Terrence O'KeefeTerrence O'Keefe is content director at WATT Global Media. www.wattglobalmedia.com/contact-usFrom the Author - Page 12HomeSecure pork supply guide for producers expected in 2018The 2014-2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in the U.S. provided a sobering reminder to all of animal agriculture the severity of the economic impact that can result from the introduction of a foreign animal disease into the U.S.Avian InfluenzaVaccination not the ‘third rail’ for avian flu controlReform of social security programs is often referred to as the “third rail” of American politics, in reference to the electrified high-voltage third rail used to power subway trains. Because of the reaction of trading partners, vaccination has become the “third rail” when it comes to avian influenza control, but it shouldn’t be.Breeding & GeneticsBroiler welfare: the conversation you need to haveActivist groups have been extremely successful at securing future purchase pledges from major retail and foodservice poultry buyers for chicken meat from birds that have been either raised without antibiotics at all or without use of antibiotics that are designated as important in human medicine. A similar campaign has succeeded in securing future cage-free egg purchase pledges that may very well lead to a complete conversion of the U.S. egg industry to cage-free housing for pullets and layers. Now, a third campaign is being waged to secure future purchase pledges from chicken meat buyers that would set new standards for how U.S. broilers are raised, stunned and even the breed of the bird that is raised.Hen Housing SystemsThe impact of ‘pet parents’ on poultry welfareThe U.S. layer industry is following in the footsteps of the European layer industry on the path away from conventional cages for housing hens. This conversion is coming about largely as a result of the lobbying of major retail and foodservice egg purchasers by animal welfare/rights groups. As someone who studied the behavior of laying hens in graduate school, but who also has a business degree and experience in large-scale meat bird production, I have been somewhat puzzled by these developments.Antibiotic-Free MeatOne-third of US broilers raised antibiotic freeThe increase in the amount of broilers raised using no-antibiotics-ever (NAE) programs in the U.S. has been dramatic.Broilers & TurkeysHow can you get a millennial to change their mind?You have likely heard a statement like, “Millennials care where their food comes from.” I have always been skeptical of broad statements like this.Broilers & TurkeysHatchery biosecurity starts at the poultry breeder farmThere is no place for dirty eggs at the hatchery, according to hatchery consultant Scott Martin.Broilers & TurkeysOutdoor access: Yes for organic eggs, but no for plantsThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published a new final rule calling for major welfare changes for organic livestock.Egg ProductionUS egg producers predict not all hens cage free by 2025As part of the Top Egg Company Survey, U.S. egg producers were asked to predict the percentages of the total U.S. table egg flock that will be housed in conventional cages, enriched cages and cage free in 2025. Thirty-one egg producers housing around 174 million hens answered the opinion questions in the Top Egg Company survey.Breeding & GeneticsConsumer demand is best illustrated by providing choicesTaking a closer look at Compassion in World Farming objections to the National Chicken Council report on the environmental impact of slower growing broilers.The opinion piece authored by Katya Simkhovich, food business coordinator, Compassion in World Farming, raised three primary objections to the National Chicken Council’s study of the environmental impact of slower growing broilers.Broilers & TurkeysFuturo de la genética avícola con selección equilibradaEn el mundo desarrollado, las industrias del pollo de engorde y de las ponedoras se encuentran en una situación fuera de lo común, debido al destacado interés en el bienestar animal y en la transparencia de las actividades de los grupos de activistas y de los consumidores. Para ello, los genetistas van a mejorar las características económicamente importantes, en equilibrio entre el desempeño y un mayor bienestar.Breeding & GeneticsFuture of poultry breeding, balanced genetic selectionIn the developed world, the broiler and layer industries find themselves in an unusual situation. Performance measures for livability, growth rate, feed conversion, and carcass and slaughter yield have never been better for broilers, and the same is true for persistency of lay, livability and feed conversion for layers.Previous PagePage 12 of 59Next Page