For turkey producers, blackhead remains a high-impact threat, particularly in young birds, where infection can spread quickly and cause major losses. Unfortunately, there are limited approved treatment options compared with past decades.
Research on the microbiota in chicken reproductive tracts revealed an abundance of live bacteria, including strains typically found in the gut, according to Nir Ben Porat, Hebrew University of Jerusalem student.
A “Viewpoints” article by
Ken Opengart, DVM, PhD, DACPV
3 Birds Consulting
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
What does it mean when Newcastle disease virus appears in diagnostic testing during respiratory disease investigations? According to Mark Jackwood, PhD, and Jose Linares, DVM, of Ceva Animal Health, the answer often has less to do with Newcastle itself and more to do with the complex mix of pathogens affecting commercial flocks.
In December 2025, US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) released an updated report quantifying the US poultry industry’s on-farm antibiotic use.
Companies presenting research at the PEAK Conference in Minneapolis can publish abstracts and posters in Modern Poultry, a popular news website focused on live production.
A “Viewpoints” article by
Marian Stamp Dawkins, FRS CBE
University of Oxford, UK
Optimizing poultry health and performance requires navigating a wide range of variables, including chick quality, nutrition, biosecurity and management of the poultry house environment. And lighting in the houses plays an important role, according to Brian Fairchild, PhD, professor and extension poultry specialist at the University of Georgia.
Research from Isabel Gimeno, PhD, DVM, North Carolina State University, is adding to the growing support of the role of in ovo vaccination in bolstering early immunity against disease risks both broilers and layers face in the field.
Artificial light remains the industry standard in modern broiler production because it is highly controllable and can provide a consistent, uniform light source. While some studies demonstrate the benefits of artificial lighting, other research suggests that the same environment may negatively affect ocular and leg health.
In this Q&A, Daniel Maekawa, DVM, PhD, technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, discusses how producers can approach aMPV with a practical, integrated mindset — bringing together biosecurity, vaccination and management to reduce complex-level impact.
Turkey poults develop a wide range of behaviors besides eating, sleeping and resting in their first week of life. They also learn play behaviors and activities to comfort themselves, according to research by Alexandra Jackson, doctoral student, Auburn University.
