TUCKER, GA. — The US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the USPOULTRY Foundation are distributing nearly $400,000 of research grants to five institutions. The Comprehensive Research Program grants were approved by the groups’ board of directors based on the proposed projects’ value to the industry.

Dating back to the early 1960s, the Comprehensive Research Program has grown into an all-inclusive program incorporating phases of poultry and egg production and processing. Since its inception, the program has placed over $34 million into the poultry and egg industry through its grant money. More than 50 universities and federal and state institutions have received research grants through the program over the years.

“Research is a vital aspect of USPOULTRY’s and the Foundation’s service to the poultry industry,” said Mike Levengood, Perdue Farms, and USPOULTRY chairman. “The Foundation Research Advisory Committee members volunteer numerous hours of their time to review and evaluate research proposals before making recommendations for funding. We sincerely appreciate their work.”

The recently approved grants include:

  • Development of Live Attenuated Vaccine for Reoviruses Causing Arthritis and Hepatitis in Turkeys – University of Minnesota (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from West Liberty Foods)
  • Development of Vaccines for the Control of Chicken Spotty Liver Disease – Iowa State University
  • Detection and Control of Processing-Tolerant Campylobacter on Broiler Carcasses – University of Georgia (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Mar-Jac Poultry)
  • Developing a Multispecies Bacterial Vaccine for Protection Against Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis Lameness for Broilers – University of Arkansas (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from George’s Inc.)
  • Assessing the Physiological Stressors Due to Injection of Nitrogen During Ventilation Shutdown Plus Heat for Depopulation of Laying Hens – North Carolina State University (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from USPOULTRY Staff)