Poultry Welfare: Respiratory Disease Prevention and Management

Overview of respiratory disease welfare in poultry and evidence-based prevention approaches.

Key Facts

Respiratory disease causes significant welfare compromise and mortality in commercial poultry
Mycoplasma and infectious bronchitis are leading respiratory welfare threats in chickens
Biosecurity is the most effective prevention strategy for respiratory disease welfare
Vaccination programmes reduce respiratory disease welfare burden significantly
Air quality management affects respiratory welfare across poultry species

Welfare Considerations

Poultry respiratory disease welfare requires prevention-focused management through biosecurity, vaccination, and air quality control. Mycoplasma and infectious bronchitis cause welfare compromise through respiratory discomfort, reduced feed intake, and mortality. Biosecurity practices that prevent pathogen introduction are more welfare-positive than disease management after introduction. Vaccination provides welfare protection against key respiratory pathogens. Air quality management through ventilation affects chronic respiratory welfare.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare programmes with meaningful respiratory disease prevention standards
Advocate for vaccination and biosecurity requirements in poultry welfare certification
Choose poultry from farms demonstrating evidence-based respiratory disease prevention