Disease control important in poultry farming

Disease control is a major component of a poultry farmer’s management plan and crucial to the health status of the flock. The rearing of poultry can be riddled with difficulties due to a number of diseases and other health risks affecting poultry, says Agribank’s technical advisor for crops and poultry, Hanks Saisai.It is therefore important that farmers who rear poultry understand how to use and handle different health remedies that are essential for poultry health.“First on the list of poultry health remedies are the vaccines.” A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.“Vaccination is an effective means to prevent or reduce effects of specific diseases that can cause major problems in a poultry flock.”Common vaccines used in poultry operations, to prevent some of the most prevalent diseases, are Nobilis IB Ma5, which is an effective preventative measure against Infectious Bronchitis disease; Nobilis Gumboro D78, which prevents Infectious Bursal (better known as Gumboro disease); Nobilis ND Clone 30, which prevents Newcastle disease and Nobilis Coryza agains Infectious Coryza.Be quickSaisai says it is crucial to keep in mind that these vaccines can only be used on healthy birds, and for vaccines to be effective, careful mixing with water as per the direction of use on the label must be followed.“Additionally, it is important for poultry farmers to always store the vaccines as per the recommended storage temperatures, which are usually two degrees Celsius to eight degrees Celsius.”When poultry become infected, a farmer must act swiftly.“Firstly, all the chickens that exhibit signs of an illness must be isolated from the flock, whereas the rest of the flock is to be immediately vaccinated with the recommended vaccines. The sick chickens will require treatment using antibiotics."TreatmentsSwa-Doxy-Mycin is one of the antimicrobial antibiotics that is used to treat various ailments in poultry.Other antibiotic remedies used to treat sick poultry are Doxycip 50% and DoxyMax 50%. These medicines are usually water-soluble antimicrobial antibiotics used for a wide variety of poultry ailments. Doxycip 50% has been found clinically effective in the treatment of a variety of infections caused by susceptible strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and certain other microorganisms.According to Saisai, Doxymax 50% is a water-soluble powder for the treatment of bacterial respiratory disease and bacterial gastrointestinal infections in poultry.“What is of great importance is to always follow the instruction of use and store the remedies in the recommended storage temperature ranges.”Be alertSaisai also advises farmers that supplements can be used to ensure that poultry have access to the right amount of trace elements in their diets.Additionally, it is important to note that poultry may ingest internal parasites such as worms and flukes and it is necessary to control them by applying deworming remedies.One deworming remedy is Piperazine. This treatment is mixed in water and given to the poultry in order to eradicate any internal parasite issues. Careful consideration is needed when mixing the dosage for chickens and other poultry birds, he adds."For one to effectively farm with poultry, it is essential to ensure that one understands the different poultry health remedies and how to use them correctly," Saisai stressed.

Disease control important in poultry farming

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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Disease control important in poultry farming

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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