Study: IBV hatchery vaccination for broilers

The US Poultry & Egg Association and the USPOULTRY Foundation have completed a funded research project at the University of Georgia studying infectious bronchitis (IBV) hatchery vaccination methods for broilers.

The project, Studying IBV hatchery Vaccination and its Effects on Field Boost in Broilers, is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

Infectious bronchitis (IBV) is a contagious upper-respiratory tract disease that is difficult to control because several viruses are responsible, and vaccination for one virus type does not protect against all types. Following vaccination, birds have peaks and valleys in expression of the virus at approximately two-week intervals, which may be due to inadequate stimulation of the immune system from hatchery vaccination.

The Arkansas vaccine type is the main virus found in the field indicating that birds are not completely protected against this virus. Combining other IBV vaccines at the hatchery with the Arkansas vaccine did not interfere with the effectiveness of the Arkansas vaccine. The combination of other vaccines with the Arkansas virus actually improved protection.

The Arkansas vaccine did not produce an effect in one-day old broilers when given in a hatchery spray cabinet. However, vaccine given by the eye drop method provided good immunity. This research indicates that hatchery spray may not be the most effective method for giving the Arkansas vaccine, and IBV protection can be improved by giving the Arkansas vaccine in conjunction with other IBV vaccines.

A more detailed summary can be found on the USPOULTRY website.