The Intestinal Health Scientific Interest Group (ihsig) group, created in 2010 to form a platform to discuss intestinal health issues in poultry, organizes a symposium on intestinal health in poultry for veterinarians, poultry producers, scientists, and regulatory authorities. International speakers will provide information on the gut microbiota composition and its effects on the host response, and how this relates to optimal animal performance. This event will be held in Gent, Belgium, March 28-29, 2012.
Today, most poultry producers are aware of the need to decrease the use of antimicrobial drugs because of growing consumer demand and governmental pressure to raise poultry without antibiotics. Concerns about antibiotic resistance have also urged the poultry industry to seek other alternatives for managing poultry production.
Gut health problems, such as dysbiosis and subclinical necrotic enteritis continue to be leading health problems having economical importance in broiler flocks worldwide. Understanding, controlling and managing enteritis are key issues to grow chickens without antibiotics. Consequently, the role of the veterinary profession in poultry production is changing rapidly. The trend is transforming the role of the farm vet from being reactive to becoming a proactive animal health consultant.
The ihsig group therefore organizes a symposium on intestinal health in poultry for veterinarians, poultry producers, scientists, and regulatory authorities. International speakers will provide information on the gut microbiota composition and its effects on the host response, and how this relates to optimal animal performance. Overviews on current most important intestinal health problems are introduced, and information will be provided on how these gut health problems will be controlled using non-antibiotic alternatives. An update on feed additive legislation will be discussed. In a second symposium day, a hands-on workshop will be organized on gut lesion scoring in broiler chickens.
During the symposium time is foreseen for networking, to exchange ideas with speakers and visitors.
Call for papers and poster presentations
The ihsig group invites the industry, scientists and students to present their recent work on intestinal health during short presentations and poster sessions, please fill in the template at www.ihsig.com before February 27, 2012. The ihsig group members will evaluate and decide on participation. An award will be given for the best student contribution.
Registration & practical arrangements
• Please confirm your participation by sending an email to info.ihsig@gmail.com.
• Registration is valid upon receipt of 150 Euro on the following account: UGent 390-0965800-26 (ING Gent, België) BIC: BBRU BE BB 900 IBAN: BE59-3900-9658-0026. With reference: G/00557/01 - name participant - Int. Health MGT.
• Registration fee is valid for the first day including lunch & coffee breaks. The official symposium dinner and the program of March 29 is offered by the sponsors. Registration closes March 6, 2012.
• For all information on poster / presentation submission, please email info.ihsig@gmail.com.
• If you would like to receive IHSIG activity updates, please email info.ihsig@gmail.com to join the IHSIG mailing list.
Sponsored by
