The book "Poultry Production and Management: Recent Trends," a comprehensive anthology that showcases the latest advancements, emerging paradigms, and indispensable insights in the field of poultry science and management. As the global demand for poultry products continues to rise, it is essential for industry professionals, researchers, and students to understand and adapt to these evolving trends. This book delves into critical aspects of poultry farming, including genetics, nutrition, housing systems, disease management, and sustainability practices, providing a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted landscape of poultry production.

At a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%, the global poultry industry expanded from $352.02 billion in 2022 to $378.84 billion in 2023. Global production of chicken meat was projected to reach 103.4 million metric tons in 2023, primarily as a result of rising output in China, India, Brazil, and the US. India is currently the world’s second-largest egg producer (138.3 billion eggs in 2022–2023), trailing only China. It is also the world’s fifth-largest broiler producer (producing 4.99 metric tons (MT) in 2022–2023), behind China, the United States, Brazil, and the Russian Federation.

In recent years, the global agricultural landscape has witnessed a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and ethical practices, with a particular focus on the well- being of animals. One such notable transformation is evident in the egg production industry, where traditional methods are being reconsidered in favour of more humane alternatives. Cage-free farming has emerged as a promising path, not only for meeting the demands of a conscientious consumer base but also for addressing concerns related to animal welfare. Cage-free farming represents a departure from conventional egg production systems that confine laying hens to small, restrictive cages. Instead, it offers an environment that allows hens to express natural behaviors, such as walking, spreading their wings, and nesting.

Poultry has grown significantly over the last few decades; nevertheless, as production has increased, the usage of specific medications and feed additives has become essential for illness prevention, treatment, and growth promotion. Around the world, broiler chickens are regarded as one of the main sources of meat. Poultry consumption has increased by more than 100% in the last few decades, from 13% of total meat consumption in 1965 to 28% in 2015. All around the world, but especially in emerging and Asian nations, there is a growing need for chicken meat. The amount of poultry meat consumed worldwide increased from 11 kg per person in 2000 to 14.4 kg in 2011, with predictions that it will reach 17.2 kg per person by 2030.

The poultry industry in India is experiencing rapid growth, with meat production and egg production increasing by 5.13% and 6.77%, respectively, in 2022-2023 compared to the previous year (BAHS, 2023). Numerous factors and challenges impact poultry production on a global scale, such as intense international competition, evolving consumer attitudes toward food safety, animal welfare, and environmental conservation. Poultry commonly harbor infectious diseases that can also affect humans, with many of these zoonotic diseases having reservoirs in mammalian species other than humans, adding complexity to their management.

Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of livestock in India. The major growth promoters used in broiler diets in the past were antibiotics, which have been found helpful in improvement of growth performance and feed conversion ratio in poultry (Miles et al., 2006). However, constant supplementation of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in poultry feed led to residual effects in poultry products and usage of antibiotics in sub-therapeutic concentrations resulted in development of antibiotic resistant bacteria (Diaz et al., 2015) which represent a public health hazard.

The acidifiers could be used to favourably manipulate the intestinal microbial populations and improve the immune response, hence perform an activity similar to antibiotics in feed. Acidifiers also improve the digestibility of nutrients and increases the absorption of minerals. The incorporation of organic acids also leads to thinning of the intestinal lining which facilitates better absorption of nutrients and its efficient utilization. However, their effect will not be similar among all types of organic acids as their mechanism of activity is based on its pKa value. At present, coated salts of acidifiers are available commercially for use in feed of poultry.

β-glucans are carbohydrates made of complex glucose polymers that provides the major structure found in the cell wall of yeast, fungi, algae, and cereal grains such as oats and barley. The structures of β-glucans vary depending on the original source and the type of linkages present on the glucose polymers. β-glucans consist of a backbone of glucose molecules linked at the 1 and 3 carbon atoms (Jacob and Pescatore, 2017). The six-sided glucose rings are connected together in linear or branched forms with glycosidic linkages. The structure of these glycosidic linkages will affect the functionality of the β-glucan molecules.

Antibiotics have been used since their discovery to cure illness at therapeutic levels and to boost animal feed production at subtherapeutic levels by promoting animal development. Antibiotics have been regarded as necessary additives or supplements for improved growth and preservation of a healthy intestinal ecology in the production of chicken for more than 50 years (Huyghebaert et al., 2011). The Indian government outlawed the use of antibiotics in poultry feed in 2019. (Colistin, for example, is no longer allowed in poultry feed.) As a result, a lot of effort is being put into creating antibiotic substitutes. Alternatives to antibiotics should ideally possess the same advantageous qualities.

Poultry production in India has emerged as a rapid growing sector among agricultural and livestock sector. Indian poultry industry has made a significant impact in economic, nutritional and socio-cultural aspects including livelihoods of poor rural households. Ever since its inception and is presently emerging as sun rise sector with a growth rate of 10-15% and overall turnover of Rs 70,000/- crore. Despite of frequent ingress with various pathogenic avian diseases including avian influenza, which is a severe setback for the industry, India has sustained globally as 3rd and 5th biggest country for egg and meat production respectively. Emerging and re-emerging poultry diseases in the country are posing significant challenges to the poultry industry.

A novel approach to immunisation is edible vaccines that work by using plants as bio factories to create immunogenic proteins that, when ingested, can provide immunity. The idea is to genetically modify plants such that they express genes that code for pathogen proteins or antigens. Then, because they stimulate the synthesis of vaccine components within their tissues, these genetically engineered plants serve as vaccine delivery vehicles. The hepatitis B vaccination served as the model for immunogenicity in humans in the early research on edible vaccines.

Losses caused by Eimeria in Intestine of poultry are well known from more than century (Chapman, 2014) and their important information like life cycle, pathogenesis, global distribution are well established (Shirley et al., 2005). Heavy infection of coccidiosis in poultry leads to necrotic enteritis, reduced feed conversion ratio and even some species of Eimeria are responsible for mortality of birds (Shirley et al., 2005; Williams, 1999).Due to economic losses caused by Eimeria, prophylactic use of anticoccidial drugs and live parasitic vaccine are used in poultry industry (Blake and Tomley, 2014).  

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic secondary metabolites produced by molds. More than 25% of world’s food crops are contaminated with mycotoxins (Eskola et al., 2020). Like other environmental pollutants, mycotoxins also harm the health and productivity of animals and poultry. Mycotoxin development typically occurs in the field, during feed processing and storage under unfavourable conditions. Factors such as temperature changes, storage time, and conditions play a crucial role in fungal growth and aflatoxin synthesis.

The thermal range ideal for poultry rearing is 130C to 240C and is known as thermo neutral zone. Any temperature on either side of this zone falls in the critical range (240C-380C and 0-130C) and is detrimental to birds. Heat stress (HS) happens when the amount of heat produced by a bird exceeds the bird’s capability to dissipate the heat from the body to its surrounding environment both by sensible and insensible heat loss. The imbalance between heat production and dissipation result due to variations in a combination of various factors viz. sunlight, temperature of the air, humidity etc. and individual variations at bird level viz. sex, breed, species and physiological status (Lara and Rostagno, 2013). During heat stress, the birds reduce their heat production by decreased feed intake and increased water consumption.

Poultry holds significant value as it provides essential protein, vitamins, and mineral nutrients, including eggs and chicken meat.Poultry is a significant source of organic fertilizer and generates income and employment for millions of farmers and other poultry cultivators. The bigger and richer the industry, the more problems they face.Infectious diseases transmitted by flies, majorly house flies (Musca domestica) and other insects are the primary concern for poultry farmers on their farm. The threat of flies is a major problem worldwide wherever poultry farming is an important economic activity.In livestock and medical treatments, flies are significant pests that can cause irritation, spoilage of food, and serve as vectors for various pathogenic organisms. They are also highly destructive.

Wet litter can be caused by extrinsic or intrinsic factors related to excessive excretion of water. When the moisture content of litter exceeds 35%, it can lead to various issues, including pododermatitis of the foot pads, resulting in poor growth rate in broilers and low fertility in breeder flocks. Wet litter can also contribute to inflammation of the feather follicles. This can lead to gangrenous dermatitis, which is responsible for downgrading at processing or rejection by consumers. Additionally, wet litter is often associated with outbreaks of coccidiosis, as the oocysts of Eimeria spp. require moisture levels over 25% to mature. Necrotic enteritis occurs frequently in houses with areas of wet litter, while damp litter may contribute to the proliferation of toxic fungi.

Most raw feed ingredients used as an energy and/or a protein source in poultry feed are grown, harvested, processed, and transported from outside of the poultry industry. Poultry feed are routinely subjected to contamination from diverse sources which may have a serious consequences on the safety of poultry products. Public concerns over food safety from the food of animal origin is a cause of global concern in the recent years due to problems such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), dioxin and melamine contaminations, microbial resistance to antibiotics and outbreak of food borne bacterial infections (food poisoning) (Panda, 2013).

Introduction The rare-earth elements (REEs) consist of a group of 17 elements that have atomic numbers between 57 (lanthanum) and 71 (lutetium). They are also known as lanthanides. The European Union banned all in-feed growth promoting antibiotics in 2006 because of public fears about the transmission and development of multi-resistant bacteria, which pose a threat to human health. Such restrictions have prompted the need to explore new safe, efficient, and inexpensive feed additives as alternative sources of growth promoters. Rare earth elements (REEs) have been used as feed additives for the last few decades due to their effectiveness in improving the body weight, feed conversion rate (FCR), and milk and egg production in various farm animals, including cattle, poultry, and swine.

The profitability of poultry farming primarily depends on reduction in feed cost, which can be achieved by utilizing optimum concentrations of energy and crude protein (CP) from economically viable and nutritionally balanced feed ingredients. Soya bean meal (SBM) is conventionally used as a source of protein in poultry diet. However, the shortage and escalating cost of this prime protein source makes poultry farming uneconomical in many developing countries. Continuous efforts are, therefore, is on in search of viable alternate protein feed ingredients for SBM. 

Laying and broiler breeding are the backbone of the poultry industry. Fertility and hatchability are the two most important reproductive traits of breeder birds that highly influence the supply of quality day-old commercial chicks and growth of poultry industry. Fertility and hatchability are parameters of economic viability (King’Ori, 2011; Malik et al., 2015) and interrelated heritable traits that vary among breeds, variety and individuals in a breed or variety. Fertility refers to the average percentage of eggs that were fertilized and hatchability refers to the proportion of chicks hatched from the total number of eggs set for incubation (hatchability on the basis of total egg set), and based on the total number of fertile eggs (hatchability on the basis of fertile eggs set) (Wolc et al., 2019).

There has been a paradigm shift in the poultry sector regarding its structure and operations. Over five decades, backyard farming has transformed into a dynamic commercial agri-business. The poultry raised commercially is more enterprise-oriented, whereas poultry raised in backyards and small farms has proven to provide nutritional security worldwide. Although backyard poultry contributes more than 12% to national egg production, it is often neglected. There is a high concentration of commercial poultry egg and meat production in urban and semi-urban areas.

Poultry hatchery is a place where the hatching egg is transformed into a one day old chick, during 21 days. The environment of a poultry hatchery is very susceptible to contamination by microorganisms which can adversely affect hatchability of the eggs and can result in embryonic deaths. E. coli, Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, Aspergillus fumigates and Pseudomonas species are mainly isolated from hatchery and it adversely affects chick quality and cause embryonic deaths. Poor standards of hatchery hygiene may lead ultimately to an explosion of pathogenic organisms resulting in severe economic loss.

Introduction Commercially laying of poultry birds carried out for a laying year or cycle after that as egg production decreases then they are usually culled when birds starts shedding of feathers. If we still keep these birds after allowing shedding and renewing of feathers birds take sufficient rest to builds up its body reserve of nutrients for next laying cycles. Their production regains 80-83% of the first laying cycle therefore recycling of laying can be carried out by shedding and renewing of feathers which is nothing but the “molting.”

Artificial insemination (AI) technology is one of the important managemental tools for the successful poultry industry. It has several uses and a few limitations also. This technique is performed to avoid the spread of venereal diseases by natural mating and to increase the dissemination of genetic material to a large number of birds. This technique include: semen collection, semen evaluation (physical and biochemical characteristics), semen dilution and preservation and deposition of semen in the female genitalia. Semen dilution is one of the most critical components of AI technology. Several suitable semen dilutors are reviewed for low temperature storage up to around 48 hours.

Organic farming has undergone rapid growth in recent years across various agricultural and livestock sectors, including poultry production. The escalation of health concerns stemming from the presence of numerous medications and pesticide residues in conventional products has underscored the importance of ensuring the quality of egg and meat products. In this global context, there is a notable surge in demand for organic meat, prompting nations to explore organic poultry production.

Poultry is one of the most emerging growth components of Indian agriculture, with egg and meat production rising at the rate of 8-10% per year when compared to crop production (1.5 - 2% each year). In India, the poultry population stood at 851.81 million in the 20th livestock census, an increase of 16.8% over the 19th census. Poultry sectors contribute 1% of national GDP and 25% in livestock GDP (FAO, 2021). According to DAHD’s 2022 report, our nation produces 122.05 billion eggs and 4.47 million tonnes of poultry meat altogether. India ranks eighth in terms of total meat production and third in terms of total egg production (DAHD, 2022).

Acidifier + mos groups  56  Acidifiers  53, 54, 55, 56,  Acoustic  5, 6 Activated  32, 86, 135 Adulterants (melamine)  135  Adverse effect  131, 133, 134  AGMARK  141  Agricultural Organisation (FAO)  31  Agrobacterium-mediated  86  AI-assisted  2  Alkaline  181, 182  Alkaloid  103  Alphamune  62  Ammonia  2, 5, 7, 18, 23, 76, 108, 115, 116, 125, 128  Amniotes  210  Amprolium  28, 126, 136 AMR Strategy  31  Androgen  214, 218  Andrographis paniculata  102, 103 Animal rights  13, Animal welfare  2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20, 21, 24, 25, 35, 57, 76, 203, 204, 207, 209, 221, 226