INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Taking out the guesswork to cut winter infectious bronchitis virus outbreaks

Jose Linares, DVM, a diagnostician and technical services veterinarian at Ceva Animal Health, said pre-winter surveillance – including reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) testing, sequencing and processing-age serology – can help veterinarians and producers validate current IBV immunization strategies and ensure they are relevant and effective.

BREEDERS

WELFARE

Considerations for cage-free pullet management

Currently, 38.7% of laying hen housing systems in the United States are cage-free and this transition continues to increase. However, little attention has been given to pullet housing systems. In this article, Richard Blatchford, PhD, University of California, Davis, provides important considerations for pullet management.

HEALTH

Serological survey unveils emergence, trends of aMPV in Georgia

Avian metapneumovirus has not been detected in the US since the 1990s. So, it was a surprise in 2023 when cases began surfacing in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. By January 31, 2024, the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network received its first suspect case. Here’s what they did.

BROILERS

Feeder management: A vital part of broiler welfare

Feed is a vital part of the poultry industry, representing around 60-70% of the total costs. However, even the best feed formulation cannot deliver results if the birds cannot access it readily. Anusha Gautam and Bethany Baker-Cook, PhD, Auburn University, discuss the right type of feeders to select for each of the production phases, appropriate feeder spacing, proper feeder height, and the overall feeder arrangement.

VIEWPOINTS

FOOD SAFETY

LAYERS