Poultry scientists seek to dispel myth that fertilizing with litter spreads weeds
There has always been a myth perpetuated that chicken litter contains weed seed, but litter is simply poultry manure and bedding; neither should contain many seeds.
There has always been a myth perpetuated that chicken litter contains weed seed, but litter is simply poultry manure and bedding; neither should contain many seeds.
Sustainability associated with food-animal production encompasses environmental, economic, and social issues. Adding to the complexity is the fact that participants of the supply chain and consumers have growing influence on the food-animal sector.
Poultry scientists are working to better understand the impacts of particulate matter (PM) on bird health and production.
As most producers know, poultry performance can suffer during periods of high temperature. Modern poultry housing is designed to maintain environmental temperatures within an optimal range, but how does the temperature of individual birds impact their weight gain?
Starting a conversation about a mental health challenge is a powerful way to help stop the stigma that often affects friends and colleagues struggling with a mental illness.
USDA has finalized the “Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments” rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The rule aims to help contract poultry growers compete more effectively and better understand the terms of their agreements with major processing companies.
In this age of “no antibiotics ever” farming, the re-emerging necrotic enteritis (NE) disease caused by Clostridium perfringens poses a major economically important health concern in poultry, particularly in broiler flocks, says Ravi Kulkarni, BVSc, assistant professor at North Carolina State University.
Avian influenza outbreaks in the US are rare but, when the virus strikes, the results are devastating. The disease spreads rapidly, forcing producers to rely on quarantine-and-cull to limit the damage. A 2015 outbreak in the US led to an estimated loss of more than 48 million birds.
Between most poultry companies raising a portion of their birds with no antibiotics and FDA imposing more limits on how antibiotics can be used, the poultry industry has turned to a rapidly growing menu of alternative therapies to help maintain a healthy gut.
Poultry genetics giant Cobb says it is revolutionizing how it develops and brings broiler-breeder products to market using scale and technology to yield comprehensive, accurate performance data.
Since it was first isolated in broiler flocks on the Delmarva Peninsula, the latest mutation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), DMV/1639, has spread through the eastern seaboard of the US and west toward Mississippi and Texas.
FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) recently rolled out Phases 3 and 4 of its antimicrobial stewardship action plans covering fiscal years 2024-2028, but the impact on poultry is expected to be minimal due to the industry’s ongoing stewardship efforts.