Chicken Farmers of Ontario has launched an application process for its second Ontario Chicken Innovation Award, part of the organization’s commitment to help deliver innovative Ontario chicken products to consumers. The CFO has millions of kilograms of chicken available for successful applicants. “At CFO, we want to help our industry get new products to market […] Read more
Tag Archives chickens — page 4
Chicken Farmers of Ontario make more innovation quota available
Biosecurity key in preventing spread of poultry disease
Lessons learned from U.S. and Canadian outbreaks
Strict adherence to biosecurity protocols was a common denominator as guest speakers offered insight into recent poultry disease outbreaks in Canada and the United States, during meetings hosted by the Poultry Industry Council (PIC). During the organization’s annual research day in early May, and at the annual health day in late June, attendees were provided […] Read more
Minimizing bird stress all about barn management
Humidity levels must be measured and temperatures properly managed for optimum bird health
The small details of barn management have proved to be key to maintaining healthy birds, especially when not raised with antibiotics. Dr. Brian Fairchild of the University of Georgia says his work over the past several years has focused on the management of the environment inside southern U.S. poultry barns. “What you’re trying to do […] Read more
Barn cleaning more complex than thought
Study shows necrotic enteritis precursor not being managed by sanitation protocols
Recent research findings show that bacteria that can cause the potentially damaging necrotic enteritis is more likely to be present on a barn floor that has been cleaned and sanitized, as opposed to one from which the litter from the previous flock was simply swept clear. “I don’t exactly know how or why this is […] Read more
Ontario technology to track poultry production systems in Alberta
The goal of Be Seen Be Safe technology is to minimize disease spread
With the threat of African swine fever hanging over the pork industry and a devastating new tomato virus just discovered in Ontario for the first time, the need for biosecurity in the agriculture sector has never been stronger. Hand in hand is the ability to quickly and easily track movement on and off farms, which […] Read more
Gut health key when raising birds without using antibiotics
Researchers strive to ease transition away from sub-therapeutic drug use
Promoting gut health is key to adapting to calls for antibiotic-free poultry production, attendees were told at the recent annual research day of the Poultry Industry Council (PIC). “We’ve used drugs a lot to hide bad management — poor litter management, too high of stocking density,” said professor Lisa Bielke of Ohio State University’s College […] Read more
Vaccine shows promise against widespread chicken disease
Science notes: Recombinant virus vaccines use weak versions of viruses or bacteria
A new vaccine strategy could offer protection to millions of chickens threatened by a serious respiratory disease, research shows. Respiratory diseases such as infectious bronchitis virus cause major economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Infected chickens experience weight loss, decreased egg production and impaired egg quality. They are also left vulnerable to other diseases. […] Read more
Niche chicken program grows
The artisanal chicken program supplies local markets and allows farmers to diversify
Chicken Farmers of Ontario’s artisanal chicken program continues to grow, with 2018 participants close to double the first year of the program, launched in 2016. The program was created after calls for the CFO to be more responsive to demands for chicken produced locally, using methods alternative to conventional broiler barns. Why it matters: The […] Read more
Managing poultry euthanasia
A large research project is looking at how farmers can finetune the humane death of poultry on their farms
Poultry producers across North America should soon have access to expert advice about the most practical, effective ways to deal with euthanasia on their farms. Why it matters: In both the U.S. and Canada, the past decade has seen enhanced regulation related to on-farm euthanasia, driven largely by a desire to decrease the potential for […] Read more
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