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News
7 | Pilgrim’s Pride agrees to $100M antitrust settlement
Business Features
12 | Health, safety council recognizes 244 facilities for performance
Calendar
24 | ARS: Cow challenge study should help turn tables on H5N1 in dairy herds
SEPTEMBER
SEPT 9-10 — INTERNATIONAL FOOD AUTOMATION NETWORKING CONFERENCE 2024 (IFAN), Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, Atlanta, Ga. Contact: Georgia Tech Research Institute, Ph: 404-894-2000; Email: kristi. campbell@gtri.gatech.edu; https://ifan.gtri.gatech.edu.
SEPT 10-12 — AFIA LIQUID FEED SYMPOSIUM, Radisson Hotel Salt Lake
30 | Elevate biosecurity implementation for maximum pathogen control
POULTRY HEALTH
Viewpoints
“Research funded … included studies for poultry specific diseases, hatchery management, food safety, animal welfare and commercial egg production.” — Dr. Denise Heard | 10
29 | UD graduate student applies molecular biology expertise to combat Marek’s
City Downtown, Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact: American Feed Industry Association, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 810, Arlington, Va. 22201. Ph: 703-524-0810; www.afia. org.
SEPT 15-18 — NPFDA FALL MEETING, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Ariz. Contact: National Protein & Food Distributors Association, 2014 Osborne Road, Saint Marys, Ga. 31558; Ph: 912-439-3603; www.npfda.org.
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Pilgrim’s Pride agrees to $100M antitrust settlement
BY DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Pilgrim’s Pride, a subsidiary of JBS USA Holdings, and one of the nation’s largest chicken producers, has agreed to a $100 million antitrust settlement that claims it conspired with other companies to underpay its growers.
This settlement by Pilgrim’s Pride is the largest in the seven-year-old antitrust case’s history. Previous settlements include Tyson Foods, $21 million, Sanderson Farms, $17.75 million, Koch Foods, $15.5 million, and Perdue Foods, $14.75 million.
Pilgrim’s Pride has denied any wrongdoing in this case. A preliminary settlement was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, Okla., on Aug. 16. The settlement is reported to cover 24,354 poultry growers from Jan. 27, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2019.
“Growers were deprived of vigorous com-
petition for their broiler growout services, causing the pay of all growers for each pound of broiler chicken produced to be artificially suppressed,” the court is reported to have said in the settlement.
Berger Montague, a law firm acting as colead counsel on behalf of the chicken growers, noted in a release that, “the plaintiffs alleged that these companies conspired to suppress the grower’s pay by illegally sharing confidential grower compensation data and illegally conspiring not to recruit each other’s growers.”
“We believe this is the largest payment ever obtained from the chicken processors on behalf of growers,” Daniel Walker, a shareholder in Berger Montague’s Antitrust Practice Area, said.
Eric L. Cramer, chairperson of Berger Montague, said, “This is a great outcome for these chicken farmers.”
Pilgrim’s Pride is the last remaining defendant in this antitrust case, and if its settlement meets all approvals, the total amount of the recovery will be approximately $169 million. Poultry Times reached out to JBS for comment and had not received one as of press time.
United Nations expresses concern over rising Asia Pacific bird flu cases
ELIZABETH BOBENHAUSEN
Poultry Times staff ebobenhausen@poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization is sounding the alarm for rising avian influenza cases in the Asia Pacific region. They are calling on world governments to share responsibility to contain the growing number of cases.
Reuters reported that H5N1 avian influenza has already been found in areas such as South America and Antarctica.
“Since late 2023, we have observed a rise in human cases and the virus spreading to new animal species,” Kachen Wongsathapornchai, the regional manager of the FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, said. “The emergence of novel A/H5N1 strains, which are more easily transmissible, increases the pandemic threat. Immediate, coordinated preventive measures are essential.”
The UN detected 13 cases of bird flu in Cambodia, along with cases in China and Vietnam. According to a United Nations press release, “the Greater Mekong subregion, Indonesia and the Philippines are facing heightened scrutiny due to their diverse ecological landscape and limited biosecurity
measures, while India, Nepal and Bangladesh are also battling outbreaks, it said. Thailand and Myanmar, part of the Greater Mekong region, have not reported outbreaks in years.” Australia has been combating three epidemics and reported one human case of bird
flu in May. In China, a woman contracted a fatal N3N8 strain of avian flu, in which she later died. Reuters added that the scientists tracking these cases have become increasingly aware of the gaps in surveillance of the disease.
AEB pledges 1M eggs to 12 Olympic athletes’ communities
ELIZABETH
BOBENHAUSEN
Poultry Times staff
ebobenhausen@ poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — As the 2024 Olympics came to a close, the American Egg Board presented its “Breaking Records, Breaking Eggs” pledge. The AEB is recognizing 12 Olympic athletes by donating 1 million eggs to local food banks across the United States. The food banks will be determined by the selected 12 athletes’ hometowns.
“America’s egg farmers are incredibly proud of the records our U.S. athletes are breaking this summer and know how important nutrition is for performance,” Emily Metz, AEB president and CEO, said. “From cracking historic records to achieving monumental suc -
cess for the U.S., we know many eggs were cracked for athletes in preparation of these moments and how critical our athletes’ communities are to their journey. We’re aware of how difficult access to high-quality protein, such as eggs, has been for many athletes while competing in Paris. To support the incredible moves of these athletes, we want to ensure their local communities have access to good sources of protein with a donation of over 1 million eggs.”
“Eggs are an incredibly versatile, nutritious and convenient food to use at any meal and they are found in 90 percent of American refrigerators,” Dr. Jen Houchins, AEB’s director of nutrition research, said. “Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, with one egg containing 6 grams of high-quality protein and all nine
essential amino acids, all for only 70 calories.4 Eggs are among the most requested foods at food pantries, and access to good sources of protein really matters. We’re proud to donate eggs to local communities and ensure access to this high-quality protein.”
Last year, American egg farmers donated more than 50 million eggs nationwide.
An up-close visit with Twelve Oaks Poultry Farm
ELIZABETH BOBENHAUSEN
Poultry Times staff
ebobenhausen@ poultrytimes.com
CANTON, Ga. — Just an hour away from the “Poultry Capital of the World” in Gainesville, Ga., lies a poultry farm called Twelve Oaks Farm in Canton, Ga.
Jack Swanson is the owner and operator of the farm. He houses Bantam Cochin Chickens. His passion for cochin poultry started when he was seven years old. His friend’s grandfather got him started with Old English Bantams. Eventually, he turned his hobby into a business at 14 years old. He jokingly said his parents approached him about the number of coops being on their property.
“There’s so many different types of poultry,” Swanson said. “There’s something for everybody like a box of chocolates literally one for everyone.”
Twelve Oaks Farm was originally built as a poultry farm in the 1950s and was owned by another family. His family has now owned the farm for a few decades. This small business acts as secondary income to Swanson. For his primary job he trains dogs, but when he is not training his furry friends, he is with his chickens. The purpose of the farm is to breed the chickens.
He has sent these chickens all over the country, as far as Alaska. His chickens compete in exhibitions and there is a strict judging process.
He said, “the birds are ready to show when they are in prime condition, they should not have any broken feathers and they must be clean.
• Find the full video interview with Jack Swanson at the Poultry Times website (www.poultrytimes.com) or on the Poultry Times YouTube channel.
VIEWPOINT
USPOULTRY funded grants during 2024 Spring Research Competition
COMMENTARY BY
DR. DENISE HEARD
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Dr. Denise Heard is director of research programs with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association based in Tucker, Ga. She can be reached by e-mail at dheard@uspoultry.org.
TUCKER, Ga. — During the Spring 2024 Research Competition, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the USPOULTRY Foundation approved and funded eight new and innovative research projects. The research funding was approved by the boards of directors of both organizations, based on recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee.
Research funded out of the Comprehensive Research Competition and Board Research Initiatives included studies for poultry specific diseases, hatchery management, food safety, animal welfare and commercial egg production. The following paragraphs serve as a brief synopsis of these projects.
•“Salmonella Detector: A Mobile Application for On-site Broiler Salmonella Infection Diagnosis.” University of Georgia.
The gold standard method for on-farm detection of Salmonella is to obtain litter or fecal samples from poultry farms and undertake microbiological examination in laboratories, which requires skilled technicians and is time-consuming and expensive. Alternatively, low-cost mobile applications (App) embedded into smartphones with Android or IOS systems could assist producers in diagnosing Salmonella presence during their daily flock inspection without extensive training. The objective of the proposal is to develop a novel mobile broiler Salmonella diagnosis system that can help producers to identify the disease easily during their daily flock inspection. Fecal image and video data with or without Salmonella infection will be collected from United States broiler production systems and used to train deep learning-based image classification models, which will be embedded into mobile phones for on-site broiler Salmonella diagnosis.
• “Poultry House Mass Depopulation Calculator.” North Carolina State University. Currently, due to lack of a calculator, stakeholders have a challenge in selecting a poultry flock depopulation method and procuring necessary supplies to achieve 100 percent depopulation within an acceptable duration.
The method and the amount of supplies will depend on housing, bird species and size, house size and tightness, and environmental conditions. For a facility, it might be necessary to use different methods, depending on differences in construction and availability of resources. Hence, upon confirmation, a depopulation method must be selected, and the required amount of resources acquired to proceed with depopulation. Researchers will develop a calculator to determine requirements for VSDH, VSDH+RH and gassing (CO2 or N2), but not foam since foaming requirements are known. For VSDH and VSDH+RH, the heat balance equation will be used. The calculator will be functional for broilers, turkeys, broiler breeders, pullets, layers, layer breeders, turkey breeders and ducks.
• “A Novel Method at Poultry Hatcheries to Simultaneously Deliver Vaccines and Prebiotics/Probiotics.” University of Delaware. Vaccines are amongst the most effective and inexpensive means of preventing disease in both animals and humans. Vaccine delivery systems significantly influence the outcome of vaccination. An improper vaccine application is considered one of the most common reasons for vaccination program failure. Dayold-chick spray (and gel for coccidiosis) vaccination in the hatchery is the most common vaccination practice because it is inexpensive and requires minimum handling. However, the dose that each chick receives via the spray and gel method can be variable. Researchers have patented a foam-based hatchery vaccination system for Infectious Bronchitis which has been shown to provide more than 90 percent coverage on hatched chicks. Birds receive the vaccine via foam contact with the eye and peck at the foam, allowing ingestion of the vaccine. The objective of this project is to develop an economically viable foam-based vaccination system in the hatchery with significantly improved coverage to deliver vaccines for coccidiosis, Infectious Bronchitis and Newcastle disease as well as pre/probiotics.
• “Evaluation of The Efficacy of a Bivalent Live-Attenuated Non-Transmissible (LANT)Vaccine Candidate for the Control
of Salmonella Serogroups B (O:4) and D (O:9) in Chickens.” University of Maryland. Salmonella is among the leading causes of foodborne illness in humans worldwide and can be associated with the consumption and handling of poultry. Current vaccination protocols, while essential, need improvement. The Live-Attenuated Salmonella Vaccines (LASV) available in the US are monovalent and protect only against serovar Typhimurium (serogroup B: O4). Their limited capacity to provide consistent cross-protection against other critical Salmonella serovars, particularly serovar Enteritidis (serogroup D: O9), coupled with their environmental persistence and detectability at processing stages, is concerning and limit their use in broilers. The overall objective of this project is to provide the poultry industry with an effective, affordable, and easy to administer, non-transmissible, live-attenuated vaccine with a broader protection for control of multiple important serovars of serogroups B and D (Heidelberg, Dublin, etc.) to improve Salmonella control at live production.
• “Role of Phytase Dosage and Reduced Dietary Mineral Levels in Pullet Performance and Egg Production in Laying Hens – Focus on Bone Development and Eggshell Quality.” Mississippi State University.
Due to their low cost, pivotal role in key metabolic pathways and physiologic functions, over-supplementation of micro and macro trace minerals (CA and P) has become an insurance policy in the layer industry which may be reducing layer performance and wellbeing. Besides digesting inositol phosphates, phytase may have a role in improving mineral absorption. This research project will assess the potential benefits of super dosing phytase on bone health, egg production and interrelationships with mineral absorption in pullet and layer diets. Improving bone development and eggshell quality, with the support of maximum potential value from phytase supplementation will help understand phytase utilization while reducing the cost of production and maintaining/improving health, welfare, production performance and environmental sustainability.
• “Necrotic Enteritis in Chickens: Understanding the Immunological Basis of Host Immunity to Develop Effective Non-Antibiotic Disease Prevention Approaches.” North Carolina State University.
When birds are experimentally infected with a virulent strain of Clostridium perfringens, which causes necrotic enteritis (NE), there is always a small population that does not become infected and remains clinically healthy and resistant. This study will explore the blood/tissue immune biomarkers that play a role in those birds being resistant. The immune parameters that show strong association with NE resistance will be used for field
“Research funded … included studies for poultry specific diseases, hatchery management, food safety, animal welfare and commercial egg production.”
challenges. Researchers aim to develop efficacious non-antibiotic products for NE control and may also be valuable in selecting genetic lines offering natural NE resistance.
• “Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Epidemiologic Investigations of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in Commercial Turkeys.” Iowa State University.
Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) has been associated with respiratory disease in poultry since the 1990s and has consistently ranked as one of the top health issues in the turkey industry for many years. Understanding the epidemiology and source of infection of ORT is a necessary step to refining prevention and control practices. This study will investigate whether ORT is a primary or secondary pathogen, investigate the source and timing of ORT infection within a flock, and examine the broader transmission dynamics and evolutionary trajectory of ORT in US turkey flocks.
• “Advancing Infectious Coryza Diagnosis and Control: Uncovering Attenuated
Pathogenicity and Potential Immunogenicity of Non-Pathogenic Avibacterium paragallinarum (npAP) Isolates.” Iowa State University.
Infectious coryza (IC) caused by the bacterium Avibacterium paragallinarum (AP) has recently emerged into new geographical areas and threatening the poultry industry in general but poses especially significant health risks and economic losses to multiage layer complexes. During surveillance efforts around new outbreaks, non-pathogenic Avibacterium paragallinarum (npAP) were discovered to be highly prevalent in healthy layer flocks with no previous history of IC leading to ambiguous qPCR results and creating hesitation around making costly control and eradication decisions. This research project will target the development and validation of qPCR that can differentiate between AP and npAP; identify potential pathogenicity factors via genomic comparison of AP and npAP isolates; and evaluate the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of npAP isolates via live challenge studies.
Health, safety council recognizes 244 facilities for performance BUSINESS
DESTIN, Fla. — The Joint Poultry Industry Safety & Health Council recognized 244 chicken and turkey facilities with safety awards at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, Fla., this week. The facilities were honored in recognition of their outstanding performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs.
Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years (2021-2024) and an evaluation of written applications by academia and other safety experts. Sixty facilities received the highest level of recognition, Award of Distinction. The other categories include the Award of Honor and the Award of Merit. Ninety-one facilities received the Award of Honor, and 93 received the Award of Merit.
The Award of Distinction honors facilities for sharing the essential aspects of safety and health training, education and employee involvement and have incurred injury and illness rates equal to or greater than 75 percent less than Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) results. The Award of Honor is given to facilities based on the same essential aspects but with incident rates between 75 percent and 50 percent less than BLS results, and the Award of Merit honors facilities that have incurred injury and illness rates between 50 percent and equal to BLS results.
“These awards are illustrative of the progress made by the industry regarding the safety and health of its workers, and I want to offer my congratulations to all of these facilities and their employees,” Allan Foy, corporate director of safety, Farbest Foods, and chair of the Joint Poultry Industry
Safety & Health Council, said.
The Joint Industry Safety & Health Council consists of members from the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Collectively, the three organizations represent companies that produce 95 percent of the nation’s poultry products and directly employ more than 350,000 workers.
Presidential turkey flock announced at Minnesota State Fair
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Turkey Growers Association and the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council announced that for the second consecutive year, the presidential turkey flock is being raised by a Minnesota turkey farmer.
National Turkey Federation
Chairman John Zimmerman, a turkey farmer from Northfield, Minn., was at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 31 to discuss raising the presidential flock.
The tradition of the National Turkey Federation presenting a turkey to the president of the United States at Thanksgiving began in 1947 with President Harry Truman and has continued for more than 75 years. President George H.W. Bush was the first president to officially “pardon” the turkey in 1989. Since then, this gesture of pardoning turkeys has been used to help educate consumers about the turkey industry and its importance to American agriculture.
During the Aug. 31 event, Zimmerman offered a look behind the scenes into not only raising the presidential flock, but the quality and care that American turkey farmers put into raising all of their flocks.
“We’re incredibly proud to represent not only our farm, but the entire American turkey industry as we share the unique experience of raising the turkeys destined for the White House,” Zimmerman said. “This is a rare opportunity for people to see firsthand the dedication and care that goes into this honor and to gain a deeper understanding of the significant impact of the American turkey industry.”
After the ceremony in Washington D.C., in November the turkeys will be brought to Farmamerica in Waseca, Minn. Farmamerica highlights modern agriculture trends while also preserving Minnesota’s rich agricultural history. Visitors can discover current agricultural practices and gain insight into the evolution of farming in our state. The pardoned turkeys will find their permanent residence at Farmamerica’s 1930s farm site, where visitors can meet these special birds. On Saturday, a representative from Farmamerica will be on hand to discuss the organization’s mission and share how the turkeys will be cared for in their new home.
Butterball report
reveals consumer behavior around shared meals
GARNER, N.C. — Butterball is releasing its “Butterball Togetherness Report: Capitalizing on Consumer Appetite for Shared Meals,” uncovering how consumer shopping behavior is impacted when preparing for shared meals beyond the holidays and opportunities for grocery retailers to capitalize on these behaviors.
The report examines shared
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Conducted among a sample of more than 2,000 grocery shoppers aged 24 and up in the contiguous United States, the report sheds light on key trends shaping modern dining experiences that can help retailers curate their shopping experience to consumer preferences.
The new report also uncovers the role of shared meals throughout the year as well as the barriers Americans face when planning them, Butterball noted. It illuminates opportunities for grocery retailers to help consumers overcome these obstacles and bring people together through food more frequently.
“For 70 years, Butterball has helped new and seasoned hosts prepare the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece to foster togetherness through food, however there are numerous opportunities and a strong desire for people to gather over shared meals throughout the year,” Kyle Lock, Butterball’s vice president of retail and international marketing, said. “We examined the changing dynamics in human connection, and by sharing these insights, Butterball hopes to shed light on opportunities for grocery retailers to create a tailored shopping experience for consumers. Butterball believes in the power of food to bring people together and anticipates this trend will continue to grow, bringing additional moments of impact for grocery retailers.”
While Americans want to gather for meals, they find that busy schedules are the top barrier holding them back from doing so as frequently as they would like, the company added. However, shoppers aren’t willing to compromise on their shared meal — they are keen to shop in store for shared meals, rather than using time-saving options such as ordering online for pickup or delivery.
Additional barriers cited in-
clude limited hosting space, insufficient time to plan and prepare meals, limited cooking abilities and lack of new recipe ideas. One item that is not a major consumer concern when shopping for a shared meal: expense. The report found that shoppers typically spend more on groceries for shared meals, with younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) spending significantly more on meals shared in their home than older generations.
For large grocery retailers, the report highlights opportunities to help consumers solve some of these obstacles to save time planning and shopping for shared meals. Grocery retailers can help time-crunched, shared meal shoppers by providing digital options such as publishing recipes online and in-app ingredient lists. Grocery retailers can adapt to other shopper preferences by making recipe bundle kits or updating store organization to create an easy, in-store shopping experience, where shoppers have a sense of safety, inclusivity, and enjoyment.
Additional key takeaways and trends from the report include: How grocery retailers can respond to attract shared meal shoppers and boost loyalty:
• Help consumers shop for more frequent shared meals and make them more satisfying.
• Reduce time and energy spent planning meals through store organization, recipe bundles and friendly customer service.
• Provide inspiration, instill confidence, and create a fun shopping experience to attract younger consumers.
Full tables lead to full hearts:
• 80 percent of those who have increased shared meals over the last two years say their lives are very rewarding, compared to only 60 percent of those who have shared meals less often
• Younger consumers are willing to spend more money on hosting shared meals compared to Boomers, with Younger Millennials and Older Gen Z spending 55 percent more and Older Millennials spending 51 percent more.
• 69 percent of all respondents express a desire for increased shared meals, despite busy schedules as the primary barrier.
Unveiling the shopper’s palate:
• 87 percent of shoppers fa-
vor physical grocery stores over online or delivery options when shopping for shared meals.
• 88 percent of participants agree that some grocery stores are more preferable than others when shopping for shared meals, citing factors such as ease, convenience and product offerings over price and value.
• Local specialty stores (3.25x increase) and wholesale stores (2.5x increase) draw disproportionately more consumers who are shopping for shared meals, compared to regular grocery runs.
For more information about this report, visit www.butterball. com/about-us/our-commitment/ butterball-togetherness-report.
Tyson Foods reports 3Q 2024 results
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Tyson Foods Inc. reports its third quarter 2024 and nine-month results.
Highlights include:
First nine months results:
• Sales of $39.744 billion, up 0.5 percent from prior year.
• GAAP operating income of $884 million, up $816 million from prior year.
• Adjusted operating income of $1.308 billion, up 88 percent from prior year.
• GAAP EPS of $1.25, up $1.81 from prior year.
• Adjusted EPS of $2.18, up 125 percent from prior year.
• Total company GAAP operating margin of 2.2 percent.
• Total company adjusted operating margin (non-GAAP) of 3.3 percent.
• Cash provided by operating activities of $1.973 billion, up 38 percent from prior year.
• Free cash flow (non-GAAP) of $1.089 billion, up $1.224 billion from prior year.
Third quarter highlights:
• Sales of $13.353 billion, up 1.6 percent from prior year.
• GAAP operating income of $341 million, up $691 million from prior year.
• Adjusted operating income of $491 million, up 174 percent from prior year.
• GAAP EPS of 54 cents, up
$1.72 from prior year.
• Adjusted EPS of 87 cents, up 480 percent from prior year.
• Total company GAAP operating margin of 2.6 percent.
• Total company adjusted operating margin (non-GAAP) of 3.7 percent.
• Liquidity of approximately $4.8 billion as of June 29, 2024.
“Our disciplined actions and focus on the fundamentals have resulted in a positive turnaround of our business,” Donnie King, Tyson Foods president & CEO, said. “In Q3, we delivered the highest adjusted operating income in the last seven quarters while also generating strong free cash flow. Looking ahead, we will continue to strive to be best-inclass operators, drive efficiencies, value-up our portfolio, win with customers and consumers, and be disciplined in our capital deployment.”
Chicken — USDA projects chicken production will be flat in fiscal 2024 as compared to fiscal 2023. Tyson anticipates adjusted operating income of $850 million to $950 million for fiscal 2024.
Prepared Foods — Tyson anticipates adjusted operating income of $850 million to $950 million in
fiscal 2024.
Total company — Tyson anticipates total company adjusted operating income of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion for fiscal 2024. The company also expects sales to be relatively flat in fiscal 2024 as compared to fiscal 2023.
USPOULTRY opens its 2025 Spring Research Competition
TUCKER, Ga. — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the USPOULTRY Foundation are now accepting research preproposals for the 2025 Spring Research Competition. Submissions are open to colleges, universities and research institutions until Nov. 1.
Research proposals are reviewed and funded twice annually — in the spring and fall.
Preproposals should be a onepage synopsis of your potential research project. The Foundation Research Advisory Committee of industry professionals will assess
these preproposals and invite full proposals that align with current research priorities.
The USPOULTRY website provides a comprehensive and updated list of research priorities every two years. Current priorities cover a range of categories, including animal welfare, breeder management (turkeys and broilers), meat bird management, commercial egg production, diseases, environmental management, food safety, hatchery management, nutrition, processing and employee safety and health.
For detailed instructions and deadlines, visit www.uspoultry. org.
Preproposals addressing emerging issues outside the priority list are also welcome. These will be evaluated based on the demonstrated need for the research. Final funding decisions will be made in April 2025.
USPOULTRY and its Foundation support research programs that span all aspects of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the program’s inception, USPOULTRY has invested
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more than $37.7 million in the industry through research grants, benefiting more than 50 universities and federal and state facilities.
JBS releases 2023 Sustainability Report
GREELEY, Colo. — JBS, the majority shareholder of Pilgrim’s Pride, announces the release of its 2023 Sustainability Report.
“As a food company with operations in 20 countries, we are part of a resilient global food system tasked with increasing food production to feed a growing global population,” Gilberto Tomazoni, JBS global CEO, said. “Sitting in a pivotal position in the food value chain — upstream from rural producers, grain originators, and input suppliers, and downstream from distributors, retailers, res-
taurants, and consumers, JBS can help influence and drive change across a complex supply chain.”
JBS has a number of key sustainability strategies across the company’s operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, the company said, adding that they include assisting farmers with stewarding natural resources and enhancing productivity; sourcing responsibly-produced agricultural commodities; producing sustainable food; strengthening food systems and communities; and operating responsibly.
“As we tackle the many sustainability topics that need our attention, taking a systems approach is key,” Jason Weller, JBS chief sustainability officer, said. “This encourages and allows for innovation, collaboration, prioritization, and investment – all of which are essential to making meaningful progress.”
The following are a few of the highlights from this year’s report:
• The company has invested more than $150 million across hundreds of projects in facilities to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in
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a 17 percent decrease in intensity since 2019.
• More than $5 million in partnership projects have been approved to further the company’s Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy throughout the value chain.
• In Brazil, JBS has driven groundbreaking initiatives to enhance transparency and traceability in the livestock supply chain, such as the Transparent Livestock Farming Platform.
• In the U.K., investments have been made in climate-smart facility upgrades and an off-grid poultry farm of the future.
• In the U.S. and Australia, the company has established multiple methane-to-renewable-energy conversion initiatives.
“There is much more work to do, and at JBS, we will keep doing our part,” Tomazoni said. “We seek to make food affordable to everyone around the world, with excellence.”
JBS added that it is striving to set the food industry standard for profitable and sustainable food production for a growing planet. This means improving the sustainable performance and resiliency of not only the company’s
own operations but also contributing to the enhanced sustainability of the greater food production system as a whole.
“Our belief at JBS is that no one company or organization can address the issues we face alone,” Weller said. “As such, we look to partner with stakeholders throughout the value chain to more effectively address this critical work. We invest time, expertise, and resources into creating a better future and a more resilient food system in key areas such as economic viability, environmental quality, global food security, affordable food choices, and improved quality of life for people doing the work.”
NTF appoints Alex Davidson as senior director of public affairs
WASHINGTON — The National Turkey Federation has announced the appointment of Alex Davidson as its new senior director of public affairs, effective as of Aug. 19. Davidson, who joins NTF
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from the Beer Institute, brings a wealth of experience to this role where he will lead public outreach for the U.S. turkey industry, the federation noted.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alex to the National Turkey Federation team,”
Leslee Oden, NTF president and CEO, said. “With his extensive background in public affairs, strategic communication and political advocacy, he is well-equipped to tell the story of America’s cherished turkey industry. I am excited for him to hit the ground running and confident that his leadership will drive positive results for our members.”
“I am excited to join the National Turkey Federation to help elevate the voices and priorities of turkey farmers and processors across the United States,” Davidson said. “I look forward to collaborating with the NTF team,
turkey growers, processors, the federation’s allied members, industry partners and policymakers to address the challenges and opportunities facing the turkey industry.”
In his previous role as director of public affairs at the Beer Institute, Davidson created and executed proactive, strategic, organic, paid and digital communication strategies that increased the $409 billion beer industry’s visibility among legislators, media and consumers, NTF said, adding that Davidson also served as a primary spokesman for the association. During his tenure, he spearheaded the development and release of numerous key national campaigns including Stand With Beer, MidwestPremiumExposed.org, Building Bridges with Beer and created the Beer Institute’s first grassroots advocacy program.
Before joining the Beer Institute, Davidson worked in the U.S. Congress as the communications director for the late U.S. Representative Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.). Prior to his tenure with Mitchell’s staff, Davidson also worked in a variety of roles for U.S. Representatives Blake Farenthold (R-
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A native of Boston, Mass., Davidson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Mandarin Chinese from the University of Maryland, College Park. He currently resides in Bethesda, Md., with his wife, Stephanie.
Perdue gives $10K grant to help fund new tech and summer camp fees in Salisbury
SALISBURY, Md. — Perdue Farms has awarded a $10,000 grant to Salisbury Urban Ministries in Salisbury, Md., through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation as part of its commitment to improve the quality of life in its communities.
The funding will enable children to attend the Richard A. Henson Family YMCA summer camp in Salisbury by covering their tu-
ition, meals, and transportation fees, ensuring that those enrolled have access to enriching experiences and activities. Additionally, the funding will be used to upgrade the network technology at the nonprofit, enhancing the children’s learning opportunities through new educational tools.
The donation from Perdue’s charitable giving partner is part of the company’s Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors® outreach to improve quality of life and build strong communities.
Since 1992, Salisbury Urban Ministries has provided programs that serve and minister to the needs of materially impoverished people in our community. The nonprofit organization supports 190 children by providing a Kid’s Café, their after-school and summer program, clothing, meals, transportation, and camp enrollment at no expense.
Executive Director Debbie Donaway said the organization provides wrap around services. Though the nonprofit does not provide shelter, she never turns away those who are looking for housing without giving them resources within the area and additional community service
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Salisbury Urban Ministries has extended its services on Saturdays to adults, children, and families through a partnership with Grace Methodist Church, which operates God’s Kitchen, a program providing nutritious meals for the homeless and impoverished.
“All the things I’ve done in my lifetime from raising chickens and children, facility management, working with dementia adults and assisting other nonprofit organizations has blindly prepared me for this role,” Donaway said. “Serving the community feels natural, that’s what makes me passionate about working here.”
“Salisbury Urban Ministries has a strong history of serving others and we share in their commitment to make a difference in our community,” Kim Nechay, Perdue Foundation executive director, said. “We’re proud to continue our support for this meaningful programming through this grant.”
Alltech welcomes Steve Britton to its U.S. poultry team
services from Texas A&M University. He currently resides in Wisconsin, where he enjoys spending time outdoors, where you can find him hunting, fishing or perfecting his swing on the golf course.
“We are delighted to welcome Steve to the team,” Curtis Novak, general manager, Alltech U.S. poultry, said. “His knowledge and experience will enable our team to deliver even more value for our customers.”
Egglife Foods appoints Gravlee as company’s chief revenue officer
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Alltech announces that Steve Britton has joined its U.S. poultry team. With more than 25 years of experience in both the laying hen and broiler sectors, Britton’s new role as poultry account manager at Alltech will focus on promoting Ridley Feed Ingredients technologies and premix solutions and Alltech specialty products related to those industries with customers across the Midwest.
Having previously served as a strategic account manager, Britton has a proven track record of success in the pharmaceuticals, specialty ingredients and nutrition sectors, Alltech noted, adding that his career in the poultry industry has equipped him with skills and expertise in the fields of animal nutrition, poultry vaccines, strategic planning, sales operations, and leadership.
Britton holds a master’s degree in business, management, marketing and related support
CHICAGO — Egglife Foods Inc. announces the appointment of Brent Gravlee as its first chief revenue officer. This move aims to further accelerate the company’s success and expand its footprint as Egglife prepares for its next phase of aggressive growth, innovation, and expansion into new categories, the company noted.
In just four years, Egglife has scaled from $4 million to $50 million in sales, reimagining the future of food by replacing flour with the protein-packed benefits of egg whites, the company said, adding that its egglife® egg white wraps are now available in 40 percent of U.S. grocery retail locations and have recently expanded into Canada. This rapid growth has earned Egglife Foods a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies.
Gravlee brings more than 20 years of diverse industry experience to Egglife Foods. His career spans account management, commercial strategy, and sales leadership across multiple classes of trade, including serving as chief commercial officer for start-up brand Munk Pack, a 17-year career with challenger brand Clif Bar, as well as roles with industry giants General Mills and Mondelez. Known for his innovative strategies and executional excellence, Gravlee has a proven track record im -
pacting mission-driven organizations, the company added.
“Joining Egglife Foods at this moment of inflection is incredibly exciting,” Gravlee said. “I’m looking forward to applying my experience to help accelerate this trailblazing brand and make a significant impact in the better-for-you space. Egglife is innovating with protein in a way that no other company has, and I’m pumped to be part of it.”
“Brent’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Egglife Foods,” David Kroll, Egglife Foods CEO, said. “His deep commercial knowledge and experience helping build Clif Bar into a category leader with an eventual $2.9 billion transaction will be instrumental in fueling our growth, as well as stewarding our business through this exciting next chapter of aggressive expansion and innovation for Egglife.”
Jurgielewicz introduces its fully cooked duck carnitas
HAMBURG, Pa. — Joe Jurgielewicz & Son Ltd. introduces its fully-cooked Duck Carnitas to assist chefs of all levels with incorporated rich, traditional Mexican flavors into memorable dining experiences. Perfectly spiced and ready to heat and serve, JJS’ Duck Carnitas feature an exquisite taste that makes patrons crave more and become repeat customers, the company said.
“Our mouth-watering Duck Carnitas are a perfect way for foodies, home cooks, and chefs of all skill levels to spice up any meal,” Joey Jurgielewicz III, director of business development at Joe Jurgielewicz & Son, said. “We continuously work with our clients to introduce new prod-
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ucts that enable them to feature our famous Tasty Duck in selections that are easy to prepare and set them apart in the competitive restaurant industry to drive repeat visits and increase profitability.”
The carnitas are cured and slow roasted in duck fat with 11 spices and Guajillo Chile peppers, the company said, adding that they are perfect for crisping on a plancha or in a pan, the carnitas are ideal for tacos, burritos, paella, tamales, gourmet salad toppings, empanada filling, or to add a Mexican flare to any culinary creation.
JJS is one of the leading suppliers of Pekin duck to the restaurant, country club, resort, and hotel industries across North America and in select international markets. The 91-year-old family business also offers its farm-fresh whole Pekin duck, duck cuts, meal kits, and more delivered directly to consumers’ doorstep through TastyDuck.com.
The company adds that it is the only veterinarian-owned and operated poultry farm in the country and prides itself on humanely raising its ducks to provide a bet-
ter life for the animals and bettertasting products.
Dave’s Hot Chicken to open 60 restaurants across the U.K. & Ireland
LOS ANGELES — Dave’s Hot Chicken announces that United Kingdom and Ireland customers will soon have the chance to enjoy its hot chicken menu offerings. Dave’s Hot Chicken has signed an agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations, with the first location planned to open in London by the first quarter 2025.
Azzurri Group is one of the UK’s largest hospitality investment platforms. The group operates two national Italian fullservice brands, Zizzi and ASK Italian, quick-service Italian, Coco di Mama and Irish fast casual Mexican restaurant brand Boojum. Azzurri employs nearly 6,000 people, serving more than 15 million meals annually across its portfolio of more than 230 restaurants and stores.
“When we first tried Dave’s Hot
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Chicken we were blown away as it makes some of the most craveable and delicious food we’ve ever had,” Steve Holmes, Azzurri Group CEO, said. “We’re excited to bring this incredible brand to the UK and to be their partner in this ambitious roll-out.”
“We know there is an opportunity to make Dave’s Hot Chicken one of the iconic restaurant brands, and we do that by partnering with incredible operators, like Azzurri Group,” Bill Phelps, Dave’s Hot Chicken CEO, said. “The flavor of Dave’s Hot Chicken resonates across borders, and we’re looking forward to the first UK store getting open soon.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken specializes in jumbo Hot Chicken Sliders, Tenders and Bites, along with sides of house-made Kale Slaw, Mac & Cheese and seasoned French fries. Offered at seven spice levels ranging from No Spice to Reaper (which requires a signed waiver for those who dare), each piece of hand-breaded chicken is spiced-to-order. In early 2024, the company also introduced Dave’s NOT Chicken, the brand’s take on Cauliflower Sliders and Cauli-
flower Bites.
Each store is designed with eyecatching color, with exclusively designed LA-based street art reflecting the connection with the parking lot where the brand began.
Chick-fil-A bringing back some fan favorite items
ATLANTA — Chick-fil-A® is bringing what became its bestselling seasonal offering — now with a spicy option. Beginning Aug. 26, the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich returned to menus nationwide along with the new Spicy Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, available for a limited time.
Also, after a 13-year hiatus, and countless calls for its return, the Banana Pudding Milkshake is making its way back to menus nationwide.
The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich was the brand’s first-ever twist on the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich in 2023, and quickly became a fan-favorite, the company notes, adding that it features a
chicken filet drizzled with honey, topped with pimento cheese, and served on a toasted bun with mild pickled jalapeños. This year it will be offered with an added choice of the spicy chicken filet.
“When we released the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich last fall, not only did we receive overwhelmingly positive feedback, but we also saw our guests making their own unique twists by swapping the Original filet for the Spicy filet,” Stuart Tracy, Chick-fil-a chef, said. “They inspired us to officially offer a Spicy version as its own menu item, and we are thrilled to deliver what we know our guests want more of!”
In addition, customers can also order the new Banana Frosted
Coffee, a blend of cold-brewed coffee, the brand’s signature Icedream® dessert, banana and vanilla wafer cookie crumbles.
“Every decision we make regarding our menu is extremely intentional,” Allison Duncan, Chick-fil-A director of menu and packaging, said. “While our core products are what our guests know and love us for, we also like to keep variety and innovation top of mind. Whether we are surprising our guests with new flavors and offerings or taking classic items and bringing them back with a twist, each menu introduction is made after listening to their needs. We’re thrilled to be able to bring back two of our most popular picks this season!”
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ARS: Cow challenge study should help turn tables on H5N1 in dairy herds
BY JAN SUSZKIW USDA Agricultural Research Service
WASHINGTON — Animal challenge studies completed by USDA scientists show that infecting dairy cows with the H5N1 virus in a laboratory setting can trigger clinical signs of disease similar to those of naturally infected animals on dairy farms.
Understanding how the virus is infecting cows and how the disease progresses in the animals is essential to developing therapeutics, like vaccines. While the study size was limited, the scientists’ validation of a reliable challenge model offers an important step towards filling crucial knowledge gaps that remain, including on ways to prevent the spread of H5N1. USDA continues to stand up additional studies with more animals and additional endpoints.
Popularly known as “bird flu” and scientifically as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
H5N1 in the hemagglutinin clade
2.3.4.4b,” the virus associated with the dairy cow outbreak was first detected in a Texas dairy cow on March 25, 2024.
Since then, there have been 172 confirmed cases of infected dairy milking cows in 13 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has assessed that the current human-health risk for the U.S. general public remains low, with four cases of H5N1 reported in people (exposed to infected
dairy cows) so far.
The USDA scientists’ animal challenge study showing that field infections of H5N1 can be replicated under laboratory conditions is detailed in a paper that will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
The authors, which comprise a multi-disciplinary team of scientists with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Iowa State University, conducted the study in a Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) agricultural facility in Ames, Iowa, about a month after H5N1 was detected in the Texas dairy cow.
This effort builds on prior genomic investigations indicating genotype B3.13 of the virus had originated in wild birds the fall of 2023, and that a single “spillover” event into dairy cows likely occurred in late winter 2023.
“At the time we initiated these experiments, the route of infection and transmission between cows was unknown,” ARS study leader Amy Baker and her co-authors write in their publicationpending research paper. “Transmission between farms was linked to movement of live lactating cows, yet within-farm spread to resident cows was observed within days or weeks following movement without a clear pattern of transmission consistent on all farms.”
The BSL-3 facility, which is operated by the ARS National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, enabled the team to evaluate two infection routes in a high-containment setting. The first route, a respiratory one, involved exposing the noses and mouths of four,
yearling heifers to an aerosol mist containing genotype B3.13 of the virus. The second infection route, an intramammary one, involved inoculating the teats and udders of two, non-pregnant lactating cows so that the progress of the disease and its symptoms could be monitored.
In the first study, the respiratory exposed heifers became infected but showed minimal clinical signs of disease, limited to an increased but sporadic nasal discharge 1 to 3 days after infection. Lesions were observed in one heifer 7 days after infection.
In the second study, the mammary exposed lactating cows became infected and displayed symptoms within 48 hours of infection. These included diminished appetite, decreased rumen motility, a drop in milk production and thick, yellowish milk — similar to clinical viral mastitis symptoms observed in naturally infected animals on dairy farms. Both cows developed H5 specific immunity in serum and milk from inoculated quarters, Baker notes.
This study, as well as other unpublished data, support the conclusion that respiratory transmission is not a primary route of infection within farms. Additional studies are in progress.
Specific knowledge gaps that reliable, repeatable animal challenge methods can help answer are:
• Tropisms of the virus within the body over time.
• How the virus is transmitted between animals.
• Whether HPAI vaccines will work in dairy cattle.
• Best practices for disinfection (for example, milking machines).
The team’s research is part of a larger, multi-faceted and ongoing effort by the USDA, CDC, the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration and other partners to protect human and livestock health, as well as ensure the safety of the food supply.
For more about USDA’s response to H5N1 in dairy cattle, visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ livestock-poultry-disease/avian/ avian-influenza/hpai-detections/ livestock.
Jan Suszkiw is a public affairs specialist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times editor dstrickland@
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Perdue Foods’ Perry, Ga., facility is recalling approximately 167,171 pounds of frozen, breaded, readyto-eat, chicken breast nugget and tender products that may be contaminated with a foreign material, potentially metal, according to the company and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Perdue notes that the affected products are isolated to the following three:
• Perdue® Simply Smart® Organic Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets (22oz., 1.38 lbs.), which were sold in the freezer case and have a “Best if used by date” of 03/23-25, and with a bar code of 0-7274580656-8.
• Perdue® Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders (29-oz., 1.81 lbs.), sold in the freezer case, with a “Best if used by date” of 03/23/25, with a bar code of 0-72745-80431.
• And Butcher Box Organic Free Fully Frozen-Cooked Breast Chicken Nuggets (22 oz., 1.38 lbs.), with a “Best if used by date” of 03-23/25, and a bar code of 0-72745-80648-3.
• The products involved in the recall also all bear an establishment number of P-33944 on the back of the packaging.
These products were shipped
Perdue recalls 167K pounds of frozen nugget, tender products
nationwide to retail outlets and sold online directly to customers.
“We determined the material to be a very thin strand of metal wire that was inadvertently introduced into the manufacturing process,”
Jeff Shaw, Perdue’s senior vice president of food safety and quality, said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to voluntarily recall all of these packages of products.”
To date, there have been no reported injury or illness reported
from these products. FSIS urges customers not to consume these products, and if concerned about any illness to contact a health-
care provider. Perdue adds that customers seeking refund may contact the company at 866-8663703.
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Chick-fil-A names Susannah Frost its new president
BY BEN ANDERSON
The Times
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Chickfil-A’s newest president has deep roots in Gainesville, Ga. On Thursday, Aug. 15 Susannah Frost was named the company’s sixth president.
Frost graduated from Gainesville High School in 1991 and served as president of the Student Council that year. Her father Randall Frost is a longtime Gainesville attorney.
“We’re extremely proud of Susannah and her accomplishments,” her father told The Times on Friday. “I never envisioned that she would be the president of Chick-fil-A.”
Susannah Frost joined Chickfil-A in 2007 and most recently led the company’s restaurant development and field operations, overseeing the company’s more than 3,000 restaurants nationwide.
As president of Chick-fil-A, she “will focus on providing strategic clarity and alignment
in the core business so that Chick-fil-A can sustain healthy growth and maintain market leadership,” the company said in a news release.
Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy praised her leadership abilities, saying, “Susannah has demonstrated tremendous leadership throughout the business
and has the range of expertise that will help the company continue growing with care and confidence.”
“Having served as the CEO for three years, the timing is right to expand our leadership capabilities to include a president who will work closely with me and our executive committee to steward our domestic and global expansion,” Cathy said.
Two members of the Gainesville City school board were part of Frost’s 1991 graduating class.
“She always had that drive in her,” said Chairman Andy Stewart, who has known Frost since preschool. Stewart’s late father, Doug, was law partners with Frost’s father.
School board member Kris Nordholz said Susannah Frost was popular in high school and a good swimmer.
“We had a great high school class, a lot of great people that we grew up with, and Susannah was certainly at the top of that list,” he said. “She was always very bright, and you knew she
was going to do well.”
Before joining Chick-fil-A, Susannah Frost was a real estate attorney in Atlanta, Ga.
She holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Emory University. She also completed executive education programs at Columbia University and Harvard University.
“The future continues to offer so much potential and promise as we look to grow our opportunities to provide care and great food as well as live out our Corporate Purpose,” Susannah Frost said. “We have the opportunity to scale care with excellence across 3,000-plus restaurants and international markets. I look forward to working alongside Andrew, our leaders, Operators and Staff to provide this to Customers in the communities we serve.”
Chick-fil-A also named Cliff Robinson as its new chief operating officer. He was previously the chief people officer.
Frost
UD graduate student applies molecular biology expertise to combat Marek’s
BY NYA WYNN University of Delaware
NEWARK, Del. — When Joe Patria first came to the University of Delaware for his Ph.D. in molecular biology, he never thought he would end up doing research involving chickens. But, when he came across Mark Parcells, professor of molecular virology, and his lab, Patria ended up doing just that.
His main interests were molecular and cell biology — how changes within them affect the overall physiology of an entire system.
“Those contributions of everything that goes on down on a molecular level,” said Patria, who was named a Hiram Lasher Fellow. “When I met Prof. Parcells and did a rotation in his lab, I saw how it all came together by studying viruses and pathogens and how they kind of affect those pathways to cause systemic disease.”
As a molecular biology student doing research with UD’s College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Patria researched the mechanisms behind Marek’s disease virus. For his work in the field, Patria won top research poster at a graduate symposium at the Wistar Institute this past February.
University of Delaware graduate student Joe Patria uses microscopy to observe chicken macrophage cells.
“Over the course of several decades, Marek’s disease virus has shown to break through the protection afforded by those vaccines,” Patria said. “So that is the focus of my work, and studying how the virus actually overcomes the protection from these vaccines.”
Marek’s disease virus primarily causes cancer in immune cells, which usually results in fatality in chickens. It is highly contagious and transmissive, so it poses a large threat to the poultry industry.
“With Marek’s, you put it into chickens, and if they’re not vaccinated, like 95 percent of them will die of cancer within four to six weeks, so it’s an incredibly penetrant virus,” Parcells said. “Every chicken that is exposed to Marek’s in the field, carries that virus for their entire life, just like if you got chickenpox as a kid, you have that virus for your whole life.”
To combat this extremely infectious virus, scientists developed an effective vaccine to protect chickens against it; however, the virus has evolved.
As the viruses evolve to evade vaccines, they also evolve with their hosts and learn to target areas that would be most detrimental to the host, such as DNA repair and damage response.
“By studying how viruses evolve, to evade the host immune responses and overcome protection from vaccines, it gives us a better understanding of how we can develop improved vaccines to target those pathways that the viruses have evolved to be dependent on,” Patria said.
Not only can Patria’s work impact the poultry industry, there is also an application to human health. Patria explained that Marek’s disease virus causes cancer of the lymphocytes, which can be compared to Hodgkins and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects humans.
“There are a lot of parallels between chickens and humans, which you might not expect. On
the basis of immunology, we are very similar,” Patria explained. “There’s some parallels there.”
According to Parcells, more than 95 percent of all humans are positive for Epstein Barr virus, another herpes virus like Marek’s disease virus.
“When that goes latent, which it does, a small percentage of people within 20 years develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of cancer associated with that virus,” Parcells said. “It’s not a high frequency, and you can’t really study it in humans.”
This is where our similarities with chickens really come into play.
“Because Marek’s disease virus’ natural host is a chicken, we’re able to study it in its natural reservoir host, which is a unique thing that you can’t really do with other viruses,” Patria said. “Especially for viruses that infect humans.”
“It’s a way in which you can kind of study these different interac-
tions with the virus in the context of something where it normally causes cancer,” Parcells added. “That may inform how things are working with the development in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
Patria continues to work alongside Parcells, other graduate students, and undergraduate students in the Parcells Lab to make more discoveries in the field of molecular biology and with Marek’s disease virus specifically.
In addition to his own development as a researcher, Patria values his opportunities to work with other graduate students and mentor UD undergraduates.
“I hold the worth of science advocacy in high regard,” Patria said. “It was great to see that their contribution to this work has made an impact.”
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Elevate biosecurity implementation for maximum pathogen control
By Dr. Scott Gustin
GREENFIELD, Ind. — Biose-
curity, the practice of protecting farm animals from diseases, has become an increasingly important issue as poultry production continues to grow, and with it, the prevalence of disease. Most recently, the threat of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has raised the stakes on how important biosecurity is to farms and integrators.
As of July 2024, more than 97 million cases of HPAI had been detected in U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry and backyard flocks since January 2022.
Disease outbreaks can impact trade, cause financial losses and affect the price of poultry products, placing a significant burden on the entire poultry industry. To protect against the strongest impacts of poultry disease, producers should implement biosecurity measures on the farm to help proactively control pathogens and lead to a successful food safety program.
To implement biosecurity measures, a foundational understanding of disease control is essential.
• How does disease become introduced and spread?
Disease can be introduced or spread in several ways. Contaminated equipment or fomites, which include anything brought onto a farm, can serve as carriers. Vectors like rodents, wild birds and insects also play a significant role in disease transmission. Transportation equipment like trucks, tractors and other farm machinery can further facilitate the spread.
Avian influenza spreads both directly through bird-to-bird contact and indirectly when birds come in contact with contaminated equipment. Migratory waterfowl, such as wild ducks and geese, can also be potential sources for spreading disease. In the case of H5N1, the presence of waterfowl species in the immediate vicinity of a farm is a particular concern.
Biosecurity is one of the best forms of protection against disease and ensuring birds remain healthy.
Key components of biosecurity
In my experience working with both primary breeders and commercial producers, the most significant biosecurity compliance issue often stems from creating programs that are overly complex and difficult to effectively implement. There are a few critical factors that must be understood by all farm employees to ensure execution is seamless:
1. Implement footwear control
Farms must have dedicated footwear sanitized at the house’s entry. Farm footwear is not used for any other activities. Ideally, this footwear is dedicated to each house and can easily be identified by supervisors.
2. Eliminate outside bird contact
All employees need to be aware that any other bird species may present a disease risk. Other poultry farms can present a potential risk of disease. If farm workers come into contact with outside birds, they should be encouraged to report these incidents so that appropriate precautions and retraining can be conducted.
3. Monitor for waterfowl
The nearby presence of water-
fowl, such as ducks and geese, near a farm must be recognized and reported as an emergency. Experts can then be called in to determine whether deterrents or other biosecurity adjustments need to be made. Recognizing and reporting this threat to technical personnel is critical, especially given the current risk of H5N1 HPAI.
4. Equipment and structural precautions
Sharing outside equipment should be avoided, especially when birds are present, to minimize the risk of disease transmission. Maintaining the structural integrity of poultry houses is crucial to prevent the entry of rodents and vermin, which requires continuous evaluation and improvement.
5. Control pest populations
Implementing an Integrated Pest Management Program is essential for controlling insect populations and preventing their establishment on farms. A proactive approach with proper rotation of product classes will help ensure pest populations are controlled.
6. Monitor water sources
The use of open water sources for poultry flocks is discouraged due to the potential for contamination. If no suitable alternatives exist, the sanitation of incoming water must be continuously monitored and evaluated.
Before making any changes to your biosecurity program, it is important to consult with your live production and veterinary advisors to ensure the best practices are followed, and the health of the flock is maintained.
Recognizing signs of illness
It is important for producers to be aware of signs of diseases in their flocks. Early detection can make a big impact on limiting the extent of a disease incursion. Common signs associated with disease in poultry are lack of activity, coughing, snicking and wheezing, sudden or unexplained mortality, nasal discharge, swol-
len eyes/heads, discolored comb and wattles, and reduced water and feed consumption.
Producers should keep detailed and accurate records of bird movements, health statuses, visitor logs and biosecurity breaches. This can be helpful for tracing and managing outbreaks.
The future of biosecurity
Although ventilation controllers have significantly improved in measuring indicators of bird health, such as water and feed consumption, the next generation of biosecurity monitoring will likely involve biosensors and other technologies that capture bird activities and vocalizations. These advancements will allow producers to comprehensively monitor bird behavior and detect early signs of disease, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the risk of severe outbreaks.
Additionally, to prevent the introduction of diseases like avian influenza, several platforms are being used to identify at-risk periods of bird migration. These tools leverage data on bird migration patterns and other environmental factors to predict when and where waterfowl are likely to come into contact with poultry premises. By anticipating these high-risk periods, producers can implement targeted biosecurity measures to protect the health of their flocks.
Unfortunately, pathogens will often continue to evolve and evade control measures, posing ongoing challenges for poultry producers. However, biosecurity remains an economical and effective method for preventing the introduction and further dissemination of disease-causing pathogens.
As we continue to advance our understanding and application of biosecurity, the industry will be better equipped to face challenges and safeguard the health of animals and consumers.
Dr. Scott Gustin is a technical advisor for Elanco Animal Health.
