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Mapping traditional
poultry hatcheries in Egypt
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Abstract: This study was carried out in response to periodic reoccurrence of highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) in Egypt, especially in backyard birds and humans and despite significant
control efforts. Its objective was to develop a database of traditional hatcheries (THs) in Egypt
and identifying their role in supplying genetic stock to the rural sector. A total of 84 THs were
surveyed in the governorates of Gharbia (32 THs), Faiyoum (30) and Sohag (22) in July and
August 2008. Nearly all the surveyed THs incubate Baladi chicken (CK) eggs, from improved
breeds resulting from the crossing of native with exotic breeds, and/or pure Peking or hybrid
duck (DK) eggs. About 510 000 day-old chicks (DOCs) and 192 300 day-old ducklings (DODs)
were produced weekly during the study period.
There is clear seasonality in TH productivity, with high operating capacity in the winter
season (January to April) along with significantly increased hatchability resulting in periods of
intense rearing of growing birds. The main source of the CK eggs incubated in the surveyed
THs is Qalyubia governorate (supplying 69.7 percent) followed by Faiyoum (24.3 percent) and
Gharbia governorates (3.0 percent). DK eggs come from Gharbia (38.5 percent), Beheira (26.7
percent), Sharqia (14.6 percent) and Qalyubia (11.9 percent) governorates. Of the total DOCs
produced, 40 percent are nursed in Faiyoum governorate, 30 percent in Sohag and 10 percent
in Quena; 32 percent of the total DODs produced are nursed in Gharbia, 30 percent in Faiyoum
and 13 percent in Beheira. In the surveyed THs, the hatchability percentages of both types of
egg are significantly lower than those in modern hatcheries incubating the same types of egg,
in both the winter and summer seasons. Hatchability decreases significantly in summer for
both egg species in the THs. Weekly losses due to decreased hatchability are estimated at
66 810 DOCs and 32 499 DODs.
Regarding disease risk factors, none of the THs are organized for a one-way flow of
products, workers, air and traffic from clean to dirty zones. The sun-dried mud bricks used to
build most of the THs allow disinfection by fumigation only. Of the THs surveyed, about 21
percent are located within 500 m of water canals, 32 percent within 500 m of poultry farms,
75 percent within 500 m of poultry hatcheries, and 83 percent within 500 m of paved roads.
About 20 percent incubate both CK and DK eggs at the same time. The turning of eggs with
unprotected hands, the circulation of egg racks among THs and egg producing farms, and the
lack of disinfection of the vehicles used to transport both eggs and day-old birds (DOBs)
facilitate the transmission and dissemination of infectious agents across virtually all the
locations involved in producing chickens and ducks. This was confirmed by the 100 percent
similarity of the haemagglutinin genes of H5N1 viruses isolated simultaneously from north and
south Egypt.
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| Publication year |
2008
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| Pages |
1-61
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| Organization Name |
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| External authors (outside ARC) |
Olaf Thieme
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Karin Schwabenbauer
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Zahra S. Ahmed
Food and Agricultural Organization of the
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| Publication Type |
Technical Report
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