What rigorous environmental assessment should a flock manager prioritize to minimize future IC outbreaks beyond medication?
Calculating stocking density (birds per square foot) against recommended guidelines.
Effective long-term control of Infectious Coryza requires addressing the environmental management failures that allow the primary pathogen, *A. paragallinarum*, to flourish, rather than relying solely on antimicrobial suppression. A practical starting point for proactive management involves a thorough environmental baseline evaluation. This specifically entails calculating the current stocking density, measured in birds per square foot, and comparing that figure against established guidelines appropriate for the specific breed and age of the flock. Overcrowding directly facilitates airborne transmission. Additionally, managers must verify that ventilation systems are functioning optimally, especially during cold weather when reduced air exchange concentrates respiratory irritants, thereby minimizing the stressors that enable the disease to become clinically apparent.
