Small-Enterprise Chicken Study 2007
US - In July and August 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health
19 April 2007
3 minute read
Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Center for Animal Disease Information and Analysis and National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) will conduct the Small-Enterprise Chicken Study 2007, the first APHIS national study of operations with 1,000 to 19,999 chickens.
Study Focus
The Small-Enterprise Chicken Study 2007 is designed to provide individual participants and stakeholders with valuable information on this important segment of the Nationfs poultry industry. The information will help researchers analyze the potential spread of poultry diseases and possible response measures to the diseases. The Small- Enterprise Chicken Study 2007 will
“Better information always helps in making better decisions. Surveys like this help us all to understand where the real needs are in poultry production and keep us focused on finding the solutions to those issues.”
—Carol Cardona, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Poultry Veterinarians Associate Veterinarian/Extension Specialist Veterinary Medicine Extension University of California, Davis
- Describe characteristics of small- enterprise operations, including bird species on hand, seasonal inventory, and marketing of free-range chickens or eggs and organic or other niche-market products;
- Describe movements of animals, people, waste products, vehicles, and equipment on and off operations, and estimate the distances associated with these movements; and
- Examine biosecurity practices, including bird access to the outdoors.
How You Can Help
By participating in the Small-Enterprise Chicken Study 2007, you will help the industry and your own operation by contributing to the development of reliable and valuable information that will be used to
- Help develop disease-simulation models that may be used for emergency pre- paredness and to compare disease control strategies and estimate resources needed in the event of a disease outbreak;
- Assist university researchers, extension agents, producer groups, and others to identify and focus educational efforts on vital issues related to poultry health and productivity; and
- Assist animal-health officials, policymakers, and industry in making informed decisions.
