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Live-vaccine program for cage-free e coli challenge
A HIGHER risk of bacterial challenges in cage-free egg produc- tion means a live-vac- cine program against escherichia coli is a ‘must-have’ minimum for flocks reared in al- ternative systems.
would include reboost- ing thee. coli live vac- cine in lay.”
as a new environment, nutritional changes and coming into egg produc- tion, “so definitely try to target live vaccinations later in the pullet pro- gram for layer farms,” Dr Wilson said. Regular diagnostics
Indiana-based Wilson Veterinary Company poultry health expert Dan Wilson said the shift to cage-free pro- duction has seen e coli surge to the top of the bacterial-challenge list, thanks to birds in those systems being exposed to greater levels of bac- teria.
As more producers adopt alternative produc- tion systems, Dr Wilson said live vaccines are also being paired with autogenous vaccination with killed products to gain multiple directions of prevention in lay. Vaccination timing
To understand the best course of management, Dr Wilson said regular necropsies are also help- ful to know what sero- types a flock is dealing with.
As a result, he said pro- ducers should plan a pro- gram of live vaccination and carry out regular di- agnostics to understand their farm’s disease sta- tus and reduce the risk of bacterial causes of mortality.
“In floor production or aviary production, the earlier we vaccinate them in pullet states, the more access we have to the birds to get a good spray or water vaccina- tion,” he said.
In alternative produc- tion, it’s also important to remember that not all bacterial causes are e coli alone.
“In the past in cage production, there was a little bit less pressure onthebirdsasfarasa need for e coli vaccina- tion – even though we’ve stressed how important even a basic live pro- gram can be to minimis- ing e coli challenges and in lay,” Dr Wilson said.
“So that plays a major factor in when we actu- ally choose the timing of the live vaccinations.”
“But now, in alterna- tive styles of production, it’s almost a must-have minimum to have a live program – typically multiple doses of a live program.
“If it’s mostly for pre- vention on the layer side, we try to do the live vac- cinations as close to lay as possible,” Dr Wilson said.
Beyond that, Dr Wil- son said that compar- ing isolates within and between farms can help determine vaccine deci- sions, or at least inform the producer that a vac- cine change or addition would have a good re- turn on investment in terms of profitability and welfare of the flock.
“In some cases, that
Gaining protection through the early parts of lay is critical because birds are navigating stressful events such
When it comes to ad- ministering vaccina- tions, Dr Wilson said managers should select a time when it’s conveni- ent or most reliable to get the vaccine to the birds.
“With more mod- ern diagnostics outside of basic culture, we’re doing a lot more with actually sequencing isolates and compar- ing them within and to other farms, and finding vaccine programs that match well with that,” he said.
Timing is also depend- ent on whether the pullet farm has e coli challeng- es or whether vaccina- tion is purely for preven- tion on the layer side.
Discovery and verifi- cation are vital to ensure it is e coli and not some- thing else.
An end date for use of barren battery cages in Australia. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur We Animals
RSPCA celebrates battery cage phase out
THE RSPCA has wel- comed an announcement recently that Australia will finally phase out barren battery cages – a historic move that will improve the lives of mil- lions of layer hens.
“While this move can’t come soon enough, once implemented,itwillbring Australia into line with over 75 percent of the Or- ganisation for Economic Co-operation and Devel- opment countries that have already moved to phase out battery cages.
science officer Dr Suzie Fowler said animal wel- faresciencewasclearthat hens suffer in barren bat- tery cages.
and guidelines were un- der review for nearly seven years,”MrMussellsaid.
The news comes as na- tional Poultry Standards and Guidelines – which have been under review for nearly seven years – have finally been completed and include a phase out of bat- tery cages for layer hens no later than 2036.
“While 2036 may seem a longwayaway–anditis– putting an end date in place is vitally important, so that producers can transition to cage-free systems as soon as possible and to make it clear to retailers and the food service industry that battery cages are on their way out.
“Good welfare simply can’t be achieved in a battery cage because the animal welfare issues are inherent to the system it- self – restricted movement, constantly standing on a wire floor and no abil- ity for a hen to perform natural behaviours such as perching, nesting, stretch- ing and flapping her wings.
“Millions more layer hens have had to endure barren battery cages as a result of these delays.
RSPCA Australia chief executive officer Richard Mussell said it was a sig- nificant win for animal welfare.
“But there’s no reason we need to wait until 2036 – states and territories can implement a phase out ahead of schedule.
“So, to finally see a phase-out date put in place is very significant and we welcome the news.”
“We look forward to working with the new Fed- eral Government to deliver much-needed reform, to improve Australia’s ap- proach to animal welfare standards and achieve better harmonisation of animal welfare practices across the country.”
“This is a win for ani- mal advocates and for the community who have been calling for an end to these barren wire cages for over 40 years,” Mr Mussell said.
“The ACT did this in 2014 and we urge all state and territory governments to do the right thing and implement a phase out as soon as possible.”
Mr Mussell said that this process has shone a light on the flaws in Australia’s current approach to the de- velopment and implemen- tation of animal welfare standards.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, in 2020-21 there were ap- proximately 5.36 million layer hens confined to cages, which represents approximately 32 percent of the national flock – 19 percent were in barn-laid indoor systems and 49 per- cent in free-range systems.
“But most importantly, it will eventually be a win for the millions of layer hens confined to battery cages.
RSPCA Australia chief
“These poultry standards
“This is one of the worst animal welfare issues in Australia right now,” Dr Fowler said.
“The phase out is the right result and it should have been put in place six years ago.
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National Poultry Newspaper, September 2022 – Page 11