A two-days conference of World Veterinary Poultry Association (India) 2023 was jointly organized by College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, NDVSU, Jabalpur and World Veterinary Poultry Association (India) on“ Recent Advances in Avian Diseases and Management: A Global Perspective” during 24-25 February, 2023 at Pasricha Resorts and Banquets, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The formal inauguration of the conference was carried out on 24th February by the chief guest Dr. O.P. Chaudhary, Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India. Prof. (Dr.) Sita Prasad Tiwari, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor NDVSU, Jabalpur presided over the function and Dr. A.S. Yadav, Director, Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Animal Health, Uttar Pradesh; Dr. R.K. Jaiswal, President Indian Broiler Group were Guest of Honour. The dais was shared by Dr. Mahendra Singh, Dr. Sudheer Yadav, Hon’ble Board Members, NDVSU, Jabalpur; Dr. R.N. Chetterjee, Direcetor, ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad; Dr. Aniket Sanyal, Director, ICAR- NIHSAD, Bhopal; Dr. A.S. Ranade, Dean MVC, Mumbai; Dr. R.K. Sharma, Dean, CVSc & AH., Jabalpur & Organising Secretary, WVPA (India) 2023; Dr Jeetendra Verma President, World Veterinarian Poultry Association (India); Mr. Ajith Gunasekra, President, Island Poultry Farmers Association, Sri Lanka; Mr. Ramesh Khatri, Chairperson PFI; Mr. Ranpal Dhanda, President, PFI and Dr. Shirish Nigam, General Secretary, WVPA (India). Dr. RK Sharma welcomed the guests. Dr Jeetendra Verma, President WVPA (India) delivered the WVPA (India) Presidential speech, Dr Shirish Nigam, presented the report on activities of WVPA (India) and finally Dr. Girraj Goyal, Co-Organizing Secretary presented the Vote of Thanks.
The conference was attended by more than 200 participants including scientists, academicians, Industrialist, students and poultry farmers from India and abroad. During these two days the discussion was carried out on various burning topics in four major sessions including Diseases Management and Biosecurity Challenges, Advances in Poultry Breeding and Nutrition, Advances in Poultry Products Technology and Marketing and Brain Storming session on Industry- Academia interaction to accelerate the growth of Indian Poultry Industry. A Total 14 lead paperswere presented by scientists and industry stalwarts from India and Abroad (USA, Europe, South Korea, China, Sri Lanka) in the conference. Among themDr. Myeong Seob Kim and Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez Garcia from Spain; Mr. Bohumir Simerda from Czech Republic; Dr. Manjunatha Mahabalarao from USA; Dr. Max Hwagyun Oh from South Korea and Ajith H. Gunasekera from Sri lanka from across the globe and Dr. Ali Asgar, Dr. Chakradhar Tosh, Prof. (Dr.) G. Devegowda, Dr. Sanjay Gavkare, Dr. Milind Chawak, Dr. Sudipto Haldar, Ms. Meghal Singh from Indiapresented the lead papers.
Researchers including post graduate students from across the India presented their research in the form of poster presentations before the expert’s panel of eminent scientists, academicians and industry personnel. First, second and third prizes were given in different sessions for research paper presentation. In the first session (Diseases Management andBiosecurity Challenges)Dr. Naveen, Dr. Deshpande, Dr. Dipti, Dr. Chaitanya, Dr. Waghule; In the second session (Advances in Poultry Breeding and Nutrition)Dr. Dinani, Dr. Desai, Dr. Gupta,V, Dr. Ramteke, Dr. Kharvi, Dr. Anjana and in the third session (Advances in Poultry Products technology and Marketing) Dr. Tomar S, Dr. Shriram, Dr. Rather, Dr. Vandana, Dr. Nagre had received prizes.
After the technical sessions, the Valedictoryceremony was organized, which was presided over by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor NDVSU, Dr. S.P. Tiwari. The chief guest was Dr. U.K. Mishra, Former Vice-Chancellor Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu University, Durg, Chhattisgarh., Dr. PK Shukla, Dean, CVSc. & AH., DUVASU, Mathura, Dr. Sudheer Yadav, Dr. R.K. Sharma, Dr. Jeetendra Verma, Dr. B. Barman, PRO, WVPA (India)were also present on the stage.
The report of the technical sessions was presented by Dr. Girraj Goyal, Co-organizing Secretary, WVPA (India) 2023. After that, prizes were given to 15 research scholars who got first, second and third positions in research paper presentations. Dr. Anil Shinde, Dr. Laxmi Chauhan, Dr. Devendra Kumar Gupta, Dr. Nitin Kumar Bajaj and Dr. Aditya Mishra had played an important role to make the conference successful.All the participants, the university officialsand WVPA (India) office bearers, faculty of CVSc. & AH., Jabalpurwere present in the valedictoryceremony. Vote of thanks was presented by Dr Bichitra Barman.
WVPA (India) acknowledges the presence of other associations and their office bearers to grace the occasion. The presence of PFI, IVPI, INFAH, CLFMA, KBFBA, IPSA, IPEMA, IPFA (Sri Lanka) was very well recognised.
At the conclusion of the conference, the following recommendations may be drawn for sustainable, environmentally friendly and profitable poultry production
- For disease free poultry production there is need to work upon development of genetically resistance stocks,
- To address the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), development and evaluation of newer antibiotic alternatives like antimicrobial peptides (AMP), essential oils, bacteriophages, synbiotics, phytogenics and postbiotics.
- To reduce the prices of poultry produce, there is need to improve the scientific knowledge for utilizing low cost locally available agro-industrial by-products including brewery waste, distilled dried grains, cashew apple waste, alternate grains like ragi, bajra and green fodders lie cowpea leaves in poultry feed.
- Newer approaches like in-ovo sex determination, in-ovo vaccination, in-ovo feeding are imminent in future to compete with global market.
- The proper disposal of waste through rendering, bio-gas plant and composting and addressing the welfare issues through improved cages are also required for environmental sustainability and global acceptance of poultry products.
- A commitment to the One Health approach by the Indian poultry Industry for addressing complex health problems would be the leader’s step in the global poultry market. To implement the One Health concept, development of infrastructure like surveillance laboratory networks, microbial risk assessment and trans-disciplinary skill development may be the future tasks to be undertaken. Emphasizing One Health in the chicken farm-to-fork concept will surely be boost consumer’s trust in poultry products.
- Development of strong and systematic network of co-operatives would be the paradigm shift in Indian poultry sector as co-operative poultry farming will provide the infrastructure, credit and marketing facilities to potential rural and tribal farmers.
- Inclusion of women and youth through self-help groups (SHG) and Farmer Producer companies (FPO) for infrastructure growth, entrepreneurial skill development and investment flow in poultry farming and marketing would be a big step towards neutralizing the gender inequality in our society.
- Formulation of newer policies or modifications in existing regulations in respect with poultry industry are also required to make our poultry produce globally competent in terms of quantity, quality and prices as well.
We are sure that the WVPA (India) 2023 conference has provided an opportunity to the researchers, industrialists, policy makers and poultry farmers to discuss the recent advances in avian diseases and management and chalk out the strategies to manage the increasing disease challenges, upscaling feed prices and changing consumer demands.
WVPA (India) Executive Council and Organising team extend heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and their officers for extending the financial help and the support needed to make this event a grand success. Without their support this would have not been possible. Special thanks are due to Dr Phalke who attended the conference despite of his ill health. Dr Sushanth Rai, President, KPFBA, Dr HK Deka, MD NSPDT presence made the difference.
