Controlling foodborne pathogens in poultry requires nearly identical approaches whether production is conventional or antibiotic-free, according to Chuck Hofacre, DVM, PhD, president of the Southern Poultry Research Group, Inc.
Post-mortem examinations are essential for maintaining a comprehensive, targeted flock-health program. But when it comes to managing viral diseases, is it enough to look at the bursa?
Novel disinfection strategies — electrostatic disinfection (ED) and cold fog (CF) disinfection — could help improve hatchability, reduce chronic respiratory disease (CRD) incidence and improve overall health outcomes for poultry, according to a recent Poultry Science report.
Ceva Animal Health has started antigen production for an experimental autogenous vaccine to fight the emerging avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) disease.
A prebiotic derived from brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has shown potential in reducing the prevalence of Salmonella Enteritidis in broilers.
The global poultry industry spends billions of dollars annually to help ensure flock health, welfare, efficiency and performance. Faced with rising costs, a major US poultry company recently partnered with Ancera to monitor the effectiveness of its program for controlling coccidiosis.
Dustbathing occurs in all commercial chicken housing housing systems, even in caged systems with no substrate. But why do chickens dustbathe?
Finding the right balance of economics and growth performance is key when developing turkey poult diets. Limiting the metabolizable energy content is one way to reduce costs, but that can also reduce the young birds’ growth potential. Lysophospholipid supplementation could be the answer.
Merck Animal Health reports that the USDA has approved the manufacturing and sale of Cambridge Technologies’ experimental autogenous vaccine in the US for the emerging and deadly avian metapneumovirus type B, impacting broilers, broiler breeders, layers and turkey breeders.
When weekly mortality rates in layer flocks older than 50 weeks start creeping up over 0.3%, producers and veterinarians should be suspicious. According to Eric Gingerich, DVM, Cargill’s Diamond V, these numbers could indicate the presence of Escherichia coli.
Coccidiosis and histomoniasis are ubiquitous problems for poultry producers. Recent studies have suggested that using a blend of plant extracts could help reduce symptoms of infection and improve production outcomes.
The message is clear and one that Daral Jackwood, PhD, The Ohio State University, has delivered for years: Young chickens need maternal immunity to protect them from immunosuppression and secondary diseases caused by infectious bursal disease.
