What are the symptoms of Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS-76) in brown layer flocks?

Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS-76), caused by a hemagglutinating adenovirus, is one of the most economically damaging viral diseases in commercial brown layer farming. The virus primarily targets the mucous membrane of the shell gland (uterus), disrupting calcium and pigment deposition. In brown layers, the most prominent early sign is the loss of shell pigment, resulting in pale or chalky-looking eggs, followed quickly by thin-shelled and rubbery eggs. Because the virus does not cause severe systemic illness in the birds, the drop in egg quality and quantity is often the only observable clinical sign. This sudden drop in marketable egg volume can devastate a farm's short-term revenue. Farmers can browse biosecurity protocols in the Poultry Encyclopedia, source verified vaccines on Poultry Plaza, and use Murghi Mandi to find buyers for alternative-grade eggs while monitoring daily price impacts on Poultry Rates.