Poor bird health will have a negative impact on all aspects of flock management and production, including
growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, condemnations, livability, and processing traits.
The flock must start with good quality and healthy day-old chicks. The chicks should be sourced from a
minimal number of breeder flocks with similar health status. Ideally, one donor flock per house.
On-farm disease control programs involve:
• Disease prevention (biosecurity and/or vaccination program).
• Early detection of ill health (monitor health status and production parameters).
• Treatment of identified disease conditions.
Biosecurity and vaccination are both integral to successful health management - biosecurity to prevent the
introduction of disease and appropriate vaccination programs to address endemic disease.
Regular monitoring of production parameters is vital for early disease detection and targeted intervention.
Early identification and action in one flock will help prevent disease in surrounding and successive flocks.
Production parameters, such as birds dead on arrival (D.O.A.), 7-day body weight, daily and weekly mortality,
water consumption, average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, and processing condemnations, should
be reviewed closely and compared with company targets. When monitored production parameters fail to
meet their established goals, a proper investigation should be conducted by trained personnel.