A disease commonly seen in turkey and broiler flocks can also affect layers, meaning that producers should look out for its distinctive signs. Clostridium septicum dermatitis was recently found across multiple sites of a single company, Michaela Olson, DVM, of Wilson Veterinary Care, told Poultry Health Today. The diagnosis began with a mortality spike and unusual feedback when dead birds were sent for further analysis.

Producers should play close attention to insect control in their poultry houses to avoid cases of turkey coronavirus enteritis (TCE).That’s the view of Eric Orozco, DVM, a veterinarian at Butterball in North Carolina, based on his recent experiences with the disease. The most recent outbreak he dealt with began in June 2021, with previous breaks in 2018-19, he told Poultry Health Today. The disease was detected in 8-week-old finishers on two farms through routine polymerase chain reactio...

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 causes a rolling reaction in flocks. That’s the view of Rodrigo Gallardo, DVM, PhD, professor of poultry medicine at the University of California–Davis.

Using key welfare indicators (KWIs) can help fill a communication gap around welfare progress in the US poultry industry.That’s the view of Ken Opengart, DVM, PhD, vice president, animal welfare and international sustainability for Tyson Foods.

Producers need to be alert to the dangers of drinking-water toxicity issues, according to a senior industry veterinarian. Speaking to Poultry Health Today, Kurt Dobson, DVM, director of veterinary services for George’s, Inc. in Arkansas, said that a recent case of salt toxicity at an eight-house broiler farm underlined the need to not dismiss water on the list of vital components affecting bird health.

Labor shortages in hatcheries mean that to ensure appropriate levels of sanitation in “no-antibiotics-ever” (NAE) production, wholesale automation is likely to be required, according to an industry expert. Automation began in hatcheries around 30 years ago, when labor started to become an issue, said Scott Martin, an independent poultry consultant. The labor shortfall is even more acute today, especially when considering newer methods of production such as NAE.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Scott Ma...

Footpad dermatitis causes significant foot problems for broilers, which adversely affects bird welfare and the market for broiler paws, according to Zoie McMillian, graduate research assistant, University of Maryland. Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Zoie McMillian, University of Maryland0:26 Footpad dermatitis in broilers1:06 Benefits of circulation fansNOTE: 1:35 Super: last line says: foot pad. Should be: footpad2:30 Evaluating broiler footpad health4:07 Footpad dermatitis: Severity vs. preval...

Environmental enrichments in broiler houses may improve bird welfare by increasing natural behaviors, according to Heidi Rinehart, a student at the University of Maryland. Rinehart has studied broiler behavior and welfare for several years at the university.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Heidi Rinehart, University of Maryland0:23 Broiler welfare: Environmental enrichments1:42 Enrichments: Hay bales, ramps, boxes, spotlights3:10 Broiler natural behaviors4:40 Enrichments encourage natural behaviors6:1...

Poultry producers with cage-free pullet systems should go back to the basics of bird management to keep their flocks healthy and productive, reported Darrin Eckard, Hy-Line cage-free specialist. This is a change from flocks kept in cages that may face less disease and fewer parasites.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Darrin Eckard, Hy-Line0:30 FLAW: Feed, light, air, and water1:23 Coccidiosis control in cage-free layers2:55 Worm infections in cage-free layers4:37 E. coli issues5:49 Vaccine protocols fo...

Recombinant vaccines are not a silver bullet, but they are “very helpful for our goals in the poultry industry, whether you produce meat-type chickens or commercial table eggs,” said Guillermo Zavala, DVM, PhD, with Avian Health International. To maximize their effectiveness, Zavala said producers need to follow a number of protocols when using recombinant vaccines.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Guillermo Zavala, DVM, PhD, Poultry Consultant 0:30 Recombinant vector vaccination mistakes2:...

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 and found no detrimental impact of dark periods applied during that early production phase. Chapters:0:00 Intro0:10 Brian Fairchild, PhD, University of Georgia0:23 Does adding a dark period help baby chicks?2:47 4-hour dark period evaluated4:14 No disadvantage in providing chicks a dark period______________...

The COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching effects on poultry companies, said Bruce Stewart-Brown, DVM, senior vice president of technical services and innovation at Perdue Farms. “It affected nearly every part of the company,” he told Poultry Health Today, from the supply chain through production. While it was a difficult situation, companies learned a lot about crisis management and how to improve bird health and welfare.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:10 Bruce Stewart-Brown, Perdue Farms0:24 Pandemic qui...

Almost 25% of US foodborne illnesses continue to be linked to poultry products. To get an accurate measure of product contamination, USDA is evaluating the poultry supply chain, including interventions on the farm, said Sandra Eskin, USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food safety.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Sandra Eskin, USDA, Food Safety0:22 Salmonella foodborne infections1:59 Salmonella prevention at the poultry farm NOTE: 2:36 Super – Slaughterhouse is misspelled3:38 More data needed from ...

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 service. Tom Tabler, PhD, poultry specialist, University of Tennessee Extension, offered points to consider.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Tom Tabler, PhD, University of Tennessee0:22 Issues with LED lighting for broilers2:18 Trailing edge dimmers for LED lamps4:20 LED lamps: Ghosting and dead travel5:40 Proper lig...

A higher risk of bacterial challenges in cage-free egg production means a live-vaccination program against E. coli is a “must-have minimum” for flocks reared in alternative systems, said Dan Wilson, DVM, PhD, of Wilson Veterinary Company, Indiana.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Dan Wilson, DVM, Wilson Vet Co.0:20 E. coli bacteria in egg layers2:45 Properly diagnosing E. coli4:24 E. coli vaccination protocols6:40 Alternative layer production challenges________________________________________________Po...

Coccidiosis in broiler houses remains a nagging challenge. “It’s the same old problem and it’s a moving target at the same time,” said Phil Stayer, DVM at Sanderson Farms. What’s important is to have a strategy, be flexible and willing to test treatments to find what works best and what may need to change. Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Phil Stayer, DVM, Sanderson Farms0:27 Subclinical coccidiosis affects feed efficiency2:03 Coccidiosis vaccination management3:44 Good animal husbandry is...

Next year marks a big change for the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP). It will hold its first independent meeting, according to current president Louise Dufour-Zavala, DVM, executive director of the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Louise Dufour-Zavala, PhD, President, AAAP0:30 AAAP: American Association of Avian Pathologists1:23 AAAP Women’s Network2:08 Avian Diseases journal3:59 Post pandemic opportunities for veterinarians___________________...

Birds can move freely and 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 the hens. A team of researchers, led by Andrea Mendoza, at graduate research assistant at Michigan State University, studied light variation to see if it could help move hens onto the floor area, making them easier to reach.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Andrea Mendoza, Michigan State University0:22 Aviaries for egg layers are difficult to manage ...

Research at the University of Arkansas suggests broiler breed could affect birds’ immune response to Salmonella exposure. Research groups have looked at environmental and management factors for decades…but the factors that contribute to the prevalence of Salmonella inside of the bird are less well-known and less defined, said Shawna Weimer, PhD, director of the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Shawna Weimer, PhD, University of Arkansas0:25 Salmonella prevalence varies ...

A technology called CRISPR-SeroSeq, which amplifies a section of the Salmonella genome, is helping paint a clearer picture of the serotypes circulating in breeder flocks. The knowledge gained may help poultry producers design more targeted control measures.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:11 Nikki Shariat, PhD, University of Georgia0:22 Salmonella isolation techniques in poultry1:59 Salmonella Kentucky prevalence3:19 CRISPR-SeroSeq: Whole genome sequencing4:56 S. Kentucky prevalence: Growout vs pro...