Reality is sinking in. HPAI in the US is likely here to stay, and vaccination may be an option for long-term control, reported David Suarez, DVM, PhD, US National Poultry Research Center.
Light intensity has been shown to affect the activity of birds, but most studies have focused on constant light intensities to determine their effect on welfare.
Colibacillosis resulting from E. coli is arguably one of the major causes of morbidity, mortality and carcass loss to the poultry production industry worldwide, putting at risk one of the cheapest and most valuable sources of protein.
Environmental factors appear to have a bigger impact on the microbiome found in the digestive system of commercial broiler chickens than the use of antibiotic feed additives, according to a Canadian study.
Developing a thorough vaccination strategy for fowl cholera — one that includes selecting the right vaccine strain for the field challenge that the birds are facing and proper vaccine administration — is critical when managing this bacterial disease.
Levels of copper in broiler diets may be contributing to an increased incidence of gizzard lesions in the southeastern US.
Pathogenic Enterococcus cecorum continues to plague the broiler industry, causing mortality from pericarditis and sepsis early in the growing period and lameness and paralysis late in the growing period.
Selecting broilers for water-conversion ratio has no effect on other economically important traits, potentially paving the way for a route to greater sustainability in production.
Broiler chicks can be provided between 1 to 4 hours of darkness a day without negative consequences, according to a recent study.
Help may be on the way for broiler flocks suffering from lameness caused by bacterial disease, with a new vaccine being developed and tested at the University of Arkansas as part of a project led by Adnan Alrubaye, PhD.
Abrupt rises in mortality from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) can set off alarms at any poultry farm. Such was the case last year with an outbreak in a layer flock in Iowa.
By Marcelo Lang, DVM
Farsight Consulting & Marketing Services, LLC
