[Structural changes in the poultry production industry and in the tasks of veterinarians]

The rapid expansion and improvement in poultry production began during the mid-1930s. These enhanced by innovation in technology, science and management on different levels such as on artificial incubation, genetics, breeding, rearing, nutrition, disease control and processing technology. During the past 30 years the total egg production as well as poultry meat production has increased tremendously. The modern poultry industry oriented for high production and better quality at low cost, together with increasing claim of consumers for poultry meat and products, demand continuous efficient and goal oriented veterinary care. For this purpose, in many countries poultry health services supervised by veterinarians in co-operation with a central veterinary diagnostic laboratory, are established. Today the main duties of the poultry veterinarians have changed from therapeutic to prevention objectives. The tasks of the modern veterinary poultry specialists are described.