Hatchery day-of-age vaccination has been a cornerstone of broiler health for decades, but new research led by Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is shedding light on the mechanisms that help it protect chicks despite the immaturity of their immune systems.
Rodney Johnson, hatchery specialist with Boehringer Ingelheim, says managers who prioritize strong communication, well-defined processes and consistent monitoring of key indicators often see improvements not just in hatchability and early livability, but also in team morale and operational efficiency.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Abstract: Effect of MDV-1 vaccines administered alone or with HVT on the development of the chicken embryo immune system
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Biosecurity is a continuous work in progress with protocols evolving over the years based on new research and experiences.
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.
Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the launch of Vaxxilive® Cocci 3, a poultry coccidiosis vaccine previously known as Hatchpak® Cocci III.
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