The Forum attendees had a chance to learn more about microbial variability and the cutting-edge avian health solutions offered by Merial, such as Ovo-Jector, the most compact in ovo vaccinator available on the market.

The new edition of the Merial Avian Forum welcomed more than 500 attendees, from 68 different countries from all over the globe and 23 international speakers, to discuss a wide range of hot topics in avian health.

The event was conceived by Merial not only as a unique chance to learn more about Merial products and services but also as an opportunity for Merial experts and clients to interact and network. People from different regions shared their expertise and knowledge on a common concern: avian diseases.

The first session offered a comprehensive view on pathogens affecting poultry health and how birds’ immune system reacts to them and their variability. Well-known avian experts, such as Dr. Richard Irvine, from AHVLA (UK), Bernd Kaspers, from the University of Munich (Germany), and Silke Rautenschlein, from the University of Hannover, explained to the audience how variable avian pathogens are and the main challenges that this variability brings to poultry health.

Key diseases were discussed during the event: for instance, Michel Bublot, from Merial France, addressed Gumboro disease and the differences among different types of vaccines to prevent this costly poultry disease. In addition to his presentation, Sjaak de Win, from AHS-GD in Holland, offered some data about different trials performed with VAXXITEK, a Gumboro disease solution from Merial, and other vaccines, comparing their safety and efficacy. David Smith, from Merial Select in the US, also showed the good results of VAXXITEK in the prevention of IBD virus shedding in broilers.

The second day's session covered poultry diseases that concern any poultry producer in the world: Newcastle disease control, presented by Dr Francisco Perozo (University of Zulia, Venezuela) and Infectious Bronchitis virus and its emerging variants, presented by Kannan Ganapathy (University of Liverpool, UK). A must on any avian health meeting could not be left out the programme: avian influenza and its recent variant subtype outbreaks were explained and discussed by David Swayne, from OIE, who highlighted that vaccination is one of the available tools to eradicate the disease.

Following the different blocks in the programme, there were several Q&A rounds, an initiative that was welcomed by Merial clients as it allows anyone in the room to ask any question to the experts about their presentations.

The workshops taking place during the last session of the Forum also were highlighted by several Merial clients as a great opportunity to learn more about problems affecting their companies. Problems such as Campylobacter and Salmonella affecting food safety, or broiler welfare management and the rational approach for antimicrobials, were some of the workshops that got attention from the attendees.

Last but not least, Merial presented to the Forum the pillar of the Merial Gear Partnership: the Vaccination and Technology Services (VTS). Dr Chris Fritts explained that VTS offers Merial clients training on how to operate and manage the equipment they acquire along with training on vaccine handling, among many other support services that ensures that Merial clients are taking full advantage of Merial products and solutions.

She also presented a recently added product to the Merial avian health portfolio, Ovo-Jector, the most compact in-ovo vaccinator available in the market, which has an innovative egg check system that allows for selective vaccination.

Several Merial clients expressed their satisfaction about attending the Forum in Paris, highlighting the “great opportunity for networking with people from other regions of the world and exchanging views on the different diseases affecting poultry in all the areas in the world.”

Please, click here to visit Merial Avian Forum website.