Broiler flocks are facing more variable respiratory disease challenges that coincide with increasingly variable weather patterns. This new reality is leading poultry veterinarians and production managers to rethink their vaccination strategies. Brian Jordan, PhD, Zoetis, discusses options.
The microbiota community in the ceca changes rapidly as broiler chickens grow. Additionally, these microbes play a major role in digestion, nutrient use and bird health. A longitudinal study conducted by an Auburn University research team examined the role that age plays in cecal microbiome development in broilers.
Most poultry companies invest significant resources in infectious bronchitis vaccination programs. But according to one of the poultry industry’s leading infectious bronchitis virus researchers, Mark Jackwood, PhD, Ceva Animal Health, one critical question often receives less attention than it should: How do you know the program worked?
In an interview, Vasil Stanev, DVM, MBA, global director of technical services poultry nutrition and health at Phibro Animal Health, explains how the company’s divalent anticoccidial feed additive helps producers manage coccidiosis, which reducing the risk of resistance from the Eimeria parasites, which cause the condition.
A research team led by Sanjay Shah, PhD, North Carolina State University, developed a new Excel-based mass-depopulation calculator to help poultry producers and animal health officials rapidly estimate the resources needed during HPAI outbreaks.
HPAI continues to disrupt poultry production worldwide. But according to Taoufik Rawi, DVM, a poultry veterinarian at Boehringer Ingelheim focused on global respiratory disease challenges, the industry is no longer dealing with the same virus it faced a decade ago.
The poultry industry is increasingly focused on extending the productive lifespan of laying hens beyond 100 weeks to enhance welfare, sustainability and profitability. A major challenge in achieving this goal is the age-related decline in eggshell quality. Supplementation with phytase and dacitic tuff breccia could be the answer, according to a study from North Carolina State University.
By Douglas L. Fulnechek, DVM,
Senior Public Health Veterinarian,
GTS Health
Mycotoxins are poisonous metabolites produced by naturally occurring mold organisms that contaminate corn, soybean meal and other feedstuffs. Even in very low concentrations, they can hurt animal health and productivity. Research has revealed a host of emerging mycotoxins that are not yet regularly determined or regulated. What does this mean for producers?
The newly hatched chick’s immune system is immature, but it develops with time. However, the developmental characteristics are incomplete and skew toward innate response versus active response, which challenges the commonly practiced day-of-age vaccination protocol. Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, DACPV, University of California, Davis, discusses the pros and cons of vaccinating chicks later.
Three recent studies by Huvepharma found that birds receiving quillaja, which is derived from the bark of the South American soapbark tree, alongside different anticoccidials achieved significantly better feed-conversion than those receiving the anticoccidials alone.
Although links between the gut microbiome and broiler performance are well established, translating microbiome data into practical decisions has been a challenge, said Fernanda Castro, PhD, micronutrition and health technology lead for Cargill Animal Nutrition.
