The effects of a Gumboro disease control program on the reduction of economic losses

Abstract

Gumboro disease is an acute infectious disease which causes primary lesions in the Bursa Fabricii. The disease is most commonly seen in broilers between the third and sixth week of growth, and in egglaying hens up to the 18th week. In susceptible flocks the disease emerges abruptly, with high morbidity (up to 100%) and with an average mortality of 20-30%. The disease causes large economic losses in intensive poultry production. In this investigation we used the epidemiological data on Gamboro disease spreading and the extent of economic losses in broilers and egg-laying hens on a single epizootiologic region during a six-year period. Closer analysis of economic losses was performed on experimental farms. A higher prevalence of the diseases in egg-laying hens than in broilers was observed (p<0.05), while the incidence was in both groups higher during the summer period (in June and July) than during the rest of the year (p<0.05). The extent of economic losses during observed period was 11,654,336 dinars. Broilers participated in total losses with 14.76%, and egg-laying hens with 85.24%. The proposed program of Gumboro disease control in the observed epizootiological region showed economic justification (NPV = 56.277.056,84 dinars; RBC = 2.418, and RTI = 4.71 years).