After recently completing the end of tax year reviews for the journal, it’s interesting to reflect how things have changed in the years I’ve been involved. Some things haven’t – we still try to help authors as much as we can, especially those who have less experience and more of a helping hand in getting final papers organised. Some problems still remain, mostly because some people have a basic lack of being able to read instructions, no matter how big and red we make the letters on the submission information! However, the aspects that have changed, such as the online submission system, have proven very successful in terms of the numbers and variety of papers we now receive. So much so, that we are processing papers for issues six months ahead. That means that, at the time of writing (April) I am pulling together the last of the papers for September, and starting to line up the December issue. A result of this success is that it will cause delays in the appearance of the final paper online and in the print version. Apologies to the authors for that, but we do try as much as we can to make it equitable for all, and go by submission number to keep things moving along in the editorial office.

Readers will also notice more centennial papers in this issue – thanks to the various working groups for organising these, as they are quite in-depth, considering one hundred years for many scientific fields covers a great amount of progress. We’re hoping to have the rest in the September and December issues, and may even have a guest paper from our ‘sister’ organisation, the WVPA, via its president Trevor Bagust. Many thanks to Bob Pym for helping organise this paper.

One issue that has arisen again is the subscription matter relating to print copy. I know I’ve made this plea before, but please, can all those who do not want or require a print copy make sure they register this with their local secretaries and online, so we can reduce the amount of paper we currently ship around the world. If your department has more than one WPSA member, we can arrange for a single departmental copy and for everyone to have online personal access. From an environmental point of view, we need to reduce print copies that are posted out.

Some personal news – my assistant Dr Shay Hill has recently given birth to a lovely baby boy, and is currently on maternity leave. Many of our authors have had correspondence with Shay and I’m sure would like to congratulate her.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Brazil in August at the World Poultry Congress!

Dr Lucy Waldron

Editor

As I sit here at the turn of the year, it’s been interesting to reflect on how things have changed in the last few years I have been editing the WPSJ. Certainly there have been technological advances, with the creation of the online submission system, advances in search facilities via new technology at Cambridge University Press, and better and more affordable accessing of papers, including the recent ‘hiring’ of full papers for a 24 hour period at a very affordable price. In addition, the editorial team have enjoyed the support from the WPSA Board members, who have been very encouraging to our small team, for which I would like to extent my gratitude. We have seen the journal go from the strength to strength, first increasing and then maintaining a good impact factor year on year. As a small journal, which is rather specialised and only comes out four times a year, we do rather well in keeping up there with the major agricultural journals. Interestingly, in 2012, the impact factor of all the agricultural journals fell slightly by about 10%. What changes this reflects within the ‘publishing’ aspect of our sector has not been determined, but certainly the squeeze on research funding and time for people to write papers must be a factor. Many of the stronger journals are relying on ‘self citation’ of papers to maintain their presence – but fortunately this is not the case for the WPSJ, which seems to be holding its own. In fact, we have more papers being submitted now than ever before. Although I’m writing this in December 2011, we already have the June and most of the September issues filled for 2012. One problem this creates is that authors will find there is a longer ‘lag time’ between submission and publication – for which I apologise, but we have to take each paper in sequence to get them out in any sort of timely fashion. In some areas we still struggle to find suitable reviewers, so if anyone out there has sufficient expertise, please register online as a reviewer, stating the areas you are qualified to report on. Please note that reviewers have a heavy responsibility in terms of maintaining the quality of the reviews we put out (and I get the complaints!), so only put down those areas where you have full confidence in your experience. We very much appreciate the time reviewers give us free of charge for reviewing papers.

This issue again covers quite a range of topics, with some papers in two parts or as separate reviews of similar aspects. I trust readers will find them interesting and useful, and as always, whilst we endeavour to keep the diversity within each issues, sometimes, at random, the same topics will crop up at similar intervals.

I trust all our readers had some kind of seasonal break (which I am also endeavouring to do at time of writing), wherever you are in the world, during the New Year and that 2012 is turning out to be a prosperous and rewarding year for you all. I hope to see many of you at the 2012 WPC, which is the big event for WPSA this year in Brazil.

Dr Lucy Waldron

Editor

Well it’s been a busy year – increasingly so due to the volume of papers being submitted to the WPSJ online. It appears that our little journal goes from strength to strength, attracting more authors all the time, which is very good news for us in the office as well as for our members. As I’m writing this well in advance, by the time the September issue appears, we have already passed some milestones of 2012, including the Brazilian World Poultry Congress in August. It looks to be a very exciting event, well represented at a scientific and a trade level. Congratulations to the organisers – it’s hard work getting such a large and prestigious event co-ordinated.

For all of you on the editorial board – I’d like to thank you in advance for your attendance and contributions in our WPC meeting. Sometimes it can feel a bit isolated being an editor – as you are often several degrees removed from those writing the papers – so it’s always rewarding to meet authors at scientific meetings. Of course the WPC marks a new WPSA President, and the outgoing of the previous incumbent. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bob Pym for all his help and support with the Journal during his years as president. He has performed his role very well in my opinion, and has even contributed a centennial paper for us in this issue.

I do hope you enjoy this issue – we have plenty more paper stacked up into 2013 to be getting along with, and the Journal continues to progress in terms of variety as well as numbers of papers. Please make us your first port of call for any reviews you may have.

Dr Lucy Waldron

Editor

Well, another year draws to a close, and it’s been rather an eventful one for the WPSA and the Journal. Our centennial celebrations included the WPC in Brazil, as well as highlighting some selected papers from each decade of the hundred years of our history. In addition, we have had many working groups and individuals submit special centennial papers to the journal – many thanks to them for organising this. It’s been very interesting editing these papers – I have learned a lot about the history of many aspects of poultry science.

Of course, we all enjoyed the Brazilian WPC – which had a great many delegates and also hosted out annual Board Meetings. Thanks to all the journal supporters who attended the Editorial Board meeting – you make my life so much easier, especially thanks to those who provide us with translations of abstracts, which makes the journal truly international. Also welcome to the newly elected board members – Drs. Julie Roberts, Werner Bessei and Sarge Bilgili and congratulations to Drs. Michelle Tixier and Rob Gous for being re-elected. Our board is becoming more ‘Southern Hemisphere’ orientated!

Some issues that have arisen recently and need to be discussed include the increasing costs of running the journal. In the last few years, freight/postage and printing have increased in cost alarmingly. As a result it was agreed at the board meeting that we will be ceasing to provide print copies for members who have not specifically requested to retain a print copy. Whilst there is no extra charge currently for receiving a print copy, I would be grateful if all members can bear these costs to the WPSA as well as environmental considerations in mind when deciding the format they wish to receive. You will have noted that the insert of the journal indicates these changes in several languages. Also, for any members who receive multiple copies into the same department, I would be most grateful if you could nominate just one person to receive a print copy, and share that issue between you. Reductions in journal costs will mean that the organisation will have more funds to spend on other essential areas, such as travel grants and speakers.

Recently we have had an issue with plagiarism in the journal – the first time since my editorship, but even so, once is more than enough. Please note that the copyright form that all authors must sign before publication is a legally binding document. Personally, having, as most scientists do, experienced a degree of plagiarism of my own work from time to time, I find this type of behaviour unacceptable, and will take a hard line on it. The paper in question is now subject to the publication of an erratum in the journal. As a plea to all authors – ensure that you cite each and every piece of work you have relied on in your review. To not do so is unprofessional. On a further note about publications, the flow of information on the internet is causing some headaches for editors and publishers alike. Authors need to be aware that anything published online may count as a prior publication in the eyes of the law and should be cited or acknowledged. This is not always easy, especially with so much marketing material and uncontrolled, variable quality information out there, especially where commercial products are concerned. Please take every effort to ensure that all sources are cited in your reviews, to avoid and legal issues.

Other than that, we have a varied issue for you this month. Keep the papers coming in, and remember to register for print copy as soon as possible, or membership will revert to online access only after the March issue in 2013.

Dr Lucy Waldron

Editor

This paper concentrates on revealing the economic significance of geese commercially raised by community in Kars province, which is very famous for geese reproduction in Turkey. In the survey, the hatchery efficiency has been determined to be 65.9% while the mortality rate after hatching is 8.7%. The survey revealed that small businesses on goose breeding typically are not profitable. However, because women are mostly in charge of taking care of geese, demanding no wages in return, the labour cost is very low, increasing the business profitability of goose breeding in this area. Consequently, the results of the survey have indicated that in order to increase performance of goose breeding and to raise the level of profit, contemporary goose breeding facilities, including infrastructure, should be constructed, and those who deal with goose breeding need to be trained in the technical aspects of production.

Coccidiosis is recognized as the major parasitic disease of poultry and is caused by the apicomplexan protozoan Eimeria. In the past, conventional disease control strategies have depended mainly on anticoccidial drugs and, to a certain extent, live vaccines. Anticoccidial drugs have played a major role in the effective control of avian coccidiosis, but, their extensive use has resulted in the emergence of drug resistant coccidian strains. In such situations, new drugs should be available to replace the older ones against which resistance has developed, however it takes a long time to develop any new compounds. Because of the high cost of developing new drugs and vaccines, development of drug resistance and concerns over drug residues associated with the continuous use of these chemicals, there is a renewed interest in the use of botanicals for safe, effective and cheap control of avian coccidiosis. Several poultry scientists all over the world are now actively engaged in research into the use of plants and plant derived products to fight and reduce the heavy economic losses in poultry industry caused by coccidiosis. This paper reviews the research on botanicals, herbal complexes and commercially available botanical products having anticoccidial properties against avian coccidiosis. Information regarding active compounds, doses and mechanism of action of plants provided in this paper may serve as a guideline for the use of botanical anticoccidial agents as a part of integrated control strategies for the effective control of resistant coccidian parasites.

Upcoming nesting behaviour traits, such as the exact oviposition time or the time spent in the nest, have a direct impact on economically relevant aspects. Hens which stay for a long time inside the nest box, require more nest capacity which result in higher investments for the farmer. This is similar to flocks in which most of the layers have the need to lay their eggs in a short time frame during the day. For both of these nesting behaviour traits, published data have shown strain differences. While brown layers are more relaxed in terms of their oviposition time, almost 90% of a white layer flock lay their eggs within 3 hours during the morning. Additionally, a white layer on average occupies the nest 15 minutes longer than a brown layer. The estimated heritabilities for both traits are on a medium level of around h² = 0.25, and are therefore susceptible to genetically-linked changes. Lower heritabilities are estimated for indirect nesting behaviour traits such as the time interval between two consecutively laid eggs (h² = 0.09) or the total clutch size (h² = 0.25). Ranging behaviour traits also show heritabilities on a medium level. The published heritability for the frequency of passages as well as for the length of stay in the winter garden is h² = 0.24, however, their relationship to the most important selection trait ‘egg number’, is negative. The laying performance tested with the Funnel Nest Box (FNB) show differences to the recorded egg number of full sibs which have been tested in cages. Tabled genetic parameters showed low correlations for the egg number at peak production (rg = +0.2 to rg = +0.4) which could be explained by genotype x environment effects. Other traits like egg weight, early egg production and body weight show high correlations between both testing environments.

The main aim of this paper is to create an original model of correlations between the country of origin (COO), marketing mix elements and the brand name value from an external point of view of perception of the Croatian consumers. Based on the quantitative research we note the relationship between the origin of the poultry product, marketing mix elements, and the brand name value. Emphasis is placed on establishing how the origin of the product and marketing mix elements impact on the brand name value. It has been found that the origin of the product has at least such a statistically significant influence on the brand name value as the marketing mix elements. This article presents the model of conceptual relationships between the origin of the poultry product, marketing mix elements and brand name value, which was tested with a structural model of written relationships. Furthermore it presents a measuring instrument and procedures for checking the reliability and validity of the structural model of brand name value of product.

This paper covers the domestication and distribution of chickens in different parts of the world and describes the global data bases containing information on chicken genetic resources. The review shows the dispersion of chickens from the putative centres of domestication to different parts of the world, although introduction of the domesticated chicken into Africa is poorly documented. Currently, there are three globally accessible data bases containing information on chickens; however none of these provide a comprehensive system for systematically classifying domestic chickens in developing countries in terms of their present-day uses, potential for the future and distribution within and across countries. Such a system should be developed to include indigenous chicken genetic resources at the same level of detail as for other farm animals. The data management systems should incorporate all available information at the molecular level. Such information is important not only for discerning the existing diversity but also for making decisions on conservation priorities. Addressing the gaps in information on indigenous chicken genetic resources should primarily be the focus on the Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System (DAGRIS). DAGRIS, as a virtual library of indigenous animal genetic resources in developing countries, could play a leading role in delivering systematic information on the diversity, distribution and classification of domestic chicken in the tropics.

Poultry rearing systems have been the focus of scientific research for many years as a result of consumer demand for high-quality products and legal poultry welfare requirements. Given these requirements, the following study was carried out as a comparative review of the results obtained by different authors on the effect of rearing systems on productive traits (growth, feed conversion and mortality) and meat quality traits (dressing percentage, yield and percentage of primal cuts, and chemical composition of meat) in broilers.

Most authors reported a lower final body weight and poorer feed conversion efficiency in free-range systems compared to intensive rearing. Conversely, better meat quality traits, most notably in terms of chemical composition of meat, were observed in non-intensive and organic broilers. The above traits showed differences within the same rearing system, due to the effect of a range of genetic and non-genetic factors.

In view of the above, it is hoped that the following review on the use of different rearing systems in broiler meat production can serve as a tool in determining the future direction of research as well as an indicator of its practical applications.

Continuous advances in the poultry industry have stimulated the use of alternative feeds in poultry diets, and in particular glycerine, given its availability via the increase in world production of biodiesel. Glycerol is the principal component of glycerine, and can be used as an energy source to replace e.g. corn. However, other residual compounds, such as methanol and high levels of sodium, limit its use in animal feeds in large quantities. Several studies have found that the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy of glycerine (AMEn) varies significantly between broilers, laying hens and quail, due to different processing/extraction methods (via biodiesel production). However, an energetic availability of at least 85% has been verified. Knowledge of the main metabolic pathways of glycerol and other components of glycerine is important for future studies on this feed material and to determine its main limitations. Understanding the relationship between the quality of the glycerine and its role as a source of dietary energy will allow more precise inclusion of glycerine in the formulation of balanced diets, without negatively affecting the performance of poultry.

Due to the potentially undesirable effects of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry production, researchers are looking for viable alternative to limit or replace their use. One such class of comparable alternative is natural source of herbs and medicinal plants. In the last decade, these alternatives have been increasingly used in broiler, layer and Japanese quail diets. Reports have variously claimed that medicinal plants, used as either the whole plant, their leaves or flowers, can enhance poultry performance. From the available literature, it can be concluded that thyme (Thymus vulgaris) belongs to such class of medicinal plant and may be an effective alternative to antibiotics in poultry production. In this review, its effects on different parameters of production performance in poultry are briefly discussed.

Agriculture in the 21st Century is facing new challenges and transformation according to five general trends: commercialisation, internationalisation, science and technology, environment and energy production. In this laboratory, a series of research, development and commercialisation of biogas and enzyme technologies reflect these trends. Anaerobic digestion is a microbial process that converts organic waste into biogas, containing 60-70% methane. A simple thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAnD) system for poultry manure was developed from the lab to the farm. TAnD at 50 to 60°C produces biogas at high rates and, as a result, the process is efficient and the digester is a compact unit. A pilot plug-flow TAnD was first constructed and operated at NCSU research farm. Multiple benefits of the system were demonstrated. Supported by UNDP, a TAnD to process five tons of manure daily (from 50,000 hens) was constructed in China and has been operating for 20 years. Large scale digesters processing hundreds of tons of manure daily are increasingly popular in China and Europe. Biogas from large digesters can be a significant source of energy to generate electricity or to fuel transportation. Beyond energy production, the digester is a rich source of biomaterials. A feather-degrading bacterium was discovered and isolated from TAnD, and its keratinase enzyme and the gene encoding for the enzyme were subsequently isolated. Genetic manipulation for over-expression and up-scale fermentation have now made the industrial production of the enzyme possible. As a heat-stable protease, the keratinase was found to be useful in processing feather meal, in enhancing feed digestibility and was able to degrade prion proteins (implicated as the disease vector in bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

Until recent years, planning broiler feeding appeared an easy task to implement. However, there are about ten feeding programs around today. ‘In-ovo feeding’, ‘hatchery or early feeding’, ‘pre-starter diet’, ‘three fixed NRC phases’ ‘multi-phased feeding’, ‘feeding time period’, ‘sequential feeding’, ‘choice feeding’, ‘restriction feeding’, ‘nutrient (mineral and vitamins) withdrawal’, ‘replacer finisher feed’ (withdrawal supplement feed) and/or pre slaughter feed (removal) and ‘enrichment feed’ are the main feeding programs that attract many involved in the poultry industry. With so many different feeding programs, an effective feeding plan might seem a complicated issue and difficult to conduct. The effectiveness and shortcomings of such programs are discussed so that a broiler feeding plan can be chosen more effectively.

Egg producers in the EU had more than a decade to adapt to Directive 1999/74/EC which prohibits keeping laying hens in battery cages after 2012. Meanwhile, numerous studies have been conducted in order to assess the socio-economic implications of this ban and to evaluate consumers’ willingness to support improvement in layer welfare by paying a higher price for eggs produced in alternative systems. The adoption of such regulations in Serbia with the implementation timeframe of less than two years, and without any assessment of consumers’ willingness to pay a higher price for eggs from alternative systems, places the burden of animal welfare on producers. Considering the overall difficult financial situation of egg producers, this poses a risk that a large number of egg producers in Serbia will leave the sector after 2012.

Photorefractoriness is a condition that was exhibited in all fowl before modern selection programmes were implemented. Expressed in its absolute biological form, it ensures that birds cannot hatch and then breed in the same season. This paper reviews the literature regarding the exhibition of photorefractoriness, within populations and between genders, in avian species. Photorefractoriness has been eliminated in commercial laying hens, and the possibility of selecting against this in broiler breeders is investigated, as it would result in increased egg output and fertility, especially in operations in which it is not possible to rear these birds on short (<10 h) days.