Poultry

Poultry - More Than Just Chicken

Poultry provide a substantial part of the global demand for proteins of animal origin. Around 34 billion broilers, 4 billion layers, 800 million broiler breeders, 600 million turkeys and 800 million ducks are reared annually. Changing dietary habits in the western world and improving economies in Asian and Latin-American countries drive the regular growth of this industry.

Poultry are susceptible to many parasitological, bacterial, mycoplasmal and viral infections, especially those of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Not surprisingly, infection is a particular problem in large-scale intensive poultry units where thousands of birds are housed in close proximity to each other.

One major problem for farmers is coccidiosis, a disease recognized as diarrhea. The parasite is present in every location where chickens are grown.