<div>Background: Limited biosecurity measures in smallholder poultry facilities expose birds to various pathogens as a result, poultry products particularly raw ones are reported to be responsible for cases of human foodborne diseases. The aim of the study was to profile and characterise the zoonotic bacterial pathogens in water, poultry mouth and rectal swabs in a value chain project of Capricorn district, Limpopo Province, South Africa. 
 
Methods: A total of 74 samples comprising of 14 water samples, 60 mouth and rectal swab samples were collected from the farms. The samples were screened for the presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. through selective cultivation.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study revealed that the water resources, mouth and rectal swab samples of chickens were contaminated by coliform bacteria. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., were dominant isolates. E. coli strains that were isolated from the water sources, mouth and rectal swabs of the chickens showed strong resistance to gentamycin, neomycin, penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and ampicillin. K. pneumoniae showed resistant to neomycin; penicillin; erythromycin while K. oxytoca and E. absuriae showed similar antibiotic resistance profile as penicillin, erythromycin, nalidixic acid and ampicillin.</div>

Presence of Coliforms in Water, Poultry Mouth and Rectal Swabs from Selected Smallholder Poultry Farming Projects of Capricorn District, South Africa

Animal raising activities have become one of the enormously flourishing sectors in Indian agriculture. Within livestock sector, the poultry husbandry started from a backyard venture and became a commercial agro-business generating revenue to the farmers. Poultry farming, comprising of Layer farming and Broiler farming, not only enhances food security, but has also been a remunerative source of income. The present paper is an attempt to give an overview of poultry farming in India, with special reference to Punjab. The poultry farming is a complete scientific process as it includes breeding, brooding, incubation, housing, rearing and feeding. The study revealed that poultry farming has been rising 5 times more than that of the agriculture crop production, which in turn pushed India to attain a substantial position in the world market. The percentage of poultry birds, production of eggs and meat registered an upswing. Due to its peculiarities of low investment, short gestation period and adaptability with different climatic conditions, it&rsquo;s in the reach of the farmers.&nbsp;

Poultry Farming in India with Special Reference to Punjab: An Overview

<div>Background: Transmission of antibiotic resistance from animal food chain to human through animal food-borne pathogens have led to increased public concern. Wider surveillance on prevalence of antibiotic resistance in E. coli will provide information on evolution of resistance in various geographical locations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolates from poultry under various farming system in A and N Islands and resistance genes of tet, ctx-M and aac encoding the isolates.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Isolates were obtained from cloacal swabs in poultry under various farming systems and tested against major antimicrobial derivatives to study multi drug resistance. The presence of genes associated with resistance to tetracycline (tet A), ESBL (CTX-M) and Gentamycin (aac(3)-IV) were determined by PCR.&nbsp; 
 
Result: A total of 126 cloacal samples were analysed out of which 31.38% of the E.coli isolates from poultry under various farming systems were producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases and were multiple antimicrobial resistant. Poultry birds of commercial farms showed higher resistance levels (37.5%) than organised farms (24.76%) and desi birds (31.88%). Results indicate a high level of multi-drug resistance is emerging even in desi birds. It is suggested that an antimicrobial resistance surveillance program is needed in A and N Islands in order to detect bacterial resistance among rural poultry production as the 80 percentage of total poultry population belong to desi birds.</div>

<div>Distribution of TET, AAC and CTX-M Genes among Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated From Poultry under Various Farming System of A and N Islands</div>

Background: There are a number of densely situated marginal, small as well as large farmers, registered as well as unregistered poultry farms in the various pockets of this region. This region has witnessed a revolutionary history of poultry growth for decades. It seems that there is great potential in rearing of poultry under backyard farming system which is one of the pre-requisite components for organic poultry farming. Keeping these facts and looking the importance and due to limited information regarding organic poultry farming and documentation and validation of ethnoveterinary remedies should be carried out for treatment of poultry disease under organic poultry system. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: An analytical study of organic poultry farming was conducted on 240 randomly selected poultry farmers of 16 villages in 08 tehsils of 04 districts of Non-tribal and Tribal areas of southern Rajasthan to identify the different types of health care practices adopted by the respondents in rearing of poultry farming. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The data on health management practices revealed that majority of the respondents practice self-treatment of sick birds (43.33 and 41.67%), do not follow vaccination of chicks (85.00 and 92.50%), attack by a predator was the main cause of mortality (60.00 and 61.67%), coryza was the major disease encountered at their farm (55.00 and 60.00%), do not follow deworming programme (79.16 and 90.83%), reported non-availability of veterinary facilities (94.16 and 96.67%) and do not use antibiotics/growth promoters for poultry with (100 and 100%), respectively in Non-TSP and TSP area. The majority of respondents throw the dead birds in the open (85.40 and 91.67%), don&rsquo;t use lime/quick lime for disinfection in poultry shed (85.84 and 95.84%), culling the birds due to sickness (50.83 and 53.33%), use herbal medicine (85.00 and 79.16%), cleaning of water trough weekly (60.00 and 64.16%), reported 15-20 percent mortality (55.00 and 50.00%) and report monsoon season is major seasonal incidence of disease with&nbsp; 62.50 and 67.50%, respectively in Non-TSP and TSP area.

Health Care Management Practices Adopted for Organic Poultry Farming in TSP and Non-TSP Area of Rajasthan

<div>Background: Rural poultry farming with improved dual purpose chicken varieties is fast growing in the country. The meat quality of cocks and its acceptance by the consumer is important for its propagation as dual purpose variety. The two way cross produced by PD-1 xPD-4 (improved Aseel) was evaluated for growth, carcass and meat quality. 
 
Metohds: The growth, carcass and meat quality traits were evaluated in a two way cross developed and propagated for rural poultry farming at ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. The data collected on 232 birds for growth, 40 birds for carcass and 20 birds for meat quality were utilized for the study.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The body weight and shank length significantly (P&le;0.05) differed between the sexes from six weeks onwards with higher (P&le;0.05) body weights and longer shanks in males. The six week body weight and shank length were 578.23&plusmn;8.22g and 78.93&plusmn;6.22 mm in males and 548.28&plusmn;7.20 g and 76.15&plusmn;5.28 mm in females, respectively. The Least squares means for body weight at 12 weeks of age in males and females were 1652.61&plusmn;21.49 and 1367.86 &plusmn;14.99 g, respectively. Males had strong legs with significantly (P&le;0.05) high proportion of thigh meat. The effect of sex was non-significant on Dressing percentage (DP), neck, back and breast meat proportions. The DP was 71.12&plusmn;0.22% in males and 72.51&plusmn;0.43 % in females, respectively. The bone proportion was higher (P&le;0.05) in males. Abdominal fat proportion was significantly (P&le;0.05) higher in pullets. Feather proportion was higher (P&le;0.05) in males. Sex did not show any significant variation on the pH, Shear force value (SFV) and Hydroxy Proline (HP) values. The yellowness (b*) differed (P&pound;0.05) between the sexes and it was lower in males. The fat and moisture content differed significantly (P&le;0.05) between the sexes. Fat proportion was higher (P&le;0.05) in females (3.57&plusmn;0.05) than in males (2.97&plusmn;0.01). Protein and ash proportions were similar in both the sexes. The sensory attributes ranged from 6.55 to 7.15 &nbsp;on an eight point scale in two-way cross meat indicating better consumer acceptability. The study concluded that, two-way cross with ideal growth, carcass and optimum meat quality and reasonable consumer acceptability may be a suitable variety for propagating in rural and tribal areas under free range backyard conditions.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Evaluation of Growth, Carcass and Meat Quality of a Two-way Cross Developed for Rural Poultry Farming</div>

Organic livestock farming promotes the use of organic and biodegradable inputs from the ecosystem in terms of animal nutrition, animal health, animal housing and breeding. It is getting popular in many countries including India due to increased consumers&rsquo; demand of organic products and environmental concerns. Sound managemental aspect of organic livestock farming stands upon the nutritional management of the animals for better performance and animal health. Animal nutrition plays a key role to prevent infections, to provide wellbeing to the animals through better immunity and to improve animal production. Thus, roles of nutritionists and veterinarians are more important in organic system than conventional system which needs improved nutritional management and efficient surveillances of diseases and organisms that are economically important.

Strategic nutritional management for organic livestock and&nbsp;poultry farming-A review

The study was conducted at 6 tehsils (Newai, Tonk, Uniara, Todarai singh, Deoli and Malpura) of Tonk district of Rajasthan. One thousand and two hundred chicks of six weeks age were purchased from Maharana Pratap University, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Two groups of ten farmers each were sekected from each tehsil. 10 chicks were provided to each farmer which was broiler and layer mixed. The average increased weight of broiler was 3.66&plusmn;19.34 kg under Akodia village group and 3.94&plusmn;19.34 kg was under Talibpura village group. Akodia village group was slowly gaining weight compare than Talibpura village group because they were providing vermin waste which contained more amounts of proteins. The findings of Harnoda village group in I, II, II, IV, V and VI month was found to be 480&plusmn;22g, 480&plusmn;14g, 640&plusmn;09g, 710&plusmn;22g, 720&plusmn;20g and 730&plusmn;21g fed crop waste to the poultry chicks and other essential contents of diet were similar with other groups. In case of meat it was slowly growing compare than Fuleta village group because Fuleta village group was providing Fish waste which contained more amounts of vitamins and minerals. Harnoda village group reported the number of egg was 06&plusmn;01, 07&plusmn;02, 09&plusmn;01, 10&plusmn;02, 09&plusmn;01 and 09&plusmn;02 respectively in six months with an average of 8.33&plusmn;02. The performance of Harnoda village group was better than Akodia and Fuleta village group but poor in comparison with Talibpura, Panwar and Barbas village group because of difference in feeding, locally available sources of feed and water quality. Talibpura village group reported that the number of egg was 08&plusmn;02, 10&plusmn;02, 11&plusmn;01, 11&plusmn;02, 10&plusmn;02, 11&plusmn;02 and 11&plusmn;03 respectively in six months with an average of 10&plusmn;02. It was best performance of this study due to improved feeding, water quality and managmental factors. Environmental factors may affect the production of broiler and layers. 
&nbsp;

Utilisation of agricultural wastes in participatory poultry farming with&nbsp;women under climatic conditions of Tonk district of Rajasthan&nbsp;

<div style="text-align:justify">Modern intensive monocropping system is becoming unproductive, pest ridden, loss incurring, and resource depleting and hence turning out to be untenable. Lack of discrimination in input use by farm managers and overall poor management are accelerating degradation and desertification processes, and loss of biodiversity particularly add in endangered regions. &nbsp;While, properly designed diverse and strategically located tree/seasonal crop based land use systems can contribute to ecologic services by mitigation land degradation, climate change and desertification, while conserving natural resources and biodiversity. Besides providing, diverse goods and services, on-farm diversity can be considered as an adoptive strategy in areas climatically and biologically vulnerable. Being a potential C sink, tree based land use systems can also mitigate negative impacts of CO2 emission. As green belt/bank these have an important role in maintaining air, water and soil quality in mining and industrial areas. The so-called cellulosic feedstocks can be grown on marginal land, enhance soil fertility by promoting the growth of various soil organisms, and provide a climate- friendly source of energy. There are plenty of underexploited but potential plant species which can find niche in the existing agroecosystems with substantial addition to total production while contributing sufficiently to ecological services. These needs to be identified and useful models are developed for specific situations.</div>

On-farm crop diversity for sustainability and resilience in farming - A review

In India, nearly 76 million hectares of land is under rain fed cultivation and therefore, rain fed agriculture will continue to play an important role in the Indian economy. The discouraging results of conventional cropping systems in advancing the productivity of small farms were the driving force in the development of farming systems research. It views the whole farm as a system with the integration of crops, animals, poultry, soils, labor and other all available inputs and environmental influences wherein the farm family attempts to produce outputs within the limitations of its capability and resources and the socio-cultural setting. IFS seem to be the possible solution to the continuous increase of demand for food and nutrition and income stability particularly for small and marginal farmers with little resources. This new concept of IFS will help in productivity enhancement, employment generation, gave more income and nutritional security both for human and livestock. IFS different components are complementary relate with each other and one component become source of food for other components. This literature on scope of rain-fed integrated farming system in dry farming condition is reviewed and presented below.

Scope of Rain-fed Integrated Farming System in Dry Farming Condition: A Review&nbsp;

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Perception is the way something is regarded/understood. It is mainly created by two factors; one is physiological and another is psychological characteristics of the human being. Thus, perception is not only physiological process that is what one sees with the eyes it is a much more complex process involving psychological process too, by which any person selectively assimilates and gives meaning to the stimuli in the environment. It is subjective process, thatis why different people perceive the same stimuli in different manner. The current study aimed to study the factors affecting perception of farm families towards farming as an occupation. 
Methods: The present study was conducted to ascertain the factors affecting perception of farm families towards farming as an occupation. The results are based on the perspective of different researchers.&nbsp; 
Result: There were six major factorsidentified namely economic, socio-cultural, physical, personal, psychological and push and pull factors affecting perception. The economic factors comprised of variables like income, cost of agricultural production and vicious cycle of debt and loan in farming and socio-cultural factors had variables like professional and social status of farming along with family influence affecting children occupational choice. Personal factors consisted of personal interest and satisfaction of farmers derived from farming while physical factors included hard work and lack of resources along with hazardous working conditions in farming. Stress prevalentamong farmers and satisfaction of farmers either with farming income or its status and risk associated with farming as a profession were studied under psychological factors. Push and pull factors comprised the reasons of farm families attracting towards urban areas for achieving better employment avenues and higher social status and prestige associated with other occupations.</div>

Presence of Coliforms in Water, Poultry Mouth and Rectal Swabs from Selected Smallholder Poultry Farming Projects of Capricorn District, South Africa

Poultry Farming in India with Special Reference to Punjab: An Overview

Distribution of TET, AAC and CTX-M Genes among Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated From Poultry under Various Farming System of A and N Islands

Health Care Management Practices Adopted for Organic Poultry Farming in TSP and Non-TSP Area of Rajasthan

Evaluation of Growth, Carcass and Meat Quality of a Two-way Cross Developed for Rural Poultry Farming

Strategic nutritional management for organic livestock and poultry farming-A review

Utilisation of agricultural wastes in participatory poultry farming with women under climatic conditions of Tonk district of Rajasthan

On-farm crop diversity for sustainability and resilience in farming - A review

Scope of Rain-fed Integrated Farming System in Dry Farming Condition: A Review

Factors Affecting Perception of Farm Families Towards Farming as an Occupation