Prevention is always an economically effective way to prevent diseases. Effective biosecurity measures combined with appropriate immunization can achieve good results in disease prevention. However, epidemics may still break through these preventive measures, and when an epidemic occurs, it is important to consult a veterinarian for advice. Breeders and service personnel should be trained on how to identify potential issues that may cause disease outbreaks, including observing the drinking and feeding patterns of the flock, feeding conditions, high mortality rates, and abnormal flock activities and behaviors. The key is to take timely action to solve the problem.
Immunization
Parents can effectively transmit maternal antibodies to the next generation of chicks through vaccination with multiple vaccines. These antibodies can provide partial protection in the early stages of chick growth. However, these antibodies cannot provide protection for the entire growth process of broiler chickens. Therefore, it is necessary to get vaccinated at the hatchery or chicken farm. The timing of vaccination should be determined based on maternal antibody levels, related diseases, and current issues on the farm.
The successful immunization program for commercial broiler chickens relies on proper vaccination. The following are important guidelines when considering drinking water or spray immunization. Specific recommendations for vaccine use should be sought from vaccine manufacturers, as the recommendations from these suppliers may differ from the following general guidelines.
1. General vaccine processing procedures
Ensure that the vaccine is stored at the manufacturer's recommended temperature (2-8 ° C).
Record the type, serial number, and expiration date of vaccine products.
Prepare a mixture of vaccine and stabilizer in a clean container that has not been exposed to chemicals, disinfectants, cleaning agents, or organic matter. (Use according to the instructions of the equipment and vaccine manufacturer)
Immerse each vaccine bottle in a solution containing a stabilizer and open it.
Clean up all vaccine bottles.
A. Hatching Immunization Guidelines
Hatchery has become a very important part of health plans, as many vaccines are administered through in embryos or on hatching days. This way, a unified and accurate immune system can be easily used to inoculate a large number of embryos and chicks to resist various diseases. Hatchery is a place where embryonic vaccination can be administered.
Many years ago, hatcheries have been using spray immunization to fight against infectivity, Newcastle disease and coccidiosis. Ensure to follow the vaccine manufacturer's recommendations to achieve the desired immune effect, as the product and manufacturer's recommendations may differ.
Chickens placed on old bedding and/or sold late may need to be vaccinated with Marek's vaccine during the hatching stage. This is achieved by injecting at least 1500 PFU of HVT vaccine into the embryo or on the day of hatching.
HVT vector vaccines can also be used in incubators to prevent infectious laryngotracheitis, Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, and avian influenza. It should be noted that HVT vector vaccines require full dose use, so that the vector virus and inserted virus can meet the required amount to achieve the target immune level.
B. On site immunization guidelines
Drinking water immunity
The amount of water required for immunization should be calculated based on the immunization time of 90-120 minutes.
Getting vaccinated in the early morning to reduce stress, especially during hot weather.
Avoid using water with high levels of metal ions (such as iron and copper). If the above situation is known, please use high-quality external water.
The pH value of water should be between 5.5-6.5. High pH water can make chickens feel bitter, leading to a decrease in water and vaccine intake.
Immunization should be stopped for an additional hour to ensure that the flock drinks the vaccinated water within a short period of time.
The use of dyes or color stabilizers approved by vaccine manufacturers can help determine which time period of drinking water contains the vaccine, and how many chickens have successfully ingested the vaccine.
Turn off the chlorination disinfection device for drinking water 48 hours before administering water immunization.
Clean the residual cleaning agent in the filter 72 hours before administering water immunization. Clean the filter with regular water.
If there is a UV lamp, it must be turned off because UV radiation can render vaccines ineffective.
The amount of water required for immunization through drinking water is 30% of the total amount of water consumed the previous day. If there is no water meter available, use the following calculation method: multiply the thousand digits of the number of chickens by their age, and then divide by two. The result obtained is approximately equal to the liters of water needed for immunization for 2 hours.
Mix 2.5 grams (2 teaspoons) of skim milk powder per liter of water. In addition, commercial vaccine stabilizers can also be used according to the recommendations of vaccine manufacturers.
Prepare skim milk powder 20 minutes before immunization to ensure that it has neutralized the chlorine in the water.
Raise the waterline.
Pour the prepared vaccine, stabilizer, and staining solution into the water tank.
Inject the water line until the stabilizer or dye water flows to the far end of the water line.
Lower the water line to allow the chickens to drink vaccinated water, and turn on the water supply switch again before ensuring that the water in the tank is dry.
Check the flock and encourage them to drink water to ensure consistent immunity.
Record the consumption time of vaccines and adjust the estimated time for the next immunization of chickens of the same age accordingly. The immunization time should be between 90-120 minutes.
Open drinking water system
Immunization needs to be administered by two individuals. One person is responsible for mixing the vaccine solution, while the other person immunizes the chicken flock.
Clean each water dispenser (pot), empty the water and padding inside. Do not use disinfectants to clean the water dispenser.
Carefully fill each water dispenser with water according to the predetermined method, making sure not to inject too much water to prevent the vaccine containing solution from overflowing.
In the immune program, walking around the chicken coop prompts the part of the chicken along the wall to approach the water dispenser.
Monitoring of Immunization in Drinking Water
Start monitoring immediately after drinking water for immunization.
Select 100 chickens from each chicken coop and check how many of them have colored tongues, beaks, or cuffs.
Divide the chicken coop into four parts and sample and inspect the staining status of 25 chickens in each part.
Calculate the proportion of chickens with staining.
If the proportion of chickens with staining reaches 95%, it can be considered successful immunization.
2. Guidelines for spray immunization:
Spray immunization needs careful management, because spray may evaporate, land or float away before contacting chickens.
Immunization equipment should be maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure its normal operation and the correct diameter of spray particles.
A specific type of spray is required for spray immunization of one-day old chickens placed in chicken boxes on farms. (Please consult the vaccine manufacturer.)
At least one week before vaccination, check if the vaccination equipment is working properly so that there is time for repairs if needed.
If the operator is not familiar with the conditions and equipment of the chicken coop, they should practice using regular water instead of vaccines to verify their walking speed.
The spray is only used for immunity. Do not put chemicals such as disinfectants or pesticides into the spray.
Use clean and cool distilled water. Ions or chlorine in tap water may render some types of vaccines ineffective.
Rinse the spray with distilled water, and spray a small amount of water with the spray before adding the vaccine solution.
A typical spray uses 15-30 litres of water per 30000 chickens. (Please consult vaccine and equipment manufacturers for specific volume).
If a fine particle spray is used, the amount of water is 1 liter per 30000 chickens.
Turn off the fan and dim the light before starting spray immunization to reduce the stress of chickens and facilitate the immunization personnel to walk in the chicken house.
The distance between the immunization personnel and the side wall shall not exceed four meters.
The spray should be carried out about 1 meter above the height of the chicken.
The angle of the spray nozzle should be downward.
Be careful and cautious when passing through a flock of chickens.
Keep the fan off for 20 minutes after the completion of spray immunization, provided that the chickens are not subject to heat stress or left unattended.
After vaccination, wash the spray with distilled water and dry it in a clean and dust-free environment. Please keep the immunization equipment safe.
