Raised to maximize meat production, commercial turkey toms are bred to grow quickly and gain weight in a short time. This begs the question whether the bird’s skeletal system meets that developmental challenge.
As resistance continues to erode the effectiveness of traditional anticoccidial programs in turkeys, veterinarians are increasingly focused on strategies that protect birds while preserving available tools. A multi-year field experience with a US heavy tom producer suggests that coccidiosis vaccines can play a practical role in conventional rotation programs.
The latest technology providing access to feed and water in hatcheries could change how vaccinations and other general practices are conducted. Katherine Schaefbauer, Jennie-O Turkey Store, led a research trial with a coccidiosis vaccine administered to fed and non-fed turkey poults in the hatchery, and presented the results at the 2025 AAAP Meeting.
Avian metapneumovirus has not been detected in the US since the 1990s. So, it was a surprise in 2023 when cases began surfacing in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. By January 31, 2024, the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network received its first suspect case. Here’s what they did.
Faced with the emerging disease threat posed by avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), the USDA is allowing the importation of three vaccines from Boehringer Ingelheim: the live virus products NEMOVAC™ for use in chickens and AVIFFA RTI for use in turkeys and chickens, as well as the TUR-3 inactivated vaccine for primary vaccination of both turkey and chicken flocks against aMPV subtype B.
Producing the best feed for turkey production takes more than choosing a mash or pelleted version. It also includes maintaining quality from processing to the feeder.
By Jennifer Irwin
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
In the “Let’s Talk Turkey” episode of the Unplucked podcast produced by the Poultry Science Association, Carrie Cremers, DVM, manager of technical service and animal welfare at Jennie-O, discussed how the weight of ever-present HPAI has led to biosecurity burnout among workers.
When enteritis strikes, the challenge is identifying the exact cause. In February 2023, Huvepharma’s research and development personnel received a call about enteritis symptoms in two commercial antibiotic-free turkey houses. A team went out to conduct a thorough field investigation to determine precisely what was going on with the flocks.
Every year, turkey producers lose more than $2 million to Histomoniasis (blackhead disease) alone due to high mortality rates and decreased flock performance. With limited industry investment to address turkey health challenges, turkey producers need solutions.
Once the market weight is achieved in turkeys, they are herded, loaded and transported to slaughter plants for stunning and processing, but these events of known as “live haul” can pose risks to animal welfare throughout the process.
Clostridial dermatitis is an economically important disease of turkeys characterized by necrotic dermatitis and sudden death. Disease control strategies such as improved management and feeding probiotics have been only variably successful.
