When it comes to resisting bird flu, chickens on poultry farms are like sitting ducks. Last year, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, H5N1, ripped through poultry farms across the US, prompting farmers to cull tens of millions of chickens to contain the outbreaks. But far-UVC light may offer a safe and practical way to inactivate any type of virus in the air, reducing the chance of transmission.
By Greg F. Mathis, PhD
and Brett Lumpkins, PhD
Southern Poultry Feed & Research, Inc,
Athens, Georgia
According to Steven Clark, DVM, Huvepharma’s veterinary technical services manager, paying attention to changes in turkey barns is key to successfully using ionophores, which remain the industry’s most common option for controlling coccidiosis.
By Guillermo Zavala, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACPV
Avian Health International, LLC
Brazilian researchers conducted a two-part epidemiological study to determine the serological, molecular and pathological status of ILT in two regions. The team described their findings and what they mean for poultry producers.
Feed efficiency is one of the most important factors influencing profitability in broiler production. Production managers and nutritionists balance nutrition, genetics and housing conditions to help birds convert feed into growth as efficiently as possible. There’s one other variable often overlooked: the bird’s immune system.
Turkey producers should not avoid using chemical anticoccidial products for fear of resistance, but they do need to use them strategically. In an appearance on the Iowa Turkey Federation’s Turkey Talkshow podcast, Steven Clark, DVM, Huvepharma’s veterinary technical services manager, said new evidence suggests there is “minimal risk” with common products, providing farmers rotate when necessary.
Temperature and moisture levels influence the survivability of Campylobacter jejuni in used broiler litter, according to a study led by Matthew Bailey, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Auburn University.
Rodney Johnson, hatchery specialist with Boehringer Ingelheim, says managers who prioritize strong communication, well-defined processes and consistent monitoring of key indicators often see improvements not just in hatchability and early livability, but also in team morale and operational efficiency.
The USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics has granted Huvepharma approval for the manufacturing and sale of a new broiler-breeder coccidiosis vaccine, Advent P, which contains Eimeria necatrix and E. brunetti.
Emily Kimminau, PhD, technical service manager at Merck, says the loss of effective in-feed treatments to control blackhead means the disease — which can reduce performance, increase mortality and drive secondary infections — has seen a resurgence in U.S. flocks.
For turkey producers, blackhead remains a high-impact threat, particularly in young birds, where infection can spread quickly and cause major losses. Unfortunately, there are limited approved treatment options compared with past decades.
