The cost benefit of vaccinating broiler flocks against subclinical infectious bursal disease.
In an attempt to reduce economic losses due to subclinical infectious bursal disease (IBD), broilers reared in 23 houses known to have been infected with IBD virus were vaccinated with live, attenuated IBD virus vaccine at 20 days of age. Vaccination of either one, two or three consecutive flocks resulted in significant increases in net income and average bird weight, and in a decrease in mortality. An improvement in broiler performance was not restricted to vaccinated flocks, but was also apparent for at least 1 year following placing of the first vaccinated flock in subsequent flocks reared in the same houses.
McIlroy
S G
SG
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Veterinary Sciences Division, Belfast.
Goodall
E A
EA
Bruce
D W
DW
McCracken
R M
RM
McNulty
M S
MS