Combining science-based microbial data with digital technology could help improve the reliability, accuracy and speed of poultry flock health monitoring.
“The point of a digital pathogen monitoring system is to make sure we have precise data in the right hands for live bird production,” Dilan Deniz, DVM, global product manager, Evonik, said at the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit.
Data can drive more-informed poultry health decisions
Despite improvements in both prevention and control approaches, Clostridium perfringens, Eimeria spec., Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enterica still remain a major challenge for the poultry industry.
The pathogen monitoring system uses a PCR test to detect these pathogens in a flock. Next, these sampling methods are validated through boot swabs and fecal collection at various points on the farm.
The data is collected by a software program and anonymously compared with information from the U.S. and Asia Pacific and several different production types, including antibiotic-free and limited antibiotic use.
“Two days later, you’ll get the results of the reports and you’ll be able to see everything in a digital way,” Denis explained.
This includes further detail on pathogen level for every flock. Over time, poultry producers can use this data to generate historical flock status or farm reports, providing insights into when to expect disease cycles to occur year-over-year.
“You need to make sure you know what is going on so that you know your performance level and then you can interpret that data for yourself,” she added, noting that this can lead to more informed decision-making on the farm.
Knowing more about the pathogen loads in a poultry flock allows producers, veterinarians, integrators and other stakeholders more time to implement disease interventions, which could prevent costly outbreaks.
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Join an exclusive international gathering of industry-changing innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, investors and leading poultry producers at the 2023 edition of Poultry Tech Summit on November 6-8 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
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