Egg production drops from Brachyspira

In various parts of the world, an increasing number of Brachyspira infections in layer flocks are reported. Particularly in free-range systems, this infectious bacterial disease seems to thrive. A drop in egg production is unavoidable in infected flocks. By David Burch, Veterinarian, Octagon Services Ltd, UK Over the past 20 years we have identified varying levels of diarrhoea or caecal droppings in laying hens, especially in free-range birds, and thought that it was due to worms or other paras