President’s Report
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President, Bob Pym |
There are a number of recent developments that I would like to share with you.
Board workshop: As reported in the November 2008 issue of the Newsletter, the WPSA Board will be holding a workshop at the time of their annual meeting in Edinburgh, prior to the Nutrition Symposium in August. One of the principal aims of the workshop is to discuss and revise the WPSA Constitution, last revised in September 2001. A number of issues have arisen over the past few years, which have prompted the need to consider changes. A subcommittee was constituted at the Board meeting in Brisbane 2008 to develop proposals for consideration by the Board at the 2009 annual meeting.
Members of the Board have been asked to submit constitutional and other items for consideration at the meeting, and the Constitution Revision Subcommittee will shortly be preparing a briefing document which will incorporate the various proposals, the cases for change, and where appropriate, alternative draft sections to the Constitution. This and a similar compilation of non-constitutional issues for discussion will be circulated to Board members well in advance of the meeting.
Following discussion and agreement by the Board, the proposed changes to the Constitution will be sent to the WPSA Councillors in each branch for their consideration and vote. Under Article IV, section 4, clause 3 of the Constitution, a postal vote may be held for changes to the Constitution. The outcome is decided on a simple majority, provided that at least 50% of the Councillors vote.
Regional networks: In recent times there have been two proposals for the establishment of regional networks within WPSA to meet the need for communication and interaction between branches within regions that are not effectively covered by the existing two Federations. It is proposed that the Mediterranean Network will include all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, particularly those in the East and in North Africa, which are not part of the European Federation. Opportunities for interaction between the branches involved will be facilitated by the now established Mediterranean Summit meetings. The 2nd Summit meeting will be held in Antalya, Turkey from 4-7 October 2009.
For some time there has been discussion about the establishment of a WPSA African Federation. The consensus view would now seem to be that because of the large geographical spread of countries and of the poultry industry, the size and structure of the branches, and the cost and difficulty of travel within Africa, a European model federation would not be feasible or sustainable. It has been suggested that a more effective arrangement would be for the establishment of an African Network involving electronic means of communication between the branches in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. To initiate discussion and bring the potential players together, it has been suggested that a one-day workshop be held following the European Poultry Conference in Tours, France in August 2010, to discuss the constraints to development of the poultry industry and of poultry research throughout Africa. Discussions are presently underway to facilitate this.
I believe that these are both excellent initiatives which are very much in keeping with WPSA’s role in facilitating communication between its members and in the development of the poultry industry globally.
Poultry Think Tank: Following a stimulating and thought-provoking presentation by Dr John Hodges at the opening session of the 23rd World’s Poultry Congress in Brisbane, in which he questioned the direction taken to date by the poultry industry globally, he and Dr Dietmar Flock, Past President of the European Federation, have proposed a meeting of senior technical people from the poultry breeding companies, from FAO and elsewhere to discuss the future development of the industry with particular focus on sustainability and social equity. WPSA has been invited to attend and will be represented by Dr Tixier-Boichard, Dr Mulder and myself. Dr Piet Simons, Past Secretary of WPSA has also been invited. The one-day meeting is to be held in Munich in late June. Outcomes from the meeting will be reported on in the next edition of the Newsletter.
Conference: It has been my privilege and pleasure to represent WPSA at the following meetings this year: The 3rd Nigerian International Poultry Summit in Abeokuta, Nigeria from 22-26 February, the 6th International Poultry Show and Seminar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the 8th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare in Cervia, Italy from 18-22 May, and the 5th International Symposium on Turkey Production in Berlin, Germany from 28-30 May. All meetings were well organized, with excellent scientific and technical programmes. There appears to be no diminution in the interest of scientists and technical personnel from industry to meet and discuss relevant issues. One significant cause for concern, however, is the impact of the global financial crisis and the contraction in the number of companies associated with poultry production, on future sponsorship of these meetings.
Report from the Office of the General Secretary
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General Secretary, Roel Mulder |
WPSA was present at the VIV Asia Exhibition in 11-13 March, in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai branch helped arrange for students to help man the WPSA booth, so we were able to inform the many visitors about WPSA, our programmes and activities. Special attention was given to promote the larger events within the WPSA: the 2010 European Poultry Conference in Tours, France, and the 2012 Worlds Poultry Congress in Salvador, Brazil.
A new leaflet with info on WPSA goals and programmes and the printed and on-line versions of the World’s Poultry Science Journal, was also produced and will be distributed at exhibitions, symposia, conferences and congresses.
My other activities were concentrated on giving WPSA more visibility and exposure at conferences, including the German Branch Meeting (17-18 March, Vechta, Germany), the Avian French Research Days (25-26 March, St Malo, France), the European Symposium on Poultry Welfare (18-21 May, Cervia, Italy) and the Brazilian Poultry Congress (25-28 May, Porto Alegre, Brazil).
During the past year, several symposia and conferences have produced proceedings and books of abstracts. The contents of those proceedings can be found on the WPSA website (www.wpsa.com) under proceedings. Organisations are asked to produce their printed book of abstracts in the style of the WPS Journal and it is a pleasure to announce that the Book of Abstracts of the European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, Cervia, Italy, was produced in this style and can serve as an example for other organisations.
Requests for a speaker from the “Speakers Bureau” from branches in Chile, Mexico and Togo and from the 2nd Mediterranean Poultry Summit, Antalya, Turkey, were accepted. Travel grants for young scientists were awarded for attending the European Symposia on Quality of Poultry Meat and Egg and Egg Products, Turku, Finland, and the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition, Edinburgh, UK.
From the Office of the Treasurer
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Treasurer, Dr Francine Bradley |
I am not telling you anything new when I say the financial world has been in turmoil. In my 2009 budget for WPSA (proposed and approved in June 2008), I forecast that WPSA would start 2009 with US$ 1,200,000. Our portfolio was actually some $280,000 less than that on Jan. 1, 2009. Our holdings continued to decline in value through to the end of February. I am pleased to report that since the beginning of March there has been steady growth in our holdings at Edward Jones.
In addition, in the last two months I have been able to pay all of the Association’s expenses with income received from our Journal sponsors and advertisers. I wish to publicly acknowledge the tremendous efforts of WPSA Secretary Emeritus, Dr Piet Simons. At the direction of the Board, Dr Simons continues to find and engage companies willing to support our Journal. He has obtained commitments for $150,000 in 2009. This is amazing. In a time when most non-profits are experiencing declining support, Dr Simons has increased our sponsorship and advertising revenue from that of 2008. I also wish to thank the many advertisers and sponsors who have already settled their invoices for 2009. This is extremely helpful.
WPSA will continue its conservative financial approach. I feel confident that with our solid investments and support of our patrons, the Association will weather this stormy period.
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European Federation of WPSA
The European Federation has planned a number of conferences between now and the end of 2009. The conferences are listed at the end of this Newsletter and contact information is available on the WPSA website (www.wpsa.com). News from a number of the Federation’s working groups are provided below.
WPSA European Working Group News
WG1: The 2nd European Round Table on Poultry Economics and Marketing will be held in Antwerp, Belgium on October 1-2, 2009. For information contact the chairman of WG1 Peter van Horne at peter.vanhorne@wur.nl.
WG2: 17th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition: The Symposium will be held from 23-27 August 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The scientific programme has been finalised and promises excellent speakers on a range of topical subjects. Full details along with links to registration and accommodation are given in the Symposium website: www.espn2009.com. This Symposium series is traditionally very well attended and discounts are available for early registration and WPSA members. This year's Symposium is likely to be particularly good value for delegates because of the availability on the conference site of low cost but high quality university accommodation and also the current favourable exchange rate for other currencies in relation to the GB pound.
WG3: 6th European Poultry Genetics Symposium, Bedlewo, Poland, September 30th to October 2nd, 2009.
Meetings of poultry geneticists and breeders have a long history in Europe, and the 6th European Poultry Genetics Symposium will continue that tradition. The symposium is being organized by the WPSA’s European Working Group 3 on Genetics and Breeding, the Polish Branch of WPSA and the Poznan Branch of the Polish Society of Animal Production. The keynote lecture: “Reasons and Aims” will be given by Emeritus Professor Stanislaw Wezyk (Cracow, Poland) on “The poultry gene resource preservation programme in Poland”. Three sessions will be held on: (1) Genetics of egg quality; (2) Optimal use of molecular markers, and (3) Measures for promoting poultry genetic diversity. An industry workshop is being organized and planned, and a poster session will be held in which contributors will have the opportunity to present the main results of their studies.
The symposium will be held in the Conference Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences located in Bedlewo, near Poznan (Poland). The village of Bedlewo became a property of the aristocratic family Potocki in 1694. It is worth adding that the symposium takes place in “Wielkopolska”, a region which is the historical cradle of Polish nationality.
More information on the Genetics Symposium is available on the website: www.up.poznan.pl/epgs2009.
The organizers extend a very warm welcome to everyone with interests in poultry genetics and breeding to Poznan.
Steffen Weigend - Chairman of Working Group 3 “Genetics and Breeding ” WPSA
Tomasz Szwaczkowski – Local organizer of the 6th EPGS
WG4 and WG5: On behalf of the Finnish Branch of WPSA, we are pleased to welcome all the participants to the XIX European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat and XIII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products in Finland 2009. The symposiums take place in Turku, 21-25 June 2009.
Both programmes consist of excellent topics and speakers, as well as technical tours, evening happenings and post-conference tours. For further information, please visit our website at http://congress.utu.fi/eggmeat2009/.
WG5: The European Working Group 5 did not meet in 2008 as the chairman was not able to join the 23rd World Poultry Congress in Brisbane, Australia.
Organisation of the scientific programme of the 19th European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat and for the 8th European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products commenced in the fall of 2008. The Symposia will take place on 21 to 25 June, 2009 in Turku, Finland. Organisation of the scientific part is mainly done by the chairmen of WG 4 and WG 5. During the meat symposium two roundtable discussions will be organized – one on stunning of poultry and one on harmonization of methods for determining poultry meat quality characteristics. Further information is available by the homepage of the conference (http://congress.utu.fi/eggmeat2009) and by E-mail contact congress@utu.fi.
The next meeting of WG 5 will be on 23 June, 2009, during the symposium in Turku. The working group currently comprises 22 members from 13 countries. The group is working on a recommendation for harmonization of determination of poultry meat quality characteristics. A paper was drafted during the last symposium in Prague, Czech Republic (2007), and it will be further developed during the meeting in Turku.
The German Branch of WPSA is interested in the possibility of hosting the symposia of Working Groups 4 and 5 in 2011 in Germany. That conference will possibly be held in Leipzig which can easily be reached by plane, train and car. From Leipzig both scientific and cultural excursions (e.g. to Dresden) can be organized. The conference organisation will be led by Prof. Michael Grashorn (Chairman WG 5; Hohenheim), Prof. Michael Wicke (Goettingen) and Dr Manfred Golze (Koellitsch). Budgetary planning is in progress. Further support and assistance is appreciated (contact: grashorn@uni-hohenheim.de.
WG9: Details of the Poultry Welfare and Management Working Group’s aims and objectives can be viewed at www.wpsa.com. The group has just hosted of the 8th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare from May 18-22, 2009 in Cervia, Italy. The editor of the Newsletter sincerely apologizes to all involved for accidentally failing to include the submission that was made by the Group’s Chairman for the March issue of this Newsletter. We hope that the Conference was a huge success.
Asian Pacific Federation
IV World Waterfowl Conference 2009 The second announcement and call for abstracts has just recently been sent out. If you have not yet seen a copy of the second announcement, you can find it at the web address www.kau.edu/waterfowl2009 The conference will be held from 11-13 November 2009 in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala in India.
In their invitation letter, Mrs Anuradha Desai, President of the Indian branch WPSA and Prof A. Jalaludeen, Organising Secretary wrote: ”In the present era of global crisis, it is a challenge to improve the food security of the people. In many countries, more attention is now bestowed on sustainable production systems like integrated farming in order to satisfy the growing demand for food. Waterfowl, comprising of duck and geese, are an important component of integrated farming and their production is a potential way to enhance food security. Productivity enhancement of ducks and geese is important in this scenario and it can be achieved through strategic and applied research, technology transfer and capacity building. The Conference features a panel of renowned experts and an outstanding scientific programme. Participants in this meeting will have a unique opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with their colleagues in a friendly and congenial environment. It is anticipated that the Conference will add to our knowledge in waterfowl-related fields to provide an impetus to the battle for food security.”
Technical sessions will include:
- Genetic Resources and Breeding
- Nutrition, Physiology and Reproduction
- Production Systems
- Housing and Management
- Biosecurity, Diseases and Welfare
- Product Processing, Quality and Food Safety
Interactive website development: The cost of travel, the low level of funds held within the Asian Pacific Federation (APF) and the difficulty of communication are three things that are tending to hold back the development of the Asian Pacific Federation’s activities. So we are looking at creating an interactive website specifically for the APF branches and their members. To cover the cost of this we will be seeking sponsorship from commercial organisations throughout the region.
The website we are looking at would provide both a public site and a member’s only site. It will feature things like a calendar of events, a discussion forum, a notice board, and it will give the APF branches the ability to provide webinars, the opportunity to post their research projects, and the ability to hold video conferences. It will also provide information to prospective members which will, hopefully, encourage them to join WPSA.
This is a big project, but it is hoped that it can be up and running by the end of this year. It could well become a very important tool for the APF, allowing it to achieve more. Of course, like everything else, in order for this project to be successful, the APF branches and members will need to adopt and use it.
Alan M. Gibbins
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WPSA Programmes
Providing travel assistance for young WPSA members and students to participate in regional and global WPSA conferences
It is generally agreed that enhancing the educational, research and experience opportunities of young poultry science professional and technical people is critical to the development of more efficient poultry production, whether it is in an intensive technological industry or in small scale, family production systems. WPSA offers a Travel Scholarship scheme of open competition to facilitate this. It should be stressed that any travel assistance WPSA provides under the scheme is independent of and in addition to that currently provided by the World Poultry Congresses, by Regional Conferences and/or by individual Branches. Its aim is to target and benefit students and young members, including young poultry producers from developing countries and students from developed countries. Applicants must be a member of WPSA for at least six months before they can apply for a Travel Grant. Applications must be accompanied by a short CV.
Deadline: Applicants must submit their applications at least 3 months prior to the meeting.
Application form: Full details and the application forms can be obtained from the WPSA General Secretary’s Office or you can download the application form from the WPSA website (www.wpsa.com).
Send the application form (preferably by e-mail) to the General Secretary of WPSA, Dr Roel Mulder, PO Box 31, 7360 AA Beekbergen, The Netherlands, e-mail: roel.mulder@wpsa.com, or wpsa@xs4all.nl, fax: +31 207508941.
Fostering local and regional conferences in the poultry sciences
During the 34th meeting of the Board of WPSA on August 20, 2000 in Montreal, Canada it was recognised that branches in low income countries often do not have sufficient financial resources to fund overseas speakers, and furthermore, expert speakers on certain topics are not always readily available in these countries.
So the Board decided to create a Speakers’ Bureau to assist branches in low income countries to cover the travel costs of expert international speakers. This measure is consistent with the key objective of WPSA to encourage and help facilitate liaison among research scientists and educators, and between those in research and education and those working in the many diverse sectors of the poultry industry. Under the Speakers’ Bureau scheme, WPSA will pay only the cost of air travel (lowest economy class). Local expenses like accommodation are to be paid for by the local organizing branch. WPSA will not pay any honorarium to speakers.
The Speakers’ Bureau is an expensive initiative and it is important that optimum value be obtained from the money spent on travel. This can be achieved by insisting that the visiting speaker provides more than just one paper at a conference. The visiting speaker could contribute in a variety of ways, e.g., present a second paper on a related topic, conduct a workshop for graduate students, have small group or one-on-one interaction, especially with students, visit industry groups, visit university groups, etc.
Unless the Branch (or group of Branches) can pay all the speakers’ costs itself, a speaker should NOT be invited until approval of Speakers’ Bureau funds is made by the WPSA Executive Committee.
Full details and the application forms can be obtained from the WPSA General Secretary’s Office or you can download the application form from the WPSA website (www.wpsa.com).
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Congresses / Symposia
Update on the planning for the 24th World's Poultry Congress to be held on 5-8 August 2012, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
WPC 2012 on line: April 1st, the website of the 24th World’s Poultry Congress (WPC) is on line, and can be accessed at http://www.wpc2012.com or http://www.wpc2012.com.br. Although the official language of the event is English, the Brazilian Branch of the WPSA decided to make the website available in three languages – English, Portuguese, and Spanish – as a large number of visitors from Latin America are expected. The 24th World’s Poultry Congress will be held at “Bahia Convention Center”, in Salvador, on August 5th to 8th, 2012. After 34 years, WPSA will again organize the World Congress in Brazil. The last time, in 1978, it took place in Rio de Janeiro.
Marketing WPC 2012: Being just three years from the start of the largest Poultry Science event ever held in Latin America the Brazilian Branch of WPSA is already working very hard on marketing the 2012 WPC Congress and WPC EXPO. We have already attended several international events and trade fairs to present our prospectus containing details about the Bahia Convention Center as well as describing the ongoing organizing process. A new folder has been produced in three languages: i.e. English, Spanish and Portuguese. It will certainly give a strong boost to the spread of news about the 2012 WPC and WPC EXPO.
XIIIth European Poultry Conference
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of the French Organizing Committee, the International Scientific Committee, & the French branch of WPSA, we would like to invite you to the XIIIth European Poultry Conference in Tours, France. The conference will take place on 23-27 August 2010 and will include such subject matters as recent scientific findings progress where technical experience and solutions to help the poultry industry face its future will be shared.
The European Poultry industry is being challenged by rapidly developing countries, drastic changes in world economic conditions and by new constraints and regulations that range from environmental issues to production methods that need to be continuously debated on the availability of feedstuffs, layer cages, stocking densities, waste reduction & greenhouse gas emissions. All of these need to be discussed alongside the reduction of medication.
European and worldwide excellence in Poultry Science must find ways to assist the industry to solve these challenging issues to guarantee the sustainability of poultry production in the context of continuous international market developments.
The multidisciplinary programme of the XIIIth European Poultry Conference in 2010 will address a wide range of subject matters such as: economics, education, nutrition, environment, production systems, product quality and safety, genetics, reproduction, welfare, behaviour and bird health, all while looking forward toward a more sustainable poultry production.
The XIIIth European Poultry Conference will be an occasion to demonstrate that the Loire Valley, well known for its past implication in French history & listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, can contribute to the construction of the future of the European poultry industry.
We look forward to welcoming you to Touraine and offer attendees the perfect blend between the opportunity to enjoy the sights of this fascinating area & take part in a conference that will be an event to remember.
| Pierre-André Geraert, President WPSA France |
Yves Nys, President Organizing Committee EPC 2010 |
17th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition
The 17th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 23rd to 27th August. The Symposium will consist of presentations by high-profile speakers in the following sessions: 1. Phosphorus, phytate and phytase; 2. Litter quality; 3. Feed additives; 4. Nutrition and the environment; 5. Nutrition of breeding birds; and 6. Future prospects for nutrition; Presentations in sessions 1-5 will be followed by group and plenary discussions, in the tradition of the ESPN. In addition, a large number of high quality abstracts have been submitted for the Poster and Short Communication Sessions.
A varied social programme is being offered to delegates and accompanying persons. The Symposium is taking place during the Edinburgh Festival, so this will be an excellent opportunity to combine scientific, touristic and cultural activities in a visit to Scotland. Registrations for the Symposium are going well so, if you wish to attend the Symposium, you are encouraged to register at the earliest opportunity. Full details of the Symposium can be obtained on the website at: www.espn2009.com.
2nd Mediterranean Poultry Summit
The Turkish Branch will host the 2nd Mediterranean Poultry Summit that will be held in Antalya, Turkey from 4 to 7 October, 2009.
After the success of the 1st Mediterranean Poultry Summit in Chalkidiki, Greece, it was decided to hold these meetings on a periodic basis. Thus we will have the honour of not only hosting this summit, but also the opportunity to cement it into a successful series that will provide an international forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas, on all aspects related to poultry in the Mediterranean region.
The Scientific Programme of the 2nd Mediterranean Poultry Summit will focus on the main issues currently related to poultry research and production in the Mediterranean countries to add to and improve knowledge in a world where information and innovations are spread rapidly.
The summit will take place at the Akka Antedon Deluxe Hotel in Beldibi, which is located 25km from Antalya. Antalya is the gateway to the Turkish Riviera, the most stunning part of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, including more than a thousand kilometres of shoreline. The Turkish Riviera is strewn with historical sites and incredible scenery.
The social programmes will provide opportunities for the participants to interact with each other to exchange ideas and make new friendships.
We believe Antalya is a wonderful location for the 2nd Mediterranean Poultry Summit and has much to offer to the visitor.
We look forward to welcoming you to Antalya, Turkey in October 2009. See you soon!
Prof. Dr Rüveyde Akbay
President of the Turkish branch of WPSA
Head of the Organising Committee
For Details Contact:
Prof Dr Servet Yalcin, Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, 35100 Bornova - Izmir, TURKEY
Phone: +90 232 388 4000/1449 (ext.)
Fax: +90 232 388 1864
E-mail: servet.yalcin@ege.edu.tr
Website: www.mcps2009.org
XVII Baltic and Finland Poultry Conference
The XVII Baltic and Finland Poultry Conference will be held in the Conference Centre of the Waide Motel, Tartumaa, Estonia, 10-12 September, 2009.
Please send your presentation papers in English or in Russian on a print-out and on computer disk 3½ 1.44 MB or CD-R or E-mail before 15 June, 2009 to:
| Prof. Emer. Harald Tikk Tammsaare 2-31 51006 TARTU Estonia Phone: +372 7 421 598 Fax: +372 625 6200 E-mail: ove@tikk.ee |
Dr Matti Piirsalu |
The length of the presentation papers shall not be more than 4-5 pages, oral presentation may last a maximum 15 minutes (in English or in Russian).
Please contact Drs. Tikk or Piirsalu, at the addresses shown above for details related to the of proceedings papers, and for registration information. Registration is due by no later than 15 June, 2009.
Information about Sponsor Advertisements can be obtained or by contacting matti.piirsalu@agri.ee.
Information on lodging and recreational activities can be received in English from the internet site of Waide Motell, www.waide.ee, E-mail info@waide.ee.
Special WPSA Sponsored Symposium on “Global Views of New Agriculture: Food, Energy, and the Environment” to be held during the Poultry Science Association’s 2009 Annual Meeting
The WPSA funds that were awarded to Dr Jason Shih for the WPSA Research Award at the Brisbane World Poultry Congress were donated to sponsor a symposium on Global Views of New Agriculture: Food, Energy, and the Environment that will be held during the 2009 Poultry Science Meetings at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A. (for programme and registration information see: www.poultryscience.org). BioResources International, the company that was formed to develop and market Dr Shih’s enzyme, and Novus International, Inc., the company who procured the marketing rights for the enzyme, are co-sponsoring the Symposium.
The Symposium will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, and will be chaired by Dr Sam Pardue, Head of the NC State University Department of Poultry Science. The speakers and their topics include: W.H. Danforth, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, The Promise of Fundamental Agricultural Research; P. Haling , Biofuels Novozymes, Franklinton, NC, The Ethanol Debate from a Supplier Perspective; W.E. Tyner, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN, What is Driving Food Prices; and Z.I. Chen, Vice-Chairman, People's Government Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Former President of China Agricultural University, Transgenics and Biofuels in China. An open discussion period will be held following the last paper.
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WPSA Branch News
Brazil
Brazilian Poultry Science Congress and Exhibition: FACTA - the Brazilian Branch of WPSA - for the first time in association with UBA (Brazilian Union of Aviculture), ABEF (Brazilian Chicken Producers and Exporters Association) and FIERGS (Federation of Industries for the State of Rio Grande do Sul) - will hold the 21st Brazilian Poultry Congress at the FIERGS Exhibition & Convention Centre in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, on May 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2009. Held in one of the best exhibit halls, in Brazil, the Commercial Exhibition of the 21st Brazilian Poultry Congress has all chances to become the largest Brazilian poultrytrade fair and one of the largest events specialized in poultry farming worldwide welcoming national and international exhibitors from all areas of the poultry industry.
Book on diseases of Poultry reviewed: The Brazilian Branch‘s best seller has a brand new edition. WPSA-BR has just released the 2nd edition of its comprehensive textbook “Doenças das Aves” (Diseases of Poultry), originally published in 2000. This 2nd edition has been completely reviewed and extended. It contains 49 chapters with 1104 pages written by 78 poultry specialists from field consultants to university professors. Since the launching of the 1st edition the book has served as the reference for avian medicine in Brazil and other countries in Latin America. The new edition was only possible through the support of 19 sponsors from the public and private sectors, and by the efforts of the WPSA-BR staff. According to the editors, the main objective of this book is to again demonstrate WPSA-BR’s technical and scientific commitment to support Brazil’s poultry industry. Sales for the 2nd edition will begin during the 21st Brazilian Poultry Congress.
Chile
The 5th of May 2009 the Chilean branch of the WPSA organized and hosted its 5th Annual Symposium. The meeting was held at the Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias of the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, and was attended by over 60 people belonging to all segments of the national poultry industry. This latest event dealt exclusively with the quality of poultry products, since, as stated by the president of the branch Dr Tomás MacAuliffe in his opening speech, this constitutes a topic of high current importance particularly for countries participating in global trade. The WPSA Speakers Bureau sponsored the international speaker, Dr Sarge Bilgili of Auburn University, who gave the initial and the closing technical talks. Dr Bilgili's first talk was about ways of maximizing broiler meat yield prior to processing, while his last talk dealt specifically with the ever increasing threat posed by emerging chemical and biological contaminants of egg and meat poultry products. The attendees also had the opportunity of listening to an update on the quality status situation in the Chilean industry. Dr Andrea Kamp, a leading expert in her field, presented the achievements as well as the future challenges regarding quality in the poultry meat industry. The situation faced by the egg industry was addressed by Dr María Soledad Villalobos, who has been a technical pioneer in the development of further processed egg products in Chile. At the roundtable following the meeting, besides the quality related questions, the always crucial issue of research feedback and cooperation between industry, academia and government was addressed in depth. Concurrent to the Symposium, the initiative for organizing Working Group 5 was launched. Dr Andrea Kamp is currently heading this effort and contacting potential members of WG 5 in other Latin American Branches of WPSA.
Soledad Urrutia, Secretary
Finland
The Finnish Branch of WPSA will host the XIX European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat and XIII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, Turku, Finland on 21 -25 June. For further information on the topics and speakers, please visit http://congress.utu.fi/eggmeat2009/.
Germany
Several symposia of WPSA Working Groups are planned in 2009, and the German Branch will again support the participation of young scientists with travel grants. After the highly appreciated tour to the Baltic States in 2007 the German Branch is planning a 4-day-tour in autumn 2009 to Austria and Slovenia.
Israel
During 2009, the Israeli Branch will organize three one-day seminars on current issues. The first one was held in February in memory of Dr Nisan Rand who passed away in December 2008. Dr Rand was a prominent nutritionist who contributed to the Israeli poultry industry as well as to WPSA for many years. During his career he was honoured as a distinguished member of the WPSA Hall of Fame for his international and national contribution to the poultry industry. During this meeting lectures on the following topics will be discussed: Healthy meat production, feed additives and the effect of probiotics fibres on the GIT development.
The Israeli Branch is represented in most of the European working groups. This year the Branch will give its support to members who will attend the Nutrition, Genetics, Turkey production, Physiology, Egg and Meat quality working groups.
| Prof. Shlomo Yahav, Chairman | Mr Yitzhak Malka, Secretary |
Italy
8th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare: From 18-22nd May 2009, the Italian Branch of the WPSA together with the European Working Group no. 9 (Poultry Welfare and Management) hosted the “8th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare” in Cervia, Italy. Approximately 160 participants attended the Symposium. The objective of the Symposium was to communicate the latest developments in all areas related to poultry welfare: i.e. new husbandry systems, genetics, nutrition, health, organic production, transport and slaughter. Over the three days of the symposium, 7 main lectures and 41 oral papers were presented, and a poster session including 52 posters was held. The main lectures and oral presentations explored a wide range of issues covering the most important avian species. During the Symposium, many different housing systems and management conditions were evaluated, and many new methods and indicators for welfare evaluation were discussed.
The Symposium provided an opportunity for scientists coming from 28 different countries around the world to update their knowledge in the field of poultry management and welfare as well as to address future research projects.
Japan
The Japan Poultry Science Assocation (JPSA) has organized two semi-annual meetings for 2009. The Spring meeting was held on the Shonan Campus, Nihon University, Kanagawa Pref. on March 28th, and the Fall meeting will be held in Okinawa Pref. on September 26-27. The JPSA publishes the Journal of Poultry Science (JPS) quarterly. Issues are available online at http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/jpsa. The JPS has been selected for coverage in the Science Citation Index Expanded from 2008 issues and this journal will acquire an Impact Factor in 2010. Submission of review and original papers are invited. The JPS is now receiving and processing ~140 manuscripts a year of which 80% are submitted from outside of Japan. The countries of the corresponding authors are distributed all over the world. The percentages of the submitted manuscripts by the continents are: Japan (21%), Asia (excluding Japan) 44%, Africa 17%, Europe 9%, North America 6%, South America 2%, and Oceania 1%.
Dr Kiyoshi Shimada, President of JPSA
Dr Tamao Ono, Secretary of Japanese Branch WPSA
Netherlands
Last year the board of the Dutch Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association had meetings with the board of “De Veetelers”, the study association of the animal husbandry students at Wageningen University and with VVCF “De Uithof”, the study association of the students of the Veterinary Faculty at Utrecht University. The main item of discussion at these meetings was: why is membership in the World’s Poultry Science Association important for students. One of the issues discussed was to organize social meetings for the students with companies operating in the poultry industry so that the students can learn how those companies operate and why it is important to know each other.
The first social meeting was on the 28th of April 2009 in Boxmeer, “The Poultry capital of the World”. About 40 students from Wageningen University and Veterinary Faculty from Utrecht University participated in the meeting. Excellent presentations were given by four companies who are domiciled in Boxmeer: Intervet/Schering Plough, Nutreco, Hendrix Genetics/ISA and Stork Food Systems. There was a lively discussion between the students and the speakers. In line with one of the major objectives of the WPSA, lots of valuable information was exchanged.
After a tour of the premises of Intervet/Schering Plough, the meeting was closed with a dinner in the company restaurant. The meeting was very much appreciated by both the students and by the representatives of the four companies that presented the overview of the worldwide activities of the four companies.
Nigeria
The Nigeria Branch instituted a bi-annual international poultry meeting in 2005, named ‘Nigeria International Poultry Summit or NIPS’. The third edition of NIPS was held from 22nd to 26th February 2009 at Dheb Michael Events and Halls, Abeokuta , Ogun State , Nigeria. The event, with the theme “Poultry Production in West Africa: Towards Millennium Development Goals”, was attended by over 250 registered delegates and several other unregistered participants from 12 countries (Australia, Belgium, Iran, India, Israel, Mali, The Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, UK and USA ). They included local and international experts, and other stakeholders from the poultry industry who were present to exchange up-to-date information on the state of worldwide poultry industry with special emphasis on Nigeria and Africa.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. P.C. Njoku, the President of the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science. Apart from the Proceedings that contain all papers, the following seven papers were also published in the Nigerian Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 5 No. 4, available at:
www.wpsa-nb.org.ng/npsj.php?year=2008&number=4.
- “The Role of WPSA towards the Millennium Development Goals” by R.A.E. Pym, President of the World’s Poultry Science Association, Australia
- “Opportunities and Challenges In The Use Of Alternative Feedstuffs In Poultry Production” by O. Adeola and O.A. Olukosi.
- “Breeding Broilers for Hot Conditions” by A. Cahaner, Hebrew University, Israel
- “The FAO Contributions Towards the Millennium Development Goals Through Poultry Production In Western and Central Africa” by E.F. Gueye, FAO, West Africa
- “Breeding Broilers for Production Systems in Africa” by V.E. Olori, Aviagen, UK
- “International Cooperation in Science and Technology in West Africa: A Response to Challenges in the Poultry Sector” by E.B. Sonaiya.
- “Prospects and Challenges of Unconventional Poultry Feedstuffs” by Eustace A. Iyayt.
Website of the Nigerian Poultry Science Journal: www.wpsa-nb.org.ng/npsj.
The Summit included representatives from the Federal Minister of Agriculture, the governor of Ogun State, Agricultural Research Council, and the Federal Livestock Department.
A special session on the control of the Avian Flu was also organized, with Prof. Johan Byse from Katholic University, Belgium, and his co-workers as speakers. This session was well attended by delegates and government officials. The summit was rounded off with a dinner for all delegates and a tour to the college of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria and White Plain Farms Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
The 4th edition of the NIPS will be held in February, 2011.
Fafiolu, Adeboye Olusesan (PhD)
Romania
Planning for the next “Poultry Industry Show” that will be held in November, 2009, is currently underway. During 2009, the Branch will also organize quarterly symposia on poultry health involving experts from research, education, and poultry health specialists from poultry farms and from animal veterinary services.
During June - July 2009, the Branch will hold a symposium, in cooperation with The National Institute for Animal Nutrition and Biology Research, about poultry nutrition in which many experts from research, education and production will take part.
The Branch also publishes a quarterly poultry magazine “Avicultorul” for poultry production experts. It also publishes a monthly bulletin “Buletinul Informativ Avicol” for commercial poultry farmers.
Singapore
The Singapore Branch highlighted the future role of antibiotics in a seminar entitled: “Looking on the trend of AGPs and probiotics.” The seminar highlighted the perennial role of antibiotics, the market's growing attention to probiotics and the trend these products are taking, through a seminar on April 28, 2009 at the Mandai Orchid Garden.
Dr Robert Swick, managing director of Linden Nutrition Pte. Ltd., presented the topic "AGPs: Alive or Dead?" In his discussion, Swick pointed out that AGPs use in animal production can be categorized into two main types: therapeutic and growth promotion. Antibiotics have been added to feed since 1946 and that currently, 50 percent of these antibiotics already go into feed use. Swick also noted that response for antibiotics was greatest in time with modern genetics and commercial production practices, and now it has a global market of US$1 billion.
However, AGPs were banned in the EU in 2006 and there has been a decline of feed antibiotic use due to public concern about drug-resistant bacteria. Yet Swick points out that despite questions on the long-term benefits of AGPs, there has been no record of efficacy decline in over 47 years. In fact, one if its strongest points, is still the improvement of FCR (feed conversion ratio) from -2 to 20 percent.
With this, Swick asked the question whether antibiotics have been given a "bad rap." He says that at the end of the day, the question whether AGPs are alive or dead would have to be decided by the end-users or the public's perception on the matter. This in turn will dictate how feed-to-livestock production in relation to AGPs will take shape in the long run.
In another presentation, Mathieu Cortyl, general manager of Norel & Nature - Asia Pacific, posed the question on "Probiotics: Alternative for antibiotics?" Cortyl said that the growing concerns on antibiotics, particularly the heavy reliance on it, are based on a couple of reasons like: possible presence of antibiotic residues in meat, milk, eggs, which can lead to toxicity (e.g. nitrofurans, chloramphenicol) or allergenicity (e.g. penicillin); the possibility to contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria in humans; residue concerns in water or soil; and general trend for “greener” agriculture especially in EU after the previous cases of BSE, FMD, or Dioxin.
With these issues on antibiotics, there have been a couple of candidates to replace antibiotics, which includes probiotics. Cortyl defines what probiotics mean in this particular industry as “beneficial microorganisms that improve animal production.”
Cortyl acknowledges that the efficacy of antibiotics is known and proven, yet more and more data shows benefits of probiotics (both technical and economic). Since probiotics participate in a natural way to promote the right balance of the GIT flora, improve digestibility of feed, and contribute positively to the immune system, probiotics can be more than an alternative, especially because they are more acceptable to the consumer, he adds.
Further leaving the discussion with a few thoughts to ponder on, Cortyl quotes Dr Margaret Mellon, director of food and environmental programmes (US), saying "Antibiotics are a precious resource and should only be used when necessary."
With key figures attending the seminar, the discussion led to a single point and that is to prioritize the interests of the consumers first and foremost. This, the experts say, will dictate the general trend of how AGPs and probiotics will be seen and patronized in the markets.
After the interesting debate, Dr Chin Sou Fei, President of WPSA’s Singapore Branch, opened the Annual General Meeting. The meeting reviewed the past year’s activities, allowed for the planning of future meetings and further elaborated course of actions. The evening ended with a dinner.
If you want to know more about WPSA Singapore Branch, feel free to contact Elaine Chia (Secretary) at elainechia@efeedlink.com. This article was first published on eFeedLink.com.
Spain
XLVI AECA Poultry Scientific Symposium
Zaragoza (Spain) 30th September-2nd October 2009
Background: The “Asociación Española de Ciencia Avícola”, AECA, was created in 1924 and later on, in 1960, joined the WPSA. It is one of the more active and well-recognized WPSA´s branches. It has about than 200 members and all of them are technicians, professionals and researchers that work in the Spanish poultry sector.
What is the event? Once a year, AECA organizes a scientific congress in different Spanish cities. In 2009, Zaragoza welcomes the XLVI Scientific Symposium, that will take place in the Congress Palace (Luis Galve Hall) on 30 September - 2 October.
It is the most high-profile poultry scientific event that is celebrated in Spain, with a high level scientific programme, counting with the first worlwide authorities on the given subjects.
Who will attend? The estimated attendance is around 350-400 people. The attendees will be mostly veterinarians and other technicians that work and/or manage diverse departments in the most important poultry companies operating in Spain.
It would be a good chance to meet people from Spanish research institutes and private companies interested in your studies.
What will be discussed? The programme is structurated in five different scientific sessions: Environment and Production Factors, Management and Husbandry, Poultry Nutrition, Product Quality and Food Safety, and Poultry Health.
For more information: http://www.wpsa-aeca.es/.
The Togolese branch organizes a two-day symposium to be held on the 21st and 22nd August 2009. The subject matter will cover the “Promotion of the Poultry Industry in Sub-Saharan African Countries.” At the present time, over 100 participants from Ghana, Benin, Nigeria and Togo are expected to attend the symposium. This symposium will be held at the Campus of University of Lome, Lome, Togo.
Several speakers have been invited from both international and national universities, and from the poultry industry. They will be on hand to discuss a number of topics related to bottlenecks that are present for the African poultry industry, and the importance of the African industry in the world. The speakers will include: Prof. E. Decuypere, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, who will speak on: Double purpose chickens and longevity in laying hens: possibilities for improving poultry production; and on Aspects of nutrition in laying hen; Dr P. Simons, Former Secretary of WPSA. The Netherlands, who will speak on the Evolution of poultry production in the world and implications for the African continent; and Dr J. Tona, Togo, who will speak on Aspects of incubation and chick quality.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian Branch of WSPA together with the Poultry Institute of Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Science are organizing The III Ukrainian Youth Poultry Conference that will be held on the 4-6th August, 2009 at the Biological Station of Kharkov National University by V.N. Karasin, Gaidary, Zmiiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine. Sessions will be held on Feeds and Nutrition; Pathology and Prevention, Economics and Outlooks, Genetics and Selection, Technology and Reproduction. The participation deadline is 15th June. Participation fee: 50 USD.
Phone: +380574778058, +380636610104; E-mail: otrufanov@yandex.ru
Website: www.avian.org.ua/data/news/1-ua.htm.
The Ukrainian Association of Poultry Organization “Ptitseprom of Ukraine” with support of the Ukrainian Branch of WSPA will hold the IX Ukrainian Poultry Conference with International Participation on the “Actual Problems of Modern Poultry” in Alushta, Autonomous Republic Crimea, Ukraine, on the 15-18 September, 2009.
Contact: Ionov I.A., Riabokon Y.O., Association of Poultry Organization “Ptitseprom of Ukraine”, 27 Nauchnyi per., Birky, Zmiiv, Kharkiv, 63421, UKRAINE
Phone: +380 (5747) 7-86-70, +380 (5747) 7-87-08, +380 (5747) 3-27-08
E-mail: ukrainianpoultryconference@yahoo.com.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, The Poultry Farmers Union of Ukraine and Poultry Institute of Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Science will hold The V International Poultry Conference in Sudak, Autonomous Republic Crimea, Ukraine, on 22-25 September 2009.
Contact: Karpenko S. M., UKRAINE
Phone: +38044 4944930, +380667229874; E-mail: karpenko@ptaha.kiev.ua; Website: ptaha.kiev.ua/
Oleg Trufanov
Secretary of Ukrainian Branch of WPSA
The USA Branch will again sponsor its WPSA Lecture during the annual Poultry Science Association Meetings that will be held at the new Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on July 20-23, 2009. The PSA Meetings are being hosted by the Association and by the Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University. The WPSA Lecture will be chaired by Dr R.E. Buresh, and will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, in Room 301 A & B. Dr G.C. Weigel, BASF, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, will present the lecture entitled: The Private Sector and GMO’s: Current Realities and Near Term Objectives. Registration and program information for the 2009 PSA Meetings can be found on the Association’s Website: www.poultryscience.org.
WPSA sponsored and other poultry related symposia and conferences
A number of WPSA sponsored and other poultry meetings have been planned for 2009 and 2010 (see the WPSA Website Calendar for contact and registration information), including:
| 21-25 June 2009 | XIX European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat and the XIII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, Turku, Finland Contact: Mr R. Huopalahti |
| 25-27 June 2009 | VIV Turkey 2009, Istanbul, Turkey |
| 20-23 July 2009 | Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA |
| 4-6 August 2009 | III Ukrainian Youth Poultry Conference, Kharkiv, Ukraine Contact: Oleg Trufanov |
| 23-27 August 2009 | 17th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Contact Dr T. Acamovic |
| 7-9 September 2009 | XXI International Poultry Symposium PB WPSA, Szklarska Poreba, near Jelenia Góra, Poland |
| 10-12 September 2009 | XVII Baltic and Finnish Poultry Conference, Waide Conference Centre, Tartu county, Estonia Contact: Dr Matti Piirsalu |
| 10-12 September 2009 | 4th Combined Workshop: Fundamental Physiology of the European Working Group of Physiology (WG12) and Workgroup Prenatal Development, Bratislava, Slovak Republic Contact Prof Michal Zeman or Prof Shlomo Yahav |
| 15-18 September 2009 | IX Ukrainian Poultry Conference with International Participation on the "Actual Problems of Modern Poultry, Alushta, Autonomous Republic Crimea, Ukraine Contact: I.A. Ionov |
| 22-26 September 2009 | XVI Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Marrakesh, Morocco Contact: S. Hajji |
| 30 September - 2 October 2009 |
6th European Symposium on Poultry Genetics, Bedlewo (near Poznan), Poland Contact Prof Dr Tomasz Szwaczkowski |
| 30 September - 2 October 2009 |
XLVI AECA Poultry Scientific Symposium, Zaragoza, Spain Contact: Ramon Porta i Escolà |
| 1-2 October 2009 | 2nd Roundtable on Poultry Economics and Marketing, Antwerp, Belgium Contact: Ir P.L.M. van Horne |
| 4-7 October 2009 | 2nd Mediterranean Poultry Summit, Antalya, Turkey Contact: Prof Dr Servet Yalcin |
| 19-21 October 2009 | VIV China 2009, Beijing, P.R. China |
| 11-13 November 2009 | 4th World Waterfowl Conference, Lulu International Convention Centre, Thrissur, Kerala, India Contact: Prof. A. Jalaludeen, waterfowl2009@gmail.com or ajalaludeen@rediffmail.com |
| 2010 | |
| 1-3 February 2010 | VIV India 2010, New Delhi, India |
| 1-3 February 2010 | Australian Poultry Science Symposium, Sydney, Australia Contact: Jo-Ann Geist |
| 20-22 April 2010 | VIV Europe 2010, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| 23-27 August 2010 | XIII European Poultry Conference, Tours, France Contact: scientific@epc2010.org |
| 21-23 September 2010 | VIV China 2010, Beijing, P.R. China |
| 21-23 October 2010 | FIGAP/VIV América Latina 2010, Guadalajara, Mexico |
| 16-19 November 2010 | EuroTier 2010, Hanover, Germany |
We hope that many of you will consider participating in one or more of these poultry educational meetings. See the WPSA website Calendar for further details and registration information.
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