Latest figures show a mixed message on the disease status of the UK poultry flock with diagnoses of Marek's Disease down, Spotty Liver up and the discovery of the virus that causes Big Liver and Spleen Disease.

These are the findings reported in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's (VLA) latest endemic disease surveillance bulletin, which covers the period January to April 2007.

Chr. Hansen is ready to launch probiotic feed additive that can prevent Necrotic enteritis in commercial poultry production.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a serious condition where chickens loose the ability to digest nutrients from the feed with the risk of a painful death within only few days. The condition causes much suffering for the chicken and represents a serious loss to the producers. Recent European surveys estimate the economic impact of NE on global poultry producers to $2 billion annually.