Poultry Industry Presentations

BV Science Field Tests Gamaxine Probiotic to Suppress E.coli Mortality in Broiler Breeder Replacement Pullets

BV Science recently concluded a field trial to evaluate the benefit of a Bacillus spp. solution Gamaxine, to suppress mortality in broiler breeder replacement pullets. The effectiveness of the product on two flocks compared to two controls on the same farm is evident from the results depicted in the attached slide set.

HatchTech Promotes HatchCare® at IPPE

At a breakfast presentation on Wednesday February 13th organized by HatchTech the technical and financial advantages of the HatchCare® system were documented. Improved growth rate and feed conversion efficiency through to broiler harvest is attributed to the opportunity for each chick to eat and drink within minutes of drying through the entire hatching period. Initiation of digestive activity and reduced stress contribute to enhanced performance compared with conventional hatching as recorded in the EU, Canada and the U.S.

The incremental capital cost of a HatchCare® installation is offset by financial benefits derived from lower cost per unit of live-weight harvested or alternatively from increased saleable mass. In the case of a one million chick per week installation the additional capital cost is returned in a year of operation and the discounted annual benefit over ten years exceeds the additional capital cost by at least sevenfold depending on specific circumstances relating to the hatchery capacity and utilization.

A Power Point set presented at the HatchTech meeting is posted for the information of Subscribers. Additional information is available on the HatchTech website www.hatchtech.nl   

Veterinary Feed Directive, a Burden or an Opportunity?

Dr. Haitham Yakout of Nutriad reviewed alternatives to growth-promoting antibiotics at a Company-sponsored breakfast on Wednesday 15th March during the 2017 Midwest Poultry Convention.

The slide set is posted for the information of subscribers.

HatchTech Unveils HatchCare System for North America at 2017 IPPE

At a breakfast meeting arranged by HatchTech of Holland, representatives of the Company and a client provided details of the HatchCare system including presentation of field data from a broiler cooperative in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The HatchCare system comprises a special two-tier hatching tray. Eggs are placed in an upper compartment where they hatch over an approximately 24 hour period depending on strain, temperature and humidity within the hatcher, age of the parent flock and egg size. As each chick emerges, it falls by gravity through apertures in the upper egg tray onto the holding tray. This is equipped with two feed reservoirs and allows chicks to drink from troughs located on either side of the hatcher wall.

The advantages of the system relate to the fact that chicks can eat and drink as soon as they have dried. Early hatchlings do not remain for many hours undergoing dehydration as occurs on a conventional hatch tray according to Joost ter Heerdt of HatchTech.

The results obtained by Synergy a cooperative in Nova Scotia were described by Doug Kaiser based on the first year of operation. Admittedly installed in a small hatchery, producing approximately 200,000 chicks per week, the Canadian facility has achieved a 4 percent increase in overall hatchability and a 5 gram increase in chick weight.

Results of broiler flocks showed an increase in live weight from 2.30 kg to 2.55 kg and a reduction in feed conversion efficiency of 1.76 to 1.69 in broilers grown from chicks derived from the HatchCare units compared to conventional hatchers.

Average mortality at harvest was reduced to 2.2 percent yielding a European efficiency index of 355 compared to 300 before conversion to the HatchCare system. Four-day chick mortality declined by 7 percent to 0.5 percent and 10-day mortality was reduced by 8 percent to a steady 1.0 percent.

Kaiser noted that performance from older houses and from units operated by farmers previously achieving consistently low performance increased to attain standard following placement of chicks produced in the HatchCare system. According to Erik Helmink, Director of Marketing for HatchTech there are 35 machines in operation in Germany producing 6.5 million chicks per week. In Holland about 2.8 million chicks per week are delivered from HatchCare installations.

Orders have been received for 35 hatchers to be installed among two hatcheries each in Germany and Holland. The HatchCare system cannot be retrofitted to an existing facility without complete replacement of existing incubators but the system is under active review and consideration for new hatcheries and facilities with obsolete incubators which are scheduled for replacement.

The HatchCare system is compatible with current in ovo vaccination equipment with appropriate modifications to accommodate the two-level hatcher tray.

Bottom-line Financial Outcome May Not Be a Sensitive Determinant of Effective Management Inputs

Recently Dr. James Barton delivered a presentation examining the incremental direct and indirect costs associated with unconventional production systems. The Power Point slide-set used in his presentation is posted for the benefit of Subscribers.

Dr. Barton summarized his presentation as:-
•Recent pressure from multinational restaurant chains has caused poultry veterinarians to consider non-traditional farming practices. Some of these methods include organic, raised without antibiotics, free range, and "enriched" layer-housing. Interest in alternative farming practices is often based on the perception that antibiotics have an inherent negative impact on the welfare of the animals or consumers.
•It is advantageous that all production factors be valued appropriately for both cost and benefit. Additionally, it will become more important to capitalize on production advances that cannot be measured concomitant with normal farming practices. Previously unappreciated factors must be considered to determine "bottom line" success. Some of these neglected factors including the cost of obtaining new contract farmers; the cost of lost production when antibiotic-free status is revoked; loss of social license to farm; the cost of lobbying, legal defense; and additional marketing efforts pertaining to conventional farming practices.

HPAI How do we Prepare

In anticipation of a possible re-introduction of HPAI broiler integrators in the U.S.who all emerged unaffected from the 2015 epornitic in the upper Midwest are reviewing upgrades to biosecurity. A review of the findings of epidemiologic studies following the outbreak in turkeys and suggestions to upgrade biosecurity were reviewed at a program organized by the Prestage Department of Poultry Health, North Carolina State University for the broiler industry held in Kennansville, NC. A Slide set is posted under the Presentations Tab. The text included in the Proceedings is posted under the Articles Tab for the benefit if subscribers"

Alternatives to Growth-Promoting Antibiotics, Dr. S. R. Collett Clinical Associate Professor, University of Georgia

Dr. S. R. Collett, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Georgia reviewed alternatives to conventional feed additive antibiotics on May 19th at the Alltech REBLation Symposium held in Lexington, KY. In introducing the topic of alternatives to antibiotics Dr. Collett stressed consumer concerns and actions by regulatory authorities to restrict the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics.

The Food and Drug Administration has agreed with 25 pharmaceutical manufacturers to withdraw label approval for growth promoting antibiotics effective January 2016. This action parallels the declaration by many quick service and restaurant chains to phase out serving chicken raised with feed-additive antibiotics. Major integrators in turn have announced that they have either withdrawn or are in the process of phasing out antibiotics. Exceptions are made for specific therapeutic applications under veterinary supervision and will not involve drugs which are common to human therapy.

Dr. Collett has for a number of years promoted the use of probiotics, prebiotics and essential oils to manage the composition of intestinal flora in order to promote beneficial organisms. His approach has been shown to achieve growth rates and feed conversions equivalent to flocks receiving antibiotic additives.

The system advocated by Dr. Collett comprises the sequence:-

• "Seeding" - involves providing the chick with beneficial intestinal organisms in the form of a probiotic spray at the hatchery or as an additive to feed or water. These "beneficial" genera include lactobacilli and enterococci

• "Feeding" - proliferation of beneficial flora is encouraged by supplementing diets with organic acids. Administration can be carried out during the first seven days, during stress or after any therapeutic use of antibiotics.

• "Weeding" - involves selective exclusion of potentially deleterious flora using competitive exclusion cultures, essential oils or prebiotics which inhibit pathogens.

A major deterrent to completely "drug-free" programs is the withdrawal of anticoccidials including the ionophore class of compounds. Mild coccidiosis can result in proliferation of Clostridium perfringens in the intestinal tract resulting in enterotoxemia which is manifested as necrotic enteritis, hepatitis and even gangrenous dermatitis. Dr. Collett stressed the need for appropriate environmental management of houses, especially of ventilation which influences litter quality and in turn intensifies coccidiosis and enterotoxemia. The PowerPoint set used by Dr. Collett is posted for the information of subscribers and readers.

Avian Influenza - A Current Perspective, Presentation by Simon M. Shane, BVSc. FRCVS. Ph.D. MBL. ACPV

Presentation by

Simon M. Shane, BVSc. FRCVS. Ph.D. MBL. ACPV
February 10, 2015
North Carolina State University
Department of Poultry Science

The slide set on AI encapsulates current issues relating to outbreaks of disease in the EU and North America. The material presented supplements the Editorial posted on March 13th 2015.

Any comments, opinions or additions are welcomed and will be posted for the benefit of subscribers and sponsors.