What are the reasons for a decline in flock immunity?
On a chicken farm, if the flock's immunity declines, various bacterial infections will occur and cause disease in the flock. To prevent the flock from getting sick, we first need to understand which factors cause a decline in flock immunity, and then take the corresponding preventive measures.
1. Genetic factors
The immunity of parent stock chickens differs by age in days, stage and breed. Influenced by genetic factors, some chicks have higher immunity themselves, while some chicks have very low immunity themselves. This low immunity caused by genetic factors cannot be avoided artificially; when buying chicks, choose chicks from reputable suppliers with strong disease resistance, and cull breeding chickens with low immunity in a timely manner.
2. Poor environmental quality
The air quality in the chicken house is also very important to the flock. The accumulation of manure in the chicken house produces large amounts of harmful gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, especially in winter when ventilation is poor. When the concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the chicken house are too high, they directly irritate the flock's respiratory mucosa and lower immunity, making them highly susceptible to respiratory diseases. Therefore, while doing a good job of keeping the chicken house warm and cold-proof in winter, attention must also be paid to ventilation in the chicken house, cleaning up manure in a timely manner, improving the flock's intestines, increasing feed utilization, and maintaining excellent air quality. This is very important for the effect on immunity.
3. Moldy feed
Moldy feed is relatively common in farming, with contamination by vomitoxin, fumitremorgin and zearalenone being the most serious. Mycotoxin poisoning can cause bursitis and enteritis. The greatest harm of moldy feed to the flock is causing a decline in immunity, making them highly susceptible to other diseases. The flock is extremely sensitive to mycotoxins, and after ingestion it can even cause feed [issues], while moldy corn and animal protein raw materials are the main sources of mycotoxins. Therefore, feed should be prevented from becoming moldy at the raw material stage, and it is recommended to add a mold remover to the feed.
4. Pathogen infection
There are many immunosuppressive diseases in flocks. Common immunosuppressive diseases include infectious bursal disease, infectious anemia virus, salmonellosis, mycoplasma, and so on. After the flock is infected with these pathogens, the production of immunity is suppressed. Different diseases suppress the production of immune antibodies in different ways, mainly by destroying immune cells, suppressing antigens, and inducing cells to form tumors, among others.
The above is an introduction to what causes a decline in flock immunity. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.