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

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.

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.

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.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is prevalent worldwide in crops used for food and feed production. The presence of mycotoxins in poultry feeds is a significant factor contributing to financial losses in animal industries. DON causes losses in livestock production and poses a health problem to livestock and humans consuming contaminated cereal products. Although DON is one of the least acutely toxic trichothecenes, it should be treated as an important food safety issue because it is a very common contaminant of grains. Poultry respond to increasing dietary DON concentrations with a reduction in productivity only at high levels (above 5 mg/kg) but there is no evidence of a clear dose-response relationship. Poultry fed low to moderate doses are able to recover from initial weight losses, while higher doses induce more long-term changes in feeding behaviour. At low dosages of DON, haematological, clinical and immunological changes are transitory and decrease as compensatory/adaptation mechanisms are established. The exposure to higher dose levels of DON are mainly expressed as severe reductions in body weight and impaired resistance to infection, particularly bacterial infection. Common symptoms of acute toxicity of DON are nausea, vomiting, dermal irritation and lesions, haemorrhagic lesions and pathological changes in the haemopoietic organs.

The capacity of DON to alter normal gut and immune function has been of particular interest. One important aspect of DON toxicity is an injury of the gastrointestinal tract. It was found that DON had an influence on intestinal nutrient absorption and the intestinal morphology of chickens, especially in the duodenum and jejunum, as evidenced by shorter and thinner villi. DON decreases glucose and amino acid absorption in the chicken's small intestine in vivo and in vitro and this effect is apparently mediated by the inhibition of the sodium D-glucose co-transporter. It was found that immune function decreased in broiler Leghorn chicks that were fed DON-contaminated diets. It induces changes in the hematopoietic system of chicks and alters immune response, whereas, DON impairs mitogen-induced proliferation of lymphocytes. The feeding of DON-contaminated grains decreased serum antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis (IB) in laying hens and broilers. The impact of DON on the immune system and gastrointestinal tract are important to define the maximum tolerable levels of DON in animal feedstuffs. The purpose of this review is to summarise the information to date regarding the toxicological and immunological effects of DON on poultry.

The maximum efficiency requirements in poultry include management, health, nutrition and environment. However, the interaction of these factors is not always met, generating malfunctions in the metabolism, physiology and anatomy. The incidence of leg weakness in rapidly growing birds has become a major concern in the poultry sector, not only due to poor performance and condemnation in processing plants, but also to compromised animal welfare. This article aims at reviewing the main nutrition-based diseases affecting the locomotor system of broiler chickens.

The following review discusses the findings of existing research surrounding the nutritional impact of leaf meals as incorporated in chicken diets, the importance of forages in sustainable poultry production and the capacity of hens to digest high fibre diets. The potential of conventional and/ or outdoor based systems for developing countries, the effects of outdoor production systems on the welfare of laying hens, and methods used in measuring forage intake and the feed items obtained by hens from the outdoor area are also discussed. This review highlights those factors affecting range utilisation, behaviours of free range hens and the recommendations for better range utilisation by laying hens, particularly in the tropics.

Newcastle disease (ND) continues to be a problem in many developing countries. Successful disease control and diagnosis is often difficult because of a lack of biosecurity at farm level, cost-effective field-based diagnostics and seromonitoring tests. The use of fixed chicken red blood cells has been reported to be useful for haemagglutination (HA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests to avoid the cumbersome process of regular blood collection and processing of cells. However, virus isolation and biological characterisation or molecular tests such as polymerase chain reaction followed by sequence analysis are still essential for rapidly pathotyping the epizootic virus isolates. The demonstration of Newcastle virus (NDV) along with case history and clinical signs is of diagnostic importance in unvaccinated flocks. Monoclonal antibodies are not always very effective. The need for the collection of suitable specimens has been reviewed in this study. The disease is mainly controlled by using live vaccines when vaccinating the flock. The live virus vaccines persisting in the poultry house environment seem to be gaining virulence. Efficacy of the vaccine to be assessed reflects the immune status of the vaccinated birds. Filter paper sampling method of sample collection and HI test are reported to be successful for large scale seromonitoring programmes. This review concentrates on different diagnostic tests and their usefulness under field conditions for rapid identification of the disease so that control measures can be implemented at an early stage.

The uses of a prebiotic to replace antibiotic growth promoters, mycotoxin and cholesterol binders in broiler diets have been commonly practiced over the last three decades. Many products have appeared commercially to replace antibiotic growth promoters and to tackle the problems of mycotoxins contamination. Mannose-based carbohydrates, particularly mannan-oligosaccharides from yeast, appear to have properties of coping with the mycotoxin related problems. Over the last three years, studies on the use of copra-mannan (CM) in this respect have produced promising results. CM has been found to effectively improve bird performance. When the birds were challenged against Escherichia coli, the supplementation of the feed with CMs was able to maintain growth performance of birds to the same level as the growth of birds fed commercial mannan-oligosaccharides or antibiotics. Contamination of feed with 0.3 ppm aflatoxin B1 reduced feed digestibility, but not when the feed was mixed with CM. The supplementation of the diet with CMs protects the birds from wet droppings when the birds were challenged by either Escherichia coli or aflatoxin contamination. Since there is a conflicting information about using mannans in the diet, particularly between using legume mannans as an antinutrient and yeast mannans as a pronutrient, this paper reviews the potential use of CMs for the purposes of promoting growth and improving health status of broiler chickens.

Among more than 750 known carotenoids, canthaxanthin (CX) has a special place as a carotenoid with proven antioxidant and other biologically-relevant functions. A great body of evidence indicates that CX possesses high antioxidant activity that was shown in various in vitro model systems as well as in animal experiments in vivo. Antioxidant defences of chicken eggs are based mainly on vitamin E and carotenoids and their concentrations in the egg yolk is dependent on their dietary provision. СX is well absorbed from the feed and effectively transferred to the egg yolk and further to the developing embryo. Increased CX concentration in embryonic tissues is associated with increased resistance to oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress is an important element of increased embryonic mortality during the last week of incubation it is highly likely that dietary CX could support chicken viability after hatch. In well designed experiments, it was proven that CX dietary supplementation of the breeder's diet significantly increased anti-oxidative status in the egg yolk and newly hatched chicks and as a result hatching rate of chicken eggs was significantly increased. Taken together, the aforementioned results clearly indicate that CX provides a great deal of benefits for chicken eggs, embryos and chickens during early postnatal development.

The opportunities for sustainable utilisation and conservation of chicken genetic resources in Southern Africa need to be addressed. Indigenous chickens are an important animal genetic resource amongst resource-limited rural communities of Southern Africa. They play an important socio-economic role in traditional and religious ceremonies of rural households. They are important in customary rites, such as gift payments. Although the productivity of indigenous chickens in terms of growth and number of eggs per hen per year is low, its production is attained with minimal labour and rearing inputs. The low inputs and, consequently, low risk is one of the major advantages of indigenous chickens production. The conservation of these valuable chicken genetic resources is necessary in the light of the rapid loss of indigenous breeds and strains through commercial dilution and breed replacement. All varieties of domestic species and species with potential for domestication are considered to be important candidates for conservation. Indigenous chicken populations with economic potential, scientific use and cultural or aesthetic interest are of particular importance but all indigenous chickens which are unique and endangered should be incorporated into conservation efforts. This phenotypic information could be useful to standardise the different phenotypes within a region or country and design some criteria for characterisation and description of the indigenous chicken populations into breeds. Molecular markers are an indispensable tool to understand the genetic structures of populations. The assessed phenotypic coupled with genetic information could be a powerful tool towards the promotion of conservation and utilisation of indigenous chicken genetic resources.

The poultry industry, with its fast 8-10% growth rate annually, is the second largest industry of Pakistan, however the structural flow of meat products from farmers to consumers is multifaceted. The potential of the meat industry, with its variety of end products, is growing rapidly and serving the wealthier populations of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The meat industry has many emerging constraints for the supply of meat and its products from market to the consumer. Adopting modern poultry farming methods without following the strict hygienic conditions will prove to be a threat in the near future. The traditional supply of all types of meat and related products in the existing market needs strict government monitoring. The structural flow of meat in Pakistan continues in its traditional forms, but nevertheless continues to keep pace with the demands of the Pakistan and Afghanistan. The developing meat industry is facing many emerging problems including diseases, energy crisis and distress sales during disasters, corruption, and government policy. On the whole, the people of Pakistan are conscious about Halal, Healthy and Hygienic (3Hs) meat at a low price. The following paper reviews the current status of poultry meat and its products in this region.

The World's Poultry Science Association was originally formed as the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators in 1912. Its objectives were to foster the development of the poultry industry, and the exchange of information related to poultry science and technology. From small beginnings it has evolved into a strong international organisation with 7700 members in more than 80 countries. The association publishes the World's Poultry Science Journal and promotes and oversees World's Poultry Congresses. It is active in all areas of the poultry industry, from family poultry in developing countries to institutions of research and learning, and production and processing in the industrial world.

The introduction of the UK Protection of Animals Act 1911 demonstrates that animal welfare has been of concern for at least a century. The matter came to the fore about 50 years ago, when the welfare of hens in battery cages became an issue. Since then poultry welfare research and the development of superior management and housing systems for poultry have been stimulated by the lobbying of animal welfare organisations along with subsequent policy decisions and legislation. WPSA WG9 was formed in 1972 to encourage scientific studies to inform the poultry welfare debate; its members have positively influenced research and development of welfare-friendly housing systems and husbandry throughout Europe. They have also been active in EU projects aimed at improving the wellbeing of poultry e.g. LayWel, EFSA Opinions and Welfare Quality®. Information derived from such projects has influenced EU Directives and national legislation on the protection and welfare of laying hens and broilers, in particular.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr D. Grastilleur, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.