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Field Experience with Transmune in South Africa
April, 2015
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Introduction • Jean du Toit • Veterinary degree from
Onderstepoort • MSc in Poultry Science from SAC • Live in Wartburg,
KZN, South Africa • Independent veterinary consultant in poultry
industry –
mainly broilers • GGP right through to broilers • When I’m not
working I ride my mountain bike
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http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.trophysafaris.com/hunting_locations.html&ei=eAMuVamKJrGf7gbs0YGYDw&bvm=bv.90790515,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNETpn1X5s3yqk9PFt16WXoKiJB0QA&ust=1429165123398560
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Context
• Broiler operation • Produce 175 000 per week
on 4 farms • 10-14 houses per farm • 20 000-30 000 per house •
Slaughter at 32 days • Target 1.8kg • Chicks supplied by
commercial chick supplier
http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.south-africa.org.za/travel/south-africa-maps/kwazulu-natal.php&ei=BwQuVbXlDabn7gayyoHoAg&bvm=bv.90790515,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNETpn1X5s3yqk9PFt16WXoKiJB0QA&ust=1429165123398560
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History • Thornhill farm acquired in 2013 in bankruptcy sale
• Houses in very poor condition and production was very poor
• Previous company went bankrupt due to poor production
• 12 open sided houses
• New owners turned this farm around within a few cycles
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Thornhill Farm
500m
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More History
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Old Production Parameters Typical cycle in 2010 on Thornhill
Mass Mortality 7 day 138 1.0
14 day 368 1.7 21 day 746 2.42 28 day 1276 3.94 35 day 1659
6.93
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Health concerns
• High level of retained yolks
• Late mortality due to generalized septicaemia
• Occasional coccidiosis breaks
• Poor litter
• Occasional NCD breaks
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Problems for new owners
• Houses in poor condition physically
• Biosecurity non existent
• Multiage site
• Poor drainage around houses
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Health Focus Area
• The farm is placed over 8-10 days so while H12 is being
depleted, H1 is being placed
• Improving the immune status of the chicks was a priority as
well as reducing stress on farm
• New vaccination program was introduced which minimised on farm
vaccination
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Vaccination Program
• Day 0 CEVAC Transmune IBD – sc injection
• Day 0 Vectormune HVT NCD – sc injection
• Day 0 CEVC IBIRD – spray
• Day 0 VH/IB H120 – spray
• Day 10 VH – drinking water
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Monitoring
• Regular farm visits
• Sample birds at 28 days – select random sample of live birds
during house inspection
• Cull birds and check: mass, bursa, bursa/bw ratio, hock
joints, hip joints, tibial growth plates, air sacs, tracheas,
intestinal integrity, gizzard
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Health monitoring results
• Clean airsacs and tracheas
• Final mortality improved from 6.39% to 3.5%
• Average daily gain improved from 51g to 55g
• No cocci breaks
• No NCD breaks
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Bursa specific monitoring results
BW (Kg) Bur wt (g) Bur/BW Bur wt range (g)
Oct-14 1.653 2.59 1.56 0.6-4.5
Nov-14 1.51 3.87 2.56 1.1-3.6
Dec-14 1.698 2.53 1.48 2-4.4
Jan-15 1.59 2.36 1.48 1.3-3.8
Feb-15 1.57 2.08 1.32 0.9-4.1
Apr-15 1.33 1.02 0.76 0.9-1.5
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Comments on bursa
• Wide range of bursa weights at 28 days (0.6-4.4 g)
• Large variation in bursa to bodyweight ratio (0.76-2.56)
• PCR results show only winterfield strain
• Bursae look healthy, no exudates, haemorrhage or turgor
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Production results
• 7 day mortality improved from 1% to 0.7%
• Final mortality improved from 6.39% to 3.5%
• Average daily gain improved from 51g to 55g
• No cocci breaks
• No NCD breaks
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Conclusions
• Lots of work was done to improve the houses and the
infrastructure on the farm
• Vaccination program introduced • Health of birds has improved
• Production has improved • Farmer happy • Vet happy
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Thank You!
