Feed borne mycotoxins: the threat to poultry?
Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by molds (fungi) that can infest crops pre-harvest and can continue to flourish under sub-optimal storage conditions. Grains with high...
Dietary non-phytate phosphorus levels for laying hens in the last phase of lay
The phosphorus (P) requirement of laying hens is an area of on-going debate and it is a factor that contributes to hen performance and...
In ovo injection of oregano essential oil at different pH affects hatchability and post-hatching...
The dynamic complexity of the developing embryo requires the maintenance of differentiated compartments with the capacity to maintain independent environments required to optimise their...
Challenges and opportunities in establishing a new turkey parent stock operation in a remote...
The Russian turkey market has shown substantial growth during the last decade with new and very large companies willing and able to invest considerable...
Managing CO2 and fresh air to optimise hatchability
Last year I was invited to a layer hatchery that was reporting slightly lower hatchability than its sister hatcheries, despite using eggs from the...
Path to the 100 week age layers in cage free systems
Egg producers are always looking for ways to improve layer hen’s efficiency as, nowadays, the genetic potential of layers is targeting an extended age...
How preheating temperature can affect litter drying
One of the purposes of preheating a broiler house is to ensure the litter is properly dried prior to chick placement. Research has shown...
Incorporating an essential oil and saponin blend as part of an effective coccidiosis management...
Coccidiosis continues to be a top challenge in the poultry industry and growing evidence of reduced sensitivity to traditional anticoccidials like ionophores and chemicals...
New applications such as superdosing of phytase to maximize phytate destruction to improve performance...
It is well documented that phytase supplementation in broiler diets improves P and Ca utilization through the destruction of phytate (IP6) and thereby allows...
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...
In Observance of Earth Day USPOULTRY highlights poultry and egg farm and poultry facilities...
In observance of Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association highlighted two videos from its series emphasizing environmental stewardship on...
How Marek’s disease may directly affect the chicken immune system
Marek’s disease virus (MDV) causes disease in chickens and is estimated to cost the global poultry industry up to US $2 billion each year.
In...
Minnesota Turkey launches 3rd “day in the life of a turkey farmer” video
Minnesota turkey grower Loren Brey of Brey Farms, New Ulm, Minn., was recently featured in “A Day in the Life of a Turkey Farmer”...
Different light sources
The value of regulating the photoperiod of poultry and livestock to stimulate reproduction has been recognized for many years and is used regularly by...
Chelated copper compared to antibiotics effect on gut health in broilers
In this study the specific interventions of chelated copper methionine hydroxy analogue (cuMHAC) and a combination of cuMHAC and an effective foregut acidifier were...
Dietary energy, digestible lysine and available phosphorus levels influence growth performance and carcass traits...
Energy (E) and amino acids (AA) are two of the most expensive components in broiler diets. There is no general consensus regarding the interaction...
Rethink the golden rules of incubation
Your incubation results might be affected by a lack of accuracy in the rules you’re applying. The rules of incubation have been derived from...
Algae products in organic poultry diets
Algae, “the not so new kid on the block” has been used in both human and animal diets dating back centuries. There is a...
Investigating the reasons behind a poor hatch in the hatchery
Hatchery – like most other production facilities – bases its operations on planning. The results of future hatches can be estimated quite precisely. Knowing...
A new perspective on feeding broiler breeders
Due to sophisticated genetic selection programs carried out by poultry breeding companies such as Aviagen, today’s broilers can grow with very efficient feed conversion...
Roxell pan feeder system: the ultimate alternative to beak treatments
Jan Hoving from Zeewolde (NL) tested this Roxell solution at his rearing farm. For him, the decision to use Natural Beak Smoothing was a...
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...
Researchers evaluate the effects of heat stress in poults
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announced the completion of a funded research project at North Carolina State University in which researchers evaluated the effects...
Additivity of ileal amino acid values of sorghum with different protein sources
Sorghum is used widely in Australian poultry diets, primarily as an energy component. It is usually fed in diets that contain wheat but may...
Big data for poultry – first part
The term big data may at first appear incongruous to animal agriculture. However, by capturing, analysing, reporting and sharing of through-production chain data with...
Detection and quantification of Gallibacterium anatis and Mycoplasma synoviae
Mycoplasma synoviae is one of the most common preconditions for secondary bacterial infections in poultry. It causes subclinical infections of the upper respiratory tract,...
Adaptability of bird flu poses threat to poultry
New insights from a study of the 2016/17 bird flu outbreak show how highly pathogenic bird flu viruses – which are likely to cause...
An alternative method to fight Avian Influenza Virus
A recent project was completed at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, in which researchers developed a mobile system that can inactivate Avian...
A review of novel biological alternatives to antibiotic therapies in poultry
As poultry producers in Australia continue to limit antibiotic use, increasing numbers of alternative therapies and chemical biosecurity products are being used to overcome...
Resources and tools to write a good biosecurity plan
Poultry
industries in the United States (U.S.) have been in a unique situation after
the 2014-2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. Analysis and
epidemiology of the...
How to improve indoor air quality in poultry housing
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in which researchers provided...
Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) Advisory – City of Kingston
The Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) is issuing an Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) biosecurity advisory for an approximate 10 km area in the City of Kingston.
FBCC...
Gut health in layers
To some extent gut health has not been a focus of commercial pullet and layer flocks unless the problem contributed to a significant mortality...
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)...
Wooden Breast Disease
The emergence of Wooden Breast Disease in commercial broiler chickens has been associated with significant economic loss in the poultry industry resulting from severe...
Apparent metabolisable energy of common cereal grains for broiler chickens is influenced by bird...
The current study was conducted to investigate the influence of broiler age on the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) of four...
Pre-harvest interventions and implications of safety for turkey processing
Increasing consumer attention toward low fat, high protein diets, and demand for healthy foods has led to a significant increase in the production and...
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...
Footpad dermatitis in market turkey hens. Bird density and bedding material relationships
Lameness
and poor footpad condition can be major issues for meat-type poultry resulting
in their decreased well-being and decreased productivity. A large body of
research exists for...
Improving birds’ health by refining their intestinal microbiota health and stability
Intestinal systems of living organisms are inhabited by a dense community of microorganisms dominated by bacteria but also containing archea, fungi, protozoa and viruses....
How an automatic flushing system can reduce the use of antibiotics
Consumers worldwide start to worry about the use of antibiotics in livestock production and their effect on human health. Antibiotic-free chicken is increasingly becoming...
Salmonella, creating the most undesirable environment
Background
Salmonella non-typhoidal is among the top foodborne bacteria that cause illness within the United States annually.With 1.4 million illness (11% of foodborne bacteria), 19,336...
The effects of in-ovo feeding
In-ovo feeding is a key issue in poultry. The embryonic and immediate post hatch developmental period represents a significant phase in attaining quality broiler...
Researchers characterize selected variant Avian Reovirus strains
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of California, Davis, in which researchers looked to...
Determining the correct temperature for transporting 18-day incubated eggs
On-farm hatching is now fairly common in some countries, it requires incubated eggs to be transported from the hatchery to the farm at 18–18.5...
Management and stockmanship – Essential to sustainable poultry production
Experts agree that the way in which animals and poultry are managed can affect 70 to 90% of their health, welfare and productivity.
Poultry producers,...
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...
Artificial structures mitigate simulated adverse pop-hole conditions
There is some evidence that commercial meat chickens prefer to access the range through ‘favoured’ pop-holes; however what makes pop-holes attractive or aversive is...
Scientifically validated results to raise poultry production profitability
The Poultry Science Association 2017 Annual Meeting took place in Orlando, Florida on July 17-20. Being the most prestigious scientific event for poultry in...
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...
First week management of turkey poults
In commercial turkey production we aim to replicate and improve on what a mother turkey supplies to her young in the wild, this include...
How to assess chick quality
The term "chick quality" is rather vague, as it can refer to various aspects – from directly visible physical traits to hidden ones, such...
Six questions about high-volume chicken fillet portioning
Modern technology and software bring an infinite number of cutting options.
The huge volumes of chicken fillet needed to satisfy global demand go way beyond...
Expanding feed milling capacity and quality at New Rosendale’s
At a time when the North American feed industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation driven by new rules, heightened market expectations and ground-breaking technology...
The effect of on-range insect feeding on range usage of free range laying hens
In Australia, on-range feeding of free-range laying hens can be frequently observed and is especially common in mobile sheds. While the biosecurity risk of...
How to ensure a better sustainability in breeding
Aviagen underlines commitment to International Poultry Council’s five priority Sustainable Development Goals for breeding.
The International Poultry Council (IPC) has prioritized five of the United...
Cage free pullet management
The conditions in cage free systems differ from the traditional cage housing systems and require a different management approach. Alternative production systems can be...
How to improve hen fertility
Following specific procedures to increase hen fertility will not eliminate drops in fertility, but it may also reduce the need to trouble-shoot breeder flocks.
Artificial...
Evaluating hen behaviour and physiological stressors during Ventilation Shut Down
USPOULTRY announces the completion of a funded research project at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. in which researchers provided insight on using...
The importance of broilers’ uniformity
The interaction between the live production department and the processing plant across the global poultry industry is governed by an internal supplier-client relationship. Hence,...
Dietary calcium, phytate and non-phytate phosphorus, on IP6 degradation in broilers
The effectiveness of phytase is usually determined under phosphorus or both calcium and phosphorus deficient specifications. Phytase efficacy in terms of increasing available or...
Higher stocking densities decrease performance without altering turkey meat quality
Quality of turkey meat is important but consumers are also concerned for the well-being of animals raised for meat production. However, some in the...
Egg weight loss during incubation of poults and chicks
Why is it important and how do we measure it?
Technology and the associated hatchery and equipment continues to advance incubation to levels previously unavailable,...
Variable speed tunnel fans
Since October 2017, a study has been underway to examine the use of variable-speed tunnel fans to reduce fan operating cost. The study is...
The importance of minimum ventilation and how to calculate it
Providing birds with the correct house environment is key to unlocking the full genetic potential and performance of a flock. Poultry growers often focus...
Controlling water temperature during brooding
Though there is a wide range of opinions on the optimal drinking water temperature for young chicks, the fact is farm managers actually have...
Using accelerometers and artificial intelligence to predict presence of woody breast
The broiler industry has been challenged with a condition referred to as "woody breast" for the past 8-10 years, which can affect a significant...
Turkey breeding – Where from, Where to? – Domestication of animals was a major...
All species of today’s domestic plants and animals followed an analogous pattern of multi-generational change influenced by humans. The modern populations of turkeys followed...
Eco-friendly heating for efficient poultry breeding
The new standards for commercial poultry breeding have been requiring more sustainable, efficient and cleaner technologies. Along with it, the organic poultry production is...
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...
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...
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...
Biosecurity in poultry farming: an effective tool to fight infectious diseases
This is the first of a series of technical articles on biosecurity in poultry farming produced within the European project “NetPoulSafe - Networking European...
Research Rules Out Possible Kinky Back Prevention
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., in which researchers...
Using more bioavailable sources of trace minerals pays off
A study of broiler breeder performance was conducted using three separate minerals programmes. The objective was to determine if productivity could be maintained at...
The declining trend of salmonellosis cases in the EU has levelled off
Cases of Salmonella Enteritidis acquired in the EU have increased in humans by 3% since 2014 says the report, which is compiled by the...
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...
Poultry processing ergonomics
No matter the degree of automation of any given poultry processing plant! There will always be a need for laborers, yet just a few...
Linear Epitope Mapping of B-cell responses following immunization with Avian Reovirus S1133
Avian reovirus is a causative agents of tenosynovitis and viral arthritis. Commercially available reovirus vaccines do not protect against challenge with emerging variants associated...
Vitamin D in laying hens: how high is high enough?
In 2010, the Institute of Medicine in the United States reviewed current literature and changed the estimated average requirement of 400 IU/day to a...