Pullets’ vaccination is essential to ensure optimal protection of layers and broiler breeders during the rearing period. Proper vaccination supports consistent egg production and helps achieve a homogeneous and high level of maternally derived antibodies in broiler breeders throughout their lifecycle.
For vaccination to be effective, each bird must receive the correct dose individually and at the correct injection site. This makes the process both critical and highly demanding. Unfortunately, vaccination quality is sometimes sacrificed in favor of speed, increasing the risk of uneven protection. To avoid this, all stakeholders involved must apply a high level of care and precision. Today, advanced equipment and automated solutions help poultry producers deliver reliable, high‑quality vaccination for every bird while maximizing performance.
On‑Farm Vaccination Challenges
On‑farm vaccination is often carried out under challenging conditions. Poultry farms frequently face high staff turnover, limited training, and non‑standardized organization, creating a difficult environment for consistent vaccination practices. In addition, farms vary widely in housing systems and flock sizes, meaning vaccination solutions must adapt to diverse production setups.
Intramuscular vaccination is the most commonly used administration route, as it is easier to implement than the subcutaneous route. However, when performed using manual syringes, vaccination quality becomes highly operator‑dependent. Manual equipment cannot guarantee consistent dose volume or precise injection placement. Birds may be injured, vaccines may be injected subcutaneously or lost through backflow, and oily adjuvants pose a serious risk to operators in the event of accidental self‑injection.
The repetitive and physically demanding nature of manual vaccination also contributes to operator fatigue. As the working day progresses, fatigue can lead to a gradual decline in vaccination quality, handling precision, and bird welfare. These factors make achieving reliable, high‑quality vaccination a persistent challenge for the poultry industry.
Ceva IMVAC Safe Improves Injection Quality
Switching from manual syringes to smart automated solutions ensures consistently high vaccination quality while protecting operators from injuries and self‑injection risks.
IMVAC Safe delivers a full vaccine dose at the correct location in the pullet’s breast muscle with a high level of precision and repeatability. The number of injections performed is monitored in real time, allowing alignment between the number of vaccine doses ordered and the number of birds vaccinated.
The operator places the bird onto the machine’s morphological mold, activating three integrated sensors. Injection is triggered only when the bird is correctly positioned, delivering one or two injections simultaneously with 100% accuracy. Electronic monitoring ensures that the full dose is effectively delivered into the muscle.
A patented needle penetration angle and controlled needle depth ensure optimal vaccine dispersion within the muscle fibers, prevent vaccine backflow, improve absorption, and enhance birds’ immune response.
To cover layers and breeders of all ages and weights, IMVAC Safe is available with four unique breast plates. The patented sensor concept activates injection only when the bird is properly positioned, standardizing handling time and reducing unnecessary manipulation.
The system integrates daily and batch counters. If a bird is removed before the injection process is completed, an alarm is triggered and the event is recorded as ‘non‑fully vaccinated’, ensuring full process control throughout the vaccination day.
Full Operator Safety and Reduced Work Hardship
When the system is ready for use, needles, pistons, and syringes are fully protected throughout the process. Thanks to the three‑sensor activation system, only a correctly positioned bird can trigger the injection, effectively eliminating self‑injection risk.
A five‑year study showed that 100% of vaccination‑related accidents occurred when manual syringes were used, while no accidents were recorded when electro‑pneumatic equipment such as IMVAC Safe was implemented.
|
Variable |
|
N° |
(%) |
|
Type of accident |
Puncture wound |
10 |
55.6 |
|
Self-injection |
8 |
44.4 |
|
|
Operator |
Vaccinator |
4 |
22.2 |
|
Catcher |
14 |
77.8 |
|
|
Consequence |
Medical Break |
13 |
72.2 |
|
Request for change of area |
2 |
11.1 |
|
|
Resignation |
3 |
16.7 |
|
|
Vaccination team |
Manual Syringe (G1) |
18 |
100 |
|
Electro-pneumatic equipment (G2) |
0 |
0 |
Automation also significantly reduces physical workload and work hardship. Improved ergonomics help operators maintain consistent performance throughout the day, benefiting both worker safety and bird welfare.
Biosecurity and Operational Efficiency
IMVAC Safe integrates a visual guidance system that assists operators with bird positioning and confirms correct injection at speeds of up to 1,200 birds per hour. The equipment is easy to clean and disinfect after each session, ensuring optimal biosecurity for subsequent vaccination days.
Conclusion
In today’s demanding poultry industry, reliable vaccination is no longer just a technical operation; it is a cornerstone of flock health, productivity, animal welfare, and workforce sustainability. By replacing manual tools with advanced automated solutions like IMVAC Safe, producers can combine precision, consistency, operator safety, and reduced work hardship in every injection, ensuring long‑term farm performance.