Vaccines have helped increase animal production drastically since the 1920s but challenges still exist today, especially in the poultry industry.
Dr. John Schleifer is a staff veterinarian at Rembrandt Foods Inc. based in Spirit Lake. Rebrandt Foods Inc. is one of the largest egg producers in the world, supplying egg ingredients to food manufacturers and foodservice companies.
?Over the years we?ve definitely seen improvement in vaccine technologies and that has helped with livability as far as our animals are concerned. It also has helped provide a superior product regards to animal protein for consumers across the world.?
Schleifer says the industry is always challenged with diseases.
?As we move forward to some of the more diverse production practices such as cage-free and organic we are seeing different challenges as far as animal health. Once we take the birds out of the cage, they are co-mingling.?
He says that increases the opportunity for disease to be transmitted.
?We do see in general and a possibility of birds having more respiratory disease as well as intestinal diseases.?
Schleifer spoke at the Animal Health in the Heartland Symposium Wednesday in Ames. The event was hosted by the Iowa Biotech Association and Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association.
