EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH AND CFD MODELING OF MODULAR POULTRY BREEDING

For high-quality and simultaneous breeding of different ages of poultry a modular keeping is proposed. The heating system of the module is a panel infrared heater. It is intended for local heating of technological area. Design dimensions of the module were determined for reasons of qualitative course of technological process, namely the stocking density of poultry. Experimental studies of the temperature regime of poultry breeding area were carried out. Body temperature of the poultry was within acceptable limits, up to 41.5ºC. In addition, the surface temperature of the feathers did not exceed 29.1ºC, which fully complies with sanitary and hygienic standards. For a better representation of temperature regime in the module, CFD modeling was performed. Fields of velocities, pressures and temperatures were obtained. The air temperature near poultry in the module reached 18.6ºC, and the average velocity did not exceed 0.75m/s.

Population specific annual cycles and migration strategies in a leap-frog migrant

A common migratory pattern in birds is that northerly breeding populations migrate to more southerly non-breeding sites compared to southerly breeding populations (leap-frog migration). Not only do populations experience differences in migration distances, but also different environmental conditions, which may vary spatiotemporally within their annual cycles, creating distinctive selective pressures and migratory strategies. Information about such adaptations is important to understand migratory drivers and evolution of migration patterns. We use light-level geolocators and citizen science data on regional spring arrivals to compare two populations of common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula breeding at different latitudes. We (1) describe and characterize the annual cycles and (2) test predictions regarding speed and timing of migration. The northern breeding population (NBP) wintered in Africa and the southern (SBP) mainly in Europe. The annual cycles were shifted temporally so that the NBP was always later in all stages. The SBP spent more than twice as long time in the breeding area, but there was no difference in winter. The NBP spent more time on migration in general. Spring migration speed was lower in the SBP compared to autumn speed of both populations, and there was no difference in autumn and spring speed in the NBP. We also found a larger variation in spring arrival times across years in the SBP. This suggests that a complex interaction of population specific timing and variation of breeding onset, length of breeding season, and proximity to the breeding area shape the annual cycle and migratory strategies. Significance statement Migration distance, climate, and the resulting composition of the annual cycle are expected to influence migration strategies and timing in birds. Testing theories regarding migration behaviours are challenging, and intraspecific comparisons over the full annual cycle are still rare. Here we compare the spatiotemporal distributions of two latitudinally separated populations of common ringed plovers using light-level geolocators. We found that there was a larger long-term variation in first arrival dates and that migration speed was slower only in spring in a temperate, short-distance migratory population, compared to an Arctic, long-distance migratory population. This suggests that a complex interaction of population specific timing and variation of breeding onset, length of breeding season and proximity to the breeding area shape the annual cycle and migratory behaviours.

Development of a Corporate-Based Beef Cattle Breeding Area

Livestock is an integral part of agriculture which significantly contributes to the economic and socio-economic development. Based on its potential in natural resources and human resources, East Kalimantan Province has opportunity to become a beef cattle development area. The development of a corporate-based beef cattle breeding area is an approach which taken toward industrial and business-oriented beef cattle breeding. The concept of breeder corporation will create new strengths such as strengths in human resources, capital, and banking in business development, which can more open the opportunities for the success and growth of the breeder's business. The development of a corporate-based beef cattle breeding area provides opportunities, including: 1) improving the competitiveness and added value of the region and beef cattle commodities in order to support national sustainable food security; 2) strengthening the livestock business system in one area management in a holistic manner; and 3) strengthening breeders institutions in accessing information, technology, public facilities and infrastructure, capital, processing and marketing, so that the concept is expected to be applied in East Kalimantan Province.

Changing places: spatial ecology and social interactions of female and male Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) in the Spanish Extremadura

The ground nesting raptor Montagu’s Harrier breeds in loose colonies in cereal fields in the Spanish Extremadura. It is unclear how and whether birds in different colonies interact and how harriers spend time before and after nesting, before starting migration. We used GPS–GSM tags deployed on ten females and three males, some over multiple seasons, to follow bird movements with unprecedented detail. Arriving from spring migration, all males and most females returned to their old nest site, and spent between 13 and 25 days in mate choice and local site inspection. During incubation and early nesting female movements were strongly reduced, but increased significantly during late nesting and post-fledging periods. After fledging or after breeding failure, females increased their flying radius. Some of them visited other colonies, for single days or for longer periods, or flew long distances within Spain. These visits might have included help in breeding attempts of other pairs (adoptions). Four out of six females returned to their own breeding site before starting migration. Several females repeatedly used common roosts in this phase. Non-breeding females were active in defending nests in the colony against predators. Females with successful brood initiated migration earlier and spent less time in Spain than non-breeders or those with predated nests. Unlike females, daily distances in males were more uniform. While all males remained in the breeding area for the entire season, their activity centres shifted more within that area than those of females.

Which birds participate in mass concentrations of Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla?—Ring recoveries, biometry, age and sex composition

The Brambling Fringilla montifringilla combines several special features of migration and wintering: differential migration according to age and sex groups, large differences in winter densities as a response to food availability, and flocking behaviour as a response to local mass fructification of the beech Fagus sp. resulting in roosts of several million birds. This study examines (a) whether Bramblings participating in mass concentrations originate from different, or additional, breeding grounds compared with birds present in normal winters, and (b) how differential migration according to age and sex groups combines with irruptive migration and with congregations in mass roosts, i.e., whether the benefits from mass concentrations differ between age and sex groups. Wing biometry (wing length, lengths of outer primaries, and wing pointedness) did not vary geographically, as shown by museum skins, and was therefore not helpful to reveal differences in origin between birds of mass concentrations and normal winters. The extent of the post-juvenile moult was smaller in mass concentration birds and suggests that slightly later-born juveniles, i.e., born further east or north, participate in mass concentrations. Ringing recoveries could not demonstrate a difference in breeding range origin of Bramblings which participate in mass concentrations versus Bramblings in normal winters in Switzerland. However, this may be due to insufficient recoveries of ringed birds. A rough estimate suggests that the number of Bramblings migrating SW on a broad front across Europe could be sufficient to form mass concentrations of up to 10 million birds which are halted by a large area of beech mast. Across Europe, the proportion of juvenile males decreased towards south (i.e., with increasing migration distance) in autumn migrants and wintering birds, while adult females showed the opposite pattern, and adult males and juvenile females were intermediate. Mass concentrations in Switzerland were composed of significantly more adults, especially adult males, and fewer juveniles, particularly juvenile females, while the sex–age composition outside mass concentrations was similar to normal winters. Adults and females likely benefit from wintering further south where snow is less likely to cover food of this ground-feeding finch. On the other hand, the costs of migration are probably substantial in terms of direct costs or indirectly in terms of reaching the breeding grounds, so that juvenile males prefer to winter closer to the breeding area than adults. Feeding in large flocks in beech mast areas incurs the high risk of being cut off from this food by snowfall. Adult males are apparently best adapted to this risk, and hence predominate in mass concentrations.

Genetic evaluation of producers of Kulunda fine-wool sheep breed by the quality of progeny

The authors have studied the genetic value of producers of the aboriginal Kulunda finewool sheep breed based on various analysis methods of the productivity of their progeny. The data on 574 offspring (daughters) received from 16 rams-producers of the “Steptoe” breeding farm of Altai Krai were used in the research. The genotypes of ram progeny were evaluated by the productivity of the rams at one year of age. In assessing the fathers, the number of effective daughters needed to confirm a sufficient number of offspring was calculated. Water, soil, and feed were tested for heavy metals content in the sheep breeding area, which did not exceed the MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentration). The breeding indices of the progeny ranged from 114 to 1562. The live weight of the rams was 120 kg. The live weight of the daughters was 50.0 kg. The sheep (daughters) had a wool gain of 5.7 kilograms per ewe. The authors established a high homogeneity of the genotypes of rams producers in terms of the live weight of daughters. The genetic variability of the fathers was 3.2%. According to productivity indices, the rams-producers (#4452, 26133, 3611, 0125 and 44244) occupied the first five ranks. The effect of the genotypes of ram producers on the daughters’ live weight and wool hair gain was established. The ranking data showed the advantage of daughters in several traits obtained from prepotent producers. The authors suggest that ram sires no. 3611, 0125, 26133 and 44244 should be used extensively to improve breeding efficiency. The authors also applied the Hozo method in the absence of normal distribution of traits. In other cases, data processing by methods of variation statistics was used.

Biosecurity Practices and Potential Biological Risks in Poultry Farms in Agnibilekrou and in Peri Urban Areas of Abidjan

This study aimed to evaluate biosecurity practices and potential biological risks in poultry farms in Agnibilékrou and in the peri-urban areas of Abidjan. It took place from August to December 2008. A total of 219 poultry farms were surveyed, including 119 in Sector 3 and 100 in Sector 4. The results of this study show that only 22.7% of the farms have fences, 6.7% have roto-tanks and 30.3% have foot baths for the entrance and protection of the breeding area. In 22.7% of cases, poultry carcasses are thrown into the open air and in 25% of farms they are consumed. Nevertheless, 91% of these farms have well maintained surroundings. Waste is disposed of in 96% of open-air farms, poultry corpses in 69% of farms. The water consumed by the birds is surface water in 57% of the farms. In 81% of the farms, the birds are fed by divagation and in 19% of the cases by semi-divagation. Feed is soiled in 89% of farms. Poultry carcasses are thrown away in 43.5% of farms near the farm. Faced with such situations, the Ivorian government should strengthen training, awareness and encourage all actors in the poultry sector, especially farmers, to implement good biosecurity practices.

Unmanned aerial vehicle, and GIS tools, to monitor the reproduction of the flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis (Aves: Phoenicopteridae)

Introduction: High Andean flamingos also known as parihuanas, are species of recurrent presence in the high Andean areas which find this area as an important resting, feeding and in some cases breeding area The species recorded here correspond to Phoenicoparrus jamesi, Phoenicoparrus andinus and Phoenicopterus chilensis, the latter being the most abundant and common. During the censuses performed during 2018 and 2019, in the high Andean lake of Salinas, Ramsar site, located within the Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca in Southern Peru, atypical behaviors of these birds were recorded in a sector of the lake, observing reproductive courtship and the settlement of colonies of P. chilensis. Objective: The study aimed to confirm and evaluate reproductive events of P. chilenesis (Chilean flamingo) through the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and image processing tools using geographic information systems. Methodology: Monitoring was conducted during 2018 and 2019 to breeding colonies of P. chilensis, we used a UAV Phantom 4 testing different flight altitudes to avoid disturbing the birds and performed records of aerial photographs and GIS post-processing with the creation of panchromatic images for the identification and counting of individuals and eggs automated, and manual verification. Results: During 2018 were identified nests and presence of six eggs, this occurred between March and June where the event was interrupted not observing chicks or juveniles during this period, for 2019 the breeding was more successful, where a higher number of eggs were counted (40-66) and with the formation of three reproductive colonies with 4 185 adult individuals, also verified the presence of chicks and juveniles that reached a maximum of 1 491 individuals. Conclusions: We confirmed two continuous reproductive events of P. chilensis in the Salinas lake, where during 2019 was the most successful incorporating several new individuals to the initial population, likewise the methodology applied in the image processing allowed differentiating between adult individuals and eggs but did not allow differentiating juveniles, however, the images directly acquired by the UAV allow distinguishing the types of individuals to perform a manual count.