Livestock Wala'au

Ep. 08 Poultry Nutrition

• Dr. Rajesh Jha • Season 1 • Episode 8

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In this episode we will be talking about Poultry Nutrition with Dr.  Rajesh Jha, Professor of Animal Nutrition with UH Manoa, CTAHR. 

If you have any questions feel free to contact us at walaau@hawaii.edu

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Shannon Sand:

Aloha Today's episode is brought to you by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the livestock extension group.

Melelani Oshiro:

Aloha welcome everyone to the livestock Wala'au a podcast aimed to provide educational support information, guidance and outreach to our livestock stakeholders in Hawaii. We are your hosts Millie Oshiro and Shane and sand. And today we're going to be talking about poultry nutrition with Dr. Rajesh Jha, who is a professor of Animal Nutrition with you h Manoa. Thank you, Dr. Jha, for joining us today. And he Dr. Shah has been with you h CTAHR. Since 2012, as a professor of Animal Nutrition, and I've been one of his students. He has worked in various countries, including Canada and New Zealand, focusing on animal nutrition with a variety of livestock species. Dr. Shah, would you like to share more with us about your position at u h Manoa?

Dr. Rajesh Jha:

Thank you million Sana. Thanks for having me on this. So today, it has been a really pleasure working with you both for a long time and sharing our thoughts on different aspects of the livestock sector and other activities related to our college program. So nice to work always together, you know, definitely something fun to work with. Yeah. And when you look for my background, actually, I'm hitting Aryan toward animal nutritionist, because some of you might not be knowing you simply know I'm professor of Animal Nutrition. But basically, I'm waiting area. So actually, I was born and raised in F Ha, you know, and after completing my veterinary degree, I joined public service like you people, but with the Department of Labor services of Nepal, and work there as a livestock development official. So I work around seven years there as a field veterinarian come livestock extension specialist. Nice. And it was really an exciting time exciting job, because you go to work directly with farmers directly people stakeholders all around and can make some difference, you know, direct difference to the farmers, you know, so when I was there, actually, I got very good understanding of livestock system. Why? Because I got to work on different livestock systems, various type, you know, smaller scale to larger scale, helping commercial program development to very backyard program development, you know, those farmers are so diverse, you know, so this all kind of activities made me feel like oh, that's that's something to give part of a complete package. You know, so this is how I started my carrier, professional carrier. No.

Melelani Oshiro:

Wow, wow. I didn't realize that you worked in very similar sector, you know, working in Extension and Outreach and, and whatnot. That's very cool. I didn't realize that new every day, right.

Unknown:

That's, that's the fun part of when we interact here, we simply because we don't have to dig out that much in past because we are so overwhelmed with current activities. So we are like focused on what we are doing. When I came here. I started as a faculty. So my job is more like, instruction or resource. But my first love was extend some you know, honestly, I couldn't forget, you know, yeah, you remember your first class, but never forget. Yeah. So my professional carrier. If it didn't sound why, why was my first love? Yeah, so I worked seven year, despite a twist in this teaching still. So literally, in the very first week, I came away in Oahu. And the very first week, I was on Big Island, in a meeting. Yes, I'm telling on the record. Thanks to other colleagues, you know, Dr. G. And I used to work with Mark on very much that. So I started working, although I have like my limited time with research, extension services because of heavy load in teaching. But still, I couldn't give up the person, you know. Yeah. And I started working with Parma. And of course, then in rescue the history, you know, that how often we have been working together and different things. Yeah. So yeah, I still continue that, to some extent, as much as my time allows to the best of my time. I do. Yeah. This is something else in brief. That's my background, rather than resource or more on extensor part.

Shannon Sand:

Yeah. Well, that's good. I was like, you have a lot of projects going on, because I know Mellie and I both cooperated with you in the past and currently on a couple of different things. And, like, as far as a researcher goes, you I always feel like you you do a lot of stuff that like pulls in applied people like myself as like an ag economist and mele as like an animal science background. So I was like I always I don't know, I always really appreciate that. But yeah, you have so many projects going on. So could you share some of the projects related to poultry nutrition that you're involved in right now?

Unknown:

Definitely, definitely. Thanks Anna Nina, it is a very good point. Again, it goes back to my background, as I mentioned, broad base is always important, but the main theme of my research is covering the different aspects of nutritional related science, you know. And this basically objectives are to conduct and pestle did both basic and applied research, you know, why? Because I want to insert some of the questions that are related to both local and global animal industries, and of public health importance and sentiments and that you like, why because the project's outcome directly relates to the people's life, then ended up meaning, you know, but if you go on my research program, basically, these are directed toward developing nutritional strategies, you know, to enhance the productivity and health of monogastric animals. So podcast is there. And that ultimate goal, I want to develop this season models, which can help animals business and the livestock industry to develop effective breeding program, you know, why that's important? Because the pig market is volatile, volatile,

Shannon Sand:

especially here, yes, it like, I mean, it's volatile on the mainland right now. And in the last, basically two years with everything that's going on, I like to say BC things are BC before COVID. And it's just, I mean, it's, it's crazy,

Unknown:

you're gonna make you set up but the addition not only here actually is global issue. Yes. Not only BC before before or after COVID Actually, it is always the case, but the thing is what leads sometimes like big waves, sometimes little smaller waves, yeah, that is very important. Another important thing is nowadays, our livestock industry is biggest challenge is what we call farming in post antibiotic era, you know, means people are looking for the animal based food, which is produced without antibiotics. Right. Another part of important concern, which you all are seriously concerned is environmental issue. Yeah, we are sometimes blamed overly, you know, I don't take that I don't accept that as some of the bloggers or on the activist make the point, but at the same time, we as an animal scientists genuinely also admit some sort of environmental concerns are in our production system. So, I want to develop the decision model that can fit not only to address the cost of the PID or cost effective production in this system at the same time, which is environmental friendly, reducing less environmental burden, you know, that is one concern, I have been working evaluating some of the alternative feedstocks, you know,

Shannon Sand:

oh, cool.

Unknown:

So, you know, in Hawaii, we have to think how we can grow different kinds of animals, right, cost effective way and we are struggling with the fittest of course, it is most important post in our animal products and system the highest cost you know, basically Yeah, so, that is the main focus. So, determining nutritional health and also determining the optimum utilization in given condition. That is something my main focus of the project. And why as I mentioned, all of this, my worst motivation is to serve the need of current days consumers demand, what is the demand of healthy and environmentally friendly animal products on system? At the same time, we want to maintain the industry's competitiveness, yes. Because if the industry is not there, how we are going to produce healthier environmental friendly, while the surviving industry is not enough, because we need to address the people's concern. So that is the focus of my research program.

Melelani Oshiro:

Yeah, so many projects. I know you've had so many projects dealing with poultry and have visited the lab with you folks and whatnot. So have you guys come across any things within your studies, I guess, looking at poultry nutrition and any deficiencies that were commonly associated with some of the systems here in Hawaii,

Unknown:

very good question. Maybe they don't, but unfortunately, what I will say I don't have any straight answer for your question. The reason is, you know, most of our Hawaiian palms are what a smaller scale family on right fishy poultry farms hardly there is any what I call commercial scale. Yeah, although facili they are labeled as commercial to some extent you know, in that case accepts to farmers mostly what they are doing feeding their animals or poultry with whatever is around sometimes grab some time waste some time anything sometimes even formulated diet they buy from you know the stores. So literally in that case, if they are feeding the formulated rasa, what we call the imported feed here in Hawaii, we use the one then that case the feats are what we call balanced diet, that will meet the all the nutritional requirement. But if you simply give some sort of brain whatever you have around leftover or something All right, good. We cannot expect that it will meet all the requirements of your bar. Yeah. That impact for sure that is clearly visible, you know, when we call like seeing the output impact this information. So if you see, our farmers chicken are not growing we'll you know, in our commercial setup in a well balanced formulation program or feeding program, literally in PI weeks now we are marketing our broilers market sizes in five weeks. Yeah. Not able to gain harvest even after eight or nine or 10 weeks. Yeah. Why? That is clear indication of that there is nutritional deficiency. Right. Right. Right. They are not reaching the potential of their growth, you know, they cannot because nutrition is most to date, right? Or utilize the genetic potential. So, I'm sure I didn't give you a straight answer. But I think you got what I mean. Yeah,

Melelani Oshiro:

no, but I think that that answer is I mean, that your last point about, you know, if your animals aren't meeting your expectations and growth, whether it be laying hens or broilers, you know, they're not getting the weight, you're not harvesting them at the date you are you're not collecting eggs every day from them, then you need to address and think about what they're eating. What are they getting? How much are you giving it? And what are you miss? Adjust? Yeah, there's obviously a deficiency somewhere, nutritionally wise, that's leading them to not be productive and meet those goals. So Correct. Yeah, that's a great way to put it, you know, it's sometimes pinpointing a single thing is not not something it's a it's a it's a group of fake trades. So well, especially because we got all the

Shannon Sand:

climates the different microclimate.

Melelani Oshiro:

Yeah, I mean, a common thing that I always see, you know, folks feel like, I don't know if it's like, from books are from Kid time and story time that you kind of think, oh, chickens just need to have like this cracked corn or fed scraps or things like that, and they still were producing in our whatnot, when it really comes down to the protein content and what they're eating. And they're that ability for that to provide that nutrition, right? Am I wrong? Or is that kind of like? Well,

Unknown:

you're absolutely right. I'm sure you remember, the course here. As you mentioned, I was not going to point out here because we are now 640 to advance in malnutrition, or some other point I was talking, it's not that you just gave crack, or it not just gave you like just like a soybean meal or whatever, right? It's like simply thing, if I offer you more than one plate of rice, and the afternoon, I'll give you a good barbecue chicken in the evening, I will give you one bottle of salad. Is that right? We are feeding but at the same time if Hi Mark does all kinds of different period and give you a portion of that. That is going to violence, right? Very simple labor language. Yeah, yep. Yeah, exactly. That applies in our animal case, you know, chicken case or any animals biscuit. So now farmers case is simply throw the corn is like simply I gave you a rice to it and one big plate of rice, that's not going to fulfill the additional. So it's about energy, you know, meeting protein also meeting minerals, also meeting vitamins, the vitamins all nutritional what we call six classes of nutrients must be sufficiently meeting. Also important Did you know they will repeating same thing to the boiler, same pewter layers? That's not the same thing, basically, you know, because of the age of your animal, because of the production status of your animal that has to be changed. Same like in our human, you know, we don't eat the same food to our baby and sample to our elderly population. Or somebody who's really physically working hard. Yeah, yeah. Literally. Think broiler why broiler need to grow. So something feed that will help them to be muscle mass, right growth. At the same time layers, you don't want something that will grow them bigger. You don't want have 10 kilos. Yeah, you want standard size? What is healthy recall? At the time optimum, then after you want to focus to have more and more egg laying. Right? Yeah, so your nutritional program should be directed toward maintaining their health. Not forget that though there is still the laying hen has to maintain their body condition, but focuses on egg laying regularly, good quality. So nutritional program will change based on the age based on the six based on the products on a status dissolving. But farmers as humans are wanting to simply throw some crackers or whatever they have, right. It's not their fault. It's because of our system, you know, because backyard farming systems like that.

Melelani Oshiro:

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's very interesting. Good points. You talked a bit about gut health too, as well as the research and some of the focuses. So how, how important is that? I guess and how much impact is promoting good gut health in your poultry impact their production

Unknown:

Oh boy, you raise the point, which is what I call super hot topic these days, you know, around all around TV and now as humans and even Parmar start talking that forget about the scientific forum anywhere. And believe me, if you just go on my website, you can see my topics of presentation all around. Even more than half are related to nutrition and got health.

Shannon Sand:

Right. I feel like you were into probiotics for animals before people even knew it was based on what we read your side a little bit.

Unknown:

That's been part of why, but yeah, exactly. It was not as much as nowadays it is becoming popular. I'm also not that young, you think so? differently. I'm working this out for like, a half decade now. You know, so definitely, when you see my name, and you see, like 15 years ago, I have a presentation on publication on that it means I have been working on that for like, more than a decade. Wow. Yeah, but you are right. Literally, this was not that super hot. Yeah, you know, when you have problem, then you find solution, right. So first thing you have to realize, I want to show you why it is hot topic. That's more important, you know, why so much works out there, why it is being discussed so much, you have to understand the background of that, why you need to study. And that is very essential. Now, I want to remind you, you know, Hippocrates, a great philosopher, Wala'au person, you know, like 400 BC, I believe, yeah, or something like that. He has quoted, and I always remember the His Word, live seats in the bowel. You know, in case you have heard this, quote, Hippocrates. And actually, that is my big mantra, you know, yeah. And that is, so I assume I remember when I was outside, my grandma will tell you the same thing basically, that you know, anything the root problem is in our bow. So if your bowel is good, you kind of feel freeze. And believe me, it seems like kind of gross, but in a day when your bowel is not fresh, you don't feel pressed. Yeah, right.

Melelani Oshiro:

That's true.

Shannon Sand:

Like percent agree with that. Yeah.

Unknown:

Seems like joke seems like like this statement. But that is a serious statement. So I didn't hesitate to use even off the on the record, you know, yeah. Why, because anything and everything we eat, goes in bowel will be digested, absorbed, and then used in our body funds. If anything goes wrong there, no matter what you ate, will not be utilized properly, you know, now, that's the reason, whatever you want to eat, that need to be used by your body, and that is the god function. But the problem here is God hailed as humans and Malay, it is a hot topic. And some of us are doing not only me, a lot of people are doing all around. But it's so complex, but talks sometimes so lightly. It's literally it's not so easy. It's really, really complex topic that we need to discuss, man, people define it differently. The biggest problem comes, people define differently. Why? Because some people take Oh, nutrient utilization, some people will be talking about intestinal microbiota, and they call it gut health, some people will talk about immune system they call got it some people will talk about in intestinal barrier function, all right. But it is not going to serve your purpose. Why? Because you have to see the holistic approach, you want to see a whole elephant. So I believe God helped in a holistic approach. And whenever I work, in case you have seen my papers, and watch also, I look all components, and then see does it make sense or not. So God help Edmondson, we are thinking, how we can create an appropriate environment, I use the word or like if you see and system in the site, got ecology, so that you feed your animal that will be used by it properly. And how it was, as I was talking one component, so literally, we know in our God, or in this time, there are trillions of microbiota as you know, and those are big players. Yeah. In general, whenever the word come bacteria or microbiota, we get kind of negates the sense right, like it should be harmful. That's not true. There are some harmful bacteria also, but there are lots of beneficial bacteria cells. So in gut health, when you are your target is to support promote the growth of those beneficial bacteria and suppress the harmful bacteria or bad bacteria or whatever you name it enemy bacteria. And then that will help to boost your immune system, immune system, you know now it is very common because of COVID also, you know, everybody you know boosts your immune system That is capacity to fight against the diseases, you know, and that comes in different forms, you know, it's not only one form, you know, so now in this title immune system is different. It's a system, you know, it's not immune organ, I use the word immune system, because it's a system was in the not independently rather with each other, you know, communicate with each other in response to each other. Yeah, and that helps, then another thing is, you know, what we call intestinal barrier, you know, it is tight intestine is kind of, you can think of your water line pipeline in your kitchen. So, whatever we are eating goes in, but that from this pipeline need to go in our body, what we call absorbs sunlight. So, proper digestion occurs in the lumen, right, that that's pipeline, but that need to go in our body inside to be used at the tissue level cell level, right. So, this all concerns need to concern in harmony, right, in violence state, then it is really good got health conditions, and this is what we are working on. You know, nice, my objective of this registry Resource Program. Yeah. antibiotic free animal products and system. Why? Because that is public demand. Yeah. Because why? Because there are some concerns that suggest or literally there are evidences, that when you are feeding antibiotics as a group promoter, some sort of antibiotic resistant bacteria were developed. And that is impacting our public health. So you might have heard some country already banned use of antibiotic inputs in the US we only recently have we have not banned it fully, but kind of regulated is fully regulated, though. 2017 huali. Now looking for alternative to antibiotics, you know? Yeah, that is where your probiotic comes in. And provide each one of those alternatives. It's not, there are quite a few but definitely probiotic, prebiotic organic disease, these are major player and my watch, if you see, as you mentioned, lots of work with prebiotics and probiotics, more with even prebiotics. So, probiotics are actually live bacteria itself, but which bacteria which are beneficial as I mentioned earlier, some are beneficial, some are harmful. So, probiotics are beneficial bacteria itself that we paid. So now they will go in the belly, the god yeah, they will make the Empire you know, they will colonize, colonize empire. So, now bad bacteria has no place out yeah, this is the way you are helping your envelope grow healthy. But it is little different in prewired prebiotics are basically pipeless component basically the feeder stops, but those are not digested by our enzymes in the body enzymes either in a monogastric animals monogastric means be poultry are we human Yeah, but those bacteria in our dot will use that as feed. So, probiotic as I mentioned are the live bacteria culture itself right? prebiotics are paid for the bacteria in our gut, you know. So, literally Those are basically carbohydrates, you know in carbohydrate, different types of what we call oligosaccharides those are not digested by our body enzymes endogenous enzyme, but are the food per microbes and those microbes will eat that and they will produce the compounds that is beneficial for us okay. Also, now, when they feed on it, that create good environment now that again become good for other bacteria, this kind of vicious cycle you know, good goodwill does good you know? Yeah. So, but, you know, earlier concept and still concept prebiotics, quite common if you go in this story in fine, but then my research actually definitely I can probably tell you, we are one of the few in the beginning now, a lot of group does started this concept not only us, but few of us around the world. So, rather than having prebiotics, isolated feeding your animal which is not last called consumer is fine, you buy appeals, you buy powders, but you know, can our feed stuff itself serve the same purpose or not? That was our hypothesis. And we started working during my PhD actually that was the main theme although I work like pig model you know, I was using pig not poultry then. Yeah, so and then we tasted varieties of feedstock which were like you know, rich in fiber rich and resistant to start we call like fiber or especially those who will have similar prebiotic functions like beta glucan, we call you know, and those are found in your barley or you know, primarily barley and wood and we tested in the Steiner environment. You know, metabolites produce on the microbial changes, and we found that works. Yeah, Same concept I carry on until now. And I believe I will be continuing in future also because that is so huge. That is so important. So important. Yeah. So anytime when you see by another big log with the word is by dietary fiber if you see in my all a lot of papers, you know, that is the worst why, rather than buying the prebiotics from the store and feeding to the animal, which is kind of not that practical already. Why not to formulate ration or diet with fibrous freedesktop that will help your partner?

Shannon Sand:

Well, that's what I was gonna ask that was fine, like an optimal ration for this work in order to maximize like feed efficacy, I guess.

Unknown:

Yeah, very genuine question seven. Yes, we did actually a lot of studies, a lot of studies not only with pork, even with chicken here. So what we are doing varieties of feeder stuff, including our some of the typical Hawaiian Oh, and I'll give you them you will be surprised to hear that macadamia nut cake. You only heard macadamia nut chocolate, macadamia nut, macadamia nut cake to my chicken? And yeah. You know why? When I came here, you know, I visited to our local oil crosser in Korea, and they were throwing macadamia nut cake. And I thought, oh, no, that is very valuable. Actually, they have to send to dumping site landfill. And now when it goes to landfill miswak environmental burden you don't have why we are on island, we have no land to feel that is another burden, fall but it's like significant contribution. So that I did a lot of work and lies, nutritional value than functional Hello, then deep trial who is speaking in vitro modal also in the chicken. And we figured out, you can pick the macadamia nut get your animal. And that has not only nutritional value, it's really rich in oils and protein. Also, of course, I was thinking

Shannon Sand:

I was like, oh, it's high in protein, high fat potentially.

Unknown:

Yes, at the same time, because macadamia nut cake, which is like you know, the sale or after extraction of oil is rich in fiber. Now that helps to modulate beneficial bacteria hailed the growth of beneficial bacteria. And that is one example I named we have done several other strategy with different types of oligosaccharides and other fibers. And that found to be helpful in doing the same things on what we call prebiotics. So we have been using this model regularly using different types of isolated compounds, as well as our local feedstocks are also like a common feedstock, but with that functional value. So that's definitely a big topic. And also very important topic. The reason again, same as I mentioned, because there is demand for animal produce without antibiotics. Right. Right. And that can be made by using these some of the alternatives resources, you know,

Shannon Sand:

yeah. Well, and I think the magnets I was like, I know they're like, pork producers is it in Portugal that feed acorn so and I know the macros are really high and I was like, even the cake, I would imagine it's a really high quality like meat product or protein products. Yes. You know, is it that way with the poultry as well then or just right? Okay.

Unknown:

Actually, we did a trial event study even with the param conditioner is actually what you see in my background as I mean some pastured chicken thanks to our farmer, you know, he cooperates Julius with me, I worked with him for like, continuously we are working for seven years since I came actually Oh, that's great. We did a field trial there normally in my palm pilot on campus because on campus the research environment in practical application using macadamia nut and we found if you use up to 15% of macadamia nut, your animal will grow very well without compromising growth performance, you know that? Remember, you may think it's 15% but you have 10% is a significant contribution. When you are counting per single penny and cents, that is going to contribute your cost reduction at the same time to more benefit not only cost one was that environmental thing. Remember we talk we now in Hawaii, not a single pound of macadamia nut called k goes to landfill all are used by our pig farmers mostly by pig why? Because they have a relation with this, you know Miller, and it's not abundantly available. It's not sufficiently available now. Now rather than going in landfill, they are in queue can I get it? Yeah, all problems. Second thing, health benefit as I mentioned, this is giving you functional benefit, promote the health of your animal. So all the way and that's not the only one there are several we have done and found to be useful. Yeah,

Melelani Oshiro:

that's good. That's so good right to have those connections and have been able to you know and prove all those things not putting that extra stuff in the landfill and using it for production. That's awesome. So does so I know like when we feed when we've had wild pork that have eaten mac nuts and whatnot, it changes the quality and taste of the meat. How does the Mac Have you found any differences in the meat quality of the poultry? That's influenced by feeding the mathematic cake?

Unknown:

Any nice question, Billy, I have no data to give you because I have not published publicly but we did that we thought this question in the very beginning because I was thinking from an maliciousness point of view, but at the same time as I mentioned, I always think of consumer you know, and we did that actually from the filter or what I sold were discussed you earlier that point we collected the meat sample also and on campus, we know our we have in our department since the sensory panel review team here need sensory evaluation. So we have not statistically analyzed the data so I cannot tell you exactly but what we got in the article preliminary data is no complaint actually people liked it, but there is no any formal thing I can tell you this superior or not, but definitely it is not inferior. And that's expected because macadamia nut contains you know, high amount of sugar

Melelani Oshiro:

Yeah, I definitely think with pork like even the the wild pork when you've had it I mean, it's been on Macknight it's way better than I was gonna ask your opinion. That's why I was like it's got to be good for like, I would think for poultry and the meat quality and even like probably the eggs right? I mean, I've you know, I've had chicken

Unknown:

eggs I don't know, it's I don't know, because we have not tested any we have not done any studies. So I cannot tell you know you asked me but she can Yes, Porky yes I can confidently tell you because they have we have already tested we have done trials actually pork our farmer you know here in Oahu two of our farmers on Wi Fi they are regularly using Mac not kick in their feeding program and I have been working with them from the very beginning since I came literally last week I met them last week I went to and I since then we are regularly working so that is working and that is magnetic literally as you as you meet sunny side it helps to improve not only the growth, but also the quality of the region I cannot tell you pinpointing what exactly the attributes but what I can assume because macadamia nut cake is rich in unsaturated fatty acid which is what we call healthy fatty acid like saturated is not so that can be unpacked is always transmitted in the meat that we have proven in our previous studies you know, so I can assume although I don't have data I can assume that will be translated and will be better meet that I'm very confident although I don't have any data. I feel confident though you know, yeah, my experience

Melelani Oshiro:

but I think some of the anecdotal stuff is important as well right because we get it it's common around other other species as well so that's what I yeah, I think backyard you know, poultry production as has grown you know, over the past few years and I would think even since the pandemic more people are starting to produce stuff in their backyard and whatnot. So what kind of tips can you offer for the poultry backyard I guess poultry producers as well as our large producers out here in Hawaii as far as maintaining poultry health and nutrition in their flocks?

Unknown:

Let me separate your question to sit here okay. Post on Backyard then on commercial or largest floor general posting backyard definitely that's something what I call exciting and positive changes you know, and we are seeing Hawaii recently I saw on one our local news articles was a big one backyard park you know, and people have started doing that here and they're all around you know, and it is contributing positively you know in the local meat products and especially pandemic has created so much supply chain disturbances and I can Yeah, always we are Hawaii always food insecure. So even a small contribution is big contribution. You know, I firmly believe you know, some people this is just a small, no a small small makes a big you know, one meal two. So, my suggestion will be Backyard Farmer although they are just having couple of birds or little maybe 510 20 year still, this should know how to do farm. Still they should know the basics of poultry raising, you know, that doesn't have to know the rocket science. They don't have to know all the details. And we are here you know, we CTAHR is here you people are there I'm here are all of us our team is there to help them anywhere this out. We are they always there that we are proud of that we have been serving our Hawaiian farmers yet. We will always help them. One important thing also they must maintain biosecurity protocol if they have only one chicken Yeah, one Single chicken can create big problem for all around whole island, a small state, you know if any disease comes one or other way. Now in that case that can create a big problem for us. So I will suggest first thing first makes you to maintain biosafety and biosecurity protocol on their farm. And we are here to help them develop their plan, although it is small Pam is very simple. It's not complicated. No, you know, second thing is that this should routinely practice vaccination program, health checkup, although they have only few boards, you know, and that is sometimes overlooked simply thing I have just a small flock, you know, it's not big deal. But a small can create big problem that we have another beauty of that or benefit of that, if they do this practice, known into medicine, good feeding practice, naturally, I'll be advocating that by default, yeah. And we have been talking that, yeah, that will also help them so it's not going to harm them even a small investment on that vaccine or drug is there, but that is going to help them to grow effiecient better and you know, that is important. So that will be my suggestion to Backyard Farmer. So literally, even you are having a small flock mentioned biosecurity protocol, regularly maintained vaccination and health measurement plan, and also to them at the best you can with violence. Then they will harvest the SPCA, and good quality meat in a very short period relatively that will be my solution for Backyard Farmer, poor commercial farmer. We have lots of resources all around and for commercial Parma different levels, say if you want to do business, do it. If you don't do that, don't do it. It should not be hobby farming. commercial farmers should go and pay the details, plan each and everything, of course business up to business bandwidth send any export, I'm not part of that. I don't know about those kinds of things. What I can say, because you are in business, remember livestock farming is a business enterprise. If you can make money then well you can sustain in this business then you can continue it if not you will be out of business after one or two cycle. Yeah. Do you think that harsh to the farmer? No, that does not hurt to the worldly Parma a or farmer be rather that harsh to the whole farming system. Why? Because that will spread a negative impact, you know, to the other farmers that this business is not payable here. People will look will lead out with the business fail, they will not look why the business failed, you know, and that we have seen here that we have witnessed here in Hawaii, people simply say, oh, it's not doable business. But they don't think why it is not doable Whitehill you want to solve the problem, you know, identify the problem, and then find a solution rather than simply seeing the result you know. So my suggestion for commercial partner will be having really business plan. All the pleadings, design and management plan, all the health plan, all the biosecurity plan, and they do it properly. Of course, they want to know the basics of that production system, what they are doing, and then consult with the export or subject matter, especially time to time people like us, we know who they are. That so I have complete two different message for two different farming system.

Melelani Oshiro:

Yeah, and I think it is a little bit it is different, you know, whether you're just raising your own flock in the backyard, or are doing it on a production and a commercial standpoint. So there are different points that you need to really address. So you know, I, I've learned so much about you today, Dr. Shah. I've been known in all the sectors that you've worked in such rewarding work it is working in extension and providing the outreach. Oh, well, thank you so much, Dr. Shaw, for joining us today. We're so glad you're able to be on the show. And having taking the time to talk story with Shannon and I about poultry nutrition and we learned so much more about you and your journey, I should say education academic journey here and as you've been here in Hawaii, so I hope our listeners are able to gain some insight into poultry nutrition, and how it impacts your flock.

Shannon Sand:

Yeah,

Unknown:

thanks for having me, actually, thanks for giving me a chance to share some of my experiences, some of my thoughts and some of the information we have. And hopefully it will be helpful to our farmer primarily to our Hawaiian farmers and and beyond. And as I mentioned earlier, we at CTAHR People are always there to help our farmer our people, and we'll be more than happy always to help as much as we can with our resources.

Shannon Sand:

Make sure to join our Facebook page, the livestock extension group if you haven't already, be sure to visit the H CTAHR. Extension website and our YouTube channel listed in the show notes.

Melelani Oshiro:

For additional information about this topic, see Dr. Jaws an animal nutrition website listed in the show notes of podcasts and In the description box on our YouTube page. Thanks again for listening to the livestock follow and before we go show some love for your favorite podcast that's leaving us a review on Apple podcasts or your favorite platform and stay tuned for next month's episode. Alejo and Mahalo, everyone.