Reduce costs, disease in poultry industry

The government aims to improve food security in Bangladesh by increasing the availability of poultry meat to 160 grams per person each day and eggs to 208 pieces per person each year but to achieve this goal, the production and retail cost of these items should be reduced.

Monjur Mohammad Shahjada, director general of the Department of Livestock Services, made this comment during the opening ceremony of the 5th World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) Asia Meeting-2022 in Dhaka yesterday.

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"Our main concern now is to reduce production costs. If we can reduce the disease load, then we can reduce costs. For that matter biosecurity should be strictly followed at the farm level," said Abu Luthfe Fazle Rahim Khan Shahriar, executive member of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council.

"If we cannot control diseases and ensure food safety, we will have to face hurdles to enter the competitive international market," he added.

Shahriar went on to say that the poultry industry in the rural economy plays a big role in reversing migration from villages to big cities.

Nicolas Eterradossi, president of WPVA (global), said new diseases are emerging in poultry industries across the world and combating them is a big challenge for the sector.

"Our main concern now is to reduce production costs. If we can reduce the disease load, then we can reduce costs. For that matter biosecurity should be strictly followed at the farm level."

"Scientists and veterinarians will have to play a vital role in this regard," he added.

French scientist Christophe Cazaban said significant improvements have been made in the ability to simultaneously detect several pathogens from one given sample, opening a new venue in epidemiological surveys, disease management and risk awareness for every veterinarian.

"If you know the enemy and yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither, you will succumb in every battle," Cazaban added.

Rafiqul Islam, president of WVPA (Bangladesh), and Dr Bishwajit Roy, secretary, urged scientists and veterinarians to come forward in combatting emerging diseases in the poultry sector.

Over 300 delegates from home and abroad, including poultry veterinarians, allied professionals, and other public and private sector stakeholders joined the meeting.