The newly hatched chick’s immune system is immature, but it develops with time. However, the developmental characteristics are incomplete and skew toward innate response versus active response, which challenges the commonly practiced day-of-age vaccination protocol. Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, DACPV, University of California, Davis, discusses the pros and cons of vaccinating chicks later.
The newly hatched chick’s immune system is immature, but it develops with time. However, the developmental characteristics are incomplete and skew toward innate response versus active response, which challenges the commonly practiced day-of-age vaccination protocol. Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, DACPV, University of California, Davis, discusses the pros and cons of vaccinating chicks later.
By Douglas L. Fulnechek, DVM,
Senior Public Health Veterinarian,
GTS Health
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Three recent studies by Huvepharma found that birds receiving quillaja, which is derived from the bark of the South American soapbark tree, alongside different anticoccidials achieved significantly better feed-conversion than those receiving the anticoccidials alone.
By Zac Williams, PhD
Extension specialist – Poultry Husbandry and Management
University of Arkansas
Optient lighting, developed by ONCE® by Signify® and available through VAL-CO, is a lighting system built entirely around how a chicken sees the world. It uses poultry-specific LED lights to accommodate chickens’ heightened photosensitivity.
Research from the University of Arkansas suggests that giving turkey poults feed cues with green, moisture-rich feed attractants may help them find feed sooner, forage earlier and gain more weight during the first 10 days after placement.
Hatchery day-of-age vaccination has been a cornerstone of broiler health for decades, but new research led by Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is shedding light on the mechanisms that help it protect chicks despite the immaturity of their immune systems.
An innovation taking the broiler/breeder industry by storm is Comfort Nest™, a mechanical egg-laying system from VAL-CO that more than doubles the nest size to accommodate high-yield broiler-strain hens.
By Tom Tabler, PhD
Professor, Extension Poultry Specialist
University of Tennessee Extension Service/Animal Science Department
Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
Spring Hill, Tennessee
Mycotoxins are poisonous metabolites produced by naturally occurring mold organisms that contaminate corn, soybean meal and other feedstuffs. Even in very low concentrations, they can hurt animal health and productivity. Research has revealed a host of emerging mycotoxins that are not yet regularly determined or regulated. What does this mean for producers?
