Nigella sativa L. (black cumin), an aromatic plant, is used as a natural remedy due to the presence of antimicrobial, antioxidant and other pharmacological properties. The presence of large number of essential nutrients and a variety of pharmacologically active compounds make black cumin seeds (BCS) potentially suitable for the use in poultry diets as a feed ingredient. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the possibility of introducing BCS as a natural feed additive for better productive performance under normal or stress conditions in birds. Supplementation of BCS in poultry diets increased growth performance, daily feed intake and feed efficiency in several studies. Nutrient utilisation also increased as a result of BCS inclusion in the diets. The population of some pathogenic bacteria were decreased by BCS. Antibody titres against viral diseases after vaccination increased owing to supplementation of BCS in the diets. The inclusion of BCS in poultry diets showed pronounced cholesterol lowering effect in blood. There is limited information on the chemical composition and antioxidant properties in meat and eggs from chickens fed with BCS diet. However, few studies reported that BCS may increase polyunsaturated fatty acid content and antioxidant properties in meat. The present paper reviews the effect of BCS as an alternative to growth promoters in poultry nutrition.

Mast cells (MCs) are granulated cells of haematopoietic lineage and constitute a major sensory arm of the immune system. MCs dually guard hosts and regulate immune responses against invading pathogens. This property of the MCs is attributed to their adaptability to detect stress signals and pathogens, and the production of signal specific mediators to engage immune cells for clearance of infectious agents. Pathogen-specific signals establish basis for the initiation of adoptive immune responses. These immune regulatory roles of MCs have opened avenues to engage different MCs activators which culminate in effective passive immunisation. The molecular mechanisms and dynamics of functionalities of MCs in host defences have been extensively characterised in mammals and rodents, and research on MCs in avian species is emerging. This review surveys the development, morphology and distribution of MCs in different tissues of the poultry and highlight areas that can be exploited for disease control and prevention.

Food borne transmission of antibiotic resistant strains of Escherichia coli from contaminated food has been recognised as an important hazard for human health in the past few decades and pathogenic strains of E. coli have long been considered as serious zoonotic hazards. Poultry meat is attractive for consumers worldwide, so the measures to preserve the safety of poultry meat are important issues. Tetracyclines are one of the most frequently used antibiotics in poultry farming and are still used in human medicine. The widespread use of tetracyclines in poultry farming may have resulted in the development and transmission of resistance strains from poultry to humans via the food chain. The relationship between the use of tetracyclines and the presence of resistant strains of E. coli in poultry meat, mainly due to the irregular use of antibiotics, is reviewed in this paper. The need for prudent use of antibiotics, particularly those which are used in human medicine is highlighted. Continuous monitoring and reporting on incidents in the future should improve the current regulations.

Se supplementation in feed can be used to increase human Se intake, and this has showed significant progress in the area of healthy nutrition in recent years. It has been proven that the antioxidant function of Se is likely to contribute to better shelf life in animal products. Egg freshness can be monitored by assessment of albumen and yolk pH, fatty acid profile, malondialdehyde content, yolk vitelline membrane strength, carbonyl content and yolk pigment stability. It has been proven that Se reduces oxidation processes inside the egg and hence the pH of its contents does not increase too rapidly when stored. Several studies have reported that the rate of fatty acid oxidation and the production of lipid oxidation products (malondialdehyde, MDA) are lower in Se enriched eggs compared to non-enriched eggs. These results have been explained by an increase in gluthation peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels and activity in eggs after supplementation of laying hens with Se, which is an essential component of GSH-Px. Se has a positive effect on the stability of yolk pigments, which is linked to the oxidation stability of yolk lipids. According to several studies, Se decreases the carbonyl, which is a marker of protein oxidation. The yolk vitelline membrane consists of a high amount of protein incorporating Se, which explains the increased vitelline membrane strength after Se supplementation.

Thailand and Germany's poultry industries face different agro-ecological and socio-economic circumstances, as well as a variety of public policies on sustainability in poultry production. Based on literature, 26 sustainability issues were identified and categorised into the five dimensions of sustainability, including environmental, economic, social, political and animal welfare aspects. Through a two-round Delphi methodology with an expert panel, additional concerning issues were proposed and all the sustainability issues were weighted by level of concern, from level 1 (not at all concerned) to level 5 (very concerned). Results showed that social, animal welfare and economic issues dominate the current discussion of sustainable poultry production. The use of antibiotics in poultry production, killing of male layer chicks and the role of food retailers were rated ‘very concerning’ by the German experts, whereas the Thai experts considered the outbreak of avian influenza and other highly infectious diseases, disease control in neighbouring countries, use of antibiotics in poultry production, contamination of meat and eggs with zoonotic microorganisms, and standards for poultry products required by importing countries as the most concerning issues.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr M. Tixier-Boichard, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.

Salicylate plays an important role as a non-steroid, anti-inflammatory drug. In poultry, those used most commonly are sodium salicylate (SS) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), due to their immunomodulatory, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Other effects have been reported such as minimising the effects of heat stress, allostatic load, ascites, leg disorders, reducing respiratory and digestive disorders, as well as enhancing growth performance, feed utilisation, nutrient digestion and absorption, egg production and the quality of meat and eggs. Furthermore, ASA plays a key role in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in blood, meat and eggs, and improvements in immune functions and antioxidant enzymes have been noted in birds. This paper reviews the different characteristics and beneficial applications of ASA in poultry nutrition for improving immunity, production, and safeguarding health, especially under heat stress conditions.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr M. Tixier-Boichard, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.

Bee products, including bee pollen, offer a potential alternative to in-feed antibiotics (AGPs) currently used in poultry feed. Bee pollen is a new type of feed additives and is characterised by a variety of nutritional and bioactive properties. It may enhance the immunity of poultry, promote animal growth, protect the intestinal tract health and improve the quality and safety of animal products. Various research papers have focused on the use of bee pollen in poultry feeds, and have reported that it is, as a natural feed additive, a promising alternative to antibiotics and coccidiostats. Most papers have focussed on doses of 400 or 800 mg/kg feed, however limited dose response work has been done. Effective dose rates, dose responses and standardised products need to be established. If such consistent products can be produced, then their efficacy in terms of meat performance, carcass traits, meat quality, immunity, and blood parameters of broiler chickens can be verified, along with costs and returns on investment for producers, to establish the usefulness as an alternative to AGPs.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential component in animal and poultry metabolism of various biochemical pathways. It serves as a nutrient and also as a feed additive for improving reproductive functions, productive indices, cellular immunity, normal growth and the maintenance of feathers, bone tissues as well as appetite. Furthermore, Zn has many roles as an antioxidant agent. This mineral is essential for hormone function, including pancreatic (insulin and glucagon), sex and growth hormones. It is a part of more than 300 enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of protein, energy, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Previous studies demonstrated many beneficial impacts of supplemental Zn on different physiological and immunological functions above the established concentration in diets, including alleviating heat stress. Zinc supplementation in layer diets increases albumen weight, and may alter egg shell thickness and total egg weight. Zinc deficiency can cause a fraying of the feathers and retardation in growth of broilers. Different Zn sources (organic or inorganic) positively impact health and performance in poultry including meat or egg production, feed intake and conversion efficiency, carcass traits, blood parameters and apparent nutrient digestibility. This review compares and provides a review of the nutritional and physiological aspects of different Zn sources.

Native or local chicken breeds play an important role in the rural sector and small households in developing countries, as well as provide a reservoir of potentially useful genetics for commercial strains. Standardisation and classification of the available native chicken populations based on morphological appearance, coupled with genetic diversity are necessary to conserve them for genetic improvement strategies. Most of the studies conducted on Saudi native chickens to evaluate their productive performance usually ignore the genetic origin and purity of the breed. Despite most native chickens having poor productivity, people in Saudi Arabia traditionally raise these chickens for their preferred eggs and ornamented appearance. The majority of such native chickens are maintained in rural communities and household poultry farms however, some native chickens with genes such as naked neck (Na), frizzle (F) and crest (Cr) are kept by poultry fanciers in small populations. These genotypes exhibit better performance under hot environmental conditions, a trait that may be useful in commercial strains. Six Saudi native chicken populations have been recognised and characterised. Their morphological characteristics, plumage appearance and productive performance have extensively been studied and documented in the current review.

Dr Glenn Froning, aged 86, of Lincoln, Nebraska, sadly passed away January 29, 2017. Born in Gray Summit, Missouri, September 8, 1930, to Gilbert Charles Froning and Marie (Buchanan) Froning, he obtained a B.S. degree in Poultry Science at the University of Missouri in 1953; a M. S. degree in Poultry Products at the University of Missouri in 1957; and a PhD in Food Science (Poultry Products) at the University of Minnesota in 1961. He served as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army in Korea from 1954-1956. Dr Froning was Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Service, Rutgers University, from 1961-1963, Assistant Professor in the Department of Poultry Science, University of Connecticut from 1963-1966, and finally moved to the University of Nebraska in 1966.

Over the next thirty years, with reorganisation at the University, Glenn chaired the Poultry Science Department until it combined with Animal Science, making a final move to Food Science and Technology in the early 80's. Recently he was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska.

He was the recipient of many honours and awards throughout his career, including election as a Fellow in the Poultry Science Society. He was also a very active member in the World's Poultry Science Association, both internationally and within the USA Branch. Dr Froning authored, or co-authored, more than 200 scientific publications and popular articles on poultry meat and eggs. Former graduate students are now spread throughout the United States as well as in many countries around the world. Following his retirement Glenn continued consulting in his professional field devoting many years as Food Science and Technology Advisor to the American Egg Board.

Glenn married the love of his life, Lynne, in 1962 and on their 50th anniversary, celebrated with a family event, identified as “the best vacation ever". They travelled extensively for pleasure and in conjunction with his national or international speaking engagements. His greatest pleasure, however, was vacationing with his family, celebrating milestones in the grandchildren's lives, rooting for Big Red, his Saint Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals, and spending quiet times with family and friends. Glenn remained active in his church, coordinating the charity Mission Produce Table each year while serving on the Property and Facilities Committee. As an active member of Northeast Kiwanis, he enjoyed volunteering with the Backpack Program at Belmont Elementary School where his daughter teaches.

Glenn is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lynne Froning; daughters, Teri Foley and Sharon Phillips n; grandchildren, John and Abigail Foley, and Spencer Phillips (all based in Lincoln); his brother, William Froning of Arlington, Texas as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The emergence of microbial challenges in commercial poultry farming causes significant economic losses. Vaccination is effective in preventing diseases of single aetiology while antibiotics have an advantage over vaccination in controlling diseases of multiple aetiologies. As the occurrence of antibiotic resistance is a serious problem, there is increased pressure on producers to reduce antibiotic use in poultry production. Therefore, it is essential to use alternative substances to cope with microbial challenges in commercial poultry farming. This review will focus on the role of β-glucans originating from yeast cell wall (YCW) as a growth promoter and antibiotic alternative. β-glucans have the ability to modulate the intestinal morphology by increasing the number of goblet cells, mucin expression and cells expressing secretory IgA (sIgA) with increased sIgA in the intestinal lumen and decreased bacterial translocation to different organs. β-glucans also increase the gene expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins which maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall in broiler chickens. However, further studies are required to optimise the dosage and source of β-glucans to determine effects on growth performance and mechanisms against enteric pathogens.

Dr Bhagabat Panda was an internationally renowned scientist specialising in the field of poultry science and nutrition. His expertise in these areas is reflected by his significant contributions both in the public and private sectors of poultry science in India and abroad. Bhagabat Panda was born on March 16, 1929 in Orissa, India. He obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Science Honours degree in 1953, together with the Best All-Rounder Award from Bombay Veterinary College. He worked for the Orissa Department of Animal Husbandry and Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, before joining the University of Maryland at College Park, USA, for his postgraduate studies. He received his MSc in 1960 and PhD in 1963 from the University of Maryland. His postgraduate work on vitamin A nutrition and resistance to coccidiosis infection received international acclaim by the feed industry and poultry scientists.

Following a brief assignment on behalf of the government of Venezuela, he returned to India in 1963 to be appointed Scientific Officer at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, India. Here he developed six technological processes in the areas of egg preservation and the utilisation of agro-industrial products. These were released to the industry by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for commercial exploitation.

In 1969 Dr Panda moved from CFTRI to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, as head of the Division of Poultry Research. His planning, contributions and achievements at IVRI, brought international repute to the poultry science education and industry. Under the auspices of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) project, he transformed the Division of Poultry Research into a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Poultry Science - the first of its kind in the country. In 1972, he was awarded the UNDP fellowship and visited poultry science research and educational institutions in many nations including France, USSR, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Scotland and Australia.

Dr Panda developed different disciplines in poultry science in India, attracting postgraduate students to work for higher degrees from within and outside the country. His untiring efforts contributed to the establishment of separate poultry science departments and curricula in many agricultural universities and institutions in India. During these times, poultry science education grew in size and scope to keep pace with the developing industry and its need for qualified technical staff, hence it is not surprising that Dr Panda is popularly known as the ‘Father of Poultry Education’ in India. In 1970 when ICAR launched the All-India co-ordinated poultry breeding research projects for eggs and for poultry meat, aimed at making the country largely selfsufficient for stock, Dr Panda took on the additional responsibility of project coordinator. He made major contributions to establishing these projects and in planning and executing the breeding programmes.

His dedication to poultry research, development and education was, in large measure, responsible for the ‘upgrading’ in 1979 of the Poultry Science Division at IVRI to the Central Avian Research Institute (CARI). He served as the Founder Director of this Institute from 1979 to 1990. Under Dr Panda's leadership CARI grew from strength to strength. It gained wide recognition and attracted a number of National Awards to the Institute and its Director for outstanding contributions to poultry science research, education and organisation. Under Dr Panda's leadership, CARI received the prestigious National Productivity Award in 1988 by the President of India.

As well as being an educater, examiner and technical expert, Dr Panda became closely involved in the appointment process for senior academic staff in food science and poultry science at most agricultural universities in India. Amongst Dr Panda's other achievements are the publication of 320 research papers together with six textbooks on poultry science and a number of technical bulletins and popular articles. For a number of years he was the Editor-in-chief of the Indian Journal of Poultry Science and a member of the Editorial Board of the World's Poultry Science Journal. In addition to identifying and helping to preserve and utilise indigenous domestic fowl germ plasm, Dr Panda was largely responsible for the introduction and popularisation of Japanese quail in India and helped to develop systems of production for guinea fowl.

In 1965, together with a few poultry scientist colleagues, Dr Panda founded the Indian Poultry Science Association. He led this organisation as President for 15 years. Since 1962 Dr Panda has been a Life Member of the World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) and was a founder member of the WPSA India Branch. He played a prominent role in the organisation of the 20th Poultry Congress, and particularly its scientific programme. During the 20th World Poultry Congress held in New Delhi India on September 4, 1996, the World's Poultry Science Association elected Dr Panda to the ‘International Poultry Hall of Fame’ to recognise his contributions made in the field of poultry research, education and extension.

During his professional career spanning 35 years, Dr Panda witnessed eventful and turbulent periods of the transformation of the Indian poultry industry from a backyard activity to a modern, sophisticated and sustainable industrial enterprise. His contributions to the Indian poultry industry were well-appreciated. In 2001, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from WPSA. In 2009, the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) to Dr Panda for his contributions to the development of poultry science research and education. After his retirement, Dr Panda resided in Bhubaneswar, India with his wife, Saraswati. It was not surprising that, even in retirement, Dr Panda continued to be active in promoting the causes of research, education and organization in the poultry industry. On December 16th, 2016, Dr Panda passed away in Bhubaneswar, due to health related issues. He was 87 years old and is survived by his wife, Saraswati Panda, four daughters, sons-in law, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

The WPSA Board and Editorial Office would like to express their thanks for Dr Panda’s support over the years and extend their sympathies to his family.

The growing global demand for soybeans due to its different uses and by-products, as well as its use in the diet of several livestock species, is forcing the industry to seek alternative protein sources. Environmental concerns related to huge volumes of poultry manure serve as a warning for the choice of more sustainable production systems. Thus, the current review investigates the processing of an insect meal as an alternative protein source to feed broilers. The five desirable features in the selection of insect species proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that the high productivity of biomass, feed conversion efficiency and the organic waste conversion capacity from poultry farms is aided by the use of larvae from housefly and black soldier fly species. Brazilian production of such insects is possible due to climatic and environmental conditions and has the potential to supply part of the protein demands of the Brazilian poultry industry when raised in controlled environments. The prevalence of tropical climatic conditions and the possible use of organic waste from poultry farms as substrate can mitigate some environmental issues as well as generate income to smallholder farms prevailing in this activity.

The World’s Poultry Science Journal is indebted to Prof J.A. Castello, Prof D.K. Flock, Dr M. Tixier-Boichard, Dr S. Cherepanov and Prof N. Yang for the translations of these summaries.