Butyrate in layer diets: positive pooled effects, wide variation between studies
Across 29 controlled trials, dietary butyrate was associated with significant pooled improvements in egg production and several quality traits. Results varied considerably between studies,...
Incubator temperature accuracy: the 0.2 °c that determines your chick quality
Walk into any technologically advanced hatchery today and you will see sophisticated single-stage/multi-stage incubators, automatic controllers, modern ventilation systems, smooth-running fans, and digital touchscreens...
India’s ethanol push squeezes poultry margins via maize prices
India’s growing use of maize for ethanol is adding another layer of pressure to a market already crucial for poultry producers. As demand from...
Key threats to poultry gut health
Assuring optimal gut health across production phases is a cornerstone to safeguard poultry performance and wellbeing. Despite being a health and welfare problem, gut...
Trends, standards and research directions for the future of laying hen welfare
The Western egg industry is transitioning to cage-free housing, creating new welfare challenges for hens genetically adapted to battery cages. Research highlights that early-life...
Cleaning and disinfection of poultry house: a key step in poultry farm biosecurity
Biosecurity is a major issue in poultry farming today. Failures in biosecurity can lead to significant economic losses: lower animal production, mortality, poor egg...
Genotype emerges as a major driver of chicken breast eating quality
Eight broiler production concepts produced different breast meat profiles, but consumers distinguished far less between them. In the three concepts tested with consumers, juiciness...
The first week as therapy: rethinking the broiler neonatal phase with a preventive approach
The first 7–10 days of life represent the biologically most critical phase of the entire commercial broiler production cycle. Within this narrow timeframe, the...
Machine learning maps avian influenza detection risk in Egypt
Researchers have combined wild bird sampling with environmental and disease data to map the probability of detecting avian influenza viruses across Egypt. Alongside the...
Beyond detection: how to interpret Salmonella results in breeder flocks and egg production
Salmonella infections in poultry production represent a turning point rather than a simple laboratory finding. In breeder and egg production systems, the identification of...
Pakistan, intensive poultry farming and antibiotic resistance: when chicken houses become “pathogen sponges”
Pakistan’s poultry sector provides an important example of the challenges associated with the intensification of broiler production and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Rapidly expanding production,...
eBeam treatment of ground poultry meat: different effects in chicken and turkey
Electron beam treatment, or eBeam, can reduce microbial contamination without the use of heat. Its effects on poultry meat, however, are not always the...
Insect meals in poultry nutrition: nutritional opportunities and challenges still to overcome
Insect meals are receiving growing attention as possible alternative protein sources for poultry diets. However, it would be misleading to treat insects as a...
Interreg NWE OMELETTE project demonstrates practical pathway to longer, healthier laying cycles
At the mid-term TransRegional Eggspert Panel meeting in Ploufragan, France, the OMELETTE project presented its first results, highlighting how a more proactive and data-driven...
Sustainable animal welfare implementation for more efficient poultry farming
Over the last decades, there have been increasing attempts to implement animal welfare standards within the food production systems, aiming to prevent unnecessary suffering...
Heat and drought put Europe’s poultry sector under pressure
Record temperatures and drought are adding pressure to Europe’s poultry sector, affecting bird welfare, farm productivity, water availability, feed costs and logistics. While EU...
Advancing poultry sustainability to meet 2050 protein needs
Introduction: the 2050 protein challenge
Global demand for animal protein is projected to rise by more than 70% by 2050, driven by population growth and...
The use of enzymes in broiler chicken diets
The use of exogenous enzymes in broiler nutrition is a well‑established strategy to enhance feed efficiency, reduce production costs, and mitigate the environmental impact...
Summer heat stress is detrimental to broiler chickens
Summer heat stress severely harms broiler chickens, impairing production performance, gut health, immune function, and meat quality.
The article examines physiological effects (panting, reduced feed...
Study suggests H5N1 D1.1 circulated before its first detection in North America
By the time the H5N1 D1.1 genotype was first detected in the Pacific Flyway during the autumn of 2024, it had probably already been...
Avian cholera: epidemiology, transmission and control measures
Avian cholera remains a significant threat to poultry and wild bird populations. Effective control relies on biosecurity, surveillance and appropriate carcass management measures.
Definition and...
How can we get bird flu under control?
Emergency and laboratory monitoring
Bird flu is affecting an increasing number of birds in the Netherlands, leading to the culling of tens of thousands of...
Newcastle disease virus evolution and control strategies
Newcastle disease virus is continuously evolving, and molecular techniques allow the classification of vaccine and field strains in numerous genotypes and subgenotypes, although a...
Overview of worm infestations in chickens: integrated control, preventive strategies, and novel diagnostic tools
The transition toward alternative and free-range housing systems has led to a renewed increase in helminth infection pressure in poultry production. Intestinal worms not...
Garlic allicin as a promising alternative to antibiotics in broilers
Introduction
The poultry industry is under increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic use due to antimicrobial resistance and consumer demand for safer products. Garlic (Allium sativum)...
Keeping birds warm and comfortable with dry litter
Though controlling litter moisture is crucial for limiting ammonia production in houses, it also helps keep birds warm during cold weather.
One of the key...
Comparison of litter, subjective moisture and friability scores to measured litter moisture content
Describing and scoring litter moisture and friability can be achieved using consistent terminology as defined in the Litter Guide, which was developed for the...
Feed management and feeding techniques explained
Feed management and feeding techniques will help to provide the right amount of nutrients at the right time. Although we are talking in this...
Hot weather management and nutrition for commercials
This document provides practical advice for managers to reduce the effects of heat on flocks by modifying management and nutritional practices to improve bird...
Broilernet and the future of slow-growing broilers in Europe: animal welfare, sustainability, and economic...
The European broiler production sector stands at a crossroads. On one hand, growing demand for animal protein drives the need for efficiency; on the...
Bio-coating significantly extends chilled poultry shelf life
A new bio-coating technology enriched with natural antimicrobial agents has shown the potential to substantially extend the shelf life of chilled poultry, offering major...
Shielding wings from injuries
Once considered a low-value byproduct of the cutup process, chicken wings have become a premium cut, making their protection from injuries economically critical. Modern...
Immune system and nutrition: the balance between immunity and growth in modern broiler crosses
Immune activation is the first stage of the immune response necessary to protect the body. It is accompanied by significant metabolic costs and inflammation....
Emerging technologies in rodent control for European poultry farms
Rodent infestations remain one of the most persistent challenges in poultry farming. Beyond damaging infrastructure and feed supplies, rodents are vectors of diseases that...
The dynamics of global meat production. An analysis of the period from 2000 to...
A preceding article documented the development of global meat1 exports (Windhorst, 2026). This follow-up article analyses the dynamics in meat imports.
Between 1970 and 2023,...
Jbt Marel gives you wings. Separate processing for damaged and undamaged chicken wings
Around the world, demand for wing products is strong and growing. In China, the mid-wing is the most popular chicken piece, with five times...
Strategies for poultry producers to combat insecticide resistance
Poultry producers can combat insecticide resistance by rotating insecticides based on their mode of action, implementing resistance monitoring programs, and integrating non-chemical pest management...
Management of drinking water and vaccination procedures: a strategic pairing for effective immunization
Vaccination via drinking water is one of the cornerstones of modern poultry production and accounts for the majority of immunization procedures carried out during...
Water quality
This Aviagen Brief has been written specifically for producers in Asia and the Middle East where typical ambient temperatures can range from below freezing...
The evolution of poultry prophylaxis: effectiveness and precision in the service of animal health
In modern poultry farming, the efficiency of prophylactic operations is no longer assessed solely in terms of speed, but also in terms of dosing...
Bioavailable silicium as feed additive and its beneficial effects throughout poultry production
Silicium is a naturally occurring trace element that supports bone formation, collagen synthesis, and structural integrity in tissues and eggshell membranes. In poultry, dietary...
Welfare indicators for hens and chickens
The evaluation of animal welfare in poultry farms requires a multidimensional approach that encompasses resource-, management-, and animal-based indicators. This combined approach allows for...
Continuous monitoring and control of mycoplasma for sustainable poultry production
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) remain persistent pathogens in poultry, causing respiratory disorders, synovitis, uneven growth, and reduced egg production. Determining the...
How to correctly load incubators with eggs from different flocks
Incubators are ideally loaded with eggs from one single flock that have all been stored for the same period of time. In modern, large-scale...
On-farm hatching: an innovative early-feeding strategy that improves welfare and reduces antimicrobial use in...
On-farm hatching is an innovative hatching technique that provides early feeding post hatch to newborn chicks. Several experimental studies and field trials show that...
Impact of hatchery climate control and ventilation on hatchability and post-hatch chick quality
Climate control and ventilation are two of the most important factors affecting hatchery performance, which have an impact on both embryonic development and post-hatch...
Adding value into the poultry food chain
Enhancing efficiency, sustainability and consumer engagement are three cornerstones to increase profitability by adding value into the poultry food chain. All together are necessary...
Common mistakes in turkey breeder farms. Part 1
In turkey breeder farms, very different tasks have to be performed in a daily routine, which, both in terms of variety and number, may...
Overcoming frontiers in environmental sustainability
Recent concerns about the impact of the poultry industry on the environment and natural resources are putting pressure on the supply chain to produce...
Effect of some biological factors on the performance of broiler breeder hens
This study was carried out at the Poultry Research and Development Unit, El Wadi Company Farms and Poultry Nutrition Laboratory, Environmental Studies and Research...
Achieving good welfare outcomes for broiler breeders begins at placement
Brooding is the critical early stage of a chicken’s life, typically covering the first few weeks after hatching. During this time, chicks are highly...
Is biosecurity a driver for improved poultry performance? Experiences from a field trial
Maintaining strict biosecurity is vital in poultry farming, with cleaning and disinfection (C&D) serving as a cornerstone for flock health and performance. On-field evidences...
New predictive models for an integrated approach to combating avian influenza
Avian influenza is now recognized as both widespread and costly, with serious implications for animal and human health. Tackling it effectively requires targeted strategies...
Early life management of layers
Successful egg production in table-egg laying hens relies on proper caretaking during the lay phase, yet early rearing is also paramount to achieve performance...
Welfare of turkeys on farm
EFSA assesses the welfare of turkeys on farm
EFSA’s scientists have reviewed the latest evidence on the welfare of turkeys and provided a scientific opinion to...
Cleanliness of hatching eggs: biosecurity and hatchery management implications
We are hosting an article originally published on the More About Chicken website, a platform mainly aimed at consumers that also addresses topics relevant...
Mass water vaccination in poultry sheds: accurate dose for every bird, every line
Even if many people use the same methods or knowledge for water vaccination in cage or aviary systems as they do for broiler or...
Practical guide for evaluating day-old chick quality: key standards and health monitoring
Evaluating the quality of day-old chicks (DOC) is crucial for successful poultry production. This practical guide outlines the key physical indicators, health factors, and...
EFSA’s scientific opinion on welfare of turkeys on farm
Turkeys are raised for meat production in large flocks across the EU, mainly in indoor housing. Systems with covered veranda and outdoor range are...
Broiler chickens and transport: more space doesn’t improve animal welfare
When we talk about animal welfare, the first thing that usually comes to mind is space. Most people instinctively think that giving chickens more...
Should the US rethink its avian influenza policy?
➤ Tom Tabler, Professor and Extension Poultry Specialist, Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
➤ Tanner Thornton, Graduate Research Assistant, Department...
Thoughts on diet energy. Definitions, requirements and alternatives
Energy is by far our most expensive nutrient, yet surprisingly we never receive guarantees when we trade ingredients or manufacture diets. Energy level dictates...
Sea urchin waste as alternative source of calcium for laying hens
In Italy, several tons of sea urchins are harvested annually, yet only the gonads are used for consumption; the rest, rich in calcium carbonate,...
Modern incubation techniques to improve chick quality and uniformity. The importance of chick quality...
The poultry industry has advanced rapidly over the past decades with hatchery management playing an important role in ensuring the successful production of good-quality...
Decoding cecal cores in chickens: from necropsy to diagnosis
Cecal cores are a classical pathological gross lesion seen in field necropsies. Even though a presumptive diagnosis is made based on the visualization of...
Avian influenza diagnostics in foxes provide valuable addition to mammal surveillance
Research by Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) and the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) shows that foxes in the province of Friesland can become infected...
New avian flu outbreak detected on a farm in the Urgell region (Catalonia)
The Government of Catalonia has confirmed the detection of a new case of avian influenza on a poultry farm located within the surveillance radius...
Drinking Water Management in Broiler Production
Why Water Quality and System Management Matter More Than Ever
In modern broiler production, drinking water is often treated as a secondary input compared to...
Animal welfare regulation issued, opening wider opportunities for cage-free egg development
Jakarta – The Government of Indonesia has officially issued Minister of Agriculture Regulation (Permentan) No. 32 of 2025 on the Implementation of Animal Welfare....
Royal Pas Reform introduces Bangladesh’s first SmartStart™ post-hatch feeding system in Joypurhat
A new chapter for chick welfare, uniformity, and early performance in the Bangladesh poultry sector
Joypurhat, Bangladesh, has marked a significant milestone in the nation’s...
Female persistency post-peak. Managing fertility and production
INTRODUCTION
Managing breeding stock fertility and egg production is critical to achieving good breeder production and welfare. However, maintaining persistent egg output and hatchability remains...
Hatching eggs: the importance of assessing internal egg quality
Hatching egg quality has a significant impact on hatchability and chick quality. By making egg quality control a part of the routine procedures in...
How much dietary protein is too much
Dietary protein accounts largely for most of broiler feeding costs which in return shrink revenue if protein is not used efficiently. Tuning dietary protein...
USPOULTRY Releases Updated Report of Antibiotic Stewardship Within US Poultry Production
Updated research, supported by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was released today quantifying the...
Axel Aguayo joins Hubbard as Technical Sales Manager Spain & Portugal
EMEA – Hubbard is pleased to announce the appointment of Axel Aguayo as Technical Sales Manager for Spain and Portugal. Axel is based in...
Animal feed probiotics market expands as antibiotic-free nutrition gains momentum
The global animal feed probiotics market is undergoing a significant transformation as livestock producers increasingly seek sustainable, science-driven alternatives to conventional growth promoters. Valued...
Stepping into barn digitalization
Technification of poultry barns is a growing priority for most producers to support precision farming practices. Although such improvements can ease flock management and...
A synergistic herbal alternative combination: curcumshield vs poultry infections – a broad-spectrum study
Introduction
In the case of bacterial infections, various categories of antibiotics – especially synthetic ones – are widely used as broad-spectrum bacteriostatic and bactericidal agents....
EU compound feed production market forecast 2025
FEFAC market experts forecast continued stability in the EU compound feed production market for 2025. The total industrial compound feed production in the EU27...
Feeding the commercial turkey
Choosing the most effective feeding programme has never been more important given the unpredictability of the raw material market and lack of consistent supply...
