Bonus Tydskrif AUTUMN 2024

ll weaker will increase the percentage of eggs (Figure 4 – 6) with micro-cracks, with heat otable source of concern. Cracks can also be caused by mechanical damage, a collision surfaces during the laying or egg collection process. Some viral diseases, overcrowding, drinking water with high levels of salt can also contribute to the percentage of cracked sease a prolapsed cloaca and possibly vent-pecking or cannibalism, ed may be a blood-smeared egg. Injured hens tend to crouch tting blood-stained eggs can help to identify, isolate, and treat m early. The danger of vent-pecking and cannibalism is that it is hat can be triggered by stress or boredom and can spread and cause high mortalities if not adequately controlled. hell problem is the occurrence of pale or white-shelled eggs. If a laying flock that usually , suddenly starts producing a large quantity of white eggs (see Figure 8), it could be ronchitis (IB). While it may be an early indicator of disease, it can also be a symptom of a en observed after administering an IB/ND live vaccine as part of a vet-recommended igure 4: Cracked eggs Figure 5: Large cracks Figure 6: Star cracks Figure 7: Blood-stained egg Figure 8 : Pale/white-shelled eggs The availability of calcium for the eggshell is reduced, th acid-base balance of the body is disturbed, and the condition can cause an increase in soft-shelled (see Figure 3) and cracked eggs. It is important to note that any eggshell quality problem may be caused by more than one factor. Any condition that makes the eggshell weaker will increase the percentage of eggs (Figure 4 – 6) with micro-cracks, with heat stress being the most notable source of concern. Cracks can also be caused by mechanical damage, a collision between eggs or hard surfaces during the laying or egg collection process. Some viral diseases, overcrowding, washing of eggs and drinking water with high levels of salt can also contribute to the percentage of cracked eggs found on a farm. 2. Bird health & disease If a bird is affected by a prolapsed cloaca and possibly vent-pecking or cannibalism, the first sign in the shed may be a blood-smeared egg. Injured hens tend to crouch down and hide, so spotting blood- tained eggs can help to identify, isolate, and treat injured birds on the farm early. The danger of vent-pecking and cannibalism is that it is a learned behaviour that can be triggered by stress or boredom and can spread through a poultry shed and cause high mortalities if not adequately controlled. Another common eggshell problem is the occurrence of pale or white-shelled eggs. If a laying flock that usually produces brown eggs, suddenly starts producing a large quantity of white eggs (see Figure 8), it could be caused by infectious bronchitis (IB). While it may be an early indicator of disease, it can also be a symptom of a live vaccine, as is often observed after administering an IB/ND live vaccine as part of a vet-recommended vaccination program. Figure 4: Cracked eggs Figure 5: Large cracks Figure 6: Star cracks Figure 7: Blood-stained egg Figure 8: Pale/white-shelled eggs The availability of calcium for the eggshell is reduced, the acid-base balance of the body is disturbed, and the condition can cause an increase in soft-shelled (Photo 3) and cracked eggs. Bird health a di ease If a bird is affected by a prolapsed cloaca and possibly vent- pecking or cannibalism, t firs sign i the shed may be a blood-smeared egg. Injured hens tend to crouch down and hide, so spotting blood-stained eggs (Photo 7) can help to identify, isolate, and treat injured birds on the farm early. The danger of vent-pecking and cannibalism is that it is a learned behaviour that can be triggered by stress or boredom nd can pread through a poultry shed and cause high mortalities if not adequately controlled. Another common eggshell problem is the occurrence of pale or white-shelled eggs. If a laying flock that usually produces brown eggs, suddenly starts producing a large quantity of white eggs (Photo 8), it could be caused by infectious bronchitis (IB). While it may be an early indicator of disease, it can also be a symptom of a live vaccine, as is often observed after administering an IB/ND live vaccine as part of a veterinarian recommended vaccination progra e. It is important to note that any eggshell quality problem may be caused by more than one factor. Any condition that makes the eggshell weaker will increase the percentage of eggs (Photos 4, 5 and 6) with micro-cracks, with heat stress being the most notable source of concern. Cracks can also be caused by mechanical damage, a collision between eggs or hard surfaces during the laying or egg collection process. Some viral diseases, overcrowding, washing of eggs and drinking water with high levels of salt can also contribute to the percentage of cracked eggs found on a farm. 4. Cracked eggs. 5. Large cracks. 6. Star cracks. 7. A blood-stained egg. The availability of calcium for the eggshell is reduced, the acid-base balance of the body is disturbed, and the condition can cause an in rease in soft-shelled (see Figure 3) and cracked eggs. It is important to note that any eggshell quality problem may be caused by more than one factor. Any condition that makes the eggshell weaker will increase the percentage of eggs (Figure 4 – 6) with micro-cracks, with heat stress being the most notable source of concern. Cracks can also be caused by mechanical damage, a collision between eggs or hard surfaces during the laying or egg collection process. Some viral diseases, overcrowding, washing of eggs and drinking water with high levels of salt can also contribute to the percentage of cracked eggs found on a f rm. 2. Bird health & disease If a bird is ffected by a prolapsed cloaca and pos ibly vent-pecking or cannibalism, the first sign in the shed may be a blood-smeared egg. Injured hens tend to crouch down and hide, so spottin blood-stained eggs can help to identify, isolate, and treat injured birds on the farm early. The danger of vent-pecking and cannibalism is that it is a learned behaviour that can be triggere by str ss or boredom and can spread through a poultry shed and cause high mort lities if not adequately controlled. Another common eggshell problem is the occurrence of pale or white-shelled eggs. If a laying flock that usually produces brown eggs, suddenly starts producing a large quantity of white eg s (see Figure 8), it could be caused by infectious bronchitis (IB). While it may be an early indicator of dis ase, it can also be a symptom of a live vaccine, as is often observed after administering an IB/ND live vaccin as part of a vet-recommended vaccination program. Figure 4: Cracked eggs Figure 5: Large cracks Figure 6: Star cracks Figure 7: Blood-stained egg Figure 8: Pale/white-shelled eggs The av ilability of calcium for the e gshell is reduced, the acid-base b lance of the body is disturbed, and the condition can cause an increase in soft-shelled (see Figure 3) and racked eggs. It is important to note that any e gshell quality problem may be caused by more than one factor. Any condition that makes th e gshell weaker will increase the percentage of e gs (Figure 4 – 6) with micro-cracks, wit heat stress being the most notable source of concern. Cracks can also be caused by mechanical damage, a coll sion betw en e gs or hard surfaces during the laying or egg collection process. Some viral diseases, ove crowding, washing of eggs an drinking water with high l vels of salt can also contribute to the percentage of cracked e gs found on a farm. 2. Bird health & disease If a bird is affected by a prolapsed cloa nd possibly vent-pecking or ca nibalism, the first sign in the shed may b a bloo -smeared egg. Injured h ns tend to crouch down and hide, so spotting bloo -stained eggs an help to identify, isolate, and treat injured birds on the farm early. The danger of vent-pecking and cannibalism is tha t is a learned behaviour that c n be trigg red by stress or boredom and can spread through a poultry shed and cause high mortalities if not adequately controlled. Another co mon e gshell problem is the occurrence of pale or white-shelled eggs. If a laying flock that usually produces brown e gs, su denly starts producing a large quantity of white eggs (see Figure 8), it could be caus d by infectious bronchitis (IB). While it may be an early indicator of disease, it can also be a symptom of a live vaccin , as is often bserved after administ ring an IB/ND liv vaccin a part of a v t-reco mended vaccination program. Figure 4: Crack d eggs Figure 5: Large racks Figure 6: Sta racks Figure 7: Blood-stain d egg Figure 8: Pale/white-sh ll d eggs 8. Pale/white-shelled eggs. 9. Pale/white-shelled eggs. www.agribonus.co.za Autumn / Herfs 2024 BONUS 25