MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Big Ag can afford to pay for it.

I don't have a lazy few million I can deploy towards research.

I'm just grateful for those two poultry CRCs and their findings.

 

[ChaosMom]

Big Ag can afford to pay for it.

I don't have a lazy few million I can deploy towards research.

I'm just grateful for those two poultry CRCs and their findings.

Your CRCs are so great!

I'm a country Extension Master Gardener, sort of volunteer additional support for a county/state-paid Consumer Horticulturist, and we get endless questions that we really can't answer, because the research bucks typically go to commercial ag, and not to Happy Homeowner trying to grow heirloom tomatoes and pest-resistant green beans in their back yard.

(As EMGs, we are charged with passing along advice supported by research, as opposed to what Meemaw's best friend used to do back in the day. Unless researchers have found that what Meemaw's best friend used to do back in the day actually works, and why.)

 

[MaryJanet]

http://bioproperties.com.au/!pages/vaccines/VaxsafeHVT.html

The HVT is available in Australia!

 

[MaryJanet]

Your CRCs are so great!

I'm a country Extension Master Gardener, sort of volunteer additional support for a county/state-paid Consumer Horticulturist, and we get endless questions that we really can't answer, because the research bucks typically go to commercial ag, and not to Happy Homeowner trying to grow heirloom tomatoes and pest-resistant green beans in their back yard.

(As EMGs, we are charged with passing along advice supported by research, as opposed to what Meemaw's best friend used to do back in the day. Unless researchers have found that what Meemaw's best friend used to do back in the day actually works, and why.)

Sounds like a nice way to pass time.

 

[ChaosMom]

Sounds like a nice way to pass time.

I'm a terrible gardener, because I chase new ideas all the time, abandoning old ones (ADHD.) Also, I'm pretty useless from arthritis; getting a new right knee at the end of May.

My motto as a Master Gardener is a quote from writer Catherine Aird:
"If you can't be a good example, then at least be a terrible warning."

 

[MaryJanet]

The Australian HVT vaccine people provide a how to video.

After watching it, I'm still not entirely confident a backyard breeder in Adelaide would do it right. I wouldn't trust myself to do it right. But no doubt the vets would take it in their stride and have all they need.

 

[MaryJanet]

Attaching the vaccine brochure which states Rispens induces better Marek's protection. HVT is recommended for broilers who are kept in sheds and therefore are not as exposed to Marek's as backyard flocks.

On that basis, I prefer the rispens vaccine.

 

[MaryJanet]

From the brochure shared above

Backyard flocks are more like Layers/Breeders bird type, broilers being killed for the supermarkets before they age long enough to be at risk and being kept in sheds away from introduced dander.

 

[MaryJanet]

Here's my list of Qs for Dr Jing. Let me know if you'd like specific MD Qs asked. All answers will of course be relevant only to the South Australian context.

Is there a test to differentiate between serotype strains? What samples are required?

Does the practice offer vax for day olds? Which?

Did Dora have MD?

Is it spread by wildbirds? Are all backyard flocks exposed?

 

[RoyalChick]

Attaching the vaccine brochure which states Rispens induces better Marek's protection. HVT is recommended for broilers who are kept in sheds and therefore are not as exposed to Marek's as backyard flocks.

On that basis, I prefer the rispens vaccine.

Rispens was an advance over HVT but at least in the US is not available to small scale operations.
If you are lucky enough to be able to source Rispens you should actually ask for a combination vaccine. Rispens has been becoming progressively less effective as a vaccine over the years but is still extremely good when used in combination (mostly with HVT).
There is a lot of supporting underlying biology why that is the case - it is even a named phenomenon that for some reason I can’t remember!
I am a bit brain foggy today.
All that said, survival of chicks that have been properly vaccinated with HVT is very high. I would have to dig up the papers again but if left quarantined for 7 days it is something like 95%.
My trade-off in giving Tassels vaccinated chicks is age of chick vs % survival Marek’s free. After 5 days of quarantine it is something like 80%.