Key Points for the Prevention and Control of Respiratory Diseases in Caged Laying Hens in Autumn and Winter
Prevention and Control of Respiratory Diseases in Caged Laying Hens in Autumn and Winter
(Agricultural Wealth Network) Autumn and winter are periods of high incidence for poultry respiratory diseases, accounting for about 70% of clinical cases. Many infectious diseases can cause respiratory symptoms. Entering autumn and winter, with great climate changes and large temperature differences between day and night, chicken houses are closed too tightly and poorly ventilated, causing ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust levels in the house to exceed standards, which damages the respiratory mucosa. This causes the flock to show respiratory symptoms such as rales, gasping, coughing, head shaking and sneezing, and leads to a decline in egg production, an increase in misshapen eggs and a higher culling and mortality rate, causing huge economic losses to poultry production. Therefore, doing a good job in the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter is of great significance for improving the production performance of laying hens and increasing breeding benefits.
The natural environment in autumn and winter is suitable for the growth, reproduction and survival of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, the climate in autumn and winter is changeable, with large temperature differences between day and night, and the temperature in chicken houses fluctuates, which easily causes frequent environmental stress to the chickens; the dry climate and strong winds also aggravate damage to the respiratory mucosa; and most chicken houses are closed too tightly in autumn and winter, making it difficult to coordinate insulation and ventilation, resulting in ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust levels in the house exceeding standards, irritating the respiratory mucosa, causing edema, bleeding or necrosis of the respiratory cilia, and making the natural barrier of the respiratory mucosa disappear. Therefore, autumn and winter are periods of high incidence for many infectious diseases, including viral infectious diseases such as Newcastle disease, avian influenza, infectious bronchitis and infectious laryngotracheitis, and bacterial infectious diseases such as mycoplasma, infectious coryza and aspergillosis. The most common respiratory diseases in production are inseparable from environmental factors. Poor environmental factors reduce the resistance of chickens, giving bacteria and viruses an opportunity to cause disease in the flock. Poultry respiratory diseases are highly contagious and cause great harm to chickens. In mild cases, they lead to stunted growth, reduced production performance, a higher culling and mortality rate and lower economic benefits; in severe cases, the entire flock may be wiped out, causing irreparable economic losses to farmers. Therefore, doing a good job in the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter is of very great significance for improving the breeding benefits of farmers.
1. Strengthen feeding management and improve the feeding environment
Supply complete-price, high-quality feed and clean drinking water, and add an appropriate amount of electrolyte multivitamins to the water to resist various environmental stresses and enhance the body's resistance. In autumn and winter, the weather is unpredictable and the temperature difference between day and night is large, making chickens vulnerable to cold waves. Open chicken houses should pay attention to closing windows at night and insulation work, properly handle the relationship between insulation and ventilation, and ensure fresh air in the chicken house. At the same time, pay attention to stocking density, improve the feeding environment, reduce various stresses and reduce respiratory damage.
Because chicken houses are closed too tightly in autumn and winter, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust levels in the house exceed standards, causing the disappearance of the natural barrier and local immune barrier of the respiratory mucosa, which gives pathogenic microorganisms an opportunity. Therefore, in autumn and winter, manure should be removed in a timely manner, the inside and outside of the chicken house should be cleaned frequently, and the chicken house should be kept hygienic. Ventilation should be strengthened at noon on sunny days, and drinking troughs should be washed and brushed in a timely manner. At the same time, two or more disinfectants should be used each week for disinfection with chickens present. Taking the above measures plays a positive role in protecting the integrity of the respiratory mucosa and reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the chicken house. It can effectively reduce the occurrence of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter.
2. Strengthen flock vaccination and isolation work
Entering autumn and winter, this is a period of high incidence for many infectious diseases. Therefore, upon entering autumn and winter, vaccination against respiratory infectious diseases should be done well so that the antibody level of the poultry flock remains at a relatively high level. In particular, immunization against avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis and infectious laryngotracheitis should be done well. After the peak period of laying hens, upon entering autumn and winter, immunization with inactivated H5N1 and H9N2 subtype avian influenza vaccines should be carried out. Live vaccines can be used for Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis, with drinking-water immunization once every 1 to 2 months. On the premise of doing immunization work well, isolation work should be strengthened. Because autumn and winter are periods of high incidence for many infectious diseases and the number of free-range chickens in our country is relatively large, disinfection work for personnel, tools and transport vehicles should be done well. Unrelated personnel are strictly prohibited from entering the production area, and at the same time, work should be done well to prevent flying birds, migratory birds and other animals from entering the production area. This can effectively prevent infectious disease pathogens from entering the chicken farm and is of great significance for reducing the occurrence of respiratory diseases.
3. Regularly use respiratory preventive drugs
Winter is a period of high incidence for respiratory diseases. At the same time, in this season, poor ventilation, poor chicken house environment and changeable climate provide favorable conditions for bacterial conditional respiratory disease pathogens such as mycoplasma and infectious coryza. Therefore, in autumn and winter, using tylosin and doxycycline for 3 days each month for prevention is of great significance for reducing the occurrence of respiratory diseases.
4. Handling after disease onset
Once a respiratory system disease occurs in autumn and winter, a veterinary department should be promptly asked to make a timely diagnosis. After the condition is determined, reasonable treatment should be adopted. Farmers should not blindly use drugs, which would affect disease control, delay treatment timing and cause unnecessary economic losses.
The natural environment in autumn and winter is suitable for the growth, reproduction and survival of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, the climate in autumn and winter is changeable, with large temperature differences between day and night, and the temperature in chicken houses fluctuates, which easily causes frequent environmental stress to the chickens; the dry climate and strong winds also aggravate damage to the respiratory mucosa; and most chicken houses are closed too tightly in autumn and winter, making it difficult to coordinate insulation and ventilation, resulting in ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust levels in the house exceeding standards, irritating the respiratory mucosa, causing edema, bleeding or necrosis of the respiratory cilia, and making the natural barrier of the respiratory mucosa disappear. Therefore, autumn and winter are periods of high incidence for many infectious diseases, including viral infectious diseases such as Newcastle disease, avian influenza, infectious bronchitis and infectious laryngotracheitis, and bacterial infectious diseases such as mycoplasma, infectious coryza and aspergillosis. The most common respiratory diseases in production are inseparable from environmental factors. Poor environmental factors reduce the resistance of chickens, giving bacteria and viruses an opportunity to cause disease in the flock. Poultry respiratory diseases are highly contagious and cause great harm to chickens. In mild cases, they lead to stunted growth, reduced production performance, a higher culling and mortality rate and lower economic benefits; in severe cases, the entire flock may be wiped out, causing irreparable economic losses to farmers. Therefore, doing a good job in the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter is of very great significance for improving the breeding benefits of farmers.
1. Strengthen feeding management and improve the feeding environment
Supply complete-price, high-quality feed and clean drinking water, and add an appropriate amount of electrolyte multivitamins to the water to resist various environmental stresses and enhance the body's resistance. In autumn and winter, the weather is unpredictable and the temperature difference between day and night is large, making chickens vulnerable to cold waves. Open chicken houses should pay attention to closing windows at night and insulation work, properly handle the relationship between insulation and ventilation, and ensure fresh air in the chicken house. At the same time, pay attention to stocking density, improve the feeding environment, reduce various stresses and reduce respiratory damage.
Because chicken houses are closed too tightly in autumn and winter, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and dust levels in the house exceed standards, causing the disappearance of the natural barrier and local immune barrier of the respiratory mucosa, which gives pathogenic microorganisms an opportunity. Therefore, in autumn and winter, manure should be removed in a timely manner, the inside and outside of the chicken house should be cleaned frequently, and the chicken house should be kept hygienic. Ventilation should be strengthened at noon on sunny days, and drinking troughs should be washed and brushed in a timely manner. At the same time, two or more disinfectants should be used each week for disinfection with chickens present. Taking the above measures plays a positive role in protecting the integrity of the respiratory mucosa and reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the chicken house. It can effectively reduce the occurrence of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter.
2. Strengthen flock vaccination and isolation work
Entering autumn and winter, this is a period of high incidence for many infectious diseases. Therefore, upon entering autumn and winter, vaccination against respiratory infectious diseases should be done well so that the antibody level of the poultry flock remains at a relatively high level. In particular, immunization against avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis and infectious laryngotracheitis should be done well. After the peak period of laying hens, upon entering autumn and winter, immunization with inactivated H5N1 and H9N2 subtype avian influenza vaccines should be carried out. Live vaccines can be used for Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis, with drinking-water immunization once every 1 to 2 months. On the premise of doing immunization work well, isolation work should be strengthened. Because autumn and winter are periods of high incidence for many infectious diseases and the number of free-range chickens in our country is relatively large, disinfection work for personnel, tools and transport vehicles should be done well. Unrelated personnel are strictly prohibited from entering the production area, and at the same time, work should be done well to prevent flying birds, migratory birds and other animals from entering the production area. This can effectively prevent infectious disease pathogens from entering the chicken farm and is of great significance for reducing the occurrence of respiratory diseases.
3. Regularly use respiratory preventive drugs
Winter is a period of high incidence for respiratory diseases. At the same time, in this season, poor ventilation, poor chicken house environment and changeable climate provide favorable conditions for bacterial conditional respiratory disease pathogens such as mycoplasma and infectious coryza. Therefore, in autumn and winter, using tylosin and doxycycline for 3 days each month for prevention is of great significance for reducing the occurrence of respiratory diseases.
4. Handling after disease onset
Once a respiratory system disease occurs in autumn and winter, a veterinary department should be promptly asked to make a timely diagnosis. After the condition is determined, reasonable treatment should be adopted. Farmers should not blindly use drugs, which would affect disease control, delay treatment timing and cause unnecessary economic losses.