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Third HPAI dairy cattle spillover case gets identified by APHIS
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
WASHINGTON — There is a reported third spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cattle, confirmed by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Feb. 13. The agency notes that HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 was detected in Arizona dairy cattle as “a result of state tracing and investigation, following an initial detection on silo testing under the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy.”
APHIS, along with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, will continue on-farm testing and investigating to gain additional information to stop any further the spread of the virus.
“The detection of this virus genotype in dairy cattle is not unexpected, because genotype D1.1 represents the predominant genotype in the North American flyways this past fall and winter and has been identified in wild birds, mammals, and spillovers into domestic poultry,” APHIS said in a statement.“Whole genome sequencing indicates that this detection is a separate wild bird introduction of HPAI to dairy cattle, now the third identified spillover event into dairy cattle.”
“This finding may indicate an increased risk
of HPAI introduction into dairies through wild bird exposure,” APHIS added. “Biosecurity is still key to mitigate the risk of disease introduction or spread between premises; APHIS recommends enhanced biosecurity measures for all dairy farms. Producers should immediately report any livestock with clinical signs, or any unusual sick or dead wildlife to their state veterinarian.”
There are now a total of 36 states enrolled
in the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy. These states will equal bulk milk tank sample testing for approximately three-quarters of the U.S. milk production.
On Feb. 14, APHIS reported that in the past 30 days there have been 36 new confirmed HPAI cases at dairy milking cow premises in four states. California has had 28 new cases in the past 30 days; Nevada has had 6 new cases; with one in Michigan and one in Arizona.
Shortages force stores to limit egg purchases
EMILY PARCELL
Poultry Times Content Writer
emilyparcell@poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Some large grocery store chains are limiting the number of eggs consumers can purchase because of shortages caused by bird flu cases around the nation.
Trader Joe’s has limited customers to one dozen per customer, per day, to combat the rising egg shortage.
“We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s,” Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s, explained.
Trader Joe’s is not the only grocery chain limiting consumer egg purchases, however. Walmart has specified that its limitation only applies to 60-count cartons when purchased online.
“We have not imposed any purchase limits nationally — (except for on a 60-count carton only) — which we’ve limited to 6 per purchase
online only — no limit in store) — to help ensure more customers can have access to eggs,” Tricia Moriarty, a Walmart spokesperson, said.
“Although supply is very tight, we’re working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand, while striving to keep prices as low as possible.”
Others have implemented regional limitations. According to an email from Erin Rolfes, spokesperson for Kroger, “. . . we do not have an enterprise-wide limit on egg purchases; however, some divisions have two dozen per customer, per trip limits.”
The bird flu outbreak has caused some members of the public to question if poultry products are safe to consume. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms in an article published on its website,“Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza A viruses.”
So far, none of the stores have expressed a timeframe for limitations on egg purchases.
24 News
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Viewpoints
“The partnerships we foster will impact the longterm success of our industry and the people who contribute to it.”
12 | Zoetis gets conditional license from USDA for HPAI vaccine
8 | Bird flu strategies: Vaccines and export assurances sought with new Ag Secretary 2025 MARCH
MAR 2-4 — COMMODITY
CLASSIC, Denver, Colo. Contact: https://commodityclassic.com.
MAR 4-6 — FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Hot Springs, Ark. Contact: The Poultry Federation, 321 South Victory Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72201; Ph: 501375-8131; info@thepoultryfederation.com; www.thepoul-
23 | NPFDA gives Mariss Hans its 2025 Member of the Year award
24 | New NPFDA president to start in March
26 | How the egg industry is facing current challenges, looking ahead
28 | More aMPV vaccines approved for import
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MAR 6 — NEBRASKA
POULTRY INDUSTRIES 55TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Omaha Marriott Regency, Omaha, Neb. Contact: Nebraska Poultry Industries, 521 First St., P.O. Box 10, Milford, Neb. 68405; Ph: 531-7397415; alyssa@nepoultry.org; www.nepoultry.org.
MAR 9-11 — NGFA 129th ANNUAL CONVENTION, Carlsbad, Calif. Contact: National Feed & Grain Association, 1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 260, Arlington, Va. 22202; Ph: 202-289-0873; www. ngfa.org.
22 | Mike Giles receives NPFDA Lifetime Achievement award
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Bird flu strategies
Vaccines, export assurances sought with new Ag Secretary
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor
WASHINGTON — Shortly following the announcement of Brooke Rollins being sworn in as the new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, congressional members and industry groups reached out to her office expressing concerns about poultry exports, vaccines, and strategies to deal with the current situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The co-chairs of the U.S. Senate and Congressional “Chicken Caucuses” sent a letter to Rollins’ office at USDA on Feb. 13 which seeks some assurances about the protection of U.S. poultry exports.
“With the recent attention around increased egg prices due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), there have been renewed conversations about whether the U.S. should vaccinate our commercial poultry flocks against the virus. However, there should be a very clear distinction between all ‘poultry’ to protect America’s family farmers and global trading relationships. To be clear, vaccination in any poultry sector — egg layers, turkeys, broilers, or ducks — will jeopardize the entire export market for all U.S. poultry products,” wrote U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.) and U.S. Reps. Steve Womack (RArk.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) in their joint letter.
The congressional members added that broilers, “or chickens raised for meat, are an entirely separate industry from the egg-laying sector, with distinct supply chains, geographic footprints, housing structure, bird lifespans, biosecurity practices, and trade portfolios. Since the start of the current outbreak in 2022, of the more than 150 million birds affected, more than 77 percent have been commercial egg-laying hens, 12 percent commercial turkeys, and 8 percent commercial broilers, according to USDA. The other impacted species have been ducks, backyard poultry, and game birds.”
Poultry industry representative organizations, and the caucus members, note that the use of such control methods as vaccinations would lead to a detrimental impact on poultry exports, which is a vital segment for U.S. poultry.
“The problem is that most U.S. trading partners do not recognize countries that vaccinate as ‘free of HPAI’ due to concerns that vaccines can mask the presence of the virus,” the caucus members wrote. “Therefore, U.S. trading partners do not accept exports from countries that vaccinate, either for specific product categories, regions that vaccinate, or for all poultry from the country. In other words, if an egg-laying hen in Michigan is vaccinated for HPAI, it’s unclear to the rest of the U.S. poultry industry
whether our trading partners would accept an unvaccinated broiler chicken from Mississippi.”
The U.S. exports more than 15 percent of its annual poultry production every year with a value of approximately $5 billion, the congressional members added.
“This is what is at stake in the HPAI vaccine discussion: a potential $10-plus billion annual loss to the U.S. economy and American broiler farmers feeling a huge brunt when they have been the least affected by HPAI,” the letter added. “While some trading partners may levy temporary restrictions, others could be indefinite. A widescale HPAI vaccination program in the U.S., without first strengthening our animal health trade agreements, could cause our trading partners to take action that would significantly harm our domestic poultry sector.”
“We strongly agree that as the administration contemplates an HPAI strategy, any such action be predicated with robust trade protections for America’s broiler producers,” Harrison Kircher, National Chicken Council president, said. “The potential export losses that are likely to occur as a result of vaccination would have a devastating impact on thousands of family farmers who raise the birds. The industry least affected by bird flu stands the most to lose here.”
Vaccine development
Simultaneously as the caucus letter, a group of four industry groups also sent a letter to Secretary Rollins at USDA urging a meeting to discuss the development of safe and effective H5Nx vaccinations for egg-laying hens, turkeys, and dairy cattle.
“We are writing today to request that USDA and its federal partners bring a new sense of urgency and preparedness to the ongoing response by supporting the development of effective H5Nx vaccinations for dairy cows, turkeys, and egg-laying hens that can be deployed to ensure this virus does not continue to negatively impact U.S. public and animal health,” wrote Dr. Michael Sykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association; Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation; Chad Gregory, president and CEO of the United Egg Producers; and Leslee Oden, president and CEO of the National Turkey Federation.
“We urge USDA to complete the ongoing safety and efficacy field trials work led by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to evaluate vaccines that are effective in addressing H5Nx in commercial poultry and dairy cattle, and to conduct concurrent comprehensive risk assessments for each,” the group added. “Any approved vaccine must be effective against current and future strains of H5Nx and economically feasible for farmers and operators.”
“It is imperative that a science-based surveillance strategy be developed in which infected animals can be distinguished from vaccinated animals, and that any validated, risk-based surveillance strategy must be agreed upon by our international trading partners,” the letter notes. “USDA must remain dedicated to engaging with our international trading partners to ensure our trade policies reflect the new realities of a world that is constantly combating H5Nx.”
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Brooke Rollins confirmed as 33rd US Ag Secretary
DAVID B. STRICKLAND
Poultry
Times Editor
dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com
WASHINGTON — Brooke Rollins was confirmed on Thursday, Feb. 13, as the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. President Donald Trump’s nominee for the top agriculture post to lead the USDA received a 72 to 28 vote by the U.S. Senate.
Rollins, an attorney, was most recently president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. During President Trump’s previous term, she served as the director of the United States Domestic Policy Council and director of the White House Office of American Innovation from 2018 to 2020. A native of Glen Rose, Texas, Rollins also worked with Texas Gov. Rick Perry as deputy counsel, ethics advisor and policy director. She and her husband, Mark, and their four children currently reside in Fort Worth, Texas.
Rollins is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural development. Along with being a Texas native, she notes that she also worked summers on her family’s Minnesota farm helping out with the corn, soybean and potato crops.
According to her bio with the American First Policy Institute, Rollins is a supporter of strengthening food security through domestic production, reducing regulatory burdens, as well as empowering rural communities with infrastructure investments. It adds that she opposes many of the environmental policies that were included with what has been labeled the “Green New Deal.” She is also against governmental outreach that seeks to undermine property rights and overregulation of agricultural practices; as well as what she deems as increased food costs associated with federal policies.
“Brooke Rollins’ confirma -
tion as Secretary of Agriculture reflects President Trump’s vision for empowering American farmers, strengthening rural communities, and ensuring our agricultural sector remains a cornerstone of our nation’s prosperity,” The White House noted on its Facebook page.
In November, when it was reported that she was the selection for agriculture secretary, Rollins noted on social media that, “It will be the honor of my life to fight for America’s farmers and our Nation’s agricultural communities. This is big stuff for a smalltown ag girl from Glen Rose, Texas — truly the American Dream at its greatest.”
Ag industry reaction
The poultry, meat, feed, and agricultural representative groups are all expressing their thoughts on Rollins becoming the new secretary of agriculture.
“On behalf of America’s chicken producers, I want to congratulate Ms. Rollins on today’s well-deserved confirmation to be our next Secretary of Agriculture,” Harrison Kircher, National Chicken Council president, said. “I know she will be a strong advocate for our nation’s agricultural communities and will fight for
America’s farmers and food producers.”
“During the last four years, the Biden administration has imposed a non-scientific and costly regulatory agenda on the chicken industry,” Kircher added. “We are eager to get to work with Secretary Rollins and her team to advance policies that strengthen the chicken industry and more importantly, provide relief to American consumers who have been struggling with inflation and high food prices.”
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council President and CEO Greg Tyler noted that Rollins, “will be instrumental in shaping policies that support our farmers, strengthen rural communities, and ensure a sustainable future for American agriculture. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead of us in growing our global markets and look forward to her guidance in helping us to increase U.S. poultry and egg exports. We look forward to the positive impact her leadership will bring.”
“We are confident that Secretary Rollins’ unique experience will be invaluable in addressing challenges and supporting the turkey industry,” the National Turkey Federation noted. “As she assembles her team, NTF looks forward to working closely with her to share industry priorities and collaborate on initiatives that benefit the American turkey industry and consumers alike.”
Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute, said, “Brooke Rollins’ passion for agriculture is clear and we know she will be a strong advocate for the entire agriculture and food value chain from production to harvest and beyond. We look forward to working with her on issues important to the meat and poultry industry, which are important to consumers, producers, rural communities and the economic and national security of our nation.”
“We will work with Secretary Rollins to ensure the Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus is
on improving dietary habits with real world recommendations,” Potts added. “It is important to provide clear dietary guidance to consumers on how they can include the meat products they need and want in their diets and also produce a positive, measurable health impact.”
“On behalf of our 650 members in the U.S. animal food industry, we extend our congratulations to Secretary Rollins for her appointment to lead the USDA,” Constance Cullman, American Feed Industry Association president and CEO, said. “With 5,650 animal food manufacturing facilities across the country, generating over $267.1 billion in total sales, our industry is the vital link between crop and animal agriculture. Just as our customers rely on us to keep animals fed, we rely on government leaders like Secretary Rollins’ commitment to support the long-term economic growth of this essential sector at home and abroad.”
“With the constant threat of animal disease, we will continue our calls for the USDA to have the resources it needs to not only improve agricultural research and mitigate disease risks, but to create a best-in-class animal disease preparedness and response network,” Cullman added. “We hope that the agency will continue its efforts to harmonize the regulatory framework across the agencies responsible for bringing novel human and animal nutrition-improving technologies to market.”
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew noted that, “USDA plays a critical role in serving agriculture effectively and equitable. I look forward to working with Secretary Rollins to address the priorities NFU members continue to elevate: strengthening risk management tools for farmers, ensuring fairness in the marketplace, supporting the next generation of producers, protecting independent family farms from corporate concentration, expanding conservation programs that improve soil health and reduce input costs, advancing mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, and securing policies that ensure farmers receive a fair share of the food dollar.”
(Continued on next page)
EMILY PARCELL
Poultry activity suspension for Ga. lifted Waffle House imposes an egg surcharge amidst rising costs
Poultry Times
Content Writer
emilyparcell@ poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The suspension on poultry activities in Georgia has been lifted, as well as the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Control Areas following successful completion of testing and protocols with no further detections.
“I’m excited to announce that both commercial poultry producers in the control area and poultry enthusiasts across our state can return to normal operations,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper, said in a release. “While this announcement is a great step in the right direction, HPAI remains a significant threat to our #1 industry, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will continue working around the clock to protect our state’s flocks and to keep prices as low as possible for Georgia consumers.”
This comes less than a month after the initial positive HPAI test was recorded in the Elbert County area and led to the subsequent suspensions of poultry activities in the state.
“In response to these detec-
tions, the Georgia Department of Agriculture immediately suspended all poultry activities involving live birds including sales at auction, flea or livestock markets, meetups, swaps, and exhibitions,” GDA said in its release.
“Following the release of the control area, the suspension has been lifted, and poultry activities may resume as normal.”
In Poultry Times’ article on Jan. 17, the GDA noted that, “In an effort to contain the outbreak, all commercial poultry operations within a 10 Kilometer (6.2 mile) radius have been placed under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for a period of at least two weeks.”
On Feb. 10, the department added, “Every commercial operation within the control area was subjected to increased testing and movement controls based on their proximity to the affected premises. In response to this event, GPLN (the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network) staff completed 4,541 tests representing 49,951 individual chickens and hundreds of flocks with no additional detections of HPAI.”
However, the affected premises in Elbert County, Ga., will remain under quarantine until further notice.
(Continued from previous page)
Corey Rosenbusch, The Fertilizer Institute president and CEO, said, “She has a proven track record of leadership and policy expertise that will serve the agricultural sector as we address the challenges and opportunities ahead. Secretary Rollins’ personal connection to agriculture and her professional achievements ensure she will hit the ground
EMILY PARCELL
Poultry Times Content Writer
emilyparcell@ poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE,
Ga. — On Monday, Feb. 3, Waffle House announced a new 50 cent surcharge per egg at its quick service restaurant locations. This comes after a spike in egg prices due to the newest strain of the H5N1 bird flu. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has led to the depopulation of nearly 23 million birds across the nation in the last 30 days.
The Waffle House chain, which has about 2,100 locations, and according to its website serves approximately 272 million eggs a year, adds that it is continually monitoring the situation and will amend or remove the surcharge as market conditions change.
Looking at egg prices and product shortages, the Mississippi State University Extension Service, recently released information explaining the current
egg price situation.
The USDA has reported, “the national average for a dozen eggs was $6.70 on Jan. 31 – more than 60 percent higher than just six weeks before on Dec. 20, 2024, when the average was $4.07 per dozen,” Robert Nathan Gregory, MSU Extension, notes.
During the holiday season there is a higher demand for eggs, however this does decrease again in the “off-season,” but prices are still climbing higher. Dr. Joshua Gilchrist Maples, an agricultural economist with the MSU Extension Service and MSU associate professor, expressed some hope for the future of egg prices with higher prices in the short term but lower prices potentially by the summer. But a deciding factor may be the situation with bird flu.
“Producers will try to expand their flocks because of the high prices and incentive to produce more eggs, and consumers are also likely to cut back somewhat on egg purchases because of the high prices,” Maples said. “Both of those factors would suggest lower prices in the future, but the wild card is HPAI. Producers have the incentive to expand, but future HPAI outbreaks among egg-laying flocks would impact that expansion.”
running as a strong advocate for farmers, ranchers, and the agribusiness community; and her leadership, vision and dedication to agriculture will undoubtedly drive progress and innovation at the USDA.”
“Rollins’ policy crafting experience and passion for opportunities for agriculture will contribute tangible impacts for American farmers and ranchers and people around the globe who enjoy U.S. food products,” Ted
McKinney, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO, said. “NASDA is enthusiastic to work with the secretary on our priorities including increasing economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers and food producers, advancing a new farm bill, improving Americans’ access to nutrient-dense foods and ensuring American agriculture can continue to provide the most secure, affordable and nutritious food supply in the world.”
POULTRY
New NPFDA chair: Chan Windham, House of Raeford, the new chair of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association, speaks to the attendees of the group’s recent Annual Convention and Showcase in Atlanta, Ga.
Photo by David B. Strickland Poultry Times
Connect, grow and thrive Reflections from NPFDA’s 2025 chair
BY CHAN WINDHAM National Protein & Food Distributors Association
Chan Windham, vice president of sales of House of Raeford Farms, is the 2025 chair of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association.
ST. MARYS, Ga. — I am incredibly excited to be the National Protein and Food Distributors Association’s (NPFDA) chair this year and represent an industry I have been a part of for 33 years.
I started from the ground up, working in a new plant start-up for Perdue Farms, hoping to get an opportunity in sales. This came in 1995 when I was named assistant sales manager at House of Raeford’s West Columbia, S.C. complex. I later moved to Green-
ville, S.C., as sales manager. Since 2023, I have been honored to be the vice president of sales, with overall responsibility for the ready-to-cook, cooked products, and international divisions.
My goal as chair is to further advance NPFDA by working with an incredibly diverse and talented team. This will be a milestone year for NPFDA. President Cece Corbin will continue with part-time responsibilities, with Wendy Kavanagh, CEO, assuming leadership. Wendy brings close to 30 years of association management expertise to NPFDA, most recently with the Georgia Society of Association Executives. Wendy’s excitement and leadership, with her team of Cece and Carol, offer tremendous support for me. NPFDA was formed in 1967 when a group of independent poultry and protein distribu-
tors gathered to discuss the fast-changing concepts of their business. They knew that there was no organization in the country that could deal with the exclusive problems of their industry. It was through these discussions that the National Independent Poultry and Food Distributors Association – or “NIPFDA” – came to be. By membership vote in January 2021, NPFDA revised “poultry” to the more expansive “protein” and became the National Protein and Food Distributors Association (NPFDA). With this important name change, we are ready to welcome all throughout the protein industry.
“The partnerships we foster will impact the long-term success of our industry and the people who contribute to it.”
NPFDA now encompasses more than 300 member companies including distributors, processors, brokers, and allied firms like cold storage and logistics organizations. NPFDA is committed to fostering collaboration, partnerships, and knowledge-sharing within our membership.
Further supporting NPFDA’s mission, the board for directors is made up of very strong and dedicated people I am excited to be a part of. From large companies to smaller, privately owned organizations, NPFDA’s board represents the variety of the industry’s constituents.
NPFDA is known as the industry leader in connecting buyers and sellers across the protein industry.
Our three annual events are rewarding and popular venues to form and nurture these relationships. The NPFDA Annual Convention and Showcase takes place in January at the same time as the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). This January, we were excited to have more than 1,200 at-
tendees join us. NPFDA offers members the opportunity to book hotel rooms in the center of the action at our headquarters hotel, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
The annual NPFDA Spring Exchange is a member favorite. The event comprises discussions focusing on current topics of interest, accompanied by a guided site tour of a location pertinent to our industry. The Spring Exchange is a great way to spend quality time with like-minded people.
This year’s exchange will be held at the Worthington Renaissance in Fort Worth, Texas, and will feature a tour of nearby BNSF Railyard and Lineage facilities, as well as an evening at Billy Bob’s Texas, billed as “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk.”
NPFDA’s Fall Meeting offers another fantastic opportunity to build relationships with other members and is always hosted at a premier destination. To me, this meeting proves to be highly valuable, featuring engaging discussions at our round tables, insightful speakers, and an excellent opportu-
nity for networking and shared experiences. New members looking to start or expand their industry network receive a 50 percent discount on registration. This year’s event will be hosted in scenic Providence, Rhode Island.
Finally, one of NPFDA’s most important benefits is our annual scholarship program through the NPFDA Scholarship Foundation. This is a benefit for family members of NPFDA member company employees to apply for college or trade school scholarships. We raise money to fund these scholarships during our Silent Auction each January at the annual convention and raise donations throughout the year. In 2024, we were proud to assist eight scholars with their higher education.
It is my privilege to serve and lead NPFDA in this year of expanded growth and opportunities. The partnerships we foster will impact the long-term success of our industry and the people who contribute to it.
Here’s looking forward to a fantastic 2025!
Zoetis gets conditional license from USDA for HPAI vaccine BUSINESS
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Zoetis announced on Feb. 13 that it received a conditional license from the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics for its “Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus” for use in chickens.
“Our scientists routinely update our vaccines, and they began working on an updated Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) vaccine in 2022 when a new strain was iden-
(Continued from page 7)
“We have confidence that USDA and its federal partners — in consultation with leaders from our industries — can create a policy environment that is conducive to the continued free flow of U.S. dairy, turkey and egg product exports once H5Nx vaccines are available for deployment,
tified in the U.S.,” the company stated, adding that, “The decision to vaccinate commercial poultry flocks rests solely with national regulatory authorities in consultation with their local poultry sector. Zoetis has several decades of experience developing vaccines for avian influenza in multiple countries and remains committed to supporting poultry producers by providing scientific solutions for HPAI.”
but these international conversations must be accelerated,” the groups wrote, adding that, “if this virus continues to circulate among dairy herds, turkey and egg layer operations, wild mammals, wild birds, and people working closely with birds and dairy cows, it will remain a significant and imposing threat to
Conditional approvals are noted to be used in emergency cases for a finite time with limited availability.
More details will be reported as they become available.
our nation’s food security, and, therefore, our national security.”
Vaccine announcement
On the development of specific vaccines, on Feb. 13, Zoetis announced that it has received a
conditional license from USDA for a H5N2 subtype killed virus vaccine.
USDA researchers have been conducting trials with four vaccine candidates for a couple of years. But the agency continues to stress that biosecurity practices remain the best defense against the virus.
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Perdue Farms continues support for North Carolina Center for Poultry Education’s mission of ag education
PINETOPS, N.C. — Second-generation Perdue Farms poultry farmer Steven Brake is passionate about educating the next generation on where their food comes from and agriculture’s role in feeding the world. So much that he created the North Carolina Center for Poultry Education on his farm in 2019 in Pinetops, N.C.
To help Brake continue his mission to educate thousands of students and anyone else interested in understanding the processes involved in food production, Perdue Farms has invested $15,000 in the nonprofit Center for Poultry Education. Brake is an independent contract poultry farmer raising chickens for Perdue Farms, which helped support the Center’s creation.
“I realize the importance of transparency and sharing who we are as farmers and how we care for our animals, because there is a lot of misinformation out there,” Brake said. “We appreciate the partnership with Perdue and commitment to openly demonstrate transparency and foster discussion.”
The investment is funded through
the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the company’s charitable giving partner, and aligns with its Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors® outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities.
The North Carolina Center for Poultry Education is a collaboration with Perdue Farms, the North Carolina Agriculture Department and three North Carolina universities, focusing on cultivating agricultural education and advocacy. The facility has hosted international trade delegations, teaching about the U.S. poultry industry and answering questions about U.S. poultry management, Brake noted. The center has hosted more than 2,500 individuals since opening.
NCCPE wants to develop scholarships for agriculture students,
INTRODUCING THE 2025 NPFDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTRODUCING THE 2025 NPFDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chan Windham House of
Greg Morgan Qurich Foods
Ada Brewster, Bay and Bay
Adam DeGroot, DeGroot Logistics
Adam Ferguson, HPL
Bruce Mooney, Mountaire Farms
Chris Sharp, Kelly's Foods
Christie Proctor, Pilgrim's
Dylan Hughes, Urner Barry by Expana
Graham Kirkman, Tip Top Poultry
Jamie Wally, WOW Logistics
Jesus Flores, Trophe Ingredients
Jim Richardson, Perdue Farms
Justin Monfredini, Pacagri Foods
Kevin Grindle, Mar-Jac Poultry
Kyle Richard, The Best Dressed Chicken
Lee Neal, Plains Dedicated
Mariss Hans, Foodlinx
Oliver Hoad, Environ
Phil White, Holmes Foods
Scott Robbert, EJ Poultry
Tim Rathert, Quaker Valley Foods
Vanderbilt Edwards, Americold
Vincent Mennella, Mennella's Poultry
Laurie Pate Foodlinx
Barry Moose Koch Foods
Raeford Farms
conduct STEM tours for FFA students, 4-H and community outreach programs, Brake said.
NCCPE will use the Perdue grant to provide housing for college interns studying at the center, he said, explaining that the universities where the center usually recruits are 90 minutes from NCCPE, making commuting impractical. Brake said the Perdue grant will also be used for a main entrance sign to create a positive first impression.
Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, said NCCPE is a prime resource for the agricultural industry.
“The center teaches the importance of agriculture and fosters agricultural education and aligns with the company’s priority of transparency with all our stakeholders,” Nechay said. “The Perdue Foundation is proud to support the vital service the center provides.”
To learn more, a video is available at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jjRdhVqGuiY.
CoBank: How shifting consumer demand patterns are contributing to high egg prices
DENVER — U.S. consumers are facing a prolonged period of higher egg prices that will likely extend through the Easter holiday and well into 2025, CoBank analysts report. Rising egg prices and increased volatility in the market are largely attributable to supply challenges brought on by highly pathogenic avian influenza. Since the current outbreak began impacting U.S. poultry farms in 2022, nearly 100 million table egg laying hens have been affected.
However, HPAI is not the only factor contributing to the supply and demand imbalance driving egg prices higher. Consumer demand
Claxton Poultry Farms would like to congratulate this year’s NPFDA award winners:
Achievement Award Mikes Giles – Georgia Poultry Federation Member of the year
for eggs has skyrocketed in recent years, with per capita consumption growing 20 percent from 2016-2019. Demand has also shifted away from conventional eggs as more consumers are choosing cage-free and other types of specialty eggs – further complicating the supply challenges. As well, nine states have enacted laws that require eggs sold in their states to be from cage-free hens.
According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the increase in overall demand for eggs, combined with the growing preference for specialty eggs, is exacerbating the impact of tight supplies precipitated by HPAI. The confluence of all three factors is prolonging the timeline for bringing egg supply and demand into closer alignment. Until then, retail egg prices will remain elevated.
“Egg demand was relatively stable in the early 2000s and seasonality played a much bigger role in peak demand periods than it does today,” Brian Earnest, CoBank lead animal protein economist, said “While seasonality remains an influencing factor, egg use has grown dramatically over the last 20 years. Eggs have become a staple item for innovation in quick-service restaurant entrees, and marketing trends like the emergence of all-day breakfast have significantly boosted egg demand.”
Rising demand for cage-free eggs has also outpaced supply in recent years. Currently, more than 120 million or roughly 40 percent of the table egg layers in U.S. commercial flocks are housed in cage-free production systems. That compares with just 30 million layers housed in cage-free systems in 2015. While the growth in supply of cage-free
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eggs has been substantial, more will be needed to adequately meet demand projections.
Total egg laying hen inventories, including conventionally raised hens, have not been substantially depleted from where they were at the beginning of the HPAI outbreak. Commercial operators who have been impacted have moved swiftly to repopulate hens. Through January 2025, the U.S. egg industry has 8 percent fewer egg-laying hens than it did two years ago. But HPAI has evolved to become a persistent, year-round threat to production, CoBank added.
“The last widespread outbreak of HPAI in 2015 was largely seasonal with most cases occurring during the winter and spring migration periods for wild birds,” Earnest added. “That seasonality appears to be gone. During the current outbreak, HPAI has been detected in birds or other species nearly every month since the outbreak began in February 2022.”
Alltech launches Planet of Plenty LLC to advance agricultural storytelling, advocacy, education
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Alltech has launched Planet of Plenty LLC, a new business entity dedicated to science-led storytelling, advocacy and educational initiatives that amplify agriculture’s vital role in creating a sustainable future.
This initiative builds on Alltech’s vision of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty®, which unites the agri-food community in creating a world where agriculture thrives, nutritious food is abundant and accessible, and our planet’s natural resources are replenished for generations to come, the company notes.
While most families had ties to agriculture just two generations ago, many people today lack firsthand exposure to how the world’s food is produced, Alltech said, adding that this disconnect can lead to misconceptions and oversimplified narratives about agriculture’s environmental impact, the role of farmers in creating climate solutions, and the complexity of feeding a growing population while protecting natural resources.
Through powerful storytelling, advocacy and educational initiatives, Planet of Plenty LLC aims to bridge that gap.
“Through Planet of Plenty LLC, we can take viewers on a global journey — into fields, research labs and farming communities — where they will see firsthand the intricate relationship between agriculture, the environment and food and economic security,” Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech president and CEO, said.
Planet of Plenty will serve as a collaborative hub where those within the agri-food community and beyond can:
• Promote science-based storytelling.
• Advocate for the world’s agri-food producers.
• Support educational initiatives.
• Broaden the conversation about agriculture’s role in shaping a more sustainable future.
Planet of Plenty’s flagship project is World Without Cows, a feature-length documentary that amplifies the diverse perspectives of researchers studying methane emissions, farmers implementing regenerative practices, experts tackling the challenge of nourishing a growing population, and people in rural communities who rely on cows for their livelihoods. Co-created by two award-winning journalists who now work at Alltech, World Without Cows takes viewers on a global journey to foster a deeper understanding of everything cows contribute — and what the world might look like without them.
During the past six months, World Without Cows has been screened at film festivals and events worldwide, sparking a broader discussion about the essential role of agriculture in sustainability, food security and the global economy, Alltech said.
Through collaboration with Alltech’s in-house media team and extensive global network, Planet of Plenty will continue to create visually compelling, deeply informative content that accurately portrays modern agriculture’s complexities and opportunities — using science-based insights and storytelling to engage with audiences, just as World Without Cows has done around the world, the company said.
As interest in World Without Cows grows, this initiative offers supporters a mechanism to strengthen the documentary’s impact by opening doors to new audiences, Alltech said, adding that financial contributions to Planet of Plenty LLC will directly fund efforts to expand the documentary’s reach — and will also support additional science-based storytelling and advocacy initiatives that keep the conversation going.
“Agriculture’s most powerful stories are told by those on the frontlines,” Lyons said. “Driving meaningful change begins with awareness, understanding and broader conversations, which Planet of Plenty LLC will endeavor to cultivate.”
Cargill, BinSentry
KITCHENER, Ontario — Cargill and BinSentry have formalized a
partnership to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sensor technology to help Brazilian producers improve efficiency and control of their animal feed supply chain for healthier pork and poultry, and more profitable operations.
The agreement makes Cargill the exclusive distributor in Brazil of BinSentry’s animal feed inventory management platform. It builds on a partnership that began more than four years ago to market the companies’ leading-edge technology across North America to ensure producers, feed mills and their customers get the right feed at the right time, and in the right quantities, for their operations, the companies said.
Integrating BinSentry technology with Cargill’s expertise in sustainable food production will open up exciting opportunities for the Brazilian agrifood sector, said Marcelo Dalmagro, strategic marketing and technology leader for Cargill Animal Nutrition in South America.
“Cargill, a global leader with over 150 years of history, is proud to team up with BinSentry, a growing ag-tech innovator, to bring cutting-edge technology to Brazil that will help producers optimize their operations, increase the competitiveness of Brazilian agribusinesses and strengthen Brazil’s position as a leading exporter of pork and poultry,” Dalmagro said.
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Rabobank: Slower trade growth and ongoing price volatility expected with global poultry market
UTRECHT, Netherlands — According to RaboResearch’s recently published “World Poultry Map,” poultry trade flows have changed significantly since 2018 due to slower market growth, more trade restrictions, higher volatility, and the emergence of new players. Brazil has emerged as the main exporter, capturing 90 percent of global trade growth, with Thailand, China, Ukraine, and Russia also increasing their market presence. In the coming years, the market is expected to continue its slow growth trajectory, accompanied by persistent price volatility.
Between 2018 and 2023, global poultry meat trade grew by a modest 8 percent, or 1 million metric tons, Rabobank notes. This slow growth is attributed to several disruptions, including the Covid-19 pandemic, avian influenza, and African swine fever, which affected demand and trade. Global economic slowdown, high feed costs, and geopolitical tensions, such as the Ukraine war and trade frictions between Western countries and China, have further contributed to a volatile trade environment. Emerging markets’ focus on food security and limited new export market openings have also slowed growth.
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• Brazil: The leading exporter in a challenging market
In a market with limited increases in import volume, Brazil stands out as the clear winner, capturing nearly 90 percent of global poultry trade growth. According to Nan-Dirk Mulder, senior analyst–animal protein for RaboResearch, Brazil’s success is due to cost-competitive advantages and its strategic diversification of export markets. While countries like China, Mexico, the U.K., and the Philippines have increased imports, others, such as Saudi Arabia and South Africa, have reduced them due to the implementation of food security strategies. Meanwhile, Thailand, China, Ukraine, and Russia have expanded their exports, while the US and the EU have seen reductions.
The global poultry trade, valued at $32 billion ($48 billion including intra-EU trade), is dominated by Brazil, the U.S., the EU, Thailand, and China. Brazil leads with a 30 percent share of global trade by value, followed by the U.S. and the EU at 16 percent each. Brexit has boosted the EU’s market share by transforming the EU-UK trade stream into a global flow. Thailand ranks fourth with a 13 percent share, while China, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia complete the list of top exporters.
• Rising global trade value driven by higher prices
“Since 2020, the value of global poultry trade has increased by 20 percent to 25 percent, primarily due to higher prices, while trade volume growth has remained around 6 percent,” Mulder said. “The average poultry export price has risen from USD 1,400/metric ton in 2004 to USD 2,400/metric ton today.”
Factors such as export price inflation, higher production costs, a shift toward processed poultry, volatile shipping costs, and Brexit have influenced price levels, Rabobank notes. Thailand leads in export value, followed by China and Chile, due to their market access. The EU is next, benefiting from Brexit. Brazil, despite being the largest exporter, ranks in the middle for export value, with the US and
Argentina at the lower end.
“We expect global poultry to grow slowly, at a rate of 1 percent to 2 percent annually over the next five years,” Mulder added. “This slow pace is driven by food security strategies in key growth markets like Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, which may challenge major exporters.”
Geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and diseases like avian influenza will continue to impact trade, Rabobank said, adding that Brazil is expected to further increase its market share, while Thai and Chinese exports will grow above the market average. Russia and Ukraine may also expand their market presence, while Argentina could reemerge as a major exporter if economic conditions stabilize. Emerging players like Paraguay, Vietnam, Colombia, and South Africa may gradually gain traction in global trade.
Lineage and Port of New Orleans expand specialized capabilities for global food supply chain
NEW ORLEANS — The Port of New Orleans and Lineage Inc. announce newly added services for the global food supply chain. Inhouse USDA import inspections will now take place at Lineage’s Jourdan Road cold storage facility in New Orleans East. I-Houses, or import houses, are facilities that specialize in streamlined, on-site USDA inspection services for imported proteins.
The new import service complements Lineage’s existing USDA ex-
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port inspection services at its Jourdan Road facility, the company said.
Lineage has two, major cold-storage facilities at the Port of New Orleans. One is located at the Henry Clay Avenue Wharf in Uptown New Orleans. The other cold-storage complex is located on Jourdan Road in New Orleans East along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal.
Lineage entered the New Orleans market in 2020 by acquiring New Orleans Cold Storage as part of its acquisition of Emergent Cold. New Orleans Cold Storage was the oldest cold storage operator in North America, founded in 1885, the company added.
In 2021, a $42 million expansion of Lineage’s Jourdan Road facility was announced, growing from 160,000 square feet to 304,000 square feet. The project was completed in 2022. Additionally, through State of Louisiana and Port NOLA funding, an approximately $20 million investment in infrastructure updates is also being made to the Jourdan Road facility. Shipments from the cold-storage facilities of Lineage draw upon multiple Louisiana poultry producers including hatcheries, feed mills, broiler complexes, and processing plants.
“In addition to the new import services, we also continue to appreciate the value-added exports of Lineage that strengthen Louisiana’s $1.6 billion poultry industry, including nearly 300 commercial broiler producers throughout 11 parishes,” Beth Branch, Port NOLA president and CEO and New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) CEO, said. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with Lineage to continue to be a key player in the global food supply chain.”
Lineage’s two cold-storage facilities at the Port of New Orleans span more than 460,000 square feet and offer many ancillary services including blast freezing, as well as integrated transportation supply chain solutions.
“Streamlined inspection services are crucial for products like meat and poultry, which require 100 percent USDA inspection before hitting the market,” Brian Beattie, Lineage president, Western U.S. Op-
Attaining realizable sustainability goals was a key topic at Animal Ag Sustainability Summit
ATLANTA — Sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and the Meat Institute, the annual Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit offered key insights on collaboration and attaining realizable sustainability goals in addition to hearing the latest on how the meat, poultry and egg, and animal feed industries are advancing their sustainability programs.
The summit was held during the recent 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga.
The summit began with a keynote panel providing restaurant insights into sustainability and collaboration. The panel included PJ Newcomb, sustainability director working with Golden State Foods; Bryan Valladares, senior sustainability analyst, Darden Restaurants; and Lankford Ruffin, director of environmental affairs and sustainability at Butterball LLC.
The panel discussion covered topics such as animal welfare, carbon emissions, feed production footprint, and collaboration between customers, producers and suppliers. Newcomb remarked that “sustainability is a
erations, said. “Having this capability onsite helps get these products to market quickly and efficiently while meeting all regulatory requirements.”
“The Port of New Orleans and its strategic location are critical to helping feed the country and the world,” Beattie added. “Lineage hopes to bring additional business to New Orleans and serve customers importing beef, pork, exotic meats, and various seafood products with our new I-House capabilities.”
NPFDA Spring Exchange slated for Fort Worth April 2-4
SAINT MARYS, Ga. — The National Protein and Food Distributors Association is gearing up for its annual Spring Exchange meeting, Apr. 2-4, 2025, at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.
The association notes that the NPFDA Spring Exchange “is a unique opportunity for NPFDA members to learn more about our industry and interact with industry leaders. Attendees represent the diversity of NPFDA’s membership, including distributors, brokers, processors, and allied members.”
Among the activities on the agenda will include a tour of the BNSF Railway Alliance Intermodal Facility and Lineage Gold Spike Regional Distribution Center.
For more information or registration, contact NPFDA at www. npfda.org; Ph: 912-439-3603; or e-mail at carol@npfda.org.
PJ Newcomb, Golden State Foods; Bryan Valladares, Darden Restaurants; and Lankford Ruffin, Butterball LLC, participating in a panel discussion during the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit at the 2025 IPPE in Atlanta, Ga.
journey, not a destination” and that rules and requirements change frequently. Valladares said that “collaboration is key between producers and suppliers,” while Ruffin stated that “it is important for retailers to know where we are going.”
After the panel discussion, representatives from the meat, poultry and egg, and animal feed industries provided updates on their programs and tools aimed at advancing sustainable protein production. A key theme emphasized by industry leaders was the importance
of communication across the animal agriculture sector to achieve sustainability goals and effectively highlighting each organization’s contributions.
Speakers included Ryan Bennett, executive director of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance; Lara Moody, executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research; and Eric Mittenthal, chief strategy officer at the Meat Institute and The Protein PACT.
USPOULTRY photo
NPFDA elects new Board of Directors
ATLANTA — The National Protein and Food Distributors Association Board of Directors recently convened in Atlanta, Ga., to tap officers and welcome newly elected board members.
Chan Windham, House of Raeford Farms, is the new NPFDA chair, succeeding Laurie Pate, Foodlinx.
Greg Morgan, Quirch Foods, transitions to the role of vice chair after previously serving as treasurer. Barry Moose, Koch Foods, has been elected to serve as treasurer on the NPFDA Executive Committee.
Pate will remain on the board as immediate past chair.
As chair, Windham will lead the Board of Directors, which is responsible for establishing policy and providing guidance for NPFDA’s overall mission.
NPFDA is governed by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors comprised of industry professionals from across the country who represent protein companies, distributors, processing companies, and other related industries, the associated added. The board oversees the organization’s direction and works directly with the staff to facilitate its continued growth.
Board members will include: Ada Brewster, Bay and Bay; Adam Ferguson, HPL; Bruce
Mooney, Mountaire Farms; Chris Sharp, Kelly’s Foods; Christi Proctor, Pilgrim’s; Dylan Hughes, Urner Barry by Expana; Fernando Puentes, DeGroot Logistics; Graham Kirkman, Tip Top Poultry; Jamie Wally, WOW Logistics; Jesus Flores, Trophe Ingredients; Jim Richardson, Perdue Farms; Justin Monfredini, Pacagri Foods; Kevin Grindle, MarJac Poultry; Kyle Richard, The Best Dressed Chicken; Lee Neal, Plains Dedicated; Mariss Hans, Foodlinx; Oliver Hoad, Environ (formerly APPI Energy); Phil White, Holmes Foods; Scott Robbert, EJ Poultry; Tim Rathert, Quaker Valley Foods; Vanderbilt Edwards, Americold; and Vincent Mennella, Mennel-
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NPFDA Board of Directors: Shown are among those named by the National Protein and Food Distributors Association during its recent annual convention in Atlanta, Ga., to serve on its 2025 Board of Directors.
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Mike Giles receives NPFDA Lifetime Achievement award
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
ATLANTA — An individual known not only for his contributions promoting the state of Georgia’s poultry industry, but also the nation’s, was given a prestigious honor recently from the National Protein and Food Distributors Association.
Mike Giles, Georgia Poultry Federation president, was presented the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from NPFDA during the group’s recent Annual Convention and Showcase in Atlanta, Ga.
Giles, who has been with the GPF for 25 years, and has served as its president since 2009, was born into an agribusiness family in Unadilla, Ga. Giles’ parents operated the Giles & Hodge Farm Center, which was a cotton and peanut warehouse which sold feed, seed, chemicals and agriculture supplies to local farmers.
He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1983 and began work as an agriculture chemical sales associate with Sandoz Corp. in Texas. He returned to Georgia in 1986 and began work as an administrative aide for U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, where he remained until the senator’s retirement in 1997. During this tenure, Giles met his wife, Carla. They have been married since 1993. Next, Giles worked with UGA’s Alumni Association and later as the university’s executive assistant to the senior vice president for external affairs.
Giles, through his work with Nunn and UGA, got to know the legendary Abit Massey, who asked Giles if he would be interested in joining the Federation. This led to a 25-year relationship of friendship, mentorship and partnership. He notes that when people would say that he had some “big shoes to fill replacing Abit,” he would reply with, “I’ll just have to wear different shoes. No one can replace Abit.”
Several in the industry have responded with high regards to Giles receiving this year’s NPFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Mike Giles is a consummate professional who positively represents our industry daily in areas across the state of Georgia,” John Wright, executive vice president and chief operating officer with Fieldale Farms, said. “Whether it be in the halls of the state capitol or a Rotary lunch in South Georgia . . . Mike relays our industry’s work and investment in the continued success as the state’s largest industry.”
“Seems like yesterday the UGA Bulldog was selected to learn and follow Abit, and wow ahs the Unadilla pride taken the GPF to another level through his leadership,” Mack Guest, LAD
Truck Lines CEO, said. “Now he is the dean of lobbyists at the Capitol and the state. Congratulations on this award, it’s well-earned and deserving.”
Brad Respess, president and CEO of Tip Top Poultry, added, “Respect and admiration are commonplace when I talk to anyone about Mike. Mike Giles’ reach across the political spectrum and the industry in our state is a testament to the depth of his character. Carrying authentic humility and harnessed strength,
Above, Mike Giles, Georgia Poultry Federation president, is this year’s recipient of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Giles is joined here during the recent award ceremony in Atlanta, Ga., by his wife, Carla. At left, Giles received the National Protein and Food Distributors Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the group’s recent annual convention in Atlanta, Ga. Presenting Giles with the award is NPFDA 2025 Chair Chan Windham, House of Raeford.
Mike’s servant leadership allows him to effectively serve both our state and our industry in an unrivaled way.”
“I personally hold Mike in the highest esteem, mainly for who he is, but also for what he has done in the service of others,” Respess said. “Not only the Georgia industry but consumers across the nation owe Mike Giles gratitude for the work he has done to keep a commonsense approach to poultry production.”
Photos by David B. Strickland Poultry Times
NPFDA gives Mariss Hans its 2025 Member of the Year award
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
ATLANTA — The National Protein and Food Distributors Association awarded Mariss Hans, general manager with Foodlinx, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif., with its Member of the Year award during its recent Annual Convention and Showcase in Atlanta, Ga.
Hans, originally from the Philippines, graduated from De La Salle University in Manila in 2002. She, and her mother Amor De Leon, came to the U.S., also in 2002. In 2003, Richmond Wholesale Meat Co. hired her, where she worked for more than 12 and a half years. She next began work with Foodlinx, where she has been for the previous 10 years.
“Congratulations, Mariss! I couldn’t be prouder of you. Watching you grow and mentoring you over the past 10 years at Foodlinx has been an incredible pleasure,” Laurie Pate, Foodlinx president and CEO, as well as NPFDA’s 2024 chair, said. “From your start as sales manager, to your promotion as general man-
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NPFDA Member of the Year: Mariss Hans, Foodlinx, received the National Protein and Food Distributors Association’s Member of the Year award from Chan Windham, House of Raeford, incoming NPFDA chair, during the group’s recent Annual Convention and Showcase in Atlanta, Ga.
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ager, you’ve demonstrated remarkable perseverance, vision and leadership. Your award is a testament to your hard work and the positive impact you’ve had at Foodlinx and within NPFDA.”
Among Hans’ activities with NPFDA includes her involvement with the group’s Scholarship
Foundation Silent Auction Committee, that provides funding for the association’s scholarship winners. In 2024, Hans was selected as chair of the committee.
NPFDA adds that, “Mariss embodies what a NPFDA member should be. She is dedicated, dependable, and energetic!”
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New NPFDA president to start in March
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
ATLANTA — After six years at the helm of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association, Cece Corbin, will be, partially, retiring from the association in 2025. Wendy Kavanagh has been named Corbin’s successor.
When Corbin came on board in 2019 the head of the association’s staff was the executive director, a title that has since been changed to president and CEO. Corbin has worked with associations for more than 30 years, beginning with hotel group sales with a specialty in associations. She has been event manager with the Southern Association of Independent Schools; recognized numerous times for leadership with the Georgia Society of Association Executives, as well as the South Carolina Society of Association Executives. She has been named one of GSAE’s “Movers and Shakers,” received the GSAE Corporate Representative of the Year award, the group’s Outstanding Committee Chair award, as well as the SCSAE’s Outstanding Associate Member award. In 2024, Corbin was appointed to SCSAE’s Board of Directors as a memberat-large.
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as NPFDA’s president/CEO these past six years,” Corbin says. “The time has come to reprioritize my life, and I will be stepping back from a full-time role with NPFDA, effective March 31, 2025 . . . It is a fun and rewarding job with an amazing staff, supportive leadership and members who quickly become fast friends.”
The association notes that during Corbin’s tenure, membership, attendance and show participation have all noted an upturn. Among the specifics is the reintroduction of the industry breakfast during the annual convention that has featured prominent speakers within the protein industry. The group also touts increased revenue, fund-raising campaigns, scholarships and networking events, which have all seen an increase.
NPFDA’s new president/CEO, Wendy Kavanagh, comes to the association with more than 30 years’ experience as a nonprofit manager. Most recently she served as president of the Georgia Society of Association Executives. She has owned and operated the association management company, Tessera Association Management. She has also worked for the International Association for Financial Planning, Phi Mu Fraternity, and the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers.
“I’m energized to work collaboratively with the board, staff, and members to con-
David B. Strickland Poultry
Times
After six years of leadership, Cece Corbin, left, has announced her retirement from the role of president/CEO of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association in March. Wendy Kavanagh, right, has been named her successor and comes to the group from the Georgia Society of Association Executives.
tinue 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 voice in the representation of the industry.”
Chan Windham, House of Raeford Farms, and incoming NPFDA chair, said, “It was a team approach to find and hire Wendy. We had a buy-in from key members, and everyone agreed she was the top choice for this position.”
How the egg industry is facing its current challenges, looking ahead
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
ATLANTA — The topics of egg prices and supply shortages, is no longer like discussing what is the “elephant in the room.” It’s an industry point of discussion that changes and updates daily.
Poultry Times had the opportunity to sit down in an exclusive interview with Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, during the recent International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga., to talk about what is happening, as well as the importance of quelling the misinformation about the situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza.
“For us right now, the farmers are in the fight of their lives,” Metz said.“This virus, I think, has been a challenge like it always is, but during the last year it evolved. We had detections in dairy cattle that we did not expect or anticipate. And then we have wild birds change how they fly around in large part due to these extreme weather events.”
“All of this is making it necessary for us to invest more than we ever have before in how to understand this virus, bring new tools to bear to fight it for our farmers, and then explain what is going on to consumers because I think that they are getting battered by empty store shelves, shortages, prices, and it is our job to help bridge that gap and help them understand that we understand they are frustrated, our farmers are frustrated too, hang in there with us and hear what is going on,” she added.
The current hyper-focus on eggs, while not unique, is also not completely something that the industry expected for this year.
“We did not expect eggs to become a political football. I don’t think that anyone had that on their bingo card for last year,” Metz said. “It only makes it more necessary for us to connect to people and explain that this has nothing to do with politics. This has something to do with this deadly virus that we are fighting really hard every day.”
“We have to try to pierce the veil of truth and share it as much as possible,” she added. “We are going to be in it for a while, so, unfortunately, we are just going to have to continue to remind people again that this is what it is, this is why that it is the way that it is, and this is why it takes so long to recover. None of this is a quick fix.”
Finding innovative solutions on how to deal with HPAI has become a vital industry initiative.
“We are diverting a lot of our funds right
Poultry Times photo
Discussing the egg industry’s current situation with prices, bird flu, and more, Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, spoke with David Strickland, Poultry Times editor, in an exclusive interview during the recent International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
now, pretty rapidly, to fund new research on the virus, because that is something we can do immediately that is a big need that the industry has, and I think that we are also really hyper-focused on making sure that AEB is the source for media and consumers to help people get away from the silliness and misinformation and amping up the truth,” Metz said.
What the future holds
One of the many things that the AEB is known for is its creative consumer promotions, which will, for a while, be future initiatives.
“I think that a lot of our marketing and some of the fun things that we do are taking a little bit of a backseat right now,” she noted. “We have to be very conscious of how the consumer is feeling. We don’t want to be out there encouraging them to buy more eggs when we don’t have them. It is a balancing act that we are going to have to do for a while. But our long-term demand efforts are going to continue to be a huge focus for us.
“At some point, we are going to recover from this, and we are going to need a home for eggs. So, we are going to need to continue to build relationships overseas. At some point, we are
going to have more eggs than we are going to know what to do with.”
Metz added that U.S. egg farmers are facing this adversity with how they can increase and produce.
“If our farmers are going to do anything, we know that they are going to invest; they are going to buy more birds; they are going to build more barns; and we are going to have more eggs at some point,” she said. “We are going to have to find a home for those eggs. There are going to be opportunities for overseas growth, and we are going to continue to invest in those long-term demand efforts. It is going to be an interesting year.”
“The word I use with my team is — nimble. That is what we need to be is nimble to really pivot very quickly and support the industry in any way that it needs,” Metz said.
She also noted the challenges of promotion and support through what has become a challenging time.
“It has been a learning experience and a growth opportunity for me personally to really kind of shepherd an organization that’s sole focus is really marketing and promotion through a period where we are not going to be able to do that, but we can do other things,” she added. “We can really support our customers and consumers. And we can focus on how we can really be that support system for the industry. We are an extension of our farmer’s teams, and that is something that we take great pride in.”
One of AEB’s promotional efforts introduced this past year is the “Meant to be Broken” campaign. And Metz notes that this remains an important conceptual advancement tool.
“The point of Meant to be Broken is that it is this concept that can meet a lot of different influencers and promotional opportunities with a unifying theme,” she said. “And the whole idea is to challenge your preconceived notions about eggs, breaking it out of the breakfast meal, and rethinking and reshaping how you can do that, and it has become a rallying cry for the industry because industry is starting to say that we need to do things differently, to think about the world differently, and we have to challenge the notions of what eggs can do and be. And, especially now, we are probably going to have to break a few rules to fix what we are dealing with on the high-path side, and I think that the industry is ready to do that. There are lots of opportunities for innovation as we go forward.”
2025 AFIA Pet Food Conference sees record-setting attendance
ATLANTA, Ga. — The American Feed Industry Association’s annual Pet Food Conference attracted a record-setting 500 attendees to discuss the latest trends and opportunities, research and regulatory updates in the pet food industry. The AFIA held the conference in conjunction with the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.
“It is exciting to see the continued growth of the AFIA Pet Food Conference, reflecting the industry’s commitment to growth and innovation,” said Louise Calderwood, AFIA’s director of regulatory affairs. “This year’s conference delivered valuable insights on everything from novel ingredients used in pet food and the latest consumer trends in pet food, to addressing critical regulatory updates. Staying up to date with these changes is essential for the industry, and we appreciate the engagement from our record-breaking audience and look forward to continuing these conversations in the years ahead.”
The 2025 conference featured sessions on pet food marketing trends, novel ingredients used in pet food, working dog nutrition and academia’s role in industry advancements. Several speakers focused on the changing regulatory environment for pet food, with Austin Therrell, executive director of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and Leah Wilkinson, AFIA’s vice president of public policy and education, discussing recent changes to the animal food ingredient approval processes.
Attendees also heard an exclusive preview of new industry research from Lara Moody, executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), who shared insights from IFEEDER’s upcoming Pet Food Consumption Report, set for release later this spring.
The AFIA Pet Food Committee, which is tasked with creating the conference agenda every year, invited three graduate students to present on their current
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research within the pet food industry. The research topics included, “Cardiometabolic Effects of a High Protein, Low Carbohydrate Diet in Dogs,” “Sensory Characteristics of Jerky-style Pet Treats Made from Swine Pluck,” (pluck is pig’s heart, trachea, esophagus and lungs) and “Amino Acid Digestibility and Energy Content of Raw, Mildly Cooked, and Retorted Dog Foods.” The conference also featured four poster presentations from additional graduate and undergraduate students conducting research in pet nutrition.
The AFIA also recognized Dr. Eric Altom, director of innovation for companion animals and technical nutritionist at Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health, as the recipient of its 2025 Friend of Pet Food Award.
For more information about the 2026 Pet Food Conference, visit www.afia.org/ events.
More aMPV vaccines approved for import
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Not only is the U.S. poultry industry continuing its fight against these current outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, but the industry is also contending with occurrences of avian metapneumovirus. Approximately one month since the USDA announcement of approval of live avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) vaccine into the U.S., the agency announced that additional commercial modified live aMPV vaccines have gained import approval.
Avian metapneumovirus is a disease that affects the upper respiratory systems of turkeys, broilers, broiler/breeder, ducks, as well as wild bird species.
“The National Turkey Federation applauds USDA’s approval for the importation of additional commercial modified live avian metapneumovirus vaccines,” the National Turkey Federation said in an issued statement.“This milestone further reflects our industry’s commitment to safeguarding the health and vitality of U.S. commercial turkey flocks.”
“With these new authorizations, NTF members Vaxxinova, Boehringer Ingelheim and Zoetis Animal Health are ready to introduce the vaccine to the industry, further strengthening our efforts to protect turkey health,” NTF added. “We urge USDA to continue its efforts to facilitate the importation and development of additional aMPV vaccines, including the advancement of a domestic vaccine.”
Boehringer Ingelheim announces that with this new emergency authorization that two of its live virus vaccines that are registered for use in the European Union — NEMOVAC® for chickens and AVIFFA RTI for turkeys — will soon be available for use by U.S. producers.
“Responding to emerging disease threats like avian metapneumovirus necessitates a collaborative approach between government and industry groups like the National Turkey Federa-
tion, National Chicken Council and United Egg Producers, and the USDA’s authorization of importation of these vaccines underscores those efforts,” Steve Boren, head of Boehringer Ingelheim U.S. Livestock business, said. “We look forward to continuing our work with USDA and the poultry industry to combat this ongoing avian metapneumovirus outbreak.”
Zoetis announces that its Poulvac® TRT has gained approval for import. This vaccine is used to treat turkey rhinotracheitis, which is an upper respiratory tract disease that is caused by aMPV.
“Securing the import permit and bringing an effective intervention to the United States to help combat this infectious disease has been the utmost priority for our Zoetis team, given the critical impact it has on the industry,” Kristin Kasselman, Zoetis senior vice president, U.S. head of Livestock & Equine, said. “We are incredibly grateful for the collaboration with our customers, government agencies and the industry at large in ensuring this vaccine is made available during a time of need.”
These medications are gaining import approval from USDA after the emergence of the disease in fall 2023 and the agency’s interest in industry partnership to provide vaccines.
“Our work with the CVB (USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics) and state health officials has focused on making a vaccine available to turkey veterinarians in the United States to address this emerging disease,” Dr. Karen Cookson, Zoetis director of clinical research, said. “Poulavc TRT has
been used successfully around the world where producers have dealt with AMPV pressure.”
Zoetis adds that its vaccine is produced at a facility in Spain, and once it has been delivered to the U.S., the company will prioritize the vaccine’s distribution.
After the initial announcement last December of live vaccines getting import approval, Brian Harberts, spokesperson and managing director with Vaxxinova, said, “This landmark approval is a testament to our commitment to advance animal health and meet the needs of our customers. The USDA’s decision marks and important milestone for the U.S. turkey and poultry industry who have been devastated by aMPV.”
“As a result of the collaboration with industry organizations such as the National Turkey Federation, poultry producers, and the USDA, Vaxxinova US is now able to offer the same vaccine to the U.S. market that Vaxxinova Italy has been providing to customers for the past 20-plus years,” Harberts added.
“In addition to good biosecurity, the use of live attenuated virus vaccines followed by administration of inactivated (killed) virus vaccines have been successfully used to control avian metapneumovirus, especially in long-lived chickens and turkeys,” Dr. Dan Domingo, Vaxxinova senior poultry technical service veterinarian, said. “Live vaccines have the ability to stimulate both systemic and local immunity in the respiratory tract. Attenuated live vaccines for aMPV prime the birds for the effective use of inactivated vaccines.”
These notices also come on the heels of import approval in late October from USDA regarding the import of inactivated (killed) aMPV vaccines. In October, Boehringer Ingelheim announced import approval of its TUR-3 vaccine.
“U.S. poultry producers have been challenged by avian metapneumovirus, and it’s positive news that our TUR-3 vaccine will be available as a tool to support USDA and industry efforts to protect flocks against this highly contagious respiratory disease,” Boren said in a statement following the October announcement. “We understand that disease outbreaks not only impact poultry health, but also the livelihoods of producers and the security of our food supply.”
Signs of infection
The University of Maryland Extension Service notes that poultry growers need to look for the following signs to identify symptoms of aMPV in flocks:
• Respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, abnormal breathing sounds and nasal discharge.
• Eye issues like wet eyes, conjunctivitis, and frothy eyes.
• Behavioral changes such head shaking, ruffled feathers and depression.
• Swollen heads, faces or sinuses.
• Problems with egg production, like decreases in egg production (up to 70 percent), misshapen eggs and poor shell quality.
• It spreads rapidly and can infect an entire flock in one day.
• Birds of all ages are susceptible, but this disease is mostly seen in birds 3 to 12 weeks old.
The UMD Extension also adds that this virus is transmitted through direct contact with birds that are infected; indirect contact with contaminated equipment, personnel, or vehicles; and migratory wild birds might be potential sources. It is also noted that the virus can remain infective for an extended period in cool, moist environments, such as poultry litter for three days at 68 to 77 degrees F, and for 14 to 30 days at 46 degrees F.
First US H5N9 case confirmed on a duck farm in California
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — In the midst of the poultry industry’s ongoing battle with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, the first case of H5N9 has been confirmed at a commercial duck meat farm in Merced County, California.
This same commercial duck flock tested positive for H5N1 late last year and the almost 119,00 birds were depopulated, and containment procedures were put in place by authorities. However, on secondary testing the additional presence of H5N9 was also detected and was reported by protocol to the World Organization for Animal Health in late January.
“This finding is not unexpected or alarming since ducks serve as a reservoir host for influenza A viruses and there is evidence that the H5N9 virus is a North American N9 reassortment of the H5N1 virus that has been seen in wild birds since 2022 with periodic spillover into domestic flocks,” the California Department of Food and Agriculture notes, adding that CDFA and the USDA “remain vigilant for any H5 viruses and will continue to monitor for new or unusual viruses as our on-going testing strategy.”
It’s reported that USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, California state partners, and wildlife officials are continuing to conduct a complete epidemiologic investigation into this strain’s duck farm outbreak. Wild waterfowl are known carriers of the H5N1 bird flu and ducks and geese are problematic carriers of the disease because they can carry the virus without showing signs of being sick, unlike bird species such as chickens.
Virologists have noted concern about reassortment changes in avian influenza virus
strains, and if this poses any increased threat to human life or illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to report that no known human-to-human transmission of bird flu viruses have occurred, and that there is no additional data that this reassorted strain of H5N9 poses any increased public health risk.
The “H” and the “N” descriptions of the influenza viruses represent proteins that are found on the surface of the viruses. H stands for hemagglutinin, and N is for neuraminidase. There are 18 different subtypes of H and 11 different subtypes of N.
But with this emergence of an additional strain, the poultry industry continues its struggle to contain the H5N1 strain nationwide. Even in recent weeks in California, H5N1 outbreaks have been detected by the CDFA in a commercial poultry flock in Stanislaus County on Feb. 6, a commercial poultry flock in San Joaquin County on Feb. 4, a backyard flock in San Mateo County on Feb. 3, in two commercial poultry flocks in Madera County and Merced County on Jan. 30, a backyard flock in Yolo County on Jan. 27, a commercial flock in Riverside County on Jan. 20, and in three commercial flocks in Butte and Stanislaus Counties on Jan. 7.
Nationally, APHIS reported on Feb. 7 that for the previous 30
days there were 137 confirmed H5N1 flocks, consisting of 91 commercial flocks, 46 backyard flocks and affecting more than 22 million birds.
On Jan. 10, the CDFA announced a California statewide
ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions.
In a response to the avian flu situation in the state, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a “State of Emergency” for the state in late December.
“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. “Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Poultry farming key focus of IPPE’s Latin American Poultry Summit
ATLANTA — The La Cumbre Avícola Latinoamericana (Latin American Poultry Summit), held during the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo, provided information about the factors that affect the efficient marketing of poultry farming in Latin America.
The program was organized into five sessions — grain management, food safety, genetics, breeding and health — and began with an opening session featuring two distinguished speakers, followed by an engaging panel discussion. Dr. Carlos Campadabal, professor of grain science and industry at Kansas State University, launched the program by discussing the grain characteristics required for intensification and efficiency of feed mills, setting the stage for an insightful day. He was followed by Dr. Wilmer Pacheco, associate professor and Extension specialist at Auburn University, who discussed particle size management in concentrated feeds.
The food safety session was led by Dr. Juanfra DeVillena, senior vice pres -
ident of quality assurance and food safety at Wayne-Sanderson Farms, who presented on Salmonella regulations in the U.S. and their impact on the national chicken supply. He was followed by Dr. Jorge Amado, regional technical manager, Aviagen; Vitor Hugo Brandalize, world technical services, Cobb Genetics; and Thomas Dixon, global product manager, Hy-Line International, who guided attendees through the genetics session with their discussion on how declining fertility in breeders is being managed and what is new in layer and broiler genetics and how will it impact production in the next three to five years. This session concluded with a panel discussion that further elaborated the topics.
For the breeding session, Mike Czarick, agricultural Extension specialist at the University of Georgia, provided insights on improvements in ventilation management. He was followed by Dr. Yari Lucerna, a consulting veterinarian, who elaborated on cage and cage-
free production in the rearing of laying hens.
The health session was led by Dr. JeanPierre Vaillancourt, professor, faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Montreal in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, who began with a discussion on practical biosecurity for all poultry sectors. He was followed by Dr. James Karkashian Cordoba, professor at the School of Biology and researcher in Molecular Biology and Animal Nutrition at the University of Costa Rica, who discussed the identification and molecular analysis of avian infectious bronchitis virus and implementation of aerobiological methodologies for the detection and characterization of respiratory viruses in poultry farming.
Karkashian’s research team is the recipient of a research grant provided by USPOULTRY’s Latin American research program. The funds to support the Latin American research program come from attendee and sponsor support of La Cumbre Avícola Latinoamericana.
Genetics panel session engaging with the audience at the Latin American Poultry Summit at the recent 2025 IPPE in Atlanta, Ga.
USPOULTRY photo
‘What’s Keeping the Feed Industry Up At Night?’ addressed industry hot topics
ATLANTA — The American Feed Industry Association hosted a two-hour educational session exploring critical issues that worry feed industry professionals. Held in conjunction with the International Production & Processing Expo, the “What’s Keeping the Feed Industry Up at Night?” session featured speakers discussing African swine fever (ASF), quantitative risk assessments to predict the safety of feed ingredients and the challenges facing animal nutritionists.
“The feed industry operates in a constantly evolving landscape, facing challenges ranging from disease threats to ingredient quality and regulatory pressures,” Dr. Paul Davis, AFIA’s director of quality, animal food safety and education, said. “This session provided an opportunity for industry leaders to gain insights and proactive strategies to address these pressing concerns.”
Dr. Jordan Gebhart, associate professor of swine production at Kansas State University, discussed the economic and biosecurity implications of ASF should the virus be detected in the United States. He highlighted the feed industry’s crucial role in ASF preparedness, as research indicates the virus can potentially survive in certain feed ingredients and spread within feed mills.
Gebhart outlined efforts by the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) to establish feed biosecurity standards, including a pilot program assessing current practices for sourcing ingredients from ASF-affected regions. He also reviewed ongoing surveillance efforts and the USDA’s response plan for ASF detection.
Dr. Fernando Sampedro, assistant professor of veterinary population medicine at the University of Minnesota, presented on the application of quantitative risk assessments in animal feed safety. He explained how these tools, qualitative risk assessments and predictive modeling techniques, help estimate virus concentrations in feed ingredients by analyzing factors
such as initial virus levels, processing steps and storage conditions. Sampedro emphasized the importance of using a proactive approach to mitigate viral threats in the industry.
Dr. John Halley, J Halley Poultry
Consulting LLC, shared insights from his experience as a poultry nutritionist, addressing key concerns in poultry feed formulation and management. He highlighted the importance of accurate nutrient predictions, optimizing feed
Dr. Jordan Gebhart, associate professor of swine production at Kansas State University, gave a presentation on African swine fever during the AFIA’s “hot topics” session at the recent IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, Ga.
USPOULTRY photo
efficiency, maintaining ingredient quality and preventing feed delivery errors. Halley advised the need for strong training, preparation and communication within feed mills to mitigate these challenges effectively.
Is Your Flock Defended?
APHIS updates its turkey flock HPAI surveillance policy in
USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing, multi-faceted efforts to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service is updating its policy for pre-slaughter surveillance to enhance testing of turkey flocks in affected states.
In late December 2024, APHIS became aware of a genetic link between turkeys potentially infected with HPAI H5N1, virus detected in raw pet food, and an infected household cat. Out of an abundance of caution, and to remove a potential avenue for ongoing disease spread as well as to bolster consumer and trading partner confidence, APHIS collaborated with state animal health officials and the poultry industry to update its guidance for existing pre-slaughter surveillance steps to further ensure that affected poultry does not enter the food system. APHIS will continue to report confirmed HPAI detections to the World Organization for Animal Health and on the APHIS website (www.aphis. usda.gov).
These updates include implementing isolation with clinical monitoring and premovement testing 72 hours prior to sending to slaughter, for turkey premises outside control areas in HPAI-affected states. Specifically, APHIS will be piloting this enhanced preslaughter surveillance, starting
with turkey premises greater than 500 birds in Minnesota and South Dakota, based on current and historical HPAI detections of commercial turkey premises in these states. These states were selected because of genetic linkages to virus from infected cats and because of the high percentage of cases in turkeys in those states. APHIS will continue to evaluate progress of the outbreak and may update this policy, if needed, to include additional states.
USDA notes that it consistently operates on a science-based, step-by-step approach, informed by what it learns about this virus through its everyday work and
research and surveillance efforts. APHIS will continue to update its guidance for pre-slaughter surveillance schemes as USDA continues to follow the science on HPAI.
In May 2024, USDA announced the transfer of $824 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to APHIS to directly support H5N1 response efforts. This funding supports anticipated diagnostics; field response activities; pre-movement testing requirements; other necessary surveillance and control activities, including surveillance in wildlife; the Agricultural Research Service’s work in developing vaccines for HPAI in cattle, turkeys, pigs, and goats; and food safety studies carried out by ARS and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
How lasers, Kool-Aid, and even sugar can be used as wild bird deterrents
EMILY PARCELL
Poultry Times Content Writer
emilyparcell@poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Biosecurity is still stressed as an effective means of controlling the avian influenza that continues to affect the nation’s poultry industry. Producers are looking into several non-traditional tools to combat AI, like lasers, sugar and even Kool-Aid as wild bird deterrents.
Bird Control Group boasts effective and humane bird control with the use of lasers. As fictional as this might sound, the AVIX autonomic laser bird deterrent has been around for more than a decade, and it now is helping producers of not only poultry but also row crop and dairy farmers. Craig Duhr, an American sales representative for the product, explained that the company was founded in 2012 in the Netherlands, and came to the United States in 2015.
“Around 2021-2022 when avian flu was starting to pop-up across the country, a company reached out to us to see if this system could work as another layer of biosecurity at a poultry farm,” Duhr said, “within 30 days, we had put up 25 more systems around the property.”
Bird Control Group notes that the AVIX laser bird
deterrent system helps to reduce 70 percent to 90 percent of pest-birds. However, success is sometimes difficult to measure.
“It’s hard to measure success, you know? Does it mean if AI (avian influenza) doesn’t hit your farm is the system doing a good job, or are you just lucky?” Duhr added.
A complete system can cost around $15,000 to $17,000, with prices varying depending on several factors including: location (the west coast is more expensive than the east coast), traveling costs and installment fees from dealers.
For another biosecurity method, according to an article published by Oregon State Extension Service (https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/extd8/files/ documents/em9286.pdf), if you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution, you can try a few items you can find in your pantry. Grape Kool-Aid contains methyl anthranilate, which is the same ingredient found in commercial bird deterrent sprays. Or try a sugarwater mixture, as birds are unable to digest sucrose. These varying methods can be used to help deter wild birds from co-mingling with both poultry houses and dairy herds. To learn more about non-lethal wild bird deterrents, visit Bird Control Group at https:// birdcontrolgroup.com, or your local Cooperative Extension Service.
Controlling wild birds away from a poultry farm is a vital form of biosecurity and needed to assist in the fight against avian influenza.
Industry
Industry Award
MARISS HANS MIKE GILES
Photo courtesy of Craig Duhr/Bird Control Group
Meat industries stress the importance of healthy, lean meats to Dietary Guidelines
DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@poultrytimes.com
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Promoting lean meat as a healthy choice over items like plant-based proteins has been touted by the National Chicken Council and the Meat Institute to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the USDA to counter proposals issued by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
NCC and the Meat Institute issued comments in response to the DGAC’s Scientific Report. NCC noted that it has issue with the emphasis on such items as beans, peas and lentils as more optimal proteins than chicken meat, and that chicken did not receive any specific mention as a lean meat utilized in healthy eating patterns.
“We believe these recommendations and omissions are harmful for the health of all Americans, especially those who rely on federal feeding programs — such as the National School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) — as the Dietary Guidelines directly impact the items that are considered under these programs,” Dr. Ashley Peterson, NCC senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, said.
“Additionally, the Committee provided no scientific fact or justification to support why the protein subgroups need to be reordered to deemphasize lean meats, like chicken,” Peterson added. “Doing this gives the false appearance that plant proteins are nutritionally superior to chicken. Further, the report makes no mention of poultry as part of a healthy dietary pattern.”
NCC also noted that, “plant proteins are not nutritionally equivalent to animal proteins from a protein quality and quantity standpoint.”
“There is a body of evidence pointing to the many health benefits of chicken consumption, including its protein-density and that it provides essential vitamins and minerals like: iron, zinc and vitamin B12,” Peterson said in NCC’s full submitted comments. “Among the many nutritional benefits of chicken consumption include the fact that chicken is a ‘high-quality’ protein. A 3.5-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast that is roasted contains about 31 grams of protein.
“However, that makes the protein from chicken stand out compared to many plantbased proteins, is that it is higher-quality, meaning it has enough of each of the nine es-
sential amino acids — the building blocks of protein — that are needed in the human diet.”
Peterson added that, “Combined with its nutritional value, positive health benefits, popularity, versatility, affordability, and environmental sustainability, chicken is a pillar of the protein subgroup which should be reflected in the final 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”
The Meat Institute also stresses the benefits of meat and poultry products as part of a healthy diet.
“The Committee’s Scientific Report contains contradictory and confusing findings,” Susan Backus, the Meat Institute’s vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, said. “Meat and poultry products are nutrient dense foods that help Americans meet their essential amino acid and nutrient requirements and yet the Report recommends a reduction in red and processed meats. When 95 percent of Americans eat meat, it is important to provide clear dietary guidance to consumers on how they can include the meat products they love in their diets and also produce a positive, measurable health impact.”
The Meat Institute also noted that reducing meat and poultry products could have unintended nutritional consequences that span across several ages and life stages.
“Meat and poultry products are also important sources of micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, selenium, vitamins B12, B6, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and potassium — nutrients essential in all life stages including the critical first 1,000 days, during periods
of growth and development like childhood and adolescence, throughout adulthood and during older years to maintain physical function enhancing quality of life,” the Meat Institute said in its full submitted comments.
“The iron and zinc in beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and fish are also more bioavailable than from other sources, meaning these minerals are more easily absorbed and utilized by the body.”
The group also noted that all dietary information released needs to be easily translatable for the benefit of those seeking more healthy eating patterns.
“For guidance to be adopted, information must be communicated so it is understandable and easily translatable,” Backus said. “Guidance should focus on improving dietary habits within the foods Americans already consume; not the idealistic recommendations that will likely never be implemented because they may not be achievable or may be too confusing or expensive.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also issued comment regarding the DGAC’s Scientific Report, stating that she believes, “it is unconscionable to recommend to the American people to lower their consumption of nutritious, animal-derived protein.”
Iowa’s 3.5 million cattle contribute more than $9.45 billion in business activity to the state’s economy, also Iowa produces nearly 25 million pigs, and 12 million turkeys.
“The proposed 2025 Dietary Guidelines are a slap in the face to the hardworking farmers, producers, and thousands of other Iowans that work within the meat supply chain,” Reynolds notes in her statement. “Beyond this, there is robust scientific evidence showing red meat’s essential nutrients and the critical role it plays in supporting a variety of healthy diets for all Americans. Study after study has indicated that red meat outperforms plant-based options in supporting muscle health and cognitive development. There are a number of leaner cuts of meat that easily align with heart health, aid in weight management, and fulfill the nutritional needs of vulnerable groups such as adolescents, pregnant women, and older adults.”
Reynolds added that, “It is important that Americans have the flexibility to choose and enjoy nutrient dense foods and dietary patterns within calorie goals informed by nutrition guidance.”
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Minooka, IL (815) 467-0455
Wilmington, IL (815) 476-COLD
Omaha, NE (402) 731-9900
Lumberton, NC (910) 739-1992
Warsaw, NC (910) 293-7400
Quakertown East, PA (215) 892-1541
Quakertown West, PA (267) 875-6100
La Vergne, TN (615) 641-9800
Smyrna, TN (615) 355-0047
Dallas, TX (214) 854-3100
Harrisonburg, VA (540) 564-6800
