SUMMARY
A good vaccination program, along with proper flock management and biosecurity, plays a key role in the health and productivity of broiler breeders. The use of bacterins has been shown to lessen the effects of certain diseases by giving the bird resistance to harmful pathogens, but the success of vaccination lies with the skill and technique used by the vaccination crew. It is advised to administer bacterins using either subcutaneous (SQ) or intramuscular (IM) injections, however, care must be taken to ensure that birds receive a full dose of vaccine. With SQ injections, do not vaccinate too close to the head, base of the neck, or neck bones. With IM injections, do not vaccinate too close to the keel bone or too deep into the breast muscle. With either type of injection, it is imperative that personnel handle equipment safely to avoid self-injury.
