Coronavirus infections are nothing new to the poultry industry, but it’s important to understand that common IB viruses in poultry flocks are not associated with the COVID-19 virus at the root of the global pandemic.

Broiler chicks can be provided between 1 to 4 hours of darkness a day without negative consequences, according to a recent study.

By Aaron Stephan, PhD
Research and Innovation Director
ONCE by Signify

Newer systems for laying hens provide more space for them to express natural behaviors such as scratching, pecking and dustbathing, which could have some biological benefits.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming widely used across various fields and could be a transformative tool for enhancing poultry management practices.

Researchers investigating combinations of plant-derived ingredients observed a positive impact of a specific phytogenic feed additive when looking at production performance and meat quality in broilers — with particularly notable results for larger birds.

In comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Chicken Council outlined numerous ways in which chicken producers reduce food waste, recycle byproducts and use products that would otherwise be destined for landfills.

Merck Animal Health has introduced FLOCKSECURE™ poultry health portal, an innovative web-based platform solution designed to capture, maintain, distribute and analyze data from post-mortem sessions.

Litter and its management are an essential part of bird management and ensuring bird welfare. Dr. Bethany Baker-Cook discusses the importance of managing litter properly throughout the production cycle.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to use updated computerized models to guide regulation of air pollution by animal feeding operations, including broiler chicken farms.

A multistate salmonella outbreak in the US due to the consumption of contaminated turkey products spurred a joint effort between the Centers for Disease Control and the turkey industry to identify an untraditional serotype of Salmonella, S. enterica serotype Reading (S. Reading).

A risk-assessment model for Salmonella demonstrates the potential public health benefit of focusing on chicken parts that are heavily contaminated with highly virulent serotypes of this bacteria instead of focusing on low-virulent serotype.

Various claims and labels on the products provide consumers with information about how the animals were raised and treated during production. However, the information on animal products can sometimes be confusing.

A new study led by poultry scientists at the University of Hohenheim suggests it is possible to reduce crude protein in broiler diets while still encouraging bird growth.

Formaldehyde fumigation is a conventional method used to control total environmental microbial counts in the hatchery. However, according to Christine N. Vuong, PhD, University of Arkansas, this method does not differentiate between beneficial or pathogenic microbes.

Phibro Animal Health Corporation has acquired the medicated feed additive product portfolio and certain water-soluble products from Zoetis Inc.

Virtually everyone involved with live poultry production knows the importance of protecting layer, breeder and broiler flocks against infectious bursal disease. If left unchecked, it can cause listlessness, watery diarrhea, ruffled feathers and dehydration.

Colibacillosis resulting from E. coli is arguably one of the major causes of morbidity, mortality and carcass loss to the poultry production industry worldwide, putting at risk one of the cheapest and most valuable sources of protein.

Most poultry producers today use vaccines to help manage coccidiosis. Live coccidial vaccines are designed to uniformly infect birds with a controlled number of Eimeria oocysts to stimulate a protective immune response, but not all vaccines are the same.

Avian influenza outbreaks in the US are rare but, when the virus strikes, the results are devastating. The disease spreads rapidly, forcing producers to rely on quarantine-and-cull to limit the damage. A 2015 outbreak in the US led to an estimated loss of more than 48 million birds.

Careful attention to the coccidiosis vaccination process and follow-up monitoring will go a long way toward ensuring a positive outcome. However, even the best programs will encounter an occasional hiccup.

Day-old birds immunized with vaccines for Georgia (GA) and Massachusetts (Mass) serotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were shown to be protected against four other circulating IBV variants in a recent study.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which is the building block of protein, therefore it cannot be synthesized by the body itself and must be obtained through food; it is important for many metabolic functions. A tryptophan deficiency could affect behavioral responses to stress in poultry.

Light and dark cycles within a 24-hour period play a crucial role in maintaining physiological and behavioral rhythms in animals.

Multi-stage egg-incubation systems are challenging to manage. And too often, attempts to keep late-stage embryos from overheating create situations where early-stage embryos are at sub-optimal temperatures during critical developmental periods.

More than 6 million birds have been vaccinated against avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) type B since the September rollout of the first experimental autogenous vaccine produced in the US, according to Ivan Alvarado, PhD, associate director, scientific marketing affairs, Merck Animal Health.

Past knowledge can provide useful insight to control the latest outbreak of avian metapneumovirus in the US poultry industry, according to two leading experts on the disease.

Researchers from Spain and the Netherlands performed a study to determine if adding a mineral and vitamin mix (AHS and Vitamin C) would have an effect on broiler performance in heat-stressed conditions.

The first few days of life are some of the most important in chicks' lives. During this time, chicks start developing and set themselves up for the rest of their lifetime. The husbandry decisions made at this point can impact the birds' growth, development, health and welfare.

Results of a study suggest that peas and pea products could be an attractive alternative to soybean meal as a dietary protein source and provide potential gut-health benefits, such as reduced pathogenic bacteria and increased commensal bacteria.

The trend toward reducing or eliminating antimicrobial use in broiler production has led to an increased incidence of necrotic enteritis, resulting in the need for alternative intervention strategies, such as vaccination, to control NE. 

Feeding olive oil byproducts such as olive pulp and olive pomace to broilers can improve several growth performance parameters, including nutrient digestibility, feed efficiency and growth, according to a review article published recently in Poultry Science.

Researchers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia conducted a study to determine if adding eucalyptus (EL) powder as a dietary supplementation would have an effect on productive performance and immune response in two varieties of Japanese quail.

Want to learn more about identifying and managing enteric health problems in poultry? A webinar hosted by Vasil Stanev, DVM, director of global technical services for Phibro Animal Health Corporation, is a good place to start.

Cargill has introduced REVEAL™ Layers, a non-invasive near-infrared (NIR) technology that helps producers and nutritionists make real-time decisions regarding hens’ diets to support their flocks’ long-term production and performance.

Posting sessions are critical to ensure that poultry health programs are on target and yielding good returns. They have their limitations, however, and can easily fall short if not set up and implemented correctly.

Bird welfare is improved in cage-free layer systems compared to cage systems, but indoor air quality suffers in a cage-free environment due to higher bird activity.

USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics has granted Huvepharma a conditional license for the manufacturing and sale of a new turkey coccidiosis vaccine.

A multi-species microbial feed product outperformed single-species products during a disease challenge, according to research presented at the 2024 International Poultry Scientific Forum by Kevin Bolek, PhD, microbials innovation director for Phibro Animal Health.

To help the industry improve control programs for infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), the AAAP hosted a webinar, “Recent Outbreaks of ILT: What Have We Learned?”

Poultry scientists are taking a close look at moldy corn in an effort to better protect animal and human health.

A postbiotic containing the phytogenic substance saponin could assist as a useful tool to help broiler producers reduce the impact of Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), which causes colibacillosis.

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) has swept through production facilities across the US since its initial appearance in late 2023. aMPV infections can result in mass morbidity, significant egg drops and, in the most severe cases, mortalities.

Conventional diagnostic methods for detecting Salmonella in live poultry production typically rely on analyzing isolated bacterial colonies from enriched samples. Recent evidence, however, suggests these methods can overlook the presence of certain strains and serotypes.

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial-derived gastroenteritis in the US, due to its ability to asymptomatically reside within the intestinal tracts of poultry.

Light intensity has been shown to affect the activity of birds, but most studies have focused on constant light intensities to determine their effect on welfare.

Utilizing postbiotic feed additives in poultry diets could help producers find customized solutions to challenges facing the poultry industry, according to an expert in poultry gut health.

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the launch of Vaxxilive® Cocci 3, a poultry coccidiosis vaccine previously known as Hatchpak® Cocci III.

Many turkey poults may experience poor starting performance for reasons that are not well understood. Turkey flocks may even suffer mortalities up to 3% within the first three weeks of life.

Poultry farms seeking protection against infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) outbreaks may find the best defense for layers and broiler-breeder replacement birds is a dual ILT vaccination program.

Hatchery sanitation is a continual issue in commercial poultry and has become a focus since the removal of antibiotics in production, according to Brian Jordan, PhD, associate professor at the University of Georgia.

Steam or steam plus forced air heat may become an approved method to supplement ventilation shutdown during emergency depopulation of cage-free aviary laying operations, according to researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Arkansas.

Controlling ILT with vaccination is critical in maintaining healthy and profitable poultry production. Nearly all long-lived poultry in the US are vaccinated against ILT.

Heat stress isn't just for summer anymore. A 68-minute webinar with Vasil Stanev, DVM, discusses thermoregulation, heat-stress mechanisms and how to manage heat stress effectively in poultry flocks.

Merck Animal Health has introduced Innovax®-ILT-IBD, a vaccine that provides combined protection and immunization against Marek’s disease (MD), infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and infectious bursal disease (IBD) in a single injection.

Animal welfare audits are performed to evaluate whether a hatchery, farm, or processing plant is meeting the specific animal welfare standards of a certification program.

The parasitic disease coccidiosis remains one of the most economically significant diseases for turkeys. In 2023, coccidiosis ranked 10th in a US turkey industry survey of 38 health issues. Unfortunately, it often goes unnoticed.

While most chicks are vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery, it’s the first few weeks in the grower barn that determine coccidia exposure, cycling and eventual immunity.

A successful coccidiosis-vaccination program starts with proper vaccine handling and uniform application at the hatchery. Charlie Broussard, DVM, Merck Animal Health, offers several areas to monitor to determine whether the vaccination program is on track to protect the flock.

Postbiotics might be a relatively new term in the field of animal feed and microbiology, but they could play a significant role in improving the gut health, immune systems and overall well-being of commercial poultry flocks.

The NCC released its inaugural sustainability report, which provides a comprehensive overview of U.S. broilers and the industry’s collective progress in its environmental, flock welfare and social-impact journey.

The incubation environment is important for embryonic development and programs chick welfare. The focus of this newsletter is on the effects of the incubator environment on chicken egg incubation, but the same principles can apply to other poultry species.

Poultry genetics has evolved rapidly in the last 2 decades and continues to advance steadily, but research from Cargill Animal Nutrition suggests that birds’ diets need to be updated alongside genetic progress to maximize performance.

A new study published in Poultry Science shows that body weight, residual feed intake and feeding behavior traits are all highly heritable traits in Pekin ducks.

What is the best way to safeguard poultry health across a wide range of production systems and management teams? That’s a question Rick Phillips, DVM, MAM, director of poultry professional services veterinarians at Boehringer Ingelheim, has explored for more than 25 years while working with live-production teams across the US.

Traditional methods to detect Salmonella in poultry and trace outbreaks often fail to give the full picture of the threat in enough time for integrators to act. This lack of oversight limits the effectiveness of intervention strategies designed to mitigate Salmonella transmission.

Merck Animal Health reports that the USDA has approved the manufacturing and sale of Cambridge Technologies’ experimental autogenous vaccine in the US for the emerging and deadly avian metapneumovirus type B, impacting broilers, broiler breeders, layers and turkey breeders. 

The recent shift to cage-free production has led to more problems with internal parasites and coccidiosis, explains Kenneth Anderson, MS, PhD, North Carolina State University, in a Q&A sponsored by Cargill Animal Health.

On-farm hatching of broilers may be a viable option to increase efficiency by increasing hatchability and reducing total mortality during rearing, according to scientists in Denmark.

Poultry producers are well aware of the catastrophic losses associated with avian influenza, but even those close to live production could benefit from a refresh on the virus’ transmission and control. 

Post-mortem examinations are essential for maintaining a comprehensive, targeted flock-health program. But when it comes to managing viral diseases, is it enough to look at the bursa?

As consumer demand for eggs from free-range chickens grows, a big question lingers: what is the best stocking density for chickens in free-range conditions?

Without other stressors to skew results, altering stocking density (SD) within common ranges does not affect the well-being of layer chicks being transported from hatcheries to pullet-rearing operations.

Virtually everyone in the poultry industry is aware of coccidiosis — a disease caused by protozoan parasites, Eimeria, that develop within the intestine of most domestic and wild animals and birds. The condition is more elusive in turkeys, however.

An interview with Manuel Da Costa, PhD, poultry strategic marketing and technology lead for Cargill Animal Nutrition

Drinker management is a key aspect of poultry welfare, as water is a crucial resource involved in thermal regulation, nutrient absorption, digestion, waste elimination and overall homeostatic balance in birds.

Chicken makes quite the journey to the consumer’s table and NCC's 360° Virtual Experience offers a behind-the-scenes look at every step of a broiler chicken’s life.

A new vaccine-application approach shows advantages to help make on-farm, day-of-age vaccination easier to perform while increasing effectiveness.

Ceva Animal Health has started antigen production for an experimental autogenous vaccine to fight the emerging avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) disease.

As poultry companies continue to increase their oversight of products in response to tightening margins, suppliers are under greater pressure to provide third-party data demonstrating product efficacy.

Is diet the rising X factor for optimizing immunity in poultry? Researchers at the Southern Poultry Research Group (SPRG) in Athens, Georgia, are building a strong case, via a growing body of research shedding new light on how diet influences the traditional pathogen-host-environment triangle for assessing disease risk.

In June 2023, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), approved the sale of cell-cultured (sometimes called “lab-grown”) chicken by two California companies.

Using the commercial feed enzyme β-mannanase can improve energy digestibility of corn-soy feed for chickens, both alone and in combination with xylanase and glucanase, research by São Paulo State University scientists in collaboration with BASF suggests.

Supporting the mental health and well-being of people working in poultry science and research has become a focus of the AAAP, according to one of the organization’s leaders.

Samples tested from recent infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) outbreaks on US poultry farms raised alarms that the current circulating virus is rapidly spreading.

Innovation, welfare and sustainability were on full display at the 2023 conference of the American Association of Avian Pathologists.

Fowl cholera is a bacterial disease of poultry that commonly affects chickens around 15 weeks of age and older, but it can impact birds as young as 6 weeks, cautions Charlie Broussard, DVM, Merck Animal Health.

The message is clear and one that Daral Jackwood, PhD, The Ohio State University, has delivered for years: Young chickens need maternal immunity to protect them from immunosuppression and secondary diseases caused by infectious bursal disease.

Hens can positively influence the skin and respiratory tract microbiota of newly hatched chicks, according to a study published in Poultry Science.

Vaccination is key to managing fowl cholera in poultry. For a program to be successful, however, it’s critical to train vaccination crews to monitor vaccine “takes” or major cutaneous reactions within a flock — no easy task with today’s employee shortages and rotating vaccination crews.

When humans domesticate and breed an animal, they tend to select for a very specific trait. In laying hens, artificial selection for high egg production has led to hens that can produce 320 eggs a year. But could artificial selection have unintentionally altered hen brain morphology?

The global poultry industry spends billions of dollars annually to help ensure flock health, welfare, efficiency and performance. Faced with rising costs, a major US poultry company recently partnered with Ancera to monitor the effectiveness of its program for controlling coccidiosis.

The US Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and United Egg Producers have released an updated economic impact study that highlights the positive impact the poultry industry has on jobs, wages and federal and state revenue in the US.

Coccidiosis vaccination is a critical tool to mitigate economic losses for broiler producers. However, dry litter conditions and low placement densities can complicate successful vaccine replication and subsequent immunizing exposure.

Health challenges associated with antibiotic-free production and the growing issue of wooden breast syndrome in broilers are two emerging trends to appear in the latest edition of Diseases of Poultry.

Dustbathing occurs in all commercial chicken housing housing systems, even in caged systems with no substrate. But why do chickens dustbathe?

From volatile ingredient costs to environmental regulations and disease challenges, poultry producers are facing multiple challenges that can impact their profitability.

Exogenous feed enzymes are commonly used in commercial monogastric diets to enhance nutrient and energy digestibility by reducing the impact of antinutritional factors, releasing additional nutrients or both.

Looking to make decades of poultry research more accessible to the industry, the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) has a new online feature in place for members and non-members to purchase print copies of its popular journal, Avian Diseases.

Broilers fed a microbial supplement of four probiotic strains had a lower incidence of Salmonella and higher expression of proteins associated with immunity, according to research presented at the 2024 IPSF by Kevin Bolek, PhD, microbials innovation director for Phibro Animal Health.

USDA has given Boehringer Ingelheim the green light to import TUR-3, a killed vaccine currently licensed for use throughout Europe for Newcastle disease, avian paramyxovirosis type 3 and turkey rhinotracheitis.

Veterinary data play a critical role in not only analyzing poultry health but also implementing long- and short-term strategies to improve health and prevent disease. However, several challenges present roadblocks to capturing and interpreting these data.

Poultry scientists are working to better understand the impacts of particulate matter (PM) on bird health and production.

Merck Animal Health has entered into an agreement with Cambridge Technologies, an independent custom vaccine company based in Worthington, Minnesota, to sell and market its innovative autogenous poultry vaccines in the US.

Prolonged exposure to heat stress can lead to respiratory injury in broiler chickens, according to a recent study in China.

Lighting, among other factors like feeding and ventilation, plays a critical role in the growth and behavior of poultry and should be given careful consideration. Gabrielle House, PhD, ONCE by Signify, discusses the four main factors to consider when selecting which light source is best for your poultry house.

The National Chicken Council has developed the NCC Broiler Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist for consumers who want to be sure that all animals being raised for food are treated with respect and are properly cared for during their lives.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a devastating disease characterized by severe gut inflammation and sudden death, which can lead to significant economic losses. A new instrument from Ancera can help identify Clostridium perfringens, the causative agent of NE, early enough to help producers treat or prevent NE.

Ancera has released a new suite of comprehensive monitoring tools to provide allied companies of the poultry industry with real-time, third-party evidence demonstrating product efficacy.

When we think of flickering light, our minds conjure images of candles casting fitful shadows or perhaps the occasional power outage dimming our surroundings. Yet, in the realm of lighting technology, this phenomenon goes by a more precise name: temporal light modulation (TLM).

Feeding broilers a high dose of a bacterial 6-phytase alongside a xylanase-glucanase enzyme combination resulted in performance improvements and cost savings, in a field study.

In this age of “no antibiotics ever” farming, the re-emerging necrotic enteritis (NE) disease caused by Clostridium perfringens poses a major economically important health concern in poultry, particularly in broiler flocks, says Ravi Kulkarni, BVSc, assistant professor at North Carolina State University.

Getting chicks off to a quick start in the brooder house is always a priority, but it is especially critical when birds have been vaccinated for coccidiosis.

With the recent rise in the use of slow-growing lines for pasture-based and free-range broiler production, worm infestations could become a significant issue. Warmer weather also contributes to the rise in worm populations, as moisture and humidity create favorable conditions for parasite eggs to thrive, explains Prafulla Regmi, PhD, University of Georgia.

Human-animal interaction is the mutual and dynamic relationship between a human and an animal where the animal perceives human interaction as degree of relatedness or distance and vice-versa. Human beings have domesticated poultry species for eggs and meat production. However, fearfulness as a trait still persists and domestic animals often perceive human encounters as fearful.

Saponins have become an increasingly common additive in poultry diets over the past decade, thanks to their potential to support bird health and reduce emissions, but it’s crucial for producers to carefully select the right saponins to maximize benefits for their flocks.

A sharper focus on minor coccidiosis species may be the key to improving management of this persistent parasitic disease and improving gut health, feed conversion and flock performance.

From supporting poultry health to improving bird growth and production efficiencies, phytogenic feed additives can offer a range of benefits to poultry production systems. Megan Koppen, US poultry technical manager with Cargill, explains what phytogenics are and why they can be a valuable addition to broiler, layer and turkey diets.

The first comprehensive literature review in 40 years presents up-to-date research and best practices to prevent floor egg laying.

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in people. Chickens may also experience anxiety, but it is difficult to measure and research has been mainly focused on assessing fear. However, we can get insight into their mental state based on observations of behaviors.

Housing systems for laying hens in the United States (and more broadly across the world) are transitioning away from conventional cages to cage-free systems.

The poultry industry is less resource-intensive than other forms of animal agriculture, yet sustainability practices are crucial within the industry to address environmental concerns, particularly greenhouse gas emissions.

Updated research supported by the US Poultry & Egg Association quantifying the US poultry industry’s on-farm antibiotic use shows further improvements in antibiotic stewardship and commitment to disease prevention within poultry production.

Developing a recombinant vaccine that protects against infectious bursal disease plus two other viral bugs – infectious laryngotracheitis and Marek’s disease – may sound simple on paper. But in the world of vaccine development, 1 + 1 doesn't necessarily equal 2.

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is now the leading health issue facing the US turkey industry, according to a recent survey of turkey industry professionals and veterinarians representing 73% of the 218 million birds raised in the US over 12 months ending August 2024.

Pathogenic Enterococcus cecorum continues to plague the broiler industry, causing mortality from pericarditis and sepsis early in the growing period and lameness and paralysis late in the growing period.

Geneticists have been trying, with little success, to determine and select egg layer strains that will perform well in cage-free production systems because there are numerous unknown factors which influence a hens' performance.

Stocking density is a key determinant of profits from a broiler operation as revenues per unit of space increase with increasing stocking density. However, overcrowding due to high stocking density can lead to negative behavior and welfare consequences.

A broiler-immunization program centered on a live monovalent vaccine containing the Georgia 08 (GA08) serotype of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is showing benefits to protect broilers against the Delmarva/1639 (DMV/1639) serotype of IBV.

Phibro Animal Health Corporation presented 24 posters at the 2023 World Veterinary Poultry Association congress in Verona, including eight on infectious bursal disease (Gumboro).

Lighting has emerged as one of the most powerful tools to manage and optimize layer performance. It profoundly impacts production, health and overall welfare.

The National Chicken Council recently developed a Q&A on vaccines to help veterinarians, producers and others involved in live production educate their families, friends and communities about their usage in poultry production.

Eggshell translucency is linked to several hatching-egg quality parameters but not egg specific gravity or eggshell color, according to a recent study published in Poultry Science.

Commercial egg-laying operations can benefit from more effective and economical ways to depopulate flocks at the end-of-lay while improving worker performance and maintaining or improving animal welfare.

There’s a new egg on the block in the US — the carbon-neutral egg from Kipster Farm. It’s the result of a different approach to egg farming that started in 2017, when Kipster, a Dutch egg producer, introduced the world’s first carbon-neutral egg to the Netherlands.

When weekly mortality rates in layer flocks older than 50 weeks start creeping up over 0.3%, producers and veterinarians should be suspicious. According to Eric Gingerich, DVM, Cargill’s Diamond V, these numbers could indicate the presence of Escherichia coli.

Providing chicks a dark period from the time of placement in the broiler house is practical and affordable for broiler producers and has no apparent negative effects on broiler performance, according to research conducted by Garret Ashabranner, PhD; Brian Fairchild, PhD; and Michael Czarick, engineer at the University of Georgia.

Since it was first isolated in broiler flocks on the Delmarva Peninsula, the latest mutation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), DMV/1639, has spread through the eastern seaboard of the US and west toward Mississippi and Texas.

Research conducted in the US and Germany showed that feeding broilers Quillaja saponaria trees and Yucca schidigera plants improved performance, nutrient digestibility and the physical condition of their intestinal tract, both when the birds were healthy and when they faced a parasitic disease challenge.

Nikki Shariat, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Georgia, presented her research on profiling Salmonella serotypes through broiler processing at the 2023 IPPE.

Phytases traditionally have been used to increase available dietary phosphorus in poultry and other animal diets, but a growing body of evidence is showing that their effects can be much broader.

Novel disinfection strategies — electrostatic disinfection (ED) and cold fog (CF) disinfection — could help improve hatchability, reduce chronic respiratory disease (CRD) incidence and improve overall health outcomes for poultry, according to a recent Poultry Science report.

Biosecurity is the cheapest, most effective means of disease prevention and control available. Proper biosecurity will help to ensure the overall health and welfare of your flock.

Preventing disease transmission between flocks is a major goal of the poultry industry. One threat to bird health is the protozoan Histomonas meleagridis, which causes a disease called histomoniasis.

A technology from Cargill may overcome a barrier the layer industry has faced in understanding the nutrition and performance of its flocks, paving the way to reduced feed costs and higher egg production through better nutrition.

Chongxiao (Sean) Chen, DVM, PhD, assistant professor/extension specialist with University of Georgia Department of Poultry Science, presented his research on blackhead disease in poultry during the 2023 IPPE.

Damaging behaviors in poultry include feather pecking, vent pecking, and toe pecking. While feather and vent pecking are well-known welfare problems in poultry that have received significant attention from researchers and farmers, toe pecking remains relatively unknown.

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.

Even with the best flock-management and vaccination protocols, fowl cholera can occasionally find a crack in the system. Chronic, low-grade cholera problems can materialize, or occasional breaks in breeder flocks can suddenly appear.

Using a dietary supplement containing a blend of Bacillus bacterial strains appears to positively affect the intestinal health and immunity of broiler chicks after a coccidia challenge, according to a Frontiers in Microbiology report.

Biosecurity is a continuous work in progress with protocols evolving over the years based on new research and experiences.

A postbiotic product proven to reduce the severity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in broilers could give producers and veterinarians an additional tool to manage risk in pre-harvest poultry.

Developing a thorough vaccination strategy for fowl cholera — one that includes selecting the right vaccine strain for the field challenge that the birds are facing and proper vaccine administration — is critical when managing this bacterial disease.

The consequences of cold stress can be severe, leading to death in extreme cases. A chicken's susceptibility to cold stress depends on various factors, including the chicken's breed, age, body size, amount of feather coverage and condition of the feathers and nutritional status.

There are many pests and pathogens to monitor on poultry farms, but bed bugs typically aren’t top of mind. Nevertheless, bed bug infestations have been resurfacing in US poultry farms. Does that present a health, performance or welfare problem for flocks?

Enrichment improves the environment of an animal, to meet their behavioral needs and ultimately improve their welfare. Although the research related to enrichments for broiler breeders is sparse, there are several different types of enrichments that have been shown to be beneficial. In this article, Marcela Quino and Bethany Baker-Cook, PhD, Auburn University describe a few of these enrichments that are particularly effective for broiler breeders.

Advanced microbiome analysis using non-lethal sampling and machine learning can guide changes on broiler farms that lead to earlier gut maturation in birds and performance gains, according to research using the technology with multiple flocks.

Nutritionists know there is often an “ideal level” when dosing feed enzymes. The challenge is determining this level in the feed matrix for optimal response and measurable economic benefits.

Currently, 34% of laying hens used for commercial egg production in the United States are housed in cage-free environments. This number will nearly double to 66% by 2026 by to meet retailer demands and state legislation requirements. How do we prepare for this increase?

Having been linked to everything from yield gains, feed-conversion ratio and immunity to disease tolerance, mortality and animal welfare, intestinal health is foundational to the success of poultry operations today.

Turkey veterinarians and producers are increasingly turning to coccidiosis vaccines and using them in a rotation with anticoccidials in the feed as a standard component in their prevention programs. Kelli Jones, DVM, MAM, Ceva Animal Health, shares tips for successfully using coccidiosis vaccination.