Spring and early summer are critical times for turkey producers to prepare in earnest for the surge of product demand that accompanies the holiday season. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 46 million turkeys are purchased annually as part of Thanksgiving meals, or approximately 21% of the 216.5 million turkeys produced in the United States.
Building strong, healthy flocks that deliver consistent, safe and high-quality products for consumers is paramount during the peak production period. To achieve these standards, an integrated approach that includes strict biosecurity protocols, targeted vaccination programs and modern technologies to monitor flock health and performance is required. These tools work together to reduce disease risk, improve livability and maximize bird performance during the industry’s most critical season.
Navigating Current Health Challenges
Turkey producers face mounting challenges in managing flock health, particularly avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). A recent survey by the U.S. Animal Health Association’s Committee on Poultry & Other Avian Species identified aMPV as the leading health issue for the U.S. turkey industry. In the survey, veterinarians and industry professionals representing 73% of turkeys raised in the U.S. over 12 months reported 2,355 cases of aMPV in turkey flocks. The rapid spread of aMPV since its emergence in the U.S. in 2023 underscores the urgent need for proactive disease mitigation.
HPAI, initially detected in commercial flocks in 2022, poses a more immediate threat due to its high mortality rate and the potential for devastating flock losses. These and other diseases reduce performance and productivity while introducing significant food safety risks, making early prevention and strong health management more vital than ever. Producers who embrace the following strategies are better positioned to navigate the evolving health landscape, maintain strong flock performance, protect food safety and confidently meet market demands.
Enhance Biosecurity Measures
A well-designed and rigorously enforced biosecurity program is essential for preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in turkey flocks. Effective biosecurity begins with routine cleaning and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and barn interiors. Contaminated surfaces are a breeding ground for pathogens, increasing the risk of disease transmission and compromising flock health if not properly maintained. Daily sanitation practices are indispensable for ensuring a healthy environment.
The risk of introducing harmful pathogens also increases when personnel and visitors inadvertently carry infectious agents into poultry facilities. All personnel must adhere to clean entry procedures, and visits from service providers should be minimized or managed with strict oversight. Wild birds, which are known carriers of HPAI and other pathogens, must be prohibited from accessing poultry houses and surrounding areas to reduce the risk of disease transmission and protect flock health. Installing physical barriers to bird houses, visual and auditory deterrents and enacting consistent, thorough site maintenance will prevent disease introduction from wild birds, further reducing the risk of flock exposure to external sources of infection.
Routine education and training equip personnel to follow biosecurity protocols correctly and consistently, forming the foundation of effective disease prevention. Farm workers are often the first line of defense against disease introduction, and their daily actions directly impact biosecurity outcomes. Ongoing training improves compliance and prevents protocols from being misapplied or overlooked, mitigating the risk of pathogen spread.
Implement Vaccination Programs
In addition to aMPV and HPAI, Salmonella is a significant and persistent threat in turkey production, endangering both flock health and food safety throughout the supply chain. Vaccination is a powerful strategy for controlling Salmonella colonization and reducing its transmission among birds. Vaccines have consistently demonstrated their effectiveness as a preventative tool to support flock health, which is vital in enhancing food safety, particularly when targeted against pathogens such as Salmonella.
Live vaccines, which contain weakened but still active forms of pathogens, stimulate a strong immune response in birds, offering steady and effective protection when applied correctly. This approach helps turkeys build immunity without causing illness, offering a reliable way to reduce contamination risks during processing. However, the success of vaccines depends heavily on proper administration. Standard delivery methods, such as drinking water and coarse spray delivery, each come with best practices to ensure uniform vaccine uptake.
Teams must be well-trained on vaccine preparation, storage and administration. Even minor deviations in technique can compromise vaccine efficacy, undermining the program’s benefits. Integrating vaccination into broader flock health management is a key component of proactive food safety and supports better livability and performance for birds.
Manage Pests Through Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pest control is essential in maintaining a disease-free environment and preventing infiltration from pathogen carriers like darkling beetles. These pests are among the most persistent and problematic in poultry houses. They contribute to the spread of disease and can cause considerable structural damage to barns by burrowing into insulation and wood, leading to increased maintenance costs and biosecurity vulnerabilities.
An integrated pest management (IPM) program offers a proactive, sustainable approach to combating darkling beetles and other known vectors of diseases like Salmonella. IPM addresses the environmental conditions that allow infestations to thrive by combining biological, chemical, cultural and mechanical strategies.
Regular facility inspections are the first step in identifying problem areas and deploying targeted interventions. Maintaining vegetation around turkey houses reduces breeding grounds for pests and limits rodent activity. Properly sealing buildings so they are free of entry points for wild birds and rodents further strengthens biosecurity.
Insecticides remain an essential tool for controlling pest populations and preventing the spread of disease within poultry facilities. However, rotating products by chemical class is vital to preserving their effectiveness over time. Continuous use of a single class of insecticide will diminish its efficacy and allow beetle populations to develop resistance and rebound. A robust IPM will keep beetle populations under control and significantly reduce the risk of Salmonella contamination.
A Unified Approach for Holiday Readiness
These advanced strategies are a proactive investment in the health and performance of turkey flocks. A healthy bird is a productive bird, and the steps taken today to prevent disease and strengthen management practices will determine success in the months ahead. As productivity demands increase in anticipation of the holidays, strategies like biosecurity measures, vaccination programs and Integrated Pest Management will optimize performance for producers and deliver the highest standards for quality and safety to consumers.
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