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ND is stable in US but poultry industry should be on lookout for evolving strains
Newcastle disease throughout most of the US remains stable, but the industry needs to be on guard for changes in the virus that may require adaption of ND vaccines.
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Surveillance of circulating IBV types essential for disease control
Surveillance aimed at pinpointing the type of infectious bronchitis virus that’s circulating in poultry flocks is essential to control of the disease.
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Shift to cage-free egg production prompts need to revise health and management plans
Vaccinations and other preventative health measures are more critical than ever as the US egg industry shifts toward cage-free and no-antibiotics-ever production.
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Be prepared to prevent heat stress in layers
By Jean E. Sander, DVM, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian Zoetis
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Special report: Helping broiler chickens keep their cool
The scorching days of summer are almost here. In this special report, Poultry Health Today looks at the impact of heat stress and ways to prevent it.In this special report, Poultry Health Today looks...
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Nearly 60% of US broilers now raised without antibiotics, but that number may have peaked
Nearly six in 10 US broilers were raised without antibiotics of any type in 2019 — but that number may have peaked.
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Highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza confirmed in US commercial turkey flock
A commercial turkey flock in South Carolina has tested positive for highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza (HPAI).
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Swift communication key to limiting the risk of poultry disease outbreaks
Excellent systems of communication between farm staff and veterinarians are critical when it comes to managing disease outbreaks and reducing their potential spread.
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Pullet vaccination: There’s always room for improvement
TOOLBOX, Issue 17: An interview with Tim Cummings, DVM, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis
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Control key to protecting flocks from more virulent, resistant E. coli
Research shows many strains of E. coli are capable of causing disease directly. And with antibiotic resistance on the rise, control and prevention are essential.
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Industry needs more poultry scientists to tackle disease challenges
More young people need to be encouraged to take up careers in poultry science if the sector is to properly tackle disease challenges which have plagued it for decades.
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Coccidiosis control: Keys to success with a bioshuttle program
Resistance is unlikely to be a problem in coccidiosis bioshuttle programs, Greg Mathis, PhD, Southern Poultry Research, told Poultry Health Today.
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Sentinel broilers, PCR testing help isolate, identify evolving IBV populations in Arkansas
How do you look for new serotypes of a virus that might be circulating in an area? Sentinel birds are a good place to start, according to Abigail Reith, DVM, a technical services veterinarian for...
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Helping contract growers’ transition to no-antibiotics-ever broiler production
Successful transition from conventional to no-antibiotics-ever (NAE) broiler production requires awareness of all the changes needed and lots of advance planning.
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Better air circulation, moderately lower humidity improve paw quality
Increasing air circulation coupled with moderate reductions in humidity can dramatically improve paw quality, Michael Czarick and Connie Mou, University of Georgia, told Poultry Health Today.
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What makes a chick tick: Help non-farm audiences understand poultry’s needs
Rather than adopt costly production practices that don’t necessarily benefit the health or welfare of poultry, veterinarians should work to educate non-farm audiences about a bird’s inherent...
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Water quality: No room for error in NAE flocks
By Tom Tabler, PhD, Extension Professor, Mississippi State University Extension Service, Poultry Science Department, Mississippi State, Mississippi
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When vaccinating broilers against Salmonella may be worthwhile
Vaccinating broilers is a big investment and may not be needed on all farms, but it can be a worthwhile move if there are high loads of Salmonella coming into the processing plant.
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Maslow’s Pyramid: Self-actualization for chickens?
By Philip A. Stayer, DVM, MS, ACPV, Corporate Veterinarian, Sanderson Farms, Inc.
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A few tools to improve brooding, not antibiotic alternatives, are key to NE prevention
By Reg Smith, Vice President, Operations, Atlantic Poultry, Nova Scotia, Canada, Formerly Chair, British Poultry Council’s Antibiotic Stewardship strategy
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Genomic sequencing could aid ILT control efforts in poultry
Molecular virology is already leading to discoveries that will improve management of ILT, according to Stephen Spatz, PhD, molecular virologist with USDA’s Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory,...
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Urban chicken movement requires legislators to learn chicken basics
Legislators need to know some basics about raising chickens in response to an upsurge in the “urban chicken” trend, Nat Tablante, DVM, told Poultry Health Today.
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Is there a connection between hemorrhagic hepatopathy and inactivated vaccines used in layers and layer breeders?
TOOLBOX, Issue 8: An interview with John Brown, DVM, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian Zoetis
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Heat-stress study shows need to increase ventilation with stocking density
As bird density increases, broiler producers need to be “more aggressive” with house ventilation to prevent heat stress in flocks, Brian Fairchild, PhD, professor, and Ming Lin Teo, graduate...
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Chicks may hold clues to lameness in older birds
Lameness in some poultry flocks has researchers searching for the cause, Suzanne Dougherty, DVM, a consulting poultry veterinarian based in Alabama, told Poultry Health Today.
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What does it take to be a successful poultry grower? Experts share their views
Successful contract poultry farmers are hard workers, detail oriented and must literally serve as the gatekeepers of biosecurity, several experts and industry insiders say.
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When you can’t have more than one: HVT vector or live vaccine for IBDV?
TOOLBOX, Issue 3: An interview with Kalen Cookson, DVM, MAM, Director of Clinical Research, Zoetis
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Lack of approved medications continues to stymie welfare-minded turkey producers
Another year, another survey and more long faces on US turkey producers frustrated by the lack of approved, efficacious medications — a problem they rated as the top health issue threatening...
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IBV vaccination protects broilers despite ammonia exposure
A recent study corroborates previous findings that broilers properly vaccinated for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) are protected from IBV challenge despite exposure to moderate levels of ammonia.
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Salmonella Infantis can complicate respiratory problems in broilers
Salmonella Infantis can become a persistent problem in broilers and exacerbate mortality when combined with infectious bronchitis, experience indicates at an integrated South American poultry
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Uncertain supplies present challenges for rotation-minded producers
Poultry producers know the importance of developing a long-term strategy for maintaining the efficacy of anticoccidials, but sometimes unexpected backorders of feed medications in high demand force...
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Marek’s and Salmonella: John Smith, DVM, offers insights on two new broiler-vaccination trends
John Smith, DVM, poultry veterinarian for Alectryon in Baldwin, Georgia, shared ideas with Poultry Health Today on two changes in broiler-vaccination strategies in the US poultry industry.
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Putting paper under chick’s drinkers: Is it really helpful?
Placing paper under water lines increases water consumption by baby chicks, but only for the first 3 or 4 hours after house placement, research indicates.
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Blackhead disease causes reduced egg production in layer hens
Blackhead disease can cause an important drop in egg production among commercial layer hens, Christina Sigmon of North Carolina State University, said during the 2018 International Poultry Scientific...
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Let there be light: Early exposure to UV aids broiler behavior, performance
Adding windows to poultry houses is an inexpensive way to improve the environment for broilers and possibly improve productivity, according to Rachel Lynn Dennis, PhD, assistant professor at the...
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Footpad dermatitis a greater concern in chickens grown to older ages
Footpad dermatitis is more likely to be a problem among broilers grown to an older age, but it can be remedied if producers intervene in time, Tom Tabler, PhD, professor with Mississippi State...
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Vaccination followed with feed medication gives pullets added protection against coccidiosis
Inadequate coccidiosis protection in pullets can lead to health issues ranging from uneven weight gain to mortality.
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Tyson vet: Act quickly on unexplained poultry mortality
Quick action by breeder managers and veterinarians is credited with the rapid resolution of an avian influenza (AI) outbreak in Tennessee in March of 2017.
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Biosecurity: ‘It doesn’t have to be boring’
Even though biosecurity is a critically important subject, many poultry producers tune it out — for the simple reason that it bores them, said Nathaniel Tablante, DVM, a professor and poultry...
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Layer-hen stocking density affects Salmonella shedding
Lower stocking density for laying hens was associated with less fecal shedding of Salmonella Heidelberg in a USDA study.
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The case for built-up litter in US broiler complexes
By John A. Smith, DVM, MS, MAM Alectryon, LLC Baldwin, GA -- Built-up litter isn't necessarily negative. In fact, it may have multiple benefits...
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When lysine is too much of a good thing
Lysine hydrochloride is an essential amino acid used in poultry diets to help ensure balanced nutrition and flock performance. But as with anything else, it’s possible for birds to get too much of...
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Proper windrowing can minimize disease, benefit environmental management
By George W. Malone, MS Malone Poultry Consulting Princess Anne, Maryland
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Alternative therapies called best long-term hope for blackhead disease in turkeys
Alternative treatments may be the only long-term hope for managing blackhead in turkeys, said Robert Beckstead, PhD, turkey health specialist, North Carolina State University.
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US flocks have room to improve in avian flu protection
The US poultry sector can still do more to protect flocks from avian influenza, despite making significant efforts to improve biosecurity since the last major outbreak of the disease.
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Finding the right balance with antibiotics and flock welfare
Part 3: The issue of antibiotics in poultry continues to divide the poultry industry, with one side supporting routine preventive use and the other committed to raising birds without antibiotics.
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Poultry veterinarians need to be the ‘voice of the birds’
Veterinarians need to be more proactive and be the “voice of the birds” on issues related to health and well-being, according to Nancy Reimers, DVM, chair of the Animal Welfare Committee, AAAP.
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Should we tap the brakes on slow-growth chicken?
Consumers advocating the use of slow-growth chickens mistakenly assume these birds have better welfare conditions, said Terrence O’Keefe, editor and content director, Watt AgNet.
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Lapses in biosecurity: Veterinarian urges poultry companies to avoid these mistakes
Biosecurity needs to be approached as a comprehensive process, not as a series of segregated actions, according to Jean Sander, DVM, senior technical services veterinarian for Zoetis.
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Shortage of medications remains top issue for US turkey industry
A shortage of effective, FDA-approved medications is still the top health issue for the US turkey industry, according to a survey conducted by a turkey veterinarian.
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Plant inspectors help poultry industry monitor welfare
Processors understand that the humane treatment of chickens during processing is simply the right thing to do. It also is the law.
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Poultry companies need to balance consumer preferences with flock health, welfare and food safety
Suzanne Dougherty, DVM, a consulting poultry veterinarian based in Alabama, talks with Poultry Health Today about the challenges of reducing or even eliminating antibiotics in broiler production...
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The Poultry Smith
In this exclusive interview with Poultry Health Today, Fieldale Farms veterinarian John Smith reflects on his career, the state of the US poultry industry and, most importantly, what it needs to do...
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Water pressure: How does it affect broilers’ consumption, performance?
Low-pressure water systems designed to reduce water usage have some poultry growers turning up the pressure to hydrate flocks and improve bird performance, but is this a sound practice economically?
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Cage-free layers: Are ‘happier’ birds also healthier?
Leading egg producers in the US are pledging to go cage-free, but are happier layers necessarily healthier? John Brown, DVM, a veterinarian who specializes in layer health, shares his thoughts on the...
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Specialists explore new options for managing flock health while defending judicious antibiotic use
Growing demand for poultry raised without food-animal antibiotics has put more pressure on veterinarians to find alternative yet dependable disease-control options, according to a panel of nine...
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Balancing consumers’ preferences with flock health, welfare and food safety
Suzanne Dougherty, DVM, a consulting poultry veterinarian based in Alabama, talks with Poultry Health Today about the challenges of reducing or even eliminating antibiotics in broiler production...
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Sanderson Farms’ Phil Stayer: ‘Mortality is the first measure of wellbeing’
Phil Stayer, DVM, of Sanderson Farms says poultry health, welfare and sustainability should not be compromised for marketing purposes.
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A look at animal wellbeing in the poultry industry
Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton talks about animal wellbeing–the entire system of the animal including general health, behavior, nutrition, disease prevention–and how it contributes to...
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Should antibiotics be used to prevent disease in poultry?
Three veterinarians explain why they think it's a sensible and ethical thing to do with certain diseases.
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