Harga sarang burung walet

Semasa perbincangan dengan mereka yang arif dengan market sarang burung walet tadi, harganya akan menjunam lagi sekiranya kerajaan cina mengenakan peraturan ketat seperti sekarang. Kerajaan cina baru sedar bahawa mereka telah kehilangan billion dollar hasil jualbeli tidak sah sebelum ini. Nampaknya peraturan mempengaruhi harga pasaran sarang burung walet sekarang.

German Farmers Support Antibiotic Reduction

GERMANY - The complete absence of antibiotics in animal management would violate the Animal Welfare Act, says the German Farmers Association (DBV).

Meeting with the German Poultry Association (ZDG), it was agreed that livestock farmers are clearly supporting the German Antibiotic Strategy (DART). Over recent years the use of antibiotics on farm has reduced.

The ZDG and DBV agree that there must be significantly more animal production in the future without antibiotics. Only in this way will consumers maintain the high regard they have for the nation's meat producers.

However both parties said that the complete absence of antibiotics would violate the animal welfare act, as farmers would not be able to treat suffering animals.

Finally it was decided that an improved system to monitor the use of antibiotics should be developed through a Quality Assurance Scheme.

US and EU on Collision Course over Antibiotics?

OPINION - The debate over the use of antibiotics on animals and their potential to produce antibiotic resistance in humans has been stepped up in recent weeks.

In the EU, the European Commission has introduced an action plan detailing 12 concrete actions to be implemented in close cooperation with the Member States.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli said: "We need to take swift and determined action if we do not want to lose antimicrobial medicines as essential treatment against bacterial infections in both humans and animals.

"The 12 concrete actions for the next five years could help limit the spread of anti-microbial resistance and help develop new anti-microbial treatment. Their success requires joined efforts from the EU, the Member States, healthcare professionals, industry, farmers and many others."

The Action Plan specifically states that more action should be taken to ensure that antimicrobials are used appropriately in animals.

It also wants to improve the monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial use.

Tough measures have also been taken separately in Germany and France to increase the monitoring of their use and reduce their use where possible.

In the US, however, the Food and Drug administration has refused two longstanding petitions to limit the use of antibiotics on farms.

The petitions were filed in 1999 and 2005 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) together with several environmental and medical organisations calling on the FDA to cancel its approval of the 'herdwide and flockwide' uses of several classes of antibiotics for promoting growth and preventing disease in chickens, swine and beef cattle, out of concern that such use will spur resistance and reduce the drugs' effectiveness in humans.

The FDA said it preferred a voluntary code for the reduction in the use of antibiotics and added that to ban them could lead to lengthy and expensive litigation.

The FDA's stance comes in the face of research from Tufts University School of Medicine calling for stricter regulation of the practice of using antibiotics for non-therapeutic reasons.

"The United States lags behind its European counterparts in establishing a ban on the use of antibiotics for growth promotion. For years it was believed that giving low-dose antibiotics via feed to promote growth in cows, swine, chickens and the use of antibiotics in fish farming had no negative consequences. Today, there is overwhelming evidence that non-therapeutic use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, even if we do not understand all the mechanisms in the genetic transmission chain," says Dr Stuart Levy, MD, professor of molecular biology and microbiology and director of the Center for Adaptation Genetics and Drug Resistance at Tufts University School of Medicine.

It is this dichotomy between the stance being taken by the US Food and Drug Administration and the stricter stance of the European Commission that could lead to potential troubles.

In the World Trade Organisation Doha trade talks, some of the stumbling blocks in the agricultural discussions have been the divides over the use of Sanitary and Phytosanitary as a means to block free trade.

South American countries have shouted long and hard that they are being unfairly treated by the EU and the US over bocks to trade in meat products and livestock.

Concerns over Foot and Mouth Disease and also health and hygiene practices in processing plants have led the way in the disputes between the two blocs.

The EU and the US has a history in taking robust stance on health and safety issues where meat and food is concerned.

For years, the EU banned beef from the US because of the use of growth promoters that they had banned. The European Commission maintains that they are carcinogenic while the US refutes the claims and backs their safety with different scientific research.

The ban led to a cycle of retaliatory tariff measures against other goods coming from the EU to the US.

Earlier this year the measures were relaxed as a larger quota of non-hormone treated beef was allowed into the EU from the US, but the dispute has still not and is never likely to be finally settled.

Now, the use of antibiotics in livestock production for non-therapeutic reasons could spark another trade war between the US and the EU.

The US Government Accountability Office this autumn called for greater monitoring of their use and surveillance of antibiotic resistance in humans. It also called for research into alternatives to antibiotics for non-therapeutic use - but will this be enough when the FDA still takes a stance that it should be a question of choice.

With the EU tightening its controls on antibiotic use, having already banned their use as a growth promoter, it would seem that a head-on collision between the EU and the US is inevitable and the fallout could be considerable and costly.

Salmonella Outbreak Worse than Expected

ANALYSIS - A virulent outbreak of salmonella poisoning in the US, which has now made 179 people ill, has led to a multi-state investigation into its cause and a major effort to ensure products are recalled and communities kept safe, writes Chris Harris

The Centers for Disease Control in the US is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in New York, New Jersey, other states, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), and the US Food and Drug Administration to investigate the outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections.

Maggots Nurtured as Feed Protein Alternative

GLOBAL - The humble maggot (larva of a fly) is being nurtured as an alternative protein source for livestock and fish farming feed, and could eventually reduce global reliance on the multi-billion dollar fishmeal industry.

A South African-based entrepreneur and his environmentalist brother have established a small pilot plant near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, that will be up scaled next year into a trial plant converting millions of the grubs into one and half tons of a rich protein powder per day to supplement commercial livestock and fish diet. Swiftlet farming competitor rising wanzulswiftlet.

EU Cracks Down on Antimicrobial Use

EU - Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem in the EU, according to the European Commission. Because of this, it has launched an action plan detailing 12 concrete actions to be implemented in close cooperation with the Member States.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli said: "We need to take swift and determined action if we do not want to lose antimicrobial medicines as essential treatment against bacterial infections in both humans and animals.

"The 12 concrete actions for the next five years could help limit the spread of anti-microbial resistance and help develop new anti-microbial treatment. Their success requires joined efforts from the EU, the Member States, healthcare professionals, industry, farmers and many others."

The Action Plan specifically states that more action should be taken to ensure that antimicrobials are used appropriately in animals. World should strengthen  law on veterinary medicines and medicated feeds......wanzulswiftlet

Pork and Poultry Meat Supplies Likely to be Tight

PHILIPPINES - Meat processors are warning of a shortage of pork and poultry meat for Christmas and high prices in the New Year, blaming the agriculture department for not issuing sufficient import permits.

Meat processors have warned of pork and chicken supply shortage in the coming holiday season due to the government's non-issuance of permits to import pork parts and chicken leg quarters, according to ABS-CBN News. 

Bahan kajian terbaru untuk memikat burung walet

Daripada pemerhatian wanzulswiftlet bahan ini mampu memikat walet liar untuk menginap di dalam RBW anda

Askum. bahan yang akan digunakan untuk memikat walet.  wanzulswiftlet sentiasa mendahului teknik memikat walet.

General info of birds flu

Avian influenza

(aka bird flu, avian flu) is caused by a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide. A strain of the H5N1-type of avian influenza virus that emerged in 1997 has been identified as the most likely source of a future influenza pandemic. 
Strains of avian influenza virus may infect various types of animals, including birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales and humans. However, wild fowl act as natural asymptomatic carriers, spreading it to more susceptible domestic stocks. Avian influenza virus spreads in the air and in manure and there is no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat.

Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Breaks Out in Taiwan

TAIWAN - The Taiwanese veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), at Zhupei City located in Northern Taiwan's Hsinchu.

The World Oragnisation for Animal Health  received an immediate notification yesterday, 17 November. The causal agent was found to be H5N2 serotype.

The affected population consists of 2,720 native chicken breeders and 3,280 native chickens, thereby bringing the number of susceptible birds to 6000. Out of this, 20 cases were identified. No deaths were recorded, and no birds were destroyed.   Now all over the world HPAI breaks out, so where is the next??  Wanzulswiftlet

Bird Flu Virus Found in Poultry Markets in China

CHINA - The bird flu virus, also known as H5N1, seems to exist widely in the poultry markets, particularly in South China, posing a tough challenge for the nation's epidemic intervention work, senior experts warned.

Worse, a mutant strain of the virus called H5N1-2.3.2.1 was found spreading among live poultry, which the vaccine now in use cannot fully protect against, Guo Fusheng, technical adviser in animal health of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation, told China Daily on Tuesday, citing information and statistics from China's Ministry of Agriculture.   Now earth getting worse and worse...Wanzulswiftlet
In late August, FAO warned of a possible resurgence of bird flu outbreaks around the world. According to the organization, since the virus was first detected in 2003, it has infected at least 560 people worldwide, killing 331 of them. 
> "With the arrival of autumn and winter, the country is facing an escalating risk of bird flu outbreaks among poultry as well as that of humans getting infected," he warned. 

Apa yang anda tahu tentang peringkat pertumbuhan bulu pahat ( porcupine stage ) dan kesan Fisiologi keatas anak burung walet termasuk semua avian atau keluarga burung atau haiwan yang berbulu pelepah. Micro condition memberi kesan yang besar keatas anak - anak avian untuk survival dalam rumah burung walet anda. Apa yang berlaku kepada anak burung walet memberi kesan Psikologi serius keatas parents Mereka. Anda perlu tahu perkara - perkara ini untuk menjadikan RBW anda terus competitive dalam industri perladangan burung walet. Selamat menimba ilmu!.... wanzulswiftlet sentiasa competitive for the swiftlet farming.

Benefit of forced harvest Practise

From 172 nests to 242 nests, up by 70 nests or 40% increment.


What I told them that there is no logical explanation but I was told that once they loose their nest (plus egg and babies) they will move to another BH.


During that few nights stay they must have make some requests for some kind of help from their neighbours to restart their building of new nests. This is just perseption of blogger....wanzulswiftlet


The increment is very common and very similar to those BH that went through a "Forced Harvest" exercise.


My advise to them was to consider implementing a kind of force harvest once a year and the best timing would be during the end or early breeding season.


In this way there will be a minimum damage to those young chicks

Farm Animal Integrated Research (FAIR) 2012

US - The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) 

 cordially invites you to attend the Farm Animal Integrated Research (FAIR) 2012 conference to be held on 4 to 6 March 2012 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

The purpose of the FAIR 2012 conference is multifaceted. FASS says the main objective is to convene and conduct a national forum involving leaders in many fields and roles to discuss and establish consensus priorities for animal agricultural research, education, and extension activities that can be used by federal research agencies, the allied animal industry, and state agencies.


An outcome of the conference will be the creation of a document that can be used as a resource for policy-makers and others engaged in the common goal to improve and sustain animal agriculture. 

Pengetahuan baru tentang seriti

Pada waktu senja satu pemandangan yang cukup berharga kepada seorang pengemar burung walet yang sentiasa dahaga  kemahiran memikat burung walet. Gambar diatas ialah tempat ribuan seriti ( Collocolia esculenta / mossy swiftlet ) bersarang walaupun tempat itu bukanlah yang dibina khas untuk swiftlet. Pengalaman dan pengetahuan baru telah ditemui semasa memerhati, meneliti dari luar dan dalam bangunan itu. Segala pengetahuan baru ini sudah tentu meningkatkan lagi kemahiran wanzulswiftlet dalam perladangan burung walet. 

Cambodia announces bird flu outbreaks in Northwestern part

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, or bird flu, has been bursting out in a village in Cambodia's Northwestern part, according to a statement received Friday from the Ministry of Agriculture .

The statement, published on Thursday evening, said the bird flu has occurred in O'Pong Morn village, Ta Kream commune, Ba Nan district, Battambang province, some 291 kilometers Northwestern Cambodia.

Minister of Agriculture Chan Sarun ordered the department of production and veterinary to take veterinary medical measures to contain the outbreaks and to kill all types of poultry in the outbreak area.  This is the best Preventive care to prevent outbreak of birds flu......wanzul swiftlet

"It must be suspension to all trading activities and transports of all types of poultry in the area of 3 kilometers from the diameter of the outbreak point," he said. "The suspension will be in force for at least a month in order to investigate the origin of the bird flu outbreak."

The Bird flu firstly burst out in Cambodia in 2003. So far, 18 persons in Cambodia had infected with the H5N1 virus. Of them, 16 persons were killed, according to the joint statement of the Ministry of Health.

Avian influenza - situation in Egypt

3 NOVEMBER 2011 - The Ministry of Health of Egypt has notified WHO of one case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The case is a 1 year-old male from Mahala district, Gharbia governorate. He developed symptoms on 17 September and was hospitalized on 21 September. He completed the course of oseltamivir, recovered and was discharged from the hospital on 25 September.

Investigations into the source of infection revealed that the case had contact with poultry raised in the neighbourhood.

The case was confirmed by the Egyptian Central Public Health Laboratories, a National Influenza Center of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network.

Of the 152 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.

Low Pathogen Bird Flu in Wild Birds

CANADA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed a low pathogenicity H7 avian influenza virus in wild birds in central and western Canada.

The birds were sampled through Canada’s Inter-Agency Wild Bird Influenza Survey, which serves as an early warning system designed to detect avian influenza viruses circulating in the wild that could be transmitted to domestic poultry.


Low pathogenicity influenza viruses commonly circulate in the wild bird population with little or no impact on the health of wild birds or people.


However, H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses are known to have the ability to mutate from low pathogenicity to highly pathogenic forms once introduced into domestic poultry, potentially causing high rates of disease and mortality in birds.

Why Birds do make territorial marking

Birds do make territorial marking in Farms. They do this to find out whether the farm is safe for them to stay also to indicate to others as well. If you are observant enough you would see Birds dropping at the walls of the roving area. They are splashed on the walls this is done by purpose the more birds stayed in the farm the more dropping splashed on the wall. It is their adaptation process, so the next time they fly in they would know that this is their farms and it is safe to come in.

Often for new farm when the sound is switched on birds would fly in and out for many times this is an adaptation process. If they sensed the farm with too strong of unwanted smells (Cement smell, worker body order, Plank smell, wire and tweeter plastic, etc) they would reject it. Often birds fly 1-2 ft from the wall and 1-2 ft below the nesting planks. You see how close they are to it and if these walls and planks have odors they would sense it easily. That is the biggest problem with new swiftlet farm.

Therefore we have to make the new farms smell like old farms at the same time creating an environment that filed with scent of aroma ( hormone) that trigger the mood of the Birds into mating.

climate change is a major driver of disease outbreak in the Animal Farms.

Since 1998, there have been increasing outbreaks of the viral disease, bluetongue, among European livestock. Using a newly developed climate-based model that accurately predicts past outbreaks, researchers have provided evidence that climate change is a major driver of these outbreaks. 

Bluetongue (BT) is a viral disease of ruminants (which include sheep and cattle) spread by biting midges. For some time it has been widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and North America. Until recently, it was very rare in Europe, but in 1998, an unprecedented series of outbreaks began, causing the deaths of millions of animals and serious economic impact.

The framework integrated climate data into a disease transmission model and evaluated whether the model could reproduce accurately past outbreaks of BT. Good correspondence between the model and historic records suggests that climate was influencing the increase in outbreaks.

Sheep and cattle were considered as these are present in large numbers; data on midge abundance was provided by the Spanish BT national surveillance programme. Past climate data from 1961-2008 was derived from a dataset of observed temperature and rainfall, and future climate data from model simulations provided by ENSEMBLES2 data.

The climate-driven model explained both spatial and temporal variations in the recent emergence and spread of BT in Europe. This included the 2006 BT outbreak in northwest Europe, which occurred in the year that the model predicted the highest risk since at least 1960.

The model also provided insight into the role of drivers in different parts of Europe. For example, in northwest Europe temperature is a major driver of disease risk, whereas in southwest Europe the situation is more complex. In southwest Europe, if rainfall is low then increases in temperature will lead to a decrease in risk of BT outbreaks, and if rainfall increases, higher temperatures will lead to an increase in risk.

The model also quantified the effects of future changes of climate on the risk of BT transmission. Results suggest that by 2050 the number of secondary cases arising from the introduction of one infected animal will increase by 30 per cent in northwest Europe and by 10 per cent in southwest Europe.

The researchers highlighted some weaknesses in the model, such as the lack of species-specific data of the different types of midges, including biting rate, incubation period and mortality rate. They also suggested the data on midge abundance was questionable as it relied on midges caught in light traps, which might not represent the population.

October 2011