Under tropical climate, broiler production is encumbered by several constraints which make it difficult for them to attain their genetic potential. The scarcity and high price of poultry feed and veterinary services and the harsh environmental conditions with respect to thermal stress are some of the challenges that hinder optimal growth of the birds. Limited availability of feedstuffs, including crucial feed ingredients like maize and oil seedcakes, is an important challenge to the sector, since feed still represents a major cost of producing broiler chickens. Additionally, the problem of climate change, which has become a global concern, is the main problem in broiler production under hot and humid climate. Under high ambient temperature, feed intake decreases, carbohydrates metabolism and protein synthesis efficiency are disturbed. Lipid utilization is lower and glucose or insulin homeostasis is altered while fat deposition and oxidative stress increases. Several strategies are used to ameliorate the effect of heat stress in poultry. The objective of this review was to summarize the challenge in broiler production under hot and humid climate and different approaches to fight heat stress in poultry.

Feed shortage during the dry season in the highlands of Madagascar negatively impacts the dairy cattle productivity, as well as the farmers’ income. Bamboo can produce a high quantity of biomass and could be an alternative way to increase the fodder supply for cattle. The present study aimed to assess the compositional information and the optimal rate of bamboo as fodder for dairy cattle. Leaf samples from nine bamboo species were collected to determine their chemical composition and nutritive value. A feeding experiment was also conducted using ten dairy cows, over ten weeks. Bamboo leaves were mixed with maize silage in five proportions: SIL0:BAM100, SIL25:BAM75, SIL50:BAM50, SIL75:BAM25 and SIL100:BAM0. The contents of dry matter, total ash and crude protein in the bamboo leaves were, respectively, 44.5-64.6 %, 6.68-18.5 % and 7.71-15.4 %. In the feeding trial, the dry matter intake of bamboo leaves was 1.6-7.1 kg per day, with an average of 4.8 kg per day. The dry matter apparent digestibility of bamboo leaves was 37.4-56.4 %. The milk production reached 13.6-14.4 L per cow, per day, but there was no significant difference concerning the rate of bamboo leaves in the mixed diet (p > 0.05). The introduction of bamboo leaves into the ruminants diet did not affect their milk production.

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that often affects livestock. Identifying plants with inhibitory effects on the development of the parasite could help in finding new natural treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the anticoccidial potentials of extracts from Azadirachta indica leaves (AILs), Combretum micranthum leaves (CMLs), Carica papaya seeds (CPSs), Sarcocephalus latifolius roots (SLRs), and Vernonia amygdalina leaves (VALs). The in vitro anticoccidial efficacy of the extracts was evaluated through oocyst sporulation inhibition and sporozoite viability inhibition assays of Eimeria oocysts. The setup was examined for 72 h (every 24 h) of incubation. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power were used to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extracts. Among the tested extracts, the SLR, CPS, and AIL extracts exhibited the maximum oocyst sporulation inhibition (75.85 ± 1.21%, 74.53 ± 1.65%, and 71.58 ± 0.24%, respectively) at a concentration of 75 mg/mL of plant extracts against the Eimeria species. The Sarcocephalus latifolius root extract showed the highest radical scavenging capacity (76.25 ± 0.53) and reducing power (86.21 ± 4.28). The biochemical screening of the selected plant extracts revealed the presence of antioxidant compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and carbohydrates. The SLR extract contained the highest amounts of phenols (56.11 ± 0.33 µg/mL) and flavonoids (36.65 ± 1.85 µg/mL). In conclusion, the selected hydro-ethanolic extracts from these plants possess excellent anticoccidial and antioxidant activities, which can be attributed to the presence of medicinally important phytochemicals. Further research is needed to identify and isolate the active anticoccidial compounds from these plants, which could be utilized in the development of drugs against coccidiosis.

Small-scale broiler production in rural West Africa faces significant challenges that impact its sustainability and economic viability. The primary obstacles include limited market access, insufficient financial support, inadequate technical expertise and equipment, and high climatic variability. These issues are exacerbated by climate change, which threatens to increase average temperatures by 2 to 6°C, further affecting broiler production. The economic and environmental challenges are compounded by high feed costs, diseases, and expensive day-old chicks, all of which reduce productivity and profitability. To address these challenges, it is crucial to improve productivity and resilience through sustainable practices, better market access, and financial support. Breeding programs should focus on improving the genetic potential of local breeds while maintaining their adaptation to tropical climates. The introduction of high-performance hybrid broilers, though beneficial, requires careful management to avoid issues like thermal stress. Financial constraints also hinder the growth of small-scale broiler farms, limiting their ability to invest in necessary inputs and technologies. Innovative solutions like the use of renewable energy sources and improved ICTs can help overcome these limitations. By addressing these challenges holistically, small-scale broiler production in West Africa can become more robust, contributing to food security and economic development in the region.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is growing at an alarming rate to the point of outpacing the development of new means of infection control, thus threatening public health and the economics of agriculture. This study aims to explore poultry farmers’ level of knowledge about the dangers of antibiotic resistance, and their attitude and behavior during the use of antibiotics in poultry. Methods: In November 2022, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from 153 poultry farms in the “Maritime Region’’ and “Grand-Lome District’’. The collected data concerned awareness of the behavioral gestures and dangers of antibiotic resistance that put poultry farmers in contact with resistant bacteria. Results: The findings revealed that 56.1% of poultry farmers (82 out of 146) were aware of antibiotic resistance, while 63% (70 out of 119) understood the risk of human contamination through poultry products. Despite this awareness, 55.6% (74 out of 133) of farms lacked protective measures during tasks such as handling droppings or administering antibiotics. A significant association was observed between animal health training and both awareness of antibiotic resistance and biosecurity practices (p < 0.05). However, no association was found between the training received and the poultry farmers' behavior regarding the use of antibiotics (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: Poultry farmers’ attitudes and behavior are favorable to the dissemination of resistant bacteria. It is necessary to continue sensitization by focusing on the risk factors that can put poultry farmers in contact with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.