Elizabeth Doughman, editor, WATT PoultryUSA and Poultry Future: Howdy and welcome to WATT Poultry Chat. I am Elizabeth Doughman, the editor of WATT PoultryUSA and Poultry Future.
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Becoming a member of us as we speak is Dr. Francene Van Sambeek, distinguished technical advisor at Elanco.
Thanks for becoming a member of us, Francene.
Doughman: Can you present a background on the HTSi, together with what it’s, how information is gathered and the way the info is analyzed to help wholesome poultry manufacturing?
Dr. Francene Van Sambeek, distinguished technical advisor, Elanco: HTSi stands for Elanco’s well being monitoring system, or HTS. It is the world’s largest poultry well being database. It has over 5 million information factors that had been all gathered at broiler posting classes by our skilled technical consultants. A posting session is normally held about each eight weeks, and we monitor 10 to fifteen broiler flocks that vary in age – roughly from 12 days all the best way up by means of market age. We have a look at 5 to 6 birds from every of these flocks simply to get an thought of what’s happening. We have a look at the complete hen – each well being system that hen has – not simply the intestine. We’re over 50 particular lesions that basically drive hen well being.
By conducting these posting classes, we acquire a snapshot of what that firm is doing, as far as an total well being perspective. When a producer combines posting information with efficiency information, like weight features and feed conversions, the worth of the specific anticoccidial and antibiotic feeding program can actually be evaluated in actual time. We’re not simply guessing at what the outcomes must be. We even have information behind these outcomes to make choices.
One part of our HTSi database are the statistically confirmed formulation. One particularly is the I2 rating, which stands for intestinal integrity rating. The intestinal integrity rating seems at 23 totally different intestinal lesions which are then weighted primarily based on the severity of that lesion in that hen. Then that generates one rating, that basically simply signifies an total intestinal well being for that specific hen. However we are able to then take these particular person birds and scale them up to take a look at a flock common or common for the posting session. We ultimately get to what’s the common for that exact complicated on that exact program.
It simply makes a actual straightforward comparability to what occurred on this posting session versus one other complicated and even the regional common. It actually means that you can benchmark you complicated for that exact program or if you wish to evaluate it to different feeding packages and see how these I2 scores evaluate.
We are able to additionally use statistical software program referred to as Bounce to permits to do statistical evaluation on the information. From there, we are able to create graphs, management charts (that are autos that I take advantage of for trending information) or if we simply must create some tables or charts for that producer to actually assist them visualize what the info is saying and drive their choice to make a pleasant choice primarily based on information quite than on the intestine really feel.
Doughman: What developments does the well being monitoring database mirror within the final a number of years concerning coccidiosis incidence?
Van Sambeek: It has been fairly fascinating. Since 2022, what we’re seeing is a lowering incidence within the coccidia lesions we’ve noticed at these posting classes, for example. Eimeria acervulina averaged 13.3% in 2022, however for 2024 by means of June, that common is all the way down to solely 7.5%. So successfully, half of the extent of incidents that we had been seeing in 2022.
Gross Eimeria maxima in 2022 was averaging 1.4% however by means of 2024 by means of June, we’re beneath a p.c, truly at 0.85%.
After which the different massive one which we have a look at so far as coccidiosis, the microscopic maxima in 2022 was averaging 28.5% however to date by means of this 12 months, it is solely all the way down to 23.5, so it will be actually fascinating to see the place these incidences find yourself for the total 2024 interval. However to date, that development has been holding from my current posting classes.
Doughman: We’ve seen a downward development in coccidiosis incidence over the past a number of years. As a outcome, what can we find out about optimum anticoccidial packages?
Van Sambeek: What I would say is we actually do must dig into the database to tug out what’s the optimum program for that exact manufacturing system, as a result of it’ll be totally different in case you’re a NAE or no antibiotics ever program versus a NAIHM or a no antibiotics vital to human drugs program.
For the NAE producers, I would say the right rotation of the chemical packages has in all probability performed a big half in lowering the coccidial incidents that we’re seeing for these specific birds. I’ve seen an elevated use of bioshuttle packages for NAE manufacturing. As an alternative of simply operating a straight vaccine program with out the rest in later feeds, we’re placing some merchandise in that grower and withdrawal feed to assist management a few of that coccidiosis.
We are also seeing the identical utilization of bioshuttles within the NAIHM program. Once more, if we use a vaccine up entrance after which medicating the grower in withdrawal, whether or not that is with ionophores or chemical that basically has appeared to lower the incidence of the coccidiosis lesions.
I would say one other facet that we have seen is that there is been an uptick within the use of chemical packages within the NAIHM packages, and that’s actually driving among the lower in incidents. Chemical packages work by successfully stopping all of the coccidial biking, so that may drive what we’re seeing in phrases of coccidial lesions lowering. The issue with chemical packages is they have an inclination to construct resistance extra rapidly, so usually, perhaps one cycle you can use them, and you then sort of need to put them on the shelf for some time. It is not one thing that we are able to simply put it in and depart it long run. There’s nonetheless quite a lot of steadiness that must be maintained between rotating between a chemical or ionophore program to actually stop any resistance.
I would say the ultimate factor that I’ve seen is that we’re feeding medicated feeds for the complete lifetime of the broiler, quite than simply leaving the final feed clean or unmedicated. Clearly, in conditions the place the birds perhaps have not developed full immunity to coccidiosis, in case you do not medicate that final feed, there’s potential to have the coccidiosis come again, begin biking once more and then that basically would play a component in having what we name secondary biking and the lesions that go together with that.
I would say that I actually really feel like due to the info that we have been in a position to put collectively and have a look at and consider, that we actually perceive loads higher about how lengthy to go away a posh on a program, what doses work the most effective and learn how to extra successfully rotate the packages that we the merchandise and packages that now we have.
Doughman: How ought to producers and veterinarians strategy illness administration primarily based on the developments noticed within the HTSi?
Van Sambeek: I might say to verify to make the most of our technical consultants to get an analysis of your particular broiler manufacturing system. We are able to then use your personal information and evaluate it to the info that now we have within the HTSi system. That may actually give us an thought of how effectively your coccidia management is working.
Are there any different well being points in your complicated that is perhaps driving in case you’re not seeing the efficiency that you really want? There are actually different well being points out there which are driving hen livability proper now, together with metapneumovirus and avian influenza. All these issues can influence your complicated so these must be taken in consideration. By doing broiler posting classes, we are able to actually get an understanding of how your coccidial ranges are – the incidence degree in that complicated in addition to the severity – after which you should utilize that to base your future choices on what program you need to use. It truly is information pushed, quite than simply intestine really feel of the way you suppose you are doing by figuring out your optimum timing and dosing of these merchandise, we actually can maximize the anticoccidial merchandise and packages that we at the moment have.
Doughman: Thanks a lot for sharing these insights. For extra info on the options mentioned right here as we speak, go to Elanco Animal Well being at www.elanco.com.
Thanks once more, Francene, and due to you for tuning in.
