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Know How / Broilers / Health and welfare

The single most important part of broiler production is ensuring the health and welfare of birds. Compromised flocks will rapidly become unprofitable, and with ever fewer medicines available for treating birds, prevention is becoming more crucial than ever.

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Case studies

POULTRY

How an organic egg producer eliminated nuisance flies in sheds

Tim Clarke has introduced controls on his 9,000-bird unit at Nantywellan, near Llandrindod Wells, to reduce fly populations. The flies are known carriers of diseases such as salmonella, pasteurella, campylobacter…

BROILERS

How poultry unit manages heat stress with misting systems

High-pressure water misting systems are playing a key role in preventing heat stress and performance dips in hot weather at one Derbyshire broiler business. The Adsetts family installed their first…

BROILERS

How a farmer reversed losses by improving chick start

A switch to strategic veterinary care has helped a poultry producer recover from two disastrous crops and save thousands of pounds a year. Broiler producer Henry Dent farms 270,000 birds…

POULTRY

How on-farm hatching can improve flock health and cut costs

On-farm hatching is delivering better broiler performance while improving welfare and cutting carbon emissions for one Hertfordshire producer. Tom Wornham’s family farm almost 200,000 birds for one of the UK’s…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How 'ethical' poultry producers can achieve £5.50/kg

A Devon poultry farmer is achieving as much as £5.50/kg through ethical production - so called because of the additional considerations for the environment and bird welfare. A high proportion…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

How technology can help improve poultry flock uniformity

An uneven flock is a familiar frustration for poultry farmers. Not only does it make management harder, but it can lead to higher rejects at the processing plant if birds…

Practical advice

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POULTRY

The benefits and uses of lucerne in poultry production

Lucerne is becoming more commonplace in UK poultry systems because of the benefits the crop provides to the welfare and productivity of flocks. Lucerne bales provide hens with important foraging…

POULTRY

7 ways to manage poultry litter for optimum performance

Poultry are in continuous contact with litter, so it is no surprise that when conditions are poor, birds will not perform to their genetic potential. Sara Perez, veterinary director at…

POULTRY

Benefits of nutraceuticals for bird nutrition and health

Compound feed should contain everything a bird needs to grow successfully. However, other products – dubbed “nutraceuticals” – can be used to provide a boost to the bird’s nutrition and…

POULTRY

Advice on using water vaccination for broilers and layers

Vaccination remains one of the tried and tested ways to reduce the risk of production losses in flocks from rising disease challenges. Pathogens can have a devastating impact on farms,…

POULTRY

7 brooding management tips for healthy broiler chicks

Brooding is all about building the foundation for a broiler’s life, according to Brendan Graaf, broiler specialist for Cobb-Vantress. “Chicks go through a lot of stress during the hatching process,…

POULTRY

6 things poultry producers can do to cut antibiotics further

The UK poultrymeat and egg sectors are making clear progress in their ambition to reduce antibiotics use. As the push for further cuts continues, Debbie James gets advice on what…

Insights

POULTRY

Why avian flu vaccine rollout would cost £1.5k/shed a month

Vaccinating UK poultry flocks for avian influenza has been described as “cost prohibitive” because an EU surveillance requirement for swabbing and testing would set producers back £1,000-£1,500/month for every shed…

POULTRY

Coccidiosis in broilers - what role will new vaccines play?

Research is under way at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) to develop cheaper vaccines that could be used more widely against coccidiosis in broilers. Current vaccines for the disease –…

POULTRY

Why organic acids are key to reducing cellulitis rates

Since 2010, the number of cellulitis rejects has increased nearly threefold, according to Food Standards Agency data. “In the early 2000s we were concerned about a 0.5% cellulitis infection rate…

BROILERS

Preventative lab testing for broilers – is it worth it?

Preventing disease or tackling it early can lead to significant savings in the long run. But adding cost to any system needs to be justified.  So, what is preventative laboratory…

POULTRY

How biofilms can improve litter quality and bird health

Broilers are in constant contact with litter, which absorbs excreta and bird detritus along with waste feed and water. When litter quality is poor there is an increased risk of…

POULTRY

Salmonella strains poultry farms need to be aware of, and why

Salmonella has generally become less prevalent in broilers over the past few years, although there are localised pockets in the South West of England. “We have found exotic types, like…

BROILERS

Q&A: Guidance on avian flu with England's chief vet

As winter approaches migratory birds fly in, bringing the risk of avian flu in the UK. We ask the UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, about the disease and how…

BROILERS

What M&S move to slow-growing poultry means for farmers

Capitalising on the growing consumer awareness of ethically reared meat, M&S has announced plans to be the first major UK retailer to sell only slower reared fresh chicken. The move…

POULTRY

How the new poultry standards proposals will affect farmers

Earlier this year, two consultations on farm assurance standards for the UK poultry sector came to a close. Red Tractor and Defra propose changes that will help keep standards up…

BROILERS

What the 'Better Chicken Commitment' means for farmers

A campaign to radically change the way broiler chickens are produced has been gathering pace across Europe. It stipulates a change in breed type, stocking densities and lighting levels, among…

BROILERS

Expert insights on the latest poultry gut health science

Influencing gut populations to promote better health, reduce the use of antibiotics and improve performance has arguably become as important as bird genetics in recent years. Getting nutrition right –…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Global insights reveal secrets of better broilers

The South West Chicken Association annual meeting in Bristol focused on the practicalities of producing high-quality chickenmeat. Here, Poultry World reviews the speakers from the day, who covered health, prospects and…

Online resources

Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Cattle

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Sheep

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Pigs

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Nadis livestock disease A-Z - Poultry

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