The USPoultry Board Research Initiative will operate alongside the current USPoultry research programme and will augment the great success of the existing programme by focusing additional resources toward defined areas of research.

The Boards have selected two research topics for funding this year. The first area of focus is the exploration of systemic Salmonella infection in chickens and turkeys and the determination of the relationship with Salmonella contamination of ground poultry products.

The second topic will address animal well-being and will seek research that will lead to advances in the poultry industry in that area. First year funding for this initiative is estimated to be $250,000. Detailed Requests for Proposals will be released later this year, and deadlines for submission of proposals will be in the spring of 2014.

“Our Association recognized the need to fund research that is timely and addresses specific needs for the industry. The Board Research Initiative programme fulfills this need,” said USPoultry president John Starkey.