The Poultry Informed Professional is published by the Department of Avian Medicine of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. © 1999 Board of Regents
of the University System of Georgia except for: United States Government Publications:”Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Situation and Outlook” (Economic Research Service,
U.S.D.A); “Broiler Hatchery” and “Chicken and Eggs” (National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S.D.A.) © 1999 Bayer Corporation. Articles may
be reprinted with permission. For information or permission to reprint, contact Sue Clanton, (706) 542-1904.
November 1999
Issue 31
Published by the Department
of Avian Medicine, University of Georgia
Editor: Charles Hofacre, Associate Professor,
Department of Avian Medicine
Phone (706) 542-1904
Fax (706) 542-5630
e-mail: sclanton@arches.uga.edu
D
uring the winter of 1998 and spring of 1999,
the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network, along
Findings in
Broiler
Respiratory
Disease in
North East
Georgia
Louise Dufour-Zavala,
DVM, MAM, ACPV
Georgia Poultry
Laboratory Network
with the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center
were presented with several cases of broiler respiratory disease coming from NE Georgia. They
were characterized by respiratory signs in the
houses varying from down feverish birds (“silent
airsacculitis”) to mild to severe respiratory signs.
On necropsy, the birds had pneumonia, and in
more advanced cases, colisepticemia. The most
outstanding consequences of the field problem
were increased medication costs and condemnations. Most broilers in the area were vaccinated
twice against IBV and NDV, using B1,
Massachusetts and Arkansas IBV serotypes.
Continued on page 2
Broiler Performance Data (Region)
Live Production Cost
Feed cost/ton w/o color ($)
Feed cost/lb meat (¢)
Days to 4.6 lbs
Med. cost/ton (¢)
Chick cost/lb (¢)
Vac-Med cost/lb (¢)
WB & 1/2 parts condemn. cost/lb
% mortality
Sq. Ft. @ placement
Lbs./Sq. Ft.
Down time (days)
Data for week ending 10/23/99
SW
Midwest
Southeast
MidAtlantic
S-Central
118.14•
10.99•
45•
2.75•
3.92•
0.05•
0.21•
3.74•
0.80•
5.99•
17
110.45•
10.76•
46•
1.71•
3.58•
0.03•
0.24•
4.74•
0.76•
7.14•
12
125.52•
12.16•
45•
2.74•
3.74•
0.09•
0.27•
4.65•
0.80•
6.62•
12
129.01•
12.80•
46•
3.08•
3.69•
0.08•
0.22•
4.27•
0.79•
6.83•
14
123.28•
11.74•
45•
2.76•
3.56•
0.08•
0.26•
4.51•
0.84•
6.75•
14
Page 1 of 7
Contents
Findings in Broiler
Respiratory Disease...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 1-4
Broiler Performance Data
(Region)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1
Broiler Performance Data
(Company)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2
Broiler Whole Bird
Condemnations (Region)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2
Broiler Whole Bird
Condemnations (Company)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
Summary of Meeting
Reports...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5
Special Announcements
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5
Excerpts..“Broiler Hatchery”
“Chicken and Eggs” and
“Turkey Hatchery, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6
Meetings, Seminars and
Conventions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7
E-Mail Notice
We are currently
organizing our system
to enable us to e-mail
the Poultry Informed
Professional newsletter.
If you would like to
receive your newsletter
via e-mail, please fax
your name and e-mail
address to Sue Clanton
at (706) 542-5630.
Findings in Broiler Respiratory Disease in North East Georgia
Continued from page 1
The ages for the vaccination were 1 day and 14-18 days.
The broilers, as most birds in the state, seroconverted to infectious bronchitis by processing age.
The HI test, performed at the University of Georgia for all cases, showed that the titers were
highest to Ark and Del 072 viruses for many of the problem flocks.
Virus isolation results of acutely sick birds revealed mostly Ark type viruses, along with its Ark like
“cousins”. Delaware 072 virus has been isolated on occasion also.
Fig. 1 shows the most relevant
laboratory findings for random
submissions made by
Company A to the Laboratory
from 15 farms. Fifteen birds
were submitted at 4 weeks,
and fifteen at 6 weeks (close
to processing age). The birds
were not necessarily taken
from sick birds: they were
from randomly picked farms.
Fig. 1: LABORATORY
RESULTS FOR COMPANY A
25-29 day findings:
60% airsacculitis
VI: 20% ARK DP1
20% NDV
IBD: 50% classic
10% Del variant
Titer (ELISA IBV)
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
39-43 day findings:
20% pneumonia,
colisepticemia
VI: 13% Del 072
38% Adeno
Titers: 20% NDV
93% IBD
40% RED
40% AE
60% IBV
HIs:
75% ARK
17% CONN
8% Del 072
At 4 weeks of age, most of the
3000
groups had at least one bird
2000
with purulent airsacculitis
1000
(60%). At that age, virus
0
isolation revealed Newcastle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
and/or Ark DPI viruses. The
antigen capture ELISA test on
Age (weeks)
bursae was positive for classic
type virus in 50% of the groups
of birds submitted. At processing age, Delaware 072 virus was isolated in only one of the cases.
The titer percentages shown are the cases with significant seroconversion (KPL ELISA: NDV
>1500, IBV > 3000, IBD > 5000, REO > 2000 and AE > 4000). In this study, most flocks (75%)
seroconverted to ARK virus more than to other serotypes (HI test).
Continued on page 3
Broiler Performance Data (Company)
Live Production Cost
Feed cost/ton
w/o color ($)
Feed cost/lb meat (¢)
Days to 4.6 lbs
Med. cost/ton (¢)
Chick cost/lb (¢)
Vac-Med cost/lb (¢)
WB & 1/2 parts
condemn. cost/lb
% mortality
Sq. Ft. @ placement
Lbs./Sq. Ft.
Down time (days)
Average
Co.
Top
25%
Top 5
Cos.
123.64
117.45
115.22
11.81
45
2.75
3.79
0.07
10.88
46
2.13
3.77
0.03
10.91
46
2.16
3.32
0.03
0.24
0.16
0.16
4.24
0.80•
6.49•
14
3.35
0.79
6.08
16
3.55
0.74
7.08
17
Data for week ending 10/23/99
Broiler Whole Bird Condemnation (Region)
% Septox
% Airsac
% I.P.
% Leukosis
% Bruise
% Other
% Total
% 1/2 parts
condemnations
SW
MidWest
S.
MidS.
East Atlantic Central
0.279•
0.082•
0.058•
0.005•
0.009•
0.015•
0.446•
0.389•
0.086•
0.115•
0.005•
0.008•
0.008•
0.611•
0.220•
0.241•
0.216•
0.008•
0.018•
0.018•
0.722•
0.326•
0.106•
0.101•
0.014•
0.012•
0.012•
0.571•
0.234•
0.244•
0.147•
0.005•
0.013•
0.018•
0.661•
0.400
0.362
0.353
0.297
0.386
Data for week ending 10/23/99
Page 2 of 7
Findings in Broiler Respiratory Disease in North East Georgia
Continued from page 2
Titer (ELISA IBV)
Fig. 2: IBV HI RESULTS
FOR COMPANIES C and D
8000
7000
C: Small bird (42 days):
072 HI titers
6000
5000
4000
D: Large bird (56 days):
ARK HI titers
3000
2000
1000
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Age (weeks)
In another short study, ten (10) to fifteen (15) groups of broiler flock serum were collected at processing age from 2 companies that were not as severely affected by the respiratory disease syndrome (C small birds and D large birds) as the two others (A and B). Companies C and D farms
are intermingled with those of Companies A and B. We found that the HI titers were highest for
Del 072 virus in the small birds and highest for Arkansas serotype in the large birds (FIG.2). Are
we dealing with dual infections, one earlier in the life of the birds (3-4 week range), and the second later (6-7 week range)? This could suggest that the virus actually causing late problems
would be the one infecting the birds shortly before processing. The virus to which the birds have
had time to seroconvert (processing age titers) may not be the main culprit.
Fig. 3: GPLN and PDRC GA IBV and NDV
isolates: October to April 1999
66
Number of isolates
70
60
50
40
35
30
21
20
11
10
8
7
6
3
1
GA
VAR
95 NE
0
NDV
ARK MASS ARK DEL CONN UNK
DPI
LIKE 072
VAR
Resp. Virus isolated
Fig. 3 shows that the most frequently isolated viruses are Newcastle and ARK IBV, possibly all of
vaccine origin. This represents more NDV isolations than in previous years.
Two sentinel bird studies were carried out at Company B, probably the company experiencing the
most broiler respiratory problems during this period of time. In the first trial, the 3 week old SPF
sentinels were vaccinated with B1, Ark and Delaware 072 and kept in isolation for 2 weeks before
being placed in the field for one week with 3-5 week old broilers. The virus recovered from these
groups were a collection of different serotypes (Mass, ARK DPI, ARK LIKE, 95 VAR), making it
impossible to draw a useful trend from the trial.
Continued on page 4
Page 3 of 7
Findings in Broiler Respiratory Disease in North East Georgia
Continued from page 2
For the second placement, the SPF birds were vaccinated with B1 and Ark vaccines only. The
results from this trial revealed that in at least 50% of the groups placed (4/8), an ARK like virus
(4257) was isolated from the sentinels. The 4257 virus is very close to Ark as evidenced by
genome analysis and virus neutralization tests. Are we recovering vaccine virus, or is it that the
field challenge is such that protected SPF chickens are overwhelmed in the field and successfully infected?
Several questions are emerging:
We do not know what role, if any, Avian Encephalomyelitis Virus (A.E.) is playing in the disease
syndrome. Although no clinical signs of AE are observed, the seroconversion of the broilers,
especially for the companies severely affected by the respiratory problems, is impressive.
Enteroviruses are ubiquitous… are these results relevant? This is currently under investigation.
We have recently isolated reovirus from the respiratory tract of sick birds. We do not know
what role, if any, reovirus is playing in this syndrome, or if these isolations represent incidental
findings.
We feel that immunosuppression is probably a large part of this, and we have isolated IBD
viruses that seem to be able to infect birds with high levels of maternal antibodies. This aspect
of the problem is also under investigation. Immunosuppression would explain the possible failure
of the birds to quickly eliminate vaccine viruses from the respiratory system 2-3 weeks after
vaccination. The most severely affected companies have had to place birds on built up litter after
short down times (less than 14 days). There does not seem to be a relationship between J virus
infected flocks and this problem.
Because there was some evidence of the presence of Delaware 072 virus through this winter
and spring season, two companies tried the vaccine on a limited basis and found it only
marginally efficacious in reducing the number of sick flocks, the condemnations rates, or the
medication costs.
Broiler Whole Bird Condemnation (Company)
% Septox
% Airsac
% I.P.
% Leukosis
% Bruise
% Other
% Total
% 1/2 parts condemnations
Average
Co.
Top
25%
Top
5 Co.'s
0.291•
0.152•
0.116•
0.008•
0.013•
0.019•
0.600•
0.359
0.239•
0.066•
0.055•
0.004•
0.012•
0.006•
0.382•
0.254
0.269•
0.040•
0.102•
0.005•
0.020•
0.006•
0.442•
0.201
Data for week ending 10/23/99
The University of Georgia is committed to the principle of affirmative
action and shall not discriminate against otherwise qualified persons on
the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, physical or mental handicap, disability, or veteran’s status in its recruitment, admissions,
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Page 4 of 7
Summary of Meeting Reports at the 34th Annual National Meeting
on Poultry Health and Processing
New Millennium Update on Eradication and Diagnosis of ALV-J
Dr. Robert Owen of Hubbard Farms reported that progress continues to be made with the
reduction/eradication of Avian Leukosis Virus — Subgroup J (ALV-J). Millions of dollars have been
spent to accomplish this and the work is beginning to pay off. Comparing flocks placed in 1998 to
1999, improvement can be seen in fourteen-day mortality, cumulative pullet mortality, and
productivity.
One of the limiting factors in the reduction/eradication effort is the lack of a single reliable, rapid,
cost-effective test to accurately diagnose birds carrying the virus. However, advances in testing
continue to be realized. Previously, direct ELISA and virus isolation were the only two screening
methods available for large scale testing. With the addition of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
and antibody testing in the last two years, more tools are now available to assist in the eradication
effort. No single method is 100% accurate therefore, multiple tests on multiple occasions must
continue to be implemented to further the reduction/eradication of ALV-J.
If the poultry industry is to continue the success it has experienced in the past, we must continue
to strive for improvements in biosecurity, bird husbandry, and control of immunosuppresive
diseases to reduce the probability of disease development and meet the inevitable challenges
that will face our industry in the years to come.
Summary by:
William A. Stanley, DVM
Master of Avian Medicine student
The University of Georgia
Mark Your Calendar
and Plan to Attend
The International Poultry Scientific Forum
Sponsored by the
Southern Poultry Science Society
and
The Southern Conference on Avian Diseases
will be held January 17 and 18, 2000
in the Georgia World Congress Center,
Atlanta, Georgia
The meetings are held the two days
before the International Poultry Exposition at the
Georgia World Congress Center.
Page 5 of 7
Excerpts from the
latest USDA National
Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS)
“Broiler Hatchery,”
“Chicken and
Eggs”and “Turkey
Hatchery” Reports
Broiler Eggs Set In 15 Selected States Down 2 Percent
According to the most recent National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
reports, commercial hatcheries in the 15-State weekly program set in incubators 164 million eggs during the week ending October 16,1999. This was down
2 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier. Average
hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 81 percent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set
three weeks earlier.
Broiler Chicks Placed Up 1 Percent
Broiler growers in the 15-State weekly program placed 132 million chicks for
meat production during the week ending October 16, 1999. Placements were
up 1 percent from the comparable week in 1998. Cumulative placements from
January 3. 1999, through October 16, 1999, were 5.88 billion, up 3 percent from the same period a year earlier.
September Egg Production Up 6 Percent
U.S. egg production totaled 6.85 billion during September 1999, up 6 percent from the 6.48 billion produced in 1998.
Production included 5.79 billion table eggs and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 999 million were broiler-type and 61.0
million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 1999 averaged 322 million, up 4 percent from the
total average number of layers during September 1998. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,126 eggs, up
2 percent from 2,082 eggs in September 1998.
All layers in the U.S. on October 1, 1999, totaled 323 million, up 3 percent from a year ago. The 323 million layers consisted of 265 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 55.3 million layers producing broiler-type
hatching eggs, and 2.72 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on October 1, 1999, averaged 70.2 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from the 69.3 a year ago.
Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing states produced 6.44 billion eggs during September, up 5 percent from
September 1998. The average number of layers during September, at 303 million was up 3 percent from a year earlier.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 2 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during September totaled 38.8 million, up 2 percent from September 1998. Eggs in incubators
totaled 35.3 million on October 1, 1999, up 10 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 227,000
during September 1999, down 30 percent from September 1998.
Broiler Hatch Up 1 Percent
The September 1999 hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 700 million, was up 1 percent from September of the previous year.
There were 587 million eggs in incubators on October 1, 1999, up 1 percent from a year earlier.
Leading breeders placed 6.87 million broiler-type chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during September
1999, down 6 percent from September 1998.
Turkey Eggs in Incubators on October 1 Up 1 Percent From Last Year
Turkey eggs in incubators on October 1, 1999, in the United States totaled 28.3 million, up 1 percent from October 1 a
year ago. Eggs in incubators were down slightly from the September 1 total of 28.4 million. Regional changes from the
previous year were: East North Central, down 5 percent; West North Central, up 10 percent; North and South Atlantic,
down 4 percent; South Central, unchanged; and West, down 2 percent.
Poults Placed During September Up 3 Percent
The 21.8 million poults placed during September 1999 in the United States were up 3 percent from the number placed
during the same month a year ago. Placements were down 12 percent from the August total of 24.8 million. Regional
changes from the previous year were: East North Central, down 4 percent; West North Central, up 7 percent; North and
South Atlantic, up 3 percent; South Central, unchanged; and West, up 7 percent.
Page 6 of 7
Meetings, Seminars and Conventions
1999
November
Nov. 7-10: Expoaviga, International
Poultry & Lifestock Technology
Show, Montjuic Trade Fair Center,
Fira de Barcelona, Spain. Contact: F.
Xavier Castells, Manager, Expoaviga,
Avda. Reina Mo.Christina, s/n 08004
Barcelona, Spain.
Fax: +34 93 2332602
Nov. 9-10: Carolina Poultry
Nutrition Conference and Soya
Symposium, Sheraton Imperial
Hotel, Research Traingle Park, N.C.
Details from Mr. OwenRobertson,
2116 Northshoreline Drive, Sanford,
NC 27330. Phone: (919) 776-3054.
Nov. 9-12: VIV-Europe, International
Trade Fair on Intensive Animal
Production, Jaarbeurs Complex,
Utrecht, Netherlands. Contact: VIV
Secretariat, Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs,
P.O. Box 8500, 3503 RM Utrecht,
Netherlands. Fax: +31 30 29 55 585.
Nov. 16-17: Alabama
Breeder/Hatchery Workshop,
Auburn University Hotel & Conference
Center, Auburn, AL. Details from
Alabama Poultry & Egg Association,
P.O. Box 240, Montgomery, AL
36101-0240. Phone: (334) 265-2732;
Fax: (334) 265-0008.
Nov. 24-27: International
Conference on Sustainable Animal
Production, Health & Environment,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University,
Hisar, India. Contact: Prof. Dr. R.A.
Singh, College of Animal Sciences,
CCS Haryana, Agricultural University,
Hisar 125004, India.
Fax: +91 1662 34952
Nov. 28-December 1: EUROTIER
International Exhibition for
Livestock & Poultry Production,
Hannover, Germany. Contact: Daniel
M. Koning, DLG, Eschborner
Landstrasse 122, D-60489 Frankfurt,
Germany. Fax: +49 69 24788-113
1999
December
Dec. 9-10: Risk Assessment
Wkshp., DoubleTree Hotel, Rockville,
Md. Contact: U.S. Food & Drug
Administation, Centr for Vererinary
Medicine, Office of Management and
Communications, HFV-12, 7500
Standish Place, Rockville, Md. 20855.
Ph: 301-594-1755.
2000
January
Jan. 6-8: National Turkey
Federation Annual Convention,
Hilton Walt Disney World Hotel,
Orlando, FL. Contact NTF at
(202) 898-0100
Jan. 16-21: Feed Tour 2000 — Watt
USA Feed Tour 2000, visiting top feed
mills in southeastern states plus IPE
2000 in Atlanta, Georgia USA.
Contact: CindyDitzler, Feed Tour
2000, 122 SouthWesley Ave., Mt.
Morris, IL 61054-1497, USA,
Fax: +1 815-734-4201; e-mail:
wattfeedtour@hotmail.com;
website: www.wattnet.com
Jan. 17-18: Southern Poultry
Science Society Annual Meeting,
Atlanta, Georgia, Contact: Dr. Gene
Pesti, Department of Poultry Science,
Livestock and Poultry Building,
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
30602 USA, Phone: +1 706-5421321; Fax: +1 706-542-1827.
Jan. 19-21: 2000 International
Poultry Exposition, Georgia World
Congress Centre, Atlanta, Georgia,
USA. Contact: US Poultry & Egg
Association, 1530 Cooledge Road,
Tucker, Georgia 30084, USA. Fax: +1
770 493-9257
2000
February
Feb. 14-18: Pepa Annual Conv.,
Paradise Point Resort, San Diego,
Calif. Contact: Pacific Egg & Poultry
Association, 1521 I St. Sacramento.
Calif. 95814. Phone: 916-441-0801.
Feb. 16-17: NGFA Conv. & Industry
Show, Holiday Inn Kearney, Neb.
Contact: Nebraska Grain & Feed
Assn., 1233 Lincoln Mall, Suite 200,
Lincoln, Neb. 68508-3911. Phone:
402-476-6174.
Feb. 22-23: Antimicrobial
Resistance Wkshp., DoubleTree
Hotel, Rockville, Md. Contact: U.S.
Food & Drug Administation, Center
for Veterinary Medicine, Office of
Management and Communications,
HFV-12, 7500 Standish Place,
Rockville, Md. 20855. Phone:
301-594-1755.
Feb. 24-25: VSFA Annual Mtng.,
The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va.
Page 7 of 7
Contact; Virginia State Feed Assn.,
3437 Grandview Drive, Richmond,
Va. 23225-1201.
Phone: 804-272-5333.
2000
March
March 5-7: 49th Western Poultry
Disease Conference. Capitol Plaza
Holiday Inn, Sacramento, CA.
Contact: Lina Layiktez at 530-7573331; e-mail: events@ucdavis.edu.
Web site: conferences.ucdavis.edu
March 9-11: 49th - Afia* Argo De
Las Americans. Expo Guadalajuara,
Jalisco, Mexico. Contact: Denuse C.
Selesnick, Agro Food Internatioal
Associates c/o International Trade
Information Inc., 23241 Ventura Blvd.
Suite 308, Woodland Hills, Calif.
91364-1003. Phone: 818-591-2255.
March 14-15: Feed Mill
Management Seminar, Nashville,
Tenn. Contact: U.S. Poultry & Egg
Association, 1530 Cooledge Road,
Tucker, Ga. 30094.
Phone: 770-493-9401.
March 15-16: 29th Annual Midwest
Poultry Federation Convention,
RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN. Contact:
Laura Ginsburg at 651-646-4553;
Fax: 651-646-4554.
March 29-30: Nebraska Poultry
Industries Annual Convention, New
World Inn, Highway 30 and 81 South,
Columbus, NE. Contact: Nebraska
Poultry Industries, Inc., A103 Animal
Sciences, University of Nebraska,
P.O. Box 830908, Lincoln, NE 635830908. Phone: 403-472-2051.
2000
April
April 18-21: VIV China, International
Trade Fair for Intensive Animal
Production and Processing. Contact:
Mr. Richard de Boer, Product
Manager VIV Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs,
PO Box 8500, 3503 RM Utecht, The
Netherlands, Fax: +31 30 295 5709.
2000
May
May4-5: National Breeders
Roundtable, St. Louis, Mo. Contact:
U.S. Poultry & Egg Assoc., 1530
Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA 30094.
Phone: 770-493-9401.