Source: PRESS RELEASE, 5/6/20

 USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved approximately $400,000 for seven new research grants at six institutions through the comprehensive research program. The research funding was approved by the boards of directors of both organizations, based on recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee. The committee evaluates research proposals to determine their value to the industry and then makes recommendations to the boards for funding. Committee members are professional specialists from different segments of the poultry and egg industry who represent a variety of disciplines.

The Association’s comprehensive research program dates back to the early 1960s when funds were first approved for poultry disease research. It gradually grew into an all-inclusive program incorporating all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the inception of the research program, USPOULTRY has reinvested more than $32 million dollars into the industry in the form of research grants. More than 50 universities and federal and state facilities have received grants over the years. 

“Research is an important aspect of USPOULTRY's and the Foundation’s service to the poultry industry. The Foundation Research Advisory Committee is the heart of the research program with committee members volunteering numerous hours reviewing and evaluating research proposals before making recommendations for funding. We sincerely appreciate and value their excellent work,” said Greg Hinton, Rose Acre Farms, and USPOULTRY chairman. 

The research grants for each institution include:

The Use of Accelerometers and Artificial Intelligence to Predict Presence of Woody Breast in Live Broilers Throughout Growout and in Broiler Fillets University of Arkansas (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from George’s Inc.) 

Automated Tracking of Laying Hens in Cage-Free Aviary Environment Using Affordable RadioFrequency Identification (RFID) Chips North Carolina State University

Pathogenicity and Genetic Profile of Turkey Hepatitis Reovirus (THRV) University of Minnesota (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from the Cooper Family Foundation)

Comparative Genomics and In Vitro Screening Approach for the Identification of Vaccine Candidates for Food-Borne Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni Mississippi State University (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Peco Foods)

Effectiveness of Various Compounds in the Sanitation of Shell Egg Processing Equipment and Facility Surfaces USDA ARS (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from MPS Egg Farms) 

Using Electrostatic Precipitator to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Cage-Free Layer Houses North Carolina State University (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Cal-Maine Foods)

Poultry-Safe and Environment-Acceptable Pest-Repellent Paint University of Kansas (research grant made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Wayne Farms)