Does providing welfare enrichments, which stimulate bird activity, affect feed-conversion ratio (FCR) in broiler chickens? Researchers at the University of Oxford collected data from US broiler farms to find out.
Bioherbal additives — combinations of phytogenic compounds and beneficial microbes — have shown potential to improve intestinal function and microbial balance, according to a study published in European Poultry Science.
The first week after hatch is a critical stage for broiler chicks. A team of Auburn University researchers observed 75 Ross 308 broiler chicks from day 1 to day 7 after hatch and recorded their behavior continuously for 24 hours each day to understand how chick behavior changes with age and time of day.
The microbiota community in the ceca changes rapidly as broiler chickens grow. Additionally, these microbes play a major role in digestion, nutrient use and bird health. A longitudinal study conducted by an Auburn University research team examined the role that age plays in cecal microbiome development in broilers.
Mycotoxins are poisonous metabolites produced by naturally occurring mold organisms that contaminate corn, soybean meal and other feedstuffs. Even in very low concentrations, they can hurt animal health and productivity. Research has revealed a host of emerging mycotoxins that are not yet regularly determined or regulated. What does this mean for producers?
Brazilian researchers conducted a two-part epidemiological study to determine the serological, molecular and pathological status of ILT in two regions. The team described their findings and what they mean for poultry producers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Hens can positively influence the skin and respiratory tract microbiota of newly hatched chicks, according to a study published in Poultry Science.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The first comprehensive literature review in 40 years presents up-to-date research and best practices to prevent floor egg laying.
Prolonged exposure to heat stress can lead to respiratory injury in broiler chickens, according to a recent study in China.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Poultry scientists are working to better understand the impacts of particulate matter (PM) on bird health and production.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Broiler chicks can be provided between 1 to 4 hours of darkness a day without negative consequences, according to a recent study.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Poultry scientists are taking a close look at moldy corn in an effort to better protect animal and human health.
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