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.

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.

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.

Adnan Ali Khalaf Alrubaye, PhD, University of Arkansas, and his research team conducted a research project that aimed to achieve lameness reduction in broiler chickens via in ovo immunization with an eBeam-treated multi-strain Staphylococcus vaccine.

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.

Allison Pullin, PhD, North Carolina State University explores how tracking a portion of individual animals in research and commercial poultry flocks offers insight to improve management practices and animal welfare.

In March, a bipartisan coalition of members from the House of Representatives introduced the “Lowering Egg Prices Act” to address current regulations that require farmers to discard hundreds of millions of eggs annually.

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.

Vaccines are essential tools for managing diseases in poultry and ensuring flock welfare. Taking shortcuts with them is never a good idea, however, and there’s plenty of research to prove it. In the second of a two-part series, Bill Stanley, DVM, and Isabel Gimeno, DVM, PhD, talked about their experiences managing vaccines and ensuring optimum 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.

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. 

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.

University of Georgia researchers, led by Maricarmen Garcia, PhD, have developed a new genotyping assay for analyzing clinical samples of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). Identifying the genotype of the outbreak-related virus and determining its genetic relationship to field or vaccine strains is key to diagnosing ILTV.

Synthetic anticoccidials, also referred to as “chemicals,” are often considered the most efficacious tools to mitigate coccidiosis in poultry. Yet, despite their effectiveness, veterinarians and producers sometimes hesitate to incorporate them into control programs due to the concern of chemical-resistant Eimeria strains developing.

Japanese quail (Corturnix corturnix japonica) are the smallest farmed birds and contribute to approximately 10% and 0.2% of the global table egg and meat markets. Rosie Whittle, PhD, discusses housing, management and key welfare issues associated with farming these birds.

Regular monitoring of broiler drinking-water consumption helps track flock health and performance. A sudden dip or downward trend can alert the producer to potentially serious health or production problems.

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.

Abstract: Comparative effects of ionophore anticoccidials with or without the addition of a QY phytogenic on performance and coccidia lesion scores in broilers challenged with contemporary coccidia strains.

Abstract: Sample to vaccine via an integrated cross-functional NGS network

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.

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.

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

USDA has authorized Boehringer Ingelheim to import two of the company’s live-virus vaccines for emergency use to help protect US poultry against avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) — a highly contagious respiratory viral infection that can result in severe respiratory symptoms and increased mortality in poultry.

The emergence of aMPV subtypes A and B has left US poultry producers seeking new tools to reduce the economic impact of this disease. In an interview, Silke Rautenschlein, PhD, professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, covers the past, present and future of the virus and its control.  

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.

The first episode of the new “Unplucked” podcast produced by the Poultry Science Association (PSA) took on the topic of battling highly pathogenic avian influenza with guest Craig Rowles, DVM, general manager, Versova Farms.

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.

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.

A new rapid testing method is helping poultry producers detect Salmonella faster and more efficiently than ever before. The method, developed by Ceva Animal Health, dramatically shortens turnaround time while reducing testing costs by nearly two-thirds, according to James Mills, scientist at Ceva Animal Health.

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.

Nearly 1,200 poultry scientists, researchers, students and professionals from academia, industry and government agencies across the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and beyond will gather in Raleigh, North Carolina, for the 2025 PSA Annual Meeting, taking place from July 14 to 17.

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.

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.

Commercial trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Avert® NE from Huvepharma against necrotic enteritis in commercial broiler facilities. David Smith, DVM, MS, director of poultry technical services at Huvepharma discussed these trials, which evaluated livability and zootechnical performance of birds given the vaccine, pointing to improvements in vaccinated flocks compared to unvaccinated birds.

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.

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.

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?

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

An innovative vaccine designed to protect broilers against increasingly virulent forms of Marek’s Disease is helping producers rethink how they approach immune health, and how they use data to diagnose problems before they’re visible in the flock.

The ancestor of the modern-day chicken, the red jungle fowl, was exposed to different spectra of light in their natural habitat. The surrounding environment, vegetation, season and time of day all affect the color of light exposure to the wild bird, which may have lingering behavioral effects on present-day poultry.

Abstract: Effect of MDV-1 vaccines administered alone or with HVT on the development of the chicken embryo immune system

Field data from a large commercial layer enterprise confirm that Cargill’s Biostrong™ C-Protect — a postbiotic/phytogenic blend — supports improved livability in layers in the face of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC).

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

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

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.

US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) has released an updated report quantifying on-farm antibiotic use and demonstrating the industry’s commitment to antibiotic stewardship and disease prevention.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Research from Isabel Gimeno, PhD, DVM, North Carolina State University, is adding to the growing support of the role of in ovo vaccination in bolstering early immunity against disease risks both broilers and layers face in the field.

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

In a recent Poultry Science publication, researchers in Egypt and Saudi Arabia reported that prebiotic and probiotic supplementation in flocks vaccinated for coccidiosis did not alter vaccine effectiveness or improve short-term, vaccine-induced declines in growth performance.

Emily Kimminau, PhD, has firmly become one of the industry’s go-to specialists in coccidiosis — a disease that remains one of the most prevalent and costly challenges in global poultry production. In this Q&A, she talks about disease trends, gut health strategies and what the future holds for data-driven poultry production.

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.

The microbiota found in the guts of chickens is responsible for more than the breakdown of food products. It also impacts immune response, the enteric nervous system and cell function. An imbalance can affect disease resistance, and heighten stress and fear responses.

The pre-slaughter phase for broiler chickens is a period that contains many stressors and risks for animal welfare. Understanding the factors that can lead to negative welfare outcomes is important to make improvements in broiler chicken welfare during the pre-slaughter phase.

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.

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.

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

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.

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) 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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

Abstract: Evaluation of the development of resistance following prolonged use of synthetic anticoccidials in a high challenge floor pen model

Data is playing a growing role in helping producers manage risk, optimize health and justify production decisions. From digitizing information to store it securely to using it to guide real-time decision-making, for Dan Wilson, DVM, founder of Wilson Veterinary Co., it has become integral to the way he works with producers to improve flock performance.

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.

For every laying hen that is hatched, approximately one male counterpart also hatches. However, as roosters do not produce eggs, they are typically culled, or euthanized, at hatch. However, the culling of these day-old male chicks raises ethical concerns.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

In the poultry sector, avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) infections can lead to severe economic repercussions, manifesting as drops in egg production and increased mortality, which lead to costly veterinary interventions and biosecurity measures. Researchers described the development of an assay, which was found to be capable of concurrently detecting and distinguishing among aMPV-A, aMPV-B and aMPV-C.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

In response to the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak and questions surrounding the use of vaccination to control the disease, several experts from the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) created a fact sheet on H5N1.

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

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.

As animal welfare science has evolved, the importance of using animal-based measures to study welfare has become apparent. Birds may have needs and feelings that aren’t immediately obvious to humans, and their priorities are influenced by an evolutionary history that is vastly different than our own.

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, describe a few that are particularly effective for broiler breeders.

Research from Ceva Animal Health suggests that eggshell rinses may be a viable, accessible way to detect infectious bronchitis virus infection in layer flocks experiencing egg quality abnormalities.

Merck Animal Health announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of EXZOLT™ (fluralaner oral solution), a parasiticide for chickens that treats and controls northern fowl mites (Ornithinyssus sylviarum) in production houses.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

In some regions, the threat of infectious bronchitis virus flare-ups has shaped a long-held industry mindset: when bronchitis pressure rises, it may be safer to pull back on live Newcastle disease vaccination to avoid “stacking” respiratory vaccines. However, Roy Jacob, DVM, PhD, senior key account veterinarian at Boehringer Ingelheim, says this need not be the case.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Incorporating probiotics into poultry management, particularly through in ovo and in-feed supplementation, can provide a sustainable method to enhance the health and productivity of layer hens, suggests research conducted by the University of Connecticut.

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.

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.

Currently, 38.7% of laying hen housing systems in the United States are cage-free and this transition continues to increase. However, little attention has been given to pullet housing systems. In this article, Richard Blatchford, PhD, University of California, Davis, provides important considerations for pullet management.

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?

A layered IBD vaccine strategy that combines recombinant vaccines with targeted live vaccines can build a more robust and adaptable line of defense, according to Alexandra Mendoza-Reilley, DVM, technical services poultry veterinarian at Merck Animal Health.

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. 

Artificial light remains the industry standard in modern broiler production because it is highly controllable and can provide a consistent, uniform light source. While some studies demonstrate the benefits of artificial lighting, other research suggests that the same environment may negatively affect ocular and leg health.

Abstract: A field study of Clostridium perfringens enumeration methods in the broiler house environment

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.

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.

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.

One of the many challenges affecting layers is APEC, an opportunistic challenge that impacts at least 30% of commercial flocks in the US, resulting in decreased egg production, increased bird mortality and significant economic losses. Cargill Animal Nutrition has introduced Biostrong™ C-Protect

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

A joint research study conducted by the USDA and North Carolina State University researchers demonstrated that the type of housing system used for laying hens can influence levels of human pathogenic Salmonella in their organs.

Recently, Campylobacter hepaticus was identified as the causative agent for chicken spotty liver disease (SLD), an illness which manifests as acute infectious hepatitis and causes a significant drop in egg production and high mortality in layer chickens. Researchers from Iowa State University, led by Orhan Sahin, DVM, PhD, are studying Campylobacter bacterins in the control of SLD.

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.

Manuel Da Costa, DVM, PhD, Director of strategy and innovation, Cargill, takes an interesting look at coccidiosis programs and how the company's feed additive, Biostrong™ Dual, can impact broilers' gut health to defend against this disease.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

While some mortality is expected in all layer flocks, regardless of the housing type or breed, the rate and causes can vary depending on the production system. Cage-free systems may not inherently have higher mortality than cages and experience in managing birds in cage-free systems plays a big role in maintaining low mortality.

Abstract: A field study of Clostridium perfringens enumeration methods in the broiler house environment

US poultry producers have a new, FDA-approved weapon in the fight against Northern fowl mite (NFM) with Exzolt™ (fluralaner oral solution), a pioneering treatment from Merck Animal Health.

Broiler activities like locomotion and movement can be quantified using the broiler activity index (BAI), which has been associated with broiler leg health, productivity and physical conditions. However, current calculation procedures are not user-friendly, requiring extensive training. A new user-friendly web-based AI system could be the answer.

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.

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.

Saponins are well-known for their role in supporting bird performance, gut health and immune health. But in the latest research, scientists have uncovered greater insight into how different types of saponins, specifically quillaja, yucca and blends of the two, contribute to these outcomes.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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).

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.

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.

Coccidiosis doesn’t just lurk in poultry houses — it thrives there. For decades, producers have relied on synthetic anticoccidials and ionophores to keep it in check. But with growing resistance and increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic use, more operations are turning to vaccination as a sustainable, effective alternative.

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

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.

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.

One Newcastle vaccine strain drawing renewed attention is VG/GA. Long valued for being gentle on young chicks, VG/GA works differently from traditional respiratory Newcastle vaccines. And according to Chuck Hofacre, DVM, PhD president of the Southern Poultry Research Group and a longtime consultant to the broiler industry, that difference is worth a closer look.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lameness in poultry, characterized by impaired mobility or abnormal gait, is a major concern in fast-growing birds such as broilers and turkeys. Intensive genetic selection for rapid body weight gain and increased breast muscle mass can result in disproportionate growth between the muscular and skeletal systems, predisposing birds to locomotor problems. Stephanie Kulbacki, University of Georgia, provides an overview of lameness and ways to assess gait.

Jose Linares, DVM, a diagnostician and technical services veterinarian at Ceva Animal Health, said pre-winter surveillance – including reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) testing, sequencing and processing-age serology – can help veterinarians and producers validate current IBV immunization strategies and ensure they are relevant and effective.

Feed is a vital part of the poultry industry, representing around 60-70% of the total costs. However, even the best feed formulation cannot deliver results if the birds cannot access it readily. Anusha Gautam and Bethany Baker-Cook, PhD, Auburn University, discuss the right type of feeders to select for each of the production phases, appropriate feeder spacing, proper feeder height, and the overall feeder arrangement.

Low crude-protein diets are a well-proven practice to reduce diet cost and minimize excess nitrogen and excreta, thereby benefiting profitability, health and welfare in broilers and swine. However, the laying-hen industry is far behind in understanding the interaction and requirement of lower amino acids.

The composition and functionality of the gut microbiota are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of poultry performance. The Galleon™ microbiome intelligence platform was developed to help identify the most important gut biomarkers linked to performance and health.

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.

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.

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.  

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

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.

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. Three poultry-health experts took part in an intestinal health webinar in which they discussed viral, bacterial and coccidial challenges in poultry, their impact on gut health and potential management strategies.

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.

Abstract: Interventions in broiler breeders used to reduce mortality associated with avian metapneumovirus subtype A

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.

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. 

Waiting for the H5 influenza outbreak to slow down in dairy cattle is no longer enough for the AAAP and PSA. The two groups teamed up to push for more action to help the dairy industry address its growing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. In PSA's Unplucked podcast "H5 Influenza Uncovered" veterinarians from both organizations discussed this topic.

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

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.

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.

Ventilation shutdown with heat and humidity may be superior to other methods of broiler depopulation under controlled environmental conditions, but this method requires further study under industry-like conditions, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.

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

Coccidiosis guru Steve Fitz-Coy, PhD, started his career in the early 1980s. Some 40 years later, coccidiosis continues to be one of the most common and costly diseases of poultry worldwide. And Fitz-Coy, a poultry scientist at Merck for the past 24 years, is still the go-to guy when an outbreak is suspected.

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.

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.

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.

Immunosuppression is a costly yet often misunderstood problem in the poultry industry. But what exactly is immunosuppression, and how can it be detected, diagnosed and measured? In the first of a two-part series, Isabel Gimeno, DVM, PhD, and Bill Stanley, DVM, share their expertise on this topic.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

The Poultry Science Association announced the purchase of European Poultry Science from Eugen Ulmer Publishing House of Stuttgart, Germany. The journal joins PSA’s family of leading international research properties, including its flagship title, Poultry Science, and the applied journal, The Journal of Applied Poultry Research.

The poultry gut is more than just a digestive organ — it’s a dynamic ecosystem that plays a critical role in bird health, disease resistance and overall performance. As the industry continues moving beyond blanket antibiotic use, producers and researchers alike are zooming in on the gut microbiome and how to manage it more effectively.

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.

Beak trimming is common in the management of laying hens, involving the removal of a portion of a bird’s beak to minimize harmful behaviors. While beak trimming helps reduce injuries among birds, the technique has also raised animal welfare concerns. Thus, farmers and researchers are continuing to explore ways to manage hens without the need to trim their beaks.

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.

Brian Jordan, PhD, associate professor at the University of Georgia joined T.J. Gaydos, DVM, and Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, as panelists in a webinar from the AAAP. They discussed the challenges and promises of IBV serotyping with qPCR and sequencing.

Controlling IBV through vaccination requires knowledge of the circulating field strains. For this reason, surveillance is critical. Mark W. Jackwood, PhD, and Jose Linares, DVM, describe Ceva’s Scientific Support and Investigation Unit that uses real-time quantitative RT-PCR panels to rapidly detect multiple IBV types.

Behind every successful poultry operation is a dependable vaccine supply chain. But producing vaccines is no small feat — it requires precision, foresight and the ability to adapt to biological and regulatory challenges. Daniel Hamby, senior associate director of manufacturing science and technology at Boehringer Ingelheim, gives a behind-the-scenes look at vaccine production and explains what it takes to deliver consistent, high-quality products to the industry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To address the strain on the nation’s egg supply and resultant record egg prices due to the current HPAI outbreak, the National Chicken Council petitioned the FDA to reverse or modify current regulations that compel the broiler industry to discard nutritious and safe eggs.

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.

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.

Extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, freezing conditions, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes, can affect poultry flocks in many ways. The severity of their impact depends on both the type of event and the geographic location.

Broiler welfare assessment has moved beyond a framework based solely on minimizing harm to one that incorporates opportunities for positive affect. Jenna Boewe, graduate student, and Marisa Erasmus, PhD, Purdue University, explore this new paradigm in animal welfare as it applies to today's broilers. 

Known for high mortality and low morbidity, gangrenous dermatitis (GD) continues to evade answers as researchers investigate potential stressors that trigger an outbreak. Matthew Jones, DVM, Southern Poultry Research Group led a panel of poultry professionals that included Don Ritter, DVM, Chuck Hofacre, DVM, Mark Burleson, DVM, and Carrie Cremers, DVM, to discuss field experiences that helped control GD.

Watch this space for educational content from International Poultry Welfare Alliance.

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

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

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.

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.

In this Q&A, Daniel Maekawa, DVM, PhD, technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, discusses how producers can approach aMPV with a practical, integrated mindset — bringing together biosecurity, vaccination and management to reduce complex-level impact.

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.

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?

Nearly 800 poultry health professionals from more than 25 countries will gather in Portland, Oregon, from July 29 to 31 for the 2025 conference of the American Association of Avian Pathologists.