial hatchery. NestBorn® is a technology that transfers eggs, monitors humidity and temperature, and supports hatching of chicks in the poultry house. The benefits of on-farm hatching: transport of chicks, more natural hatching process, makes it possible to have day old chicks every day of the week, which results in improving weights for processing. Benefits to early feeding: direct access to feed and water, improved immunity development, improved intestinal health. This results in less disease pressure, antibiotics, mortality, stress and more robust chicks (Georgie, 2017).

15. Vancomatic:

The Vancomatic system contains a large rack with a belt on it that drops down to floor level to take the eggs at 18 days of incubation. This system needs installation of equipment in the poultry facility and adds the benefits of early chick feeding and reducing stress on chicks from transport and delivery.

16. Solar Brood:

Solar Brood is a system that generates fuel savings by utilizing the sun to heat air in the poultry house as a source of brooder or heater. This technology utilizes the sun to heat air that is sucked into the poultry house and reduces the fuel needed to heat the poultry houses. Transpired solar collectors are recognized as the most efficient methods of collecting solar energy.

17. Mortality management technologies:

The mortalities collected from farms can be utilized for compost by bin or channel composters. The mortality birds compost using manure and a carbon source such as straw or pine shavings. Proper management of composting material is critical to its effectiveness and success. Composted material is utilized as fertilizer to be spread on crops, if the mortality is not properly composted the material is not acceptable for application to the land as fertilizer.

A relatively new technology being adopted is freezers for dead birds. The carcasses frozen, and then picked up and be taken to a rendering plant. The mortalities are then recycled into other usable resources. As farms have grown in size, managing mortalities has become more challenging, adopting new technologies like freezers, and in-vessel composting will improve the sustainability of the industry on Delmarva, as described below (Georgie, 2017).

19. DNA Mapping:

The breeding process has also been upgraded by technological innovation in genetics. Advancements made in DNA mapping and poultry health diagnostic tools over the last few decades provides modern chicken breeders with access to an profusion of data regarding the health and genetics of the birds. Chickens go through in-depth screening procedures to ensure the healthiest and strongest to create the next generation. Selection for health and welfare traits is important not only to bird’s welfare but also to improve husbandry. These screenings include:

• DNA tests to check for any genetic disorders down the line
• Blood oxygen level tests to ensure heart and lung health
• Ultrasounds to examine breast muscles.
• X-rays of joints. Leg and joint health are important traits to improve over each generation, as birds need strong legs and
• Joints in order to easily access their feed and water and grow to their full potential.

20. Remote sensing

Remote sensing allows visibility in real-time on a number of factors and conditions within the poultry house, bird performance, bird health and welfare from a remote location. This helps to farmer to keep watch over the status of sheds and birds by taking a look at the computer but importantly the readings from these sensors can be set to provide “alerts” to management if any parameter falls out with the agreed requirements for the specific age of birds (Gowda, 2023).

The Impact of Modern Innovations on the Poultry Industry

These modern technological and practices innovations in poultry production can enhance efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability of poultry production and enabling farmers to meet the increasing demand for poultry products while minimizing adverse environmental impact. By adopting these technologies, the poultry industry can continue to evolve and thrive in a swiftly changing market. The impacts of modern innovations are summarized as follows:

1. Sensor Monitoring System: Assimilating smart sensors and monitoring systems in poultry production facilitate real-time tracking of environmental conditions of birds, ensuring optimal bird Health and productivity.
2. Robotic Automation: Automation technologies like robotic systems have revolutionized poultry farming. Robots can perform tasks like feeding, egg collection, and waste management, reducing labor costs and improving efficiency.
3. Genetic Selection and Breeding: Advances in genetics and selective breeding techniques have led to the development of superior chicken breeds with desirable traits, such as higher meat yield, disease resistance, and improved feed efficiency.
4. Biosecurity Protocols: Innovations in biosecurity include advanced air conditioner systems, house status censors, air filtration systems, disinfection technologies, and disease prediction models, helping prevent the spread of diseases and ensuring the overall health of the flock.
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI powered systems examine enormous amounts of data to optimize farming operations, including predicting disease outbreaks, adjusting feeding regimes, and improving flock management, leading to better farmer outcomes.

Conclusion:

The modern innovations in technology and practices in poultry industry are upgrading and transforming Indian poultry sector to meet the tight demand of market and consumer by providing timely, quality, sustainable products with overcoming new and emerging challenges.

Reference:

Department of animal husbandry of Department of animal health and diseases (2021)

Georgie M.C. (2017) Innovations in poultry production Increasing the sustainability of commercial poultry. Nuffield International Farming Scholar, USA

Gowda RNS (2023) Modern innovations in poultry farming. SR publications

Kiran, M. (2022) Innovations in Poultry Meat Processing. Team Pashudhan Praharee

Mehta H (2020) Modern innovations in poultry farming. English Monthly Magazine

Siddiqui MFMF, Digraskar SU, Shaikh SR, Sakhare MP and Ajabe JS (2018) Application of GIS in animal disease monitoring and surveillance. International Journal of Chemical Studies 6(4): 2886-2888

Innovative Technology & Practices Transforming India’s Poultry Farming Sector