reputation of quality products and custom innovative solutions to meet the ever changing industry.
When
When
When innovation, quality, and service are hard to find, contact the original Alternative, backed by an cages that last far longer than traditional poultry cages, Alternative Design has developed caging Customers have come to appreciate the ease of
24 News
Business Features
12 | NPFDA announces Wendy Kavanagh as president, CEO
Calendar
7 | Georgia confirms first commercial HPAI flocks 2025 FEBRUARY
FEB 4 — AFIA/KSU-500, Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing. Online course runs through Mar. 11, 2025. Contact: American Feed Industry Association, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 810, Arlington, Va. 22201; Ph: 703-524-0810; www.afia.org.
FEB 5-6 — THE NATIONAL POULTRY SHOW, The Agriplex at Western Fair District, London, Ontario, Canada. Contact:
8 | Lincoln Park Zoo reports seal, flamingo deaths from HPAI 17 | IPPE live coverage 26 | USPOULTRY Foundation sponsors National FFA students to IPPE 2025
FEB 10-11 — SOYBEAN SUMMIT 2025, The I Hotel, Champaign, Ill. Contact: Illinois Soybean Association, 1108 Trinity Lane, Blomington, Ill. 61704; Ph: 309-663-7692; www.ilsoy.org.
FEB 11-13 — WORLD AG EXPO, Tulare, Calif. Contact: International Agri-Center; Ph: 800-999-9186; Email: info@ farmshow.org; www.worldagexpo.com.
EVENTS FROM IPPE 2025
Viewpoints
“Together, we’re taking the egg industry to new heights — one egg, one consumer, and one breakthrough at a time.”
32 | La. patient is first severe bird flu case; Calif. declares emergency
Connect with us
Visit us at: POULTRYTIMES.COM 24/7 on the World Wide Web or scan the code to the right /poultrytimes @PoultryTimes /poultrytimesga
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
POULTRY TIMES PO Box 1338 Gainesville, GA 30503 PH | 770-718-3443 FAX | 770-532-4894
Be sure to pay a visit to these esteemed sponsors of the Poultry Times, recognizing them as vital contributors to the industry who greatly appreciate your support.
Ag Lighting | 33 615-378-0108; www.poultrylights.com
Poultry Times (USPS 217480) ISSN 0885-3371 is published biweekly, 345 Green Street, N.W., Gainesville, GA 30501. Telephone 770-536-2476; Fax 770532-4894. Postage paid at Gainesville, Georgia 30501. Poultry Times assumes responsibility for error in first run of an in-house designed ad only. Advertisers have ten (10) days from publication date to dispute such an advertisement. After ten (10) days, ad will be deemed correct and advertiser will be
charged accordingly. Proofs approved by advertiser will always be regarded as correct.
Subscriptions: Surface mail in U.S., $25.00 for one year, $45 for two years and $65 for three years. Business or occupation information must accompany each subscription order.
Change of Address: Postmaster, report change of address to Poultry Times, P.O. Box 1338, Gainesville, GA 30503. Companion Poultry Publications: A Guide to Poultry As-
sociations; Poultry Resource Guide.
The opinions expressed in this publication by authors other than Poultry Times staff are those of the respective author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Poultry Times. Advertisement content is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Poultry Times assumes no liability for any statements, claims or assertions appearing in any advertisement.
Georgia confirms first commercial HPAI flocks
State reassures the public on product safety, IPPE not affected
DAVID B. STRICKLAND
Poultry
Times Editor
dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com
ATLANTA — The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which began in 2022, continues to affect the nation’s poultry industry. On Friday, Jan. 17, Georgia confirmed its first positive HPAI case on a commercial poultry operation. And on Wednesday, Jan. 22, a second commercial flock near the first one was confirmed.
“This is a serious threat to Georgia’s number one industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state’s poultry industry,” Tyler Harper, Georgia agriculture commissioner, said. “We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry activities in Georgia can resume as quickly as possible.”
The first Georgia commercial operation that tested positive is a commercial broiler breeder site in Elbert County. A total of 45,500 birds were affected. On Jan. 15, the producer noticed signs of bird flu in the flock and then transported samples to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network for testing. The GPLN confirmed the samples positive for HPAI and this was also confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Jan. 17.
The second Georgia commercial flock was also in Elbert County. It was confirmed by the GPLN on Jan. 17 and by NVSL on Jan. 21. The second Georgia commercial site is referred to as Elbert 02 and is located approximately 210 yards away from the first positive Georgia commercial flock, referred to as Elbert 01. The second location affected 130,000 broilers.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management and State Agricultural Re-
a commercial poultry flock in Elbert County will not impact Georgians ability to purchase poultry products like meat or eggs at the local grocery store or restaurant nor will it impact retailers’ ability to offer these products for sale. Georgia and USDA have rigorous meat inspection standards to ensure the safety of our food supply, and no infected birds have entered the food supply chain.”
USDA adds that avian influenza does not pose any significant threat to food supply safety, and that poultry and egg products continue to be safe to eat when prepared properly.
IPPE
Concern for this year’s International Production & Processing Expo immediately came to the forefront of attention after this HPAI announcement in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Agriculture added that until further notice all in-state poultry exhibitions, meets, sales and swaps have been suspended.
This, however, will not affect this year’s IPPE.
sponse Teams were sent to both facilities where they conducted disinfection, cleaning, depopulation and disposal procedures. Protocol is also being followed where a 6.2-mile radius quarantine surveillance and testing zone will be watched for at least two weeks for both locations.
“The close proximity of the affected premises allowed our team to respond to both cases concurrently, and while those operations continue, our law enforcement officers are maintaining a secure perimeter to prevent further spread,” Harper said. “I want to thank our team at Georgia Department of Agriculture and our partners, who have been working 12-plus hour days during a holiday weekend in the bitter cold to protect our states number one industry and the farm families who fuel its success.”
Harper issued a further statement reassuring the safety of retail poultry products.
“Every Georgia can and should have 100 percent confidence in the safety and security of poultry products offered to sale in the state of Georgia,” Harper said. “The recent detection on HPAI in
“We are pleased that the 2025 IPPE will continue as planned and will do our part to be good partners in our efforts to curb the virus, adhering to our biosecurity preparedness plans,” the IPPE organizing associations – the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and Meat Institute said in a statement.
In a letter to USPOULTRY, Harper noted that the IPPE can proceed as scheduled.
“After reviewing the programming scheduled for IPPE and confirming that no live birds will be present at the Expo, we have determined that none of the programming at IPPE could be considered a ‘suspended’ activity,” Harper said in his letter. “As such, we look forward to having IPPE proceed as scheduled, and I look forward to joining you and the many others at the Expo which will showcase the future of the poultry industry.”
“As the nation’s top poultry producing state, we are incredibly proud to host IPPE in the great state of Georgia, and we look forward to welcoming thousands of attendees to the Georgia World
(Continued on page 9)
Lincoln Park Zoo reports seal, flamingo deaths from HPAI
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
CHICAGO — After conducting tests, the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Ill., has confirmed and reports the death of a Chilean flamingo and a harbor seal from highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Zoo officials have not confirmed a source and cause but note that it is “near certain” that it emanated from contact with wild waterfowl that were HPAI infected. The zoo adds that visitors are not at risk from contacting the virus from its other animals, but that safety remains one of its top priorities.
“Because highly pathogenic avian influenza is spread by free-ranging birds, it is no riskier to visit Lincoln Park Zoo than to enjoy a walk outdoors,” Dr. Megan Ross, Lincoln Park Zoo’s president/CEO and ornithologist, said. “The zoo remains a safe place to connect with the animals in our care.”
The Chilean flamingo was named “Teal” and was a new hatch from this past fall. The harbor seal, “Slater” was seven years old and was a beloved member of the zoo, “known for his rambunctious and curious nature. He was a quick learner and often could be seen participating in training sessions with keepers. Both will be deeply missed,” Lincoln Park Zoo said.
Founded in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo is a member-supported, privately managed, not-for-profit zoo that is free and open to the public.
“This is sad news for wildlife and for the zoo team. Not only are we facing the first known cases of HPAI in animals in our care, but we’ve lost two amazing animals,” Dr. Kathryn Gamble, the zoo’s director of veterinary services, said. “While highly pathogenic avian influenza is a naturally occurring virus in free-ranging waterfowl, more mammal species have been reported to be susceptible to HPAI since 2022.’
Zoo animals have not been immune from the virus during this recent outbreak. This past December, at least six animals died at the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium near Phoenix, Ariz., after exposure to bird flu, this number included a mountain lion and some bird species.
Also, this past December, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington state reported the deaths of 20 big cat species, including a Bengal tiger, four mountain lions, four cougars, four bobcats, five African servals, and others, after bird flu contraction.
The Lincoln Park Zoo adds that prior to the loss of these animals at its location, it was monitoring HPAI reports and had enacted its HPAI Response Plan for animals and staff.
The zoo noted that these measures include, “additional personal protective equipment, removing opportunities for cross contamination between species, and focused monitoring for changes in individual animal health or behavior.”
The zoo’s bird house is closed until further notice, and some of its bird species will be kept from the public temporarily.
“Sharing this news of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the area is important for our community at large,” Dr. Seth Magle, Urban Wildlife Institute director, said. “To protect yourself, do not handle wildlife. Additionally, keep your pets safe by keeping cats indoors and dogs on a leash away from wildlife.”
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Ill., reports that one of its flamingos and harbor seals have recently died because of contracting avian influenza, presumably from contact with wild waterfowl.
Lincoln Park Zoo photos
USDA announces Packers and Stockyards Act reforms
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com
WASHINGTON — The USDA has announced its third installment of regulatory reforms under the Packers and Stockyards Act, which it says is intended to “level the playing field” for chicken and turkey farmers that sell their animals to processing companies under contract.
Among the updates, USDA notes that this regulation update gives farmers more insight into payment rates, more stability in what is called the “tournament system,” as well as provide for more key information on expectations on capital improvements that the farmer needs to make to maintain or renew contracts.
“During my time as Secretary of Agriculture, time and again USDA has been confronted with the stories of farmers who lost their life’s savings or went bankrupt because of an unfair system they entered into when they agreed to raise animals for a major meat conglomerate,”
Tom Vilsack, U.S. agriculture secretary, said. “It is USDA’s job to advocate for farmers, and these regulatory improvements give us the strongest tools we’ve ever had to meet our obligations under the Packers & Stockyards Act.”
“This complements other ways we’ve worked to enhance competition across the agriculture sector, from investing in independent processing capacity, to shoring up domestic fertilizer production, to promoting transparency around seed technology and markets,” Vilsack added. “As the bedrock of so much that our society depends on, and the pillar of rural economies, farmers deserve honesty, certainty and options when it comes to their hard work.”
Poultry industry representative groups have
(Continued from page 7)
Congress Center,” Harper added. For clarification on the poultry events suspension issued by the GDA, suspended activities will include live bird sales at such places as livestock markets, auction markets and flea markets; as well as gatherings like exhibitions and meet ups that would include live birds. Permitted activities will include poultry processing operations; retail sales at grocery stores, markets and restaurants; private sales between two individuals on private property; and importation of live birds or hatch-
noted that these announcements being made on Jan. 14, are just literally days before the Trump administration is set to take office in Washington.
“The Biden administration, with just six days remaining, is racing to impose the last pieces of its anti-business regulatory agenda,” Harrison Kircher, National Chicken Council president, said in a statement.
“This rule — which Congress never asked for — will lead to rigid, one-size-fits-all requirements on chicken growing contracts that would stifle innovation, lead to higher costs for consumers, decrease competition, and cost jobs by driving some of the best farmers out of the chicken business,” Kircher added. “The vast majority of chicken farmers in rural America are happy and prosper raising chickens in partnership with companies, and they don’t want the government meddling on their farms and telling them how they should run their businesses.”
ing eggs which meet routine entry requirement compliance.
Some HPAI stats
The USDA Animan and Plant Health Inspection notes that a primary culprit of the spread of HPAI continues to be wild birds and waterfowl. The infections traditionally are higher in the spring and fall seasons following bird migrations and routes.
As of Jan. 22, APHIS reports that for the past 30 days there have been 89 confirmed flocks in the U.S. Of this number, 49 have been commercial flocks and 40
As with the change in administrations, the new administration may issue a memorandum that would delay implementation of recently finalized rules. USDA noted that these new rules would be effective on July 1, 2026.
The National Chicken Council listed the following as concerns to the finalized “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” rule:
• “The proposed rule exceeds the Congress’s grant of authority in the PSA by prohibiting conduct without requiring a showing of injury to competition or even unfair or deceptive practices;
• The proposed rule mischaracterizes dynamics and efficiencies in the current poultry growing industry, rendering it arbitrary and capricious;
• As written, the proposed rule is too vague to be considered constitutionally valid;
• The current proposed rule is so prescriptive as to unduly impinge on grower and integrator freedom to contract, and
• AMS (USDA Agricultural Marketing Service) has greatly underestimated costs associated with the rule and would require an extended implementation period of at least two years.”
The American Farm Bureau Federation touts these new rules as providing more transparency for farmers.
“AFBF has long advocated for more stability in the sector and for increased transparency in how farmers are paid,” Zippy Duvall, AFBF president, said in a statement. “This rule takes a step in the right direction, including requiring companies to provide insight into payment rates and details on capital improvements as part of a contract renewal.”
“The final rule will benefit contract poultry growers nationwide,” Duvall added. “We stand ready to work with the new administration and Congress to emphasize the importance of leveling the playing field for farmers, and will oppose any future legislative or regulatory efforts to weaken or destabilize protections for America’s contract poultry growers.”
have been backyard flocks, with 12.97 million birds affected.
On Friday, Jan. 17, other than the first Georgia commercial flock announcement, more than three other commercial sites in the nation confirmed HPAI results for that day. In Indiana in Jay County a commercial turkey meat bird tested positive. In Ohio in Darke County a commercial table egg pullet location, affecting 250,000 birds, and a commercial table egg layer site, affecting 103,200 birds, also tested positive.
Earlier in January, Georgia also reported a small, backyard flock
in Clayton County, comprised of 13 chickens and ducks, had tested HPAI positive.
For further context on the nation’s poultry industry numbers, APHIS adds that for 2023, the U.S. processed approximately 9.4 billion broiler chickens and 218 million turkeys. There were also 378.5 million egg-laying chickens in the U.S.
Officials continue to stress the importance of biosecurity steps to stop the spread and prevent infection of HPAI. For more information on farm biosecurity, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.
VIEWPOINT
BY EMILY METZ American Egg Board
Emily Metz is president and CEO of the American Egg Board headquartered in Chicago, Ill. For more information, visit www.aeb.org.
POULTRY TIMES
Shaping the egg era
Paving a path for the thriving future for eggs
CHICAGO — A new year means new opportunities, and it’s a good opportunity to both take stock and look ahead. 2024 was a challenging year for America’s egg industry, but easy isn’t a word that relates to farmers in any aspect. Farmers are no strangers to adversity, and they’ve repeatedly risen to the challenge.
At the American Egg Board, we’ve been proud to support America’s egg farmers, and as we move into 2025, we’re excited about the future we’re continuing to build together. Despite ongoing adverse circumstances, our focus at AEB is to sustain this momentum.
Eggs are officially “healthy” — a landmark recognition from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late 2024 that affirmed what we’ve known for decades. This announcement capped a year of remarkable achievements, including 20 consecutive months of year-overyear growth in egg sales. As consumer demand continues to rise, it’s clear we’re in the midst of an “egg era,” with eggs firmly established as a cornerstone of a nutritious diet.
The past year’s success is not just a shortterm win. We will help maintain that momentum through a long-term vision that leverages innovation, world-class consumer engagement, and communications programming. We will continue to nurture and expand America’s love of eggs and, by continuing that momentum, support our farmers.
• Rising demand, strategic vision: meeting consumers where they are for longterm growth
The extraordinary momentum we’re seeing in egg consumption is no accident. Eggs are enjoying extra momentum and are on a roll. With an unprecedented 20 consecutive months of volume sales growth, eggs are experiencing what can only be described as a golden era.
Eggs are more than just a meal component — they’re an increasingly important indispensable part of daily life, celebrated for their versatility and unmatched nutritional value. From quick summer meals to comforting fall recipes, eggs have secured their place in households across America. They’re evolving from just a breakfast staple to a fundamental
ingredient for busy families, athletes, and anyone seeking a convenient and nutritious food choice.
While this success is impressive, our work is just beginning. High popularity isn’t a reason to sit back — it’s a call to action. AEB’s role is to ensure that we build on this demand and extend our reach, always looking for new ways to demonstrate how eggs meet evolving consumer needs. Our job is not just to promote eggs but to position them as an indispensable part of consumer’s daily lives, from nutrition to convenience to sustainability. This is where AEB steps in to identify new opportunities to connect eggs as the ultimate choice for modern consumers.
AEB constantly looks for new avenues to grow America’s love of eggs and egg products. America’s farmers are already producing the world’s perfect protein, and our job is to nurture and grow America’s love affair with eggs.
• Eggs officially deemed ‘healthy’ by FDA: a monumental win for America’s egg farmers
When the FDA announced its updated ruling on foods deemed “healthy,” including eggs, it was a pivotal moment for the egg industry and the recognition of eggs as nutrient-rich, versatile foods. This means egg farmers will be able to unequivocally state “eggs are healthy” on pack and in their marketing and promotional materials, and it also resets the egg’s health and nutrition narrative.
Members of the AEB team supported the ruling that eggs are healthy by providing credible, scientific information during the FDA’s public comment period on the proposed rule. This milestone closes the chapter on years of
POULTRY TIMES
debate about eggs’ nutritional value and positions them as a powerhouse food that supports heart, brain, and muscle health. With this new designation, egg producers are poised to reset the narrative, driving consumer awareness and confidence while reinforcing eggs’ role in healthy lifestyles.
• ‘Meant to Be Broken’: breaking barriers, setting new standards
The heart of AEB’s strategy is the “Meant to be Broken” campaign. This powerful message reflects our commitment to innovation, breaking through boundaries, and setting new standards across the egg industry. This campaign is not just a tagline but a call for transformation, one that is deeply embedded in AEB’s broader vision for a stronger and more resilient future.
Through extensive research, we identified a strategic key growth segment that we believe is key to long-term prosperity for America’s egg farmers, focusing on younger Millennial and Gen Z consumers—two key groups whose eggbuying habits have lagged previous generations with high potential to grow. These groups are often drawn to foods that align with their values, such as convenience, sustainability, and personal nutrition.
“Meant to be Broken” was created to address these shifts by reinvigorating excitement around eggs and showcasing their versatility in new, meaningful ways. In its first six months, this campaign has already proven incredibly effective and successful. Meant to Be Broken is shattering expectations with innovative strategies and record-breaking results, including launching the first-ever gaming activation for a commodity board.
The campaign targets a diverse range of young consumers, from college students to young professionals and parents. The demand for food in this demographic is no longer confined to traditional mealtimes. With busy schedules that don’t follow a 9-to-5 routine, these consumers seek functional, enjoyable, and personal foods. “Meant to be Broken” highlights how eggs fit perfectly into their modern lifestyles — whether used in a quick breakfast, a high-protein workout snack, or even as part of a family meal.
We are pushing the boundaries of how eggs are perceived. This campaign isn’t just about promoting eggs as a nutritious food; it’s about presenting them as a modern, essential part of today’s active, health-conscious lifestyles. Eggs are no longer just for breakfast — they’re for every meal, any time of the day.
We’re on a mission to help consumers rediscover the kitchen superhero that is the egg. In 2025, we’re taking Meant to be Broken to the next level — we’re going even bigger, bolder, and more unexpected. Meant to be Broken 2.0 will be all about showing up in unexpected places and tapping into emerging platforms to keep eggs at the top of one’s mind. We’ll share bold recipes and clever hacks that resonate with our consumers, inspiring them to see eggs
as the ultimate blank canvas for endless culinary possibilities.
• Driving innovation and building partnerships
Innovation is vital to maintaining momentum, and AEB is essential in supporting our channel customers across food service, retail, and food manufacturing. Through partnerships, insights, and marketing support, AEB helps ensure that eggs remain a top choice for consumers and a critical part of our partners’ business strategies.
The Eggcelerator Lab® is central to AEB’s innovation efforts, offering a collaborative space where groundbreaking egg-based products and technologies are developed. Through a vast network of expertise and resources, the Eggcelerator Lab delivers creative solutions that expand the possibilities for eggs, putting more eggs in front of more consumers in exciting new ways. This focus on innovation doesn’t just create new products — it opens up new opportunities for businesses to meet consumer demand with fresh, relevant offerings.
The Eggcelerator Lab patented a kitchen device, Project Gizmo, designed for food service operators with limited space to make perfect fried or sunny-side-up eggs in a microwave. This innovation helps quick-service restaurants and convenience stores expand egg offerings across meals, potentially driving 150–200 million additional eggs used annually. Partner licensing agreements will further support America’s egg farmers by funding continued innovation and industry growth.
rounding their work and their industry. For too long, the conversation around eggs has been shaped by outside voices that don’t reflect the industry’s commitment to sustainability, quality, and consumer health.
We’re changing that by creating the egg industry’s first-ever strategic, industry-level narrative — a clear, unified message about who we are, what we do, why we do it, and how we do it.
A significant component of this effort is a new, comprehensive website designed to address every question consumers or the media might have about eggs and egg production. This site is built on extensive research and is intended to be transparent, educational, and trust-building. By dispelling misinformation and presenting eggs in their true light, we aim to reinforce consumer confidence and encourage ongoing egg consumption. The first step was getting the story in place; now, we are activating against it.
“Together, we’re taking the egg industry to new heights — one egg, one consumer, and one breakthrough at a time.”
This year, we are launching a consumer education campaign, “You Have Options,” that will complement this effort by educating consumers about the diversity of eggs available to meet various needs. The campaign will also provide a transparent approach to teaching about modern egg production practices, emphasizing the sustainability and quality that egg farmers bring to the table. This initiative is about more than just selling eggs — it’s about celebrating the essential contributions of farmers and demonstrating their dedication to producing healthy, sustainable food for a growing population.
AEB’s Food Chain Outreach program made significant progress in 2024, fostering collaborations across the food chain to strengthen the egg industry’s position. Key initiatives included at-shelf research, support for cage-free transitions, educational modules for industry newcomers, egg functionality training, nutrition programs with dietitians, and digital campaigns to engage younger consumers and boost consumption.
Looking ahead to 2025, AEB will build on this momentum by deepening partnerships and focusing on shopper marketing and consumer education, ensuring eggs remain top of mind and driving sustained market demand.
• Taking back our story
At AEB, we do more than just marketing to ensure consumers buy eggs. We are empowering egg farmers to take back the narrative sur-
• Building on the incredible nutrition story of eggs for long-term success
AEB’s commitment to credible science and cutting-edge research is a critical part of our strategy for securing long-term success. By investing in high-quality research, we are unlocking new possibilities and positioning eggs as an essential part of the modern diet. Eggs offer unmatched nutritional benefits, and by continuing to invest in science, we ensure that they remain indispensable for meeting today’s health and wellness needs.
Through the Egg Nutrition Center, we’ve led groundbreaking research on eggs’ nutritional benefits, including the importance of choline for brain health and fetal development. As one of the most concentrated natural food sources of choline, eggs are now recognized
(Continued on page 23)
NPFDA announces Wendy Kavanagh as president, CEO BUSINESS
SAINT MARYS, Ga. — The National Protein and Food Distributors Association has named Wendy Kavanagh as its new president and CEO.
Kavanagh grew up in the agricultural industry, where she was an active 4-H member. She graduated from the University of Georgia with her bachelor’s degree in English.
Kavanagh comes to NPFDA with more than 30 years of experience as a nonprofit manager. She previously owned and operated Tessera Association Management, an association management company. Kavanagh has worked for the International Association for Financial Planning, Phi Mu Fraternity and the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers. Most recently, Kavanagh served as the president of the Georgia Society of Association Executives. She earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in
Light Trap Combination System
“It was a team approach to find and hire Wendy,” Chan Windham, vice president of sales at House of Raeford Farms and vice chair for NPFDA, said. “We had buy-in from key members, and everyone agreed she was the top choice for this position.”
Kavanagh says she is looking forward to partnering with a very
“I’m energized to work collaboratively with the board, staff, and members to continue building on NPFDA’s foundation,” Kavanagh said. “Our goal is to maximize our members’ success and to empower our members to advance their business while having a strong
“I’m energized to work collaboratively with the board, staff, and members to continue building on NPFDA’s foundation.”
tion was successfully re-instated and featured prominent speakers from within and outside the protein industry. Increased revenue allowed NPFDA to provide members additional services and benefits, including an expanded NPFDA Spring Exchange and a networking focused NPFDA Fall Meeting. In addition, the unprecedented success of fund-raising campaigns allowed the NPFDA Scholarship Foundation to provide larger and more numerous scholarships to NPFDA family students.
Cece, a certified meeting professional and integral member of Georgia’s association community, has been NPFDA’s CEO since 2018.
BUSINESS
Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit
offers key insights during IPPE 2025
ing broilers, turkeys, and eggs, the group noted.
ATLANTA — The 2025 Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit was held at the International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga. Organized by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and the Meat Institute, the summit will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 28, and was complimentary for all registered IPPE attendees.
The summit started with a keynote panel discussing sustainability and collaboration in retail and restaurants. It featured speakers from the meat, poultry, egg, animal food and restaurant industries. The panel covered topics like sustainability in animal and feed production, life cycle assessments, animal welfare, water conservation, biodiversity and engagement with producers. After the panel, additional speakers will provide updates on industry sustainability efforts, followed by a Q&A session.
Topic and speakers included:
• Panel Discussion - Restaurant Insights into Sustainability and Collaboration; PJ Newcomb, sustainability director, Golden State Foods; Maura Aman, senior sustainability analyst, Darden Restaurants; Lankford Ruffin, director of environmental affairs and sustainability, Butterball.
• Industry Sustainability Initiatives Updates; Ryan Bennett, executive director, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs / International Poultry Welfare Alliance; Lara Moody P.E., executive director, Institute for Feed Education & Research and American Feed Industry Association; Eric Mittenthal, chief strategy officer, Meat Institute and The Protein PACT.
The program also included a ceremony announcing the winners of USPOULTRY’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Awards for 2025.
US-RSPE to release first sustainability report at IPPE
ATLANTA — The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs (US-RSPE) announces the release of its first-ever Sustainability Report during the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga. This milestone report represents a groundbreaking effort to provide anonymous, aggregated sustainability data across the U.S. poultry and egg supply chain, encompass-
The Sustainability Report is based on data gathered through the USRSPE Sustainability Framework, a multi-stakeholder tool developed to assess, track, and improve sustainability practices across the poultry sector. For the first time, metrics such as environmental stewardship, community impact, animal welfare, and workforce well-being have been comprehensively evaluated and reported in an anonymous, standardized format, ensuring transparency and providing a comprehensive view of the poultry industry’s sustainability performance.
“This report marks a significant step forward for sustainability in the poultry industry,” Ryan Bennett, US-RSPE executive director, said. “It reflects the collaborative efforts of farmers, processors, integrators, environmental groups, and other key stakeholders to create meaningful change and to highlight the industry’s continuous improvement in producing sustainable protein.”
Attendees at IPPE 2025 are invited to a special Tech Talk on Wednesday, Jan 29, at 10:30 a.m. in Theater B at the Georgia World Congress Center for a presentation where the report will be unveiled and data highlights presented. The session will explore key insights, including sustainability benchmarks, opportunities for innovation, and pathways for continuous improvement. This interactive discussion underscores the Framework’s scalability and adaptability, ensuring accessibility for organizations at any stage of their sustainability journey.
The US-RSPE Sustainability Framework has been a multistakeholder collaboration across the supply chain by members of the US-RSPE. Having aligned diverse industry participants under shared goals while pro-
BUSINESS
viding actionable data to drive improvements, it addresses crucial topics such as greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, animal well-being, and workforce diversity, offering a clear roadmap for advancing sustainability across the value chain, the group added.
US-RSPE also notes that this initiative highlights the U.S. poultry and egg sectors’ leadership in sustainable protein production, affirming their commitment to environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable practices.
The US-RSPE is an independent, multi-stakeholder organization that includes members from all segments of the poultry industry, such as growers, integrators, processors, retailers, food service companies, civil society groups, NGOs, allied industries, and individuals. The organization’s mission is to promote and communicate continuous improvement in sustainability across the poultry value chain. For more information, visit www.us-rspe.org.
VAL-CO and ONCE announce a new exclusive partnership
NEW HOLLAND, Pa. — VAL-CO® and ONCE® (by Signify®) announce their new exclusive partnership which brings the Optient® gradient lighting system to the U.S. and Canadian poultry industries through select VAL-CO distribution partners.
Optient is a patent pending gradient lighting system, focused on optimizing animal health and productivity.
Drawing inspiration from nature and science, Optient uses gradient lighting to mimic the varied lighting environments found in the wild, promoting the natural behavior of chickens, keeping flocks calm and stress-free and resulting in improved animal welfare, ONCE says, adding that, by utilizing energy-efficient LED technology, Optient can also reduce energy usage by up to 70 percent, making it a greener choice for poultry farmers.
Optient empowers growers and integrators by helping to improve feed conversion up to 4 points, reduce energy use by up to 70 percent, and improve animal welfare by keeping flocks calm and stress-free, the company added.
VAL-CO, in addition to selling the Optient lighting system, also offers growers feeding, watering and ventilation systems to help their flocks’ performance. Since its inception, the FUZE ProLine pan feeding system by VAL-CO has regularly outperformed other poultry feeders in feed tri-
als. The numerous pan and grill combinations, including the newest option, the grill-less feeder, gives more choices than ever before to find the perfect fit for your farm, VAL-CO noted.
Wayne-Sanderson seeks relief from court against recent DOJ actions
OAKWOOD, Ga. — Wayne-Sanderson Farms has filed its own motion seeking clarity and relief from the court that its participation in the industry-standard Agri Stats subscription service is lawful and permitted. This was necessitated by unprecedented actions taken by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the company said.
On Jan. 18, the division filed a motion seeking to declare the company in violation of the Consent Decree and to force the company to abandon its longstanding use of the industry benchmarking service Agri Stats, Wayne-Sanderson said, adding that the Division is separately litigating against Agri Stats in a federal district court in Minnesota, seeking to permanently shut down Agri Stats’ business, and, according to the company’s filings, this latest action is a backdoor attempt by the division to use its Consent Decree with Wayne-Sanderson to accomplish that same goal.
The Consent Decree was entered into between the company and the Division in 2022 upon the merger of Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms, when the Division compelled the companies to enter into a settlement of a private class action lawsuit about employee wages – which was wholly unrelated to any issues surrounding the merger – in order to allow the merger to clear the DOJ’s review process, the company said. In addition to paying private class action plaintiffs $69.8 million, the Consent Decree required the newly combined company to endure a 10-year monitorship conducted by private attorneys called monitors working at the direction of the Division, but working solely at the cost of the company.
“The Division’s filing is premature and unwarranted, and a result of a poorly modeled and broken monitorship,” Jeremy Kilburn, chief legal and compliance officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, said. “In its own filing with the court, the Company demonstrates that it has not violated the Consent Decree. Instead, the filing explains the painstaking efforts the Company has undertaken to engage with the monitors and the Division over the last several months to identify and resolve potential issues relating to its long-standing and well-known subscription to Agri Stats.”
“To date, over the course of this nearly two year and almost $2 million monitorship, our monitors have billed for more time meeting and engaging with the Division than they have for meeting and engaging with us,” Kilburn said. “They refused to meet with our personnel who can explain the Agri Stats service to them and correct their misunderstandings. This is not how a monitorship is supposed to work.”
Wayne-Sanderson Farms added that it is hopeful that in the coming weeks the Division will meaningfully engage with the company to correct its misunderstandings about the Agri Stats statistics subscription service.
Perdue Farms associates deliver $104K donation to American Cancer Society
SALISBURY, Md. — Perdue Farms associates in Salisbury, Md., delivered a record $104,210 to the American Cancer Society through fundraising efforts aligned with Relay for Life and Men Wear Pink campaigns.
BUSINESS
Perdue associates have raised more than $915,000 for ACS since 1998.
The campaigns are part of the company’s Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors® outreach to improve quality of life and build strong communities where our associates live and work, and beyond.
“Delivering hope to our neighbors is fundamental to who we are at Perdue Farms,” Bill See, Perdue Farms senior manager of community relations, said.
“In the U.S., and across every community we conduct business, so many of our neighbors and associates and their families are affected by cancer. We’re proud of the compassion and generosity of our associates to raise awareness about a disease that impacts millions of cancer survivors and helps countless others avoid it.”
Perdue was named the American Cancer Society’s Northeast Region Team of the Year by generating $81,210.82 in donations through a variety of Relay for Life fund-raising activities, including a golf tournament and raffles.
Perdue’s Men Wear Pink campaign delivered $23,000 through associate fund-raising. It was supported by a $10,000 grant funded through the Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving partner of Perdue Farms.
Perdue associates’ contributions will support the American Cancer Society’s priorities of funding cancer research, providing education on cancer prevention, screening and treatment, and patient and family services for those undergoing cancer treatment, the company added.
“Perdue Farms and its associates have a long history of supporting the American Cancer Society,” said Debbie White, ACS senior development manager for the Northeast Region. “Their generosity and ongoing support have a direct impact in the fight against cancer while honoring survivors and remembering loved ones lost to the disease, which impacts almost everyone in some way.”
Cal-Maine Foods 2Q results for fiscal 2025
RIDGELAND, Miss. — Cal-Maine Foods Inc. reports its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 (13 weeks).
Highlights include: quarterly net sales of $954.7 million; quarterly net income of $219.1 million, or $4.47 per diluted share; quarterly record for total dozens sold and specialty dozens sold; and cash dividend of approximately $73 million, or approximately $1.49 per share, pursuant to the company’s established dividend policy.
“Cal-Maine Foods delivered a very strong financial and operating performance in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Robust demand for shell eggs resulted in a significant increase in dozens sold for the quarter, which included the seasonal boost leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday and sales from our latest acquisition completed in June,” Sherman Miller, Cal-Maine Foods president and CEO, said. “Our results also reflect higher market prices, which have continued to rise this fiscal year as supply levels of shell eggs have been restricted due to recent out-
BUSINESS
breaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Our team did an outstanding job in managing our production as well as making outside purchases in order to meet the needs of our valued customers. We were fortunate to have the ability to leverage our significant scale and benefit from recent acquisitions, which have helped support our production capacity in this challenging supply environment.”
“As demand continues to outpace supply, we remain focused on making additional strategic investments to expand our operations,” Miller added. “We currently have approximately $60 million in new capital projects directed to the expansion of our cage-free capacity, including the $40 million in projects that we announced in October. The projects include the addition of five new cage-free layer houses and two pullet houses across the company’s locations in Florida, Georgia, Utah and Texas. Upon completion, we expect the projects to provide additional production capacity for approximately 1.1 million cage-free layer hens and 250,000 pullets by late summer 2025. We are also investing $15 million to expand our egg products processing facility in Blackshear, Ga., to add extended shelf-life liquid egg products. We expect our processing plant and hatchery in Dexter, Missouri, that we acquired and repurposed for use in shell egg production, will be online in our next fiscal quarter. We have been working with local contract growers and have commitments for approximately 1.2 million additional free-range hens by fall 2025.”
“Acquisitions and joint ventures have complemented our strong organic growth and provided new market opportunities for Cal-Maine Foods,” he said. “We will continue to focus on acquiring operations that align with our strategic objectives, looking at critical factors including geographic relevance, operating synergies, product portfolio expansion, proximity to customers and potential financial returns. Our growth strategy is also focused on the expansion of our egg products offerings, including hard-cooked eggs from our MeadowCreek operations and
other ready-to-eat products offered through our previously announced strategic investment in Crepini, which includes egg wraps, protein pancakes, crepes and wrap-ups in our product portfolio. Importantly, we have a strong balance sheet and the financial flexibility to make the right investments to support our growth strategy.”
• Sales performance & operating highlights
“For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, our net sales were $954.7 million compared with $523.2 million for the same period last year,” Max Bowman, Cal-Maine Foods vice president and chief financial officer, said. “The higher sales were primarily driven by an increase in the net average selling price of shell eggs as well as an increase in total dozens sold.”
“For the second fiscal quarter, we sold 329.8 million dozens shell eggs compared with 288.2 million dozens for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Sales of conventional eggs totaled 209.6 million dozens, compared with 192.5 million dozens for the prior-year period, an increase of 8.9 percent,” Bowman said. “We saw over 25 percent quarterly growth in our specialty egg volumes as sales totaled 120.2 million dozens sold for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with 95.7 million dozens sold for the prior-year period.
“Net income attributable to Cal-Maine Foods for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $219.1 million, or $4.47 per diluted share, compared with $17 million, or 35 cents per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2024.”
“Overall, our second quarter farm production costs per dozen were 8.5 percent lower compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to more favorable commodity pricing for key feed ingredients,” Bowman added. “For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, feed costs per dozen were down 12.8 percent compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Our costs for outside egg purchases increased significantly quarter-over-quarter, primarily due to higher shell egg prices and the increased dozens of shell eggs we purchased for customers during the higher seasonal demand cycle while the nation experienced lower supply due to HPAI.”
“Current indications for corn and soybean supply project a favorable stocks-to-use ratio similar to today’s prevailing levels for the remainder of fiscal 2025,” he said. “However, as we continue to face uncertain external forces, including weather patterns and global supply chain disruptions, price volatility could remain.”
• HPAI & table egg supply outlook
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have continued to occur in United States poultry flocks. In calendar 2024, 38.4 million commercial layer hens and 1.8 million pullets were depopulated due to HPAI. Approximately 13.6 million commercial layer hens and 500,000 pullets were depopulated in December 2024 alone.
The Cal-Maine Foods facilities in Kansas and Texas, which experienced HPAI in fiscal 2024, are now fully operational, the company notes.
The company remains dedicated to robust biosecurity programs across its locations; however, no farm is immune from HPAI, Cal-Maine said. HPAI is currently widespread in the wild bird population worldwide. The extent of possible future outbreaks in commercial laying hens, with heightened risk during migration seasons, cannot be predicted. The widely reported spread of HPAI in dairy cattle increases risks to our operations and those of other egg producers, Cal-Maine added.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the human health risk to the U.S. public from the HPAI virus is considered to be low. Also, according to the USDA, HPAI cannot be transmitted through safely handled and properly cooked eggs. There is no known risk related to HPAI associated with eggs that are currently in the market and no eggs have been recalled.
• Looking ahead
“Without question, we have recently faced significant challenges within our company and the entire egg industry due to the ongoing outbreaks of HPAI,” Miller added. “While we recognize and address these risks, we are steadfast in our efforts to effectively manage our opera-
(Continued on page 22)
IPPE 2025
Cade of Hy-Line International elected 2025 USPOULTRY chair
ATLANTA — Jonathan Cade, Hy-Line International president, Des Moines, Iowa, was elected chair of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The board meeting was held during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). Cade previously served as vice chair.
Cade has a degree from Harper Adams University in the United Kingdom. Before becoming president of Hy-Line International, he served as managing director of Hy-Line subsidiary, Hy-Line UK International.
Vice chair
Bill Griffith, Peco Foods Inc., Tuscaloosa, Ala., was named vice chair. Griffith is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he obtained degrees in biology and chemistry. Before joining Peco Foods, he served as president for Keystone Foods, U.S. He also had a successful tenure at Perdue Foods where he oversaw food safety, quality and
regulatory compliance, in addition to serving as a microbiologist for Tyson Foods.
He has served the poultry industry in various capacities, including participating on the USPOULTRY Foundation Research Advisory Committee, as well as remaining active with the National Chicken Council. He is chief operations officer for Peco Foods.
Treasurer
Dr. Alice Johnson, Butterball LLC, Garner, N.C., was named treasurer. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Pfeiffer College and a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Tuskegee Institute. Before her work with Butterball, Johnson served as president and CEO of the National Turkey Federation. She has also held multiple leadership positions with organizations like the National Food Processors Association and the American Meat Institute. She currently serves as senior vice president of food safety, regulatory and animal well-being for
USPOULTRY 2025: New officers of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association were elected at the group’s annual meeting Jan. 27 at the International Poultry Expo, in conjunction with the IPPE, in Atlanta, Ga. The new officers are from left: Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms, immediate past chair; Jonathan Cade, Hy-Line International, chair; Bill Griffith, Peco Foods, vice chair; Dr. Alice Johnson, Butterball LLC, treasurer; and Kevin McDaniel, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, secretary.
Butterball. Johnson’s role encompasses multiple responsibilities, including the development, implementation and oversight of food safety, quality and animal well-being. In addition, since joining the company in 2006, Johnson has worked alongside federal and state regulatory agencies to implement and
manage government regulations within the company.
Secretary
Kevin McDaniel, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Oakwood, Ga., was named secretary. McDaniel earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural
(Continued on next page)
Clint Rivers receives Workhorse of the Year award
ATLANTA — Clint Rivers, president, CEO and chairman of the board for Wayne-Sanderson Farms, was named USPOULTRY’s Workhorse of the Year during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo. The poultry industry’s most prestigious honor is awarded annually in recognition of dedicated service and valuable leadership given to the Association and poultry industry.
Rivers was “collared” with the long-established horse collar by Mikell Fries, president of Claxton Poultry Farms, and outgoing USPOULTRY chair. He was also presented with a commemorative plaque.
“It is a great honor to present this distinguished award to Clint in recognition of his dedicated
service to both the poultry and egg industry and USPOULTRY,” Fries said.
Rivers graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a degree in animal science. As Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ CEO and chairman of the board, he shapes the overall vision and strategy of the company, while driving the workforce and resources toward strategic goals, making major corporate decisions, and serving as the main point of communication with the board of directors.
With 43 years of experience in operations and management, Rivers has held senior roles at leading poultry producers, including serving as president of Foodservice and Supply Chain
(Continued on next page)
Workhorse 2025: Clint Rivers, right, president, CEO and chairman of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, is the recipient of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s 2025 Workhorse of the Year award.
Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms president, and outgoing USPOULTRY chair, placed the ceremonial horse collar on Rivers during the award reception on Monday, Jan. 27.
David B. Strickland Poultry Times
David B. Strickland Poultry Times
IPPE 2025
USPOULTRY announces 2025 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award winners
ATLANTA — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association recognized three poultry farms that were nominated for the annual Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo. The award is given annually to recognize exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.
“It is an honor to celebrate the outstanding job these family farms do in being good stewards of their land,” outgoing USPOULTRY chair Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms, said. “Our industry could not continue to perform and prosper without taking proper care of our natural resources. These three winners are to be commended for their efforts.”
Applicants were rated in several categories,
including litter management, nutrient management planning, community involvement, wildlife enhancement techniques, innovative nutrient management techniques and participation in education or outreach programs. In selecting the national winners and finalists, applications were reviewed, and farm visits conducted, by a team of environmental professionals from universities, regulatory agencies and poultry associations.
This year, two winners were chosen from two different geographical regions across the U.S. In addition, one winner was selected from nominations submitted by State Poultry Associations that support poultry and egg producers across the country.
The winners include:
• State Poultry Association Nomination winner – Holden Farms, Obion County, Tenn.;
Four IPPE exhibitors recognized by USPOULTRY for long-term participation
ATLANTA — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association recognized four companies that have been exhibiting for 50 or more years at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo.
(Continued from previous page)
economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. With more than 34 years of industry experience, he recently served as president of Aviagen North America, as well as held senior roles with OK Foods and Pilgrim’s.
In addition to USPOULTRY, McDaniel currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Chicken Council and Southern Hens and previously held several key positions with the Poultry Federation. He is chief operating officer for Wayne-Sanderson Farms, where he oversees the fresh, retail and prepared foods business units as well as leads the engineering and marketing functions.
Immediate past chair
Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms, Claxton, Ga., is immediate past chair. Fries is a graduate
• The Dupps Co., VAL-CO and Zoetis were recognized for 70 years of exhibiting at IPE
• Hy-Line International was recognized for 60 years of exhibiting.
“Your ongoing support of the International
of Georgia Southern University where he obtained a degree in business management. Before assuming Claxton’s head operational role, he spent several years in senior positions overseeing sales and marketing.
He has served the poultry industry in various capacities, including serving on the boards of directors for the Georgia Poultry Federation and Norman W. Fries Inc. He is president of Claxton Poultry Farms.
“With the experience and guidance these officers bring to our organization, the future of USPOULTRY is in excellent hands,” Nath Morris, USPOULTRY president, said. “I look forward to their leadership in helping to shape our organization over the next year.”
Board of Directors
Serving on the USPOULTRY Board of Directors will be:
Kris and Rebecca Holden, nominated by the Tennessee Poultry Association.
• South Central Region winner – Lakeview Poultry LLC, Versailles, Mo.; Kenneth and Elaine Nolt, nominated by Cargill.
• Southwest Region winner – MBK Farms, Colcord, Okla.; Keith and Jerri Mitchell, nominated by Cargill.
There was also one finalist nominated. The finalist is:
• South Central Region finalist – Gabel Farm, Galena, Mo.; Norbert and Susan Gabel, nominated by Cargill.
Poultry Expo has enabled USPOULTRY to keep investing in the poultry industry,” Nath Morris, USPOULTRY president, said. “By directing event revenues into research, education, technical assistance, communications and training, we are helping the industry grow and progress into the future. We truly appreciate and thank you for your continued commitment.”
Dr. Marc de Beer, Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, Ala.; Lance Buckert, Koch Foods, Park Ridge, Ill.; J.T. Dean, Versova, Sioux City, Iowa; Ted Greidanus, Opal Foods, Neosho, Mo.; Chris Hawk, Lubing Systems, Cleveland, Tenn.; Greg Hinton, Rose Acre Farms, Seymour, Ind.; Mandy Klopp, Pilgrim’s, Arcadia, Wis.; Mike Levengood, Perdue, Salisbury, Md.; Eric Ludwig, Cooper Farms, Van Wert, Ohio; Nathan McKay, Tyson Foods, Springdale, Ark.; Sherman Miller, CalMaine Foods, Jackson, Miss.; Dr. Enrique Montiel, Addix Biotech, Lawrenceville, Ga.; Jarod Morrison, Farbest Foods, Jasper, Ind.; John Prestage, Prestage Farms, Clinton, N.C.; William Rehm, Daybreak Foods, Lake Mills, Wis.; Brian Roberts, Case Farms, Troutman, N.C.; Joel Sappenfield, Simmons Prepared Foods, Siloam Springs, Ark.; Tim Stiller, Foster Farms, Livingston, Calif.; Joel Williams, Mar-Jac Poultry, Gainesville, Ga.; and John Wright, Fieldale Farms Corp., Baldwin, Ga.
(Continued from previous page)
at Perdue Farms and holding multiple leadership positions at Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., including chief operating officer and president & CEO. Rivers joined Wayne-Sanderson Farms in 2012 as vice president and general manager of the Fresh Business Unit. He became chief operating officer in 2014, president and CEO in 2017, and chairman of the board in 2020.
An industry leader in many respects, Rivers is a past USPOULTRY board member and is currently serving on the National Chicken Council’s Board of directors, where he previously held the role of chairman.
“Clint’s unwavering commitment to service and his dedication to helping others have made a significant impact on the industry as well as USPOULTRY,” Nath Morris, USPOULTRY president, said.
Dr. Nelson Cox is posthumously awarded Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award
ATLANTA — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the USPOULTRY Foundation posthumously recognized Dr. Nelson Cox as the recipient of the annual Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award. Cox worked as a research microbiologist for the USDA Agriculture Research Services. The award is named in honor of Dr. Charles Beard, former director of the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory and former vice president of research at USPOULTRY.
The USPOULTRY Foundation Research Advisory Committee selected Cox for this award due to his exceptional research focused on improving food safety within the poultry industry. He has been the principal investigator for one USPOULTRY-funded project, “Identifying intestinal microflora
associated with feed conversion efficiency,” and co-investigator on two additional USPOULTRY projects, “Salmonella and Campylobacter Contamination of Turkeys, from Breeders to Processed Carcasses” and “Validation of In Vivo Selective Cultivation of Probiotic Communities via Serial Transplants of the Chicken Cecal Microbiome.”
“Dr. Cox was an outstanding nominee for this award, due to his groundbreaking research dedicated to tackling critical food safety challenges and developing effective solutions,” Dr. Denise Heard, USPOULTRY vice president of research programs, said. “His contributions have greatly enriched the poultry industry, driving numerous technological advancements that have enhanced food safety standards and practices.”
Cox completed his bachelor of science degree in bacteriology, his master of science degree in food science and his Ph.D. in poultry science at Louisiana State University. He conducted many research projects, held 10 patents, authored more than 1,000 peerreviewed scientific publications, and gave hundreds of scientific talks, both nationally and internationally.
The goal of the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award is to recognize outstanding completed research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, which have made a significant and positive impact on the poultry industry.
Kenni Beam accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Cox and will be donating the $1,500 cash prize to
the Nelson A. Cox Graduate Student Scholarship in Poultry Food Safety. The award was presented by Bill Griffith, vice chair for the USPOULTRY board of directors and long-standing FRAC member, during the USPOULTRY Chair’s Reception.
David B. Strickland Poultry Times
Passing the gavel: Jonathan Cade, Hy-Line International, right, the new chair of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, receives the chair’s “working man’s gavel” from outgoing chair Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms, during the group’s annual Board of Directors meeting on Jan. 27, at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
Five industry leaders receive USPOULTRY Lamplighter Awards
ATLANTA — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association presented the organization’s annual Lamplighter Award to five individuals at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The award pays tribute to individuals for “sustained and exemplary service” to the poultry and egg industry.
This year’s honorees are:
• Dr. Steve Bolden
Dr. Steve Bolden graduated from Tennessee Tech University, where he received his MS in avian physiology from Auburn University and completed his postdoctoral degree in poultry nutrition at the University of Georgia.
Bolden began his 40-year career with Central Soya in Decatur, Ind. He served in several roles within the Pilgrim’s family of companies, including WLR Foods, Seaboard Farms, ConAgra and Pilgrim’s Pride. He also worked at CobbVantress as managing director of world tech services, where he worked in more than 40 countries.
Bolden is currently the vice president of live operations for Wayne-Sanderson Farms, where he has been since 2019. He leads all live production for the company, including hatchery, feed mill and farm operations.
• Paul Bredwell
Paul Bredwell is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received a bachelor of civil engineering degree in 1986, specializing in hydraulics, hydrology and environmental engineering. He is a licensed professional engineer in Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.
With more than 30 years of experience in the poultry and egg industry, Bredwell currently serves as the executive vice president of regulatory programs at USPOULTRY. In this role, he develops educational programs to help the industry manage environmental risks and comply with regulations. He also provides technical and regulatory information to poultry
producers, processors and associations, advocates for the industry on regulatory issues, and coordinates research projects focused on environmental risk mitigation.
• Dr. Fred Hoerr
Dr. Frederic J. Hoerr is a veterinarian specializing in veterinary pathology and poultry medicine. He focuses on understanding poultry diseases through diagnostic work and research.
He earned his DVM, MS and Ph.D. from Purdue University and worked for 32 years as a diagnostic pathologist at Alabama’s state diagnostic laboratories, where he was also the laboratory director from 1987 to 2012. During this time, Hoerr was a professor and interim dean at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
In 2004, he founded Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology LLC, offering histopathology services to poultry industries worldwide. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to poultry health, including the LasherBottorf Award and the Sustained Excellence in Poultry Disease Research Award. He has also been
named a Distinguished Alumnus of Purdue University and an Honorary Professor at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Peru.
• John Pierson
John Pierson is a civil and environmental engineer with experience and expertise in wastewater treatment, with a particular focus on industrial treatment processes, remediation and restoration. His engineering consulting includes water chemistry analysis, recalcitrant compound treatment and data analytics. He is a licensed professional engineer in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Wyoming.
Pierson earned his MS in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. After 29 years, he recently retired as a principal research engineer from the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). At GTRI, he was co-inventor for an advanced UV disinfection system and the principal inventor for a cyclic filtration system recently licensed by a start-up company.
He is the past president of the Georgia Section of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, and he was named the 2020 Georgia Engineer of the Year in Industry by the American Council of Engineering Companies Georgia. Pierson serves as a judge for the USPOULTRY Clean Water Award as well as the Family Farm Environmental Award.
• Greg Watt
Greg Watt is president, CEO and agrifood group publisher for WATT Global Media where he directs the company’s strategic vision, corporate culture, business growth and acquisitions. Watt joined the company in 1993, and in 2007, he became the fourth generation to lead the company founded in 1917 with the purchase of Poultry Tribune magazine by James W. Watt, his great-grandfather.
Watt currently serves as the Communications Working Group chair for the International Poultry Council and is a member of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association Scholarship Selection Committee. He directed and founded the Poultry Tech Summit hosted every other year in Atlanta, Ga., in collaboration with the University of Georgia Department of Poultry Science, Georgia Tech Research Institute and USPOULTRY. He also facilitated a partnership with the National Chicken Council to produce the annual Chicken Marketing Summit. He is the publisher of Egg Industry, WATTPoultry USA, Feed & Grain, WATTPoultry International, Executive Guide to World Poultry Trends, Feed Strategy and the annual WATT IPPE Directory now in its 40th year in cooperation with the IPPE.
“The dedication and service of this year’s Lamplighter Award recipients has been invaluable in driving the poultry industry forward,” Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms president, and outgoing USPOULTRY chair. “We value their contributions, and we sincerely appreciate their service to the industry.”
(Continued from page 16)
tions and promote responsible and sustainable production. We remain focused on optimizing the aspects of our business that we can control and continue to extend our leadership role in supporting the nation’s food supply. We have a proven operating model and growth strategy focused on expanding our shell egg production capacity and product mix, both organically and through strategic acquisitions.
“We continue to expand our egg products portfolio, which will enable us to leverage our existing distribution channels and extend our reach in foodservice and retail marketplaces. We believe Cal-Maine Foods is well positioned for continued growth with our leading production scale, fully integrated operations and broad distribution capabilities. We remain focused on providing exceptional service and quality products to meet the dynamic needs of our excellent customer base. We look forward to the opportunities ahead for Cal-Maine Foods.”
For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, Cal-Maine Foods will pay a cash dividend of approximately $1.49 per share to holders of its common stock and Class A common stock. Pursuant to Cal-Maine Foods’ variable dividend policy, for each quarter in which the company reports net income, the company pays a cash dividend to shareholders in an amount equal to one-third of such quarterly income. Following a quarter for which the company does not report net income, the company will not pay a dividend with respect to that quarter or for a subsequent profitable quarter until the company is profitable on a cumulative basis computed from the date of the most recent quarter for which a dividend was paid. The amount paid per share will vary based on the number of outstanding shares on the record date. The dividend is payable on Feb. 13, 2025, to holders of record on Jan. 29, 2025.
Starbird celebrates record-breaking 2024
SAN FRANCISCO — Starbird is celebrating an extraordinary year of growth and success in 2024. Marked by record-breaking sales, strategic expansion, and a continued emphasis on community engagement, the brand has transitioned from a local California chain to a leading force in the fast-food industry. Starbird offers menu items such as chicken sandwiches, tenders, nuggets, salads and wings.
“Our journey this year has been truly remarkable,” Aaron Noveshen, Starbird’s founder and CEO, said.“We expanded across the map in California with record-breaking openings and set the foundation for growth in other key markets across the U.S. Our team consistently rose to the occasion and developed innovative menu launches, community engagement events, and catered to our growing customer base to give the best experience possible when walking into a Starbird location for a meal. We’re looking forward to continuing the momentum and bringing our unique vision to more communities in 2025.”
Building on this momentum, Starbird noted that it achieved a 60 percent increase in its corporate footprint in 2024 with the opening of five new locations in Cupertino, Pleasanton, Palo Alto, South San Francisco, and Marina Del Ray, Calif. On the franchise development front, the brand signed four agreements totaling more than 30 committed locations in major markets, including Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Salt Lake City. This ongoing expansion now has the brand sitting at 491 restaurant employees and 16 corporate employees at the end of 2024 and sets the stage for a robust pipeline of growth in 2025, the company said.
Starbird is also reporting 8.1 percent overall growth in same-store comp restaurant sales in 2024. Additionally, the brand grew its loyalty
program by 72,500 new members this year. Same-store catering sales also increased by 60 percent year-over-year, a number which now accounts for 6 percent of total sales for the super-premium fast-food concept — thanks in part to innovative menu rollouts and community engagement efforts throughout the year, it noted. Throughout the year, Starbird featured items like the Cali Gold BBQ Menu, Summer of Salads Menu, and the Banh Mi Lineup, all of which featured Starbird’s signature crispy chicken.
Community engagement continued to be at the heart of Starbird’s mission in 2024, the company added. Through ongoing initiatives like the GiftAMeal and Teacher Appreciation Month programs, the brand donated thousands of meals to local organizations, including the LA Regional Food Bank, SF-Marin Food Bank, and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. Starbird also celebrated educators by donating more than 3,500 meals during Teacher Appreciation Month in May.
Additionally, Starbird supported its franchise development efforts with the hiring of Brian Carmichall as vice president of business development. With decades of franchise experience at brands like Dunkin’ and El Pollo Loco, Carmichall plays a pivotal role in advancing Starbird’s development pipeline, including help spearhead the brands most recent deals, with more to come in 2025, the company noted.
With franchise opportunities available in key U.S. markets — including California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, and Florida — Starbird is actively seeking seasoned multi-unit operators interested in area development commitments of five stores over three years, the company said.
For more information about Starbird, visit www.starbirdchicken.com.
The Original Hot Chicken debuts in Canada
ATLANTA — The Original Hot Chicken, a fast-casual concept specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken, has announced the opening of its first international brick-and-mortar location in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As a flagship brand of Experiential Brands, an Atlanta, Ga.-based global foodservice solutions company, The Original Hot Chicken’s debut into Canada is part of the brand’s plan to expand internationally and grow its footprint across North America.
Experiential Brands specializes in scalable, chef-driven restaurant concepts, offering tailored solutions for operators — including licensing, white-label programs, and delivery-only models — to thrive in competitive markets, the company said.
“With this opening, we’re not just bringing a beloved American
(Continued from previous page)
concept to Canada; we’re introducing a model designed to empower partners with proven tools for success,” Aziz Hashim, Experiential Brands founder and CEO, said. “The Original Hot Chicken’s vibrant menu and engaging guest experience are a perfect fit for the Canadian market, and we’re eager to collaborate with local licensing partners to expand our presence further.”
The Original Hot Chicken’s Toronto opening signals a broader call for licensing partners ready to capitalize on the growing demand for premium fast-casual offerings which feature compelling unit economics including lower capital costs and operational simplicity, the company added. Located at 20 Carlton Street, the Toronto site features a 900-square-foot restaurant optimized for both on-premises and takeout dining. Its graffiti-inspired interiors, vibrant pops of
(Continued from page 11)
as a potential food source to support cognition and brain health across all life cycle stages.
Research has shown that consumers exposed to our educational materials significantly increase their perceptions. This tells us the message has been received and changed perceptions.
Eggs have many nutritional benefits, and we have invested in finding a way to tell the egg’s nutrition story. This led us to focus on launching a nutrition story that will resonate with and influence consumers. We have aligned around that story, Peak Performance, a multi-faceted narrative around nutrition that we will be deploying next year.
color, and bold design reflect the brand’s playful ethos and appeal to Toronto’s multicultural audience, the company added.
Experiential Brands has established a dedicated supply chain in Canada, ensuring operational efficiency and consistent product quality. This infrastructure, combined with a support system for marketing, operations, and scalability, positions licensing partners for long-term success, it noted.
Rooted in Nashville tradition, The Original Hot Chicken offers a menu built around its signature pickle-brined, cornflake-rolled hot chicken, with customizable heat levels and the exclusive “Comeback Sauce.” Fan favorites include chicken sandwiches, tender baskets, and wings. The Toronto location offers fresh halal-certified proteins, ensuring inclusivity for the city’s diverse population, the company said.
For more information, visit https://oghotchicken.com.
A positive outlook for the future
The outlook for America’s egg industry is more promising than ever. With a proactive, forward-thinking approach, AEB positions eggs as a versatile, nutritious, and sustainable food choice. Through campaigns like “Meant to be Broken,” strong partnerships with industry leaders, and a commitment to empowering our farmers, we meet today’s demand while building a solid foundation for long-term growth.
In addition, we are driving demand for eggs and egg products to ensure that we support America’s egg farmers. I’m excited to an-
Introducing EAGAN FAST TRACK
Wall Vents
nounce that we are expanding our efforts in entirely new directions, starting with creating a farmer support center. This will provide a variety of resources and support for farmers. Looking ahead, we remain as committed as ever to supporting America’s egg farmers and ensuring their continued success. By embracing change, seizing opportunities, and breaking through barriers, we’re setting the stage for a new era of growth and prosperity for the egg industry. With the momentum we’ve built and the plans in place, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
Together, we’re taking the egg industry to new heights — one egg, one consumer, and one breakthrough at a time.
FAST TRACK Wall Vents
Our new Fast Track Wall Vent (U.S. Patent No. 11,33,392) takes the concept of a wall vent to the next level. It comes fully assembled right out of the box, goes up very quickly and is very competitively priced.
Δ Available with an Aluminum or UV stabilized PVC frame
Δ Superior performance
Δ Integrated track cord tensioner/locator
Δ Integrated winter latching system
Δ Cord guide included along with installation jig to speed up installation
Δ Available in 8”,10’, 12”, 14” heights with custom lengths available
Δ Perfect for retrofit applications-the wall vent is surface mounted to compensate for framing irregularities and can be ordered to fit virtually any opening
Δ Orders come bulk-packed in palletized gaylords to make it easier and faster on installation crews
Chickens lay eggs of different colors primarily due to their genetics.
TAMU specialist ‘egg-splores’ egg differences
BY PAUL SCHATTENBERG
Texas A&M University
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Many people may be curious why chicken eggs can be different colors? Most eggs are white or brown, but they also come in other colors such as cream, pink, blue and green. In addition — and this is no “yolk” — some eggs are speckled.
Nature has provided chickens with diverse color patterns for their feathers, skin patches and eggshells for various purposes, including camouflage to protect from predators and to denote individual identity.
The color of an egg is primarily determined by the chicken’s genetics, said Dr. Gregory Archer, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service poultry specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science, Bryan-College Station. That means the breed of hen will usually indicate what egg color will be produced.
For example, Leghorn chickens lay white eggs, Orpington’s lay brown eggs and Ameraucana chickens lay blue eggs. And the “olive egger” breed lays … wait for it … olive-green eggs.
But appearances aside, all chicken eggs have no major differences in taste or nutritional composition, Archer said.
Chicken earlobes help predict egg color
A good way to guess what color eggs a chicken will lay is to have a gander at the hen’s ear lobes.
“Generally, hens with white earlobes will produce white eggs,” Archer said. “But all eggs start out white because the shells are made from calcium carbonate. They get their color from the hen’s genetics as the egg forms.”
He said chickens with lighter earlobes often have white feathers and produce white eggs. Those with colored feathers and darker earlobes will likely produce colored eggs.
Adding a little color
Nature has its own way of coloring eggs, and it doesn’t require food coloring or a paintbrush. Different eggshell colors come from pigments deposited onto the shell as the egg forms in the hen’s oviduct. The oviduct is a tube-like organ found along the hen’s backbone between the ovary and the tail.
A chicken yolk, or ovum, forms in the hen’s ovaries. A fully formed ovum leaves the ovary and makes its way into the oviduct. It then goes through a five-stage process to help ensure the yolk makes it safely to the outside
world. The entire egg-forming process usually takes a little more than 24 hours.
It’s during the fourth stage of this process, which involves the shell gland, that pigments are deposited onto the shell, producing its color. So, in short, different breeds of chicken deposit different pigments on the shell as it forms, changing its exterior — and sometimes also its interior — shell color.
Archer added that shell pigment also has anti-microbial properties that may help reduce the risk of embryonic mortality.
A pigment of the imagination
White Leghorn chickens lay white-shelled eggs and breeds like Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island reds lay brown-shelled eggs. The shells are brown because a pigment known as protoporphyrin is deposited onto the shell. But because this happens late in the shell formation process, the pigment rarely penetrates the shell’s interior.
“This is why when you crack open a brown egg, you will see the interior of most of the shells remains white,” Archer said.
However, there is a notable exception. A pigment called oocyanin is deposited on the egg of the Ameraucana breed and can penetrate both the exterior and interior of the shell, making them both blue.
Laura McKenzie Texas A&M AgriLife
Other breeds, such as Araucana, Dongxiang and Lushi, lay blue or blue-green eggs.
An olive egger results from a cross between a hen and a rooster from a brown egg-laying and a blue egg-laying breed. The hen produces a brown pigment that penetrates the blue shell of the egg, resulting in a greenishhued egg. The darker the brown pigment, the more olive-colored the egg appears.
Other chickens that lay colored eggs include the Easter egger, Barred rock, Welsummer and Maran, with the color of the egg depending on the breed and its genetics.
A hen will only lay one color egg her entire life, so if she starts by laying blue eggs, her eggs will always be blue.
Speculation about speckled eggs
Speculation aside, the general consensus from the eggs-perts is the speckles on speckled eggs are just extra calcium deposits. One reason speckles are formed is the egg-shaping calcification process is disturbed. Another possible reason could be a defect in the shell gland.
Sound a little scrambled? Don’t worry about it … just keep your sunny side up and know there’s probably more than one explanation for this speck-tacular occurrence.
Oh, and although technically considered “abnormal,” speckled shells can sometimes be stronger than the average egg.
‘Egg-straneous’ factors influencing color, size and shape
While genetics primarily determine egg color, other factors can also influence the color and other characteristics of the shell. These factors include a hen’s age, diet, environment and stress level.
“As they age, hens that lay brown-colored eggs may start to lay larger and lighter-colored eggs,” Archer said. “While this may produce an egg of a lighter or darker shade, it will not alter the egg’s basic color.”
ATTENTION
While not directly associated with color, an oddly or irregularly shaped egg may occasionally pop out. This may result from a dysfunction in the hen’s egg-forming process.
Archer said both very old and very young hens are the most likely to lay abnormally shaped eggs.
“Stress factors like disease, heat or overcrowding may also affect the hen and impact the egg’s size, shape and quality,” he said. “A lot also depends on the amount of calcium the hen has in its body and can provide for the egg-making processes.”
All yolking aside: Color, nutrients and seeing double
You may also be wondering if the color of the egg affects the color of the yolk. Well, it doesn’t, but the hen’s diet certainly can. For example, if a pasture-raised hen eats plants with yellowish-orange pigmentation, the yolks can take on a more orange color. If she eats mainly a corn- or grain-based diet, the yolk is more likely to be a pale yellow.
Research has shown darker, more colorful yolks have the same amount of protein and fat as lighter yolks. However, it has also demonstrated that eggs from pasture-raised hens can have more omega-3s and vitamins and less cholesterol than other eggs.
Speaking of yolks … this will crack you up. Sometimes, an egg will have two yolks. While some people think a double yolk is good luck, the reason is more mishap than fortune. A double yolk is a fluke that occurs when a hen ovulates too rapidly, releasing two yolks, usually about an hour apart. These yolks enter the oviduct and eventually wind up in the same shell.
Hormonal changes or a hyperactive ovary can also cause these double releases. These “double-yolkers” are most common among younger chickens due to their reproductive system not yet being fully developed.
Paul Schattenberg, based in San Antonio, Texas, is a communications and media relations specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Communications.
Whether it be windrowing to produce a pathogen & insect reduced bedding to grow a top performing flock of BIRDS, or pulverizing litter to make a soft fluffy bedding without the need to decake or add shavings, we have the equipment to fit your operation. We have various models, sizes and options to fit your needs. Keep in mind, our goal is customer service, quality equipment and of course the BIRDS.
The patented industry leading electronic indicator for harsh washdown environments
Bench Scales
The WeighTech line of bench scales offers processors the best of both worlds: functionality and durability. Our bench scales feature our industry leading MicroWeigh indicator, and is available in many sizes to fit your processing needs.
In today’s fast paced processing world, efficient, reliable and rugged scale systems and equipment are crucial.
USPOULTRY Foundation sponsors National FFA students to IPPE 2025
ATLANTA — The top 10 teams from the National FFA Poultry Evaluation and Food Science and Technology Career Development Events have been invited to attend the International Poultry Expo, which is part of the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo. This invitation is part of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s ongoing effort to engage students in the poultry and egg industry.
The students will be awarded an all-expenses-paid trip and take part in a program led by poultry industry leaders, who will guide them on industry career opportunities. They will also have the chance to explore the cutting-edge technology used in today’s modern, sustainable poultry industry while touring the expansive IPPE trade show floor.
“We’re always focused on recruiting young talent, so the opportunity to bring future leaders to IPE is tremendous in helping us do that. The students, our member companies, exhibitors, the staff of FFA and our Foundation look forward to it each year,” said Barbara Jenkins, USPOULTRY Foundation executive director.
“We’re always focused on recruiting young talent, so the opportunity to bring future leaders to IPE is tremendous in helping us do that. The students, our member companies, exhibitors, the staff of FFA and our Foundation look forward to it each year.”
The following Poultry Evaluation CDE teams are attending IPPE: Caney FFA, Kansas; Dover FFA, Arkansas; Felicity-Franklin FFA, Ohio; James Madison FFA, Texas; Olney FFA, Illinois; Pierce City Schools FFA, Missouri; Roane County High School FFA, West Virginia; Righetti FFA, California; and Westville FFA, Oklahoma.
The following Food Science and Technol-
ogy CDE teams are attending IPPE: Belgrade FFA, Montana; Bergen County Academies FFA, New Jersey; Big Walnut-DACC FFA, Ohio; Louisburg FFA, Kansas; Oley Valley FFA, Pennsylvania; Orlando Colonia FFA, Florida; Palmyra FFA, Missouri; Prairie Central FFA, Illinois; and Westville FFA, Oklahoma.
USDA seeks organizations to pick American Egg Board nominees
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
WASHINGTON — The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is accepting applications from organizations interested in nominating egg producers or representatives of a producer to the American Egg Board. Applications are due by Feb. 13, 2025.
The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternate members. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture appoints board members from nominations submitted by certificated organizations.
The primary considerations in determining the eligibility of an organization to submit nominations will be its number of egg producers and their commercial egg production volume in their geographic areas. In addition, the items below will be considered in making the final decision to approve an organization:
• Geographic territory covered by the organization’s active membership.
• Nature and size of the organization’s active membership.
Have shortened life hours? Face greater lumen depreciation than you expected? Flickering
states.
• The extent to which the commercial egg producer membership of such organization is represented in setting the organization’s policies.
• Evidence of stability and permanency of the organization.
• Sources from which the organization’s operating funds are derived.
• Functions of the organization.
• The organization’s ability and willingness to further the aims and objectives of the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974.
Any organization that wants to be certified to nominate members to the board must complete an Egg Certification Request Form (LP-4) found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/ rules-regulations/research-promotion/eggs.
• A chart showing the egg production by state in which the organization has members and the volume of commercial eggs produced by the organization’s active members in such
• Proportion of total of active membership accounted for by producers of commercial eggs.
After reviewing the application USDA will notify the organization whether it has been certified or not. Organizations currently certified to nominate board members do not need to reapply.
LED by Innovation
It’s time to look at what’s controlling your light bulbs.
Have shortened life hours?
Face greater lumen depreciation than you expected?
Face greater lumen depreciation than you expected?
Flickering at different lighting levels
Flickering at different lighting levels especially low light levels?
6/10/15W
Directional
- Directional Beam Angled LED's - designed with the exact beam angle to offer even FC lighting on the floor based on poultry house spacings/specs.
- Directional beam angle lamps offer 100% dimming while Omni lamps typically wont dim below 25%.
www.aglights.com/800-657-0509
10/16/25W Dimm models
Dim/ 14/26W Non Dim models
*Energy Star Approved for rebates
*Constant Current Driver delivers full current/wattage with minimal lumen loss at low voltages.
*CONSTANT CURRENT DRIVERS ARE A FEATURE THAT OVERDRIVE COMPETITORS DO NOT OFFER!
FDA upgrades Costco organic egg recall for salmonella to top level
DAVID B. STRICKLAND
Poultry Times Editor
dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com
NEW YORK — A recall that was originally announced in late November has been upgraded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some organic eggs sold by Costco and distributed to several southern U.S. states that may be contaminated with salmonella has had the recall changed to Class 1, the FDA’s highest threat level.
The recall was initially issued voluntarily by Handsome Brook Farms on Nov. 27. This included 10,800 retail units of its Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs that were sold by Costco under its Kirkland Signature brand.
These egg packs were shipped, beginning on Nov. 22, to 25
Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The products in question will have the UPC code 9661910680 and are in plastic egg carton with a use-by-date of Jan. 5, 2025, and the Julien code 327.
The heightened recall alert level of Class 1 means that the FDA deems that there is a “reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
In the company announcement released by FDA, it also adds that, “salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e.., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.”
Handsome Brook Farms added in its statement that, “the recall was initiated after the company determined that eggs not intended for retail distribution were instead packaged and distributed in retail packaging. Additional supply chain controls and retraining are being put in place to prevent recurrence.”
If consumers have these products, they should be disposed of or returned to the Costco store where they were purchased for a refund. Questions can be sent to the company via email at recall@ hbfeggs.com.
Georgia, Puerto Rico backyard flocks confirmed with HPAI
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com
ATLANTA — In the past few days, backyard flocks in Georgia and Puerto Rico have been confirmed with highly pathogenic avian influenza.
In Georgia, a HPAI confirmed positive case was found in a small, backyard flock in Clayton County that included 13 chickens and ducks, which is the third backyard flock and fourth overall for the state since the outbreak began in February 2022. In Puerto Rico, HPAI was confirmed in a backyard flock; and this marks the first detection for Puerto Rico since the beginning of this outbreak.
In late December, the Georgia flock owner observed increased
mortality, with three dead birds during a brief time. Samples were sent to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network for testing, where GPLN confirmed HPAI positive results on Jan. 8. These results were also confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Lab on Jan. 10. NVSL is also conducting further genomic sequencing on the samples.
“As the ongoing, nationwide HPAI outbreak continues, implementing and maintaining strict biosecurity measures has never been more important,” Tyler Harper, Georgia’s agriculture commissioner, said. “To date, the ongoing outbreak has impacted more than 133 million birds nationwide and less than 0.25 percent of those birds have been from Georgia, the nation’s top poultry producer — that speaks to the effectiveness of biosecurity and the importance of the work our animal health profes-
sionals and poultry producers are doing every single day to ensure the safety of their animals, employees, and operations.”
Georgia Department of Agricultura officials visited the affected location on Jan. 9, and complete depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection procedures were completed. The premises is within a residential neighborhood that is close to a man-made lake that attracts wild birds and waterfowl. The officials believe that this transmission was likely caused through viral material spread by these wild birds.
The GDA adds that no commercial poultry or dairy operations are within a 6.2-mile radius of the location.
GDA works closely with the Georgia Department of Health. The GDPH is “coordinating with local public health officials to conduct appropriate testing and
surveillance with individuals who may have had direct contact with the affected animals,” the department said in a release. “Georgia Department of Agriculture staff who visited the affected premises conducted operations in Level C PPE and followed strict biosecurity protocols. Out of an abundance of caution, department employees that were onsite will participate in a 10-day surveillance period.”
For the Puerto Rico case, flock samples were tested and confirmed at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture and APHIS are performing additional testing and surveillance in the area around the confirmed flock.
For biosecurity information, visit the “Defend the Flock” section of the APHIS website at www. aphis.usda.gov.
Tentative labor agreement averts East Coast, Gulf Coast port strike
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The labor unions representing maritime workers at East and Gulf coast ports have reached a new tentative 6-year contract that will halt another strike that would have occurred on Jan. 15.
The initial port strike with workers with the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance began last October, but a deal was reached which delayed further action until this month while a new Master Contract was put together. The ILA and USMX noted that the two groups will operate under their current contract until the unions meet with a full Wage Scale Committee and conduct a ratification vote.
“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage,” the two groups announced in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf
coast ports — making them safer and more efficient and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”
“The is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace,” the groups added.
The associations also note that specific agreement details are not being released yet so members and review and approve the contact documents, although some of the issues
WeighTech...
addressed have involved automation protections and wage increases.
“This tentative agreement is both a monumental and historical achievement that came about from hard work and dedication of ILA Wage Scale Delegates, fortified by the support of our entire membership,” Harold J. Daggett, ILA president, said, “and the solidarity from our global maritime unions, led by the International Dockworkers Council, and International Transport Workers Federation, bolstered the ILA’s strength.”
“Collective bargaining plays an important role when it comes to building a strong economy from the middle out and the bottom up,” President Joe Biden noted in a statement on the tentative agreement. “I applaud the dockworkers’ union for delivering a strong contract. Their members kept our ports open during the pandemic, as we worked together to unsnarl global supply chains. Thank you to the carriers and port operators who play an essential role in our nation’s economy.”
In urging the groups to return to the bargaining table back in December, the National Chicken Council joined a group of hundreds that represented farmers, agribusinesses, importers, exporters, logistics and transportation, asking for the port worker unions to establish a new contract.
“We know significant issues remain between the parties,” a letter from these groups stated. “However, we continue to believe the only way to resolve these issues and come to
Serving the Meat, Poultry and Seafood Industries
Oregon house cat dies after eating food that tested positive for bird flu
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon house cat died after eating pet food that tested positive for bird flu, Oregon authorities said, prompting a recall of raw frozen pet food that was sold nationwide.
Northwest Naturals, a pet food company based in Portland, Ore., said on Dec. 24 it had voluntarily recalled one batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for the virus. The product was sold through distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, as well as Canada’s British Columbia.
an agreement is to actually stay at the negotiating table. The continuing start and stop of the negotiations leads to further uncertainty in the supply chain, which continues to cause challenges.”
“The additional costs from mitigation efforts, as well as post-strike resumption are still being felt,” these groups added in the December statement. “Companies have continued to implement mitigation strategies because of
“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz said in a Dec. 24 release. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other.”
The recalled product is packaged in twopound plastic bags with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The company and Oregon authorities said that consumers who bought the recalled product should throw it away immediately and contact the place of purchase for a refund.
the ongoing threat of another strike . . . if a new contract is not achieved.”
U.S. agricultural associations continue to applaud this tentative port worker agreement.
“Both sides should be commended for sitting down and working out a compromise that benefits the dockworkers and their employees alike, and we are hopeful that this deal will be ratified and made official quickly,” Mike Seyfert, National Grain and Feed Association
No human cases of bird flu have been linked to the incident, but those who were in contact with the cat are being monitored for flu symptoms, Oregon authorities said.
More than 60 people in eight states have been infected, with mostly mild illnesses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the nation’s first known severe illness caused by the virus, health officials said.
So far, the CDC has confirmed one human case of bird flu in Oregon. The person was linked to a previously reported outbreak at a commercial poultry operation and fully recovered after experiencing mild illness, according to a November release from the Oregon Health Authority.
In late October, the USDA announced that a pig at a backyard farm in Oregon was found to have bird flu, marking the first detection of the virus in U.S. swine.
president and CEO, said. “It is a relief that these vital ports will continue to operate and that shipping channels will remain open for U.S. agriculture. America’s grain and feed industry depends on a fully functioning transportation system, and when any part fails, it can drive up transportation costs and jeopardize valuable customer relationships. Given current economic conditions, we simply cannot afford disruptions.”
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Health officials on Dec. 18 confirmed the first known severe illness in the U.S. caused by bird flu, and California’s governor declared a state of emergency as the virus rampages through dairy cattle in that state.
A person in Louisiana is hospitalized in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms caused by a bird flu infection, state health officials said. The person, who is over 65 and has underlying medical problems, had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock.
It’s the first human case in the U.S. linked to exposure to backyard birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since March, more than 60 bird flu infections in people have been reported in the U.S., but previous illnesses have been mild and most have been detected among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows. In two cases — and adult in Missouri and a child in California — health officials have not determined how they caught it.
CDC officials said that bird flu is still mainly an animal health issues and that the risk to the general public remains low. There has been no documented spread of the
virus from person to person, said the CDC’s Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.
The Louisiana illness comes weeks after Canadian officials reported that a teen in British Columbia was hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu. In both instances, the illnesses were caused by a strain of the virus found in wild birds, not in cattle, officials said.
On a call with reporters, CDC
officials did not answer a question about whether the new U.S. case and the Canada case had any similarities or differences.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the state of emergency as cases of the virus were detected in dairy cows on Southern California farms. Previously, the virus had been detected in state’s Central Valley.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement.
The virus has been detected in
865 dairy herds in 16 states, with nearly 650 of them in California. Raw milk from infected cattle was recalled late last month after the virus was found in samples sold in California stores.
Los Angeles County health officials also confirmed the deaths of two cats from bird flu infections after drinking the recalled raw milk.
Flu experts said the trajectory of the virus in people remains unclear, but they urged people who have contact with sick or dead birds to take precautions, including wearing respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry.
“We may see more cases of severe disease in the U.S. since cases seem to be growing more frequent,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
CDC analysis: Bird flu virus likely mutated within Louisiana patent
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the nation’s first severe case of the illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Scientists believe the mutations may allow the virus to better bind to receptors in the upper airways of humans — something they say is concerning but not a cause for alarm.
Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease researcher, likened this binding interaction to a lock and key. To enter a cell, the virus needs to have a key that turns the lock, and this finding means the virus may be changing to have a key that might work.
“Is this an indication that we may be closer to seeing a readily transmitted virus between people? No,” Osterholm said. “Right now, this is a key that sits in the lock, but it doesn’t open the door.”
The virus has been causing sporadic, mostly
This undated electron microscopic image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows two Influenza A (H5N1) virions, a type of bird flu virus.
mild illnesses in people in the U.S., and nearly all of those infected worked on dairy or poultry farms.
The Louisiana patient was hospitalized in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms from bird flu after coming in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. The person, who has not been identified, is older than 65 and has underlying medical problems, officials said.
The CDC stressed there has been no known transmission of the virus from the Louisiana patient to anyone else. The agency said its findings about the mutations were “concerning,” but the risk to the general public from the outbreak “has not changed and remains low.”
Still, Osterholm said, scientists should continue to follow what’s happening with mutations carefully.
“There will be additional influenza pandemics and they could be much worse than we saw with COVID,” he said. “We know that the pandemic clock is ticking. We just don’t know what time it is.”
Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC via AP, File
USPOULTRY releases updated U.S. poultry antibiotic use report
TUCKER, Ga. — Updated research has been released, supported by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, that quantifies the U.S. poultry industry’s on-farm antibiotic use.
The updated report shows continued improved antibiotic stewardship and commitment to disease prevention within poultry production. As part of its commitment to the transparency and sustainability of a safe food supply, the poultry industry aims to strike a balance between the responsible use of antibiotics “medically important” to human health and keeping poultry flocks healthy.
“USPOULTRY’s board of directors has supported this research for many years, which emphasizes the continued focus on the judicious use of antibiotics in the poultry industry,” Nath Morris, USPOULTRY president, said. “We are thankful for the long-term involvement of so many of our members and other poultry organizations in this study.”
Under the research direction of Dr. Randall Singer of Mindwalk Consulting Group LLC, and the University of Minnesota, this report represents an 11-year set of data collected from 2013 to 2023 for U.S. broiler chickens and turkeys and represents an eight-year set of data collected from 2016 to 2023 for layers. A prior report, covering 2013-2022, was released in December 2023. In addition, three peer-reviewed manuscripts were published by Dr. Singer in 2023 covering the data collected from broiler chickens, turkeys and layers.
Given several key differences among broiler chickens, turkeys and layers — namely differences in weight, life span, susceptibility to lifetime illness, the number of effective medical treatments available, etc. — these data should neither be combined nor compared between types of poultry.
Key changes among broiler chickens during the 2013-2023 period include:
• Broiler chickens receiving antibiotics in the hatchery decreased from 90 percent (2013) to less than
1 percent (2023).
• Medically important in-feed antibiotic use in broiler chickens decreased substantially; there has been no in-feed tetracycline use since 2019, and virginiamycin use has decreased about 99 percent over the 11-year period.
• Medically important watersoluble antibiotic use in broiler chickens decreased substantially from 2013-2017 and has increased slightly from 2017-2023. Increases were typically due to increased disease incidence, as seen in other countries as well, during the 20192023 period:
• Penicillin use decreased by 64 percent from 2013-2019 but has increased 60 percent from 20192023 due to increases in gangrenous dermatitis incidence; overall, penicillin use decreased 42 percent from 2013-2023.
• lincomycin use decreased by 66 percent from 2013-2020 but has increased 11 percent from 2020-2023 due to increases in gangrenous dermatitis incidence; overall, lincomycin use decreased 62 percent from 2013-2023.
• Tetracycline use decreased by 70 percent since 2013.
• Sulfonamide use decreased by 82 percent since 2013.
Key changes among turkeys during the 2013-2023 period include:
• Turkeys receiving antibiotics in the hatchery decreased from 97 percent (2013) to approximately 40 percent (2023).
• Hatchery gentamicin use de-
creased approximately 48 percent from 2013 to 2023.
• Medically important in-feed antibiotic use in turkeys decreased substantially; in-feed tetracycline use decreased more than 58 percent over the 11-year period.
• Medically important watersoluble antibiotic use in turkeys decreased substantially from 2013-2019 and then stabilized or increased from 2019-2023. Increases were typically due to increased disease incidence, as seen in other countries as well, during the 2019-2023 period:
• Penicillin use decreased by almost 53 percent since 2013.
• Lincomycin use decreased by 58 percent from 2013 to 2019 but then increased substantially from 2020-2023 due to increases in gangrenous dermatitis incidence and a shortage of penicillin.
• Neomycin use decreased by 53 percent since 2013.
• Tetracycline use decreased 19 percent overall from 20132023, but there was an increase from 2019-2023, largely due to increases in colibacillosis and secondary infections following avian metapneumovirus exposure.
Key findings among layer chickens during the 2016-2023 period include:
• Layer chickens (hens) typically begin laying eggs around 20 weeks of age and end when the layer hen is around 80 to 100 weeks of age.
• Table egg production is similar to milk production, where the
product for human consumption is produced on a daily basis. Most antibiotics that could be administered to layer hens have withdrawal periods that would prevent all eggs produced during this period from entering the food supply. This is one reason why little antibiotic is used in table egg production in the U.S.
• All chicks in the dataset received gentamicin in the hatchery (day 1 of age).
• In the U.S., the majority of chicks purchased by egg companies are sourced from hatcheries that are owned and operated by genetics companies.
• The primary medically important antibiotic used in layer hens for treatment and control of disease in this dataset was chlortetracycline (CTC), used in part because it has a zero-day withdrawal, meaning that there is no loss of eggs during the treatment period.
• CTC was only administered via the feed in pullets (day 2 through 16 to 18 weeks of age) and layer hens.
• The majority (>95 percent) of CTC was used in the layer hens for treatment of disease, and no pullets in the dataset were given CTC in the feed during 2022 or 2023.
• Less than 0.1 percent of total hen-days were exposed to CTC.
USPOULTRY notes that it will continue to support Singer in the annual collection of data from the broiler chicken, turkey and layer industries, adding that these efforts will assist the poultry industry as it aims to improve antibiotic stewardship and will also document the burden of flock illness and reasons for on-farm, medically important antibiotic usage.
This project is funded with multiple annual grants from USPOULTRY. The project was also partly supported from 2016 to 2023 under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Beginning in September 2024, a new cooperative agreement between FDA-CVM and Singer was initiated, thus continuing the public-private partnership for this effort.
