Source:  Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 3/14/11

A new certification program for the poultry industry is the first in the nation to provide training on the proper techniques for handling and transporting poultry.

The Poultry Handling and Transportation Quality Assurance Program (PHTQA) will offer single-day training sessions for poultry transportation and catch crews in methods of biosecurity, disease recognition, emergency planning, and the safe and humane handling of birds before, during, and after transport. The certification involves transportation and handling of several species including day old poultry, breeders, pullets, spent fowl, broilers and turkeys.

A team of scientists from Penn State University and USDA, as well as industry specialists, will conduct the training and certification for the program, which is similar to the Pork Transportation and Quality Assurance Program.

Multiple training sessions will be held in 2011, although the dates have yet to be determined.

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