A Midwestern flock of 15,000 finisher turkey hens experienced persistent respiratory disease that caused 10% to 15% mortalities, prompting the flock veterinarian to determine the cause of this heavy mortality.
Virtually everyone in the poultry industry is aware of coccidiosis — a disease caused by protozoan parasites, Eimeria, that develop within the intestine of most domestic and wild animals and birds. The condition is more elusive in turkeys, however.
It’s no secret that the fertility and egg hatchability of a broiler breeder flock decrease as birds age. But in recent years, there has been a broader, overall decline.
Robots running on ceiling-mounted tracks may someday revolutionize broiler-house management by cutting labor costs and improving operational efficiencies. Tanner Thornton, University of Tennessee-Knoxville research technician describes the Scout autonomous robot, introduced in 2023 by AGCO’s Cumberland equipment brand.
Careful attention to the coccidiosis vaccination process and follow-up monitoring will go a long way toward ensuring a positive outcome. However, even the best programs will encounter an occasional hiccup.
A postbiotic product proven to reduce the severity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in broilers could give producers and veterinarians an additional tool to manage risk in pre-harvest poultry.
Alternative lighting strategies that allow hens additional feeding opportunities during scotophase, or dark periods, can go a long way toward improving egg quality and bird welfare.
When we think of flickering light, our minds conjure images of candles casting fitful shadows or perhaps the occasional power outage dimming our surroundings. Yet, in the realm of lighting technology, this phenomenon goes by a more precise name: temporal light modulation (TLM).
A novel automated gel-beadlet system for vaccinating chicks proved successful in providing uniform coverage against coccidiosis.
Conventional diagnostic methods for detecting Salmonella in live poultry production typically rely on analyzing isolated bacterial colonies from enriched samples. Recent evidence, however, suggests these methods can overlook the presence of certain strains and serotypes.
A successful coccidiosis-vaccination program starts with proper vaccine handling and uniform application at the hatchery. Charlie Broussard, DVM, Merck Animal Health, offers several areas to monitor to determine whether the vaccination program is on track to protect the flock.
By Catherine Fudge
Graduate research assistant, poultry science
University of Georgia
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