Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health recently announced that it has opened a specialized filling and freeze-drying unit for veterinary vaccines at its Biosciences Center Boxmeer in the Netherlands.

The route to improving flock performance lies in good litter management. Poultry litter too dry or too wet stresses the flock and generally results in reduced profits. And, producers can best manage litter conditions in the poultry house by taking a disciplined approach to the watering system. This means preventing leaks, maintaining the correct drinker height and regularly adjusting the pressure to ensure the birds are getting the maximum amount of water without wetting the litter.

Biosecurity is a vital tool to reduce the effect of infections and decrease the impact of diseases in livestock populations. Adopting biosecurity practices in livestock production can increase profitability by keeping viral diseases at bay and improving production efficiency. It is extremely important that poultry industry, in particular, implement a comprehensive biosecurity programme to ensure better quality production.

Climate change and increased urbanisation are posing new challenges to animal disease prevention and control.