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Poultry farming requires careful attention to the health and well-being of the birds. Effective health management is crucial for the success and profitability of a poultry farm. It involves prevention, identifying, and management of health issues that can affect the flock. Proper health management practices help farmers to optimize growth and productivity of their birds, as well as minimize the risk of disease outbreaks.

READ MORE: Impact Of Ammonia And Humidity On Poultry

Common Health Issues in Poultry and their Impact
Poultry birds can be susceptible to a variety of health issues, which can have a significant impact on their overall well-being and productivity. Some of the common health issues in poultry include respiratory infections, digestive disorders, parasitic infestations, and viral diseases. These health problems can lead to decreased growth rates, reduced egg production, poor feed conversion, and increased mortality rates. It is essential for poultry farmers to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of these health issues and take appropriate measures to prevent and treat them.

READ MORE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY POULTRY FARMERS

Health Management Plan
The following health management plan is required in poultry farming;

  1. Biosecurity Measures
  2. Vaccination
  3. Regular Health Monitoring
  4. Proper Nutrition
  5. Parasite Control
  6. Waste Management
  7. Establishment of clear plan for disease outbreaks.

READ MORE: NOILER FARMING

In Conclusion, Effective health management is critical for the success and profitability of poultry farming. By implementing a step-by-step approach to health management, poultry farmers can create a thriving and profitable poultry farm.

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Productivity and profitability in poultry farming are enhanced by application of sound principles of bio-security, vaccination and management. Improving efficiency increases the availability of eggs and poultry meat, which leads to increase in profits of the farmers. Improved bio-security and an awareness of the need for appropriate vaccination programs reduces the potential losses caused by both catastrophic and erosive infections in commercial scale farms.

Prevention of Diseases
Prevention of disease in commercial poultry operations requires the application of a coordinated program of biosecurity, vaccination, medication and improved hygiene.

Mechanisms of Disease Transmission: in order to develop control procedures it Is Important to understand the mechanisms by which disease causing pathogens are introduced into commercial poultry farms and how disease agents are disseminated among units.

There are two types of transmission of disease in poultry
Biological transmission and mechanical transmission

Biological transmission: This occurs when the pathogen multiplies in an infected host which transmits the agent when placed in contact with susceptible flocks.

Mechanical transmission: It involves transfer of a pathogen from an infected source or reservoir host to a susceptible flock by contaminated personnel, equipment, insect vectors, rodents, wild birds, or dust carried by wind

Routes of Disease Transmission:

  • Aerosol transmission (through air)
  • Direct contact (biting)
  • Fomite transmission (Through contaminated objects, like feeders, drinkers etc. )
  • Vector-borne transmission (Transmission by vectors like ticks, flies, mosquitoes etc.)
  • Zoonotic transmission (Transmission from Animals to humans )

Mechanism of Disease Transmission

For an animal to come down with an infection, after the causative organism has gained entrance through any route (oral, aerosol direct contact, fomite etc), the microorganism has to:

  • Reach an ineffective dose
  • Overwhelm or subdue the host Immune system (both passive V and acquired immunity, after which the livestock will come down with the infection.

There are five stages of infection process

  • Point of entry
  • Incubation period
  • Prodromal period (Shows Early Symptoms of diseases)
  • Manifestation period
  • Final period (recovery/death) Vaccination

    Vaccination also known as immunization is the administration of a vaccine to stimulate the immune system of an animal in order to produce specific antibodies against viral, bacterial and protozoan diseases. Vaccines are biologicals capable of stimulating immune response towards the production of antibodies. Vaccine confers immunity/protection upon flocks over a specified period of time. Vaccination is a protective device used to prevent the outbreak of many poultry diseases if it is well done. It confers protection upon the flock over a specified period of time.

    Vaccination program or schedule/table helps to know when vaccines will be administered, but in drawing vaccination program the following factors must be considered.
  • Disease prevalence in area of operation.
  • Risk of exposure.
  • Immune status of parent stock (maternal Immunity)
  • Cost of buying and administering vaccine
  • Consequences of adverse vaccine reaction.
  • Availability of specific vaccines.

    However, there is no permanent vaccination schedule suitable for all places and time because of existence and virulence of diseases and availability and use of vaccines.

    There are different types of vaccines e.g. (Gumboro vaccine, Lasota vaccines) Some School of thought will classify vaccines based on the nature of the pathogen from which they are derived, that is viral, bacterial or parasitic. However this does not really give us the understanding of how, vaccines work or should be used.

    Types of Vaccines:

    Based on their mode of action or how they Work, it is more useful to categories vaccines into:

    Attenuated live vaccines: this contain a modified live disease causing agent or antigen, usually adapted from the field for administration either individually ( Mareks disease vaccine, fowl pox Vaccines, etc.) or by mass application (HB1 vaccine, Gumboro vaccine, Lasota vaccines, usually oral preparation)
    Killed or inactivated vaccines: this is mostly used in poultry, it is oil emulsion based. The antigen is suspended in the oil. E.g. ND+ EDS oil vaccine, ND + lBD Oil vaccine etc.

    Routes of Vaccine Administration i.e how vaccines should be administered

    A Wide range of methods of administration of poultry vaccines is available for use both in the hatchery and on farms. All vaccines are approved for use by specific routes and doses. The routes of administration include the following:

    In ovo vaccination at 18 days of incubation to administer Mareks vaccine (advance technology).
  • Post-hatch spray vaccination, in cabinets for mass administration of aerosol vaccines to day old chicks.
  • Parentheral vaccination which include subcutaneous and intramuscular injection, to administer either live or inactivated emulsion vaccines to chicks, growing stock and layers.
  • Wing-web stab to administer live vaccines directly to each bird e. g fowl pox vaccine.
  • Eye drop and intranasal routes suitable for hatchery administration and during brooding of chicks’ e.g HBI.
  • Aerosol administration, using a knapsack or electric sprayer to deliver vaccines to flocks as a coarse spray.
  • Oral or drinking water administration: can be implemented at low cost but is of limited effectiveness against some infections.

    Handling of Vaccines:

    This is an important aspect of vaccination in livestock, it entails how Vaccines are transported from the manufacturer to the end users, a cold chain must be maintained and also the person that is administering the vaccine. A well designed vaccination program will not be effective if vaccine is damaged by improper handling prior to administration. Live vaccines can be inactivated when exposed to adverse conditions. Always store and handle vaccines as recommended by the manufacturer.

    Factors Responsible for Vaccine Break/Failure
  • Wrong Vaccination program
  • Improper Administration and handling
  • Vaccine administration deficiency
  • Maternal antibodies
  • Stress
  • Timing
  • Immunosuppression
  • Management practices
  • Vaccine quality
  • Vaccine modifications
  • Vaccine strains and serotypes

Why Vaccine Break Is a Threat to Biosecurity
Vaccines are supposed to protect animals against diseases, but when animals are not protected they get exposed to the wild organisms, and eventually come down with the infection, which IS likely to spread to in-contact animals and animals in that locality. Also vaccine break can lead to breakout of a more deadly diseases, the vaccine which is supposed to confer immunity will serve as source of infection to the flock or herd. This will in turn spread to livestock in that area.

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To achieve more in your poultry farming management, put the following recommendations for easy and lucrative Poultry Farming and Management into practice.

Location and building of poultry farming
Farms should be built distant from the city, away from the city’s hustle and bustle, and away from the city’s pollution. Place or property should be properly chosen where it is well ventilated, has good air circulation, and is accessible by road and transit. To minimize excessive sunlight, the farm’s shelter should be built with an east-west orientation. Adequate room is necessary to avoid congestion; each bird must have 2 square feet of area.

When opposed to the intensive agricultural technique, free-range farming requires greater area. Choosing to build Poultry Farm on your land is great since the danger is lower than on rented land. The site used for farming should have a consistent and clean water supply.

Choosing and breeding healthy chicks
The choice of chick and breed is critical to your profitability. Choose breeds that have a high reproductive capacity as well as are robust and immune. You should be cautious of selecting breeds that are acceptable and adaptable to your climate. You may buy chicks from reputable hatcheries. 

Environmental Hygiene
To provide sufficient ventilation and to minimize ammonia and carbon dioxide accumulation, a space of at least 40 feet should be maintained between each shelter. One should be knowledgeable about keeping farm premises and surroundings clean and disinfected. Ideally, there should be a 10-15 day break between batches to sterilize the location and farm equipment. To avoid illness transmission and contamination, farmers, veterinary physicians’ personnel, and farm visitors should see the young ones first, followed by the older and last infected and weak ones.

To avoid illness transmission, dead and weak birds must be examined regularly and eliminated. Regularly, clean the housing, feed equipment, and drinkers.

Water and Food
Healthy feed tailored to the age of the bird is the key to effective chicken production and health. The quality of the feed used determines the quality of the eggs and poultry produced. According to their age, good quality and balanced feed (based on their protein and nutritional requirements) should be supplied. Modern chicken diets are mostly composed of grains, cereals, oilseeds, protein supplements, and vitamin supplements. Maize and soya beans play an important part in production since 60-70 percent of feed is made up of corn and soy protein.

Layers and broilers feed
The feed supplied to layers and broilers is varied to satisfy their specific nutritional needs. A balanced diet is supplied to meet nutritional needs and to protect one’s health, and it should help one maintain healthy body weight.

Layer feed is designed to meet the needs of egg production and is rich in calcium and protein, contains very little fat as they should not gain unnecessary weight.

Broiler feed demands more energy and protein in their diets because of their rapid growth. A broiler chicken requires vitamin-rich supplements for appropriate growth, as well as a feed rich in protein and fat, which promotes rapid growth and results in soft and healthy chicken. Clean water should be given regularly, and pipelines should be disinfected at regular intervals.

Preventing and managing poultry diseases
Vaccination is critical in the flock’s health management. Vaccines are used to manage and prevent illnesses in poultry. To avoid parasites, birds should be examined for external parasites regularly, and formalin should be sprayed about the shed. Recognizing and treating ill birds, check your birds regularly for any signs of illness or problems within the flock.

Remove unhealthy chickens and other fowl from the main rush and obtain a report from a qualified individual. Once you’ve identified the illness or problem, you may administer the appropriate therapy. Isolate unwell fowls from the rest of the flock until they have completely healed. Separating flocks of different ages. For example, there is an increased danger of disease transmission from older birds to younger birds when introducing younger birds into older birds.

Choosing healthy chicks
Following the strategies outlined above, one might develop a concept for selecting a location and constructing a farm. Choosing healthy chicks is critical in farming. Disease prevention and feed selection are demanding tasks for farmers, thus we give thorough assistance on disease prevention and feed formulation from day one through the finished product.

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