The effective management of disease in the poultry industry is a key concern for producers to mitigate economic loss. Each year, U.S. poultry producers incur billions of dollars in losses due to mortality and morbidity caused by disease, with losses exceeding $3.6 billion in 2021 alone.¹ As the poultry industry rapidly expands due to higher demand, the increase in development of high-density poultry farms poses an increased risk of disease outbreaks. To mitigate risk of disease, poultry producers should follow strict vaccination practices to avoid negative impacts on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight gain, and egg and meat production quality.²

Water vaccination is one of the most effective administration methods to vaccinate poultry, which involves oral administration through the birds’ drinking water. However, water vaccination methods require careful management in order to be as effective as alternative vaccination practices.

Taking stock of water vaccines

Prior to administering water vaccinations, it is imperative to read the manufacturer's label carefully. Depending on your flock’s specific needs, and the vaccination type, there can be imperative differences in the administration process. It is also important to note the incoming stock of vaccines including batch numbers and expiration dates.

Water vaccine storage

When receiving delivery of water vaccines, first ensure the product is in good condition then immediately transfer it to a designated vaccine refrigerator. Refrigerators used to store vaccines should be clean, in good working condition, able to be locked, and free of any food or drinks. To ensure the refrigerator’s temperature is maintained at the manufacturer’s desired temperature, position a minimum/maximum thermometer at the center of the refrigerator and monitor daily.

Things to consider prior to administration

Once in the solution, water vaccinations are stable, but several factors can impact the survival of the vaccine, or its ability to induce active immunity:

Water Vaccine Preparation

When preparing water vaccines, use a table that is clean and covered in a protective layer to avoid any contamination with disinfectants. Gloves should always be worn when preparing the vaccine to avoid contamination with soaps or sanitizers and should be changed whenever there is potential contamination. All equipment, including stock solution containers, jugs, stirrers and suction tubes should be thoroughly cleaned, before and after, and clearly marked as vaccination equipment.

Prior to administering, water should be withheld for two to three hours from the flock to ensure all birds drink during the vaccination. To achieve this in cage rearing systems, the vaccination should be scheduled after the dark period. For floor rearing systems, the nipple lines should be raised, preventing the bird’s access to water.

Administering Water Vaccines

To ensure the water vaccination is protected against harmful effects, a water stabilizer should be used. In addition, coloring agents should be used to aid in the visualization of the vaccine solution as it is distributed within the water drinking system. Some water stabilizers provide both a stabilizer and a coloring agent in one. All water lines should be flushed until the vaccine dye water is present, ensuring only the vaccine water is running through the system.

Water volume should be determined based on manufacturer guidelines, which primarily depends on the size of the flock being treated. To achieve the best control when administering water vaccines, a dosing pump is highly recommended. The right size and type of pump varies depending on water volume and supply pressure.

The vaccine solution must be ingested in one to two hours for the birds to receive the proper dosage. If ingestion is done in less time, the proper dosage likely was not ingested. If ingestion takes over two hours, there is a possibility the vaccine solution loses its potency. To encourage drinking, employees should walk through the house and encourage the birds to move towards the drinking areas. 

Once two hours have passed, water lines should be flushed thoroughly to remove any vaccine residue. The water lines should be fully rid of the vaccine dye and run clear before completing the flushing process.

For assistance with poultry water vaccination, contact your Elanco technical consultant.

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