David Kradel Herbert Jordan Mflton Madison John Schwai Penn State Poultry Pointers Herbert Siegel Donald Singletary Andrew Yersin THE DAYS OF THE EASY DIAGNOSIS ARE OVER Donald L. Singletary Dept, of Veterinary Science Recently, a concerned, per plexed serviceman brought some broilers to the Penn State Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory. He listed the following information on the admission form about the flock/ farm health problem; 1) Grower is experienced in broiler production. 2) Buildings are not new but they are adequate. 3) Equipment is in working order. 4) Management practices are acceptable. 5) Mor tality is generally low, perhaps 2-3 percent per flock. 6) They have not been able to find any problems within the production facilities. The serviceman’s report con tinued; “This farm generally has low weights (4.24 others have 4.404.6). Conversions are gener ally higher—2.3o instead of 2.20. The plant has problems with color from birds on this farm.” He then states: “We should find a reason for these problems.” The serviceman brought four 7-weck-old broilers (3 live, 1 /V y dead) in for diagnostic examina tion. At necropsy, the dead bird was found to have yellow exudate throughout the body cavity a typical air sac/E. coli-infected bird. The three live birds, however, didn’t have any specific disease lesions. Their bursae were small and some of the “white caps” slipped off the femoral head. The birds did not appear to be eating and their weight was only fair. Various laboratory tests con ducted gave only a few clues to the possible cause of the poor flock performance that the serviceman described. Coccidiosis was ruled out based on negative results on fecal smears and microscopic examination of intestinal sections. Blood tests indicated that MG and MS were not involved; however, the tests were positive for Gum boro and one of 3 samples was positive for reovirus. In addition, the bursae were severely damaged when examined under the micro scope. This damage is considered a sign of immunosuppression and evidence of probable exposure to Gumboro disease. What is your diagnosis? The serviceman/company are looking for answers. Is disease the primary cause of the problem? Is the prob lem simply a Gumboro problem? S. Jersey All-Breed Beef, Heifer Show Held I c tu to < CLAYTON. NJ. The South Jersey All Breed Open Beef and Heifer Show was held on Satur day, May 11 at the Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds in Mulli ca Hill. Many other things can cause small bursae and immunosuppression; and, how much of a problem is reo virus? Is house environment/ management involved? Could the birds’ not eating, poor weight, and feed conversions be due to some house environmental factor or feeder management problem? What’s causing the poor color? To what extent is feed formulation and/or nutrition involved? This case represents how diffi cult it is for a poultry diagnostic lab to make a diagnosis of some flock health and performance problems. The answer to this situation is tha much more information is needed. Some of today’s health and per formance problems seemingly require a mini-research project to solve. A positive diagnosis is near ly impossible based on a single examination of a few birds. Diag nostic labs are geared to diagnos ing problems caused by specific disease organisms (viruses, bacter ia, etc.). Thus, management errors and subtle nutritional problems are difficult to diagnose in the laboratory. Many of today’s health/ performance problems, indeed, have no easy answers. The judge for the day was Pete Lohr, manager of Kings row Farm in Asbury, NJ. The results are as follows: Junior Fitting and Showmanship 1. Leann Tice with Shawna (Cumberland County), 2 Rose Marie Sylvester with Onyx (Gloucester County) Intermediate Fitting and Showmanship 1. Travis Tice with Jersey Made (Cumber land County); 2. Paul Banff with BFS High Ryder (Gloucester County) Senior Fitting and Showmanship 1. Jim Hampton with Kruger Blackbird Finesse (Cumberland County), 2 Mitch Leo narski with The Witch Doctor (Gloucester County) Older and Bolder (Over the hill gang) 1. Chns Tice (Cumberland County); 2 Greg Faber (Hunterdon County) Angus Heifer Grand Champion Jim Hampton with Krugers Blackbird Finesse (Cumberland County) Cow Calf 1. Jim Hampton with Annie M #7062 of GU by Grubs McKenzie—Calf at side, Cher ry Brook Black Zack by Hi Speed Polled Hereford Heifer Grand Champion Paul Banff with BPS Highryder (Gloucester County) Reserve Champion Jim Banff with Dunwalke Stacy #lO2 (Gloucester County) Simmantal Heifer Grand Champion Travis Tice with Jersey Made (Cumber- Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 1, 1991*03 land County) Reserve Champion Leann Tice with Shawna (Cumberland County) Overall Champion Heifer Jim Hampton with Krugers Blackbird Finesse (Cumberland County) Reserve Champion Heifer Travis Tice with Jersey Made (Cumber land County) Angus Steer Grand Champion Frank Sylvester with Mr No Name (Gloucester County) Reserve Champion Sarah Knight with Jim Bob (Warren Coun ty) Bergetta Sylvester with Black Jack (Gloucester County) Reserve Champion Paul Banff with Kodiak's Pnze (Gloucester County) Polled Horotord Stoor Grand Champion Mitch Leonarski with The Witch Doctor (Gloucester County) Raaarva Champion Amanda Sylvester with Socky (Gloucester County) Slmmantal Staar Grand Champion Doug Gant (Gloucester County) Raaarva Champion Eric Griffin with Energizer (Gloucester County) Premier Exhibitor Paul Banff of Mantua Crossbred Steer Grand Champion
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