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Back-to-basics for managing health of cage-free pullets
Poultry producers with cage-free pullet systems should go back to the basics of bird management to keep their flocks healthy and productive.
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Circulation fans reduce severity of footpad dermatitis
Footpad dermatitis causes significant foot problems for broilers, which adversely affects bird welfare and the market for broiler paws, according to research from the University of Maryland.
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Distinctive condition affects layers as well as turkeys, broilers
A disease commonly seen in turkey and broiler flocks can also affect layers, meaning that producers should look out for its distinctive signs.
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Bugs should be a key focus of biosecurity in controlling turkey disease
Producers should play close attention to insect control in their poultry houses to avoid cases of turkey coronavirus enteritis (TCE).
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How effective IBV surveillance can prevent ‘overvaccination’
Consistent surveillance and analysis of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) at poultry production facilities can guard against “overvaccination” — where too much vaccine virus in the environment...
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Shedding light on LED lamps and dimmers: They’re not all a match
Getting the correct lighting is important in poultry houses to help maximize the birds’ genetic potential; however, too often there’s a disconnect between the LED lamps and the dimmers in...
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Agreed indicators should help drive poultry-industry welfare
Using key welfare indicators (KWIs) can help fill a communication gap around welfare progress in the US poultry industry.
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Farm mortality issues highlight importance of checking water supply
Producers need to be alert to the dangers of drinking-water toxicity issues, according to a senior industry veterinarian.
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Environmental enrichments increased broiler activity in study
Environmental enrichments in broiler houses may improve bird welfare by increasing natural behaviors, according to a University of Maryland study.
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Study: Day length during brooding did not impact broiler performance
Extended day length during the brooding period is thought to benefit broilers’ long-term performance and well-being. However, a University of Georgia study has re-evaluated that idea.
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Live-vaccine program a ‘must have’ to deal with cage-free E. coli challenge
A higher risk of bacterial challenges in cage-free egg production means a live-vaccination program against Escherichia coli is a “must-have minimum” for flocks reared in alternative systems.
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Managing layer health challenges as cage-free demand increases
In a special video from Poultry Health Today, experts from across the industry discuss the challenges facing producers who make the change from conventional systems to cage-free.
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COVID pandemic had some positive effects on poultry health and welfare
Management techniques adopted to cope with COVID-19 production challenges led to improvements in bird health and welfare for many poultry producers.
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Salmonella serotypes are changing — monitor which ones are in your flock
It’s imperative for poultry producers and companies to know what strains of Salmonella may be circulating in their flocks, said Chuck Hofacre, president of the Southern Poultry Research Group in...
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Recombinant vaccines for poultry: How to maximize results
Proper vaccine handling, dosage and administration are key to ensuring thorough and effective coverage. That statement is particularly true when talking about recombinant-vector vaccines.
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Why ‘vaccinated’ chickens still get infected with IBV — and what to do about it
While many vaccines and vaccination programs effectively protect against the highly contagious infectious bronchitis virus in poultry, outbreaks of the disease still occur in vaccinated flocks.
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Light impacts behavior in cage-free aviaries
Birds can move out of the reach of the workers’ hands in a multi-tier aviary system, so employees have to climb into the system to get to them. Researchers from Michigan State studied light...
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Poultry industry can learn from COVID-19
Biosecurity is not sufficient to control avian coronaviruses like infectious bronchitis in commercial poultry, no matter how good it is, said Mark Jackwood, PhD, a molecular virologist and professor...
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‘Competitive exclusion’ is potential benefit of live Salmonella vaccines in young birds
Live vaccines for Salmonella have been found to start offering protection within a few days of administration, acting “almost as a [form of] competitive exclusion,” said Chuck Hofacre, president...
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Poor IBV vaccine performance in broiler study underlines need for surveillance
A whole-complex study of broiler breeders in Georgia found underwhelming infectious bronchitis vaccine performance – but with better surveillance and protocols, outcomes could be improved.
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Sharing data can help manage layer-farm disease and increase production
Sharing and analyzing data at farm level and beyond can offer new insights that improve bird health and profitability on layer farms.
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Going with the flow: How to maximize the effectiveness of spray vaccination
Attention to detail is vital when it comes to ensuring that spray vaccinations against respiratory diseases such as infectious bronchitis are as effective as they can possibly be, according to...
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Measuring temperature of birds’ faces could help identify heat stress in flocks
Use of thermal imaging cameras to measure facial temperatures may offer a non-invasive option for assessing heat stress in commercial broilers, according to research from the University of Arkansas.
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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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Hatchery tips for successful transition to NAE production
Preventing birds from getting sick is perhaps the biggest challenge encountered when transitioning from conventional to “no antibiotics ever” (NAE) production.
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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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Consider predominance of AL-2 variants when planning IBDV vaccination program
The AL-2 family of variants is the predominant strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) circulating among US broiler flocks, according to a recent survey.
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Managing the health challenges of moving to free-range egg production
Free-range egg production will bring major challenges to the way birds are produced, but it will also mean big shifts in the ways bird health and welfare need to be managed.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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