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Ensuring strong immunity key to successful ‘no antibiotics ever’ broiler production
Producers raising broilers with no or fewer antibiotics need to pay more attention to diseases that can compromise flock immunity and make birds more susceptible to primary and secondary infections, according to poultry specialists at an industry roundtable.
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New poultry vaccine from Zoetis helps build strong immune foundation in breeder hens and their progeny
Poulvac Maternavac® 4, an inactivated vaccine from Zoetis that helps protect chickens against four important diseases, has been licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The new vaccine is built on the success of Poulvac Maternavac® IBD-Reo – a vaccine that protects against standard and variant strains of infectious bursal disease, as well as malabsorption caused by reovirus. Poulvac Maternavac 4 offers these same protections, in addition to Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis virus.
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Seven misconceptions about IBD in broilers
Infectious bursal disease, or IBD, is one of the most common yet most misunderstood diseases of poultry. Kalen Cookson, DVM, a poultry veterinarian at Zoetis with extensive experience managing IBD, talked with Poultry Health Today about seven misconceptions about the disease in broilers.
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Infectious bronchitis control: Understanding why it’s so difficult
Although infectious bronchitis is traditionally thought of as an upper-respiratory disease, some strains of the virus can cause inflammation of the kidneys or decreased egg production and quality. “Controlling infectious bronchitis virus not only prevents the disease but it decreases secondary bacterial infections, which significantly reduces performance problems as well as the use of antibiotics in poultry,” Mark Jackwood, PhD, University of Georgia, writes in an article for Poultry Health Today.
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Virulent ND outbreaks underscore need to rethink vaccination program
The USDA has confirmed more than 450 cases of virulent Newcastle disease (ND) in California, as of mid-December 2019. The outbreak started in backyard chicken flocks, but the disease has also reached at least three commercial layer operations. “This situation underscores the importance of making sure our ND vaccination programs are up-to-date,” Phil Stayer, DVM, Sanderson Farms, writes in an article for Poultry Health Today.
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