COOPERATIVE EXTENSIONUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIACALIFORNIA POULTRY LETTERApril 1998In This Issue:
Poultry Symposium and Egg Processing WorkshopJune 2, 1998 - Riverside CampusJune 3, 1998 - Stanislaus County Center Auditorium Egg Processing and Marketing Workshop - 9 a.m. to noonWe will have Dr. Glen Froning, University of Nebraska as a keynote speaker. Dr. Froning has made major contributions to poultry and egg products technology during his career. He is one of the most respected names in egg products research and past president of the Poultry Science Association. Dr. Froning will discuss recent advances in egg product research and development. He will also participate in a panel discussion on egg washing. Other speakers on this program will include Don Bell, Poultry Specialist, UC Riverside who will present a discussion of changing egg price relationships between medium and large eggs. Dick Chilson, Chilson's Management Controls, will talk about filling egg orders at the egg processing plant and efficient routing of egg trucks. Ralph Ernst will report progress on a research project to examine rapid forced air cooling of cartoned eggs. Terry Pollard, Diversy Corporation, will discuss the effect of egg washing on food safety. Hailu Kinde, CVDLS, San Bernardino will discuss studies of S. enteritidis movement in the Southern California environment. Contacts have been made to arrange other speakers for this program. Poultry Symposium (1:00 to 4 p.m.)
The complete program and registration information will be published in the May issue of this newsletter. Attending either the morning or afternoon program will provide continuing education credit for the California Egg Quality Assurance Program. Western Poultry Disease ConferenceOUR EXTENSION FACULTY:The 47th WPDC conference was held in Sacramento on March 8 - 10. As in past years the conference provided an excellent program. We would like to thank all of the California companies who contributed funds to make this conference possible. A few papers are summarized here.Salmonella ControlThere is increased government and public pressure for the poultry and egg industry to reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria in our products. An interesting report by N. Primm, British United Turkeys, discussed his companies attempts to eliminate Salmonella from their breeding stock. Feed was suspected as one source of Salmonella. He found that grab samples of feed often tested negative but if a sample of fines was collected from throughout the load it was much more likely to test positive. These samples of fines are now routinely collected by drilling small holes in the bottom of the tube conveying feed into the house and attaching a sterile plastic bottle to catch the sample. The bottles are removed weekly for culture and a new bottle is attached. Salmonella in feed were greatly reduced by addition at the mill of six pounds of formaldehyde per ton. CellulitisA California field study by R. Singer, J. Jeffrey, D. Hirsh, R. Chin and T. Carpenter demonstrated that E. coli could be consistently isolated from cellulitis lesions of commercial broilers. Pulsed-field electrophoresis was used to compare colonies selected from that culture plate. Preliminary results suggest that most cellulitis lesions are colonized by a single strain of E. coli. Poult Enteritis Mortality SyndromeThis problem was reviewed by J. Barnes, North Carolina State University. The condition takes two forms; the acute form often called "Spiking Mortality of Turkeys" (SMT) and a milder form referred to as "Excess Mortality of Turkeys" (EMT). While SMT causes severe losses in flocks, EMT causes greater losses for the entire turkey industry. A number of bacteria and viruses have been isolated from problem flocks, but the exact causative agent or agents are yet to be clearly demonstrated. Enteric problems of turkeys obviously need additional study. Regional biosecurity programs have been an important factor in reducing the severity of the problem in North Carolina. Transfer Cracks StudiedA report by E. Lovell, Maine Biologics Laboratories, compared the hatch of sound eggs and eggs with transfer cracks. Transfer cracks were rated as 1. minor, 2. moderate, or 3. extensive. Minor or moderate cracks reduced hatch about 10 percent while severe cracks reduced it about 40 percent. Transfer cracks also increased the number of cull chicks 7 to 19 times. Infectious Bronchitis (IB)IB continues to be a disease of concern in both laying and meat chickens. This study was conducted by A. Malo, S. Orbell, J. Di Fabio, M. Huggins, M. Woods and J. Cook, Intervet International. It examined the protection of chickens given one dose at 1 day of age of a Massachusetts IB vaccine vs. two vaccinations at 1 and 14 days with the Massachusetts IB vaccine followed by immunization with a vaccine made from a new serotype (labeled 4/91 or 793B). Challenge with IB field isolates from seven areas of the world showed that the two vaccinations gave a much higher level of protection. This protection appeared quite good despite the severity and diverse strains used for challenge. Effect of Competitive Exclusion Culture Against E.coliThis study was conducted by B. Kelly, R. Froyman, C. Hofacre, A. Johnson, B. Gautrais and C. Day, Bayer Poultry Business Unit. Day-old broiler chicks were given a commercial competitive exclusion product Aviguard at hatch and compared with untreated control chicks. Chicks were challenged by an oral dose of pathogenic E. coli or by placing them with seeder chicks infected with E. coli. Seven and 14 days later the Aviguard treatment had dramatically reduced the E. coli levels cultured from the small intestine, large intestine and ceca. Proceedings of the conference are available for $15 (Checks payable to UC Regents) from: Conference & Event Services Ralph Ernst Comments on Manure Management and Water QualityThese comments represent the opinions and impressions of a Poultry Specialist and should not be accepted without confirmation from the appropriate regulatory authority.There has been considerable improvement in poultry waste handling procedures during recent years. This does not mean that some farms may not be handling waste, at times, in ways that can cause water pollution and fly production. At this time, regulatory agencies are becoming more active in checking individual farms for compliance with regulations. Growers should be aware that stiff fines and even prison sentences can result if flagrant violations are found. Remember that ignorance of the law is not an excuse for non-compliance! What are water quality concerns? Concerns are for "point source" pollution and "non-point source" pollution of surface and ground waters. Point source pollution occurs when water is allowed to discharge from a manure storage, manure processing area, or poultry range into surface drainage. This is the easiest type of violation to detect and is more likely to result in citation of the facility than a non-point source violation. Examples of a point source would be overflow from a manure pond; run-off from a turkey, chicken or game bird range pen; or run-off from a manure drying area or manure pile. Free-range poultry, waterfowl and game bird producers are not exempt from this regulation. Non-point source pollution usually refers to nutrient movement from fields or range lands into surface or ground water. Attempts to minimize this problem usually involve nutrient management and control of runoff and soil erosion. Nutrient management is an attempt to match the nutrient requirements of the crop to be grown with the nutrients applied from manure, compost or commercial fertilizer after considering the nutrients in the topsoil. Control of non-point source pollution is a more complex problem than control of point source pollution but regulatory agencies are increasing enforcement activity in this area. In California all farmers operate under an agreement that manure and manure waters are applied to croplands at reasonable rates depending on the soil, crop, climate, etc. Where Can You Get Help? The University of California attempts to provide assistance for farmers regarding appropriate poultry manure or litter handling, processing and disposal. You can address questions to Deanne Meyer, Livestock Waste Management Specialist 530/752-9391 or any Poultry Specialist or Farm Advisor. You can also get assistance from the USDA, National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), check your local phone book under government listings for the USDA Service Center. NRCS provides assistance in planning farm waste handling systems. This agency has a program called Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). If you are interested in development of a comprehensive plan for your ranch which protects water quality, some cost-share assistance may be available from EQIP for eligible structural or vegetative practices, such as animal waste management facilities. Ralph Ernst California Egg Quality Assurance Program UpdateThe number of participants in the program have continued to grow steadily. At this time 239 people have taken one or more of the training sessions. Of these, 154 have maintained their current training status by attending approved continuing education. Anyone in the industry who needs to complete one or more or the educational sessions should contact Ralph Ernst (530/752-3513) for northern California or Doug Kuney (909/683-6491 x226) for Southern California. General information about the program or assistance with development of quality assurance plans can be obtained from David Goldenberg, Plan Consultant (916/985-1122). The next Meeting of the advisory group for the program is scheduled on May 19, 1998 in Sacramento. Plan participants and interested producers, processors or marketers are invited to attend (phone PePa for meeting details; 916/441-0801). Continuing Education for CEQAP ParticipantsTo keep their certification current QA Supervisors are required to participate in one educational program every two years. Several educational meetings qualify for educational credit and we announce these in this newsletter and often in other places. Seven meetings in the "Coming Events" Section of this newsletter are approved for QA Supervisor training. If you want to know the status of your training record contact Ernst, Goldenberg or Kuney. Our list is updated after each qualified training event. Unfortunately there are about 25 individuals who completed the initial training and are now in danger of losing their active training status as a result of not attending any additional training. Ralph Ernst Coming EventsMay 13-14, California Animal Nutrition Conference, Piccadilly Inn Hotel, Fresno, CA; For information contact Donna Boggs, CGFA, 1521 "I" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916/441-2272. *May 18-21, National Egg Quality School, Lenox Inn, Reynoldsburg, Ohio (near Columbus). For information contact Ken Anderson (919) 515-5527. *May 19, California Egg Quality Assurance Plan Meeting, Sacramento. For information contact Anne Downs, Pacific Egg and Poultry Association; 916/441-0801. *June 2, U.C. Egg Processing, Marketing and Packaging Workshop, Riverside, CA. For more information contact Gideon Zeidler, 909/787-5038. *June 2, U.C. Poultry Symposium, Riverside, CA. For more information contact Don Bell, 909/787-4555 or Ralph Ernst, 530/752-3513. *June 3, U.C. Egg Processing, Marketing, and Packaging Workshop, Modesto, CA. For more information contact Gideon Zeidler, 909/787-5038. *June 3, U.C. Poultry Symposium, Modesto, CA. For more information contact Don Bell, 909/787-4555 or Ralph Ernst, 530/752-3513. June 21-26, 10th European Poultry Conference (organized by the Israel Branch of WPSA). Jerusalem Renaissance Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel. Contact Conference Secretariat, WPSA Israel Branch, 10th European Poultry Conference, P.O. Box 50006, Tel Aviv 61500, Israel; phone (972 3) 5140000; Fax (972 3) 5175674/5140077, email: POULTRY@Kenes.ccmail.compuserve. com. June 28-July 4, VIII World Conference on Animal Production. Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Contact Dr. Jong K. Ha, Chairman, Organizing Committee, 8th WCAP, Seoul National University. Suweon, Korea 441-744; phone 82-331-290-2348; Fax 82-331-292-3801. July 21-23, Oregon/Washington Poultry Industries Joint Annual Convention, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Washington. Call Skamania Lodge at 1-800-221-7117 for reservations. For additional information call 1-800-588-3447. *July 25-26, International Symposium on Food-Borne Salmonella in Poultry. Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland. Sponsored by the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) . For more information contact AAAP, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348-1692; Fax 610/444-5387. August 2-5, Poultry Science Association Meetings, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. For more information contact PSA office, 217/356-3182. September 13-18, 1998 International Egg Commission Conference, Cape Town, Africa. October 19-21, 1998 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium, Springdale, AK. For more information contact Ralph Ernst 530/752-3513. ___________________________________________________________________________ *Programs approved for California Quality Assurance Program credit. Ralph A. Ernst, April Editor |