Infectious bronchitis outbreaks cost the Canadian poultry industry about $207 million every year in lost production. Losses from the highly contagious disease come mostly in laying hens because the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) can lead to false layer syndrome, reducing egg production by as much as 40 per cent at peak of lay in infected hens. The virus also impacts broilers and breeder flocks.  Dr. Faizal Careem has been studying IBV for more than 12 years. His research team at the University of Calgary is the only group in Canada focused on reducing the impact of IBV in Canadian poul ..read more

Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) announced recently that its head office will be relocated from its current location in Burlington to Guelph. This move is slated to take place in early 2025. CFO’s board of directors made the decision to relocate with the aim of positioning the organization closer to the heart of the Ontario agricultural community. Guelph, known as a central hub for agriculture in the region, offers strategic proximity to government offices and industry stakeholders. This move is seen as a step towards enhancing collaboration and fostering stronger ties within the agricultural ..read more

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that samples of pasteurized milk had tested positive for remnants of the bird flu virus that has infected dairy cows. The agency stressed that the material is inactivated and that the findings “do not represent actual virus that may be a risk to consumers.” Officials added that they’re continuing to study the issue. “To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe,” the FDA said in a statement. The announcement comes nearly a month after an avian influenza virus that has sickened millions ..read more

Case Summary: In the October 2023 issue, I shared a case that highlighting the impact of high levels of carbon dioxide on poultry health. In this issue, I would like to address another, even more dangerous and often-overlooked, toxic gas that can cause significant health impacts to poultry. This report details a case of suboptimal performance in three consecutive flocks of broilers, ultimately traced back to poor air quality in the barn. Case History: It was early Spring in B.C. while I was working closely with a conventional broiler farm in Abbotsford. It was a well-managed family farm with a ..read more

In a collaborative effort to strengthen Ontario’s agriculture sector, the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) leadership team, consisting of Chair Murray Opsteen, 1st vice-chair Andrea Veldhuizen, and CEO Denise Hockaday, recently participated in the annual Grow Ontario Food Summit alongside government officials and industry stakeholders. Hosted by Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and Parliamentary Assistant Anthony Leardi, OMAFRA, the summit provided a platform for fruitful discussions on advancing the interests of Ontario chicken farmers and the broader a ..read more

The Egg Farmers of Canada proudly unveiled the winners of its first-ever Student Innovation Challenge, a platform where post-secondary students nationwide showcased their inventive research ideas and solutions aimed at shaping the future of Canada’s egg sector. Roger Pelissero, Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada, expressed his excitement about the students’ creativity and their dedication to addressing challenges and seizing opportunities within the egg farming industry. He emphasized the importance of evidence-based research in driving innovation in the sector. Students were tasked with submittin ..read more

In a move aimed at further strengthening animal welfare standards in Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) has embarked on an initiative to amend the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) is overseeing this effort, which seeks to incorporate the latest scientific insights and societal expectations into the guidelines governing the treatment of farm animals. Following a comprehensive review of the existing code in 2022, an expert panel comprised of industry stakeholders identified three key areas necessitating refineme ..read more

The Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) has issued a biosecurity advisory for a 10-kilometer area in the City of Hamilton following the detection of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) in poultry. With the outbreak expected to persist until late May 2024, stringent biosecurity measures are urged across the region. FBCC’s announcement comes on the heels of confirmed cases of ILT originating from a small poultry flock. ILT, a highly contagious respiratory disease primarily affecting chickens, poses a significant threat to poultry populations. Symptoms include increased mortality rates, respirator ..read more

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds. Avian influenza has not been discovered in dairy cattle or other livestock in Canada. But since March, U.S. officials have confirmed cases of the illness in dairy cow herds in nine states. Officials suspect that wild birds may have spread the virus to the cattle, though it appears cattle experience a milder form of the illness than birds. No cows have died from the virus, and affected cattle typi ..read more

Ontario’s Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) has officially ended the heightened biosecurity advisory for the Township of Wellesley in Southwestern Ontario, prompted by an infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) outbreak. Effective immediately, poultry farmers, small flock growers, and industry personnel in the Township of Wellesley are relieved from the stringent measures enforced since January 12th, 2024. The ILT outbreak, a highly contagious respiratory virus primarily affecting chickens, led the FBCC, representing Ontario’s four feather boards, to issue a biosecurity advisory for a 10-kilomete ..read more