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KENCHIC VETERINARY HEALTH PLAN

COMMERCIAL POULTRY STOCK

Guidance notes

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Weekly farm visits

Under practical conditions, there should be at least one visit per flock per cycle for commercial

broiler stock and several visits for commercial layer flocks(during brooding, growing, at lay and at

placement) by either a Vet or Paravet (under supervision of a Vet) . The following areas should be

discussed with the farm owner or manager:

Review health of birds, monitoring of health and records.

Review of vaccination programmes.

Review of management and flock husbandry practices.

Possible areas which need to be addressed may be as follows:

Cleaning, disinfection and sanitary break of poultry houses.

General site hygiene and bio-security for subsequent flocks.

Flock mortality.

The technical rep or Vet may liaise with Regional Manager or feed supplier and will discuss any

areas of concern in relation to health through his/her visits or discussions with the farm

manager/owner. If there is massive mortality: STOP! INFORM AUTHORITY do not enter farm with

100% mortality.

Review health of birds and health records.

A review of health records may help to identify causes of any changes in performance. The health of

each flock should be assessed carefully and any birds in poor condition should be removed.

Health monitoring Broilers

1. Broilers 0-7 days old

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During monitoring of the birds health, specific parameters can be used to gain a detailed analysis of

the health status. They include the following:

Recognition of health and ill health. Regular clinical assessments of birds will help to identify

any significant changes in behaviour, activity or clinical parameters which may need to be

discussed with a vet.

Observation and recording (e.g. weight gain, egg quality, feed and water intake and feather

cover)

Appropriate sample from the flocks (e.g. blood samples, faeces, environmental samples).

Objective: The trainee should be able to recognize ill health through observation and make a record

of the same.

Health Standard

Ailing birds, and any bird suffering from injuries as open wounds, fractures must be segregated and

treated without delay or if necessary, humanely killed.

Unhealed navel/ omphalitis/ yolk sac infection. Signs

Dejection, closed eyes, pasted vent swollen abdomen.

On opening of the abdomen, you find abnormal yolk contents.

Bacterial septicaemia The retained yolk sac can become infected leading to chronic omphalitis.

Treatment

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Antibiotic in accordance with sensitivity tests

Prevention

Good hygiene and sanitation. Multivitamin in the first few days may generally boost ability

to fight off mild infections.

Non starter and ‘ Starve out’ Due to poor brooding and management of feeders and drinking water

Signs

Failure to grow

Treatment

Correction of management problems, soluble vitamins supplementation

Pasty vent Mainly due to early chick stress.

Dehydration Chicks look thin, wasted, under weight, dry legs, and dry beaks.

They have no access to drinking water, probably due to high drinker levels

Ascites Due to poor supply of oxygen and poor ventilation

Signs

Distended abdomen, ‘water belly’

Treatment

Improve ventilation, give vitamin C

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Slipped tendon Caused by nutritional deficiencies, supplement feed by adding Mn, choline

Down deformity

2. Broilers 7-14 days old

Vaccine reaction

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Chronic yolk sac infection

Mal-absorption syndrome

3. Broilers 14-21 days old Gumboro

Rickets

Fatty liver

Necrotic enteritis

4. Broilers 21-28 days old Coccidiosis

Flip over

Gizzard erosion /Black vomit

5. Broilers 28-35+ days old Lameness

Infection

CRD

Ascites

Dermatitis

Health monitoring Layers

The first 7 days infections are similar for commercial layers.

Mycoplasma

Common in multi-age site

Signs

Reduced egg production, respiratory signs, and soiled wing feathers, coughing and sneezing

Treatment

Improve bio-security, antibiotics, deplete

Other Respiratory diseases,

Infectious Bronchitis

Signs

Drop in egg production, mortality, poor egg shell, respiratory signs, and swollen head

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Diagnosis

Laboratory confirmation

Treatment and control

Improve air and water quality, antibiotics after consultation with your Vet for secondary infection,

vaccination

Egg Peritonitis

This is probably the most common infectious cause of mortality in laying hens, frequently occurring

at the end point of any stress on the bird and its reproductive tract. Peritonitis refers to

inflammation of the body cavity where yolk material from the ovary irritates the abdominal organs.

This material can become infected with bacteria, predominantly E. coli, leading to toxaemia and

death. The causes of this condition are many and varied including physical stress, viral disease, and

parasitic disease of environmental shortcomings. It is rarely due to a single disease entity. Reduction

of all such stress helps reduce incidence. In acute outbreaks, antibiotic treatment via the feed or

water may be beneficial in reducing mortality.

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Gumboro disease

Gumboro disease is a highly infectious viral infection which can cause up to 70% mortality in birds

during growing phase. Effective control is achieved by a combination of the use of live vaccines via

drinking water between three and six weeks of age, coupled with good bio-security and effective

disinfection at turn around.

Farm managers should ensure that vaccination programmes are up to date and completed

The vaccination crew responsible for administering vaccines by injection must be able to

demonstrate that they can handle and vaccinate birds carefully without causing unnecessary distress

and that their injection technique does not cause any avoidable damage to the birds.

All vaccines and vaccination equipments should be stored in accordance with the manufactures

recommendation.

Swollen bursa

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Haemorrhages in the thigh muscles

Internal parasites

Internal parasites such as coccidial and nematode worms (round worms and hair worms) can cause

significant morbidity, loss of condition and even death if poorly controlled. Rearing program ensures

adequate control of coccidial challenge sufficient to prevent clinical disease but allow build up of

natural immunity. Paracox 8 vaccine is administered as a prophylactic measure against infection.

Coccidiosis

This parasitic infection of the intestine can lead to gut damage and in sever infestations, death of

birds. More commonly, poor control of subclinical infection reduces feed conversion, or leaves birds

with chronic irreversible gut damage. Such flocks may be uneven or underweight at grading and may

not perform to their full potential at lay. To avoid the use of anti-coccidia antibiotics in feed, and

ensure even and target weight, a live attenuated oral vaccine, Paracox 8 is available. This vaccine is

administered in water as a single dose between five and nine days of age. All

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treatments/vaccinations strategies should be supported with effective bio-security. The use of

disinfectant with proven efficacy against coccidial oocysts will reduce challenge pressure.

Maintenance of good friable litter will reduce oocyst build up.

Worms

Worm infections cause damage to bird’s guts. This may result in a variety of problems including:

Loss of shell colour and strength, yolk colour and egg size.

Poor body weight gain leading to unevenness or sick birds.

Increased cannibalism through vent pecking due to straining.

Death: in very heavy infestations.

There are three main worms:

Round worms (Ascaridia galli)

These are the biggest and most common. They are white, up to two inches long and may be visible in

droppings in heavy infestation.

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.

Birds become affected by picking up worm eggs from the litter, soil or faeces. The worm eggs need

warm, moist conditions to develop outside the bird which is why problems are frequently worse in

the warm periods. Worm burdens can be identified by examination of faeces, culled birds or worm

egg counts on bulk faeces. Effective control is aimed at breaking the cycle of infection. Strategic use

of de-wormers will help to reduce the challenge but this need to be combined with the right bird

density, good drainage, dry litter and removal of heavily contaminated litter and soil around the

house before new birds arrive.

External Parasites

Red mite

Red mite infestation can cause irritation, anaemia, morbidity, depressed egg production, poor egg

quality and even death of birds if inadequately controlled.

Control strategies involve three broad areas:

Treat the house effectively at site depletion.

Monitor the house and birds during the life of the flock.

Prompt treatment of birds and/or accommodation even if only light infestations are

identified.

Breaking the cycle of re-infection when the house is empty is the most effective approach. A variety

of products is now used but not all are licensed for use in animal accommodation or for direct

application to birds. Specialist advice should be obtained for the most effective control.

Environment

Hen house flooring must allow effective cleansing and disinfection, preventing significant build up of

parasites and other pathogens.

Mareks

In well vaccinated birds, the disease is rare. Tumours arise due to imbalance of vaccination and site

hygiene

Common when flocks get into production (POL).

Can only be diagnosed by qualified personnel

Need laboratory confirmation.

E.coli and Salmonellas

Will cause peritonitis

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Need laboratory confirmation.

Treatment based on sensitivity testing.

Cannibalism

Visible sign of another primary problem, mites, worms, high light intensity, high stocking density,

cold spots. Will result into peritonitis and salpingitis

Emaciation

Common, weekly weighing to be emphasized

Thin and sharp keel, bird severely under weight, dehydrated

Impactions

Litter or stones in the gut

Is management or environmental problem

No treatment.

Nutritional deficiencies or toxicities

Need laboratory confirmation.

Keratoconjunctivitis (ammonia blindness)

This is rare in open sided flock houses; however it is caused by ammonia fumes emanating from

poorly managed litter in an inadequately ventilated environment. Birds may become blind as a direct

result of the damage caused to their eyes by the fumes. Soft tissue of the respiratory tract may be

damaged and may affect the performance of the birds.

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Antibiotics and other medication

Where medication is required, this should only be given under strict veterinary control and accurate

records should be kept in an on farm medicine record book.

Medicines should be stored safely and securely and any surplus or out of date materials should be

disposed off after every audit.

Veterinary advice should be sought before any treatments are administered.

Feed and water

In-water or in-feed antibiotics may only be given for therapeutic reasons under the direction of

attending veterinarian.

Signs of ill-health detected by the poultry man should be discussed with the farm manager and

company vet without delay. The decision and choice of treatment will require submission of samples

or dead birds to the lab for veterinary examination. All dead birds must be submitted to the lab. The

company vet will direct the farm manager on the appropriate medicine, dosage regime and duration

of treatment. All such treatments must be recorded. The farm manager must advise the attending

vet on the outcome of such treatments.

The farm manager must record all the ongoing health assessment and must include the following:

Detailed recording of mortality together with any known causes.

Culling and other performance data (e.g. egg production, egg quality, weight gain, feather

cover, water intake e.t.c).

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General site hygiene and bio-security procedures

Disease agents can be introduced on to a farm by birds, people, equipments and vehicles. Control

over birds and visitors entering the breeding and or growing farms will help to eliminate the

likelihood of transmission of the disease to a unit. The farm manager must ensure that farm bio-

security procedures are obeyed and practiced by all without exceptions to limit introduction and

spread of significant disease organisms.

Management must develop and implement a bio-security plan to minimize the risk of introducing

disease onto a site and ensure that the VHP is drawn up, implemented and regularly updated.

Preventive measures may include record of site traffic, visitors entering any units, and where they

have travelled from, including visits to other poultry sites and any illness which could introduce a

disease challenge.

Vehicle which must enter should be subject to wheel spray disinfection and all necessary visitors

should be provided with adequate protective clothing and boots. A visitor’s book should be

maintained and used by all visitors.

Effective, pest control measures will help to ensure that contamination of feed is minimized and the

birds in units are protected: for example covering food storage containers to prevent entry by pests.

Provision of a suitable storage area for litter material, such as shavings which eliminate the risk of

spoilage will avoid future litter problems. Measure should be taken to prevent other animals

entering these areas to avoid contamination.

Feed must not be allowed to remain in a contaminated or stale condition. Feed must be stored in

containers which eliminate the risk of spoilage from pests.

Cleaning, disinfection and sanitary break of poultry houses

All poultry buildings must be effectively cleansed and disinfected before chicks are placed in the

units. Establishment of a cleaning regime which includes disinfection and sanitary break of poultry

houses will help to avoid future health problems. Attention should be to the thorough cleaning of

buildings following de-population and should include complete removal of litter and disinfection of

the unit, removal and cleaning of feeders, drinkers and brooders.

Farm managers must know the normal behaviour of laying hens and understand the signs which

indicate good health. They should be able to recognize impending ill-health in its earliest stages, as

this may enable them to identify the cause and put matters right immediately.

Good hygiene and strict control over the entry of equipment, vehicles and humans to avoid cross-

contamination between sites will help to minimize any new disease challenges.

Review management and husbandry systems

Monitoring the environment to ensure that air quality, temperature and litter conditions have

maintained satisfactory levels helps to optimize the health of the birds up to the time of removal.

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Reviewing the unit will help to identify any need for immediate amendments to management

procedures before receiving a new group of birds.

Farm managers must ensure all poultry men have adequate training levels on practical husbandry

practices. The good health of the birds will be achieved if the poultry men responsible for their day-

to-day care are fully aware of the problems which can lead to deterioration in the bird’s health and

well-being. All newly appointed poultry men can benefit from training to raise their awareness of

potential problems and provide then with the necessary skills to take an appropriate course of

action. The content of training program may include:

Prompt recognition of signs of health and ill health.

Safe use, handling and storage of medicines and vaccines.

Ongoing husbandry and management skills appropriate to the farm.

Carrying out an investigation following disease outbreak

In the event of a disease outbreak which has been identified by increased mortality, morbidity or

changes in performance and is of an unknown cause, information must be obtained to establish the

most likely causal agent. An investigation should take account of the following:

History of the problem.

Signs and symptoms.

Mortality (no of dead birds) and morbidity (no of sick birds) rates.

Selection of birds for post-mortem and examination of the carcasses.

The buildings and management practices should be reviewed to include equipment, ventilation,

lighting, nutrition, vaccination.

Health Plan check list

1 Flock health audit

Bird’s record:

Presence of clinical disease.

General condition of birds

Feather cover

Signs of injury.

Records must be produced:

Mortality to date (Percentage).

Mortality last four weeks.

Per house.

Egg production (%)

Egg quality (recorded problems)

Bird weights

Floor eggs (%)

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Disease problems

Summary of investigations undertaken

Post-mortem results.

Blood sample results

Lab reports.

Last visit follow ups.

General management /environment control.

Litter conditions

Drinkers hygiene

Feeder’s hygiene.

House keeping

Site lay out.

2. Vaccination programme

Age of flock

Vaccine and batch number

Date of vaccination

Route administered

Results of blood tests to assess vaccine response.

3. Medicine use

Is medicine record book up-to-date

What medicines have been used in current flock?

Reasons for use?

Are medicines stored in locked cupboard?

Named person responsible for storage and administration.

4. Bio-security

Bio-security plan in place

Cleaning and disinfection health plan.

Records of problems/ improvements recommended.

5. Buildings

Defects or deterioration

Equipments

6. Health summary for current flocks

Are staffs able to recognize signs of ill-health?

Are staffs aware of the action required to investigate or remedy problems?

Describe any health problems encountered in the farm.

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7. Action plan

Identify areas that have been agreed for improvement.

Indicate who is responsible for anticipated improvement.

Indicate target date for completion.