Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in different poultry breeds of Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The poultry sector in Pakistan is contributing mainly in bridging gap between demand and supply for protein. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an emerging bacterium causing serious problems in poultry industry of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the M. gallisepticum load in poultry populated regions of Pakistan. Total 600 serum and 600 swab samples were collected, 200 from each broiler, layers and breeders poultry in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad districts. Serum samples were analyzed through ELISA for seroprevalence. Swabs were cultured on Frey’s medium followed by PCR and partial mgc2 gene sequencing. Results of seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum showed that layers (75%, n=150) are more positive as compared to breeders (70%, n=140) and broilers (50%, n=100). Typical colonies of the M. gallisepticum were observed in breeder (26.5%), followed by layer (21%) and broilers (9%). A total of 37.1% (n=42) samples were identified positive through PCR out of total 113 cultured based positive samples. A total of six M. gallisepticum isolates of current study showed 98-99 percent similarity with previously reported isolates on the basis of mgc2 gene partial sequencing. The M. gallisepticum was found highly prevalent in different poultry breads. Results of this study would add into basic data and provide a direction for livestock sector to strengthen a control strategy for mycoplasmosis in poultry farms.

Peningkatan produktivitas ternak Domba/Kambing melalui penyuluhan dan pelatihan teknologi pengolahan pakan

Tasikmalaya regency has great potential in the development of the livestock sector due to land use which is dominated by agricultural activities as a producer of forage. The current problem is the supply of forage which is influenced by the season. This service program aims to overcome these problems so as to increase the productivity of the livestock business. This service includes several stages, namely counseling, training, monitoring and evaluation and reporting. The time and place of the activity is from 5th June to 15th July 2021 in Setiawaras Village, Tasikmalaya Regency. Extension activities and training on feed processing with M-Bio technology have a positive impact in terms of the quantity and quality of feed. The use of local ingredients and M-Bio produces feed that can be stored for a week with complete nutrient content. In the long term, this activity will increase knowledge, skills and independence of farmers. Results of evaluation show attitude of farmers who are enthusiastic and satisfied with this activity.

Climate Change and Livestock Fertility

Climate change is a global threat to livestock sector to so many species and ecosystem in different parts of the world. Climate change, heat stress, and nutritional stress are the major intriguing factors responsible for reduced fertility in farm animals in tropical countries. Heat and nutritional stresses affect the reproductive performance by decreasing the expression of estrous behavior, altering ovarian follicular development and hormonal profiles, compromising oocyte competence, and inhibiting embryonic development in livestock. Climate is changed by greenhouse gases that released into atmosphere through man-made activities. Livestock contribute 18% of the production of greenhouse gases itself and causes climate change including heat stress, which has direct and indirect impact on fertility of the animals as well as reduce milk production. Adaptation to climate change and lowering its negative effect by alteration of animal micro-environment using different essential technologies are the main mitigation strategies to recover heat stress damage in this respect.

Dairy Value Chain

Livestock sector is the backbone of Indian agriculture and plays a crucial role in the development of the rural economy. More than one-fifth (23%) of agricultural households with area less than 0.01 hectare reported livestock as their principal source of income (GoI Government of India (2014) Key indicators of situation of agricultural). Livestock is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Indian agriculture. While the share of overall agriculture and allied sectors in Gross Value Added (GVA) declined from 18.2% in 2014–15 to 17.8% in 2019–20, the share of livestock sector in GVA increased from 4.4% to 5.1% in the same period (GoI Government of India (2021) The economic survey (2020–21). Ministry of Finance. Government of India). Livestock sector accounts for 31% of the gross value of output in agriculture and allied sector (GVOA). Within livestock, milk is the biggest component with 20% share in GVOA. In fact, milk is the largest agriculture commodity in terms of value of output worth INR 772,705 crores in 2018–19 which was more than the value of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and sugarcane combined worth INR 623,462 crores (MoSPI. (2021). National Accounts Statistics 2020. Central Statistical Organization. Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.). Around 70 million of rural households are engaged in milk production, most of them are landless, marginal, and small farmers (NCAER. (2020). Analyzing Socio-Economic Impact of National Dairy Plan—I. National Council for Applied Economic Research. February 2020.). As a source of livelihood for million of poor households, dairying also supplements their dietary sources of protein and nutrition thus playing a critical role in the country’s food security needs.

Identifying the Barriers and Drivers to Agriculture Entrepreneurship in India

This study mainly focuses on the identification of barriers and drivers to agriculture entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship not only includes the creation of new ventures or start-ups but includes innovation and growth. Agri-entrepreneurship can address the current issues of lower farm mechanisation and low productivity of the livestock sector. It can be helpful for farmers in general and agri-entrepreneur in particular. Understanding barriers and drivers to agri-entrepreneurship have become a necessity in current times. Agriculture entrepreneurship has the ability to raise the living standards and helps in the creation of wealth not only for the entrepreneurs but also for other farmers. Agriculture entrepreneurship is beneficial in the global food supply in least-developed and developing countries. The purpose of this chapter is to familiarise the readers with the meaning, prospects, barriers, and key drivers of agri-entrepreneurship to engage in agri-entrepreneurship.

Role of livestock in sustainable agriculture for food security

The livestock sector plays a special role in the formation of the rural economy and the life of society, performing a wide range of different functions. Agriculture, as a result of its activities, provides new jobs, in connection with which unemployment is reduced, there is also a decrease in rural migration, there is a change in the competitive environment, as a result of which the needs of the food market are being satisfied. A comprehensive assessment of the impact of animal husbandry on the development of the territory of the Kurgan region is the goal of our study. The article examines the development trends of the industry on the example of the Kurgan region. The influence of the development of animal husbandry on the provision of food security in the region has been studied. Such indicators as the volume of agricultural products for all types of categories, livestock, production of basic livestock products by categories of farms in the Kurgan region for 2016-2020 were considered and analyzed.

Poultry Value Chain

In the livestock sector in India, poultry farming holds a prominent position owing to its impressive growth led by the private sector. Poultry sector has shown rapid growth, with chicken meat growing at an average annual growth rate of 9% and eggs growing at 6% from 2000–01 to 2018–19 (DAHD DAHD (2020) Basic animal husbandry statistics 2020. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Government of India). The recent steady growth in domestic demand for chicken meat has made it possible to increase production with a ready market putting India among the top poultry producers in the world. India was the third-largest egg producer after China and the USA with a production of 88 billion eggs and fifth-largest chicken meat producer with a production of 3.5 million tonnes during 2017–18 (FAOSTAT (2018) Food and Agriculture data. Retrieved from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data). This transformation in the poultry sector was led by the commercial poultry industry which contributes about 80% of the total poultry production. The other 20% is produced by the traditional backyard poultry. The broiler industry is concentrated in the southern and western states and accounts for a major share of total output. Similarly, the layer industry is dominated by well-developed states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, accounting for nearly 60% of the production (DAHDF (2017) National Action Plan for Egg & Poultry-2022 for Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Government of India.). Commercial poultry farming is yet to make a dent in more populous states like Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.