I've never dealt with sale barns. There are several around us but from what I've heard about them (the local ones) is that is where a lot people ditch their substandard livestock. At the risk of making a joke in bad taste, if you stopped everyone from selling at the sale barn that is selling sick or flawed animals, there would probably be 10 people or so there. With the exception of those sales where noted area breeders are selling off excess livestock, I think you pay your money and you takes your chances so to speak.
Frankly, I would work at spreading the word not to buy from that particular sales barn and tell people about your experiences.
Didn't you get a bill of sale with your birds?
Unfortunately this is probably going to be chalked up as a learning experience for you just as mine was for me. I learned that NPIP doesn't necessarily mean the seller knows what they are talking about. I inquired about Vaccinating for Marek's and was told, oh no you don't have anything to worry about. My birds are bred for resistance. What I learned is that to be resistant, they have to be exposed and survive the initial virus infection. The birds were maybe resistant to the strain of Marek's that is present where they were bred but not to the strain that is present in our area. So the birds had been exposed to the disease and succumbed to whatever strain of the virus that was on my propertyThe person wasn't nearly as savvy about Marek's Disease as they thought they were. Only my flock paid dearly for that ignorance on both the breeders and my part.
If I'd known then what I know now I would have bought Hatchery chicks and had them vaccinated for Marek's. If I had done that I probably wouldn't be dealing with the problem.
I won't make the same mistake twice, and I dare say, neither will you.
Make sure when you cull that you know what to look for in your birds. Remember while you work that all the birds are exposed and some may succumb down the line, months or maybe even years from now that you think are healthy now.
I was told by the head Veterinary doctor at the University of Missouri at Columbia Veterinary College that you need to strive for birds that live to be 3 years old without showing signs of the disease. Those birds are your resistant flock and the birds that you want to breed from.
You may also want to do research on resistant breeds. I know that Egyptian Fayoumis are resistant as are to an extent, Naked Necks. They are out there.
Trust me, having Marek's in your flock is a challenge but not one you cannot overcome with time and patience.
Frankly, I would work at spreading the word not to buy from that particular sales barn and tell people about your experiences.
Didn't you get a bill of sale with your birds?
Unfortunately this is probably going to be chalked up as a learning experience for you just as mine was for me. I learned that NPIP doesn't necessarily mean the seller knows what they are talking about. I inquired about Vaccinating for Marek's and was told, oh no you don't have anything to worry about. My birds are bred for resistance. What I learned is that to be resistant, they have to be exposed and survive the initial virus infection. The birds were maybe resistant to the strain of Marek's that is present where they were bred but not to the strain that is present in our area. So the birds had been exposed to the disease and succumbed to whatever strain of the virus that was on my propertyThe person wasn't nearly as savvy about Marek's Disease as they thought they were. Only my flock paid dearly for that ignorance on both the breeders and my part.
If I'd known then what I know now I would have bought Hatchery chicks and had them vaccinated for Marek's. If I had done that I probably wouldn't be dealing with the problem.
I won't make the same mistake twice, and I dare say, neither will you.
Make sure when you cull that you know what to look for in your birds. Remember while you work that all the birds are exposed and some may succumb down the line, months or maybe even years from now that you think are healthy now.
I was told by the head Veterinary doctor at the University of Missouri at Columbia Veterinary College that you need to strive for birds that live to be 3 years old without showing signs of the disease. Those birds are your resistant flock and the birds that you want to breed from.
You may also want to do research on resistant breeds. I know that Egyptian Fayoumis are resistant as are to an extent, Naked Necks. They are out there.
Trust me, having Marek's in your flock is a challenge but not one you cannot overcome with time and patience.
