Category: Housing

Gingerich: Managing bacterial disease in cage-free systems

In cage-free systems, it’s not only the birds that are moving around more freely. Bacterial transmission is also quicker and more efficient when birds roam uninhibited in large groups, underlining the importance of effective disease management.

Egg-laying-hen housing systems: What does the gut say?

Change is constant and there’s always a learning curve. Such was the case around 2017, as pressure built toward more cage-free housing systems for egg-laying hens along with the push to reduce antibiotics or antibiotic substances in animal diets.

Ceiling-mounted robots tested for mortality ID accuracy, data collection

Robots running on ceiling-mounted tracks may someday revolutionize broiler-house management by cutting labor costs and improving operational efficiencies. Tanner Thornton, University of Tennessee-Knoxville research technician describes the Scout autonomous robot, introduced in 2023 by AGCO’s Cumberland equipment brand.