Modern commercial chicks hatch into a very different world than they would under natural conditions. According to Ivan Rychlik, DVM, researcher at the Czech Republic’s Veterinary Research Institute, that difference has major consequences for gut health, disease resistance and antibiotic use.
Ivan Alvarado, DVM, PhD, Merck Animal Health, discusses the research which has highlighted the health and production benefits of using recombinant HVT vaccines at the hatchery alongside live vaccines against infectious laryngotracheitis and Newcastle disease.
By David L. Wicker, PhD, industry consultant, Gainesville, Georgia and
W.A. Dozier, III, PhD, Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Broilers do not spread evenly across their environment. Some may cluster near a wall, equipment line, or other boundary, while other areas appear relatively unoccupied. Shawna Weimer, PhD, University of Arkansas, explores the behavior of wall hugging and what it means to broiler production.
When vaccine decisions are grounded in sound diagnostics and veterinary guidance, but flock performance does not improve as expected, the vaccine itself may not be the problem. It may be time to review how the product was stored, prepared and applied. Abigail Graham, DVM, MAM, DACPV, Zoetis, explains how.
For poultry companies, a successful infectious bronchitis vaccination program depends on more than choosing the right vaccine for the challenge at hand. According to Jose Linares, DVM, Ceva Animal Health, consistently high vaccine takes depend just as much on the quality of vaccine application.
By Ken Opengart, DVM, PhD, DACPV
3 Birds Consulting
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
In the third installment of Phibro Academy’s three-part webinar series, “Coccidiosis Tools and Strategies,” Greg Mathis, PhD, president of Southern Poultry Research, Inc., discusses anticoccidial sensitivity testing and how best to interpret results and apply them in the field.
Today’s cage-free laying systems provide extra vertical space for birds to be physically active, which can lead to variability in feed intake and body composition. If feed was restricted, would chickens change their activity levels, or would a hypothalamic response be triggered to increase feed intake?
Research from the University of Arkansas suggests that giving turkey poults feed cues with green, moisture-rich feed attractants may help them find feed sooner, forage earlier and gain more weight during the first 10 days after placement.
By Douglas L. Fulnechek, DVM
Public Health Veterinarian
GTS Health
An innovation taking the broiler/breeder industry by storm is Comfort Nest™, a mechanical egg-laying system from VAL-CO that more than doubles the nest size to accommodate high-yield broiler-strain hens.
