OAHN Poultry Project: Runting-stunting in broilers: Effect of downtime, brooding management, air quality, and infectious diseases (in progress)

Project Lead: Dr. Michele Guerin

Collaborators: : Drs. Chanelle Taylor, Fernando- Salgado Bierman and Kathleen Sary

Project Proposal

Over the past few years, Ontario broiler producers  have expressed concerns about underperforming birds and uneven flocks. Investigations by veterinarians into brooding practices, air quality, and immunosuppressive diseases, led to variable success in defining the cause. At the same time, another health issue was more frequently observed, suspected, and diagnosed – RSS. In flocks suspected to have experienced RSS, there were significant financial losses to the producers and processors because of increased culling and mortality of underperforming birds and having to leave behind small birds after catching. What has been even more difficult with RSS, is that no patterns of disease are apparent. By using a cohort study design, in which broiler flocks will be monitored during early rearing for the development of RSS, this project aims to determine the effect of brooding, management, air quality, and viral pathogens on the incidence of RSS and overall flock performance.