Abstracts & Posters, a new editorial section on Modern Poultry featuring research presented by industry scientists at major poultry conferences, is now available to readers.
Layer hens in cage-free housing systems have freedom of movement, but they also encounter high levels of dust and airborne bacteria. Feed, litter, manure and bodily shedding all contribute to dust within the rooms, which challenges the hens’ health and well-being. Could spraying acidic electrolyte water on the litter floor be a solution?
Abstract: Effect of MDV-1 vaccines administered alone or with HVT on the development of the chicken embryo immune system
Abstract: A field study of Clostridium perfringens enumeration methods in the broiler house environment
Faced with the emerging disease threat posed by avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), the USDA is allowing the importation of three vaccines from Boehringer Ingelheim: the live virus products NEMOVAC™ for use in chickens and AVIFFA RTI for use in turkeys and chickens, as well as the TUR-3 inactivated vaccine for primary vaccination of both turkey and chicken flocks against aMPV subtype B.
Bird health and production are significantly impacted by air quality, humidity and temperature. Mechanical ventilation systems play a crucial role in maintaining indoor air quality and disease control, but the current systems have limitations, particularly in caged-layer facilities. Researchers from The Ohio State University have designed an innovative ventilation system that addresses health and heat concerns.
By Tanner Thornton, MS
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
In the highly automated world of poultry production, precision livestock farming (PLF) technology to monitor birds in real time can be used to improve their health, welfare and efficiency. But there are limitations to this technology.
Every year, businesses involved with the poultry industry present their research and ideas at global, national and regional poultry conferences, but unless all your customers attended your 15-minute session at the busy conference, many decision-makers still haven’t seen your work, nor have they heard your technical experts’ insights on the results.
Low crude-protein diets are a well-proven practice to reduce diet cost and minimize excess nitrogen and excreta, thereby benefiting profitability, health and welfare in broilers and swine. However, the laying-hen industry is far behind in understanding the interaction and requirement of lower amino acids.
Calcium plays a key role in poultry feed conversion. In addition to bone density, muscle contraction and other critical functions, calcium affects the efficiency of turning food into weight gain. But in broilers, it’s not just the amount of calcium that matters. What really counts is bioavailability: how much of that nutrient the bird can actually use.
