Avian Science Research Centre

Ensuring that poultry production strategies result in healthy birds and so also meeting both welfare and productivity targets. Client groups include government research funders, commercial companies, veterinary practices, animal welfare groups and poultry producers

There are a number of areas of health related research where we have expertise, including;

• Enteric disease in poultry
• Evaluation of pathogenic and zoonotic microbes affecting poultry
• Methods of control of ecto-parasites in poultry
• Maximising poultry health via nutrition
• Evaluating alternatives to antibiotic growth promotors

Examples of recent or current projects in poultry health include;

• Development of a model for sub-clinical necrotic enteritis that enables evaluation of alternative control strategies
• Development of a vaccine against poultry red mite (in conjunction with Moredun Research Institute)
• Determining the effects of flock thinning on Campylobacter numbers in chicken flocks
• Objective evaluation of leg health in chickens  

Benefits to be gained;

• Reduced production costs
• Improved yield
• Higher welfare status