On December 15, 2023, the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture proudly organized its 3rd Poultry Forum at the university premises. This hybrid event was held under the theme of “Strategies to Sustain the 21st Century Poultry Industry in Sri Lanka”. The forum aimed to achieve its goals by assembling a diverse group of participants and keynote speakers for deliberations on the current status and emerging trends in poultry production and processing across different stages. Furthermore, it sought to establish an effective communication channel among academics, industries, and policymakers with the aim of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the poultry sector in Sri Lanka.
The Poultry Forum 2023 went beyond being a mere event; it stood as a testament to the university’s dedication to fostering knowledge, collaboration, and the exploration of innovative solutions in the dynamic field of poultry science. This event was coordinated by Dr. U.D. Prabuddha Manjula and moderated and chaired by Dr. N.M.N. Nambapana, Senior Lecturers attached to the Department of Animal Science at Uva Wellassa University.
To spotlight the above-mentioned objectives, the forum showcased five illuminating keynote speeches, each exploring pivotal aspects of poultry science.
- Precision Nutrition; Advances in Feed Formulation to Optimize Feed Utilization and Poultry Production by Mr. Rohitha Samarakoon, Group Deputy General Manager, CIC Feed (Pvt). Ltd.
- Importance of Essential Amino Acids on layer Performance by Dr. Mehdi Toghyani, Postdoctoral Associate from University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Animal Welfare and Biosecurity for Sustainable Poultry Production by Dr. U.E. Pallegama, Former President of the World’s Poultry Science Association, Sri Lanka branch.
- Functional Egg and Egg Products by Prof. E.D.N.S. Abeyrathne, Department of Animal Science, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka.
- Trends in Meat and Processed Meat Products by Mr. Chamara Kudamaduwage, Production Manager at Pussella Meat Producers (Pvt.) Ltd.
Additionally, a dynamic panel discussion addressed five thematic areas, promoting dialogue and collaboration among both experts and participants. The forum drew participation from a diverse and enthusiastic group, comprising 285 individuals present physically and 25 joining online. This inclusive gathering included students and academic members from Uva Wellassa University, as well as attendees from various state and private universities, researchers, company representatives, and attendees from government institutes. The success of the forum was achievable and appreciation is conveyed to the generous support of our main sponsors; Platinum sponsorship from Switz Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. “Happy Hen”, Gold sponsorship from Farm’s Pride (Pvt.) Ltd. “Crysbro”, and additional support from Ceylon Grain elevators PLC, “Prima”. We express our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, speakers, participants, and organizers for their invaluable contributions to the triumph of this enlightening and enriching event.
